NCGA President Bart Schott addresses a NASCAR crowd in Las Vegas at Thursday's announcement of the NASCAR American Ethanol partnership.

Nation's Corn Farmers Support American Ethanol Partnership with NASCAR

The National Corn Growers Association and its state affiliates are among the organizations backing American Ethanol, a partnership including Growth Energy and NASCAR. This new partnership, announced by NASCAR yesterday, comes after the popular racing organization said in October it would fuel all races with E15, a 15 percent corn ethanol blend, starting with the 2011 season.

"The productivity of America's farmers is unrivaled in the world and our ability to supply corn for food, livestock feed and fuel should be a source of national pride. This exciting new association with the NASCAR Nation will help to build that awareness," said Bart Schott, NCGA president and a corn grower in Kulm, N.D. "With precision farming, innovation, technology and hard work farmers can double our harvest in the years ahead. NASCAR is a high-profile way to showcase one great use for this abundance." NCGA's involvement comes with the generous support of state corn checkoff investments.

As part of the multi-year agreement, America Ethanol will be highlighted on every vehicle running in a NASCAR race and be prominent on NASCAR's Green Flag. In addition, American Ethanol will sponsor a new award for every race, be featured on-site race day events and more. American Ethanol will support drivers, teams and tracks with marketing, promotional activities and advertising.

"NASCAR and American Ethanol are ideal partners," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. "NASCAR is a great American sport in its third generation of family ownership, and ethanol is produced from the harvest of family-owned farms across our country's heartland."

"American Ethanol's new partnership with NASCAR is much larger and more ambitious than a typical sports sponsorship," France added. "Here we have an entire industry looking to NASCAR to communicate its message that America is capable of producing its own renewable, greener fuel. The entire NASCAR industry will benefit from American Ethanol's multi-faceted support of NASCAR, as well as from thousands of farmers and members of the ethanol supply chain now serving as new ambassadors for the sport."

Led by Growth Energy, nearly 100 different entities - from individual ethanol plants to NCGA to biotech companies - are rallying around NASCAR to communicate their ethanol message.

"E15 is an enormous opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create U.S. jobs, and strengthen national energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil," said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. "There is nothing more American than NASCAR, and there is no fuel more American than ethanol. We are so proud that the bounty of American farming will be used in NASCAR racing."

For more information, visit www.americanethanolracing.com

Ag Export Record Expected for 2011

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated ag exports for fiscal year 2011 to be record-setting at a total $126.5 billion, up $17.8 billion from 2010 numbers. This includes a sizable increase in the value of exported corn, from just over $9 billion in 2010 to a forecast of $12.3 billion, based on higher grain costs.

"Export markets are an important part of U.S. corn consumption as American corn farmers continue to grow more corn per acre than anyone else," said NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Chairman Chad Blindauer, a grower from Mitchell, South Dakota. "We are always working on building new markets, here and abroad, for U.S. corn and support efforts to open overseas markets for conventional corn."

USDA increased its export estimate for 2011 by $13.5 billion from its August forecast as export demand for a range of crops increased, including corn, soybeans and wheat. The 2011 figure, if reached, would surpass the prior export record set in fiscal year 2008 of $114.9 billion by $11.6 billion.

Notably the U.S. will maintain its favorable agricultural trade balance. In 2011, the U.S. will import $85.5 billion in ag products resulting in a positive trade balance of $41 billion.

Both grain and feed exports are on the rise and are now projected to total $35.4 billion, with corn exports, forecast at 1.96 billion bushels, accounting for $12.3 billion of that figure.  Corn farmers will also benefit from increased meat and livestock product exports.  Currently, beef, pork, dairy and poultry should see $17.3 billion in exports in the 2011 fiscal year.  

With projected Chinese imports at $2.5 billion, Asia accounted for more than half of the increase in demand.  Chinese demand continues to rise and, now, the country will be the second largest importer of U.S. farm goods, importing only $500 million less than the largest market, Canada.  Other major export markets include Mexico, Japan, the EU and South Korea.

For the full report, please click here.

NCGA and Industry Work Together on Bt Corn Refuge Implementation

To assist farmers in developing the right plan for refuge compliance, NCGA has joined forces with agribusiness to develop a next-generation Insect Resistance Management refuge calculator that is easy to use and represents the latest products available.

In recent years, the introduction of new refuge systems has given growers more options in setting up their refuge. NCGA's calculator was developed as a tool to clarify those options with growers and show them how to execute the requirements properly.

Industry experts from the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee (ABSTC) which is made up of representatives from Dow AgroSciences LLC, Monsanto Company, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., and Syngenta Seeds Inc., were consulted in developing the new and improved calculator. "Planting a proper refuge is critical to keeping Bt technology on the market. Growers must ensure they plant and manage a refuge for each Bt corn field they grow in accordance with EPA requirements. Growers who fail to plant a refuge risk being denied access to the technology," says Nick Storer, Chair of the ABSTC.

The benefits of this new tool include all commercial Bt products on the market and features a trait selection process that allows farmers to run several planting scenarios on a field-by-field basis. Its updated interface and clearer planting options makes refuge calculation simpler to do. To download the NCGA calculator, please visit www.irmcalculator.com.

The refuge calculator is a tool that should be used in conjunction with the applicable seed manufacturer's Stewardship Guide which explains acceptable refuge configurations in more detail. For additional information on planting specific corn hybrids, please consult with the appropriate manufacturer's representative.

Last Call for Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Applications

With the deadline for applications fast approaching, students wishing to apply for the NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship, sponsored by BASF, must submit a completed application postmarked no later than next Friday, December 10, 2010.

Applicants for the NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program must be entering at least their second undergraduate year or any year of graduate study, and they or a parent or legal guardian must be an NCGA member. Scholarship applications must be postmarked on or before Dec. 10.

Scholarship recipients will be selected in early 2011. Recipients and a parent or guardian will enjoy travel and lodging to attend a portion of the 2011 Commodity Classic in Tampa, Fla., to be recognized at the NCGA Awards Banquet and have the opportunity to learn more about modern agriculture.

This is the fourth year for the partnership between BASF and NCGA. Click here for the complete rules and application packet.

NCGA, 30 Other Ag Groups Talk Up Estate Tax in Nation's Capital