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Friday, June 3, 2011

Write Congress about Flex-Fuel Vehicles, Ethanol Tax Policy 

 

Please help us grow marketing opportunities for U.S. corn by ensuring your federal lawmakers support two bills before Congress. In the Senate, the Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011 would transition and modify the ethanol blender's credit and improve upon current tax credits for the installation of blender pumps and ethanol fueling infrastructure.  Over in the House of Representatives, the Open Fuel Standard Act of 2011 would allow market access by increasing the number of flex-fuel vehicles produced and sold in the United States. 

 

What can you do? Click here to visit our Legislative Action Center and check whether your representative and senators are co-sponsoring either of these bills. If they are not, send them an email encouraging them to do so.

 

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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American Ethanol Raises the Green Flag at Kansas 400

 

Bowyer June 5When the green flag waves at the Kansas Speedway for this weekend's NASCAR events, more than 1,100 American Ethanol supporters, including a host of farmers, will be in the stands to cheer on Clint Bowyer, driving a special-edition American Ethanol paint scheme on his No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

 

"We knew the introduction of Sunoco Green E15 to NASCAR racing vehicles would get a lot of attention because it's a good fit for NASCAR's green initiative, and because of the increased horsepower on the track," said NCGA Chairman Darrin Ihnen, Growth Energy's partner on the American Ethanol initiative. "Drivers have been impressed with the power the fuel provides them under race conditions. Through our partnership with NASCAR, we are able to show the American public that if E-15 can stand the stress these drivers put it through, it's good for the family car, too."

 

For the whole story, click here. 

 

CFC Ad 2011

Corn Farmers Coalition Returns to Nation's Capital with Educational Program

 

For the third year in a row, our nation's capital will learn about the U.S. family farmers who produce corn, our nation's top crop, as part of the Corn Farmers Coalition program that debuts today at Union Station, an important venue for reaching policymakers inside "The Beltway."

 

"Even in the 21st Century, corn farming remains a family operation," said Kansas Corn Commission Chairman Mike Brzon, a farmer from Courtland, Kan. "In many cases, such as mine, this vocation goes back multiple generations. The family farmer growing corn for a hungry world isn't a myth, but a critical economic engine for our country and it's important that policymakers and influencers realize this."

 

For the whole story, click here. 

 

USDA Provides First Look at 2011 Crop Condition

 

In its first report on the condition of the 2011 corn crop as planting nears completion across the Corn Belt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture rated the crop 94 percent fair to excellent, compared to the last year's rating of 96 percent. Across the top 18 corn-producing states, the crop was 86 percent planted as of Sunday, nine points below average. Two thirds of the corn crop has emerged, compared to an average of 78 percent.

 

"The holiday weekend has brought warmer weather to a lot of areas, and we expect this to help our crop grow quickly," said National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Garry Niemeyer, a grower in Illinois. "We know that the day the seed goes in the ground is not always a good determiner of how the crop will turn out, and that weather through the growing season plays a larger role. We're hopeful our crop will be a record-setting bin-buster, as expected, despite the planting challenges many of us faced."

 

For the whole story, click here. 

 

NCGA Board Member Testifies on Importance of Risk Management in New Farm Bill

 

Gerstacker Testifies on 2012 Farm BillNCGA Board Member and Michigan Corn Growers Association President Clark Gerstacker testified during the first Farm Bill field hearing hosted by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich). Focused on the upcoming reauthorization of the farm bill, the hearing examined commodity programs, energy conservation and rural development.

 

"While farmers are eager to provide a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply, we face increasingly tumultuous markets that rise and fall with the wind," NCGA Corn Board Member Clark Gerstacker, a grower from Midland, Michigan said during his testimony. "At the same time, farmers also face higher input costs such as seed, fertilizer, and fuel. This is why the upcoming farm bill is so important."

 

For the whole story, click here.

 

NCGA Disappointed in Supreme Court's Denial of Review in Carbofuran Case

 

NCGA expressed disappointment in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to review the Environmental Protection Agency's food tolerance revocation for carbofuran. While usage of the insecticide has greatly decreased since the introduction of biotech traits more than a decade ago, the product has continued to serve as an important rescue treatment for corn rootworm if a grower determines that other products used at planting time were unsuccessful.

 

"It's unfortunate that the Supreme Court did not recognize the inconsistencies within the lower court ruling, which effectively deems the chemical safe for imported food but not for crops grown in the United States," NCGA President Bart Schott said. "We hope the EPA's handling of carbofuran is not an indication of how the agency intends to proceed with future product cancellations."

 

For the whole story, click here. 

 

WTO Contemplates Alternative for Doha Talks

 

Reports coming out of Geneva this week confirm that it will be impossible to conclude the Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations by the end of 2011. Negotiators are discussing a potential smaller package of trade concessions; however, no consensus has been reached on what is to be included. WTO Director General Pascal Lamy indicated during a May 31 meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee that the package should focus on benefits to least developed countries.

 

"For the United States, a core principle of our work going forward is this: all major players must make a meaningful contribution to any package deliverables for 2011," Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Michael Punke said. "To be blunt, this will not work if Members treat this as an 'everybody but us' exercise. All major players must take steps that are politically difficult. And, on that score, we are frankly concerned that we are hearing more from some about what they cannot do rather than what they can do. This simply will not work if the expectation is that one, or even two, of the major players will make the difficult choices while other major players sit on the sideline."

 

For the whole story, click here. 

Corn Board Candidate Profile Series 

Corn Board Candidate Chip Bowling Offers Unique Mix of Proximity and Passion

 

Chip Bowling PortraitThird in a series profiling candidates for the 2012 Corn Board.

 

An eager advocate who has never passed on an opportunity to speak out for his fellow farmers, Chip Bowling often makes the one-hour drive from his farm to Capitol Hill to represent the National Corn Growers Association in our nation's capital. Now, he wishes to contribute his experience, dedication and insight by serving as a member of the 2012 NCGA Corn Board.

 

"My parents taught me that if you don't get involved then you cannot really complain," said Bowling. "As close as I am to D.C., I feel I can really help. I can go to work on the Hill in the morning and be back getting my hands dirty the same day."

 

To learn more about Chip Bowling, click here.

Corn Commentary New

Today, our intrepid blogger takes the bull by the horns and shares some Texas truth about the relationship between ethanol and feed prices.

 

To get the latest corny perspective on this and other issues, visit our award-winning Corn Commentary blog by clicking here.