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Friday, September 10, 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.
For more information on this important issue, please see the story below. |
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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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Corn Supply Record Still Probable Despite Decreased Yield
Corn growers remain on track for another record harvest, the National Corn Growers Association said today, commenting on new reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that decreased yield and overall production projections for the 2010 crop. If realized, this will be the largest corn crop on record at 13.2 billion bushels, breaking the previous record of 13.1 billion bushels set in 2009.
"While yields probably will not set records this year, corn growers continue to set production records without a significant increase in the number of total acres in use," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen, a grower in Hurley, S.D. "Growers are constantly at the mercy of the weather, but advances in biotechnology and production technologies and techniques continually better allow us to withstand difficult conditions and cultivate enough corn to meet all demands - even under difficult conditions."
Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 162.5 bushels per acre, down 2.5 bushels from August's estimate and 2.2 bushels below last year's record of 164.7 bushels per acre.
The national average yield forecast declined as projected yields decreased last month through much of the Corn Belt, Tennessee Valley and Delta.
While harvest in the Dakotas has not yet begun in earnest, Ihnen characterized the outlook in his area as fairly good with flooding damaging only some of the lower areas. NCGA First Vice President Bart Schott predicted that the harvest in his home state of North Dakota would reach or closely approach current production records.
Conditions in Illinois are not looking as favorable, according to Garry Niemeyer, an NCGA board member and Auburn, Ill. grower. With roughly one-sixth of his own harvest complete, Niemeyer noted that even his best acres are nearly 20 bushels off last year's yields. Pointing out the positive aspects of the harvest, he noted that he would not have to pay for drying as he did in 2009 and that quick progress would allow for a thorough preparation for 2011.
USDA lowered domestic corn use projections for 2010 by 100 million bushels with lower expected feed and residual use as higher prices trim feeding demand and the smaller crop reduces residual disappearance. Projected exports increased by 50 million bushels due to rising world demand for coarse grains, particularly corn. U.S. corn ending stocks are expected to decline to 1.1 billion bushels, down 196 million bushels from previous assessment. Should this be realized, the 2010 carryout would be the lowest since 2003. Stocks as a percentage of total use would be the lowest since 1995.
The season-average farm price is projected at $4.00 to $4.80 per bushel.
USDA will issue revised supply-and-demand projections on October 8. The current projections come as less than 10 percent of harvest is complete in key states influenced by many of this year's weather issues such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri. At this time, many projections may again be adjusted to factor in information gained as harvest progresses. Possible changes include revision of harvested acreage in order to account for flooding and field ponding, adjustments to state yields and minor changes to use statistics on the 2009 and 2010 crops.
Click here for the USDA Crop Production Report Click here for the USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report |
EPA to Convene Panel on Atrazine
Beginning Tuesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a Scientific Advisory Panel for a reevaluation of the herbicide atrazine. For four days, academic, industry and government experts, along with representatives of stakeholder groups, will again address the EPA committee with information on the safe and important herbicide atrazine.
The most studied herbicide in the world, with more than 6,000 studies on record, atrazine is already supported as a safe crop protectant by years of credible, scientific research. Despite the copious data on this proven tool, the EPA is carrying out this reevaluation outside of normal procedures due to unsubstantiated activist claims based upon incendiary rhetoric. The National Corn Growers Association strongly opposes the EPA's complicity in this continued attack and urges the agency to base policy decisions in sound science.
The Triazine Network, of which NCGA is a member, recently wrote a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, expressing its concern on the agency's reevaluation. 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.
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VeraSun Lawyers Hit Below the (Corn) Belt
By Darrin Ihnen
President, NCGA
Fall is an important time for us farmers. It's the time of year when we reap what we have sown, and all our attention needs to be on our fields. Our very livelihood depends on it. Harvest success means food on our tables - and on everyone else's, for that matter.
Perhaps this is why it is especially unjust and scandalous that, two years after an ethanol company has gone bankrupt, farmers around the Corn Belt are being required, unnecessarily, to spend time and money to defend themselves against legal threats unless they return money paid them in 2008 for corn that was harvested, sold and delivered. Many of these same farmers lost money when VeraSun filed for bankruptcy and would not honor previous contracts for delivery.
For the entire story, click here. |
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Don't Forget the Locks and Dams
By Darrin Ihnen
President, NCGA
President Obama chose a Labor Day speech in Wisconsin to announce a new plan for rebuilding and modernizing America's roads, rails, and runways, and he is to be applauded for this effort. However, any mention of the aging lock-and-dam infrastructure that helped to make this nation great was conspicuously absent.
The National Corn Growers Association has long advocated for modernizing the critical inland waterways system because of the contribution it makes to jobs, the environment, energy efficiency and traffic congestion relief. So has President Obama. As a U.S. senator and as a presidential candidate, he was a leader and outspoken advocate for river transportation. In fact, he played a key role in passing the authorization for the Water Resources Development Act in 2007.
Since that time, the bill has languished for lack of action on funding. This recent oversight is troubling, given the inland navigation system moves more than a billion tons of domestic commerce valued at more than $300 billion per year. More than 60 percent of grain exports move to market by water, thus providing a direct and meaningful rural development program the nation sorely needs. Rivers also move coal, iron, steel, petroleum, and aggregates that make modern life possible.
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New Markets for Corn Heat Up This Summer
The possibilities for biodegradable corn-based plastics, clothing, bedding, packing materials and even sodium-free salt are heating up, thanks to recent research advances funded by state corn associations or carried out through government agencies. Through recent advances, several alternative uses for corn may become more viable increasing corn markets and profitability for growers across the country.
"This research provides corn growers more market stability for our versatile product," said National Corn Growers Association Research and Business Development Action Team Chair Larry Hasheider. "We're especially pleased to see the involvement in several state corn checkoff organizations in furthering this important work that moves us in the right direction of reducing our landfill space requirements. As more products are developed along these lines, we progress toward a more biodegradable society as a whole."
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A Fond Farewell
 The National Corn Growers Association wishes National Corn Yield Contest Coordinator Judy Hall a fond farewell this month as she retires following 17 years of dedicated service. Consistently recognized by contest entrants for her ability to patiently and clearly help guide them through the sometimes complex entry process, Hall will certainly be missed both by staff and by growers.
"Watching such a patient, loyal, dedicated employee leave, I can see how some of her determination and work ethic have influenced her fellow employees," said NCGA CEO Rick Tolman. "Judy has been a valuable part of NCGA through her years of service and has certainly benefitted the corn industry as a whole."
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