House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson addresses delegates and guests Wednesday morning at NCGA's Corn Congress, held this week in Washington. Click on the photo to visit the Corn Congress photo gallery. |
At Corn Congress in Washington,
Four Elected to NCGA Corn Board
Delegates attending the National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress in Washington elected four farmers to serve on the organization's Corn Board this week and ratified Garry Niemeyer of Illinois as the NCGA first vice president for the 2011 fiscal year.
New board members for 2011 are Bill Chase, Woolsey, S.D.; Rob Elliott, Cameron, Ill.; Jon Holzfaster, Paxton, Neb.; and Wesley Spurlock, Stratford, Texas. They will begin serving three-year terms Oct. 1.
"We had a number of terrific candidates wanting to dedicate time and talent to serving their industry," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. "It's great to see this level of engagement and the quality of our grower leaders who each bring a different set of experiences and knowledge to NCGA."
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NCGA President's Award Presented
to South Dakota Senator John Thune
Sen. John Thune, left, received the President's Award from NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. | National Corn Growers Association President Darrin Ihnen Wednesday presented the President's Award to Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) during NCGA's Corn Congress events in Washington, D.C. The President's Award is given annually to a leader who has worked to advance issues important to corn growers and agriculture.
"When it came time to decide who this year's recipient of the NCGA President's award would be, I immediately thought of Senator Thune," NCGA President Darrin Ihnen said. "We appreciate his openness and accessibility, which makes working in tandem on important issues very easy."
"I am honored to receive this award from the National Corn Growers Association," said Senator Thune. "I appreciate the work this organization does to represent the interests of corn growers across the country, and specifically the working relationship I have had over the years with the South Dakota Corn Growers. I look forward to continuing to work together on the Renewable Fuels Standard, supporting the move to E15, and other initiatives important to corn producers." Click here for the whole story. |
Farmer-Led Teams Take Action
As Growers Gather in Nation's Capital
Action teams and committees of corn growers met in Washington Monday and Tuesday to talk about farm-related issues in anticipation of two Corn Congress sessions and Capitol Hill visits that growers will be making on Wednesday and Thursday.
Many of the team meetings included presentations from special guests. Over in the Ethanol Committee, for example, presentations and updates from Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Coalition for Ethanol were highlights. On Tuesday afternoon, Jim Miller, the USDA's under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, addressed the Joint Trade Policy A-Team, a combined team of growers from NCGA and members of the U.S. Grains Council.
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Farmers, Ethanol Industry Reaffirm
Support for Current Ethanol Tax Policies
The American Coalition for Ethanol, the National Corn The American Coalition for Ethanol, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Sorghum Producers, and the Renewable Fuels Association today reaffirmed their support for two identical pieces of legislation that would extend current ethanol tax incentives through 2015. Current ethanol tax policies are working to build out the industry, expand infrastructure, and provide the foundation for new technologies to thrive.
"Our grassroots membership has made it clear that extension of the VEETC and support of our champions in the Congress is vital," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen, a corn grower in Hurley, S.D. "As our board and voting delegates visited with members of Congress this week it was apparent that time is short and extension is in the best interests of the corn industry."
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