NEWS RELEASE

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Immediate Release:
Friday, May 01, 2009

Nebraska Corn Board contacts:
Kelly Brunkhorst: 800.632.6761

Nebraska Corn Checkoff Update

EPA Requesting Comments on Higher Blends:  Now is the time to comment on the proposed E15 waiver, which would allow for ethanol blends of up to 15% to be marketed to conventional cars in the United States.  Ethanol is under attack and we need to strengthen the industry by increasing demand and use in order to keep our ethanol plants operating, using our corn and producing distillers’ grains for our valuable livestock industry.  This waiver is important to ethanol’s future – and the future for Nebraska’s corn industry.  Please Act Today! Sharing your comments takes less than one minute.  DEADLINE IS THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009.  Visit www.NebraskaCorn.org and click on the Action Alert to connect with an online comment form.

Nebraska Corn Planting Stimulated Economy by $3.5 Billion:  According to calculations by the Nebraska Corn Board, corn producers invest approximately $1.4 billion in seed, fuel, fertilizer and other planting costs during the planting season.  And this $1.4 billion is then multiplied through Nebraska’s economy for an effect of $3.5 billion that stimulates many of Nebraska’s rural communities.  Nebraska is projected to plant 8.8 million acres of corn this year and as of Monday, April 27th, corn planting had progressed with 27 percent of the crop planted.  This is one week ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of average.  

CBO Report:  Ethanol Only Small Percentage of Food Price Increase:  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report that concluded that corn based ethanol production accounted for only a 10 - 15 percent rise in food prices between April 2007 and April 2008.  The report went on to say “Over the same period, certain other factors—for example, higher energy costs—had a greater effect on food prices than did the use of ethanol as a motor fuel.”  The report concluded that food prices rose 5.1 percent during the time frame and that corn based ethanol was responsible for only 0.5 to 0 .8 percentage points of this increase.

NCB Submitted Comments to California ARB, California ARB Voted to Approve LCFS:  The Nebraska Corn Board submitted comments to the California Air Resources Board (ARB) recently in regard to California ARB’s proposed low carbon fuel standard (LCFS).  Comments were focused around the need for updated information to be incorporated into the LCFS on greenhouse gas emissions, distillers grains replacement ratios and indirect land use changes.  California ARB took all submitted comments into consideration, but voted to approve the LCFS which will have a dramatic effect on corn based ethanol and other biofuels usage in California.  

Bosselman’s Opens Nebraska’s First Blenders Pump:  Bosselman’s Pump and Pantry location #42 in Grand Island was the site of the dedication of the state’s first blenders pump.  The Nebraska Corn Board and Corn Growers Association were present to thank Bosselman’s for their commitment to renewable fuels and to assist in pumping gas during the dedication.  The blenders pump, which dispenses ethanol blends of e10 (for use in all vehicles) and e20, e30 and e85 for flex fuel vehicles is located at 1235 Allen Drive.

NCB, USMEF Hosts China Meat Buyers:  The Nebraska Corn Board in conjunction with the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a team of Chinese meat buyers while the team was on a five-day educational mission.  The NCB hosted the team at Wilderness Lodge where guests enjoyed Beef Prime Rib and his award-winning, Pecan Crusted Pork Rib-Eye prepared by Chef Lane Rosenberry.  He took first place honors at the recently held “Taste of Elegance” competition, sponsored by the Nebraska Pork Producers Association.  Also present to welcome the team were representatives of the Nebraska Soybean Board and Association, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, Nebraska Beef Council, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Pork Producers Association and Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Farm Program ACRE Signup Begins, Deadline of August 14:  Producers now have the opportunity to sign up at their local FSA office for the ACRE program.  The ACRE program was part of the 2008 Farm Bill.     
 
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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