November 18, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

• Save the Date - Winter Roundup 2024
• Request for Application For CCPC 2024 Action Teams
• Colorado Ag Water Summit - Register Now
• Commodity Letter to USDA on ERP 2022
• NCGA to Congress: Farm Bill Extension Provides Certainty for Growers but Full Reauthorization Still Needed
• Weld County Soil Health Research Survey
• Scholarship Program Empowers Future Ag Leaders
• Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education
• Enter NCGA’s Photo Contest

Last Call for Applications For CCPC 2024 Action Teams

Would you like to be considered for a Colorado Corn Promotion Council Action Team position for 2024? Here is your chance. Action Teams (A-Teams) are an integral part of the CCPC that dive into the issues impacting the corn industry in Colorado. A-Teams members will be appointed in late November/early December with the term starting January 1, 2024, until December 31, 2024. A-Teams will meet four (4) times a year on a quarterly basis.

Your service on an A-Team will provide a substantive program and communication foundation for the CCPC to strengthen the work accomplished on behalf of Colorado corn producers.

Applications must be completed and returned to the state office by November 30th, 2023.

Download the application here

Colorado Ag Water Summit - Register Now

Join farmers, ranchers, and water managers around the state to discuss water issues impacting the agricultural community at the Colorado Ag Water Summit.

Date: November 29-30, 2023

Location: Larimer County Fairgrounds, Loveland, Co

Topics

• The Colorado River: Building a Statewide Ag Response
• Is WOTUS Dead?
• Drought Resilience Projects Around the State
• Taking Advantage of Federal Funding and Investing in Irrigation Infrastructure for The Future
• Colorado State University TAPS (Testing Ag Performance Solutions): Lessons from Year One
• Understanding Recent and Future Challenges to the Prior Appropriation System

More Information and registration is available on the website https://www.coagwater.org/summit

Commodity Letter to USDA on ERP 2022

NCGA joined with allied national, regional, and state commodity organizations in sending the attached letter to Secretary Vilsack relaying concerns with the design of the Emergency Relief Program for 2022. In total, 141 groups joined together to advocate for USDA to alter the program calculations in a manner that more fully meets the needs of all producers. Colorado Farm Bureau and the Colorado Association of Wheat Growers signed on from Colorado.*

The organizations were very concerned about two newly introduced ERP 2022 provisions outlined in program guidance released on October 27: (1) progressive payment factors used to prorate payments; and (2) the method used to incorporate producer-paid insurance premiums. Neither of these provisions were part of ERP 2020 or ERP 2022, and both appear inconsistent with the congressional intent of the enabling legislation.

Read the Letter Here

*The CCPC is not allowed per the market order to join in on letters of this nature.

NCGA to Congress: Farm Bill Extension Provides Certainty for Growers but Full Reauthorization Still Needed

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said today that it is pleased that the House and Senate passed a continuing resolution that extends the 2018 farm bill for one year, but the association said the extension is no substitute for a fully reauthorized farm bill.

“Growers are already making decisions for the 2024 crop year based on markets, growing conditions and risk calculations,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “This extension provides us with much needed certainty around the commodity title and other important USDA programs. But we continue to advocate for a full reauthorization of the farm bill as soon as possible.”

The 2018 farm bill, which expired on September 30, authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm and food programs.

Late Tuesday night, the House of Representatives bundled the farm bill extension with a continuing resolution to fund the government through early next year. The Senate signaled its support soon after resulting in a vote late Wednesday night.

NCGA and our state partners continue to work closely with policymakers to ensure that corn growers’ key priorities are included in the final bill.

Weld County Soil Health Research Survey

Laramie Woods, a student at CSU, is working on senior thesis project aimed at understanding barriers and perspectives to producers’ adoption of soil health practices in Weld County. If you would like to participate in this survey, click the link below.

Scholarship Program Empowers Future Ag Leaders

The National Corn Growers Association is thrilled to announce the launch of its annual scholarship program for the 2024 academic year. This program is designed to support students who are passionate about agriculture and making a positive impact in their community.

To apply for the scholarship, students must complete an online application. Submissions are now being accepted, and the deadline to complete is January 31, 2024.

All eligible students are encouraged to apply for this exciting opportunity. For more information and to apply, please visit our website at NCGA.com/scholarships.

Read more...

Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education

Mountain West Pesticide Education & Safety Training (PEST) is happy to announce pesticide applicator recertification workshops around Colorado this upcoming training season. All of these workshops provide ALL seven required core credits. The workshops are open to both private and commercial applicators as well as applicator technicians. If you are a commercial applicator and need category credits, please contact MWPEST.

Workshops are posted at http://www.mountainwestpest.com/continuing-education.html

Enter NCGA’s Photo Contest

Fields-of-Corn.com, the official photo contest of the National Corn Growers Association (NGCA), relaunched on the first of September.

Open to all, NCGA invites photographers to help tell the story of farming field corn in America. Through this contest, NCGA seeks high-resolution photos to document the rich history of growing corn, captured from seed to harvest as well as the tenacious families that grow it. Entries will be accepted through the end of November and will be available to accumulate votes directly through the website, closing on December 31.

Photographers will be competing for 26 awards over eight categories. Visa gift card prizes range up to $500. Winners will be announced in January 2024.

UPCOMING DEADLINES

• NCGA Fields of Corn Contest – Dec. 31, 2023
• NCGA Scholarship Applications Due - Jan. 31, 2024

UPCOMING EVENTS

• November 23-24: CCPC Office Closed for Thanksgiving
• November 29-30: Colorado Ag Water Summit
• January 22: CCPC Winter Roundup
• January 23-24: Colorado Farm Show