By JODY E. POLLOK-NEWSOM
Corn Marketing Program of Michigan
Michigan Corn Growers Assoc.

As a way to reach out to our more than 11,000 corn farmers throughout Michigan, the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan (CMPM) and the Michigan Corn Growers Assoc. (MCGA) have teamed up with Farm World to publish a monthly update on the happenings of the Michigan Corn Office.

The first Farm World edition of each month will feature a short article highlighting key issues for Michigan corn growers, upcoming events and recent activities. This is intended to be a quick and easy way to stay up-to-date on important news and events in the months ahead.

As this first edition of our monthly update goes to press, we know that many of you are in the midst of a busy harvest season and we would like to wish you a safe and successful harvest this fall.

Taking time for safety at harvest

As corn farmers across the nation are pulling into their fields to harvest a predicted 13.2 billion bushel crop, they are reminded to focus not only on filling their bins, but also to follow important safety precautions that could save lives.

Preventing accidents is the first step towards a safe harvest. The National Safety Council makes these safety recommendations:
•Inspect all harvest equipment, make sure shields and guards are in place and that the seatbelt works properly if applicable.

•Never lean or step over a power takeoff (PTO) shaft while it is operating.

•Do not wear loose-fitting clothing around PTO shafts or other moving parts.

•Keep long hair tied back or under a cap.

•Check fire extinguishers and smoke detectors to ensure they are working properly.

•Remind all farm employees about farm safety and ensure they have had all appropriate training.

•Keep all bystanders and others away from all equipment during operation.

•Follow all safety guidelines set by the equipment manufacturers.
We realize what a hectic time of year this is for all farmers.

However, we need to make sure we take time to slow down to ensure it is a safe harvest.

MCGA candidate newsletter

With so many seats open in the November election, Michigan corn growers may be unsure of who will best lead Michigan into a bright future while protecting their interests and rights as farmers.
Although agriculture is the second-leading industry in Michigan, it seldom gets the attention it deserves during political debates, leaving many questions unanswered for the state’s more than 11,000 corn farmers.

For this reason, the MCGA has asked all candidates on the November ballot who are running for seats in the Michigan House of Representatives, Michigan Senate or U.S. Congress, as well as the two gubernatorial candidates, to participate in a brief survey which hits on ten top areas of concern for Michigan corn farmers.

Some of these highlighted areas include grants and incentives for renewable fuels; tax increases; opportunities for ag-based products; and advancing in-state agricultural processing.

The responses submitted by candidates will be compiled into a short candidate newsletter that will be mailed out to all MCGA members in mid-October. It is our hope that the information shared in this newsletter will aid our members as they make those difficult, yet important voting decisions this upcoming Election Day.
If you are not a member of the MCGA, don’t miss this opportunity to find out who will best serve your needs, as well as many other great benefits enjoyed by MCGA members. Join the MCGA by calling 1-888-323-6601 or visiting www.micorn.org

Research proposal requests

As the CMPM prepares to begin its new fiscal year, it’s time again to distribute requests for research proposals. In late August, requests for proposals were sent to parties interested in advancing Michigan’s corn market including U.S. land grant universities, other state colleges and universities, Michigan State University Extension offices and other interested research organizations and individuals.
The projects chosen will have the potential to add value to Michigan corn through the development of new markets and products; the enhancement of traditional markets and products; or production efficiency increases. One goal of the CMPM is to discover new ways or products to add value to the corn crop, either in the field or through processing, while also maintaining or increasing corn’s traditional markets. Each year, exciting new research projects allow the CMPM to further advance this goal.

Dollars submitted to the CMPM from the state’s corn farmers are invested in research to develop new uses and new markets for corn and have already resulted in the further development of markets such as ethanol, carpeting, fabrics, a no-sodium salt substitute and plastics that replace petroleum-based products.

Preliminary proposals will be due to the CMPM on Nov. 5 and the projects funded will be announced in late January 2011. If you or someone you know has a corn-related research idea and would like to be included on our mailing list, please contact Mary Nienaltowski at the CMPM by calling 517-668-2676.

Ethanol Night sets record

A record crowd of more than 1,030 corn growers gathered at the 2010 MCGA Ethanol Night at the Races on Sept. 10, at Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run. Ethanol Night at the Races, a yearly highlight for MCGA members, is a way for the MCGA to promote the use of ethanol, while combining great food, fellowship and a full night of racing.

“With ethanol blends becoming more and more available in our state and across the country, Ethanol Night at the Races has become the perfect outlet for highlighting the advantages of using ethanol-blended fuels, while also thanking our members for their support during the past year,” explained Ed Breitmeyer, MCGA president and a corn farmer from Buckley.

In addition to learning about ethanol’s performance capabilities in race cars and watching MCGA board member Don Morse’s ethanol-powered car race during the night’s feature event, MCGA members also had the opportunity to examine many other ethanol-powered projects.

On display for the festivities were Kettering University’s ethanol-powered snowmobile and formula car, ethanol-powered race cars from Clark Motorsports and Muskegon Community College, an ethanol-powered tractor and lawn mower from the Eastern Michigan Tractor Pulling Assoc. and corn-based projects from Saginaw Valley State University. Representatives from each organization were also on-site for the event to talk with attendees about their projects and the benefits of ethanol.

Ethanol Night at the Races is truly a member’s event and two MCGA members who always go the extra mile in assisting with this event are Mark Bauer, a Pioneer seed dealer from Reese, and Don Morse, who in addition to being an MCGA board member and a corn grower from Birch Run, is also a Pioneer seed dealer.

Additionally, the MCGA would like to thank the sponsors of the event who are also key in helping to make this event so successful. The 2010 sponsors of Ethanol Night at the Races included ADM; The Andersons Albion Ethanol, LLC; Mark Bauer, a Pioneer seed dealer from Reese; Carbon Green BioEnergy, LLC; Crop Production Services; Great Lakes Hybrids; Greenstone Farm Credit Services; Michigan Agri-Systems; Don Morse, a Pioneer seed dealer from Birch Run; Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.; POET Biorefining; and Weiss Equipment.