NCGA Announces National Corn Yield Contest Winners for 2011
Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2011 National Corn Yield Contest. Despite the challenging weather conditions that plagued the Corn Belt throughout the year, entrants continued to far surpass the national average corn yield, even doubling it in some circumstances.
The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 47th year and remains NCGA's most popular program for members. With 8,425 entries, the 2011 NCGA National Corn Yield Contest set a new participation record again this year. This is a 18 percent increase over 2010 (7,125) and an incredible 70 percent increase over 2007 (4,932).
Click here for the list of national winners. Click here for the list of state winners.
For the whole story, click here.
NCGA Supports Japan Joining Trans Pacific Partnership
Earlier this month, NCGA joined more than 60 agriculture organizations to send a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging the administration to work with Japan to facilitate Japan's full participation in the Trans Pacific Partnership. The negotiations currently include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States.
"The addition of Japan to these negotiations would enhance the significance of the TPP and make the agreement much more encompassing," the letter stated. "It would spur even broader interest among other Asia-Pacific countries, which could lead to the type of Asia-Pacific regional arrangement envisioned by the administration when you embarked on these talks last year."
TPP aims to achieve a high-standard, 21st century agreement with a membership and coverage that provides economically significant market access opportunities. In order for Japan to join the negotiations, a series of consultations is required with U.S. stakeholders, Congress and the Japanese government. The Federal Register recently published notices requesting comments on the expression of interest by Japanin joining TPP negotiations. NCGA will submit comments and views Japan's interest as a potentially historic opportunity for U.S.-Japan trade relations.Japan is the United States' number one export market for corn.
To read the letters, click here.
WTO Wraps Up Eighth Ministerial Conference
Late last week, the World Trade Organization concluded its Eighth Ministerial Conference in Geneva. The meetings are held every other year and allow international trade negotiators an opportunity to tackle the most pressing trade issues. At the ministerial meeting, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk joined colleagues assessing the state of the Doha Round of WTO negotiations.
"The National Corn Growers Association appreciates the efforts of U.S. trade negotiators at the WTO to work for more open, free and fair international trade agreements," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "NCGA remains committed to the development and maintenance of fair and open global trade policies."
In a statement, Kirk said that participating parties have had a positive, honest discussion on the Doha Round. "Many ministers have agreed with the assessment that we must 'turn the page' to solve the Doha impasse," he noted. "They are willing, as is the United States, to make progress wherever possible on the Doha mandate, based on common efforts. But ministers have emphasized that 'business as usual' has not worked, and will not work going forward. Now is the time to craft credible, innovative approaches to the WTO's work as an institution that liberalizes trade and creates and applied meaningful trade rules."
To read the entire statement by U.S. Trade Rep. Ron Kirk, click here.
Farmers May Benefit When Russia Joins WTO
The decision to allow Russia to become a member of the World Trade Organization can be a benefit to American agriculture, the National Corn Growers Association said. WTO ministers adopted Russia's terms of entry at the Eighth Ministerial Meeting, held recently in Geneva, and Russia has 220 days to ratify its accession agreement.
"Russia's membership makes the WTO a more universal trade organization," Chad Blindauer, Chair of NCGA's Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action team said. "It also ensures Russia plays by the same rules as other WTO members.The deal allows for more fair and open trade policy."
The Working Party Chair of Russia's accession, Ambassador Stefan Johannesson of Iceland, said the "documents constituting Russia's terms of entry into the WTO resulted from a tough and successful engagement between Russia and WTO members."
As part of the accession deal, Russia has agreed to undertake further commitments to open its trade regime. This includes lowering tariffs on a wide range of agriculture products.
Questions Remain over LightSquared Spectrum Usage
Over the past year, NCGA has monitored issues surrounding the wireless broadband company LightSquared. While the Federal Communications Commission considers approval of LightSquared's proposed terrestrial based broadband network, NCGA remains concerned about the effects it would have on precision farming. GPS technology has become an important tool for farmers as they improve their efficiency in seed, fertilizer and fuel usage.
"Strong and speedy Internet access is important to our growers, so NCGA supports the expansion of broadband in rural America," said Ethan Mathews, manager of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs for NCGA said. "However it must not come at the expense of high-precision GPS."
Although LightSquared states that solutions to the interference problem have been developed by several independent companies, the company has yet to provide access to either the test results or the devices. Further, the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration are continuing their evaluation of theGPS interference issue. NCGA will look to the FCC and NTIA to ensure the issue has been resolved without loss to accuracy and performance.
For the whole story, click here.
Ag Leadership Blazes the Trail for Exports to Panama, Colombia
An elite delegation of agricultural leaders , sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, made history as the first group to meet with key officials in Panama and Colombia following passage of free trade agreements with the United States. NCGA Chairman Bart Schott and USGC Chairman Wendell Shauman, along with Council staff, explored the outlook for FTA implementation with government officials, private sector grain customers, and with U.S. ambassadors and USDA officials during this momentous tour.
"Our purpose was to see how far those folks have gone on implementing the FTAs," said Schott, who spent much of his year as NCGA president working for U.S. ratification of the agreements. "It appears the implementation of these agreements will progress smoothly in both Panama and Colombia, and the U.S. will soon be exporting corn to them under this legislation."
"The Council has been committed to regaining unfettered access to markets in both Panama and Colombia," Shauman added. "These FTAs will go far toward reversing trade flow of South American corn and soybeans moving into the Caribbean Basin."
For the whole story, click here.
Rise in Milk Production Gives Corn Sales a Boost Too
Milk production is on the rise according to reports released today by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As the U.S. dairy industry is a major market for feed corn, distillers dried grains and corn silage, NCGA noted that this trend benefits not only dairy but also grain farmers across the country.
"It is important to value our relationship with dairy farmers, a constant and valued customer for our product," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "In 2011 alone, it is estimated that the U.S. dairy herd will consume more than 800 million bushels of corn. As they grow, so do we thus reemphasizing the importance of cooperation throughout the agricultural community."
The report indicates that production increases came from both a per cow production increase of 16 pounds and a herd expansion of 108,000 head since this time in 2010. Notably, California continues to lead the nation in milk production outpacing second place Wisconsin by more than 1.2 billion pounds last month.
For the whole story, click here.
