NEWS RELEASE

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Immediate Release:
Monday, August 18, 2008

Nebraska Corn Board contacts:
Jon Holzfaster: 308.239.4582
Don Hutchens: 800.632.6761

Nebraska corn producers support comments at Senate hearing in Omaha

OMAHA, NE – Comments made at the Senate Agriculture Hearing in Omaha today reaffirmed the fact that corn producers in Nebraska and across the country will continue to supply enough corn for food, feed and fuel.

Comments were submitted by Tim Recker, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, on behalf of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Board and National Corn Growers Association.

Recker highlighted the efforts corn growers have made over the past three decades through research, education and market development because they recognized ethanol’s potential for corn producers and American consumers. “Today, our agricultural economy and our nation’s consumers are benefiting from our hard work,” he said.

Jon Holzfaster, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board, said he appreciated Recker taking the time to make remarks at the hearing, and that the Senate Agriculture Committee made the effort to come to Omaha.

“It is important for members of the Senate to hear from corn growers and others about the importance of ethanol to rural communities, how it is lowering prices at the pump and helping to lessen our dependence on foreign oil,” said Holzfaster, a corn and cattle producer from Paxton.

“The world has a growing demand for both protein and petroleum, and we firmly believe that American corn producers can help satisfy both by producing energy from ethanol and protein from corn-fed meat and poultry,” he said. “Altering current ethanol policies would damage not only the developing ethanol industry and infrastructure, but all renewable fuels, and that is something this country simply can’t afford.”

For a copy of Recker’s comments, please contact the Nebraska Corn Board.

The Nebraska Corn Board is a self-help program, funded and managed by Nebraska corn farmers. Producers invest in the program at a rate of ¼ of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education.

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