EPA Regulations Confirm Ethanol's Superiority
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's newly released regulations implementing an expanded federal Renewable Fuel Standard are significant because they provide further evidence of corn ethanol's superiority over conventional gasoline when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, the National Corn Growers Association said.
"We're pleased the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes that corn ethanol provides a distinct advantage over conventional gasoline when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, with a reduction of more than 21 percent in some cases," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. "This means that all corn ethanol including existing grandfathered capacity and new production will qualify to meet the conventional biofuels targets in the RFS.
NCGA continues to be disappointed that EPA chose to use the flawed theory of international indirect land use change in their calculations. Ihnen stressed that the EPA should reject the unproven theory of international indirect land use change, which assumes that growing more corn means planting corn on a proportionately greater amount of acreage and will impact other crops or natural resources on a global basis. Today's yield trends show this to be false. 2009's record corn yield was 165.2 bushels per acre, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 11 bushels higher than 2008 and nearly 15 bushels higher than 2007.
"In 2009, corn growers were challenged with one of the worst growing season in generations, and we still brought in a record crop and yield," Ihnen, a corn grower in Hurley, S.D., said. "We grew more corn than we did in 2007, the last record year, and we did so on nearly 7 million fewer acres."
For the whole story, click here.
NCGA Testifies on Atrazine's Importance
NCGA Director of Public Policy Jessica Bennett recently testified Tuesday before an Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Advisory Panel on the importance of atrazine. The panel was convened in the wake of the agency's announcement of a comprehensive review of health and ecological risks associated with the commonly used herbicide.
Click here for the testimony.
"For more than 50 years, more than half of all American corn growers have relied on atrazine to protect their crops from a variety of grass and broadleaf weeds," Bennett said. "By EPA's own estimate, atrazine saves corn farmers as much as $28 an acre in reduced herbicide costs and increased yields. For all these reasons, atrazine is not just a good product. It is a vital product."
Warning on AGI Compliance Reviews
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently sent out a notice to all local Farm Service Agencies explaining the new process for adjusted gross income compliance reviews. Under the 2008 farm bill, individuals and legal entities with an AGI that exceed the specified limits will be ineligible for certain program payments.
To implement the new compliance process, USDA has secured an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service to develop an electronic information exchange process strictly for the purpose of verifying compliance with the AGI provisions. Program participants must first certify that they either meet or do not meet the new AGI limitations by completing the Average AGI Statement, Form CCC-926, with their local FSA county office. In addition, individual participants are now required to complete Form CCC-927, which gives written consent to the IRS to provide USDA verification of their average AGI. A legal entity must submit Form CCC0in Once completed, forms must be sent directly to the IRS at the specified address on the forms.
For more information, click here.
Ethanol Committee Looks to the Future
 This week, the National Corn Growers Association's Ethanol Committee met in Denver, Colo., to discuss current issues and research topics in the ethanol industry. While there, the group was updated by industry experts on ongoing programs and toured cutting-edge research facilities.
"As the regulations implementing RFS2 happened to be released during our meeting, we had some very timely discussions," said committee Chairman Jon Holzfaster. "The meeting was incredibly informative and the entire team felt energized while exploring the incredible advances that new technology will bring the ethanol industry."
Keeping Grower Money in Grower Pockets
 While most farmers are preparing for the planting season, the National Corn Growers Association knows there is growing concern over major tax policy changes that may be coming our way. The volatility of income and production costs that growers have seen the last few years makes the tax code even more important for farm profitability.
Recently, we interviewed Public Policy Action Team Chairman Anthony Bush about the estate tax, Section 179 Capital Cost Recovery and the capital gains tax.
For the whole story, please click here.
Learning Opportunities at Commodity Classic
There is still time to register for the 15th Annual Commodity Classic to be held March 4-6 in Anaheim, Calif. Commodity Classic is the premier convention and trade show of the U.S. corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat industries. Register by Feb. 10 to take advantage of a discounted rate.
Each year, the industry gathers at Commodity Classic to experience, learn and share information about issues, technology and trends in U.S. agriculture. Attendees can get ahead of the curve by participating in a number of learning center sessions, including: Take Technology to a Higher Level on Your Farm - and Make it Pay; Farm Financial Strategies: Farm Continuation by Design; and Outlook for Agriculture's Agenda in Washington, D.C.
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This Week's NCGA Blog Highlights
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A Look at the Week Ahead... |
- Sunday through Wednesday, the Public Policy Action Team will meet in Washington, D.C.
- On Monday, NCGA CEO Rick Tolman will present on agriculture and climate change at the Environmental Law and Policy Center's Conference on Energy, Efficieny in Agriculture in Madison, Wis.
- Monday through Wednesday, NCGA staff will attend the Bio-Based Chemicals Summitt in San Diego.
- On Wednesday, First Vice President Bart Schott will testify before the House of Representatives Ag Committee on easing trade restrictions with Cuba.
- Wednesday through Friday, NCGA's Mycotoxin Task Force will meet in Washington D.C.
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