NCGA Shifts into High Gear as NASCAR American Ethanol Takes Green Flag at Daytona 500

This Sunday, the Daytona 500 changes NASCAR history as every car will be powered by Sunoco Green E15 - a blend of 15 percent American ethanol. This fuel change, which will become standard for all three NASCAR series this year, represents a shift in professional racing toward a more sustainable, environmentally friendly, domestic fuel source.

The National Corn Growers Association, both as a direct partner and through American Ethanol, is helping use this opportunity to educate all Americans about the value of ethanol for our nation's economy and energy security.

"Corn farmers have played a big role supporting research to make ethanol production more efficient and promoting its many benefits," said Bart Schott, NCGA president. "Now, it is time to showcase all ethanol has to offer on a national stage. Working with NASCAR, and the other members of American Ethanol, is a remarkable opportunity for America's family farmers."

This weekend, grower leaders and state and national corn association staff will be on-the-ground promoting the benefits of ethanol and stressing the strong endorsement of ethanol that NASCAR's upgrade to a higher blend provides. Additionally, NCGA will be using social media to provide interesting, of-the-moment coverage of the events.

To subscribe to NCGA's feed and follow the festivities from home, click here.

"If the best drivers in the world use an E15 blend in $100,000 cars running at 850 horsepower, why wouldn't it work for all Americans?" said NCGA CEO Rick Tolman.

The NCGA, NASCAR American Ethanol partnership involves a multi-year agreement through which American Ethanol will sponsor a new award each race and be featured on-site for race days. Additionally, NASCAR will now feature the green American Ethanol flag, of which 120,000 will be distributed during the Daytona 500 alone.

American ethanol is an opportunity that draws on the strength and ingenuity of American farmers to produce our nation's own source of fuel. American farmers are the most productive in the world, making this opportunity viable through their ability to continually produce more corn without increasing land use and while decreasing the resources used.

Specifically, corn farmers in the United States can grow twice the grain per acre than China and more than twice the grain per acre than Brazil. The 2010 corn harvest, despite many challenges, was the third-largest in U.S. history. With precision farming, innovation and technology American corn farmers can double our harvest within 30 years thus providing enough corn to both feed and fuel a growing world.

The Daytona 500 airs on FOX networks at noon Central Sunday. Qualifying rounds and other events will be featured throughout the weekend on Speed TV and ESPN 2.

Secretary Tom Vilsack, Chairman Frank Lucas to Speak at Commodity Classic

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas will deliver keynote addresses to an expected crowd of more than 4,500 farmers during General Session at the 16th Annual Commodity Classic, March 4 in Tampa, Fla. 

"We are honored to welcome two of the most respected and influential men in Washington on agriculture issues to Commodity Classic," National Corn Growers Association President Bart Schott said. "With a new farm bill and election year looming, our growers will value their attendance and appreciate hearing about their positions on future farm policy."

"It will be a pleasure to have both the Secretary and the new House Ag Chairman join us in Tampa," said American Soybean Association President Alan Kemper. "I am looking forward to hearing how the Administration and Congress are going to work together to support the President's National Export Initiative (NEI) goal of doubling exports in the next five years."

For more information, please visit Commodity Classic's website: http://www.commodityclassic.com/ 

Learn about Ag's Newest Trends at Commodity Classic

In less than two weeks, soybean, corn, wheat and sorghum growers from around the country will gather at Commodity Classic in Tampa, Fla., for an experience that will educate, enlighten and entertain. It's an event that provides benefits for a grower's farm operation and profitability for years to come.

The 16th Annual Commodity Classic will help growers set sail for a successful 2011 by offering educational sessions on topics such as the new pesticide application permits, crop insurance and sustainability.

"There is no better time to improve one's marketing skills then now with record commodity price levels," said Commodity Classic Co-chair Charles Cannatella. "Growers can increase their profitability from attending one of the marketing sessions during Commodity Classic."

In addition to educational opportunities, attendees will enjoy exhibits from over 220 companies in 870 booths at the trade show. Escape the winter blues and embrace the sun while learning from ag industry experts, networking with fellow growers, and attending association banquets and events.

The Commodity Classic grand finale will be the Evening of Entertainment on March 5. Described as "the best harmony band in the world," the Little River Band will delight the crowd with a performance of their unforgettable melodies.

Commodity Classic, to be held March 3-5, is the premier convention and trade show offered by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Sorghum Producers and National Association of Wheat Growers. Pre-registration for the convention ends Feb. 18 and on-site registration begins March 2 (based on availability).

For more information on Commodity Classic, please visit www.CommodityClassic.com.

NCGA to Feature IRM Calculator at Commodity Classic

As spring approaches, growers must again consider refuge requirement compliance.  NCGA, along with agribusiness partners, offers the Insect Resistance Management Refuge Calculator as a tool to help farmers determine how to comply with varying and often complex regulations. The calculator is both easy to use and represents the latest products available.

Off the Cob sat down with NCGA President Bart Schott and Director of Biotechnology and Economic Analysis Nathan Fields to discuss the importance of this tool recently. For the full interview, click here.

"The calculator is a great jump forward for helping growers stay compliant," said NCGA president Bart Schott. "We have been working on this tool for several years and are glad that we can share this type of tool with our growers."

Notably, staff will be on hand during Commodity Classic to demonstrate the calculator in the NCGA booth. Held March 3 through 5 in Tampa, Florida, Commodity Classic is the preeminent agricultural trade show.

NCGA will feature the calculator, along with information about other programs including the American Ethanol- NASCAR partnership, CommonGround and potential legislation in booth 702.

To view the tool now, click here.

If you have not already registered for Commodity Classic and want to do so before today's deadline, click here.

Growing World Middle Class Means Fundamental Change for U.S. Grain Industry

Keynote speaker J.B. Penn, chief economist with Deere & Company, set an optimistic tone during the opening session of the U.S. Grains Council's 2011 International Marketing Conference and Annual Membership Meeting in New Orleans Monday morning. In "Forces Shaping the Agricultural Marketplace of the Future," Penn credited rising incomes and changes in dietary preferences of the growing middle class in developing countries as important drivers of demand for U.S. coarse grains.

Fast-growing world demand is keeping commodity prices high. Penn noted that 40 percent of the world's population now lives in countries with economies that are growing at 8 percent annually.

"This is good news for people with grain to sell," Penn said.

People Want to Eat More, Better
 Penn contended that the world is undergoing a significant and sustainable shift in supply and demand.

"We are in the middle of a broad structural shift. People want to eat more and better," he said.

Worldwide consumption is now outpacing agricultural production, causing food prices to increase to historic highs. He said rising food costs can be a catalyst for uprising and protests to emerge over long-simmering social unrest, as evidenced recently in Tunisia and Egypt.

"Growth in agricultural productivity will be central to world food security," Penn said.

The increased production will come from yield increases on land already in production, not new cropland.

"There isn't much more arable land, and bringing new land into production is too expensive and controversial."

Half the World Lives in Cities
 Penn said agriculture's challenge is to produce twice as much food in the next 40 years with the same resources as today. He mentioned the Global Harvest Initiative,www.globalharvestinitiative.org, a public-private initiative established in 2008 to help agriculture meet the challenge of world food demands while sustaining natural resources.

In 2007, the world reached the mark where 50 percent of the population lives in urban areas, and this increases the importance of "enlightened trade policies."

"The link between increased productivity and increased consumption is trade. Things like trade barriers, export restrictions and tariffs cause panic in world markets. A rules-based trading system is critical for our industry to meet world demand," Penn said.

Fundamentals Are Strong
 Acknowledging that volatility is the new norm, Penn believes the fundamentals of supply and demand are strong and present a promising future for agriculture.

"Today's economic growth is occurring in developing countries that were not a significant part of the world economy 40 years ago," he said.

Ultimately, countries whose economies are projected to continue growing, will be long-term customers for America's grain farmers.

Reminder! 2011 Brings Big Changes to National Corn Yield Contest

While winners continue a well-deserved celebration of their 2010 corn yield contest victories, the National Corn Growers Association ramps up efforts to further modernize the contest in 2011. For 46 years, NCGA has monitored prevailing trends and new technologies that constantly change the face of corn farming. The upcoming contest will reflect these, as well as the growing popularity of the contest itself, through a fresh logo, improved software, new deadlines and restructured entry categories.

"We are excited about the improvements and changes to the National Corn Yield Contest going into effect for 2011," said Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Steve Ebke. "As its popularity grows, the contest continually evolves to meet the needs of growers and these changes will make it even more accessible while maintaining its relevance and integrity."

To learn about these important changes, click here.

Growers Meet about Membership, Leadership and Communications

Corn farmers involved in NCGA's Grower Services Action Team met in Dallas this week to focus on the team's three core program areas - membership, leadership and communications. Building membership, increasing benefits, building grower-leaders and communicating the values of today's agriculture were the subjects of presentations and discussions for three days.

"Our team has an important mission to serve NCGA and the corn industry," said team vice chairman Bill Berg, a corn grower from Wapakoneta, Ohio, who ran the session. "NCGA is seeing its membership grow in numbers and involvement, and state corn checkoff organizations growing committed to investing in communications projects and collaborations. Farmers are recognizing the importance and the influence of NCGA and its many activities."

To learn more, click here.