April 29, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

EPA Moves to Maintain Consumer Access to Low-Cost, Low-Emission E15
CCPC Sponsors 2023 Competition For Colorado’s Best Whiskey
The Special Research Edition of Field Journal is Now Available!
Take the CCPC Annual Survey
NCGA President Outlines Farm Bill Priorities, Encourages Strategic Investments in Key USDA Programs
USDA Expands Margin Protection for Corn and Soybean Farmers
Study Demonstrates Red Meat Exports’ Value to Corn and Soybean Industries
Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education
History Colorado’s Centennial Farms & Ranches Application Now Open

EPA Moves to Maintain Consumer Access to Low-Cost, Low-Emission E15

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on April 28 that it will use existing authority to prevent drivers from losing access to lower-cost and lower-emission E15, a higher ethanol blend often marketed as Unleaded 88.

The National Corn Growers Association and state corn grower organizations, which have advocated for the move, praised the decision.

“We appreciate Administrator Regan’s timely action to prevent a disruption in E15 availability,” said National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag. “EPA’s action will help address fuel supply constraints and ensure drivers continue to have access to a lower-cost fuel choice that cuts emissions.”

The fuel market conditions that warranted EPA taking the same successful step last year continue today, Haag noted, and he said corn growers are proud to contribute to an energy and environmental solution that saves consumers money at the pump.

CCPC Sponsors 2023 Competition For Colorado’s Best Whiskey

Craft distilleries in Colorado will once again compete for top honors at a national whiskey tasting competition sponsored by the Colorado Corn Promotion Council. The 2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition is the fourth competition sponsored by state corn marketing associations. Craft spirits is a fast-growing U.S. industry – the number of craft distillers has increased 54% since the inaugural competition in 2016 — and whiskey is its most popular product. Most distilleries that produce craft products are family-owned and rely on farmers for a reliable supply of corn to make the mash from which spirits are distilled.

The Special Research Edition of Field Journal is Now Available!

In the latest issue of Field Journal, we took a deep dive in the research that the Colorado Corn Promotion Council has sponsored. Look for this to arrive in your mailbox in the next couple of weeks!

Check it out here!

Take the CCPC Annual Survey

The CCPC is conducting our annual survey. It is very important to the Board of Directors and the staff that we are serving the corn producers of the state in the best way that we can - and that means we need your feedback! Please fill out the short survey, and let us know how we are doing. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

Take the Survey

NCGA President Outlines Farm Bill Priorities, Encourages Strategic Investments in Key USDA Programs

Corn growers are optimistic that Congress can make key farm bill programs more effective and responsive to the needs of farmers by making strategic investments and policy enhancements as it reauthorizes the farm bill, the president of the National Corn Growers Association said today.

NCGA President Tom Haag, a Minnesota farmer, offered testimony before the House Agriculture General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit Subcommittee. The hearing, “Producer Perspectives on the 2023 Farm Bill,” focused on stakeholder priorities for the crop insurance and commodity titles.

“Federal crop insurance has a proven track record of helping producers quickly respond to natural disasters,” Haag said. “Corn growers consistently rank crop insurance as the most important program and title of the farm bill. NCGA broadly supports increasing the affordability of crop insurance.”

USDA Expands Margin Protection for Corn and Soybean Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its Margin Protection insurance plan, adding more than a thousand counties to the insurance option that provides coverage against an unexpected decrease in operating margin for corn and soybean producers. This expansion, which is in direct response to growing interest among producers, will be available by June 30, 2023. Interested producers will need to purchase their coverage by Sept. 30, 2023, to be eligible for the 2024 crop year. 

See the map of expanded opportunities for corn in Colorado

USMEF Study Demonstrates Red Meat Exports’ Value to Corn and Soybean Industries

A record value of beef and pork exports brought significant returns to the U.S. corn and soybean industries in 2022, according to an independent study conducted by World Perspectives, Inc. and released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). U.S. pork and beef exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 15% per bushel to the value of corn and 13% per bushel to soybeans in 2022, according to the study.

“For every bushel of corn we marketed in 2022, a little over $1 was attributed to red meat exports and with soybeans, pork exports contributed $1.94 per bushel,” says USMEF Chair Dean Meyer, who produces corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs near Rock Rapids, Iowa. “Pork and beef exports bring critical support to our bottom lines.”

Corn and soybean growers support the international promotion of U.S. pork, beef and lamb by investing a portion of their checkoff dollars in market development efforts conducted by USMEF.

Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education

Mountain West PEST provides live in-person workshops and live online recertification credit training via Zoom Webinars. Live online webinars and in-person workshops have been developed and approved for core and category credits. If your category is not listed as an "upcoming" webinar/workshop, please contact MWPEST (sandra@mountainwestpest.com).

View upcoming workshops

History Colorado’s Centennial Farms & Ranches Application Now Open

The 2023 applications for Colorado's Centennial Farms & Ranches program have been opened. Centennial Farms & Ranches program, a joint initiative of History Colorado and the Colorado Department of Agriculture, honors the contributions of the state’s ranching and farming families who have withstood the pressures of growth, changes in farming methods, drought, and economic conditions to preserve important pieces of our state's commercial and cultural history.

In 2022, the Centennial Farms & Ranches program was expanded to recognize four categories of honorees associated with the agricultural history of the State of Colorado:

Centennial Farms or Ranches – farms or ranches that have belonged to the same family for at least 100 years, and are currently working farms or ranches
Centennial Families – families with agricultural experience in Colorado that spans 100 or more years (eg. 1923-present), not necessarily as landowners
Centennial Farmers or Ranchers – individuals 100 years of age or older who have spent a majority of their life in agricultural pursuits within the State of Colorado, even if they were not landowners
Centennial AgriBusiness – organizations or businesses that have been in operation for 100 or more years and primarily serve the agricultural community in Colorado (examples: seed companies, farm implement manufacturers, Farm Bureaus, etc.)

The expansion of the Centennial Farms and Ranches program allows for a more equitable celebration of the diverse farming and ranching families who sustain the Centennial State. Broadening this program provides a chance to celebrate the contribution and accomplishments of Coloradans who did not historically have the opportunity to own property–whether for economic, political, or discriminatory reasons.

To earn recognition within the Centennial Farms and Ranches Programs, applicants must submit an application and provide verification of eligibility. A complete list of eligibility requirements can be found in the 2023 Centennial Farms & Ranches Application.

Awardees will be honored for their perseverance and resilience through the changing times at the Colorado State Fair, held every August in Pueblo, CO.

The deadline for applications is May 1, 2023 (That's this Monday!). To apply or learn more, please visit h-co.org/CentennialFarms or call (303) 866-3392.

UPCOMING DEADLINES

Centennial Farms and Ranches Programs – May 1, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 17 - CCPC Board of Directors Meeting

Who is the Colorado Corn Council?

The Colorado Corn Promotion Council (CCPC) oversees how Colorado's corn check-off dollars (one penny per bushel of grain corn produced in Colorado) are invested in research, market development, outreach and other various endeavors.

Learn more about the work of our organization at www.coloradocorn.com.