NCGA, Others Oppose Anti-Ethanol Amendments

Working with a coalition of renewable energy and agriculture advocates, the National Corn Growers Association signed a letter sent to all members of the House of Representatives this week, urging opposition to amendments that would weaken efforts to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil and cost U.S. jobs.

"These amendments would inhibit new innovation to provide alternatives to foreign oil," the groups wrote. "The Sullivan/Peters and Burgess amendments would solidify the status quo - a 90 percent mandate of our fuel supply from oil and would prevent American-made ethanol - a more affordable vehicle fuel than regular gasoline - from getting to consumers."

Click here for the letter.

Corn Caucus Project Launches

The National Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association, in partnership with the Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Nebraska corn growers associations, have launched the Corn Caucus Project to keep corn farmers informed and engaged in the political process during the 2012 presidential campaign. The Corn Caucus Project will track candidate views on corn policy issues and inform candidates about the issues facing farmers today.

By forming a relationship with the major campaigns and discussing NCGA policy with key staff, the project promotes the consideration and subsequent incorporation of corn-friendly policy positions. The Corn Caucus Project also carries out evaluations of candidate positions on corn policy issues. These positions are communicated to growers and others prior to the Iowa Caucus in early 2012.

Click here for more information.

Atrazine Important for Meeting All Demands for Corn

During testimony before an Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Advisory Panel evaluating the effects of atrazine on human health, NCGA Director of Public Policy Sarah Gallo explained the importance of the product to combat weeds effectively and affordably. She also discussed how farmers have been safely applying atrazine for more than a half century.

"The United States is the world's largest producer and exporter of corn and one of the key inputs that makes this possible is atrazine," Gallo said during her testimony. "Atrazine is applied on well over half of all corn acres in this country and, according to the EPA, saves corn farmers as much as $28 an acre in reduced herbicide costs and increased yields."

Click here for her testimony.

America's Heartland Enters Seventh Season

July 28: America's Heartland, the award-winning national television series celebrating American agriculture, begins its seventh season on public television and the RFD-TV cable and satellite channel the week of September 5. This season, America's Heartland continues its coverage of informative, in-depth stories about issues important to viewers in both urban areas and rural communities. The National Corn Growers Association provides promotional support for the program.

Season Seven will take viewers all across the heartland to meet the people who play a critical role in the well-being of all our lives. In addition to long-form stories on farm families and production agriculture, America's Heartland serves up special consumer segments like Farm to Fork, Fast Facts about Food, Off the Shelf, and Harvesting Knowledge. The show's Website also gives consumers easy connections to topics, educational resources, search functions and video offerings.

Click here for more information.

Study Clears Ethanol on Indirect Land Use Change

A study published in the July 2011 Biomass and Bioenergy Journal on indirect land use change (ILUC) due to biofuels production indicates that the real impact of U.S. biofuels production on ILUC domestically and internationally is negligible or nonexistent. The study, "Indirect land use change for biofuels: Testing predictions and improving analytical methodologies" was coauthored by Drs. Seungdo Kim and Bruce E. Dale of Michigan State University.

"This is the first evidence-based evaluation of ILUC utilizing actual historic data, employing a "bottom-up," data-driven, statistical approach based on individual world regions' land use patterns and commodity grain imports," said Dr. Roger Conway, senior partner at Rosslyn Advisors LLC and former director of the United States Department of Agriculture's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.

Very few previous studies have attempted to find empirical evidence for or against indirect land use change from the historical data. Most previous studies relied on global economic simulations. "Unlike most other ILUC work this study relied on very few assumptions and did not attempt to quantify nor to predict ILUC effects," said study co-author Dale. "We searched for direct historical evidence for ILUC in relevant world areas rather than attempting to project or predict what course ILUC might take. Projecting forward can force scientists to make untestable assumptions."

Click here for more information.

Bird's Eye View Provides Crop Perspective

Last week, staff for the National Corn Growers Association participated in an aerial crop tour of the Corn Belt taken by Water Street Solutions. Covering eight states over the course of two days the group surveyed growing conditions across the Midwest to gather data and develop an assessment of the current condition of the U.S. corn crop. This is the second of three aerial surveys the company will take this growing season.

"As we covered such a wide swath of land and accumulated an abundance of data in such a short time, I chose to focus on three indicators: stand consistency; nitrogen or other abiotic stresses; and overall crop maturity in forming my assessment," NCGA Vice President of Production and Utilization Paul Bertels said. "All in all, I think the most recent USDA forecast of an average yield of 158 bushels per acre is still achievable, and it is possible that a slightly higher average could be reached. However, the weather over the next four weeks will play a major role in determining the overall condition of the crop at harvest."

Click here for more information.

NCGA Outlines Concerns with Expanded Regulation

In comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency today on the draft guidance that identifies which waters are protected under the Clean Water Act, the National Corn Growers Association outlined concerns including the new proposal could expand EPA's authority over isolated waters such as ditches and farm ponds.

The draft guidance, which was announced in April, was developed to clarify the scope of protections under the law following two Supreme Court decisions over the past decade. While the guidance maintains existing exemptions for normal farming and ranching activities, NCGA remains concerned that the new proposal could expand EPA's authority over isolated waters which would require growers to obtain additional permits.

Click here for more information.