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Action Teams, Committees Come Together to Gain Perspective, Discuss Direction
 This week, the National Corn Growers Association's Corn Board, Action Teams and Committees convened in St. Louis to delve into the issues and opportunities that will affect corn farmers across the country during the coming year.
Gaining information from presentations by leaders from industry and government, the team members explored possible changes to team policies and activities that could help their respective programs improve efforts to create and maintain opportunities for growers.
"I was inspired by the energy that these volunteers bring to our organization and the dedicated passion to service they exhibit," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "By dividing the variety of issues facing our industry into subject areas, we allow growers to delve deeply a single area and gain more nuanced insight. Together, our leadership can then tackle each subject with a full understanding of its intricacies and the broader perspective our shared sessions offer."
For the whole story, click here.
U.S. Farming Practices Must Be Implemented Globally to Meet Growing Demand
High-yield technologies like those used in the United States will have to be effectively adapted for use world-wide in order to meet growing global food demand, according to the findings of a study released by University of Minnesota Professor David Tilman and colleagues in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Estimating that global food demand will double by the year 2050, the scientists project that, in order to meet that demand without causing serious environmental damage, less developed nations must significantly improve yields by the adoption of nitrogen-efficient "intensive" farming practices that allow farmers to grow more crop on less land using fewer inputs more strategically.
Reporting on the findings, Science Daily noted Tilman stressed the importance of modern U.S. agricultural practices in preserving the environment while feeding a growing population.
For the whole story, click here.
NCGA Outlines Farm Bill Priorities at Capital Forum
 During a Farm Journal Forum Tuesday in Washington, National Corn Growers Association Senior Director of Public Policy Sam Willett outlined NCGA's priorities for a new farm bill. Willett was joined on the panel by representatives of USDA's Risk Management Agency and the National Sustainable Ag Coalition.
"NCGA continues advocating for our members as Congress begins writing the new farm bill," Willett said. "Our farmers are looking for legislation that will provide risk management tools that will help them only when they need assistance. They understand farmers need be able to take on a certain amount of loss in any one year. However, it is very important to protect growers, especially young farmers, from depleting their emergency funds when these types of losses occur over multiple years."
Willett also outlined the importance of a an effective, affordable crop insurance program and a revenue-based safety net that addresses significant losses not adequately covered by crop insurance.
For the whole story, click here.
Final Webinar to Recap Year of Topics Covered in Social Media Training Program
NCGA's 2011 Social Media Training Program will feature a final webinar next week that will recapping material covered throughout the year and linking each social media tactic to the larger overall agricultural picture. The program is generously supported by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Business.
"Throughout this year, the social media webinar series has offered growers a variety of tools and tips that are helpful when using Facebook, Google+, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr," said Grower Services Action Team Chair Brandon Hunnicutt. "If you have missed any one of these informative sessions, or simply would like a refresher course, I urge you to tune in next Thursday and become a part of the ongoing conversation about agriculture."
This webinar will offer a review of the main points from past presentations and provide expanded information on these topics. The session will also offer best practices and case studies for topics including Facebook, Twitter, blogs and more. Offering a big-picture look at the topics covered, attendees will have the chance to ask questions on any of the social media webinar content presented this year.
The webinar starts at 10:30 a.m. CST Thursday, December 15. Registration prior to the event is strongly recommended. Click here to register or get more information.
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