Tell Congress: Farm Bill Now

Pack Your Bags! CUTC 2012 Opens Monday

The National Corn Growers Association is ramping up for the 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, which will opens June 4 in Indianapolis. With a theme of "Back to the Grind," the biennial conference will feature the cutting-edge technologies and new uses that continually improve and dynamically change the corn industry.

This year, the conference debuts 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 emphasize the importance of developing methods to mitigate and control mycotoxin development in all phases of production and processing.  

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NCGA urges members to tune in and show their support for American Ethanol as Austin Dillon races into the spotlight this weekend, making his first Nationwide Series start at Dover International Speedway.  Driving the Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet, Dillon will again bring attention to NASCAR's switch to E15 sporting a special paint out in the black and green colors of American Ethanol. 

Attention on Dillon will remain high as he currently leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, with the highest rookie points ranking since 2007.  He also continues to hold third in the 2012 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings.

"Having Austin's car feature the American Ethanol artwork in Dover definitely elevates our profile with fans at the track and those watching on television," said NCGA NASCAR Advisory Committee Chair Martin Barbre.  "Dillon brings his natural talent, hard work and family legacy to the track along with his enthusiasm for ethanol.  A passionate spokesman, he is sure to attract attention to the incredible opportunity that ethanol offers our nation."

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USFRA Event Will Review Perceptions and Realities of Farming and Ranching

In June, farmers and ranchers are headed to Los Angeles - the entertainment capital of the world - for the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance's second Food Dialogues event. Four separate discussions - being held over two days -will bring together entertainment movers and shakers, chefs, academics, large restaurant operators, journalists, local leaders, farmers and ranchers for an in-depth conversation about food.  All panel discussions will be available online (either live streamed or taped) so all interested parties can join the conversation during or following the actual events.

USFRA will announce the full list of panelists prior to The Food Dialogues events in Los Angeles. Two of the four panel discussions will stream live online on both Wednesday, June 20 and Thursday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT, providing opportunities for farmers, ranchers and the general public to register to watch and participate in the discussion online. Additionally, individuals with a Twitter account can follow all of the panel discussions by following @USFRA using #FoodD.

For the whole story and a listing of panels, click here. 

FAPRI Finds Senate Farm Bill Equitable Across Crops

A new report from the Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute shows how a key farm bill program being considered by Congress treats crops like corn, soybeans, rice, wheat and peanuts equitably. This study comes at an important time, as the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, which was passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee on April 26, is expected to be considered on the floor of the Senate as early as next week and the House of Representatives is also moving forward on farm bill legislation. 

"When you talk about farm bill equity, it is important to consider the market value of each of the covered crops," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "This research shows how well senators on the agriculture committee have done in maintaining balance and equity while drafting a very complex piece of legislation. We are hopeful that members of the House Agriculture Committee will do the same."

Niemeyer notes the FAPRI report finds that the Agriculture Risk Coverage in the Senate bill would have a nearly equivalent benefit as a proportion of crop market receipts, varying by only one percent of total receipts between the covered committees. See this chart for an illustration of crop equity.

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New Farm Bill Study Shows Benefits of Multi-Year Price Protection Program

This week Dr. Carl Zulauf, an economist at the Ohio State University, published a Farm Bill study outlining the benefits of using a 5-year Olympic average of price.  He stated using this type of moving average would have provided sizable protection to all U.S. crop producers during the low price period of the late 1990s, the last multi-year low price period for the U.S. This rate is used by the Agricultural Risk Coverage Program, which is included in the Senate Agriculture Committee's 2012 farm bill. 

"NCGA is pleased to see this Farm Bill study as it will help put to rest concerns that have been raised about fairness between commodities under the proposed ARC Program," NCGA President Garry Niemeyer said.  "Dr. Zulauf concludes ARC payments would have been made to all crops, including rice, cotton, corn and peanuts, throughout the difficult price declines in the 1990s. This kind risk management tool is what my fellow farmers across America need to deal with the continuing volatility in commodity markets."

The study indicates that the Olympic moving average is flexible and can tailor protection to the individual situation of each crop during a period of wide-spread, notably lower prices.  In fact, Zulauf shows during the late 1990s, rice and cotton had the highest relative price protection payments from an Olympic moving average program.

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NCGA Supports HFCS Consumer Education Efforts

The National Corn Growers Association supports the Corn Refiners Association as it questions the issues ignored by the Food and Drug Administration in their decision to deny the CRA petition seeking the ability to use the term "corn sugar" to describe high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

"We support CRA's efforts to help consumers make informed decisions," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "Clearly, HFCS has been targeted by competing products through a campaign of misinformation and propaganda.  Thus, CRA does a great service in educating consumers that sugars are all the same nutritionally, whether they come from corn, cane or beet.  Promoting the responsible, moderate use of all sweeteners, CRA aims to provide clear, unbiased information to all Americans, a goal the FDA should support."

The denial, issued yesterday, ignored important concerns raised in the CRA petition about consumer confusion surrounding the term HFCS.  The petition requested this change on the basis that, as high fructose corn syrup is nutritionally equivalent to other sugars, the term "corn sugar" would provide consumers with information about what is in their food and beverage options in simple, clear terms. 

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NCGA Brings States, Industry Together to Discuss Ethanol, RFS

This week, the NCGA brought together representation from state corn associations, members of its Ethanol Committee and various other stakeholders to discuss the importance of ethanol both to farmers and the country as a whole. 

With a full day of presentations on upcoming events in the industry and expert analysis, participants discussed short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals which will be used to help NCGA as it refines its strategic plan.

"Farmers and those in rural American have long seen the impressive economic impact that ethanol brings to bear while experts have cited its important contributions to our environment and national energy independence," said NCGA Ethanol Committee Chair Chad Willis.  "This meeting provided us with an opportunity to collaborate on ways to work together in the promotion of this sustainable, domestically-produced fuel."

Held outside of Chicago, Ill., the summit had a total attendance of 73 with representation from agribusiness and the auto industry also present. One common theme was the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

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NCGA Reminds Growers to Minimize Machinery Fire Risks

With reports of equipment fires cropping up in dry, windy areas across the Midwest, NCGA reminds farmers to carefully follow proper safety procedures that minimize the possibility of a farm machinery fire, much like those taken during last year's harvest.  Even if the weather has not been warm and dry, fuel sources such as leaves, stalks, husks, dust, oil and fuel come into constant contact with potential sources of ignition from farm equipment, such as exhaust, bearings and electrical wiring presenting an ever present fire risk.

"Equipment fires are not only dangerous but are often extremely costly for farmers," said NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Dean Taylor. "During this busy season, a fire can halt work in an instant causing property damage and consuming valuable time.  Building risk management practices into your schedule could end up saving both time and money."

First, keep farm equipment clean, particularly the engine compartment as 75 percent of all machinery fires start there.  Using either a pressure washer or high pressure air, remove all caked-on grease, oil and crop residue.  Cleaning the engine thoroughly will allow it to run cooler, operate more efficiently and will greatly reduce the risk of a fire.

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