NEWS RELEASE

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Immediate Release:
Monday, February 23, 2009

Nebraska Corn Board contacts:
Kelly Brunkhorst: 800.632.6761

February Corn Checkoff Update

Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska Corn Growers Return from Brazil, Argentina:  A team of corn growers from Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska returned from a mission to Brazil and Argentina to gather information on livestock production, ethanol usage and crop production.  The team that included Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) director David Merrell, NCB director of market development Randy Klein, Nebraska Corn Growers Association past president Randy Uhrmacher and president of David and Associates David Buchholz.  They spent time with the Ministry of Mining and Energy, PetroBras, ranchers and crop producers.  Highlights of the mission included visiting a rancher and Indian tribe about the deforestation that is taking place and what the drivers are of the deforestation.  See full coverage at http://midwestcorngrowers.blogspot.com

NCB Replies to Inaccuracies, Blame of Corn; Pizza Hut Changes Advertising:  First, the Nebraska Corn Board submitted a letter to Feedstuffs following an editorial from Dennis Avery laying blame for the crash of flight 1549 in the Hudson River on corn harvesters.  Then the NCB, along with NeCGA also sent a letter to Pizza Hut on the inaccuracies in advertising regarding high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  A similar letter was also forwarded to all Pizza Huts in the state.  Following the letter to Pizza Hut, NCB received a faxed letter in reply, that stated that they would be ceasing all reference to HFCS in their advertising of THE NATURALTM.  

2007 Census Shows Decline in Farms:  Figures from the 2007 Census shows that the number of farms in Nebraska declined three percent from the 2002 Census.  Nebraska now has 47,712 farms with an average size of 953 acres, which is up two percent.  Total land in farms in Nebraska was 45.5 million acres which is actually down one percent from the previous census.

NCB Interns Attend DC Leadership Conference, World Ag Expo:  Nebraska Corn Board intern, Mat Habrock had the opportunity to accompany the Nebraska Corn Growers Association on their recent Washington DC Leadership Conference.  Highlights of the trip included meetings with Nebraska’s Congressional delegation, along with discussion with the Fertilizer Institute, Renewable Fuels Association and North American Millers Association.  Also, intern Austin Zimmerman had the opportunity to attend and staff a display at the World Ag Expo held in Tulare, CA.  The World Ag Expo showcases the diverseness of California’s agriculture industry and allowed the NCB to assist the Nebraska Dairy Industry by helping to discuss the advantages of relocating a dairy to Nebraska.   NCB also met with feed millers who purchase Nebraska and Midwest corn.   
 
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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