NEWS RELEASE

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Immediate Release:
Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Nebraska Corn Board contacts:

Kelly Brunkhorst: 800.632.6761

NEBRASKA CORN CHECKOFF UPDATE

NCB Recognizes Dickey, Introduces Resolutions during Commodity Classic:  The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) took the opportunity to recognize current NCGA president Bob Dickey during the Commodity Classic.  Dickey, a farmer director on the NCB, was recognized during a reception held in his honor with family and fellow state and national directors in attendance.  Also during Commodity Classic, the NCB introduced and passed various resolutions in support of the livestock industry during the Corn Congress sessions.  Passed were resolutions in support of the various animal welfare practices that livestock producers have adopted and trade policy initiatives to open beef markets and ethanol pipeline funding.

Nebraska Corn Plantings to Hold Steady, US Drops:  The National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) released their Prospective Plantings report that is projecting US corn producers to plant 85 million acres of corn.  This is down 1% from last year.  In Nebraska, NASS projects corn plantings to be similar to last year at 8.8 million acres.  

Corn Farmers Coalition Looks to Inform Policymakers:  The Nebraska Corn Board, alongside nine other state corn organizations and the National Corn Growers Association, have formed the Corn Farmers Coalition as a way to inform policy makers on the major uses of corn, the sustainability of corn and the technologies that American corn producers have been adopting in their production practices.  Information, including the recently released “The Corn Fact Book” can be found at www.cornfarmerscoalition.org.  

Increase in Ethanol Blends Next Logical Step:  While a number of ethanol groups have petitioned the EPA to increase the blend rate of ethanol up to 15%, the Nebraska Corn Board believes that in order to reach the levels prescribed within the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, that a higher blend is necessary.  With EISA requiring the blending of 36 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022, a blend beyond e10 will have to be made to get us to those higher blends, and a stair step approach of e12 maybe the way to proceed.

NCB Has Vacancies:  The Nebraska Corn Board has vacancies in District #6, #7 and #8.  Current District #6 director Dennis Gengenbach, current District #7 director David Merrell and current District #8 director Jon Holzfaster have indicated that they will pursue re-appointment.  For information on pursuing an appointment, contact the Nebraska Corn Board office.  
 
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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