Daily Update: Corn Scoops!

The following information represents a mixture of information, opinion, and policy.  The Daily Corn Industry Update is written primarily for corn producers and others in the corn industry.  The goal is to bring issues to the forefront, track some of the accomplishments of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and Illinois Corn Marketing Board, and generally get people to think a little about how corn affects their lives.  Others may find it interesting too, but proceed at your own risk.  You may find out more about the uses for corn and the politics of agriculture than you really wanted to know!

ILLINOIS LIVESTOCK AND ILLINOIS ETHANOL: PARTNERS IN AGRICULTURE
September 7, 2010
The Illinois corn, livestock, and ethanol industries ushered in the long Labor Day weekend with a coalition building exercise of sorts on Friday, September 3.  During the day-long meeting at the Illinois Corn Growers Association office in Bloomi... More »

ATRAZAINE IS UNDER ATTACK: YOU CAN HELP US DEFEND IT!
September 3, 2010
Would your farm be affected if you were unable to use Atrazine?   Despite a 50-year history as a safe and effective weed-control product, despite Atrazine’s safe use on more than 30 commodities in over 40 states and 60 countries, despite... More »

GROWTH IN CORN PRODUCTION IS SUSTAINABLE AND CAN ADDRESS FUTURE DEMANDS
September 2, 2010
Scientists and scholars learned a little bit more about corn production, farming efficiencies and the future of conventional agriculture during a two day tour of agricultural innovation and technologies in Iowa on August 30 and 31st.   Represe... More »

AGRICULTURE LEADS AMERICAN ECONOMY OUT OF RECESSION
September 1, 2010
Reports from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate that agriculture is alive and well after the recent American recession, and that they are blazing a trail for the rest of the American economy behind them.   In the reports released... More »

ICMB ELECTS STIRLING TO LEAD THEM INTO 2011
August 31, 2010
Scott Stirling of Martinton was elected the new Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) Chairman during ICMB’s August 24 meeting.   Other officers elected were Bill Christ of Metamora, Vice Chairman; Kent Kleinschmidt of Emden, Treasurer; a... More »

FAQS ON VERASUN BANKRUPTCY PREFERENCE
August 30, 2010
Growers who have sold grain to VeraSun may have received letters asking for a repayment of funds due to “bankruptcy preference.” In response to questions raised by growers, the Illinois Corn Growers Association is working with the Natio... More »

CRACKING MICHAEL POLLAN'S SALMONELLA OPPORTUNISM
August 27, 2010
It’s been a while since we’ve featured one of the Center For Consumer Freedom’s daily blogs, but this one is appropriate for a Friday. You’ve no doubt heard about the massive egg recall in the news. Where it will go, no one kn... More »

AMERICAN AGRI-WOMEN SHOW BEGINS AIRING ON RFDTV TUESDAY, AUGUST 31
August 26, 2010
Farm women are making a difference from coast to coast. RFD-TV will air a tv show produced by American Agri-Women (AAW) for farm women on Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. EST, beginning Tuesday, August 31. The show will repeat each week on Wednesdays at 11:30 a... More »

Weekly Ethanol Production 8/20/2010
August 25, 2010
Average daily ethanol production for the week ending 8/20/2010 fell by about 3% from the previous week.  According to EIA data, daily ethanol production for the week ending 8/20 was 835,000 barrels per day (b/d), or just more than 35 million gal... More »

AGRICULTURE GROUPS HOLD FISCAL FORUM REGARDING STATE BUDGET
August 24, 2010
Leaders from the Illinois Corn Growers Association and Illinois Corn Marketing Board are discussing the dire situation of the Illinois State Budget, as are many other organizations. Everything from fund sweeps to property taxes come up in the discuss... More »

CORN FARMERS' SHARE SWEET TASTE OF SUMMER HARVEST
August 23, 2010
Nearly two dozen corn farmers participated in a program this summer that brought fresh produce to neighborhood food pantries. A larger effort was conducted in Chicago called the “City Produce Project,” in which corn farmers donated thousa... More »

ICGA'S LENZ TALKS OPPORTUNITIES FOR IL CORN FARMERS IN CUBA WITH HALVORSON
August 20, 2010
Yesterday, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson discussed trade with Cuba at a meeting in Ottawa. Loosening the requirements for agricultural trade with the island nation is a win for Illinois farmers and food processors as the current system severely... More »

CORN GROWERS HONORED FOR SUPPORT OF “BLEND YOUR OWN ETHANOL” CAMPAIGN
August 19, 2010
Eleven corn grower states and the National Corn Growers Association have been honored by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) with its “Paul Dana Marketing Vision Award” for their support of the national “Blend Your Own Ethanol&... More »

STIRLING DISCUSSES CORN'S FARMER IMAGE EFFFORTS AT STATE FAIR
August 18, 2010
Yesterday, during Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair, leadership from all the commodity groups were present to spread the word about the positive things agriculture is doing to feed consumers and stimulate the state economy.  One primary message ... More »

ILLINOIS GROUPS ANNOUNCE "FARMER IMAGE CAMPAIGN" AT IL STATE FAIR
August 17, 2010
New consumer research by a coalition of farm organizations confirms that Illinois consumers care about who produces their food, but are misinformed about the family farmers who really grow and raise the majority of food produced in Illinois.  ... More »

FARM LEADERS, FUEL RETAILERS, ETHANOL PRODUCERS URGE PRESIDENT OBAMA: TEAR DOWN ETHANOL BLEND WALL
August 16, 2010
Leaders representing Illinois agriculture, fuel retailers, and ethanol manufacturers sent a letter to the White House last Friday urging President Barack Obama to immediately approve the use of 12 percent ethanol (E12) in our nation’s fuel supp... More »

DEBUNKING ETHANOL MYTHS
August 13, 2010
The dog days of summer are most certainly here, the first day of school is just around the corner and summer vacations are wrapping up. Families across America are driving and filling up with fuel containing what we hope will soon be a higher blend o... More »

EVEN A MAD SCIENTIST CAN GAIN ATTENTION WHEN ATTACKING ATRAZINE
August 12, 2010
We’ve talked about the attacks against atrazine in this forum before. It’s a product that’s been used safely for 50 years now, with thousands of studies proving its efficacy and safety profile. But the truth is not enough, evidently... More »

IL CORN READY FOR STATE FAIR “CREAM OF THE CROP”
August 11, 2010
  The Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield August 13 and runs through the 22nd. This year, agriculture will re-take center stage with the addition of a new exhibit called “Farmer’s Little Helpers.” The theme this yea... More »

IL CORN, FARM BUREAU LEADERS ADDRESS POTENTIAL LOCK CLOSURES
August 10, 2010
You may read in your local newspaper in coming days an op-ed co-authored by Illinois Corn Growers Association President Tim Lenz and Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson. The editorial addresses a plan proposed by some that would close locks ... More »

SENATORS LINCOLN AND CHAMBLISS INTRODUCE BILL TO OVERTURN 6TH CIRCUIT RULING ON NPDES PERMITS FOR PESTICIDES
August 9, 2010
Senate Agriculture Chair Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) introduced a bipartisan bill today to overturn the Sixth Circuit decision on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for pesticide appli... More »

CORN FARMERS COALITION A HIT IN WASHINGTON, DC
August 6, 2010
  Isn’t there a line in a song that goes, “Second verse, same as the first?” It’s the Henry the 8th song. That’s the tune I think of when I’m talking about the Corn Farmers Coalition (CFC) effort this year ex... More »

SURVEY SAYS: SEED SIGNS FORM WRONG IMPRESSION
August 5, 2010
NOTE FROM IL CORN:    The survey referenced in Jerry Hagstrom’s story is actually part of a collaborative project regarding the image of Illinois farmers. The Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Farm B... More »