Get the Facts! 2011 Corn Fact Book Tells Amazing Story of Ag Innovation 

Information on America's family farmers and the positive contribution they make to the nation's economy is now just a click away as the 2011 edition of the Corn Farmers Coalition's Corn Fact Book is now available online.

The educational publication, funded by corn checkoff programs in 14 states, is being widely distributed in Washington in support of a major educational campaign that includes print, radio, online and large scale outdoor messages. It is now available to the general public.

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NCGA Encouraged with Movement on Pending FTAs

Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees held mock mark-ups Thursday of the pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. The National Corn Growers Association is encouraged that both committees reported all draft implementing language out favorably without any amendments. The White House will now prepare final implementing bills to be sent to Congress for an up or down vote.

"NCGA is pleased members of both committees were able to come together to report the draft implementing language out of committee favorably," NCGA President Bart Schott said. "We look forward to working with both the House and Senate to ensure swift passage of the final implementing bills in the near future."

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NCGA Questions Witness List in House Hearing on E15

If you were a Congressional subcommittee and you were going to hold a hearing "Examining the Science Behind E15," whom would you invite to testify? Would you invite some of the researchers that looked into how E15 and other mid-level blends work in automotive engines? Would you invite the ethanol industry to explain why they asked for a waiver so gas stations could offer E15 blends and what science they might have to explain their actions?

While these may seem to be logical organizations to invite to the table, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment decided to invite chicken lobbyists, environmentalists and Big Oil - each of whom have real or imagined concerns about ethanol itself at any level, the National Corn Growers Association said.

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Revisiting Ethanol's Impact on Corn, Feed Prices

As the debate over ethanol policy continues in Washington, reviewing recent research on the subject of ethanol and corn prices may prove insightful especially when one set of ethanol opponents blames the biofuel as the leading cause of higher livestock and poultry feed prices.

"There is a lot of false rhetoric out there about the impact of ethanol policy on corn prices and by extension the price of food and feed," said NCGA President Bart Schott. "The research does not support this rhetoric and it is time to move past this and work together for stronger economic security and a broad approach to energy independence that can help reduce costs."

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Corn Congress Delegates to Elect Five to 2012 Corn Board

Next week, delegates attending the National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress in Washington will elect five farmers to serve on the organization's Corn Board. Taking office in fiscal year 2012, the leaders selected will help shape the policies that guide the organization and will best serve corn farmers across the United States.

Corn Board Candidates for 2012 are Keith Alverson, Chester, S.D.; Martin Barbre, Carmi, Ill.; Chip Bowling, Newburg, Md.; Bob Bowman, DeWitt, Iowa; Lynn Chrisp, Kenesaw, Neb.; and Don Elsbernd, Postville, Iowa. The four new members receiving the most votes will begin serving three-year terms Oct. 1. The candidate elected to the board receiving the fewest votes will serve a one-year term beginning the same day.

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As Corn Congress Approaches, First Vice President Elect Johnson Looks at Importance of Grassroots Activism, Service

With Corn Congress fast approaching, corn farmers across the country are turning their attention to Washington, where delegates from their home states will convene to determine the policies and leadership that will guide the National Corn Growers Association into fiscal year 2012. Today, Off the Cob spoke with NCGA First Vice President-Elect Pam Johnson about her recent election to the post, the vice presidential ratification vote that will occur during Corn Congress, and her views on leadership.

Selected June 15 by the Corn Board to serve as NCGA First Vice President in 2012, Johnson will take office on October 1. Johnson brings to the position the insight gained through many years of service both at the national level, as a current Corn Board member and past chair of the Research and Business Development Action Team. In her home state, she is a director of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and a past chair of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

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To listen to this edition of Off the Cob, click here.