Colorado Corn
Cultivating Opportunities
News from October 2008
Sen. Grassley Calls GMA to task
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) recently sent a letter responding to allegations from the Grocery Manufacturers Association. You can read the letter by clicking the link below.
Environmental and Economic Profile Versus Gasoline
The Illinois Corn Growers Association announced at a press conference Tuesday that the state has become a technological and commercial leader in corn-based ethanol while unveiling two landmark studies that concluded that production of the biofuel leaves a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline and has substantial room for growth without affecting corn supply to the food and feed sectors.
RFA releases report on plunging corn, wheat prices; no relief at grocery proves no link between ethanol and food prices, says NGCA
The Renewable Fuels Association released a report, “Will the Plunge in Grain Prices Mean Lower Food Prices at the Supermarket?” documenting the sharp declines in farm commodity prices in 2008. “The fact that ethanol production is expanding and food prices are also on the increase while we have seen a continual decrease in corn prices since July means only one thing,” said Bob Dickey, NCGA president.
EPIC FOCUSES ON BLENDER PUMP PROGRAMS
EPIC has been busy focusing on creating individualized blender pump programs and educating retailers, station owners and consumers about the benefits of having available blends of ethanol-enriched fuel at the pump. EPIC has recently partnered with several organizations to create blender pump programs in two states, with several more states in progress.
Will 2009 go down as 'The Year of Ethanol?'
Ethanol, distillers grains to see big production climbs in '09, industry leader says
Jeff Caldwell
Agriculture Online Multimedia Editor
10/20/2008, 3:55 PM CDT
Despite tortuous market conditions for the industry in recent months, the ethanol industry continues strides of growth that will ultimately position the fuel as the "largest supplier of energy in this country," say industry leaders. All in all, look for a big year for the business next year, both for ethanol fuel and distillers grains for livestock feed.
Musgrave, Markey face off in Morgan
By JESSE CHANEY, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Although Colorado Congressional District 4 Incumbent Republican Marilyn Musgrave and opponent Democrat Betsy Markey took a few shots at each other, support for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) was one of the only issues of contention during a debate at Fort Morgan High School on Monday.
Musgrave said NISP is supported by several District 4 counties and would help protect 60,000 acres of farmland that may otherwise lose irrigation water.
Fort Morgan debate offers close-up look of candidates - Musgrave-Markey debate
Signs are beginning to pop up in yards like red and blue flowers as the campaigns heat up for the presidency, Colorado’s U.S. Senate seat and the next person to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat from District 4.
Tonight, Morgan County residents have the opportunity to see some of that District 4 campaign in person as Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan, and Democratic challenger Betsy Markey of Fort Collins debate at Fort Morgan High School beginning at 7 p.m.
NCGA-BASF Agriculture Scholarship Program Enters Sophomore Year
The National Corn Growers Association and BASF Corp. have joined forces for the second year to award five $1,000 scholarships annually to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field.
“The education of young growers is vital to the continued success of American agriculture,” said Tim Dolan, chairman of the NCGA’s Grower Services Action Team and a farmer from Winthrop, Minn. “Through this valuable program we are assisting tomorrow’s agricultural leaders to excel in a world of increased technological and scientific sophistication.”
U.S. Ethanol vs. Middle East Oil
Here's the latest from EPIC's Ethanol Good News Network:
The biggest reason Congress created incentives for renewable fuels such as ethanol was to reduce dependence on foreign oil -- especially from volatile regions such as the Middle East.
New federal figures show how far we've come.
In the first half of the year, domestic ethanol production nearly equaled oil imports from Iraq. We produced 101 million barrels of ethanol and imported 123 million barrels of Iraqi oil.
Iraq supplies about 11 percent of the oil we import from OPEC.
Economic Stabilization Act Includes Biofuels Incentives, Disaster Relief
When Congress passed and President Bush signed the $700 billion economic stabilization bill this week, a number of other legislative initiatives were included in the process, such as the extension of several tax incentives for the renewable fuels industry to help promote energy independence, the National Corn Growers Association noted.
Among the tax incentives extended are:
Alternative Fuels Credit. The bill extends the alternative fuel excise tax credit through 2009 for all fuels except hydrogen (which maintains its current-law expiration date of September 30, 2014).
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