Following the success of the Food Dialogues event series, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers and some of its affiliates have kicked off a series of regional events to bring communities together to talk about food and farm issues. Yesterday, two events took place in Columbia, Mo., and Raleigh, N.C.

The first event, in North Carolina, was held in conjunction with the North Carolina Animal Agriculture Coalition.  The first panel discussed the importance of consumer choice in the marketplace, including organic and conventionally grown foods, and the use of science and biotechnology in food production. The second panel focused on farming in North Carolina, why many farms look and operate much differently than they did just 30 years ago, and the complexity of the food production process.

The Food Dialogues: Missouri, hosted by Missouri Farmers Care, was held later in the afternoon and featured a panel on livestock handling and issues related that have arisen in recent years. The second panel was on the need for conventional and organic agriculture to work together to meet consumer demands.

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House Committee Passes WRRDA Bill

Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013.  The National Corn Growers Association appreciates the bi-partisan effort put forth by members of the committee to clear this legislation of its first major hurdle in the House. 

"A modern inland waterways system is critical to American agriculture and to the nation's economy," NCGA President Pam Johnson said.  "Every year more than a billion tons of domestic commerce, valued at more than $300 billion, travels through our lock and dam system.   In addition, more than one billion bushels of grain which equates to roughly 60 percent of all grain exports, move to markets via the inland waterways each year.  We can't afford to allow such an integral part of our value chain continue to deteriorate." 

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NCGA Disappointed in Chesapeake Bay TMDL Ruling

NCGA President Johnson released the following statement in response to the district court's ruling upholding the Environmental Protection Agency's Total Maximum Daily Load for the Chesapeake Bay:

"The National Corn Growers Association is disappointed to hear the court's decision to uphold the TMDL in the Chesapeake Bay.  We continue to believe the Chesapeake Bay TMDL goes beyond the scope of Clean Water Act authority and has a negative impact on agricultural production and innovation.

For the full statement, click here.

EPA Releases Draft Report Examining Connectivity Between Smaller Isolated Waters to Larger Bodies

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency released a draft report that merged more than 1,000 peer-reviewed, scientific studies examining how smaller, isolated bodies of water are connected to larger ones.  Using conclusions set by the draft report, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers submitted a draft rule on Clean Water Act jurisdiction to the Office of Management and Budget for interagency review.  The National Corn Growers Association has previously discussed concerns over expanding EPA's authority over isolated waters such as ditches and farm ponds. 

"NCGA is currently reviewing the draft report to ensure it would not adversely affect production agriculture," NCGA President Pam Johnson said.  "Our members want to ensure that longstanding agricultural exemptions will be included in the final version and NCGA is working with the USDA and EPA on this issue."

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Fuels America, of which the NCGA is one of the founding members, launched an educational program in Washington this week highlighting the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard. The program, which highlights the benefits of the RFS, includes messaging that carpets Metro stations most traveled by policymakers and their staff.

"The RFS is important not only for corn farmers but also for our nation as we move toward a more energy secure, environmentally sound future," said NCGA President Pam Johnson. "When people understand the incredible alternative ethanol offers, they embrace it as a way to keep out-of-control gas prices in check while cleaning our air and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Now, whether commuting to work or just heading across town, the precise people who influence our nation's energy policy will be confronted with the critical importance of preserving the RFS and our nation's energy future."

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New Study Refutes Land Use Change Myth

A new report released from researchers in the Netherlands shows that current models assessing the impact of crops grown for biofuel production on land use do not accurately reflect current production and land use realities. Given the impact of these models on bioenergy policy, "Biomass Research" makes a strong case for updating the way in which the true benefits of biofuels are assessed in order to insure policy decisions fully value the environmental benefits of ethanol.

"Ethanol advocates have long understood the major impact that relying upon outdated data or inaccurate models can have on our nation's biofuels policy and, at NCGA we work to correct the information and models," said National Corn Growers Association Ethanol Committee Chair Chad Willis. "This study provides an academically rigorous examination of the specific areas in which ethanol modeling and data are currently lacking on a large scope. Farmers have made amazing strides to increase efficiency and sustainability in the past few decades, and the models and information used to assess the impact of biofuel production should reflect these gains. American ethanol benefits our environment as well as our economy and our energy security. It only makes sense that our energy policy should take these incredible benefits into account thus maximizing them for the good of all Americans."

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Poll Shows Americans Support Availability of E15

Fuels America, of which NCGA is a founding member, released a new poll today highlighting that a strong majority of Americans support E15 availability at the gas station. Additionally, it showed that nearly four in five Americans believe the oil industry's ongoing efforts to block the availability of E15 is bad for consumers.

Fuels America conducted the poll of more than 1,200 U.S. adults to gauge consumer opinions of E15, fuel made of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline. This information comes on the heels of E15's reentrance into the American fuel market this past Sunday. Forty stations in nine states now offer the fuel, approximately 14 months after it was approved by EPA for commercial sale. E15 currently sells for between 10 and 20 cents less per gallon than regular gasoline.

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Save Time by Using the Online Yield Contest Harvest Form

With the harvest beginning across the Corn Belt, the NCGA reminds entrants that online harvest forms for the 2013 National Corn Yield Contest are available.  While the harvest information form deadline may seem distant, entrants are asked to report within seven days of their final yield check or by Nov. 22, whichever comes first.

"As more farmers begin harvesting their corn crop, we ask contest applicants to submit harvest forms within one week of their final yield check to allow NCGA staff adequate time to thoroughly review each form," said Dean Taylor, chairman of the NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team. "The National Corn Yield Contest plays a significant role in recognizing excellence and finding new, more productive techniques. We hope that growers continue to support the contest by seeing their entry through and submitting their completed harvest data forms."

Click here for the 2013 National Corn Yield Contest Online Harvest Form.

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As Harvest Begins, Crop Matures Under Dry Skies

The U.S. corn crop marched toward maturity without further drought damage according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported earlier this week. With 53 percent of the crop in good or excellent condition, 22 percent of the crop had reached full maturity and 81 percent reached the dent stage by September 15.

"While many growers have noticed the impact of late-season drought on their crops, official reports continue to forecast a crop that, while lagging in progress, is not declining in quality at this point," said NCGA President Johnson. "The drought monitors show conditions have reached the severe stage in several key corn-growing areas of the upper Midwest, thus we realize that the impact of weather conditions throughout the season cannot yet be fully assessed."

Click here for the USDA's weekly report on crop progress.

Click here for the U.S. Drought Monitor website.

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