IN THIS ISSUE:

• NCGA Calls on House Members to Vote for TPA Legislation
  
• NCGA Tells Corps: No Spring Rise on the Missouri River
• Mythology 101: NCGA Debunks the Arguments Against Ethanol
  
• NCGA Workshop Explores Markets for Distillers Dried Grain
  
• Clothing, Plastic Derived From Corn Not Science Fiction But Fact
  
• Higher NCGA Membership Numbers Show Support for Issues
  
• NCGA Hosts Coro Fellows
  
• NCGA Applauds Election of Gary Smith as RFA Chairman
  
• NCGA Welcomes New Colorado Corn CEO
  
• NCGA Corn Board Application Deadline Extended
  
• NCGA Meets and Greets U.S. Army Policymaker on Waterways Issues
  
• Competing Farm Bill Proposals Jockey for Position in the Senate
  
• EU Official Defends Proposed Labeling Regulations, but U.S. Industry
  Representatives Remain Wary
  
• Committee Politics Hamper Movement of Energy Bill in Senate, For Now
• NCGA Calls on House Members to Vote for TPA Legislation

The NCGA is pleased with word that, late Wednesday night, the House Ways and
Means Committee passed H.R. 3005, the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority
Act of 2001 by a vote of 26-13. This action clears the way for the bill to
be brought to the full House for a vote.
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/101001b.htm

NCGA Tells Corps: No Spring Rise on the Missouri River

Thursday night in Sioux City, Iowa, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began
the first of 10 public meetings on proposed changes to its Master Manual for
the Missouri River. At that meeting, members of the NCGA were on hand to
explain the organization's opposition to one of the proposed changes: a
spring rise on the Missouri.
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/100901.htm

Mythology 101: NCGA Debunks the Arguments Against Ethanol

There have always been questions about the effects of using ethanol as a
gasoline additive. However, since June when the EPA denied California's
request for an oxygenate waiver, it seems many are trying to prove ethanol
will cause all forms of problems.
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/100801.htm

NCGA Workshop Explores Markets for Distillers Dried Grain

The upcoming NCGA Workshop on Distillers Dried Grains and Solubles (DDGS)
looks to help manage an issue that affects two major customers of the
nation's corn growers: ethanol producers and the livestock industry.
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/101001.htm

DID YOU KNOW??
http://www.ncga.com is the premier source for information regarding Biotechnology, Ethanol, Trade, Transportation, Research and Business Development and Farm
Bill Policy.

Clothing, Plastic Derived From Corn Not Science Fiction But Fact

When most people think of corn, they think of food, livestock feed, a grain
harvested by the best farmers in the world, etc. What the majority of people
don't think about in relation to corn is clothing...
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/101201.htm

Higher NCGA Membership Numbers Show Support for Issues

Chalk 2001 up as another great year for membership within the NCGA. The
association ended its 2000-2001 fiscal year Sept. 30 with 31,893 members, an
increase of 315 members.
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/101101.htm

NCGA Hosts Coro Fellows

NCGA Vice President of Marketing Brian Stockman explained NCGA and its key
issues to a group of Coro Fellows Tuesday at the NCGA's office in St. Louis.
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/101101.htm

NCGA Applauds Election of Gary Smith as RFA Chairman

The election of Gary Smith as chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association
(RFA) complements a highly effective and motivated group of leaders that
will continue the drive for growing the ethanol industry and the nation's
corn growers. NCGA and RFA have become close collaborators on representing
and advancing the interests that are common to corn growers and the ethanol
industry.
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/101101a.htm

NCGA Welcomes New Colorado Corn CEO

The NCGA congratulates Russ Curry on his appointment as the Chief Executive
Officer for the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee (CCAC) and the
Colorado Corn Growers Association (CCGA).
http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/october/101201a.htm

DID YOU KNOW??
http://www.ncga.com provides an easy-to-use search engine to search the web
site. Looking for specific information? It's easy to find it online at
www.ncga.com!

NCGA Corn Board Application Deadline Extended

The application deadline for 2002/2003 Corn Board has been extended to
close-of-business December 7, 2001. There were several requests to extend
the deadline, and the Nominating Committee members have agreed to extend the
deadline an extra week to receive applications in the NCGA Office. Who can
apply for the Corn Board? Anyone who is a corn producer (owner, manager or
operator) is a member of NCGA, and a checkoff contributor, if applicable.
If you would like a set of application materials mailed or faxed to you (or
to someone else), please call Kathy Baker at the St. Louis office,
314/275-9915, ext 111, or email at baker@ncga.com.

NCGA Meets and Greets U.S. Army Policymaker on Waterways Issues

NCGA will be one of many industry groups at a welcoming luncheon today for
Mike Parker, the newly confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil
Works). Parker will play a key role in developing a policy regarding U.S.
waterways. For NCGA and nation's corn producers, that means getting the ear
of Parker and other government officials on resolving a long-festering
issue: antiquated infrastructure on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois
Rivers. The 70-year-old locks and dams impede the timely movement of barges
carrying corn and other commodities destined for export markets. Mr. Parker
is a former congressman from Mississippi with a strong track record of
support for farmers. As a result of these delays, the transportation costs
to ship U.S. commodities via barge make our exports less price-competitive
compared to foreign producers. NCGA Director of Public Policy Hayden
Milberg said, "Our nation is at a critical juncture, and the long-term
health of the agricultural community and our ability to compete in the
international marketplace rests on a modern inland waterway system.
Modernizing the lock and dam system on the Mississippi is one of our highest
priorities and that is the message I will convey to Mr. Parker."

Competing Farm Bill Proposals Jockey for Position in the Senate

Progress on a new farm bill in the Senate could gain some momentum following
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman's comments to National Chicken Council
that the Bush Administration "wants to have appropriate input'' if the
Senate leadership intends to complete work on a new farm bill this year.
Despite various reports that the Senate Agriculture Committee will soon
begin marking up a new farm bill, a consensus has yet to formed on any one
bill. Adding to the uncertainty are reports that at least five farm bill
concepts are being discussed, including proposals by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA),
Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), and the Ranking Member Richard Lugar
(R-IN), and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). NCGA is closely following the
process and working with congressional staff to determine opportunities in
the area of improved counter cyclical payments. Sam Willett, Director,
Public Policy stated, "We want to do everything we can to ensure that the
Senate Ag committee understands the priorities of our members, namely the
need for a more effective counter-cyclical system and updated yields." He
concluded: "Whether the Senate can complete its work, especially with the
number of competing ideas by Thanksgiving, is a real question mark."

EU Official Defends Proposed Labeling Regulations, but U.S. Industry
Representatives Remain Wary

The EU's commissioner for consumer and health protection - David Byrne -
spent three days in Washington this week defending his organization's
proposed labeling requirements for biotech foods. Public Policy Vice
President Bruce Knight represented NCGA at a luncheon for Byrne, and
attended by food and agriculture industry officials. NCGA and other groups
representing agriculture and food manufacturers say such labeling
requirements are not useful for consumers and present substantial technical
challenges for producers. At a press conference during his DC visit, Byrne
said the labeling rules are designed to "lift consumer confidence" and not
deter the marketability of biotech-enhanced crops. Byrne added: "It is not
intended to be a trade protection issue." Many U.S. industry officials
remain skeptical. A spokesman for the Biotechnology Industry Organization
responded: "The effect of these regulations would be to discriminate against
products coming from North America."

Committee Politics Hamper Movement of Energy Bill in Senate, For Now

The prospects for passage of the energy bill in the Senate this year are
somewhat uncertain, after Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) decided
on Wednesday the bill would bypass Energy Committee action. The committee,
chaired by Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), will now suspend any additional mark up of
energy legislation. Instead, Bingaman will provide Daschle with a series of
energy proposals for placement on the congressional calendar that could
receive action before the Senate adjourns. A Daschle spokesman said the
majority leader plans to bring up energy policy legislation soon, but has
not agreed to a timetable for doing so. Bingaman reportedly said that
bypassing committee action was the best chance for the Senate to approve
such legislation this year. Because several components of the energy bill
are under the jurisdiction of other Senate committees, those committees will
have to be consulted, say Daschle and Bingaman. NCGA has been working to
include pro-ethanol provisions into any energy bill. Topping the corn
growers' list is inclusion of a renewable fuels standard similar to the one
contained in S. 1006, the Hagel-Johnson bill. Growers are encouraged to ask
their senators to co-sponsor S. 1006 to broaden support for this bill.

NCGA THIS WEEK

• Oct. 16 NCGA CEO and Executive Vice President Rick Tolman will attend
  the Doane Agricultural Services Open House in St. Louis.