North-South American Maize Growers Form International Alliance
The National Corn Growers Association, along with the U.S. Grains Council, MAIZAR, representing Argentina producers and the maize supply chain, and the Brazilian Association of Corn Producers (ABRAMILHO) Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding to form an alliance of North and South American maize producers to collaborate on a global basis to address key issues concerning food security, biotechnology, stewardship, trade and producer image. The organizations will function under the name MAIZALL-The International Maize Alliance.
Signatories to the memorandum representing the producer organizations included: Pam Johnson, President, NCGA; Don Fast, Chairman, USGC; Alberto Morelli, Chairman, MAIZAR; and Sergio Luiz Bortolozzo, 2nd Vice President, ABRAMILHO. The MAIZALL alliance was launched as part of the MAIZAR 2013 Congress meeting in Buenos Aires. Argentina.
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NCGA Pleased with Confirmation of Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz
NCGA is pleased with the Senate confirmation of physicist Ernest Moniz as secretary of Energy.
"I would first like to congratulate Secretary Moniz on his confirmation and express our eagerness to work with him on the many energy issues facing our nation," NCGA President Pam Johnson said. "The Secretary's strong scientific background makes us optimistic that he will be an excellent partner in realizing the opportunities that domestically-produced, sustainable biofuels such as ethanol have to offer and look forward to collaborating with his office to maximize the benefits ethanol can provide our nation."
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor was confirmed by a unanimous vote of 97 to 0.
Farmers Celebrate Waterway Legislation Passage
NCGA thanked members of the U.S. Senate who overwhelmingly passed the Water Resources Development Act, a bill that represents an important step forward in upgrading the inland waterways system.
"Our inland waterways, in particular the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, are an important route for moving our corn to markets worldwide," said NCGA Chairman Garry Niemeyer, who has been active on the water issue for decades. "We're proud to see such a united Senate approve this with an 83-14 vote and are looking forward to the day when some of these much-needed projects get rolling and get completed."
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NCGA Applauds Senate Ag Committee Farm Bill Action
NCGA President Pam Johnson released the following statement in response to the Senate Agriculture Committee's farm bill passage on Tuesday:
"We greatly appreciate the work by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and the Committee to put forth a well-crafted farm bill. The National Corn Growers Association is pleased to see the Committee listened to the concerns of our nation's corn farmers and have done a great job keeping our priorities, especially the importance of crop insurance and risk management, under consideration while drafting the legislation.
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Corn Growers Pleased to See House Ag Committee Progress on Farm Bill
NCGA President Johnson released the following statement in response to the House Committee on Agriculture's farm bill passage late Wednesday night:
"We greatly appreciate the work by House Committee on Agriculture's Chairman Frank Lucas, Ranking Member Collin Peterson and the Committee to move forward in the process to develop a five-year farm bill. NCGA is assessing similarities and differences between the legislation and our grower-developed policy.
Click here to read the full statement.
NCGA Supports Supreme Court Decision Upholding Importance of Intellectual Property Rights
NCGA expressed support for the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Bowman v. Monsanto. The court ruled unanimously that Bowman, an Indiana farmer, violated Monsanto's patent on genetically modified soybeans when he purchased some from a grain elevator and used them to replant his own crop in future years. In doing so, the court reaffirmed the importance of maintain the integrity of intellectual property laws as they pertain to agricultural biotechnology.
"In their ruling, the court upheld the American values that underpin our economic system and help maintain our national spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship," said NCGA Chairman Niemeyer, a farmer from Illinois. "It is essential to future research that companies are able to profit from their innovations already on the market and under patent protection. In upholding the integrity of this right, the court shows that the American dream of achieving success through hard work and ingenuity is still alive."
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New Report Outlines Corn Ethanol's Ever-Improving GHG Reduction Benefits
Ethanol not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum but continues to steadily improve upon the levels at which it does so, according to a report released by Dr. Steffen Mueller of the University of Illinois at Chicago's Energy Resources Center. In his study findings, which are now available online, Mueller outlines how ethanol has helped the Renewable Fuel Standard meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and, due to a uniquely high rate of innovation and technology adoption in the ethanol industry, continues to improve the level of greenhouse gas emission reductions offered by this renewable, sustainable biofuel.
The report, "Corn Ethanol: Emerging Plant Energy and Environmental Technologies," comes from a study funded by the National Corn Growers Association's Ethanol Committee, the Illinois Corn Growers Association and Monsanto with research assistance provided by the Renewable Fuels Association. Using the data outlined in the paper, NCGA will submit comments on the impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in response to their third white paper, "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Other Environmental Impacts."
For the full report, click here.
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As Weather Heats Up, Farmers Hit the Fields
As persistently cool, wet weather finally began to relent, farmers across the Corn Belt headed into their fields, more than doubling the progress made to his point, according to reports released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As of May 12, 28 percent of projected corn acres had been planted, while only 12 percent were planted a week prior. Despite the rapid progress, corn planting still lags behind the five-year average by 37 points.
"Farmers are heading into their fields and taking advantage of every possible window to get the corn crop planted," said NCGA Chairman Niemeyer, a grower in Illinois. "Today's planting equipment can plant four to six times more rows in a single pass than what was common even when I began farming. By taking advantage of every warm day dry enough to get into the fields and using significantly more efficient technology, we will be able to make progress that would not have been possible just a few decades ago. For most farmers, a week of warm, drier weather will make the crucial difference."
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NCGA CEO Highlight Sustainability of Modern Farming for Media
Wednesday, National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman took part in a panel discussion on "Adapting in Real Time to Climate Change" held as a part of Monsanto Media Days. The dialogue, which featured many industry leaders and experts on environmental issues, provided information on agricultural innovation and sustainability for national, local and farm media.
Tolman began his presentation by discussing how corn farming has adapted over thousands of years in North America from the early Native Americans who bred Teosinte to produce early corn to the modern farm families who use improved seed varieties and precision planting technology to increase yields while decreasing the amount of inputs needed to grow a bushel of corn. He then noted that, throughout history, corn has been a uniquely American gift to the world that is strategically and economically important as a crop in many countries and as an imported food and feed source in others.
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NCGA Capital Staff Provide Answers to Visiting Farm Media
With a plate full of hot issues on Capitol Hill, staff from the NCGA's Washington office had a lot to discuss in a round of interviews with farm-state media visiting the Capital for the annual Washington Watch meeting of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Interviews covered a range of questions with particular interest paid to the farm bill, ethanol and the 2013 planting season.
"These interviews help our growers back home get a deeper understanding of what we do in Washington and how we voice their concerns in the policy arena on Capitol Hill," said NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett. "It is vitally important for our corn farmers to stay aware of the challenges and opportunities we face in Washington so they can actively engage with their members of Congress and show broad, grassroots political activism in the farming community."
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