Having the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting start the day after a presidential election gives leaders of agricultural organizations plenty to talk about at Trade Talk. In this edition of the ZimmCast, we hear from farmer leaders, lobbyists and staff members with eight different agricultural and renewable energy organizations commenting on the election, farm bill, fiscal cliff and …
New NCGA President Meets Press at NAFB
Pam Johnson of Floyd, Iowa has been president of the National Corn Growers Association for just over a month now and Thursday she had her first real opportunity in that position to “meet the press” at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB). Pam is the first woman president of NCGA but she takes exception to the idea that she …
Commodity Classic Caps Off with Classic Rock
What’s a better way to conclude Commodity Classic than with some classic rock? The Monsanto Evening of Entertainment at the 2013 Commodity Classic will feature World Classic Rockers, a group of standout performers from legendary rock bands. Commodity Classic is the nation’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused conference and trade show, presented annually by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, …
Corn Harvest More than Double Time Ahead
Farmers are more than double-timing it on the corn harvest this season. As of this past weekend, USDA reports that 69 percent of the crop was harvested, compared to 28 average for this time of year. Several corn belt states are running way, way ahead of normal, like Minnesota and Iowa, which normally have around 11-17% of the corn harvest …
Expiration of the 2008 Farm Bill
The National Corn Growers Association has joined with other agricultural organizations on the following joint statement on the expiration yesterday of the 2008 farm bill: The 2008 law governing many of our nation’s farm policies expired on Sunday, September 30th, and the 2012 Farm Bill needed to replace it is bottled up in Congress. While the Senate and the House …
“Fuels America” Campaign Launched
In the face of increasing calls to waive the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard, biofuel industry stakeholders today announced a major new communications campaign to educate consumers and policy makers about the benefits of renewable fuel to America’s economy, energy security and environment. The new coalition – Fuels America – includes several agricultural organizations in addition to ethanol companies and groups …
Call from the Combine for Farm Bill Now
Congress is back in session for a couple of days this week, but all indications are that no action will be taken on a farm bill at this point before the current bill expires. Knowing how fluid the situation in Washington can be, that’s no reason to give up hope yet and National Corn Growers Association president Garry Niemeyer says …
NCGA’s Request for RFA Waiver Comment Period Extension Granted
In response to a request by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a 15 day extension of the comment period on the requests for a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). NCGA filed for an extension on August 30, 2012 and applauded EPA’s decision. The waiver was requested so corn growers and other energy crop farmers …
Camera to Help Students in Ethanol Rocks Contest
An Iowa teacher will be able to give her students a leg up in the National Corn Growers Association’s Ethanol Rocks video contest, thanks to an NCGA giveaway at the recent Farm Progress Show. Mediapolis High School ag instructor and FFA Advisor Alaina Holdgrafer picked up an NCGA backpack filled with goodies, including a Sony HandyCam and a lot of …
Join the Farm Bill Now Coalition Rally in DC
As Congress gets back to work this week, the Farm Bill Now Coalition is ramping up for a rally the morning of September 12, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. With 46 groups and growing, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Pam Johnson of Floyd, Iowa said the rally is building on the momentum of the past …