Ag Industry News and Events - Page 24

STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT MARK RECKER

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the proposed Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) for the 2019 conventional biofuels requirement at the statutory level of 15 billion gallons under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and in doing so, failed to reallocate the gallons of ethanol exempted through the small refinery process. Considering the EPA’s decision, we will fight to protect the rights of Iowa’s farmers and consumers and hold the EPA accountable.

 Policy development at the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is a grassroots process. Each year, ICGA hosts roundtable meetings in local communities across the state to gather insight and feedback on priorities from farmer members. The meetings, which will be held on June 25 & 26 and July 11 & 12 this year, allow ICGA members to come together, share a meal, and discuss key issues impacting corn farmers. Policies brought forward and approved at roundtable meetings go on to the Annual ICGA Grassroots Summit on August 24-25 for the ICGA delegates to debate for adoption into the ICGA Policy Book. This process enables the organization to take-action in lobbying for and supporting sound policy development and pro-farmer legislation.  

ISU’s Joseph Polin wins Top Student Poster Competition

A delegation of Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) farmer-leaders, staff and seven Iowa State University students and staff attended the 2018 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) in St. Louis last week to network and see the latest in corn uses technology and research.

Iowa corn farmers know the importance of our state’s water, it’s one of our shared resources vital to growing their crops. That’s why Iowa Corn farmer-leaders want all Iowans to know what farmers are doing to be sure the water our families drink is as pure as it can be. What better way to reach Iowans with this message than engaging people at some of Iowa’s most popular summertime attractions. Iowa Corn launched the “Farmers Care About the Water We Share” effort at this past Tuesday’s Iowa Cubs baseball game where farmers and their families greeted fans with free water bottles, having conversations and directing them to the new iowacorn.org/H20 website.

Planning a summer vacation or a weekend getaway? You probably don’t put much thought into which gas station you stop at, but by making pit stops at stations with higher blends of homegrown ethanol including E85, could save you money. Determine the best fuel for your vehicle by using our Vehicle Fuel Finder to find out! Use our new interactive Fuel Finder to find a station near you!

I-LEAD CLASS 9 APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 1

Members of the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program Class 8 traveled to Japan and Vietnam on an international trade mission in March to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the global food system and to develop a deeper admiration for the views of U.S. agriculture’s international customers. The mission served as the capstone event as Class 8 wraps up their two-year program. Iowa Corn is now accepting applications for I-LEAD Class 9 at www.iowacorn.org/ilead. Iowa Corn developed the I-LEAD program in recognition that the future of Iowa agriculture depends on developing leaders who have a passion for agriculture.

Despite a delayed planting season, Iowa farmers have come to the final stretch of #plant18. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Iowa corn farmers have planted 86 percent of their crop, 5 days behind last year. Last week, farmers were able to plant 21 percent of Iowa’s expected 13.3...

Following the Ethanol Summit of the Asia-Pacific in Minneapolis this week the U.S. Grains Council will hold post Summit tours for participants to be able to see the full production and value of U.S. ethanol. One such team will be arriving in Iowa this week to see U.S. corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) production and supply. The delegation will consist of high-level government and industry representatives from Korea, Taiwan, China, and Singapore. They will visit corn farms, ethanol plants, feed mills, fuel retailers, elevators and co-ops.

As the 2018 Iowa legislative session comes to a close this week, the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Mark Recker, a farmer from Arlington, says notable progress occurred on many legislative issues positively impacting agriculture.