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Missouri Governor declares April Corn MonthMissouri As farmers prepare to roll into the fields to begin planting the 2009 corn crop, Governor Jay Nixon issued a proclamation yesterday declaring April as Corn Month in Missouri. Taking place at the State Capitol, the ceremony commended the more than 15,000 Missouri farm families that are responsible for helping produce the nation's top crop. "Missouri's corn producers continue to step up to provide consumers with food, feed and fuel," said Missouri Corn Growers Association President Mike Geske. "Through advances in seed technology and improved farming practices, corn farmers are growing more corn on less land. This hard work and dedication to feeding and fueling our nation have led Missouri to rank 10th in U.S. corn production." Reminding consumers of the significance of Missouri's corn crop and the products that come from corn, the proclamation highlights the economic importance of corn farmers. Last year, Missouri growers harvested over 2.6 million acres of corn, producing 381 million bushels, with a base value of more than $1.5 billion to this state's economy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn farmers in Missouri are expected to plant 3.05 million acres this year, an increase of 9 percent from last year and the largest positive shift in predicted acreage nationwide. With help from Mother Nature, farmers across the country are expected to harvest nearly 12.2 billion bushels from 85 million planted acres. To learn more about corn in Missouri, visit www.mocorn.org.
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