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NCGA Joins Intervention Motion in Water Quality Lawsuit
The National Corn Growers Association joined the American Farm Bureau Federation, The Fertilizer Institute, National Pork Producers Council and other farm groups this week to file a motion to intervene in the Gulf Restoration Network v. EPA lawsuit. More than a dozen environmental groups are seeking to force the Environmental Protection Agency to establish strict water quality standards for nutrient runoff for all states in the Mississippi River Basin. With the amount of corn produced throughout the massive watershed, the outcome of this court case could have a profound impact on many of NCGA's members.
"For the past two years, NCGA has warned that a regulatory framework similar to the Chesapeake Bay would be devastating to agricultural production in the Midwest," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "We are one court case away from that becoming a reality, which is why our organization decided to intervene."
The Gulf Restoration Network lawsuit alleges that the EPA violated both the Clean Water Act and Administrative Procedures Act by not adequately responding to their 2008 petition to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads for nitrogen and phosphorus for the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The petition also states that Numeric Nutrient Criteria should be create for the 31 states in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern Gulf. If this lawsuit is successful, EPA would be forced to institute TMDLs and NNCs throughout the watershed.
USDA Projects 2012 Corn Crop Will Break Records  U.S. corn farmers are on course to shatter production, yield and supply records according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released this morning. Projecting a record production of 14.8 billion bushels with record average yields of 166 bushels per acre, the report provides an extremely positive initial assessment of the 2012 corn crop. Additionally, the projected increases in harvest acres and expected yields put the country on track for a record corn supply of 15.7 billion bushels, 2.2 billion higher than in 2011.
"In farm communities across the country, there has been a positive buzz building about this crop as early planting and emergence have given farmers a solid reason to be optimistic," said National Corn Growers Association President Garry Niemeyer, a grower in Illinois. "The estimates released by USDA today show that the experts in government agree with our assessments on the ground. Farmers have worked hard to lay the groundwork for a bountiful harvest and now hope that the weather will continue cooperating so that we can remain on this record-breaking course." If projections hold, projected corn production of 14.8 billion bushels would surpass the 2011 crop by 2.4 billion bushels. The report indicated that this estimate includes a 5.1 million acre increase in harvested area and expectations of yields significantly higher than those seen in 2011. Given the early planting and emergence this year, the agency forecasts record average yields of 166 bushels per acre, two bushels per acre above the 1990-2010 trend. For the whole story, click here. NCGA Applauds Reps. Shimkus and Peterson for Bipartisan Defense of Ethanol This week, Representatives John Shimkus (R-Ill.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) sent an email and fact sheet refuting allegations about corn ethanol made by several of their colleagues. NCGA applauds their efforts to supply their colleagues with accurate information about the importance of both the Renewable Fuels Standard and corn ethanol to our nation. "On behalf of NCGA's more than 37,000 farmer-members, I thank Representatives Shimkus and Peterson for working across party lines to disseminate factual, accurate information about corn ethanol," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "These distinguished Representatives demonstrated that they understand what corn growers have long known; corn ethanol provides important benefits to our economy, our energy security and to our environment." The Shimkus-Peterson letter reminded their colleagues in the House of Representatives that, "as originally envisioned by Congress in 2005, the multiple purposes of the RFS were to enhance energy security, reduce consumer fuel prices by diversifying our energy portfolio, create jobs and stimulate economic activity, and improve the environment." For a copy of the fact sheet that accompanied Representatives Shimkus and Peterson's email, click here. For the whole story, click here. Ag Groups and Allies Advocate for Farm Bill Floor Time in Senate A week after the Senate Agriculture Committee completed its work on the farm bill, NCGA and more than 120 agricultural and other organizations sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. The letter advocated for floor consideration of the legislation as soon as possible to enhance prospects of completing the process this year instead of having to extend current programs. "This is one piece of legislation upon which all Americans depend, urban as well as rural," the letter stated. "With limited time remaining before expiration of current program authorities, time is of the essence. While each of our respective organizations will continue to work to accomplish our key priorities, the farm bill must move forward. We urge your leadership in allowing the Senate to consider this legislation as soon as possible." The Senate Agriculture Committee legislation reduces spending by $23 billion while maintaining a risk management program for farmers. The bill was passed out of committee by a 16-5 vote. To read the letter, click here. CUTC Announces Top Bioengineer as Keynote Speaker  Dr. Michael Ladisch, director of the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering and Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University, will deliver the keynote address to participants at the grand opening of NCGA's Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, June 4 in Indianapolis, Ind.
"Dr. Ladisch 's work focuses on bringing biotech products to large numbers of people," said NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team Chair DeVonna Zeug. "We are excited to have him set the stage for three days of discussion among the corn industry's leading researchers, processors and business representatives." At Purdue University's Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, Ladisch and his colleagues address topics in bioprocess engineering as they apply to bioenergy, bioproducts, biorecovery and bionanotechnology. He has authored 150 journal and proceedings papers, issued and applied for 14 patents and is the recipient of several scientific recognitions including the Paul Dana Biofuels Award of the Indy Racing League. Dr. Ladisch is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, is Chief Technology Officer of Mascoma Corporation and serves on the scientific Advisory Board of Agrivida. For the whole story, click here. Survey Reveals Confusion, Questions Surround Popular Food Topics and Trends  CommonGround, a volunteer group of farm women dedicated to creating conversations around farming and food, wants to help moms looking for information on some of the most common questions about food. To do so, the group, which was developed through a partnership between the National Corn Growers Association and the United Soybean Board, commissioned the Gate-to-Plate Survey to gain insights into how U.S. moms feel and think about their food and the food choices they make for their families.
Overall, the study showed that more than 70 percent of moms have questions or concerns about how their food is grown or raised. Through honest conversations in which volunteer farmers share their own experiences and by providing independent scientific data from reputably third-parties, they hope to offer the information that they need to feel confident in their food choices. "As our population continues to shift from rural to urban communities, people become more disconnected from their food," said CommonGround volunteer Carrie Divine, a beef cattle and row-crop farmer from Morganfield, Ky. "This type of divide can often lead to confusion about food and today's farming practices. We're here to answer questions, supply facts on current food topics and - most importantly - provide moms with useful information so they can worry less and feel more confident about their food choices." For the whole story, click here. NCGA Commends Dept. of Labor on Withdrawing Child Labor Rule After the U.S. Department of Labor announced it would withdraw its proposed rule limiting farm children's involvement in agricultural activities, NCGA sent a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis applauding her decision. "On behalf of the National Corn Growers Association, I commend you for your decision to withdraw the proposed child labor rule," said President Niemeyer. "As a family farmer, there is nothing more important than the safety of my children and grandchildren." The letter also said that NCGA looks forward to working with the Departments of Labor and Agriculture to develop an educational program that will promote safer agricultural practices. NCGA has previously worked with the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Farmers Union, National Milk Producers Federation, FFA and 4-H to address this issue. For the whole story, click here. NCGA Applauds Bioeconomy Blueprint Last week, the Obama Administration released a National Bioeconomy Blueprint that outlines a comprehensive approach to drive the bioeconomy and guides federal agencies and the private sector to enhance economic growth and job creation. The Bioeconomy Blueprint emerged as a priority not only for economic reasons, but also because it enables Americans to live healthier lives, develop new sources of bioenergy, address environmental challenges and increase the scope and productivity of the agricultural sector. NCGA thanks the administration for highlighting the benefits of genetically modified crops to the U.S. economy. According to the USDA, U.S. revenues in 2010 from genetically modified crops were approximately $76 billion. Biotechnology advancements combined with breeding techniques are expected, in the near future, to lead crops with desirable traits such as improved nutritional value, enhanced disease resistance and higher crop yields. NCGA submitted comments to the Office of Science and Technology during the development of the Bioeconomy Blueprint. "As technology evolves, farming operations do, too," the comments noted. "Meeting demand, improving processes, and minimizing environmental impacts are what make modern agriculture a dynamic industry. [NCGA] has a strong interest in the availability of new technology to enhance the sustainability, productivity, and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture. In developing a blueprint for the bioeconomy, it is imperative that the U.S. agriculture industry continues to lead the way with innovation, product development and acceptance of biotechnology crops." For the whole story, click here. Corn Planting Proceeds at Near Record Pace Corn planting is progressing well ahead of the five-year average across the vast majority of corn producing areas, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released today. As a whole, the report indicates that a full 71 percent of the nation's corn crop had already been planted as of May 6, 24 points ahead of the five-year average at that time. "What growers optimistically viewed as a potentially optimal planting season has become a reality in many areas," said President Niemeyer. "With nearly three-quarters of the nation's corn acres already in the ground, farmers have reason to look toward the 2012 harvest with greater hopes than in recent years. Conditions could still change, but either way, farmers will meet the challenge and produce an affordable, abundant supply of corn." Tennessee, the state leading in corn planting progress again this week, had an estimated 98 percent of total corn acres planted as of Sunday. North Carolina and Kentucky also neared completion with 94 and 92 percent of corn acreage planted respectively. For the whole story, click here. U.S. Corn Products Find Interest Overseas The U.S. Grains Council reports this week strong and growing overseas interest in importing some key corn products from the United States, great news for stateside corn farmers, especially looking at the crop now being planted that is expected to break many records. For example, Japan's 2011 imports of dried distillers grains with solubles - a key ethanol coproduct - surged 31 percent ahead of 2010 levels. U.S. market share, already dominant, climbed from 89 to 93.7 percent. Further, Japan's DDGS imports thus far in 2012 are on track to exceed last year's record, with U.S. market share edging up yet again, to 96 percent through the first quarter. "This is great news from Japan," NCGA President Garry Niemeyer said. "One of the untold stories about ethanol is the important and growing role played by ethanol coproducts, such as distillers grains, a high-protein livestock feed. It's important to remember that, taking into account these distiller grains, ethanol only consumers about 28 percent of our corn supply." For the whole story, click here. | 
