NCGA Applauds President's Ratification of Three Free Trade Agreements
President Obama signed three free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama into law today, after their passage by Congress last week. These important agreements will allow our nation's farm exports to remain competitive while supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the United States, the National Corn Growers Association said while applauding the president's actions in signing these key pieces of legislation.
"During NCGA's testimony to the House Agricultural Committee in May on these three agreements, we stressed that our nation's farmers gain equal access to growing markets with the ratification of these agreements," NCGA President Garry Niemeyer said. "This still holds true. We appreciate the efforts made by both the executive and legislative branches of our federal government to increase meaningful and achievable access to foreign markets. U.S. corn farmers stand ready to meet the growing global demand for corn."
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack also released a statement praising the president and reinforcing the economic impact that these FTA's will have upon the nation's economy.
"Farm exports help support more than 1 million American jobs," said Vilsack. "This year and next, U.S. agricultural exports are on track to reach new highs, leading to a trade surplus of over $42 billion, eight times greater than five years ago. When implemented, these three agreements will increase farm exports by an additional $2.3 billion-supporting nearly 20,000 American jobs-by eliminating tariffs, removing barriers to trade and leveling the playing field for U.S. producers."
Corn Growers Thank Ag Committees for Farm Bill Spending Proposal
NCGA Garry Niemeyer released the following statement in response to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees' proposed reductions in farm bill spending:
"NCGA appreciates the bipartisan work of the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Ag Committees to reach an agreement on farm bill spending reductions. Our farmers have previously stated we are willing to do our part to help reduce the deficit.
"The highest priority for NCGA is securing a strong crop insurance program. In addition, we support revenue-based risk management programs that address gaps not covered by crop insurance. This type of program would deliver assistance only when it is needed. Everyone must play a part to help with our nation's financial situation. America's corn farmers are pleased to see that the House and Senate Ag Committee leaders are taking responsible steps to meet that challenge."
NCGA Action Teams, Committees Welcome 2012 Leadership
Along with welcoming a new Corn Board this October, the National Corn Growers Association also seated action team and committee leadership for the 2012 Fiscal Year. These new chairs and vice chairs will guide the members of their teams and committees as they actively shape the future of their industry by developing the policies and priorities which will guide NCGA.
"Yet again, NCGA has been blessed with an abundance of high-caliber volunteers who have stepped forward to give their time and hard work to benefit farmers across the country," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "Our continued ability to attract strong leadership is a testament to our organization in that it demonstrates the value growers place upon our work and also is crucial to our mission as we rely on this sort of activism to maintain our grassroots nature."
Half of NCGA's six action teams and committees seated new chairs this year with Dean Taylor of Prairie City, Iowa now heading the Production and Stewardship Action Team, Chad Willis of Willmar, Minn. heading the Ethanol Committee and DeVonna Zeug of Walnut Grove, Minn. heading the Research and Business Development Action Team. The Public Policy, Grower Services and Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Teams maintained their 2011 chairmen with Anthony Bush, Brandon Hunnicutt and Chad Blindauer heading these teams respectively.
For more information about joining NCGA and a full listing of its leadership, please click here.
Remember! Yield Contest Harvest Forms Are Available Online
With harvest well underway or even complete in many areas, NCGA reminds entrants for the 2011 National Corn Yield Contest to submit harvest forms prior to the Dec. 1 deadline. With online forms available, entrants should remember that submitting these forms in a timely fashion is not only crucial to determining contest winners, but also helps supply NCGA with valuable information on production practices that can be used to benefit corn farmers across the country.
"This harvest, we invite contest applicants to submit as early as possible to NCGA staff time to thoroughly review each form," said Brandon Hunnicutt, chair of NCGA's Growers Services Action Team. "The contest plays a significant role in recognizing excellence and finding new, more productive techniques. By seeing their entry through and submitting their completed harvest data forms, farmers can show their support for the contest and their fellow growers."
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Click here for the 2011 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) Online Harvest Form.
Click here for the 2011 National Corn Yield Contest Harvest Form, PDF version.
Click here for more information on the National Corn Yield Contest.
NCGA Reminds Growers to Minimize Machinery Fire Risks this Dry, Windy Harvest
With many areas across the Corn Belt harvesting under dry, windy conditions, NCGA reminds farmers to carefully follow proper safety procedures that minimize the possibility of a combine or tractor fire. Even if the weather has not been warm and dry, fuel sources such as leaves, stalks, husks, dust, oil and fuel come into constant contact with potential sources of ignition from farm equipment, such as exhaust, bearings and electrical wiring presenting an ever present fire risk.
"Equipment fires are not only dangerous but are often extremely costly for farmers," said NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Dean Taylor. "During this busy season, a fire can halt harvest work in an instant causing property damage and consuming valuable time. Building risk management practices into your harvest schedule could end up saving both time and money."
First, keep farm equipment clean, particularly the engine compartment as 75 percent of all machinery fires start there. Using either a pressure washer or high pressure air, remove all caked-on grease, oil and crop residue. Cleaning the engine thoroughly will allow it to run cooler, operate more efficiently and will greatly reduce the risk of a fire.
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NCGA Educates Tomorrow's Leaders, Sets the Stage for Future Dialogue
In an effort to increase agricultural understanding among the civic leaders of tomorrow, NCGA hosted a team of Coro Fellows today. The visit, which concluded the team's full week study of agriculture, included presentations on a number of areas designed to increase their understanding of NCGA as an organization, strategies for communicating NCGA messages to a variety of audiences, and the current state of corn production and use.
"In reaching an audience likely to influence the issues affecting corn farmers in the future, we build the connections and knowledge needed for a successful working relationship," said NCGA Grower Services Action Team Chair Brandon Hunnicutt. "Educating tomorrow's public affairs leaders is an investment in our future and provides us with an opportunity to work proactively for the benefit of the next generation of growers."
Organized by Coro Fellows Program graduate and NCGA Marketing Manager Joe Hodes, lead staff from the Communication and Production and Utilization departments developed the team's understanding of the myriad successes of modern corn farming while also educating them on the issues which farmers face due to potential regulation, legislation and the ongoing attacks from anti-agriculture activist groups.
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