The Link

3/3/2009
IOWA CORN GROWERS ASSN.

Iowa Corn Growers Back Livestock, Ethanol, Trade Policies

JOHNSTON, IA - March 3, 2009 - Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) delegates to the Commodity Classic advanced a mix of resolutions aimed at improving the outlook for the three largest corn-using sectors: livestock feeding, ethanol, and trade.

"The National Corn Growers Association policy discussions this year were very much about fine-tuning our resolutions," explained Don Elsbernd, ICGA president-elect. "It was a year for making incremental adjustments instead of major policy changes."

As an example, he cited an ICGA policy supporting testing and certification of conversion kits that could be retrofitted onto cars to allow them to burn E85. "We want to make it easier for more consumers to drive flex fuel vehicles and buy E85 at the gas pump. Now our Iowa position is the official policy of the NCGA, which really strengthens our hand at the national level."

The Iowa delegation also offered a resolution in support of the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements, which the NCGA delegate body adopted.

Another approved resolution opposed the administration's plan to cut off farm program direct payments based on the level of gross sales. Elsbernd pointed out that gross sales are not a reliable measure of farmers' profitability in the current climate of volatile grain prices and extremely high input costs.

He applauded the farmer leadership that guides the ICGA and NCGA policy process: "We have a system where the ideas an Iowa grower brings to our summer roundtable meetings can advance to the national policy level and become the official position of the entire National Corn Growers Association - and that means real grassroots leadership at work in the halls of Congress."

-30-

The ICGA is a membership organization, lobbying on agricultural issues on behalf of more than 6,000 members.

(Contact: Mindy Williamson, ICGA Public Relations and Communications Director, 515-225-9242)