Now Accepting Applications! Scholarships for College Ag Students Available
As the deadline steadily approaches, NCGA reminds members that it, along with the BASF Corporation, will again award five $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field during the 2012-13 school year.
"As schedules become increasingly busy over the holidays and finals season, interested candidates should make time soon for NCGA scholarship applications to make sure that they meet the December 9 deadline," said Brandon Hunnicutt, NCGA's Grower Services Action Team Chair. "This program is important for candidates as it helps fund their ongoing education, but it is also important for the industry as a whole. By helping tomorrow's leaders further their studies, we proactively create a generation ready to lead agriculture for decades to come."
Applicants for the NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program must be entering at least their second undergraduate year or any year of graduate study, and they, or a parent or legal guardian, must be an NCGA member. Scholarship applications must be postmarked on or before Dec. 9.
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House Ag Subcommittee Holds Hearing on TMDL Implementation Plans and
Impacts on Farmers
Thursday, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry held a hearing on the EPA's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. TMDLs are a common pollution control mechanism established by the Clean Water Act. The TMDL for the Chesapeake Bay watershed sets a firm limit on the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that can be discharged in six states and the District of Colombia. Today's hearing focused on state Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) and their impacts on rural communities.
EPA Region 3 Administrator Shawn Garvin testified on behalf of the Agency, and he was asked tough questions about the validity of the Chesapeake Bay computer model, which forms the basis for the TMDL. Members of the Subcommittee expressed concerns that EPA's flawed model does not take into account many of the voluntary best management practices that are currently undertaken by farmers in the watershed. In addition, Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) stated that the cost of implementing the TMDL and WIPs could cost into the billions, yet a cost-benefit analysis has never been conducted for the regulation.
It was also noted by subcommittee members that this same regulatory approach might be considered for other watersheds across the country, including the Mississippi River Basin and Great Lakes, which is why the precedent causes great concern for all of American agriculture.
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NCGA Disappointed Senate Did Not Act Before Deadline on NPDES Legislation
NCGA expressed disappointment in the Senate's failure to act on legislation that would have clarified federal permits are not required when applying pesticides according to their EPA-approved label.
"NCGA is disappointed the Senate did not approve H.R. 872 prior to the October 31 deadline when the NPDES pesticide permitting program takes effect," NCGA President Garry Niemeyer, an Illinois corn farmer, said. "Despite broad bipartisan support for the proposal, lawmakers were unable to identify a path forward for this important legislation. As a result, farmers like me are now exposed to a new set of legal liabilities and regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act, without a guarantee of any additional environmental benefits."
For most of the past four decades, water quality concerns from pesticide applications were addressed within the registration process under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), rather than a Clean Water Act permitting program. H.R. 872 would amend both the Clean Water Act and FIFRA in order to restore the previous regulatory framework. Under a federal court ruling in 2009, certain pesticide applicators would have to apply for an NPDES permit if the chemical reaches a body of water, which could include ditches and culverts. The complex new requirements will expose farmers to potential citizen action suits for routine pesticide applications that have already been deemed safe by the EPA.
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NGCA, Grains Council Explore Expanding Corn Trade with China
Last week, NCGA CEO Rick Tolman joined U.S. Grains Council leadership and others on a mission to China during which they assured Chinese leaders of the United States' ability and commitment to being a reliable corn supplier to their market. Speaking at several meetings on U.S. corn production and marketing systems, the delegation followed up on contacts made during the agricultural tour to the United States by high-level Chinese officials last August sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council.
Following this visit, Tolman stressed the immense growth of agricultural imports into China from the U.S. noting that, while many sectors face a trade deficit in this relationship, U.S. agriculture actually carries a favorable trade balance here.
"Many in ag grew accustomed to experts touting China as a major market for our exports in the future," said Tolman. "While the projections continually cast this reality as only a few years away, this target has stopped moving and now offers a more concrete, immediate reality."
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NCGA Provides Global Perspective on U.S. Corn for Young AgriBusiness
NCGA Vice President of Production and Utilization Paul Bertels spoke today to the Agriculture Future of American Alliance Forum on the global forces impacting the U.S. corn market. Held this year in Kansas City, the forum provided more than 50 young members of agribusiness an overview of international marketing trends and opportunities, along with a look at global factors impacting major U.S. agricultural commodities.
"In helping the younger members of the agribusiness community understand not only the implications of the current global grain trade situation but also how it has evolved, we ensure that our industry has the base understanding needed for continued success," Bertels said. "In any sector, it is important that each new generation of leadership grasps the historical perspective of their trade. Through a deeper understanding, future leaders gain the overall outlook necessary to avoid many pitfalls and foresee possible opportunities."
Bertels began his presentation by noting that, over the past three decades, U.S. corn exports have declined in comparison to total use, while overall exports remain strong especially to Japan, the largest market for U.S. corn. He went on to look at trends among sectors that generate corn demand domestically, including livestock and ethanol production. Bertels concluded by comparing the United States' position among other net corn exporters and examining the improvements to infrastructure, policy and technology needed to remain competitive.
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NCGA, Argentine Corn Farmer Leadership Discuss Sustainability, Technology
NCGA welcomed a high-level delegation from Argentina exploring how new technology improves yields and conserves resources when used in conjunction with other agronomic practices. Designed to foster a farmer-to-farmer conversation across the Americas, delegates expressed particular interest in how U.S. growers have improved their sustainability.
"Fostering interaction between corn farmers across the hemisphere benefits both parties," said NCGA CEO Rick Tolman. "Working together, we can both improve the sustainability of farming as a whole while also better helping potential export markets realize the importance of biotechnology."
During their visit, Tolman, along with Marketing Department staff, led off by explaining the association's mission, organizational structure, the key issues with which it deals and some of the major activities currently underway. Representatives from NCGA's Production and Utilization Department then took the floor to provide an in-depth look at the current state of corn production in the United States. Beginning with an overview of supply and demand estimates, the team went on to explain the importance of technological advances to farmers and to improving the industry's overall sustainability. Finally, the presentation closed addressing the role that biotechnology can play in trade issues.
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American Ethanol Takes Center Stage for Green Flag Restart Award
American Ethanol raced into the spotlight again last weekend at the Martinsville Speedway as the previous week's winner, American Ethanol spokesman Clint Bowyer, was presented with the Green Flag Restart Award, which he won last week in addition to the first-place trophy. This prize, also sponsored by American Ethanol, goes to the driver recording the fastest average speed on restarts and finishing the race in the lead lap. The awards ceremony took place just before the Sprint Cup race in front of more than 100,000 fans.
Bowyer's No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet race car also featured a special-edition American Ethanol paint scheme. Millions of TV viewers saw the American Ethanol brand, as the sporty black, silver and green paint design was on-track all weekend. Sunday, an in-car broadcast camera accompanied Bowyer during the race. This valuable coverage yet again amplified the strong point that NASCAR drivers trust American ethanol to protect their valuable cars while fueling them on to victory.
"With so many eyes on Bowyer following his victory at Talladega, many fans noticed how his car prominently featured American Ethanol last Sunday," said NCGA NASCAR Advisory Committee Chair Martin Barbre. "It has already been an amazing year for both ethanol and NASCAR. We hope that by seizing opportunities to highlight American ethanol even further we can help even more people to understand the incredible performance and reliability of this sustainable, domestic fuel."
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Field Notes opened the farm gate this spring and provided followers with an inside look at the activities of several farmers from a variety of geographical areas. With corn harvest complete on his farm, we caught up with Illinois grower Tom Martin to review this year's growing season and discuss what he plans to do this winter.
