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 KS CORN GROWERS--The Board of Directors of the Kansas Corn Growers Association gather at the 2007 Kansas Commodity Classic, Nov. 12, in Salina, Kan. From left, front row, Ken McCauley, Brian Baalman, Pat Ross, Carolyn Dunn. Back row, from left, Harvey Heier, Mike Brzon, Terry Vinduska, Bob Timmons, and Greg Stone. (Journal photo by Jennifer M. Latzke.) Kansas corn growers, commissioners meetBy Jennifer M. Latzke The Kansas Corn Commission and the Kansas Corn Growers Association held their annual meetings during the 2007 Kansas Commodity Classic, Nov. 12, in Salina, Kan. The Corn Commission met the morning of Nov. 12 to discuss items of business and to approve research proposals for the coming year. Among other items the commission discussed upcoming commission elections. Executive Director Jere White reminded commissioners the documents required to declare candidacy can be found on the home page of the Kansas Corn Commission, www.ksgrains.com/kcc, and need to be filed by Nov. 30. The commission also voted to continue its sponsorship of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program through the Kansas State Department of Education. The commission will again offer a $1,500 grant to cover the fuel costs for the 2008 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Also on the transportation side of the agenda, White discussed the possibility of donating the current Corn Mobile to the Agricultural Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, Kan., as part of a permanent exhibit on renewable energy. White explained that while there's still a lot of miles left on the car, the advertising that's been applied to the car body is starting to show some wear and is not easily repaired. In order to keep a good public perception, he advised the commission to donate the car to the Hall of Fame so that the public can benefit from the car. The commission approved the idea. On the educational front, the commissioners approved continuing their support of the Kansas Ag Rural Leadership program with a grant of $2,500. An update on the happenings at the U.S. Grains Council showed that Kansas has 14 committee appointments, according to a report from White. Following lunch, the commission spent the afternoon discussing the various research proposals submitted by research entities. The Kansas Corn Growers Association gathered for its annual meeting and dinner the evening of Nov. 12. A group of about 20 or more producers discussed policy for the coming year, as well as nominated officers for the next year. Ken McCauley, chairman of the National Corn Growers Association, and former KCGA president, reported on the happenings at the national level. The debate over the farm bill has been on the forefront of NCGA's efforts. NCGA supported most of the Senate version as it came out of committee, with the exception of the removal of crop insurance items. For now, target prices shouldn't be affected in the farm bill, he added. Also on the political agenda of NCGA is the debate over the energy bill. "The No. 1 thing we all know is that ethanol is important to corn prices," McCauley said. "We see how ethanol prices have gone down as oil prices have risen." This is a positive incentive for the Renewable Fuels Standard, (RFS) he added, because $100 crude oil is scaring a lot of consumers. By ensuring the RFS in the energy bill, ethanol can move ahead and increase its demand. Estimates are ethanol produced by corn will reached 15 billion gallons per year by 2015, and including cellulosic ethanol production could reach 36 billion gallons per year by 2022, he said. Executive Director White updated the producers on the happenings at the state level. He said the political atmosphere at the state level toward ethanol is good, with Kansas passing an RFS in its last legislative session. "The change in attitude has been amazing," White said. "It's amazing what an uplift a little profit in rural America can do." However, he said, there are those outside of the corn industry who are opposed to corn growers seeing a profit. "You have to be thinking about what you need to do to sustain yourself as a corn grower," he told producers. "Don't apologize for seeing $4 corn." He told of one grower who sent a letter to his office saying he felt it was wrong to take money from one part of agriculture and put it in the corn growers' pockets. White told producers that they shouldn't feel apologetic because they'd worked long and hard as an industry to get profits for farmers. The group passed its slate of resolutions supporting ethanol, the expansion of the RFS to 15 billion gallons per year, and a revenue assurance option in the next farm bill. They also re-elected Brian Baalman to represent District 1, Bob Timmons to represent District 4, and Bill Pauly to represent District 7. Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached by phone at 620-227-1807, or by e-mail at jlatzke@hpj.com. 12/3/07 Date: 11/29/07
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