NCGA Corn Board Candidates Announced
Six corn growers from around the country have been nominated for election to the National Corn Growers Association's Corn Board for the 2013 fiscal year, which begins October 1. New board members will be elected by state delegates at the Corn Congress this July in Washington.
"Each year, we get a great group of dedicated growers who sacrifice their time on the farm to serve their national organization, and American agriculture in general," said NCGA Chairman Bart Schott, chair of the Nominating Committee. "These six growers have already proved they have the right stuff, through years of leadership at the local, state and even national level. We salute their interest in taking on more of a leadership role, and we know it's going to be a hard decision for our delegates this summer."
Those nominated include, in alphabetical order: Keith Alverson of Chester, S.D.; Anthony Bush of Mt. Gilead, Ohio; Don Elsbernd of Postville, Iowa; Mike Geske of Matthews, Mo.; Gary Schmalshof of Adair, Ill.; and Kevin Skunes of Arthur, N.D.
Click here for the whole story.
Great Country Music Names in the Commodity Classic Spotlight
|
Darryl Worley |
Some of Nashville's top talent will take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry for Commodity Classic's closeout Evening of Entertainment, an exclusive event for Commodity Classic attendees on Saturday, March 3, sponsored by Monsanto.
The roster of stars includes Darryl Worley, who has sold nearly two million albums, earned nominations for five major ACM and CMA awards, including Song of the Year and Single of the Year, and has written songs for other major artists, including George Jones. Other performers include John Conlee, Sarah Darling, Mike Snider and the duo Joey+Rory.
"The Evening of Entertainment will cap off three days of learning sessions, policymaking, networking and a sold-out, record-setting trade show that has the 17th annual Commodity Classic on pace to be the largest in history," said Commodity Classic co-chair Jeff Sollars.
Click here for the whole story.
Child Labor Issue Focus of Hearing on Capitol Hill
The House of Representatives Small Business Committee's Agriculture Subcommittee held a timely hearing this week on the effects of proposed child labor regulations on small-business producers. The hearing comes a day after the Department of Labor announced it would re-propose the "parental exemption" portion of the regulation.
"We are pleased to see the Administration listened to the thousands of comments received from Members of Congress and farmers on this issue," said NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett. "NCGA is an advocate for farm safety and supports organizations such as FFA and 4-H that place a strong emphasis on educating youth on this subject. However, the decision on what are safe responsibilities for children on the farm should be made by parents, not the federal government."
Members in the subcommittee hearing heard testimony from Department of Labor and USDA officials. The announcement from the Department of Labor, also discussed during the hearing, will again allow children of any age to work on a farm as long as it is owned by a parent or someone acting as a parent. The regulation last fall required any farm worker to be at least 16. Witnesses representing the FFA and family farmers explained how these regulations would hinder their operation and their children's experiences both on and off the farm if they were not changed. NCGA will submit comments to the Department of Labor on this issue when the comment period is opened this summer.
Nothing Sweet About Flawed HFCS Research
Problems with recent reports attacking high fructose corn syrup demonstrate the need for clarity and caution on the part of research scientists, the National Corn Growers Association said Monday. Even though researchers may acknowledge specific limitations, the mainstream media does not always act so prudently as they report the news.
"Even peer-reviewed research has limitations and caveats that need to be clearly stated by the authors and reported by the news media, so consumers have a clear understanding of what the research really means," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "When it comes to high fructose corn syrup, it's important to avoid biases based on unfounded attacks. The science is clear that, enjoyed in moderation, there is no difference between HFCS and other sugars."
Niemeyer pointed out that not only do table sugar and HFCS have a similar composition, according to the American Medical Association, but the American Dietetic Association has found that, once absorbed into the bloodstream, the two sweeteners are "indistinguishable."
Click here for the whole story.
Farm Program Reaches TV Audiences Nationwide
The award-winning America's Heartland television program is now in its seventh season of introducing non-farm viewers to the men and women who provide the food, fuel, and fiber we use and consume daily.
Currently, the series is seen in 20 of the top 25 television markets and on more than 240 PBS stations, covering 60 percent of the country. Overall, including its RFD-TV viewership, the series reaches more than 40 million viewers each season. NCGA is a proud promotional partner of the program.
"We're very happy to support this program because it provides an important way to make sure people in the cities and suburbs know more about what all of us are doing on the farm to make all our lives better," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "With the vast majority of Americans having fewer ties to rural America, it's important to let them know how we work hard to produce the food and other farm products they still depend on, and the many challenges we face doing so."
Click here for the whole story.
NCGA's Washington Office Welcomes Spring Intern
|
Travis Roth |
With the Colorado Corn Growers Association's sponsorship, NCGA's Washington office welcomes new intern Travis Roth this week. Roth will spend the next three months getting a first-hand look at legislative and regulatory policy work at the federal level. During his internship, Roth will have the opportunity to assist the public policy staff with research and briefing documents. He will also aide staff in preparations for hearings and meetings on Capitol Hill.
Roth grew up in his family's farm in rural Colorado. He spent several years actively involved in 4-H, both at the county and state level, and production animal projects. He is a sophomore at Colorado Mesa University pursuing a Business Administration degree with a concentration in Energy Management.