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12-8-09--Kansas Corn Commissioner Participates in Corn Mission to Morocco, Egypt and Jordan

12-1-09--Kansas Growers Must Wait for EPA’s Science-Based Decision on Ethanol Waiver

11-6-09--Kansas Corn, Sorghum Groups Boost Outreach Efforts with New Staff Member

11-3-09--Comments on FIFRA SAP on Atrazine Review

10-23-09--Kansas Grower Groups Respond to CSI: Miami's Error Laden Anti-Agriculture Episode

10-1-09--Grower Leaders Voice Atrazine Support

9-11-09--Kansas Growers Continue to Meet Customers Needs with Record 2009 Crop

8-28-09--Even Without Clunker Program, Car Buyers Can Save with Flex Fuel Tax Credit

8-12-09--Kansas Corn Commission Partners in Effort to Expand Ethanol Fueling Infrastructure

7-24-09--Kansas Grower Elected Vice Chairman of US Grains Council

3-25-09--Kansas Con Commissioners Get Firsthand Look at Importance of Strong Asian Markets for US Beef

3-5-2009--Kansas Corn Commission Supports Corn Farmers Coalition Effort to Tell Growers Story

3-3-09--KSU Students Get Free Ethanol Fuel and Talk About Renewables

1-30-09--Ethanol Blender Pump Locations Grow In Kansas

12-30-08--Kansas Corn Producers Post High Marks in Yield Contest 

12-11-08--Kansas Corn Leader: Corn Producers Are Meeting Needs of Customers

12-10-08--Kansas Corn Growers Association Holds Annual Meeting

11-20-08--Kansas Commodity Classic Is December 9

8-20-08--Former Kansas Corn Commissioner Carolyn Dunn Will Speak at Republican National Convention

8-18-08--Kansas Corn Commission, EPIC Announce Ethanol Blender Pump Program
Offers funding to help offset infrastructure costs for fuel retailers

8-12-08--Ethanol Blender Pump Promotions in Garden City Aug. 14 and Colwich Aug. 18

7-1-08--Kansas Growers Plant Largest Corn Crop in Modern History

5-16-08--Rumors of Ethanol Disinformation Campaign Prove to Be True

5-5-08-Consumers to Pay for Several Months of Corn, Ethanol Bashing

3-21-08--Kansas Grain Commodity Growers Elect Commissioners

2-25-08--Lawrence Station Offers Four Ethanol Blends

1-4-08--Three New Plants Double Kansas Ethanol Production
 

Visit the Kansas Corn News archives

12-8-09--Kansas Corn Commissioner Participates in Corn Mission to Morocco, Egypt and Jordan
GARNETT, Kansas (December 7, 2009)- Kansas Corn Commissioner, Bob Timmons, of Fredonia, KS is one of six corn growers traveling Morocco, Egypt and Jordan for the U.S. Grains Council 2009 Corn Mission. The group has already toured a cattle feedlot, poultry operation and shipping port, and has also met with government and agricultural representatives.

The U.S. Grains Council Corn Mission allows for growers and grain buyers to have face-to-face open discussions about U.S. corn.

When Timmons was asked about the expectations he had for the corn mission, he responded by saying, “I am pretty excited about this mission. We support the Grains Council through the Kansas Corn Commission and it is interesting to see how the Council is building markets for our corn.”

The group is now in Egypt, where the US Grains Council has been active in promoting the use of corn and the ethanol coproduct distillers grains not only in beef, but also the growing water buffalo industry. The Council has worked closely with Egyptian water buffalo producers for several years to help develop this rapidly growing industry and encouraging the use of U.S. corn as well as distillers grains (DDGS), a coproduct of ethanol production.

Chuck Zimmerman of ZimmComm New Media is also on the trade mission and was impressed with a visit to the water buffalo feedlot and dairy operated by Dr. Saad Alhayani, chairman of the Egyptian Buffalo Producers Association.

“He’s raising thousands of buffalo and feeding them corn and DDGS as well as other ingredients,” Zimmerman said. “We saw lots of bags of DDGS at his feedlot. That looked very positive for American corn growers!”

The group visited with government officials, poultry farms and port facilities in Morocco. When leaving Morocco, Joe Zenz, a Wisconsin corn grower said he sees great potential in the Morocco market, but he thinks producers still have a lot to learn about production and the USGC is playing a key role in providing educational resources.

Zimmerman is blogging about the U.S. Grains Council 2009 Corn Mission. You can read more about this corn mission at www.thegrainboard.com and the ZimmComm blog at www.agwired.com.


12-1-09--Kansas Growers Must Wait for EPA’s Science-Based Decision on Ethanol Waiver
The Environmental Protection Agency announced today a delay in its decision on the ethanol industry’s request for higher ethanol blends. A December 1 deadline had been set for EPA to announce its decision on the use of fuel blends up to 15 percent ethanol. The agency said it needed more time to complete scientific evaluation of the request and said a decision should be made by next spring.

In its response to the waiver request, EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy wrote that EPA recognizes higher ethanol blends are necessary to meet renewable fuel requirements and noted that EPA is beginning work to develop labeling for higher blends. She indicated that the ongoing studies have been positive.

“Although all of the studies have not been completed, our engineering assessment to date indicates that the robust fuel, engine and emissions control systems on newer vehicles (likely 2001 and newer model years) will likely be able to accommodate higher ethanol blends, such as E15,” McCarthy said.

Kansas Corn Growers Executive Director Jere White said the association supports EPA’s efforts to make a decision based on sound science. “When the ethanol industry asked EPA for the waiver, we said we had faith in EPA’s ability to conduct a science-based review of higher ethanol blends,” White said. “Today, the agency was honest in saying it needed more time to complete its research. The best outcome would be an interim decision to allow higher blends of ethanol that can be used in all vehicles, including those manufactured before 2001.”

The arbitrary 10 percent blend wall is a barrier not only to the growth of the grain based ethanol industry, but also inhibits the development of cellulosic ethanol.

“Without a robust grain ethanol industry, we won’t be able to develop cellulosic ethanol that holds so much promise. When you add cellulosic ethanol to the mix, we have the opportunity to take a major step dramatically reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” White said.

Growers are more than able to provide enough feedstock for both grain and cellulosic ethanol.

“Our growers have proven time and time again that they can provide enough grain to satisfy the needs of all our customers,” White said. “This year U.S. growers are harvesting a near record crop and Kansas will produce over 560 million bushels, shattering the previous record of 507 million bushels set in 2007. With improvements in production practices and crop genetics, our corn farmers will continue to produce an ample supply of corn for feed, fuel and food.”

The Kansas Corn Growers Association represents corn growers in legislative and regulatory issues. More information can be found at www.ksgrains.com


11-6-09--Kansas Corn, Sorghum Groups Boost Outreach Efforts with New Staff Member
GARNETT, Kansas (Nov. 6, 2009)- DeEtta Bohling from Greenfield, Iowa recently joined the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association as Communications and Marketing Associate. The associations represent Kansas sorghum and corn producers in legislative and regulatory issues.

“Our goal was to find a person who could help us beef up our communications efforts while boosting our association’s internet presence, especially in social media,” according to KCGA/KGSPA Director of Communications Sue Schulte. “DeEtta is a great fit and brings a lot of enthusiasm and knowledge in these areas.”

Bohling is a 2009 graduate from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Here she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Public Relations. She received a minor in Business Administration and a Leadership Education Program certificate.

Bohling has been an active member of 4-H, FFA, Adair County Youth Action Committee, Friends of the Library, Wartburg College Student Senate, Entertainment ToKnight, the Volunteer Action Center, Tower Agency Public Relations, Wartburg Television, and served as an ambassador for Wartburg College.

In 2003, Bohling received the Iowa Governor’s Youth Leadership Award. In 2004 she was inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame and in 2007 she was awarded with a Wartburg College Nobility Award for her service and leadership.

Before joining the Kansas corn and sorghum associations, Bohling was the Marketing and Social Networking intern for the Iowa 4-H Foundation in Ames, Iowa.
 


Comments on FIFRA SAP on Atrazine Review
Docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0759-0001
November 3, 2009

Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, my name is Jere White. I am the executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and also serve as chairman of the Triazine Network. My expenses to be here are covered by Kansas farmers.

The Triazine Network was formed in 1995 as a response by growers of over 30 commodities and from over forty states, to provide input to the US EPA special review of the triazine herbicides. Our objective is to ensure that EPA has and utilizes the best science. That's why we are here today. We have participated in every SAP concerning atrazine since the beginning of the Special Review in 1994. We believe the scientific weight of evidence shows atrazine to be both safe and effective and that is the best kind of tool that farmers can have.
Last month EPA announced their decision to pursue a very intensive and urgent reevaluation (actually a re-reevaluation) of atrazine, in disregard to it’s recently completed reregistration which provided for its continued safe use. It clearly appears the normal process which included internal review (i.e. data evaluation records) of new studies by EPA, and when deemed appropriate, a further review by its SAP, has been cast away. It seems now that the an NRDC seeded story in the New York Times is all the peer review needed in order to tee up a minimum of five SAPs in just over a year (four indicated in the FR Notice and a minimum of one additional in FY-2011 indicated in the Agency's stakeholder conference call).

The Agency describes this as a "kickoff" meeting which was certainly new terminology in my fifteen years of participation. This seems highly unusual. Perhaps even festive and goal oriented.

Some countries abandon science in their process and subscribe to a precautionary principal that puts at risk their own people. The benefits of atrazine to agriculture are well documented and part of existing EPA record. Recent efforts to downplay the benefits in the media are simply the wishes of activists who suggest they have better insight on producing abundant food, fuel and fiber from their comfortable desk than the farmer who has been doing it all his life. It should be noted that farmers have been some of the best early adopters.

The Triazine Network is disappointed that there appears to be a major departure in process at EPA in regards to the recently announced SAPs re-reassessing atrazine. However, we commit to engage all processes and all options in order to see a science based outcome continue during all Administrations and keep all those we represent and all that represent us informed of the progress.


10-23-09--Kansas Grower Groups Respond to CSI: Miami's Error Laden Anti-Agriculture Episode

In a letter to the General Manager of WIBW TV, a CBS affiliate, Kansas corn and grain sorghum groups expressed concern over the "Bad Seed" episode of CSI: Miami, which aired on October 19. The show attacked almost all segments of agriculture and was filled with misinformation and fear tactics.

Jim Ogle
General Manager
WIBW TV
Topeka, KS

Dear Jim,

On Monday, CBS aired a CSI Miami episode title "Bad Seed". It would have been more aptly titled "Bad Writing"!

I have been a huge fan of all CSI shows since day one. The usual combination of a plausible storyline with reasonable science is a mix I find entertaining and at times educational. This week's episode was neither. In fact it was a slap in the face to your rural constituents.

A key element of the storyline dealing with genetic modification of crops was completely off base. While a single gene is inserted into a seed, an entire organism is not. Every day, millions of people in the United States and around the world consume GM food. It's no less healthy or nutritious than non-GM food. We know this from years of experience as well as extensive scientific and regulatory testing.

Virtually every other scenario in the episode is exaggerated and improbable to the point of being ridiculous because of modern farm management and the checks and balances within our food production system. Our regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have rigid standards regarding food production and safety which are the model for the world.

Seed companies spend millions of dollars and years of study developing, screening, testing and clearing regulatory hurdles for a single gene technology to assure its safety. And when they are successful in bringing a beneficial trait to the market, local TV Stations like WIBW take in thousands of dollars advertising it to farmers. At one point the show talked about "seed drift". There is no such thing.

Livestock producers are strictly regulated regarding the management of water and potential runoff from cattle feedlots, yet in one scene effluent from a feed yard was freely running out a large pipe and into a groundwater source. Of course, if you looked at the cattle, they were not even feeder cattle, but were cows and calves that would never be fattened in a feed lot. I doubt if there are many feedlots in Dade County, FL.
And yes, you can throw in the racial overtones of undocumented Hispanic farm workers and a poor African American farmer being victimized by the large corporate farmer, who of course was affluent and white.

Nearly all the corn farms (95%) in this country are family farming operations that bring generations of expertise to their farms which they intend to pass on to the next generation. Showing them in such an irresponsible manner is unfair and damaging to consumer confidence. Suggesting that "Big Farming" or food companies are amoral and willing to risk people's lives to advance their profits or even feed the masses is unthinkable and damaging to the hard earned trust farmers have earned from the consumer public.

This is truly an issue where stations like WIBW can and should weigh in to CBS. This episode was a disgrace and should not be aired again. And while the general public may tolerate inept storylines because of low expectations, we will not.
We have had a longstanding good relationship with WIBW. I look forward to your response.

Jere White, Executive Director
Kansas Corn Commission
Kansas Corn Growers Association
Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association
PO Box 446
Garnett, KS 66032


Oct. 1, 2009--Grower Leaders Voice Atrazine Support
Growers from Kansas and four other states left their combines this week to talk to leadership from Syngenta Crop Protection about the importance of atrazine to their farming operations. A roundtable meeting was held at the National Corn Growers Association office in Chesterfield, MO, followed by an informal meeting at the Keith Witt farm in Warrenton, MO.

While atrazine was successfully re-registered by EPA in 2006, recent attacks by environmental activists including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have brought the issue to the forefront. Trial attorneys also continue their efforts for legal action against the makers of atrazine.

Growers represented at the meeting included four past NCGA Presidents: Ron Litterer, Iowa; Ken McCauley, Kansas; Dee Vaughan, Texas and Fred Yoder, Ohio. Three past presidents of the National Sorghum Producers were present: Greg Shelor, Kansas; James Vorderstrasse, Nebraska, and Bill Kubecka, Texas.

Atrazine is used to help farmers grow crops in a way that protects the environment, especially with no-till practices, McCauley said. “Environmental activists would like you to believe that farmers don’t need atrazine, so we might as well get rid of it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is it important to our growers’ bottom lines, it is vital to the practices we use to protect the environment,” McCauley said. “The NRDC says we can use another chemical, but ask NRDC what chemicals they do approve of.”

Southwest Kansas sorghum producer Greg Shelor told the group that his no-till practices would not be possible without atrazine. “I can’t no-till without atrazine,” he said. “With no-till there is not near the runoff and without no-till I will have 50 or 60 bushel sorghum instead of the 100 to 120 bushels I have now.”

Iowa grower Ron Litterer said many people don’t understand atrazine’s role in reducing rates of herbicides. “For me atrazine is an enhancer for weed control. Years ago, my dad used it as his sole product. Now we use much lower rates and have better weed control. As an enhancer, atrazine has allowed us to reduce the rates of other chemicals and has made them more effective.”

Atrazine allows Nebraska sorghum farmer James Vorderstrasse to use moisture conserving no-till practices on his farm. “There is no alternative to atrazine,” he said. “Every time you till the soil you lose an inch of moisture. Without atrazine, you’d have to till two or three times pre-plant plus cultivate a couple of times and that amounts to a loss of 5 inches of moisture.”

Ohio Grower Fred Yoder said atrazine has been important to his family farm for years. “I’m trying to remember if we have ever grown corn without atrazine. It’s been around such a long time. But does that mean we need to look at something else? I don’t think so,” he said.

Syngenta CEO Mike Mack and President of Crop Protection Valdemar Fischer participated in the roundtable discussion by phone. Travis Dickinson, Vice President of Marketing; Tim Pastoor, Principal Scientist; Steven Goldsmith Senior Communications Manager and Todd Barlow, State Government Relations Manager participated in a meeting with growers at the National Corn Growers Association offices in Chesterfield, MO. The Syngenta executives reaffirmed their commitment to defending the use of atrazine.


9-11-09--Kansas Growers Continue to Meet Customers Needs with Record 2009 Crop

Kansas corn producers are expected to harvest a record 518 million bushel corn crop this year as part of the nation’s 13 billion harvest. The projected US harvest will just about tie the record 2007 harvest of 13.1 billion bushels. Farmers continue to prove they can meet the needs of their customers, according to Kansas Corn Growers Association Executive Director Jere White.

“What is interesting is that in 2008, the year of the so-called corn shortage, we produced 12.1 billion bushels which at the time was the second largest crop in history,” White said said. “So in the last three years, we are seeing the three largest corn crops in history in the United States.”

The 2009 U.S. corn crop is expected to have an average yield of 162 bushels per acre, a record yield. Kansas Corn Commission Chairman Mike Brzon of Courtland pointed out that farmers are using improved technology and growing practices to produce more corn per acre.

“I wish people would look at the great advances we have made in agriculture that allow us to grow more corn on fewer acres and at the same time substantially reduce our use of fertilizers and pesticides, and we’ve reduced erosion as well,” Brzon said. “We don’t seem to get credit for any of that.”

In 2008, many predicted a corn shortage, and some groups called for a stop in the use of corn for ethanol to prevent the shortage. Corn based ethanol was blamed for sharp spikes in consumer food prices. Markets joined the clamor, with speculators raising the price of corn near $8 per bushel for a short time in the summer of 2008. That fall, corn producers harvested the second largest crop in history, and ended the year with a significant corn carryover of 1.7 billion bushels.

“Many special interest groups have found that fear is the best weapon,” White said. “Last year, anti-ethanol groups used fear to attack corn producers and the ethanol industry blaming ethanol for a fictitious corn shortage. In the end, it was corn’s customers as well as consumers who were hurt by speculators who bought into the fear and elevated crop prices to record levels.”

Higher prices across the board were blamed on corn and ethanol last year. The AMC movie theater chain blamed an increase in ticket prices on higher popcorn costs.

“You can imagine the markup on popcorn at a movie theater when you pay more than $5 for a bag of popcorn. That was simply a bogus excuse,” White said. “But what concerns me is that while commodity prices dropped dramatically, consumer food prices have not dropped that much. Last year food prices increased 5.1 percent and food companies blamed corn and ethanol, while they pocketed record profits. They were in a hurry to raise the prices, but seem a little slower to lower them even at a time when consumers are suffering through a recession.”

The Kansas Corn Commission was one of several corn grower groups that created the Corn Farmers Coalition, a national effort to provide accurate information about corn farming. The Corn Farmers Coalition used information from credible sources like the US Department of Agriculture to make sure decision-makers in Washington, DC and others were well informed about today’s corn production.

“I don’t think people understand how much farming has changed especially in the last 10 years. Just like any business technology has made us so much more efficient,” Brzon said. “Last year we had floods in some isolated areas and people thought the corn crop was doomed. This year, we had late planting and a cool growing season in many areas. By overcoming these adversities with near record results, we are proving that our growers can provide a reliable supply of corn for all of our customers year after year.”

The Kansas Corn Commission is a nine member grower board that invests the half-cent per bushel corn checkoff in the areas of research, market development, education and promotion. For more information, visit www.ksgrains.com.



8-28-09--
Even Without Clunker Program, Car Buyers Can Save with Flex Fuel Tax Credit

While the “Cash for Clunkers” program has ended, Kansas motorists can take advantage of a $750 tax credit when they buy a flexible fuel vehicle and use E85 ethanol fuel, Kansas Corn Commission Communications Director Sue Schulte said. The FFV option is available on many models of cars, SUVs and pickups. These vehicles are able to operate on any combination of gasoline and ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol (E85).

“Flex fuel vehicles are just that—flexible,” she said. “You can use pure gasoline, or up to 85 percent ethanol whenever you want. It simply gives you more choices at the pump.”

 The state’s E85 tax credit makes buying an FFV an even more attractive option. 

“Even without the Cash for Clunkers program, there are a lot of great incentives for new vehicles with low interest rates and good trade-in values. It’s easy to see why so many people are looking at buying a new vehicle. The state’s E85 tax credit has been around for quite a while and it’s important to remind consumers of this excellent incentive as well,” Schulte said. “A lot of new vehicles have a flex fuel option at no extra cost that allows you to use higher ethanol blends”

Under the state’s FFV tax credit program, the owner of a new FFV has two years in which to use 500 gallons of E85 to qualify for the $750 tax credit.

“With the $750 tax credit and the availability of E85 fuel in cities across the state, why wouldn’t you look into it? There is no downside to choosing a vehicle with the flex fuel option—it gives you more control over your fuel choices,” Schulte said. “Increasing the number of flex fuel vehicles in Kansas fits well with our goal of adding more blender pumps in Kansas and throughout the nation that can offer higher ethanol blends.”

The Kansas Corn Commission has joined several other corn producing states, the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Coalition for Ethanol to add ethanol blender pumps in key locations across the nation. Blender pumps offer E85 fuel as well as other mid-grade ethanol blends such as E20 and E40. Eleven plants currently produce 450 million gallons of fuel ethanol in Kansas providing jobs and economic stability to communities and providing a market for Kansas farmers.

“In a time when people are trying to buy local, why not buy local fuel? Ethanol is produced right here in Kansas with products from Kansas farms,” Schulte said. “With the E85 tax incentive and no added cost for the flex option, buying an FFV looks better than ever.”

Over 45 fuel retailers who sell higher blends of ethanol including E85 are located in cities across Kansas. F

Where to find E85 Fuel in Kansas

Information on the Kansas E85 Tax Credit



Kansas Growers Say Activist Groups Twist EPA Atrazine Data to Alarm Consumers

8-25-09--Three media events on August 23-24 highlighted activists’ efforts to raise public concern about the herbicide atrazine. The New York Times, Huffington Post and National Resources Defense Council all release reports about atrazine on Sunday and Monday. The stories were based on data from a monitoring program that Syngenta, the maker of atrazine, entered into with EPA in 2003. The Atrazine Monitoring Program (AMP) is an intensive monitoring program currently focusing on about 100 community water systems located primarily in the Midwest.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) for atrazine at 3 parts per billion (ppb) based on an annual average in public drinking water. Atrazine is among a list of 87 drinking water contaminants routinely monitored by the EPA. Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association said results of the two testing programs should not be used to confuse consumers.

“The focus of the AMP program is different than the normal water sampling that is done to determine the annual MCL for drinking water systems,” White said. “This study is focused on areas with higher atrazine usage—basically a closer look. The EPA set a guideline under this program of 37.5 ppb atrazine plus three metabolites (breakdown products) over a 90-day period as a benchmark for a level of concern.”

The activist groups used two sets of data to cause concern among consumers, White said.

“You can do anything with numbers. There are spikes, but those spikes were taken into consideration by EPA when the 3 parts per billion annual drinking water level for atrazine was set. That’s why it is an annual average and not a daily or weekly number. But to then take data from an entirely different program, and suggest that the levels were above the EPA’s MCL for atrazine is simply misleading.”

In its July 2009 update, EPA stated, “Through its review of this data, the Agency has confirmed that none of the systems have exceeded OPP's level of concern, a 90-day average of 37.5 parts per billion (ppb) of atrazine and its degradates. Concentrations below this 90-day average are considered to be safe.”

“If you look at the data, you see that atrazine levels in raw (untreated) water have decreased. Farmers are using practices that reduce the amount of runoff from fields, and that keeps chemicals out of surface water,” White said. “This is actually very good news, which has gone unreported.”

Atrazine is crucial to the success of no-till farming operations that have a wide range of environmental benefits. No-till is a practice that leaves crop residue, like corn stalks, in the field to cut down on soil erosion and runoff of fertilizers and farm chemicals.

“When you talk about soil conservation and reducing runoff, you have to talk about no-till farming practices,” White said. “This practice is making a real difference when it comes to conservation. But many growers say without residual weed control that atrazine offers, they would not be able to continue their no-till practices. Farmers have a good story to tell, producing more with less. For example, look at what corn producers have done in the last 10 years. For the same bushel of corn produced in 1987, today our land use is down 37 percent, soil loss is down 69 percent.”

For more information and background on this issue, visit this Atrazine Blog


 

8-12-09--Kansas Corn Commission Partners in Effort to Expand Ethanol Fueling Infrastructure

The Kansas Corn Commission is partnering with several corn states, National Corn Growers Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) to install 5,000 blender pumps across the nation over the next three years. Consumers can enjoy more choices at the pump, gas station owners can experience product flexibility, and the nation can achieve its renewable fuels targets – all thanks to the blender pump and the wider distribution of E85 and mid-range ethanol blends. The program was announced at the 22nd Annual Ethanol Conference & Trade Show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 11.

“This spring, corn grower groups from across the country asked the ethanol associations to work together to give us a proposal for a comprehensive effort to increase the market for ethanol by adding blender pumps to key areas across the nation,“ KCC Chairman Mike Brzon of Courtland said. “This effort goes well beyond just giving retailers money to add an ethanol pump. We will benefit from the expertise of ACE and RFA working together to provide technical and marketing assistance to fuel retailers to help them see the benefit to offering ethanol blends to their customers. They will also help them take advantage of existing state and federal incentives.”

The “Blend Your Own Ethanol” campaign, BYOethanol, will offer a single source of ethanol information and technical expertise for petroleum marketers looking to upgrade equipment or begin offering more choices to their customers. By serving as a central clearinghouse for renewable fuels infrastructure incentives, the “BYOethanol” campaign will bring blender pumps to key areas of the country, and from there they will spread as neighboring gas stations see the benefit and want to remain competitive.

Blender pumps are not new to the fuel industry, but are now finding new use with ethanol and E85. A blender pump features two underground tanks, typically one with unleaded and one with E85, and the dispenser blends the appropriate percentages of the two fuels to create any blend of ethanol from zero to 85 percent. Gas station owners benefit from product flexibility and by being ready for future renewable fuel blend levels, and consumers benefit by having new choices at the pump like E20 or E30 for their flexible fuel vehicles.

“This campaign will be successful because it works directly with petroleum marketers, not paying them to put in a blender pump, but explaining to them why it’s a good business decision, how it will benefit the station, and helping them access the state and federal incentives that exist,” said Ron Lamberty, Vice President / Market Development of the American Coalition for Ethanol. “If we present petroleum marketers with the facts about why this is a good business decision – and it is a good business decision – they will consider adding blender pumps to their stations. Now our job is to get this information out to as many of them as possible, and we’ve already begun doing that.”

Along with the National Corn Growers Association, several leading corn-producing states are participating in this program. At press time, states participating are the Kansas Corn Commission, the Kentucky Corn Promotion Council, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, the Nebraska Corn Board, and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, with several other states on the verge of joining this effort.

“Blender pumps are the best way to expand the reach of renewable fuels, and it’s time for a national campaign to get this infrastructure in the ground and get consumers the choices they deserve,” said Robert White, Director of Market Development for the Renewable Fuels Association. “No matter where their station is located, retailers will have a wide variety of options to increase their profit margin while lowering the cost for consumers. We are grateful to be working with the corn grower organizations and the American Coalition for Ethanol.”

The “BYOethanol” campaign will function as an expanded market development program of the two ethanol groups and will serve as the only one-stop source for all the technical, regulatory, safety, and environmental information petroleum marketers need about retailing ethanol blends. The program will feature extensive work at petroleum marketer events and a Web presence designed specifically for station owners to easily get the information they want.

The nearly 200 blender pump locations in the U.S. today can be seen on this map: www.tinyurl.com/ACEblenderpumpmap.

The Kansas Corn Commission is a nine-member grower board that determines how the half-cent per bushel corn checkoff is invested in the areas of market development, research, promotion and education. The commissioners are elected by growers in each of the state’s nine crop reporting districts. For more information, visit www.ksgrains.com or call 800-489-2676.


7-24-09--Kansas Grower Elected Vice Chairman of US Grains Council
Kansas corn producer Terry Vinduska of Marion, Kansas was elected vice chairman of the US Grains Council this week. Vinduska represents the Kansas Corn Commission on the Council. Vinduska served as US Grains Council treasurer during the 2008/2009 term. He has been on the USGC board of directors for six years.

Vinduska has been a strong proponent of the council’s efforts and continues to encourage work to build exports of corn.

“Informa Economics has determined that the return on investment for the Grains Council is $50 per every dollar that the corn commission invests,” Vinduska said. “So for every dollar our Kansas Corn Commission puts into the Grains Council, we get $50 worth of corn exports through the Council’s work. I think that is a phenomenal return on investment for our growers.” MORE

The 2009/2010 USGC officers are: Chairman Rick Fruth, Ohio Corn Marketing Program; Vice Chairman Terry Vinduska, Kansas Corn Commission; Treasurer Wendell Shauman, Illinois Corn Marketing Board; Secretary Don Fast, Montana Wheat and Barley Committee; and Past Chairman Jim Broten, North Dakota Barley Council. The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products. Founded in 1960, the Council is a private, non-profit corporation with nine international offices and programs in more than 50 countries.

The Kansas Corn Commission is a nine member grower board that invests the half-cent per bushel corn checkoff in the areas of research, market development, education and promotion. For more information, visit www.ksgrains.com.

 

3-25-09--Kansas Corn Commissioners Get Firsthand Look at Importance of Strong Asian Markets for US Beef

Assessing efforts to regain market share for U.S. beef in Japan and Korea was the focus of three Kansas corn commissioners in a recent trip with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Members of the Kansas Corn Commission have returned from Japan and South Korea where they observed the work of USMEF and the retail and foodservice performance of U.S. beef and pork products. These two countries are major importers of U.S. red meat.

Corn Commissioners Brian Baalman of Menlo, Ken McCauley of White Cloud, Bob Timmons of Fredonia, and KCC Executive Director Jere White were joined on the trip by USMEF Vice Chairman Keith Miller of Great Bend, and farm broadcaster Greg Akagi of the Kansas Agriculture Network. White said the Kansas Corn Commission is marking its 30th year of work with the US Meat Export Federation, and over that time, has invested over one million dollars in building red meat export markets through USMEF.

“A few years ago we surpassed one million dollars in funding to the USMEF which is a significant amount of dollars from a checkoff program that is relatively small in comparison to other corn states,” KCC Executive Director Jere White said. “We’ve made a commitment, and we wanted to highlight that relationship back to our friends in the livestock industry, and also to help educate ourselves. We were there with three commissioners that are making the funding decisions to give them an actual hands-on look at how their decisions are actually making a difference. We certainly saw that in our visits.”
 

In addition to meeting with key importers and distributors, team members visited the largest cold storage facility in Japan and were impressed to see the amount of U.S. beef currently entering the country. They were able to see chilled products arriving from several Kansas plants as well as many other plants across the United States.


McCauley, who represents northeast Kansas on the corn commission, said the success of Kansas corn farmers is directly tied to strong markets for Kansas and U.S. beef and pork.

“Japan is our biggest export customer. We need to keep in close contact and make sure our customers are happy,” McCauley said. “That’s what we’re here to do--not only to talk about the beef market but actually help them increase the pounds coming over here and that translates back home to more corn demand.”

USMEF has played a key role reopening beef export markets to Asian markets after a single case of BSE was found in the U.S. late 2003. Baalman, who represents northwest Kansas on the commission, said work needs to continue to rebuild those export markets for beef.

“It really affects the U.S. cattleman here today. The lost value is probably in the range of 100 to 150 a head of lost value in the Japanese market that could be re-attained if we can just get some cooperation between our two governments and I think we are just on the cusp of getting that to open up,” Baalman said. “To me it’s like turning the switch on—the value comes back to us as corn producers because livestock has always been our number one customer.”

McCauley said the stop in South Korea after visiting Japan illustrated how important it is for U.S. beef to regain a foothold in the Korean market.

“When you get into the grocery stores in Korea, it’s a very good selection, much more selection on products,” McCauley said. “It looked a lot like the U.S. stores but different products. We got the opportunity to see a lot of U.S. beef in the stores as well as a lot of Australian corn fed beef, which surprised me. I think our U.S. beef producers have some real bona fide competition from Austrailia.”

The Australian beef industry is also working to strengthen Korean markets for its product. Currently nearly Australian beef has a 65 percent market share, compared to 15 percent for U.S. beef in Korea. However, a majority of Korean consumers prefer U.S. beef.

It is important to for corn producers to understand the challenges and opportunities U.S. beef has in Japan and Korea, according to Timmons, who represents southeast Kansas on the commission

“We need to be able to understand the problems the beef industry has in getting their products sold. And Japan is a good example of a place that really wants our beef but there are the restrictions that have caused a lot of problems. For the corn commission, it has been important for us to fund the USMEF, and we’ve seen while we’ve been here they are doing a really good job. They have a good staff that’s promoting U.S. meat in Japan and Korea. The work they’re doing with the importers is a good thing for the beef industry as well as the corn industry.”

The Kansas Corn Commission is grower board that invests the half-cent per bushel corn checkoff in the areas of market development, research, promotion and education to increase the profitability of corn.
 


 

March 18, 2009--Kansas Corn Commission Leadership Reports in from Asia (USMEF Report)

Leaders of the Kansas Corn Commission (KCC) have arrived in Japan for an opportunity to observe the retail and foodservice performance of U.S. beef and pork products in this critical export market. Commissioners Brian Baalman of Menlo, Ken McCauley of White Cloud and Bob Timmons of Fredonia are joined on the trip by KCC Executive Director Jere White, USMEF Vice Chairman Keith Miller of Great Bend, and farm broadcaster Greg Akagi of the Kansas Agriculture Network. They are making a similar visit to South Korea later in the week.

In a telephone interview from Tokyo, Miller says the group is very pleased with the promotional activity and sales results they have had the opportunity to view so far.

“Our first day here we visited two national supermarket chains, and USMEF was doing beef promotions in both chains at the time,” Miller said. “People were standing in line waiting for samples to be cooked, and many of them also purchased our product. It was extremely successful.”

Leaders of the Kansas Corn Commission observe a U.S. beef promotion at a Daiei supermarket in Tokyo. Pictured left to right: USMEF Japan Director Greg Hanes, Daiei Chief Merchandiser Akira Kuroda, Commissioner Brian Baalman, Daiei store manager Takayuki Aida, USMEF Vice Chairman Keith Miller, Commissioner Ken McCauley, Commissioner Bob Timmons, Executive Director Jere White and farm broadcaster Greg Akagi, Kansas Agriculture Network

While the U.S. exported nearly $400 million of beef to Japan last year and exports are expected to continue to expand this year, Miller noted that the biggest concern Japan’s store managers have expressed regarding U.S. beef is their ability to acquire and maintain a sufficient year-round supply. U.S. beef exports to Japan are currently limited to beef from cattle less than 21 months of age.

“The managers were telling us about the difficulty they have getting the product. They can’t get near as much as they want,” he said. “As long as we have that age restriction in place, there’s just not enough supply to meet consumer demand in Japan.”

In addition to meeting with key importers and distributors, team members visited the largest cold storage facility in Japan and were impressed to see the amount of U.S. beef currently entering the country. They were able to see chilled products, including outside skirt which commands a price of more than $6.00 per pound in Japan, arriving from several Kansas plants as well as many other plants across the United States.

Japan is currently the top destination for U.S. pork, and Miller said there is strong evidence of that status in the retail establishments visited by the Kansas group.

“It’s really reassuring to see the amount of pork we are moving,” he said. “A large percentage of the pork products in the meat case are U.S. pork, and it’s amazing to see how many consumers here in Japan are buying and enjoying our pork.”

Seeing these results up close is important to the leadership of the KCC, and provides them with excellent information to share with their fellow farmers and ranchers back home.

“The Kansas Corn Commission is a longtime member of USMEF and has been a very strong supporter of our organization,” Miller said. “They want livestock producers across the United States to understand that the KCC is a strong partner with them in producing a quality product to be shipped overseas.”

Miller also noted the two-way benefit of U.S. farmers visiting the Asian markets. Not only do they have the opportunity to observe the overseas performance of U.S. meat exports, but it also allows Asian consumers to see the personal nature of U.S. agriculture.

“In the foreign markets, the farmer is considered to be a person consumers can trust, and one of the reasons we are over here is to help further build that trust,” he said.
 

 

3-5-2009--Kansas Corn Commission Supports Corn Farmers Coalition Effort to Tell Growers Story

Grown on family farms throughout Kansas and the rest of the nation, corn is one of the most versatile crops around. But in the past year, the crop has been blamed for increasing food prices, using up valuable land and even raising ticket prices at movie theaters. The Kansas Corn Commission is one of several state grower organizations that is educating decision makers on the role of corn farmers through a new effort called the Corn Farmers Coalition. On Monday, the coalition rolled out a new website at cornfarmerscoalition.org.

 

“The Kansas Corn Commission joined with several other states and the National Corn Growers Association to form this coalition with one goal—to make sure that the corn grower’s story is told accurately,” according to KCC Chairman Mike Brzon of Courtland. “Corn farmers have a great story to tell. We are using less fertilizer, less chemicals, less water and less tillage and at the same time we are producing record amounts of corn to supply all our customers.”

 

The focus of the coalition is educational and aims to make sure decision makers in Washington and elsewhere have correct information about corn farming. The coalition launched a web site this week at cornfarmerscoalition.com as well as an advertising campaign and a statistical abstract on America’s biggest crop.

 

“Throughout 2008, we were attacked again and again from special interest groups who insisted we could not produce enough corn for our customers,” Brzon said. “We harvested the second largest crop in history, and we had more corn leftover from 2008 than we did from 2007, which is the biggest crop ever.”

 

The coalition will meet with reporters, think tanks and members of Congress to talk about what’s ahead: how U.S. farmers, using the latest technologies, will continue to grow enough corn in an environmentally friendly way to meet all our needs; the prospects for making the farm bill more responsive to the market; and the future of renewable fuels, a vital issue for our economy and national security and a key issue for the new administration. The coalition’s web site has valuable information that is useful to anyone interested in agriculture.

 

 “This website is also a great resource for those involved in agriculture. It has a comprehensive fact book with excellent information,” Brzon said. “For example, farmers grow five times as much corn as they did in the 1930s — on 20 percent less land. And we produce 70 percent more corn per pound of fertilizer than we did in the 1970s. This is the type of valuable information that is offered on the cornfarmerscoalition.org web site.”

 

The Kansas Corn Commission is a grower board that invests the half-cent per bushel corn checkoff in the areas of market development, research, promotion and education to increase the profitability of Kansas corn.


 

 

3-3-09--KSU Students Get Free Ethanol Fuel and Talk About Renewables
A two hour fuel promotion at the Manhattan Coop drew more than 200 carloads of K-State students looking for free fuel, free lunch and a chance to talk about renewable fuels. The event was spearheaded by the Renewable Fuels Association and sponsored by the Kansas Corn Commission to kick off a national campaign to engage college students in a conversation about renewable fuels.

For two hours on March 2, representatives of the Kansas Corn Commission and the Renewable Fuels Association gave free ethanol-blended fuel fill-ups to KSU students. The Manhattan Coop has both E10 for all gas-powered vehicles and E85 fuel for flexible fuel vehicles that can operate on fuel up to 85 percent ethanol. Students also got a free lunch and were offered t-shirts or fuel cards for recording video clips about renewable resources.

The Coop, located just east of Manhattan off of Highway 24, was a good location for the large turnout, according to Kansas Corn Commission Chairman Mike Brzon of Courtland.

“We had a steady line of traffic that was up to a half mile long at times,” Brzon said. “This gave us the opportunity to talk to hundreds of college students and get them get them to think about renewable fuels like ethanol. I believe we accomplished a lot at this event, and it is just the beginning of a much larger effort.”

The event’s organizers used on campus advertising as well as internet sites to spread the word. Organizers talked to students on campus, advertised in the student newspaper and used Facebook and the e85challenge.com website to let students know about the event.

“That’s what this Flex Fuel Challenge is all about,” according to Robert White of RFA. “It’s about utilizing viral marketing, going through websites like Facebook. We actually created e85challenge.com to mirror those so you can add friends, you can have discussions and post pictures and do videos so that others can work within that medium to promote renewable energy.”

About 40 video clips were shot at the event as students took turns answering the question “What Does Renewable Mean to You?” The videos will be posted on the e85challenge.com website. The Manhattan event kicked off a larger on-line effort to spread the word about renewables and to encourage others to submit videos on renewables. The Flex Fuel Challenge is looking for creative ideas on renewables and encourages participants to spread the word to get votes for their video submission. The entry with the most votes will win a MacBook Air laptop computer.

In addition to the Kansas Corn Commission, sponsors of the Flex Fuel Challenge include the United Sorghum Checkoff Program and the Kentucky Corn Growers Association. For more information, visit the e85challenge.com website or the Kansas Corn Commission website at www.ksgrains.com.

The Kansas Corn Commission is a grower board that invests the half-cent per bushel corn checkoff in the areas of market development, research, promotion and education to increase the profitability of Kansas corn.



 

1-30-09--Ethanol Blender Pump Locations Grow In Kansas
An ethanol blender pump opening in Topeka this week showcased efforts to expand the availability of mid-grade ethanol fuels to Kansas drivers. The grand opening of the new ethanol blender pumps at the Conoco at 1531 SW Wanamaker Rd., Topeka was held on Jan. 28. The Topeka station is the eighth Kansas station to offer mid-grade ethanol fuel blends. The Kansas Corn Commission is leading an effort to add 100 ethanol blender pumps in the state. The corn commission is working with Growth Energy to offer technical and promotional support and financial incentives to help stations offset the costs of adding ethanol blender pumps.

“Kansas is one of the first states to allow blender pumps, giving motorists more choices for renewable fuels. Forward-thinking action by the Kansas Department of Agriculture established guidelines to allow the use of blender pumps in our state,” according to Jere White, Kansas Corn Commission executive director. “Corn producers see the value in expanding markets for ethanol within our state.”

Kansas now has eight fuel stations that offer mid-grade ethanol fuels at blender pumps located in Topeka, Coffeyville, Hutchinson, Garden City, Lawrence, Ottawa, Dodge City and Colwich.

Blender pumps can offer several blends of ethanol. The most common blends are E20, E30, E40 and E85. The “E” in the designation indicates that the fuel contains ethanol—and the number associated with it is the percentage of ethanol in that blend. For example, E20 is 20% ethanol, 80% gasoline. Any gas-powered engine can use E10, a 10 percent ethanol fuel blend. In the past year, a large percentage of gasoline sold in Kansas contained 10 percent ethanol. Fuels with more than 10 percent ethanol should be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). State guidelines require blender pumps to be clearly labeled to make sure the buyer understands that ethanol blends above 10 percent ethanol are intended only for use in flexible fuel vehicles.

Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky participated in the Topeka blender pump event and announced that his department had finalized the state’s blender pump guidelines after a year-long pilot project. "Information we collected during the pilot project confirms that blending pumps can consistently and accurately dispense a range of ethanol blends from a single pump," Polansky said. "This is a real boon for owners of flexible fuel vehicles who want more choice."

The Topeka grand opening event also celebrated the creation of a new joint venture between fuel distributor Crescent Oil Company, ethanol plant design and builder ICM, Inc. and ethanol company Poet to provide a delivery system for mid-grade ethanol fuels. Crescent Oil, which is involved in the Topeka and Coffeyville stations, plans to add ethanol blender pumps at several more locations in Kansas and throughout the Midwest.

Ethanol blender pumps are located at the following Kansas locations:

Topeka: Conoco, 1531 SW Wanamaker
Coffeyville: Jump Start, 512 NW St.
Hutchinson: Hutchinson Coop Cenex, 1200 W. 4th Ave.
Garden City: U Pump It, 156 N. Campus Dr.
Lawrence: Zarco 66, 9th & Iowa St.
Ottawa: Zarco 66, 2518 East Logan St. (I-35 and Hwy 68)
Dodge City: Dodge City Coop, 800 W. Trail St.
Colwich: TJ’s Convenience Store, 104 W. Chicago Ave.

For more information on Kansas ethanol and a complete list of fuel stations that offer blender pumps as well as stations that have E85 pumps, visit the ethanol page at www.ksgrains.com.
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12-30-08--Kansas Corn Producers Post High Marks in Yield Contest
While Kansas growers did not receive national honors in the National Corn Yield Contest sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association, the state winners posted high yields in all categories.

The combined average yield of the Kansas winners was 261 bushels per acre, compared to the estimated state average yield of 137 bushels per acre. The highest irrigated yield from Kansas belonged to Faye Cyr of Clyde who had a yield of 296.7 bushels per acre in the Ridge Till Irrigated division. The highest non-irrigated yield was from Richard Sudbeck of Seneca who had a yield of 285.8 bushels per acre in the non-irrigated division.

The national and state contest winners will be honored at the 2009 Commodity Classic to be held at Grapevine, Texas February 26-28. The Kansas winners of the National Corn Yield Contest are listed below.

Non-Irrigated
1. Richard Sudbeck of Seneca planted DEKALB DKC63-42 for a yield of 285.8 bushels per acre.
2. Carl Reiff of Netawaka planted DEKALB DKC63-42 for a yield of 241.6 bushels per acre.
3. Art & Todd Meier of Topeka planted Pioneer 33T57 for a yield of 239.3 bushels per acre.

No Till/Strip Till Non-Irrigated
1. Douglas P. Johnson of Bendena planted Garst 82H80GT/CB/LL for 258.1 bushels per acre.
2. Don Garlow of Concordia planted Pioneer 34R67 for a yield of 251.3 bushels per acre.
3. Devon Benfer Concordia planted Pioneer 31N30 for a yield of 247.5 bushels per acre.

No Till/Strip Till Irrigated
1. Todd Cyr of Clyde planted Pioneer 32B29 for a yield of 293.4 bushels per acre.
2. Shawn Taddiken of Clifton planted Pioneer 32B29 for a yield of 262.6 bushels per acre.
3. Cedric Hands of Garden City planted Pioneer 33Y74 for a yield of 259.7 bushels per acre.

Ridge Till Non-Irrigated
1. Jimmy Elder of Linwood planted Pioneer 33K44 for a yield of 206.6 bushels per acre.
2. LeRoy Elder of Linwood planted Pioneer 33D47 for a yield of 194.9 bushels per acre.

Ridge Till Irrigated
1. Faye Cyr of Clyde planted Pioneer 32B29 for a yield of 296.7 bushels per acre.
2. Harold Lambert of Clyde planted Golden Harvest H-9190HX/LL for a yield of 274.6 bushels per acre.
3. Ron Jacobson of Concordia planted Pioneer 32B29 for a yield of 271.6 bushels per acre.

Irrigated
1. Gail Cyr of Clyde planted Pioneer 32B29 for a yield of 291.6 bushels per acre.
2. Merl Rexford of Meade planted Pioneer 33D47 for a yield of 280.2 bushels per acre.
3. Richard Unruh of Copeland planted Pioneer 33Y76 for a yield of 273.5 bushels per acre.

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12-10-08--Kansas Corn Producers Are Meeting Needs of Customers
Corn producers are meeting the needs of their customers and doing it in a more sustainable manner, according to Kansas Corn Commissioner Ken McCauley of White Cloud. McCauley, who is past president of National Corn Growers Association, spoke at the Kansas Corn Producers Dinner held in conjunction with the Kansas Commodity Classic in early December.

McCauley’s presentation focused not only on the growing demand for corn spurred by the biofuels industry, but also the ability of growers to meet the demand on existing acres.

“Today, we are using all available technology to significantly increase corn production, and there is more technology in the pipeline that will boost yields even more,” McCauley said. “We can find new markets for corn and still meet all traditional needs and at the same time, we can be responsible stewards of our natural resources.”

McCauley said the notion that using corn to make ethanol is the main reason for rising food prices had been disproved by several credible sources. He pointed to studies from USDA, Texas A&M, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. A copy of McCauley’s presentation is available on the Kansas Corn Growers Association website at www.ksgrains.com.

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12-10-08--Kansas Corn Growers Association Holds Annual Meeting
The Kansas Corn Growers Association held its annual meeting on December 8. Association members heard association reports, reviewed the association’s resolutions and elected board members. Harvey Heier of Grainfield was elected to represent the west central district; Armin Nelson of McPherson was elected to represent the central district, and Roger Pine of Lawrence was elected to represent the east central district.

The KCGA board held its officer elections after the annual meeting. Brian Baalman of Menlo was reelected president; Armin Nelson was elected vice president; Bob Timmons, Fredonia was reelected secretary, and Charles Foltz, Garnett was reelected treasurer.

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11-20-08--Kansas Commodity Classic Is Tuesday, December 9 at Salina!
As Kansas farmers look ahead to 2009, a number of key questions are looming: can commodity prices rebound to near-historic highs of 2008? Will input prices stabilize?

Answers to these questions may be found at the annual Kansas Commodity Classic, slated for Dec. 9 at the Holiday Inn, Salina. The Commodity Classic is an annual joint convention of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.
The day’s educational sessions begin at 9 a.m., when Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky leads off with a recap of 2008 and 2009 outlook. The general session continues with a keynote presentation focusing on the “Strength of the Agricultural Economy,” followed by an Ag Production Issues panel discussion on the relationship between agricultural credit, grain marketing and crop inputs. The morning session concludes with a post-election update on federal government issues.

Following a complimentary luncheon, a series of breakout sessions will allow farmers to gain valuable insight into the 2009 crop year. Sessions include:
--Fertilizer Supply, Demand and Costs;
--Alternative Land Lease Agreements
--End of Year Tax Planning for Farmers
--Rural Development Opportunities
--Marketing Strategies
 
An ice cream break featuring Call Hall Ice Cream from Kansas State University - a Kansas Commodity Classic tradition – separates the first and second breakout sessions. The Commodity Classic is free to farmers, but pre-registration is encouraged, by calling the Kansas Wheat office at 866-759-4328

Follow this link for an agenda of Classic events
.

ANNUAL CORN PRODUCERS DINNER
6 p.m. Monday, December 8
Salina Holiday Inn
Sponsored by the Kansas Corn Commission
All corn producers are invited
Please RSVP at 800-489-2676

KCGA Annual Meeting will follow at 8 p.m
.

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8-20-08Former Kansas Corn Commissioner Carolyn Dunn Will Speak at Republican National Convention
Carolyn Dunn of St. John will give a three minute speech on rural development and agriculture at the Republican National Convention. Dunn, who completed her term earlier this year as Kansas Corn Commissioner representing the southcentral Kansas district, will speak on Tuesday, September 2 in the 7 p.m. hour, according to media reports.

Follow the link below to read a Hutchinson News article about Carolyn's convention appearance.

Hutchinson News: Choosing her words carefully--St. John woman is preparing ag speech for GOP convention

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8-18-08--Kansas Corn Commission, EPIC Announce Ethanol Blender Pump Program
Offers funding to help offset infrastructure costs for fuel retailers

Colwich, Kan. (Aug. 18, 2008) - Today Kansas will become the second state to lead the nation in raising public awareness for higher blends of ethanol as the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), Kansas Corn Commission and ICM, Inc. collaborate to launch a blender pump incentive program across the state of Kansas.

“Consumers are looking for relief at the pump, and blender pumps will allow gas stations to sell more blends of ethanol-enriched fuel to consumers driving flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs),” said EPIC Deputy Director, Robert White. “This program will provide support and incentives to fuel station retailers who want the opportunity to offer blender pumps, and raise awareness among consumers.”

This major initiative will help fuel station retailers obtain funding and the equipment needed to sell higher blends of ethanol, which range from E20 (20 percent ethanol and 80 percent unleaded gasoline) to E50 (50 percent ethanol and 50 percent unleaded gasoline) and can only be used in FFVs. One of the main goals is to increase the state’s blender pump infrastructure by installing a minimum of 100 blender pumps over the next year. Currently, four blender pumps are open in the state thanks to a pilot program adopted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture that made Kansas one of the first states in the nation to allow ethanol blender pumps.

“This blender pump program will help expand higher blends of ethanol through blender pumps while also giving consumers a break at the pump and allowing them to use a product produced right here in Kansas,” said Kansas Corn Commission Chairman, Bob Timmons. “Our program will help strengthen our economy by encouraging blender pump infrastructure development, and take us one step closer to lessening our dependence on foreign oil.”

A pump promotion was held before the announcement was made to give FFV drivers an opportunity to fill up with the mid-level blends of ethanol at a new station in Colwich Kan. ICM, Inc. was instrumental in adding blender pumps to this station. Many officials, including U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback and representatives from the Kansas Department of Agriculture were on hand to celebrate a monumental day for Kansas and renewable fuels.

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Ethanol Blender Pump Promotions in Garden City Aug. 14 and Colwich Aug. 18

Garden City Event Details:
WHEN: Friday, August 15, 2008 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

WHAT: Consumers attending the promotion can fill their flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) with E10, E20, E40, E50 and E85 for a reduced price. FFV owners will have a 40 cents discount on E20, 80 cents discount on E40, $1 discount on E50 and E85 will be offered for just $1.85/gallon. All drivers can save 20 cents per gallon on E10 fuel, approved for use in any gas powered vehicle or engine.

WHERE: U Pump It Country Corner
156 N. Campus Drive (Fulton and Campus Drive)
Garden City, KS 67846

Colwich Event Details:
WHEN: Monday, August 18, 2008
Pump promotion: 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Press Conference: 8:30 a.m.

WHAT: Consumers attending the promotion can fill their flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) with E10, E20, E30 and E85 for a reduced price. FFV owners will have a 40 cents discount on E20, 60 cents discount on E30 and E85 will be offered for just $1.85/gallon. All drivers can save 20 cents per gallon on E10 fuel, approved for use in any gas powered vehicle or engine.

WHERE: TJ’s Convenience Store
Located at the corner of 53rd Street North and 167th Street West
Colwich, KS 67030

Immediately following the promotion, a joint press conference will be held to announce a major initiative between the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and the Kansas Corn Commission. Reporters will get a detailed look at the new initiative which will encourage infrastructure development, raise public awareness for higher blends of ethanol, and increase consumption of ethanol-blended fuel. Speakers will include Robert White, deputy director of EPIC; Senator Sam Brownback; Adrian Polansky, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture; Dave Vander Griend, president and CEO of ICM, Inc.; and Bob Timmons, chairman of the Kansas Corn Commission.

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July 1, 2008--Kansas Growers Plant Largest Corn Crop in Modern History
Kansas farmers planted 4.1 million acres of corn this year, according to the Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service. The 2008 acreage estimate represents a five percent increase over 2007 and is the highest corn acreage in Kansas since 1936. The increased acreage shows a strong grower commitment to provide a plentiful supply of corn for the livestock and ethanol industries, according to the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Corn Commission.

Kansas growers planted 90 percent of their corn acres with varieties enhanced with biotechnology. 25 percent was planted with Bt corn, 30 percent with herbicide resistant corn, and 35 percent with stacked gene varieties with both insect and herbicide resistance.

“Our growers are doing what it takes to meet the demand. In Kansas we are increasing acres and using better corn varieties to supply our state’s livestock feeders and ethanol plants with the grain they need,” according to Ken McCauley, White Cloud. McCauley is chairman of National Corn Growers Association and serves on the Kansas Corn Commission.

In 1936, farmers planted 5.1 million acres of corn in Kansas. Of that, only 497,000 acres were harvested with a yield of 6 bushels per acre. Total production was just 2.96 million bushels.

Grain sorghum and corn plantings are also up. Growers planted 2.85 million acres of grain sorghum, up 2 percent from 2007. Growers planted a record 3.2 million acres of soybeans, up 23 percent from 2007.

Combined feedgrain acres in Kansas (corn and sorghum) total 6.95 million acres, up 3.7 percent from 2007. Corn and grain sorghum are both valued in Kansas for livestock and ethanol production.

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5-16-08--Rumors of Ethanol Disinformation Campaign Prove to Be True
In early May, the Kansas Corn Growers Association put out a news release pointing to rumors of a multi-million dollar public relations campaign against ethanol funded by the food manufacturering industry. This week, Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, outed the Grocery Manufacturers Association’s smear campaign. On Thursday, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley went a step further, making a statement about the campaign on the Senate floor. The Senator also posted the GMA request for proposal as well as the public relations campaign proposal from Washington, DC firm Glover Park which was one of the P.R. firms hired for the job.

The Kansas Corn Growers Association along with the National Corn Growers Association thanked Senator Grassley and Roll Call for reporting on the disinformation campaign. Corn growers will continue to combat these well-funded public relations campaigns with facts.

“Commodity prices account for less than 20 percent of the cost you pay for food at the checkout. Even today’s higher commodity prices have very little effect on the price of food. The other 80 percent of the grocery costs which include transportation, packaging and processing are greatly affected by rising energy costs,” according to KCGA Executive Director Jere White. “We’re not saying it doesn’t cost more to produce groceries today, but main culprit is not the farmer, not higher grain prices and not ethanol.”

The public relations proposal prepared for GMA suggested several tactics.

“First, we must obliterate whatever intellectual justification might still exist for corn-based ethanol among policy elites. ... Second, we must demonstrate to policy makers at the state and federal level that there is a political price to allowing ethanol policy to drive up the cost of food,” the Glover Park firm’s proposal stated.

Senator Grassley read a statement on the Senate floor Thursday chastising GMA for its tactics.

“They’ve outlined their strategy of using environmental, hunger and food aid groups to demonstrate their contrived “crisis,” Grassley said. “I think it’s important for policy-makers and the American people to know who’s behind this effort.”

The GMA has already been successful in getting this misinformation into stories by the national and regional news media outlets

“We are asking the public and our policy makers to look past the rhetoric and misinformation being manufactured by high powered Washington DC public relations firms, and simply use some common sense and look at the facts,” White said. “Look at your own budget—the main driver in increased spending in your house is higher fuel and energy costs. The same holds true for grocery manufacturers and for farmers alike. It doesn’t make sense to go after the ethanol industry, which is adding 7 billion gallons of refined fuel to our nation’s energy supply. Without ethanol, our energy costs would be even higher.”

NCGA President Ron Litterer said corn growers were disappointed the food manufacturers took this action.

“It is simply unfathomable that food companies through the Grocery Manufacturers Association chose to smear their farmer-suppliers rather than cooperate with us to meet the growing challenge for America’s fuel needs,” Litterer said. “Unfortunately, from what we’ve heard this is not the only campaign in the works to place the blame on agriculture.”

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5-5-08-Consumers to Pay for Several Months of Corn, Ethanol Bashing
Despite several research studies showing that ethanol production and higher corn prices have only a small effect on consumer prices, anti-ethanol forces have teamed up to sway public opinion against farmers and the fuel they produce. The Kansas Corn Growers Association believes facts, not well-funded public relations campaigns, should prevail.

“We are hearing that the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has embarked on a multi-million campaign through a Washington, DC public relations firm to turn public opinion against corn-based ethanol,” according to Kansas Corn Growers Association Executive Director Jere White. “Several credible studies released this year show high fuel prices have a much greater impact on food prices than higher corn prices.”

White said consumers are wondering why there has been little connection made between fuel prices and grocery prices.

“That’s where the story gets interesting. In addition to GMA, we are told the oil industry has chipped in millions to the campaign as well,” White said. “Consumers are paying higher prices at the pump and at the checkout. Then the oil companies and food companies are using that money to blame ethanol for higher food and fuel prices.”

While corn and ethanol producers have the facts on their side, it will be difficult to beat a multi-million campaign aimed at rolling back the advances made by the ethanol industry, much of which is owned by growers. Corn growers have been working to make sure the public is receiving both sides of the story.

“Corn and ethanol producers simply don’t have millions of dollars to spend on glossy PR campaigns,” White said. “What we do have are facts: several studies showing that ethanol production and higher corn prices account for just a fraction of the increase consumers are paying at the grocery store. Commodity prices account for less than 20 percent of the cost of groceries, the rest is transportation, packaging, marketing and other factors. Plus, ethanol actually reduces the cost of gas for consumers at the pump”

While food prices are higher, White points out prices for non-food items are also higher, including things farmers purchase to grow their crops like fuel and fertilizer.

“It doesn’t take much common sense to understand that the big driver in increased grocery prices is fuel prices,” White said. “Sure you’re paying more for food, but you’re also paying more for laundry soap and toilet paper. Production and transportation costs are up primarily because of increased fuel prices—especially diesel prices. The real story is $120 crude oil and the foreign regimes it supports. It is time we say enough and support America first.”

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3-21-08--Kansas Grain Commodity Growers Elect Commissioners
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Agriculture today announced the names of producers from the central third of the state who were elected to the state’s five grain commodity commissions – corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat.

This was the third election cycle for districts four, five and six under the new law that privatized the commissions in July 2000. District Four commissioners represent north-central Kansas; District Five commissioners represent central Kansas, and District Six commissioners represent south-central Kanas.

Ballots were cast between January 15 and March 1 and were counted at the Kansas
Department of Agriculture on March 7. The newly elected commissioners will take office April 1 and will serve three-year terms.

Commissioners-Elect for the Kansas Corn Commission
District four – Mike Brzon, who grows corn, soybeans, sorghum and wheat in Republic County. He currently serves on the Kansas Corn Commission and is a director on the U.S. Grains Council and Farmway Cooperative Inc. Brzon also is active in water issues in the Republican River basin in Kansas and Nebraska.

District five – Terry Vinduska, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa on a family farm in Marion County. He currently serves on the Kansas Corn Commission and is a member of the U.S. Grains Council, Kansas Farmers Union and Kansas Farm Bureau. Vinduska has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural technology from Kansas State University.

District six – Kent Moore, who grows corn, wheat and soybeans in Pratt County. He is a member of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, and he is on the board of directors for the Pratt County 4-H Foundation. Moore has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State University.

Commissioners-Elect for the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
District four – William Greving, who grows corn, sorghum, wheat and hay in Phillips County. He currently is secretary-treasurer of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, serves on the board of the National Sorghum Producers and is a member of the Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Corn Growers Association. Greving has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Fort Hays State University.

District five – Clayton Short, who grows corn, sorghum, wheat and soybeans in Saline County. He currently serves on the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and is a member of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Association and Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. Short has a bachelors degree in agriculture from Kansas State University.

District six – Dennis Siefkes, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and wheat in Stafford County. He is a member of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, the Stafford County Farm Bureau and the Great Bend Cooperative Association, and a past member of the Kansas Corn Commission. Siefkes has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture mechanization from Kansas State University.

Commissioners-Elect for the Kansas Soybean Commission
District four – Steve Clanton, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat in Ottawa County. He currently serves on the Kansas Soybean Commission. He has been involved in many organizations, including the local extension and soil conservation board and the Kansas Soybean Association. He is a past president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. Clanton has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Kansas State University.

District five – Harold Kraus, who grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and wheat in Ellis County. He has served on the Kansas Soybean Commission since 1999, is a member of Kansas Farm Bureau and is a voting member of the National Biodiesel Board. Kraus has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Kansas.

District six – Jerry Wyse, who grows wheat, corn, grain sorghum and soybeans in Reno County. He currently serves on the Kansas Soybean Commission and is past president and CEO of Kauffman Seeds Inc. Wyse has an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Hesston College.

Commissioners-Elect for the Kansas Wheat Commission
District four – Steve Clanton, who also was elected to the Kansas Soybean Commission.
He grows corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat in Ottawa County. He currently serves on the Kansas Soybean Commission. He has been involved in many organizations, including the local extension and soil conservation board and the Kansas Soybean Association. He is a past president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. Clanton has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Kansas State University.

District five – Dean Stoskopf, who grows wheat, grain sorghum and alfalfa, and has a cow-calf herd in Barton County. He currently is finishing his second term on the Kansas Wheat Commission, he is a past president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and is a current member of Kansas Farm Bureau. Stoskopf has a degree in agriculture from Kansas State University.

Distinct six – Scott Van Allen, who grows sorghum and wheat in Sumner County. He is a past president and current member of the Sumner County Farm Bureau. Van Allen has also been on Kansas Farm Bureau’s wheat advisory board for the past two years. Van Allen is a graduate of Clearwater High School.

Commissioner-Elect for the Kansas Sunflower Commission
There were no candidates for commissioner in districts four, five and six. Commissioners will be appointed by the Kansas Sunflower Commission.

2009 Election Will Cover Western Third of State
Corn, grain sorghum, soybean, sunflower and wheat growers in the western third of the state can expect to receive information by mail this fall outlining the 2009 election procedure.

District one includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Graham, Norton, Rawlins Sheridan, Sherman and Thomas counties.

District two includes Gove, Greeley, Lane, Logan, Ness, Scott, Trego, Wallace and Wichita counties.

District three includes Clark, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Meade, Morton, Seward, Stanton and Stevens counties.

Grain growers who plan to campaign for a seat on one of the commissions must collect on an official petition form 20 signatures from eligible voters to be included on the 2009 ballot. Official petition forms will be available through the Kansas Department of Agriculture or one of the grain commodity commissions.

No more than five signatures from any one county will be used to qualify a candidate. Eligible voters are Kansas residents who will reach age 18 before the election and have been growing corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers or wheat during the last three years. The filing deadline for candidates is November 30, 2008.

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2-25-08--Lawrence Station Offers Four Ethanol Blends
A new biofuels station in Lawrence is the first to participate in the state’s ethanol blender pump pilot program by offering four blends of ethanol fuels. Motorists can purchase E10, E20, E30 and E85 fuel at the Zarco66 biofuels station at 9th & Iowa in Lawrence.

The station is the first of its kind in Kansas, selling only ethanol blended fuels as well as several biodiesel blends as well.

Kansas is one of a handful of states that allow ethanol to be blended at different levels with a blender pump. The pumps are labeled to make sure the buyer understands that ethanol blends above 10 percent ethanol are intended only for use in flexible fuel vehicles.

Interest in mid-range ethanol blends is increasing. Earlier this year, the American Coalition for Ethanol and the US Department of Energy released results of a study that showed mid-range ethanol blends, fuel mixtures with more ethanol than E10 but less than E85, can in some cases provide better fuel economy than regular unleaded gasoline, even in standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles.

Previous assumptions held that ethanol's lower energy content directly correlates with lower fuel economy for drivers. Those assumptions were found to be incorrect in the study. Instead, the new research strongly suggests that there is an "optimal blend level" of ethanol and gasoline - most likely E20 or E30 - at which flexible fuel vehicles will get better mileage than predicted based strictly on the fuel's per-gallon Btu content. The study, cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), also found that mid-range ethanol blends reduce harmful tailpipe emissions.

In addition to the favorable fuel economy findings, the research provides strong evidence that standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles can operate on ethanol blends beyond 10 percent. Additional research is being done on the use of higher blends of ethanol in non-flexible fuel vehicles. New standards for ethanol use in non-flexible fuel vehicles have not been set, and motorists are reminded that ethanol blends above 10 percent are for flexible fuel vehicles which can operate on any combination of gas and ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol.

A May grand opening event is being planned for the Zarco66 biofuels station. Details on the grand opening event will be released when available.

For more information on Kansas corn, grain sorghum and ethanol, visit www.ksgrains.com.

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1-4-08--Three New Plants Double Kansas Ethanol Production
Kansas ethanol production ended 2007 on a high note with the startup of the 110 million gallon Arkalon Energy ethanol plant near Liberal. The 55 million gallon Gateway Ethanol plant at Pratt and the 55 million gallon Bonanza Bioenergy plant in Garden City, both began production in the fall of 2007. The addition of these three plants more than doubled the ethanol production capacity for Kansas, according to the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.

“We began 2007 eight plants producing 215 million gallons of fuel ethanol. Today, we have eleven plants producing 439 million gallons of ethanol, providing a market for 156 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum,” according to Jere White, KCGA and KGSPA executive director. “A third of that grain, about 52 million bushels, returns as distillers grains, a nutrient-dense livestock feed.”

Kansas corn and sorghum growers harvested over 730 million bushels of feedgrains in 2007. Combined, the crops saw a 49 percent increase in production over 2006.

“We had good growing conditions in most parts of the state in 2007, but you also have to recognize that we are seeing some of those increases because of advances in hybrids and improved farming practices,” White said.

While grain demand from the ethanol sector has increase, Kansas producers continue to be able to supply the livestock industry with the grain it needs. The U.S. is coming off a record year. 2007 corn production numbers show record production and a large carryout, or unused corn, set at 1.9 billion bushels. This is the third largest carryout in the past ten years.

“Our number 1 customer continues to be the livestock industry, and our growers are showing that we can supply grain to both the livestock and ethanol industries. In turn, the ethanol industry supplies high nutrient distillers grains to the livestock industry, offsetting at least a third of the grain that goes to ethanol production.”

Livestock also remains a priority for the Kansas Corn Commission, which administers the state’s half-cent per bushel corn checkoff, White said. More than half of the corn commission research funding is related to livestock.

While ethanol production is increasing in Kansas, so is the availability of ethanol blended fuels. E85, 85 percent ethanol fuel for flexible fuel vehicles is available at 28 stations across the state.

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12-26-07--Array of ethanol blends possible under pilot project
TOPEKA -- Flexible fuel vehicle owners could get more choices at the pump under a pilot project launched by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

“Fueling stations currently sell gasoline blended with either 10 percent or 85 percent ethanol,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky. “This pilot project will allow them to install pumps that dispense ethanol fuel blends not currently offered, like 20 or 30 percent ethanol, to allow consumers to decide for themselves which blend is best for them based on price and performance.”

All vehicles on the road today can use gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol, or E10. Flexible fuel vehicles, however, can use higher blends with up to 85 percent ethanol. The blender pumps authorized under the pilot project will allow flexible fuel vehicle owners to purchase such blends as E20, E30, E50 or E85.

“The U.S. Department of Transportation is now testing how regular fuel vehicles perform on higher ethanol blends. Initial research shows that E15 and E20 blends deliver the same environmental benefits without any adverse effect on vehicle engines,” Polansky said. “It’s very possible the Department of Transportation may one day endorse using these higher ethanol blends in non-flexible fuel vehicles.”

In the meantime, to ensure unwitting consumers don’t accidentally pump a higher ethanol blend into their vehicle than it can manage, the pumps will feature a bright orange label with the message “For use in flexible fuel vehicles only.”

The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s weights and measures program regulates gas pumps for accuracy and verifies the fuel’s characteristics, including octane rating and whether the fuel contains impurities. Program staff will ensure that equipment used to dispense the ethanol blended fuel is suitable and properly installed, and that fuel quantity and quality standards are met.
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2008 Kansas Corn Commission Annual Report   ¨   KCC News  ¨   FY2009 KCC Budget

FY2008 KCC Year End Budget Report  ¨   Corn Checkoff Refund Vouchers and Refund Information

Meeting Notices  ¨   Kansas Corn Commissioners  ¨   Contact the KCC  ¨   Bi-Weekly Corn Leader Update

External Links
National Corn Growers Association  
¨   US Meat Export Federation  ¨   US Grains Council

KSU International Grains Program  ¨   Kansas State University Research & Extension

Kansas Corn Growers Association