From Michigan Corn Growers Assoc.

In this update, the Michigan Corn Growers Assoc. (MCGA) and the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan (CMPM) would like to highlight one corn grower’s recent testimony at the Senate Agriculture Committee farm bill field hearing, as well as share the results of the recent CMPM appointments and details of our upcoming summer events. We hope you can attend!

Michigan growers represented at first farm bill hearing

As home to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, it was no surprise Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) elected to hold the first official field hearing for the reauthorization of the farm bill in the Great Lakes state. As one of the leading agricultural organizations in the state, which represents the largest row crop, it should also come as no surprise that an MCGA member was front and center to testify.

The current farm bill, written in 2008, is scheduled to expire in 2012 and has been a top priority for Stabenow since taking her new leadership position early in the year. Faced with tight budget constraints, she and the rest of the committee must make some tough choices about which programs to continue and which to eliminate as they work to craft a new farm bill that will meet everyone’s needs.

To learn how the agriculture, energy, conservation, rural development, research, forestry and nutrition policies included in the farm bill affect Michigan residents, Stabenow was joined by Ag Committee Ranking Member Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) at the hearing on May 31.

The event included testimony from 15 witnesses from a variety of occupations, ranging from farmers to foresters, and academics to community leaders. Among them was Michigan corn farmer, CMPM president and National Corn Growers Assoc. Corn Board member Clark Gerstacker. Gerstacker, who farms 1,500 acres of corn, soybeans, dry beans and sugar beets with his brother on their Centennial family farm in Midland, testified for corn.

As his key point, Gerstacker emphasized the importance of risk management programs to ensure U.S. farmers can continue to provide a safe, abundant and affordable supply of food for people across the planet. Additionally, he noted the variety of farm bill programs he has used on his farming operation and suggested some changes that could be made to the current programs to make them more useful for farmers across the nation.
To read the complete Gerstacker testimony or that of other witnesses, visit http://ag.senate.gov/site

New members appointed to CMPM board of directors

Every year, three highly qualified corn farmers from across the state are chosen by the governor to sit on the CMPM board. The CMPM is a checkoff program established by P.A. 232, 1965 as amended, which allows for the establishment of checkoff programs for commodities grown in Michigan and sold.

Since its origin in 1993, one penny for every bushel of corn grown in Michigan and sold comes to the CMPM and is used for research, education, market development and new uses. This year, three of the board’s nine positions were up for appointment.

After being nominated by their peers to have their names submitted for consideration, Gov. Rick Snyder appointed one and reappointed two corn farmers to fill the open positions on the CMPM board. Newly appointed members will each serve a three-year term and join six other board members who direct the state’s corn checkoff program. Appointees include:

•Carl Barth of Three Rivers, who was reappointed for a third term to represent District 2. This includes Barry, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa and St. Joseph counties.

•Mark Kies of Allen, who was reappointed for a third term to represent District 3. This includes Branch, Calhoun and Hillsdale counties.

•Thomas Durand of Croswell, who was appointed to represent District 7. This includes Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac and St. Clair counties.

“The board is looking forward to continuing to improve and enhance traditional markets, while also seeking out new and innovative uses for Michigan’s corn,” said Gerstacker. “Through the responsible decision-making and insight from our board along with the hard work of the CMPM staff, we are looking forward to creating more opportunities for corn farmers, while helping to get Michigan’s economy back on track.”

Michigan Corn Growers Assoc. golf outing reminders

The MCGA Thumb Area and Central Michigan golf outings are coming up quickly, so dust off your golf clubs and shine your golf shoes!

The Thumb Area Golf Outing will be at the Bird Creek Golf Club in Port Austin on Aug. 10. The Central Michigan Golf Outing will be held on a new date this year, Aug. 17, at Centennial Acres, Inc. in Sunfield.

Participants will receive 18 holes of golf with a cart, doughnuts and coffee, lunch and dinner, awards, chances to win door prizes and a day filled with fun and networking. In addition to these benefits, the CMPM will be hosting a hole-in-one contest for the second year in a row, with the opportunity to win the three-year lease of a flex fuel vehicle, as well as other great prizes.

For early registration rates, your registration forms must be postmarked by July 22 and July 29 for the Thumb Area and Central Michigan outings, respectively. The cost to register before the deadline is $40 for MCGA members and $75 for non-members. After the deadline, the respective costs increase to $60 and $100.

MCGA members should have received their registration information in the mail. Friends and supporters of the MCGA may find registration information online at www.micorn.org and golfers may register at our website, by fax at 517-668-2670 or by mail.

For more information on the outings or becoming an MCGA member, visit www.micorn.org or contact the MCGA at 888-323-6601.

Michigan Corn to set up at July Ag Expo

Want to know what agriculture and NASCAR have in common? The CMPM and MCGA invite you to join them at the 2011 Ag Expo to find out.

This year’s Michigan Corn booth will feature the American Ethanol NASCAR Show Car, on display each day with a NASCAR expert on-site to talk with attendees about the car and answer questions about the sport. MCGA and CMPM staff will also be available to talk about the benefits of the clean-burning, renewable fuel.

The Ag Expo will be on the campus of Michigan State University July 19-21. The Michigan Corn booth is located in Tent A and will also feature corn-based bioproducts, including corn heat, plastics and clothing.

Don’t forget to bring along the kids to learn more about corn, enjoy some freshly-popped popcorn and meet Captain Cornelius, our corn-powered superhero. Captain Cornelius will be available each day to pose for photos. Make sure to come on out and see your corn check-off dollars at work!