NEWS RELEASE

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Immediate Release:
Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Nebraska Corn Board contacts:
Kelly Brunkhorst: 800.632.6761

NEBRASKA CORN CHECKOFF UPDATE

NCB Responds to Articles Lack of Balance:  The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) responded to a Lincoln Journal Star series of articles based on a UNL Journalism project that included miscalculation of facts that were gathered and lack of balance.  According to the guest editorial that was submitted by Don Hutchens, executive director of the NCB, many questions were raised by the information in the article and the lack of balance with solid facts, including information of other factors that are affecting the rise in food prices.  A copy of the guest editorial can be found at www.nebraskacorn.org under the newsroom tab.

NASS Increases Corn Yield, Lowers Acreage:  In its October release, the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) increased their estimated yield for corn in Nebraska to 161 bushels per acre, up 4 bushels from last month.  In the same release, NASS reduced harvested acres to 8.65 million acres, which is down 100,000 acres from last month.  Production is now estimated at 1.39 billion bushels.  Similar to Nebraska, NASS increased US yield to 154 bushels per acres and decreased harvested acres to 79.2 million acres.  US production is now estimated at 12.2 billion bushels.

Biofuels Tabloid Released:  In a continual effort to raise awareness of biofuels, the Nebraska Corn Board sponsored and released a series of articles, with assistance from the Nebraska Press Association, on ethanol and the many benefits it brings to Nebraska.  Over 50 daily and weekly newspapers have or will be running the biofuels tabloid and advertisements discussing aspects of ethanol and biofuels on Nebraska’s economy, the relationship to livestock and reducing our dependence on foreign petroleum, along with some food and fuel facts.   

CRA Launches HFCS Campaign:  The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) recently launched an advertising campaign aimed at improving the image of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  HFCS is a sweetener made from corn, that according to research, is safe and nutritionally the same as table sugar and honey.  Information on the campaign and facts about HFCS can be found at http://www.sweetsurprise.com and http://www.hfcsfacts.com/.  
 
Nebraska Corn Checkoff Update is published monthly for corn industry leaders and others in Nebraska.  For more information, call: 1.800.NECORN1 (632-6761) or send an e-mail to NCB.Info@nebraska.gov.  Additional information can be found at the Nebraska Corn Board’s website, www.nebraskacorn.org.

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