EPA Requests Extension of NPDES Permits Requirement Deadline

The National Corn Growers Association welcomes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's request to extend the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits deadline to allow operators more time to obtain the permits. The current deadline is April 9, and the EPA has requested it be pushed back until October 31. Until the court makes a decision on the extension request, permits for pesticide applications will not be required.

"We appreciate the fact that EPA understands the complexity of these requirements and that compliance in such a short amount of time has the potential to have a huge impact on production agriculture," NCGA President Bart Schott said. "We believe the court decision was an overreach and that additional examination is needed."

During Commodity Classic in Tampa, Fla., farmers had the opportunity to send letters to their Members of Congress expressing concerns on the approaching deadline. Growers also urged their Senators and Representatives to support legislation to clarify that NPDES permits are not necessary when applying pesticides according to their EPA-approved label.

"Farmers use pesticides to help produce a safe, abundant and affordable food supply and we could be significantly impacted by this new federal policy" Schott said. "We hope the court grants the extension request to ensure farmers and other pesticide users will have time to fully understand and comply with the permits before the program takes effect."

2010 Facts and Figures in New World of Corn

U.S. corn farmers succeeded during a challenging year in 2010, producing a near-record harvest (12.4 billion bushels) and high average yields (152.8 nationally) despite harsh weather, NCGA reports in its newest World of Corn statistical look at the corn industry both domestic and worldwide.

World of Corn is a respected collection of the most important statistics about corn production, exports and consumption, providing key information in a readable format, comparing numbers and trends across the years.

This year's publication, available online now, highlights the wide variety of roles that farmers must play, from environmentalist to technology geek, in order to ensure that both their farm and their industry as a whole continue to meet growing demand in a sustainable manner. A special edition of the World of Corn featuring statistics in metric measurements will soon follow.

"Corn fuels nations around the world; as a food ingredient, a feedstock, a fuel, a fiber, an ingredient in building materials and pharmaceuticals, and beyond," NCGA President Bart Schott and Chief Executive Officer Rick Tolman note in the introduction. "It is possibly the most versatile crop in the world, and demand is at an all-time high. Most importantly, we are fortunate to have enough corn for all needs and all customers around the globe."

In addition to the online version, the publication, sponsored by Monsanto, was distributed in select Farm Progress publications and at the 2011 Commodity Classic in Tampa, Fla.

Facebook the Focus of NCGA's Third Social Media Training Webinar

NCGA's 2011 Social Media Training Program will host a webinar covering "High Functioning on Facebook" on 10:30 a.m. CST Thursday, March 17. The program is generously co-sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, and is the third of 12 free hour-long online learning sessions that will be held monthly through 2011.

"NCGA is strongly founded in a grassroots approach to grower activism and, especially today, this includes providing the tools that help growers tell their stories," said Grower Services Action Team Chair Brandon Hunnicutt, a farmer in Nebraska very active in using Facebook and Twitter. "As Facebook continues to grow its network and popularity exponentially, it is imperative that farmers reach directly to consumers, the overwhelming majority of whom are completely removed from the farm, and speak to them about the values and methods that underpin American agriculture. Developing skills in this arena can empower any grower to become a strong advocate for his or her industry."

Next week's webinar will cover how to get the most out of Facebook. Building upon the basic Facebook training in the first webinars, this session provides the knowledge and tools that elevate basic users to expert status. Presenters will focus on best practices, how to use Facebook to accomplish a variety of goals, measuring success in this medium and how to avoid Facebook specific pitfalls.

Follow-up webinars are planned for April 28, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17 and December 15. Times for these will be announced prior to the webinars.

Click here to register or get more information.

The series will be conducted by The Vandiver Group, a strategic communications firm based in St. Louis. Previous webinar presentations are available at NCGA's Website.

Policy Discussions, Votes Put NCGA Corn Congress in the Spotlight

From ethanol to farm bill to genetic research, NCGA grower leaders last week updated the organization's policy book on a number of hot-button issues of interest to corn growers and their farm colleagues nationwide. 125 delegates representing 25 states spent hours discussing and voting on a large list of forward-thinking initiatives that reflect NCGA's commitment to creating and expanding opportunity for its members.

"We had an excellent slate of policy recommendations for the delegates to consider, and we are proud of the way they came together and agreed on the direction we will take in the months ahead," said NCGA First Vice President Garry Niemeyer. "We are moving into a critical time in Washington, with ethanol tax policy under debate, the 2012 farm bill looming, and an expanding regulatory burden being placed on our farmers."

Among the additions to the policy book were statements that the ethanol blenders tax credit should be transitioned to a market-based safety net for the ethanol industry and that NCGA should investigate transitioning direct payments into programs that allow producers the ability to manage risk while assuring food security.

Delegates also defined what a "safety net" means - a combination of risk management tools available to producers that have the ability to protect against revenue losses due to circumstances beyond their control.

At Corn Congress, it was recognized that NCGA was one of the leaders in securing the funds to map the corn genome and that research needs to continue. Delegates called on NCGA to develop an aggressive strategic plan for public research in functional genomics and translational genetics of corn and focus policy and research dollars to that end.

Also, delegates called on the NCGA to make every effort to secure FDA acceptance and approval of the Corn Sugar petition and should oppose HFCS-free campaigns by food and beverage companies. NCGA has already submitted comments to the FDA, accessible here, supporting the Corn Refiners Association initiative.

Click here for a one-page summary of major policy additions. The policy book will be posted online as soon as revisions are reviewed, numbered and paginated.

Commodity Organizations Issue Joint Statement on Federal Deficit and Debt Reduction

Leadership of the National Corn Growers Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the American Soybean Association and the National Sorghum Producers issued a joint statement on the federal deficit and debt reduction.

"Farmer members of the American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Sorghum Producers met at Commodity Classic to determine policies that reflect their priorities in 2011 and beyond. Among these priorities, we recognize that reducing federal deficits and the national debt is critical to putting the American economy, including U.S. agriculture, on a sound course for future growth and prosperity.

"We note that agriculture made a down payment in cutting spending when the Department of Agriculture directed $4 billion in savings under the Standard Reinsurance Agreement for federal crop insurance toward deficit reduction. We believe any further reduction in discretionary spending should recognize and reflect this contribution. We would also note that agriculture-related programs represent less than one-half of one percent of the federal budget.

"Looking forward, we believe any meaningful approach to deficit and debt reduction in the FY2012 budget must encompass all entitlement programs and all discretionary spending. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to develop a budget that successfully addresses the need for federal deficit and debt reduction balanced with the need of ensuring a successful agricultural economy."

Making the statement on behalf of their organizations were NCGA President Bart Schott, a corn grower from Kulm, N.D.; NAWG President Jerry McReynolds, a wheat producer from Woodston, Kan.; ASA President Alan Kemper, a soybean farmer from Lafayette, Ind.; and NSP Chairman Gerald Simonsen, a sorghum grower from Ruskin, Neb.

NCGA Welcomes New Director of Public Policy

NCGA welcomes Sarah Gallo to the Washington D.C. office as Director of Public Policy. She will lead the public policy efforts for trade and biotechnology issues and serve as staff lead for the Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team.

"Sarah brings a well rounded and diverse background to NCGA," Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett said. "She has experience on Capitol Hill, in agriculture and as a trade association lobbyist. She will be a great addition to our staff."

Gallo most recently served as agriculture counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business, where she was lead staff for the committee on all agriculture and rural issues. Prior to her service there, Gallo was the government relations representative for the National Farmers Union in Washington, where she lobbied Congress and the Administration on a number of issues for NFU and served as secretary of the NFU Political Action Committee. Gallo also has worked as communications coordinator for the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association.

A native of northeastern Pennsylvania, Gallo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology with a concentration in Marine Science from Boston University.

Opening Markets Abroad Through Biotech Safety, Sustainability Education

This week, NCGA met with a team of agricultural research and technology experts from Indonesia to explain the safety of biotech crops and how proper growing systems are implemented. NCGA staff discussed the current corn supply and demand situation, the role of biotechnology in the U.S. market and NCGA's role as an industry leader.

"International outreach and education are important pieces of NCGA's overall effort to create and maintain overseas markets for U.S. corn farmers," said Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team Chair Chad Blindauer.  "By demonstrating the safety of the technology the majority of growers use, we help international audiences become more open to this key tool in the fight to feed the growing global population in a sustainable manner."

With an estimated global population of 9 billion by 2050, farmers face massive demand increases that they will have to meet on roughly the same amount of land while simultaneously decreasing farm inputs and emissions.  Biotechnology such as that used in many varieties of corn - both on the market and in the pipeline - offers the ability to meet this challenge.  In educating foreign audiences about the benefits of this technology, NCGA strives to open markets by increasing global biotech acceptance and decreasing trade barriers.

Composed of government officials, food safety experts and key industry influencers from both the private sector and academia, the team traveled to the United States to better understand the sustainability and safety of biotech crops and to explore how the U.S. biotech regulations and research function.  Additionally, team members looked at NCGA as a model for strengthening the country's current agricultural organization framework while improving association functionality. 

While here, delegates also met with upper-level officials from the Foreign Agricultural Service Office of Science and Technical Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. State Department, Pioneer, CropLife, PBS, the U.S. Grains Council, Monsanto and the Danforth Plant Science Center.

NCGA Thanks Sen. Nelson for Job-Saving Ethanol Amendments 

NCGA thanked Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) for filing amendments to undo two anti-ethanol provisions in the House passed version of the Continuing Resolution. Sen. Nelson's amendments would remove two amendments authored by Reps. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

"We appreciate Senator Nelson standing up for ethanol," NCGA President Bart Schott said. "E15 is a tested and approved fuel blend for most cars on the roads today, and we encourage the Senate to pass the Nelson amendments and help improve energy security at a time of high oil prices and turbulence in the Mideast and North Africa."

The Sullivan amendment would stop funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement a regulation that increases the ethanol content in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. The Flake amendment would prevent federal funds from being used for ethanol storage facilities or the blender pumps that would be used to provide consumers access to prepare fuel with a higher ethanol content.

Ethanol Legislation Backs Blender Pumps, Enhanced Biofuels Infrastructure

NCGA appreciates Senator Amy Klobuchar's leadership in introducing the "Securing America's Future with Energy and Sustainable Technologies (SAFEST) Act." This legislation will create jobs, reduce depended on foreign oil and enhance national security.

"Many of the provisions in the proposed legislation are important to our growers," NCGA President Bart Schott said. "We are pleased to see it addresses the problem of the international land use theory and the need for new and enhanced biofuels infrastructure."

Among the bill's other ethanol-related provisions are the requirement for increased production of flex-fuel vehicles and tax incentives for blender pumps as well as a requirement for more pumps beginning in the year 2013. The bill also allows corn starch ethanol to be considered an advanced biofuel in the Renewable Fuel Standard.