NCGA Corn Action News for December 10, 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010

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About Us

Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) represents approximately 36,000 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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Action Teams Meet

Corn growers from around the country came to St. Charles, Mo., this past week when NCGA's farmer-led action teams held their first meetings of the 2011 fiscal year. Watch for a full report next week at NCGA.com.

NCGA Pleased Korean Free Trade Agreement Moving to Congressional Action

The National Corn Growers Association applauded the agreement reached this week on the trade pact between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. South Korea is one of the top five corn export markets for the United States and a potent growth market for corn products such as dried distillers grains (DDGS).

"We are very pleased to see the Korea FTA moving forward," Bart Schott, President of the National Corn Growers Association from Kulm, N.D. said. "The Korean market is very valuable to the American corn farmer and we fully support this FTA. We look forward to working on its passage as soon as possible in the new Congress."

The FTA provides that feed corn receive immediate duty-free treatment. In addition, Korea's WTO bound rate for DDGS is currently 6.6 percent. The FTA provides immediate duty-free access for DDGS into the Korean market. Value-added corn products such as pork exports are also anticipated to increase significantly under the agreement. In 2010, South Korea imported 351,389 metric tons of dried distillers grains from the United States.

In addition, tariffs on all refined corn products will eventually be phased out, creating new market access for corn sweeteners and corn oil. The agreement also provides immediate market access for exports of corn starch.

New Director for NCGA Research

The National Corn Growers Association announces the addition of Dr. Rick Vierling as Director of Research and New Uses. In this role, he will serve as lead staff for the Research and Business Development Action Team, which is part of the Production & Utilization Department.

"Rick possesses a wealth of knowledge in corn research and has first-hand experience bringing farmers together, and bringing their concepts to commercialization," said NCGA vice president of Production and Utilization Paul Bertels.

Maize trait and new product development, corn processing technologies, functional genomics and federal research spending will be among Vierling's areas of program responsibility.

Prior to joining NCGA, Vierling worked as Director of Indiana Crop Improvement Association's Genetics Program. ICIA is a non-governmental organization composed of agricultural and biotechnology firms interested in seed production and crop improvement. In addition to providing services to the seed industry, Vierling served as an adjunct professor in Purdue University's Department of Agronomy.

Among the many accomplishments Vierling has achieved as an administrator and scientist, his research literally reached new heights when he led a team of industry and university scientists that designed soybean gene transfer experiments conducted on the space shuttle by astronaut John Glenn during his return to space.

Corn Commentary New

On NCGA's award-winning blog, Corn Commentary, our intrepid blogger until legislators are willing to apply the same yardstick to all fuel sources regarding incentives, including oil, the debate in Washington should be decided in ethanol's favor.