A Farmer Each Friday

Nov. 6: Every Friday, NCGA features a profile of one of our country’s corn farmers that provides a look at how growers are innovating to help feed and fuel the world. Today, meet Randy Hughes of Janesville, Wis., who considers his hardest challenges his best opportunities.

Plant Breeding Funding

Nov. 5:Plant breeding industry leaders recognized the instrumental role of NCGA in obtaining funding for projects crucial to agricultural development at a conference this week in Pittsburgh. The Crop Science Society of America’s “Building a Strong Financial Base for Sustaining a Healthy Plant Breeding Community” symposium highlights NCGA’s accomplishments in creating and obtaining funding for the National Plant Genome Initiative and uses NCGA’s efforts as a case study in how to identify potential funding sources for plant breeding programs.

Moving Corn

Nov. 5: A National Corn Growers Association sponsorship is helping representatives from various sectors of the agricultural industry explore current trends in ports, ocean freight, rail and other transportation options in New Orleans this week at the Soyatech Global Soybean and Grain Transportation Conference. Through this activity, NCGA helps the industry leaders work to resolve current transportation issues and improve options for the future.

Ag Offsets Bill

Nov. 4: This afternoon, Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), along with four other cosponsors, introduced agricultural offsets legislation in the Senate that shares many similarities to the Peterson amendment which was adopted during the climate debate in the House of Representatives in June.

Contest Deadline

Nov. 4: The Dec. 1 deadline for completed harvest forms for those growers participating in the 2009 National Corn Yield Contest is fast approaching, and the National Corn Growers Association reminds entrants that the online harvest form, which is now available for use, can help speed up their reporting of corn harvest information.

Ethanol Resources

U.S. corn growers are proud to work hard and be able to meet the demand for corn for food, feed, fuel and fiber. We’re also proud of the important role corn ethanol plays in reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, in helping protect the environment and in boosting our nation’s economy. These resources were prepared to help you understand the truth regarding ethanol’s positive impact.

Sustainability

As the original environmentalists, corn farmers are continuing their work as stewards of the earth’s natural resources. The recent Field to Market report cites growth in sustainability by corn farmers across five areas (water use and quality, land use and biodiversity, soil loss, energy use and climate impact).

Click here for more information about land use and other sustainability issues.

Audio report.

ACRE Resource Center

The Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program, adopted by Congress in the 2008 Farm Bill, represents a fundamental reform in U.S. farm policy. With rising input costs, greater market volatility and other operational challenges, this program provides an additional risk management tool for producers. While federal crop insurance offers substantial protection for crop failure, ACRE is intended to address less significant losses not adequately covered otherwise.

Corn Farmers Coalition

Corn farmers representing 10 state associations as well as the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) have joined together to form the Corn Farmers Coalition to educate policymakers in Washington about how innovative farmers are growing more corn every year with fewer resources while protecting the environment. The coalition has launched a Web site, an advertising campaign and a statistical abstract on America’s biggest crop.

Click here for more information.

Corn Yield Contest

The premier event of every corn growing season for 44 years, the National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC), offers challenges and rewards to each entrant! Last year (in 2008 contest) more than 6,000 growers accepted the challenge to test their corn production skill and knowledge by competing with proven winners to reach the ultimate goal of CHAMPION. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) wants to challenge you to take advantage of this opportunity to explore new ideas and production techniques, while gleaning knowledge to enhance your future yield potential.