Colorado Corn
Cultivating Opportunities
Tag: Congress
Help Us Fight for E85
As E85 Fuel Prices Jump Across America,
Coalition for E85 Fights Back
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On January 1st, Congress allowed the ethanol tax credit to expire, but the Coalition for E85 (www.CoalitionForE85.org) is renewing its efforts to have American-made 85-percent ethanol recognized as an alternative fuel along with natural gas, propane, and hydrogen alternatives.
Super Committee Deadline Comes and Goes – So now what…?
The Super Committee comprised of six Democrats and six Republicans was unable to agree on a debt reduction plan in the timeframe allotted by Congress, who had hoped to have adopted the plan by December 23 and have it approved by President Obama. Instead, automatic spending cuts in the amount of $1.2 trillion will take effect in January 2013.
Categories exempt from cuts include Social Security, Medicaid and veterans’ benefits, food stamps and a few other programs that support the poor and disabled.
Korea Ratifies FTA
Today, Tuesday, November 22, Korea’s National Assembly ratified the U.S.-Korea free trade agreement (KORUS). The agreement passed by a vote of 151-7, with all 14 KORUS implementation bills approved as well. The announcement was applauded by many in the U.S. and Korean business communities who championed the FTA since it was first announced in 2006.
Following today's vote in Korea’s National Assembly, U.S. officials anticipate KORUS implementation will take place in early 2012.
NCGA Asks Farmers, Allies to Speak Out Against Petition Seeking Ban on Atrazine
The National Corn Growers Association reminds farmers and their allies to submit comments opposing a petition filed with the Environmental Protection Agency that would ban atrazine use and production before the public comment period closes on November 14. The petition, originally submitted this spring by an activist organization named Save the Frogs, asks for both further review of this proven herbicide and regulatory changes.
Colorado Corn Growers Support Passage of FTA's
The National Corn Growers Association and Colorado Corn Growers Association praised passage of the free trade agreements in the House and Senate. The White House transmitted the FTAs with Korea, Colombia and Panama to Congress last week.
"The three free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama provide great opportunities for America's farmers," NCGA President Garry Niemeyer, a corn farmer from Auburn, Ill., said. "Passage by Congress ensures our industry continues to lead the nation in economic growth and international competitiveness. In addition, this act
Senate Bill Seeks to Boost Production of Flex-Fuel Vehicles
Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., have unveiled legislation that would promote the production of flex-fuel vehicles. Under the bill, 50% of new vehicles must be able to run on nonpetroleum fuels by 2015, rising to 80% in 2018. "Phasing in vehicles that can run on fuels other than petroleum will allow a whole host of new domestic sources of transportation fuel to come online, which should reduce our dangerous overdependence on foreign oil and help keep American dollars here at home," Cantwell said.
Colorado Corn Works Toward Passage of H.R. 872 in Senate
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) deadline of October 31, 2011, is fast approaching for implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES); a system that requires a new permitting process on already regulated practices. A vote in the Senate on H.R.
Ethanol Industry Responds to Feed Availability Concerns
Representatives of the U.S. livestock and poultry industries testified before a House agriculture subcommittee today that changes in ethanol policy are necessary to ensure the availability of corn for animal feed, but the ethanol industry disagrees.
Higher Input Costs, Lower Bottom Lines
Critics of farm policy like to reference high commodity prices when making the case for another raid on the farm budget—which has already sustained up to $15 billion in cuts in the past six years. But what good are high commodity prices, if the input costs are rising even higher?
No New Regulations for Farm Vehicles
Department of Transportation Announces No New Regulations for Farm Vehicles
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced yesterday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) would not implement its proposed guidance regulating the transport of agricultural products. The Department received strong feedback from the farming community in June and July opposing any new regulations. NCGA and other coalition partners met with FMCSA earlier this summer and submitted comments objecting to the guidance on August 1st.
