NCGA Corn Action News: Friday, June 25, 2010

Hurry! Early NCYC Registration Closes Soon

With only five days of early registration left, the time to sign up for the National Corn Growres Association National Corn Yield Contest is now. Growers can utilize a quick and easy online application to take advantage of the reduced early registration fee of $80 for entries received before July 1. After that date, the online entry will continue to be available, but entry fees return to the $110 level. To qualify for the contest, entries must be postmarked no later than August 2.

Now in its 46th year, the contest has been trending toward increasingly higher levels of participation with a record 6,958 entrants in 2009. Winners will receive national recognition in such publications as the NCYC Corn Yield Guide and at the National Awards Banquet and State Awards Breakfast at the 2011 Commodity Classic in Tampa, Fla. More importantly, growers experience the challenge and satisfaction of learning production techniques that will enhance their corn yields.

Grower participation also benefits the entire industry because NCGA utilizes the wealth of information from the contest to study production trends. Growers' information is used by NCGA and others to statistically demonstrate the production efficiencies of corn growers and their dedication to soil and nutrient conservation.

To access the online form, click here.

NCGA Testifies at Preliminary Farm Bill Hearing

National Corn Growers Association Public Policy Action Team Chairman Anthony Bush, a grower from Mt. Gilead, Ohio today testified before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management during a hearing to review U.S. farm safety net programs. The committee called this meeting to gain grower insight in advance of the 2012 farm bill.

Bush testified as part of a panel which also included representatives from American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, National Barley Growers Association and American Soybean Association.

During his introductory remarks, Representative Collin Peterson expressed that there could be reconciliation next year. If reconciliation takes longer, the farm bill will not include any additional funding and would probably cut funding to a degree.

Acknowledging the difficult fiscal conditions, Bush pushed for more effective risk management tools. Explaining how rising input costs, coupled with an industry that is already capital intensive and operates on thin-margins, have decimated farmers in some areas, he asked the panel to provide growers with the tools they need to continue producing feed, food, fuel and fiber.

"Over the past ten years inputs such as nitrogen and potassium fertilizer have jumped by an estimated 200 and 416 percent, respectively," Bush explained. "In short, profit margins are still being squeezed, requiring sound risk management plans and timely marketing of corn in order to adequately protect producers' income."

Following the prepared testimony, committee members questioned the panel. During the panel, Bush spoke on the price volatility of corn during 2008, on the incredible capabilities of U.S. ethanol producers and on the importance of biotechnology.

To read Bush's oral testimony, click here.

RFS2 Can Meet Midwest GHG Reduction Goals

Full implementation of the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) by 2022 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels used in the Midwest by approximately 7.7 percent compared to 2005 levels, according to a new study released today. With certain regional "enhancements" to the RFS2 program, the Midwest could readily achieve a 10 percent GHG reduction by 2022, according to the study, supported in part by the National Corn Growers Association.

The study was initiated by a coalition of Midwestern agriculture and biofuel stakeholders interested in examining alternatives to a regional Low Carbon Fuels Standard being considered by the Midwestern Governors Association. The study, conducted by Air Improvement Resource, Inc., was supported by the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and Monsanto Company, in addition to NCGA, and state corn grower organizations from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio.

The study also analyzes the vehicle and refueling infrastructure modifications that would be necessary to accommodate increasing volumes of biofuels in the region resulting from the RFS2. The analysis examines the average amounts of ethanol that would need to be consumed in Flexible-Fuel Vehicles under various scenarios regarding the volumes of ethanol used in the region, FFV density in the region, pending approval of E15 for conventional automobiles, and other factors. For all of the scenarios, "...there is a need for greatly increased availability of FFVs and blender pumps in the Midwest," the study found.

Click here for the whole story.

The AIR study is available for download here.

Growers Explore Tools to Tell Their Story

As anti-agriculture groups continue attempts to define the industry, corn growers are stepping up efforts to tell the story of the American farmer. Growers from across the state of Missouri met to explore how social media can help share this story with the broader public. During the day long summit, the participants, led by agricultural media guru Michel Payn-Knoper, learned how to use tools such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to effectively reach the 98.5 percent of U.S. citizens working in non-agriculturally related fields.

"While many tend to be skeptical of social media, the data shows that it provides a cost effective, and extremely popular channel that reaches mass audiences on a personal level," said Missouri Corn Merchandising Council Vice Chairman Billy Thiel. "Polling has already proven that the public trusts family farmers. It is time to build upon this relationship."

This learning session is only one in a series of eleven joint social media training efforts hosted by the National Corn Growers Association in conjunction with state corn organizations. These meetings provide growers with the skills necessary to successfully use multiple social media options to explain how farms operate and the importance of key issues such as ethanol and livestock.

During the six hour session, Payn-Knoper highlighted the growing importance of social media. Noting that the number of Facebook users now exceeds the U.S. population and over fifty million tweets sent daily, she stressed that social media provides an excellent venue to discuss timely issues and educate others about agriculture. Payn-Knoper then, along with the assistance of staff from the Missouri Corn Growers Association, helped each grower set up Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.

Participants committed to utilizing at least one form of social media for 15 minutes each day. By helping provide the public with genuine insight into where their food, feed, fuel and fiber originates, the program aims to establish a link to agriculture that has continually diminished as families continue to move away from farms.

U.S. Corn Cleared for Discharge in China

For the first time in almost 15 years, a shipload of U.S. corn arrived and is being unloaded in China. The vessel, carrying 2.2 million bushels of U.S. No.2 yellow corn, arrived at the Longkou Port in Shandong Province of China on June 21, 2010. Without delay, the vessel cleared customs and berthed for commencement of discharge on June 22, 2010. The U.S. Grains Council was on-site for the arrival.

"The documents passed promptly through customs and cleared for discharge into the port warehouse by the Customs Inspection and Quarantine Service," said USGC Marketing Specialist Dan Keefe. "The cooperation throughout the supply chain - from the U.S. supplier, to the vessel agent, to the port management, to the buyer, to the customs office, to the inspector and finally to the feed mills - appears to be very good. This is a very positive indication for future corn imports."

The port operates five cranes discharging at the rate of about 28,000 bushels per hour with very little port congestion. The discharging operation is expected to be completed in four days time, weather permitting.

"Samples were being drawn on a regular basis. There were no negative comments or observations made of the corn. The quality was consistent with a No.2 U.S. FGIS grade and the corn was in good condition," said Keefe. "We are pleased with the success of this shipment."

Another vessel of U.S. corn is scheduled to discharge in July 2010.