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Friday, March 23, 2012
Support American Jobs, American Fuels

The Renewable Fuel Standard, part of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, has been a great success for farmers and consumers. By increasing employment opportunities in rural America while decreasing the average yearly gas bill for an American family of four by nearly $800, this legislation decreases our dependence on imported fuels while creating a brighter future with a better environment at home.  Take a moment and send a letter to your representatives in Congress explaining why the RFS is important to every American by clicking here
TOP OF THE NEWS

With More Sessions, More Time to Save, Register for CUTC 2012 Now!

 

CUTC LogoThe National Corn Growers Association announced has extended the early registration period for 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference has been extended by one week and will now close on Friday, April 6.  The biennial event, which will be held June 4-6 in Indianapolis, now offers a greater window for savings in addition to a greater selection of topics to be covered. With a theme of "Back to the Grind," CUTC will feature the cutting-edge technologies and new uses that continually improve and dynamically change the corn industry.

 

This year, the conference will debut a third tier of presentation options offering participants the opportunity to hear the latest on mycotoxin research. This new offering has been added to complement the work of the Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence, which continues to emphasis the importance of developing methods to mitigate and control mycotoxin development in all phases of production and processing.  

 

"Mycotoxins present a major obstacle for growers in many areas," said NCGA Mycotoxin Task Force Chair Don Glenn. "We hope that by offering this opportunity we will foster an exchange of information that ultimately produces innovative ways to mitigate this threat in a more expedient manner."

 

For the whole story, click here.

 

More Ethanol, Lower Gas Prices

 

Gas TankWith gas prices again on the rise throughout the United States, many consumers are driving less or switching to cars and trucks that use less fuel. And gas is certainly on the rise for some time to come, with the U.S. Energy Information Agency estimating the average retail cost of gasoline to be $3.79 per gallon in 2012 and $3.72 per gallon in 2013. Some areas of the country can see gas priced at well over $4 per gallon into the foreseeable future.

 

When gas prices are this high, most consumers don't want to think about how it can go higher, but there is one factor that, when removed, can drive the cost of gas in your tank significantly higher, NCGA reports - and that is domestic, renewable ethanol.

 

"It's hard to believe that there are people who want to reduce our fuel supply at a time when prices are this high, but that's exactly what is happening with ethanol opponents," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer, a corn grower in Illinois. "This is not the time to be reducing our production and use of ethanol, but increasing it, by moving forward quickly with the E15 blend and by building more flex-fuel cars and trucks - and the infrastructure to support them."

 

For the whole story, click here.

 

Report Indicates Trends in Market Reaction to Crop Production Data

 

The release of U.S. Department of Agriculture reports on crop production plays an increasingly large role in the movement of volatile commodity markets according to its own data.  In a report released earlier this month through the department's National Agricultural Statistics Service titled "Price Reactions after USDA Crop Reports", the impact of data on corn prices has magnified since 2006, with monthly and annual production data releases, and particularly with quarterly grain stocks reports, now resulting in market price changes of ten or more cents in a majority of cases.

 

"When examined, the data clearly demonstrates a marked increase in commodities market volatility," said NCGA Vice President of Production and Utilization Paul Bertels, an agricultural economist by training. "While many factors certainly impact cash markets on a given day, the correlation is too strong to ignore.  Evidence shows a trend toward significant, market reaction following the release of USDA production reports."

 

The report, which looked at the price impacts in cash markets following the release of the department's own monthly and annual crop production reports, detailed a changing trend in market reaction following this sort of data release.  From 1994 through 2006, the market price shifted by ten or more cents on only 18 percent of the days following report release.  From 2007 to present, the impact of data release has become significantly more dramatic with a ten or more cent price shift in 64 percent of these cases.

 

For the whole story, click here.

 

Milk Production in United States as of Feb. 2012

 

Increased Dairy Production Benefits Agriculture, Consumers, Ethanol Industry

 

Milk production in the United States continues to expand, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture milk production estimate released earlier this week.   With February 2012 milk production estimated to be eight percent higher than in that month last year, the industry is benefitting from both a one percent expansion in the dairy cow herd and, more importantly, a seven percent productivity increase, as measured by milk produced per cow.

 

"As an agricultural community, we certainly look at growth and gains across the industry favorably," said NCGA President Niemeyer. "This trend benefits corn farmers, like myself, directly also though as increased milk production often translates into increased demand for feed, including corn and ethanol coproduct distillers dried grains.  I see it as a win-win-win as consumers benefit from a larger milk supply, dairy and corn farmers benefit from increased production and the ethanol industry benefits from the increased demand for the high quality feed ingredients produced along with fuel."

 

During the current corn marketing year, the ProExporter Network estimates that the nation's dairy cattle will consume nearly 800 million bushels of corn.  If realized, this would account for approximately six percent of total corn usage. 

 

For the whole story, click here.

 

Kentucky CommonGround Brings First-hand Accounts of Ag to Food Discussion

 

Across the country, public interest in food production continues to grow.  And that's why the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, in conjunction with the Kentucky Soybean Growers Association, hosted a dinner through their state's CommonGround program, bringing a broad spectrum of area thought leaders -- from journalists to stay-at-home mothers -- to the table for a conversation with local farm women. 

 

The 30 attendees included food bloggers, health professionals, food and consumer science academics from the University of Kentucky, area cooking show hosts, a few stay-at-home moms and Kentucky CommonGround farmer volunteers, including Mary Courtney and Denise Jones.

 

Following a brief reception, the guests were seated for dinner, where the conversation and local refreshments flowed freely.  Executive chef Jimmy Owens of the Clarion Hotel Lexington served a menu focused on regional fare, including pork chops, cheese grits and an apple-and-caramel bread pudding made with eggs laid by KCGA Director of Communications Jennifer Elwell's own chickens.  As they enjoyed the special fare, guests joined in lively conversations about the importance of farming, the volunteers' experiences with animal agriculture and attendees concerns when selecting food for their families.

 

For the whole story, click here.

 

NCGA Agri-Industry Council Cultivates Understanding, Cooperation on Key Issues

 

Last week, 22 representatives of 13 agribusinesses gathered in Washington for NCGA's Agri-Industry Council's biannual meeting.  Over the course of two days, attendees received updates on key NCGA programs.  Additionally, they discussed topics of special importance to the entire agricultural community right now, including the importance of ag policy in meeting future demand, ways in which to include climate change projections into agricultural forecasts more accurately and how the coming election year will affect the corn sector. 

 

"The work done in AIC meetings is crucial to helping NCGA fulfill its mission of creating and maintaining opportunities for corn growers," said NCGA Chairman and AIC Co-Chair Bart Schott. "Only through unified position throughout the industry will we make our voices loud enough to reach the best possible outcomes for growers as we face the challenging political landscape."

 

Political analyst and commentator Paul Begala, whose work appears on CNN, Newsweek and The Daily Beast, provided attendees with his insight into the current political climate.  Begala, an influential liberal, provided insight into the 2012 election cycle and elucidated on how this might play out in the foreseeable future.

 

For the whole story, click here.

FARMING FORWARD
Series Highlights Organization's National Impact

 

Now in its 55th year of operation and going strong, the National Corn Growers Association continues its role in creating and increasing opportunities for its farmer members, and a new series of interviews with current and former grower leaders demonstrates this success.  Click here to read the series. 

About Us

Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) represents more than 36,000 dues-paying corn growers and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to help protect and advance corn growers' interests.
 
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