NCGA Corn Action News: Friday, April 30, 2010

Ethanol's Land Use Impact Exaggerated

Updates to a scientific model mean that greenhouse gas emissions from corn ethanol, related to land use changes, are less than half what was previously assumed by the California Air Resources Board as it developed its controversial low-carbon fuel standard for the state that penalizes corn ethanol, the National Corn Growers Association said.

In conjunction with Argonne National Laboratories, Purdue University recently presented the latest updates on the Global Trade Analysis Project model, called GTAP, and new results show 14 grams of excess carbon dioxide per megajoule of energy produced, instead of the 30 grams previously estimated by the California Air Resources Board.

"This is just another example showing how ill-equipped the science is behind international indirect land use change," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. "Numbers will continue to improve as assumptions are updated, and the structure of the model is changed to better reflect reality, history, and the complex agricultural system. We are pleased that the industry is making progress, and is seeing updated information being reflected in these models. We hope the California Air Resources Board will take notice of this."

The inclusion of model results in policy before the science has been fully established goes against the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Ihnen noted. By saddling corn-based ethanol with incorrect emissions, the California standard may increase its reliance on petroleum or foreign sources of ethanol - and worsen our environment and economy.

Updates to the GTAP model include:

- Corn ethanol, sugarcane ethanol, and biodiesel are now all incorporated into the model - Cropland pasture in the United States and Brazil and Conservation Reserve Program lands have been added - Elasticity factors in the model have been updated. - Corn ethanol co-product has been added to the model. - The structure of the livestock sector regarding how soybean meal and DDGS are reflected in the model has been modified - Corn yield response to higher corn prices has been added to the model - The productivity of marginal cropland has been modified and categorized by geography.

Click here for the full report.

Click here for more details from the Renewable Fuels Association.

Click here for information from Growth Energy.

Farmers Voice Support for Atrazine

Farm groups traveled to Washington to voice support for atrazine before the third in a series of hearings being held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to re-review the critically-effective herbicide.

Among those testifying were Jere White, Chairman of the Triazine Network and director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association; Laura Knoth, the executive director of the Kentucky Corn Growers Association; and Richard Fawcett, of Fawcett Consulting, who shared his expertise in weed science and critical yield gains atrazine provides farmers.

Noting that atrazine has been more extensively studied than any other crop protection product and has continually been awarded a clean bill of health, Jere White commented that growers often ask him, "When is enough enough?"

For the whole story, click here.

Corn Farmers Coalition Continues in 2010

The Corn Farmers Coalition, a Washington-focused public affairs campaign by corn growers that launched in 2009 has earned first-place honors in a national competition and will be exploring new messaging frontiers in 2010 as it seeks to plant kernels of truth about corn in the hallways and meeting rooms of Capitol Hill.

"The Corn Farmers Coalition was an exceptional effort instigated at the grassroots level by several state organizations taking the lead and working with our Washington staff," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen, a South Dakota corn grower. "We're proud it's been recognized for excellence and has helped shape inside-the-Beltway discussions about the corn industry."

For the whole story, click here.

Click here for more information on the Corn Farmers Coalition.

Warm Weather Leads to Planting Progress

Corn planting is off to a fast start this spring. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's weekly Crop Progress report, 50 percent of the U.S. corn crop had been planted as of April 25. This is 28 points ahead of the five-year average and 30 points above the slow 2009 planting season.

Since 1990, planting progress has only exceeded the current level twice, most recently in 2006. In both of these instances, 52 percent of the corn planting was completed at this time.

The warm, dry weather prevalent across the Corn Belt last week helped growers increase planting progress substantially in some areas. Between April 19 and 25, several states saw substantial growth in total area planted. An additional 50 percent of the Minnesota corn crop was planted last week, followed closely by 49 percent in Iowa. Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky all saw an additional 39 percent of the corn acreage planted.

Click here for details in the crop progress report.

China Purchases U.S. Corn

USDA announced the export sale of 115,000 metric tons (4.5 million bushels) of U.S. corn to China. Despite strong production gains as a result of market-based reforms instituted 30 years ago, according to the U.S. Grains Council, the rapid growth of China's agricultural output has begun to be outpaced by demand. The convergence of China's demand and production, in conjunction with dramatic economic growth, has likely encouraged China to open its markets to corn imports.

U.S. Grains Council sources suggest six additional cargos of U.S. corn (250,000-300,000 metric tons or 9.8-11.8 million bushels) may have been booked for China delivery.

"This tranche of U.S. corn exports to China is certainly exciting and should pave the way for continuing imports," said Mike Callahan, USGC senior director for international operations. "As China's demand continues to increase, along with its economic growth and urbanization, China is likely to rely more heavily on imports as a way to maintain critical supply and demand balances."

Thomas C. Dorr, USGC president and CEO, says food security with our trading partners is dependent on continuous, transparent and stable trade relationships. "We are hopeful the trade relationship with China will mimic the successful, longstanding relationships the United States shares with other parts of the world," he said. "This is indeed encouraging news as U.S. corn growers proceed at one of the most rapid paces ever to plant what appears could be another record crop."

Explore Biocatalysts with CUTC 2010

CUTC Logo With the 2010 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference quickly approaching, the time to register is now. Chairs heading the 10 sessions have been explaining each week what attendees can expect to learn from their sessions during the conference. This week, Nathan Fields, chair of the technical session on biocatalysts, talks about the learning opportunities his session will offer.

This session's speakers will explore improved enzymes for corn processing including the most recent data from the USDA labs in Wyndmoor, Pa. from enzymatic wet milling commercial trials.

"Biocatalysts are important both at the front and back end of biorefineries," said Fields. "As they play such a key role, this session can offer many ways in which attendees can maximize operation efficiencies."

In addition to exploring this topic, the CUTC will offer technical sessions on the role of corn in human health and nutrition, advancements in milling techniques and agriculture and other timely topics. Held in Atlanta June 7-9, the 2010 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference is the country's premier corn technology conference. To register or learn more about this event, click here.

To listen to an interview with Nathan Fields on this session, click here.