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Friday, August 20, 2010
Contact EPA With Your Support for Atrazine 

The Triazine Network, of which the National Corn Growers is a member, has written a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, expressing its concern on the agency's re-review of the safe and important herbicide  atrazine. As an organization or individual citizen interested in a science-based outcome to the atrazine issue at the EPA, your support of this letter is vital. In doing so, you can help assure that the EPA follows agency protocol and uses science-based evidence when reviewing atrazine, not the false accusations of activists. Please click on this link, to read the Triazine Network's letter to EPA Administrator Jackson listing our concerns about the agency's handling of the re-review of atrazine, and join us in this effort.
About Us

Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) represents approximately 35,000 dues-paying corn growers and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to help protect and advance corn growers' interests.
 
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Strike While the Iron is Hot; Contact Your Elected Officials this August   
 

During the month of August, members of Congress return to their states and districts to hear from their constituents. Now is the perfect time for growers to contact their representatives and senators to speak out about legislation important to American agriculture. The National Corn Growers Association urges growers to reach out to their elected officials about the many issues that need to be addressed, including trade with Cuba, the Clean Water Act and the extension of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit.

"We think that VEETC is an appropriate public policy decision to incentivize the use of renewable fuels produced here in the United States particularly when it is produced by corn," NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett said. "We are hopeful that Congress will include this in legislation that will pass the House and the Senate, but legislators need to hear from you on its importance to your industry."

 

There will be an abundance of opportunities to meet with your lawmaker during the summer recess - including town hall meetings, listening sessions, campaign events or at county and state fairs. Congress returns to Washington September 13, and NCGA urges its members to contact their representatives and Senators while they are at home over the next three weeks. To find out where your elected officials will be, contact their district or state offices. Specific contact information can be found on each official's website.

 

For more information on issues of importance to growers, visit the online NCGA Public Policy Center.

Seeking Growers for Action Teams, Committees 
 
NCGA is seeking applications from members interested in working on an NCGA action team or committee in the 2011 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. This service provides growers an opportunity to play an active role in shaping the future of their industry and to become a part of the national agricultural leadership community.

 

"NCGA has always been fortunate to have so many qualified grower leaders willing to work for the good of the industry," said NCGA First Vice President Bart Schott. "This year, we have opportunities in every area the organization touches that will allow members to take their involvement to the next level while exploring in great depth the areas which interest them the most."

 

Positions are available on all teams and committees: Production and Stewardship Action Team, Research and Business Development Action Team, Public Policy Action Team, Grower Services Action Team, Biotechnology Working Group, Ethanol Committee, Joint Trade Policy A-Team and CornPAC.

 

Action team and committee applications are available online at the NCGA Insider Web site. Deadline for receipt of applications in the NCGA St. Louis office is Wednesday, Sept.1. Interested parties can contact Kathy Baker at the NCGA office with questions, at (636) 733-9004.

Leadership at Its Best Helps Growers Succeed in Key Positions
 

The first session of the National Corn Growers Association's Leadership Academy took place last week in Greensboro, N.C., sponsored by Syngenta. Upon completion of the program in January, the participants will join more than 500 colleagues who have graduated from this program in the past 24 years.

 

At the meeting, participants got an up-close look at NCGA from President Darrin Ihnen and First Vice President Bart Schott, both of whom are Leadership Academy alumni. They also took part in media training and public speaking exercises as well as association management presentations. In addition, the class learned about the state of biotechnology and present challenges and opportunities for corn growers and enjoyed a comprehensive economic forecast from futurist Bob Treadway.

 

"As someone who went through the training myself, I'm always amazed at the level of knowledge and expertise participants reach over the course of a few days, and the ability of Syngenta and other presenters to hone in on what is most needed," ihnen said. "Likewise, I'm proud of the interest that the growers and their state associations have continually seen in this program. Leadership requires passion and collaboration, and we're seeing it each year as the growers share their personal stories, get to know each other and encourage each other."

 

Off the Cob LogoFollowing the first session, Off the Cob caught up with Grower Services Action Team Chairman Tim Dolan and NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. Both graduates of the program, the leaders spoke of the benefits of the course and their personal experiences with the program.

 

"This program gives us the skills needed in today's social world to talk to our legislators, our congressmen and our senators," said Dolan. "It is essential that leaders can communicate clearly to both their communities and the broader world what modern agriculture means and what exactly corn growers do."

 

To listen to Tim Dolan speak about leadership, please click here.

 

For Darrin Ihnen's views on the subject, please click here.

Improving Ethanol Efficiencies 
 
Developmental stages are inherent in all human endeavors. This is true of individuals, communities and commerce. As endeavors cycle from infancy to toddler stages, greater efficiencies are gained. In markets, growth signals product acceptance and provides the necessary incentives for production improvements. Recent studies revealed significant efficiencies spurred by growth and development in the ethanol industry.

 

"As we see it, this is just the tip of the iceberg," said NCGA First Vice President Bart Schott. "Ethanol has proven to be an advantageous green alternative to foreign and ecologically precarious sources of petroleum. These studies illustrate that innovations in agriculture and ethanol production will only further enhance ethanol's desirability as an energy resource worthy of continued support."

 
For the whole story, click here.
Friday's Farmer
Running a Cleaner, Greener Farm
 
AdamsJohn and Sue Adams are the fifth generation to own and operate the family farm in Atlanta, Ill. It's a farm they own along with several family members of different generations.

"We believe strongly in conservation tillage and adopted no-till on our farm in 1983, significantly reducing wind and water erosion," said John. 


The Adams use Integrated Pest Management to determine which crop production products to use to control insects and weeds, and they worked with a university on nitrogen rate studies so they could better understand the amount of nitrogen to apply to their cornfields for the most profitable yields and income. These efforts allowed them to increase yields by 60-75 bushels per acre while applying considerably less insecticide, crop protection products and fertilizer - and using 50 percent less fuel to power their equipment. 

Learn more about them and others at the Corn Farmer Coalition website. 
On the Blog...
Looking at some devilish corn clip art...and the absurdity of petroleum...while taking a minute to talk it up...it's all about how to communicate with a corn grower... maybe about the absurdity of petroleum... or the essential nature of US agricultural production capacity... or even just about must see meat tv...