Syngenta Seeds announced today it has received full deregulation from USDA for corn amylase (Event 3272), the first corn output trait designed to help ethanol industry become more efficient, profitable and environmentally friendly. Syngenta Seeds plans to sell corn containing Event 3272 under the “Enogen” seed brand. “Enogen corn is a breakthrough product that provides ethanol producers a proven means …
Promoting Grain Bin Safety
Grain bin accidents and fatalities on the farm have been on the increase in recent years, but more attention to some simple safety rules could reverse that trend. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the research and education arm of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) recently unveiled a new video to promote awareness about grain bin safety …
Biotech Alfalfa Deregulated
Farmers can prepare to “grow the feed, not the weeds” once again, anywhere they want, with the complete deregulation of alfalfa that has been genetically engineered to be resistant to Roundup. USDA made the announcement today. “After conducting a thorough and transparent examination of alfalfa through a multi-alternative environmental impact statement (EIS) and several public comment opportunities, APHIS has determined …
State of the Union Talks Trade and Biofuels
President Obama made some folks in the ag industry happy with his State of the Union (SOTU) address Tuesday talking about the importance of both biofuels and free trade agreements. Corn farmers and representatives of the renewable fuels industry were especially pleased to hear the president say that America needs to “break our dependence on oil with biofuels.” “The success …
NCGA Applauds EPA’s Latest E15 Decision
This morning, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is approving the use of E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) in conventional vehicles and light duty trucks manufactured in 2001 or later. Last October, the EPA had approved the use of E15 for model year 2007 or newer. During a press call, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said, …
Support for “Corn Sugar” Growing
Support from corn grower organizations to use the term “corn sugar” instead of high fructose corn syrup is growing. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration supporting use of the term ‘corn sugar,’ and other state organizations such as the Texas Corn Growers have also voiced their support. “We are calling …
New NCGA Staffer
NCGA welcomes Alaina Schultz as the new Corn Yield Contest Coordinator. Schultz, having already assisted NCGA through temporary positions supporting both the contest and membership matters, hits the ground running, crucial as the National Corn Yield Contest continues to grow and evolve. Schultz officially joins NCGA’s St. Louis-based Production and Utilization Department, assisting with all areas of the contest, such …
New Look for Corn Commentary
Have you seen the new look for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) blog Corn Commentary? ZimmComm New Media gave the three year old site a face lift that just went live last month. Corn Commentary was developed in 2007 to provide NCGA with an outlet for providing opinions on issues impacting the industry, especially in the areas of environment, …
NCGA and Pioneer Creating More Agvocates
Here at ZimmComm we’re all about creating an army of agvocates. That’s why we support efforts like this one from the National Corn Growers Association with support from Pioneer Hi-Bred. Starting in January 2011, NCGA will launch a series of hour-long social media training webinars sponsored by Pioneer for farmers. Each month, NCGA members, state corn association staff and others …
Obama Signs Bill Giving Death Tax Relief
President Obama held a public signing ceremony for the tax bill passed by Congress this week that delivers early Christmas presents for everyone, giving farmers and ranchers good reason to be thankful this holiday season. Securing meaningful estate tax reform for farm and ranch families has been a top priority for the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We commend President Obama …