NCGA, USGC Collaboration Builds Markets at Home and Abroad
This week, leadership from the National Corn Growers Association traveled to Ottawa to participate in the U.S. Grains Council's 53rd Annual Meeting. Representing the association, a founding member of USGC, were NCGA President Pam Johnson, Chairman Garry Niemeyer, First Vice President Martin Barbre and CEO Rick Tolman. They shared their insight into current conditions facing corn growers domestically while discussing the factors shaping overseas markets with leadership from across the industry.
"Our work with the Grains Council plays an important role in NCGA's mission of creating and maintaining opportunities for corn farmers," said Johnson. "As we work directly on domestic markets, our partnership allows us to capitalize on NCGA's policy successes and find innovative ways to build and maintain export markets for U.S. corn and distillers dried grains. Cooperatively, we can most efficiently ensure that we are maximizing all markets for corn, whether they be at home or abroad."
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Japanese Media Learn About U.S. Corn and Biotech
A travelling group of journalists representing major Japanese news outlets visited the offices of the National Corn Growers Association this Tuesday, to learn about corn farming in the United States and specifically about the use of biotechnology.
"It's always great to welcome visitors from countries to which we export U.S. corn," said NCGA Director of Biotechnology and Economic Analysis Nathan Fields, who spoke with the group about biotech trends. "Japan is the largest export market for our farmers, and understands the importance of biotechnology in today's agriculture. These reporters were eager to learn about how American farming works to help feed and fuel the world."
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MAIZALL Announces Board, Officers and Website
The International Maize Alliance (MAIZALL) announced the election of its initial Board of Directors and officers. Elected as officers of MAIZALL are Julius Schaaf (United States), President; Sérgio Luis Bortolozzo (Brazil), 1st Vice President; Alberto Morelli (Argentina), 2nd Vice President.
MAIZALL is composed of MAIZAR, representing Argentina producers and the maize supply chain; ABRAMILHO (Brazilian Association of Corn Producers); the National Corn Growers Association, and the U.S. Grains Council. The organizations recently signed a memorandum of understanding to form an alliance of North and South American corn growers to collaborate on a global basis to address key issues concerning food security, biotechnology, stewardship, trade and producer image.
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Agricultural Scientists Encouraged to Apply for Aflatoxin Mitigation Research Grants
For the third year, the Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence Research Program will offer grants to researchers for projects focused on solving aflatoxin issues. These grants, which will be awarded to researchers focusing on seven priority areas, were designed by Southern corn checkoff boards to bring a unified approach to funding research projects across the region, and will thus favor research teams that include members from multiple states.
"NCGA, working with state affiliates, developed AMCOE to bring a unified approach to aflatoxin research that will yield results in a timely and more efficient manner," said NCGA Mycotoxin Task Force Chair Don Glenn, a corn grower in Alabama. "Working together, we can improve the tools available for aflatoxin control and get real results that farmers can see in their fields."
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NCGA Brings Corn Farmers' Concerns to Transportation Discussion
NCGA brought the corn farmer's point of view to a panel on maritime issues at the Agricultural Transportation Summit Conference in Rosemont, Ill. The "A Modern Infrastructure for Modern Agriculture" conference brought together key legislators and leadership from government agencies, agribusiness, the grain and feed industry, shipping and academia for an in-depth discussion of the transportation issues facing the entire value chain.
NCGA Vice President of Production and Utilization Paul Bertels moderated a panel featuring participants from the Army Corps of Engineers, Cargill, Port of Grays Harbor and the Soy Transportation Coalition. During this discussion, the panelists looked at how outdated infrastructure on our nation's waterways and at our ports is currently impeding effective transportation of agricultural goods. Focused not only on funding obstacles but also on the ways in which agricultural interests plan to deal with this evolving situation, panelists considered a variety of aspects which will impact farmers and those who purchase agricultural products, such as the state of railways leading into ports.
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Report Indicates Solid Corn Crop Condition, Slow but Steady Maturation
The U.S. corn crop made rapid progress toward full maturity last week while remaining in good condition, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Monday. The percentage of the corn crop silking increased by 28 points last week, narrowing the lag behind the five-year average to a four point gap from a 13 point gap the week prior. Reports also indicate that the crop condition remains unchanged from the previous week with 63 percent of the crop forecast to be in good-to-excellent condition. Last year at this time, only 24 percent of the crop still fared as well.
"As the summer passes, we are pleased to see that the crop condition across the country remains strong," said NCGA President Pam Johnson, a grower in Floyd, Iowa. "Despite wet, cool conditions this spring and, for some, this summer, farmers forged ahead to plant a near-record number of corn acres. Should favorable weather continue to fuel growth and maintain quality, U.S. corn farmers could produce a record crop in 2013."
To view the full report released today, click here.
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