12-15-04--Kansas Corn Yield Contest Winners Post Impressive Results

The National Corn Growers announced 27 national winners in the 2004 National Corn Yield Contest winners, and while no Kansas growers won national honors, state winners reported excellent yields.

Among the national winners, all but one beat 250 bushels per acre, and those national winners were from 16 states across the U.S. from New Jersey to California. Also six of the 27 national winners had yields of more than 300 bushels per acre. Several of the other national winning yields neared the 300 mark. Yields among national winners ranges from a low of 248.7 to a high of 339.5 bushels per acre, which was reported by Virginia grower David Hula.

Kansas winners had impressive yields, ranging from a low of 207.6 bushels per acre to a high yield of 297.4 bushels per acre reported by Todd Cyr of Clyde in the Irrigated category.

Winners are listed below:

Kansas Winners

Non-irrigated
Corey Franken of Bendena with a yield of 260.9, with Pioneer 33R79
Hugh Kinsey of Troy with a yield of 260.7 with Pioneer 33P62
LeRoy Elder of Linwood with a yield of 245.6 with Pioneer 33M54

No Till/Strip Till Non Irrigated
Jason Taylor of White Cloud with a yield of 261.7 with Taylor 8555Bt
Gene Hyllyer of Hiawatha with a yield of 249.3 with Pioneer 33K39
Warren Grable of Troy with a yield of 248.5 with NK Brand N70-T9

No Till/Strip Till Irrigated
Greg Stone of Garden City with a yield of 277.5 with Pioneer 31N28
Todd Wycoff of St. John with a yield of 270.7 with Pioneer 33P67
Ron Jacobson of Clifton with a yield of 236.4 with Pioneer 31A13

Ridge Till Non-Irrigated
Jimmy Elder of Linwood with a yield of 234.4 with Pioneer 31G66
Mark Taddiken of Clifton with a yield of 206.7 with Pioneer 35P15

Ridge Till Irrigated
Orville Williams of Montezuma with a yield of 267.4 with Pioneer 31N28
Bob Wietharn of Clay Center with a yield of 264.9 with Pioneer 33B51
Shawn Taddiken of Clifton with a yield of 260.6 with Pioneer 31N28

Irrigated
Todd Cyr of Clyde with a yield of 297.4 with Pioneer 31A13
Larry Stucky of McPherson with a yield of 263.5 with Garst 8377YG1/RR
Merl Rexford of Meade with a yield of 261.9 with Pioneer 32R43

The NCGA National Corn Yield Contest allows growers to see how they stack up against other growers across the nation and provides an opportunity to learn about practices that other growers have had success with.

State Corn Yield Contest winners will be honored at a breakfast at the Commodity Classic, the combined convention of the National Corn Growers and American Soybean Association, Feb. 24-26, 2005, in Austin, Texas.

12-2-04--Winter Storm Doesn’t Dampen Growers’ Enthusiasm for Kansas Commodity Classic

Dec. 2, 2004--Although a snow storm slowed arrivals to the Kansas Commodity Classic in Garden City on Tuesday, the event drew a near capacity crowd by mid morning. The Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas corn, grain sorghum, wheat and cotton producers. Growers heard from Congressman Jerry Moran and also from a panel of lobbyists from the corn, sorghum, wheat and cotton national associations. The morning’s discussions centered on the upcoming legislative session.

“We had a strong morning program with interesting speakers who did an great job of explaining the opportunities and obstacles agriculture will be facing in Congress in 2005,” according to Jere White, Executive Director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. “Our morning program featured lively discussions between growers, the panelists and Congressman Moran, covering a wide range of topics from renewable fuels, to crop insurance to agricultural leadership.”

Following a lunch, growers participated in two of six breakout sessions with topics ranging from pesticides, marketing, irrigation and aquifer management, state legislative priorities and crop insurance.

“We couldn’t have been more pleased with the growers’ participation in these sessions,” White said. “Thanks to an excellent slate of speakers and topics, each of the sessions was well attended.”

Over 200 producers attended the event. This was the first year of the Kansas Cotton Association’s involvement in the Classic. The commissions and associations for the corn, wheat, sorghum and cotton producers held meetings and dinners in conjunction with the Classic.

“Garden City was an excellent location for this year’s Kansas Commodity Classic,” White said. “Southwest Kansas represents a substantial percentage of our state’s agricultural production, and we appreciate the efforts of the growers who braved a snowstorm and bitterly cold weather to participate in our annual convention.”

Plans are already underway for the 2005 Kansas Commodity Classic. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association are based in Garnett.

11-23-04--Senator Roberts and Congressman Moran to Speak at Kansas Commodity Classic

Senator Pat Roberts and Congressman Jerry Moran have both been confirmed as speakers at the Kansas Commodity Classic, Tuesday, Nov.30 at the Garden City Plaza Inn. The Kansas Commodity Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas corn, grain sorghum, wheat and cotton producers.

Congressman Moran and Senator Roberts, both considered leaders in Congressional agricultural policy, will speak on the post-election outlook for agriculture issues. Senator Roberts serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee and is chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Congressman Moran has been at the forefront of crop insurance discussions, serving on both the House Agriculture Committee and chairing the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.

The general session will begin at 9 a.m. with a panel discussion featuring agriculture lobbyists from the national wheat, corn, grain sorghum and cotton associations. Congressman Moran and Senator Roberts will speak at the 10:45 a.m. session.

After a buffet lunch, growers may participate in two breakout sessions from the following topics: Living Together in the Neighborhood--with Pesticides; Get More with Your Marketing in 2005; Irrigation Transition Program and the High Plains Aquifer; Applying Herbicides to Improve Efficacy and Minimize Drift; Kansas Legislative Outlook with Senator Steve Morris; and Group Risk Insurance Program Comparisons.

For a complete schedule, visit www.ksgrains.com. Growers may register at the door but are encouraged to preregister for the Kansas Commodity Classic to ensure they have a seat at the luncheon by calling 800-748-8034. Lunch will be available for the first 250 growers registered.

11-18-04--US Meat Export Federation Chairman to Speak at Corn Producers’ Dinner
Alan Smith, newly-elected chairman of the US Meat Export Federation will speak at the Kansas Corn Dinner sponsored by the Kansas Corn Commission. The dinner, which will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29 at the Garden City Plaza Inn, is open to corn producers and cattle feeders. Smith, of Cargill Meat Solutions, Wichita, will talk to producers about the future of meat exports to Japan and elsewhere, and the importance of a strong export market to Kansas agriculture. Those planning on attending the dinner are asked to call 800-489-2676 to guarantee a seat.

For more information, contact the Kansas Corn Commission at 800-489-2676, or visit the web site at www.ksgrains.com

11-17-04--Corn, Grain Sorghum, Wheat and Cotton Producers to Meet at
Kansas Commodity Classic Nov. 30 at Garden City
Corn, wheat, sorghum and cotton producers will come together on Tuesday, Nov. 30 for the Kansas Commodity Classic at the Garden City Plaza Inn. This annual event will feature a wide range of topics from legislative and policy issues to production and marketing of Kansas crops. The 2004 Kansas Commodity Classic is hosted by the Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association and Kansas Cotton Association.

The day’s morning activities will feature a general session with Congressman Jerry Moran and Senator Pat Roberts (invited). In addition, a panel discussion will feature agriculture lobbyists from the national wheat, corn, grain sorghum and cotton associations.

After lunch, participants will choose two sessions from the following topics: Living Together in the Neighborhood--with Pesticides; Get More with Your Marketing in 2005; Irrigation Transition Program and the High Plains Aquifer; Applying Herbicides to Improve Efficacy and Minimize Drift; Kansas Legislative Outlook with Senator Steve Morris; and Group Risk Insurance Program Comparisons.

Commodity association and commission meetings will be held Monday, Nov. 29 through Wednesday, Dec. 1 in conjunction with the Kansas Commodity Classic. Visit www.ksgrains.com for a complete schedule.

Growers will be treated to a buffet lunch during the Kansas Commodity Classic. While registrations will be taken at the door, participants are encouraged to pre-register to guarantee a seat at lunch. To pre-register for the Kansas Commodity Classic, call 800-748-8034.

10-29-04--Garnett Ethanol Plant Organizers Celebrate Groundbreaking
With heavy equipment working in the background, organizers of East Kansas Agri-Energy broke ground on a 35 million gallon ethanol plant at Garnett. EKAE plans to complete the $46.5 million project and begin production by the end of May, 2005.

Monte Shaw of the Renewable Fuels Association told the large group of investors gathered at the plant site today that they were part of a national movement that is helping to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

“We now have 81 plants in operation and 14 plants under construction. In fact, two plants are breaking ground today,” Shaw said.

A 50 million gallon plant in Goldfield, Iowa also broke ground today. Kansas-based ICM, Inc. is involved in the construction of the both the Garnett plant and the Iowa plant. In remarks at the groundbreaking event, ICM’s David VanderGriend said there was a strong demand for ethanol and that the plant would boost the local economy. “The money stays here when the ethanol leaves the county,” he said.

Ron Lamberty of the American Coalition for Ethanol reminded investors that there were many untapped markets for ethanol, some close to Garnett.

“Kansas City could use 150 million gallons, but right now they’re probably only using about 20 million gallons,” Lamberty said. “There is plenty of market out there.”

Kansas currently has six ethanol plants located in Russell, Colwich, Campus, Garden City, Leoti and Atchison. The six plants have a capacity to produce 130 million gallons per year. Jere White, Executive Director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Commission and the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association said the state could double its ethanol production in the next year.

“Right now our ethanol production uses 48 million bushels. When we double that and get to the point where we’re using 100 million bushels, that’s going to have a big impact,” White said.

The EKAE plant will create a market for 13 million bushels of grain per year to produce 35 million gallons of ethanol and more than 100,000 tons of dried distillers grains, a high nutrient livestock feed. A public offering for investors concluded in January of this year resulting in a membership of over 575 businesses and individuals.

10-12-04--Kansas Growers Applaud Congressional Approval of Disaster Assistance
A disaster assistance package has passed the House and Senate and is on its way to the President’s desk for signing. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association supported the legislation. The disaster assistance package includes $2.9 billion in disaster assistance that growers can claim for 2003 or 2004. This legislation will have a direct impact on Kansas growers who realized terrible losses in 2003 and many who experienced losses this year as well.

“Kansas growers have suffered consecutive years of drought. Getting disaster assistance for 2003 was a priority for the Kansas Corn Growers Association,” according to KCGA President Brian Baalman. “Our Kansas Senators and Representatives recognized the need and supported disaster assistance for our growers.”

Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Sam Brownback cosponsored disaster assistance on in the Senate. Representative Jerry Moran and Representative Dennis Moore cosponsored disaster assistance in the House. The entire Kansas Congressional delegation voted in favor of disaster assistance.

Although many corn and grain sorghum producers are enjoying good harvests this fall, there are still growers in some areas who are still not enjoying a recovery from the drought.

“In 2003, every county was made eligible for disaster assistance,” KGSPA President Greg Shelor of Minneola said. “The good 2004 yields don’t make up for the catastrophic losses we saw nearly statewide in 2003.”

The bill requires that farm disasters be paid out of the Conservation Security Program, a stipulation KGSPA and KCGA opposed.

“A drought isn’t as dramatic as a hurricane, although those who saw the dust storms this spring may disagree. Regardless, both drought and hurricanes are natural disasters,” according to KCGA and KGSPA Executive Director Jere White. “While the disaster assistance will definitely help our growers, we are disappointed that funding for our type of disaster must be paid for by other farm programs.”

In 2003, every county in Kansas county qualified for disaster assistance.

10-11-04--Corporate Tax Bill Victory Is Win for Kansas Growers

The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association applauded Senate approval of the Corporate Tax Bill today. The bill contained important ethanol provisions. The bill, passed by the House of Representatives last week, will now go to the President for his signature.

The tax bill contains the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), which extends the current blender’s tax credit for ethanol until 2010 and restructures those tax incentives to eliminate the impact on the Highway Trust Fund. The small ethanol producer credit provision included in the bill will make farmer-owned cooperatives eligible for this tax credit, which will provide millions of dollars per year in tax relief to the farmer owners.

“This bill is a big win for Kansas—for farmers, ethanol producers and the rural communities where they are located,” according to KGSPA President Greg Shelor.

Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Sam Brownback both voted in favor of the measure, which passed 69-17 today. Last week, Rep. Jerry Moran, Rep. Dennis Moore, Rep. Jim Ryun and Rep. Todd Tiahrt all voted in favor of the bill in the House.

“This was a complex bill, and we appreciate the unanimous support from our Kansas Congressional delegation,” KCGA President Brian Baalman of Menlo said.

While the ethanol provisions in the Corporate Tax Bill will help the ethanol industry, association members will continue to work for passage of the Renewable Fuels Standard in the Energy Bill. The RFS would create a demand for 5 billion gallons of ethanol per year.

“There is no doubt that VEETC and the small producer credit will help our growing ethanol industry,” according to KCGA Executive Director Jere White. “Passing an energy bill with the Renewable Fuels Standard remains a priority. Not only do our growers and the ethanol industry need the RFS, our country needs a sound, comprehensive energy policy.”

Kansas now has six ethanol plants that produce 130 million gallons of ethanol per year and create a market for 48 million bushels of grain sorghum and corn.

10-11-04--East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC Announces Groundbreaking – October 29, 2004
(EKAE NEWS RELEASE)

(Garnett, KS) – East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC (EKAE) a Kansas Limited Liability Company, has announced the official Groundbreaking ceremony for a 35 million gallon per year ethanol plant to be built in the Golden Prairie Industrial Park located in Garnett, KS. The event will be held on Friday, October 29, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the plant site.

“We are truly excited to be able to make this announcement, this is a significant event in our project development and we would like to thank all the investors and project supporters for their continued support of our project and the ethanol industry,” said Bill Pracht of Westphalia who serves as chairman of EKAE.

HDB Construction of Topeka, KS was awarded the contract for site excavation. Preliminary site work has begun which includes construction layout, plant access roads, soil stabilization, site grading and replacement fill. The construction phase of the project will have a significant economic impact on the region. It is anticipated during the peak construction phase there will be approximately 150-200 workers on site.

ICM, Inc. of Colwich, KS and Fagen, Inc. of Granite Falls, MN will respectively be the plant designer and general contractor. Each of these companies have extensive ethanol background and have recently constructed and engineered ethanol facilities in Russell, KS, Oakley, KS and Trenton, NE. An aggressive construction schedule is planned with June 1, 2005 as the target date for plant start-up.

The $46.5 million dollar project will create a demand for more than 13 million bushels of grain annually which will be used to produce 35 million gallons of ethanol, more than 100,000 tons of dried distillers grains and the plant will also produce and capture carbon dioxide.

The concept of building an ethanol plant in Garnett, KS was an initiative of the Anderson County Economic Development (ACED) committee. Upon completion of the feasibility study, ACED handed the project over to what is now known as EKAE. The company was formed as a Limited Liability Company in October, 2001 by 122 regional farmers, ranchers, businesses and individuals for the purpose of building the ethanol plant. A public offering concluded on January 24, 2004 resulting in a membership of over 575 business and individuals.

This announcement comes at a time of record growth in the ethanol industry. The U.S. currently has 81 facilities that have the capability to produce 3.4 billion gallons annually. EKAE will be the 7th ethanol plant in Kansas.

For more information contact EKAE toll free at (877) 352-3552.


9-23-04--Kansas Corn Growers Support Disaster Package

Disaster aid recently approved by the Senate would help Kansas corn producers recoup losses incurred in 2003. The Kansas Corn Growers Association reaffirmed its support for disaster assistance for the 2003 crop year. The disaster assistance package was co-sponsored by Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Sam Brownback.

“The Senate package would help our growers, and we support it. While it’s true that growers in many areas of the state are seeing some recovery from the multi-year drought this year, that doesn’t erase the losses that our growers have had, not only from 2003, but from previous consecutive drought years,” according to KCGA President Brian Baalman, Menlo. “This disaster package would give growers the opportunity to claim losses for the 2004 or 2003 crop year.”

KCGA continues to support efforts that would lessen the need for emergency drought assistance packages like the one passed last week by the Senate. Long-term disaster solutions are offered in a House bill introduced by Missouri Congressman Sam Graves last year. The bill, known as the Companion Disaster Assistance Program Act (CDAP), would provide an effective means of delivering disaster assistance to producers who suffer significant yield losses and multiple-year losses. However, that bill has not moved forward. KCGA is also active in discussions regarding new crop insurance proposals that would address crop losses due to multi-year droughts.

“Improvements to crop insurance are needed solutions to the problems we face here in Kansas. But these solutions cannot help our growers today, and that is why we support the disaster assistance cosponsored by our Kansas Senators,” Baalman said.

KCGA will continue to work with the National Corn Growers Association to press for policies that would improve disaster measures for growers—whether it is through improvement to crop insurance or disaster assistance programs like CDAP.

The emergency aid amendment, once it passes a House-Senate conference committee and is approved by the president, would compensate producers for drought and other weather-related losses sustained in 2003 and 2004. Producers in counties declared primary disaster areas, or in counties contiguous to them, who can document losses of 35 percent or more, will be eligible for aid. In 2003, every county in Kansas was declared a primary agricultural disaster area or was contiguous to a declared county.

9-15-04--Governor Proclaims Sept. 15 as Biofuels Awareness Day
With the Kansas Corn Commission’s ethanol-powered car as a backdrop, Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a proclamation today establishing Sept. 15 as Kansas Biofuels Awareness Day. Commission Chairman Bob Timmons, Fredonia, said the governor’s support of renewable fuel is important to Kansas.

“We appreciate the Governor’s strong support of the production and use of ethanol in Kansas,” Timmons said. “The Kansas Corn Commission supports growth in the ethanol industry in Kansas because it offers great opportunities to our state’s farmers, helps rural communities and boosts our state’s economy.”

Ethanol production in Kansas is expanding, creating jobs and new markets for grains grown on Kansas farms, according to Jere White. White is the executive director of the Kansas Corn Commission and Corn Growers Association and the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.

“It wasn’t long ago that we had four plants with a production capacity of about 50 million gallons per year,” White said. “Now we have six plants that can produce over 130 million gallons per year, using nearly 50 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum per year.”

Ethanol plants are located in Russell, Campus, Colwich, Atchison, Garden City and Leoti. East Kansas Agri Energy at Garnett plans to break ground on a 35 million gallon plant this fall. Other potential plants are in various stages of planning including groups at Pratt and Phillipsburg.

Kansas ethanol production is on the rise, and so is our consumption of ethanol blended fuels. Hundreds of stations across the state offer E10 Unleaded with 10 percent ethanol. E10 Unleaded is available in 14 percent of the gas stations, up from just 8 percent in 2002.

Four stations now offer E85, 85 percent fuel for flexible fuel vehicles. E85 fuel is available at Maize, Topeka, Hays and Garnett. Additional E85 pumps may be added soon in Salina, Lawrence, Kansas City and Oakley.

“Motorists are paying more attention to the fuels they use and ethanol has a lot going for it. It’s domestically produced, it’s renewable and it’s good for your vehicle,” White said. “It simply makes sense to use ethanol-blended fuels.”

The Kansas Corn Commission has targeted checkoff funds to increase the production and use of ethanol in the state of Kansas. The commission is a nine-member grower board that determines how the half-cent per bushel corn checkoff is invested in the areas of domestic and foreign market development, promotion, research and education.

8-31-04--Southeast Grower Elected Kansas Corn Commission Chairman

Bob Timmons, Fredonia, was elected Chairman of  the Kansas Corn Commission at its summer meeting last week. Timmons represents growers in the 9^th crop reporting District in southeast Kansas. Timmons farms near Fredonia in a partnership with his brother. They grow corn, soybeans and wheat. He is a graduate of Baker University and is active in his church, the Lions club, and the Wilson County Fair Board. He serves on the FSA county committee and is on the Kansas Corn Growers Association Board of Directors. Timmons and his wife, Rebecca, have two daughters.

Mike Brzon, Courtland, was elected vice chairman of the commission. Brzon represents growers in the northcentral crop reporting district. Ron Blaesi was reelected secretary. Blaesi represents growers in the west-central crop reporting district. Dan Guetterman was reelected treasurer. Guetterman represents growers in the east-central crop report district. 

The Kansas Corn Commission is made up of nine growers elected by producers in each of the state’s nine crop reporting districts. The commission determines how the half-cent per bushel corn checkoff will be invested in the areas of domestic and foreign market development, promotion, research and education.

8-12-04--E85 Availability Extended Along I-70 Corridor as Hays E85 Station Opens

E85 (85% ethanol fuel) is now available at the Hays Power Plus station. The station offers both E85 for flexible fuel vehicles, and E10 Unleaded, 10 percent ethanol fuel for use in all vehicles. The Kansas Corn Commission provided assistance to add ethanol fuels to the station. The station, owned by Kyle Bauer and Roy Jennings, is located at 3505 Vine St. at Hays. With convenient access from I-70, this new E85 fueling site extends the availability of E85 along the I-70 corridor.

“What makes this station significant is that motorists driving along I-70 can now fill their flexible fuel vehicles with E85 in Missouri, and then take advantage of our two Kansas locations along I-70 in Topeka and Hays, and then refuel at E85 stations on the Colorado Front Range,” according to KCC Director of Value Added Programs Robert White. “If you don’t have a flexible fuel vehicle, Power Plus offers E10 Unleaded with 10 percent ethanol which is approved for use in all gas-powered vehicles.”

E85 is used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) that are designed to operate on the clean burning, renewable fuel. Over 3 million flexible fuel vehicles are on the road today. FFVs can operate on any combination of gasoline and ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol. E10 Unleaded is a approved for use in all vehicles. Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Daimler Chrysler, Dodge and Mercedes all produce FFVs.

E85 is a domestically-produced alternative transportation fuel. In addition to superior performance characteristics (over 100 octane), ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline and is a completely renewable, domestic fuel, made primarily from corn and grain sorghum.

Kansas now has four E85 fueling sites. In addition to the Hays location, E85 is also available in Topeka at Capital City Oil, 4141 NW Lower Silver Lake Road; in Maize at the Maize Kwik Shop, 5340 N. Maize Road, and in Garnett at Petro Plus, 120 South Maple.

For more information on E85, including a complete listing of E85 stations across the United States, visit the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition website at www.e85fuel.com. For more information on ethanol in Kansas, visit www.ksgrains.com.

The Kansas Corn Commission is a nine-member grower board that invests the half-cent corn checkoff in the areas of market development, promotion, research and education to build the value of Kansas corn.

 

8-3-04--Japanese Grocery Executives Look Forward to Reopening Beef Trade with US

While the U.S. and Japan governments continue to negotiate to reopen markets for beef, Japanese supermarket executives are anxious to formulate a plan to reintroduce U.S. beef to their customers in Japan. Executives from a major supermarket chain in Japan visited Kansas and Colorado August in early August to discuss the reintroduction of beef from the United States. When BSE was found in a single cow in Washington in late 2003, the U.S. lost a major export market for beef. In 2003, Japan was second largest beef exporter, with total sales in 2003 totaling $175 million.

The Kansas Corn Commission hosted the executives from the Daiei supermarket chain, and meat import company Marubeni Corporation, for breakfast and a day of meetings. The visit was sponsored by the US Meat Export Federation. The Japanese executives met with Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky as well as officials from the Kansas Corn Commission, Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Livestock Association and Kansas Beef Council.

“Kansas has a long history with the US Meat Export Federation and this long relationship is what helps us through troubled times. This visit is part of getting back to doing what we want to do—and that is doing business with Japan,” Kansas Corn Commission Executive Director Jere White said.

The beef industry is the top customer for Kansas corn producers, White said. The Kansas Corn Commission has been involved with the US Meat Export Federation since the late 1970s to help promote exports of beef.

The Daiei executives said rebuilding consumer confidence in U.S. beef would be a priority when U.S. beef trade with Japan is reopened.

“Our first approach is to assure safety to the Japanese consumers. As a result, we are here to hold these meetings and also to visit with feedlots and packers. We want to establish a promotion to convince Japanese customers that U.S. and Kansas beef is safe and wholesome,” according to Kazuhiro Matsuyama, General Manager of the Meat Division of the Daiei company.

Governor Sebelius told the delegation that reestablishing beef trade with Japan would be a boost for Kansas agriculture and the Kansas economy. The Governor pledged her support to help promote Kansas beef in Daiei stores.

Kansas Beef is a very strong brand name in Japan, Matsuyama said. Daiei began marketing beef as Kansas Beef in the early 1980s, mostly as gift items. As the Kansas Beef brand became more popular, Daiei began selling Kansas Beef in its 266 supermarkets in the late 1980s.

“Since then, Kansas Beef sales extremely expanded. Thirty percent of our beef divisions were Kansas Beef,” Matsuyama said. “We would like to bring back and increase Kansas Beef in our Japanese markets.”

White told the delegation that Kansas agriculture was ready to help rebuild the Japanese market for American beef.

“This is an opportunity to build back our markets for beef in Japan,” White said. “You can count on Kansas agriculture supporting that effort--to have not only business as usual, but business better than it’s ever been before.”

Daiei was one of the largest U.S. beef purchasers in Japan before the BSE case. Marubeni Corp. is a beef importer for Daiei and other retailers.

7-23-04--AgriTalk Ethanol Pump Tour Rolls Into Garden City Friday, July 30
The AgriTalk Ethanol Pump Tour, sponsored in part by the Kansas Corn Commission, will stop at the Garden City Coop’s Cenex Country Corner station at the corner of Fulton Street (Highway 50) and Campus Drive on Friday, July 30. Broadcaster Mike Adams and the popular ag radio talk show AgriTalk will broadcast live from the event.

The Ethanol Pump Tour has stopped at stations that sell E10 Unleaded fuel throughout the Midwest in 2004 to raise public awareness about renewable fuels. This is the second year of the pump tour.

AgriTalk will broadcast live from the event from 10 to 11 a.m. Garden City radio station KBUF will broadcast live from the event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“It makes a lot of sense to have a pump tour stop in Garden City. Southwest Kansas is the heart of our state’s corn production, and there is growing interest and support for ethanol fuel in this area,” according to Kansas Corn Commission Director of Value Added Programs Robert White.

E10 Unleaded will be sold at a 10- cent-per-gallon discount at the Garden City event. Volunteers will pump discounted E10 Unleaded fuel for customers and give information about ethanol fuel. AgriTalk and the Kansas Corn Commission will give away ethanol promotion items.

E10 Unleaded fuel contains 10 percent ethanol. All domestic and foreign automakers approve the use of E10 Unleaded in their vehicles. The clean-burning fuel contains renewable, domestically-produced ethanol. Six ethanol plants in Kansas produce 122.5 million gallons of ethanol per year using over 46 million bushels of corn and grain sorghum. Plants currently in operation are located in Garden City, Leoti, Campus, Russell, Colwich and Atchison.

Remaining AgriTalk Pump Tour stops are August 13 at Aberdeen,SD, and August 20 at Kabredlo’s, 434 W. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS.

6/8/04--E85 Fuel Available at Topeka Alternative Fuel Station
A Topeka fuel station is the first in Kansas to offer both E85, 85 percent ethanol fuel for flexible fuel vehicle and B-20, a 20 percent biodiesel fuel. Capital City Oil has added E-85 and B20 at its 4141 NW Lower Silver Lake Road facility in Topeka. Robert White, Director of Value Added Programs for the Kansas Corn Commission participated in an event Friday celebrating the opening of the B20 facility.

"This is truly a first for Kansas. One facility has both E-85 and B-20, two renewable fuels made from the crops we grow in Kansas," White said. " With record high crude prices, these products are excellent ways to help decrease our dependency on foreign oil."

The fueling facility accepts only the CFN Network card, or the state's Wright Express credit card. The station is designed for fleet use, but anyone can apply for a cardlock card at Capital City Oil. The state fleet has several flexible fuel vehicles.

Topeka was the site of the state's first E85 fueling site, located at the Topeka Travel Plaza, which recently closed.

"This station will go a long way in filling the void left when the Topeka Travel Plaza closed its doors earlier this year," White said. "We are continuing our work to offer E85 at more locations in the state. With millions of flexible fuel vehicles on the road today, many drivers are interested in the higher quality and lower price of E85."

E85 is a fuel blend with 85 percent ethanol, which has an octane rating of over 100, which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles. E85 is a clean burning fuel that is used by many government and business vehicle fleets to meet environmental standards. The fuel can also be used by private motorists who own flexible fuel vehicles. Several automakers sell flexible fuel vehicles that can operate on any combination of gasoline and ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol.

Kansas now has three E85 fuel sites. The Kwik Shop at 53rd & Maize in the Wichita suburb of Maize sells both E85 and E10 Unleaded ethanol fuel blends. The Petro Plus at 120 S. Maple on Highway 59 in Garnett also sells both E85 and E10 ethanol blends. E10 Unleaded is approved for use by all foreign and domestic automakers.

E85 is approved for use in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Mercury, GM, Mazda, Isuzu and Mercedes Benz all produce FFVs. More information on E85 fuel and a list of FFVs can be found at the Kansas Ethanol Information web site at www.ksgrains.com

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

5/17/04--ksgrains.com Offers Central Ethanol Site
The Kansas corn and grain sorghum web site, www.ksgrains.com, now features a Kansas Ethanol Information site. The ksgrains.com site hosts the Kansas Corn Commission and association web sites as well as the grain sorghum commission and association sites. The individual web sites offered ethanol information, but the central ethanol site allows us to offer more current and cohesive ethanol information. The Kansas Ethanol Information site offers information on E10 and E85 fuels; Kansas and US Production figures; DDGS, and helpful ethanol industry links. Check it out at http:www.ksgrains.com/ethanol

5/7/04--RMA Seeks to Address Multi-Year Crop Loss Issues
May 7, 2004--Many Kansas growers are continuing to struggle with a multiple year drought and the effects of their crop losses on crop insurance guarantees. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) held a meeting today in Kansas City to request proposals to address the effects of insurance guarantees because of multi-year losses. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association were represented at the meeting.

Congressman Jerry Moran gave opening remarks at the meeting. Congressman Moran is Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.He told the group that crop insurance is important to his constituents.

"I was at the 3-I Show, a large Kansas farm show, and crop insurance was the number one issue people were talking to me about," Congressman Moran told the group. "You can see by the number of farm organizations here today that this is a high priority to them."

The work that Congressman Moran and RMA are doing is proactive and has the potential to result in needed adjustments to the crop insurance system, according to Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association

"We appreciate the work of Congressman Moran and RMA and their efforts to address problems our growers are experiencing with multi-year losses due to the lingering drought in many parts of our state," White said. "Many of our growers, especially in northwest Kansas, are looking at yet another dry year and another year of possible crop losses."

Many farmers in the western corn belt are concerned about the effects a multi-year drought are having on their crop insurance coverage and their yield history figures for their farms. A recent survey conducted for the National Corn Growers Association polled growers about their participation in the crop insurance programs over the past five years. 91 percent of growers interviewed had purchased crop insurance. Growers surveyed in the western corn growing region, which included Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and Texas, were more likely to file more than one crop insurance claim in the last five years. Nationwide, 30 percent of growers surveyed filed claims in consecutive years, but in the western region, 60 percent filed consecutive claims.

"This survey covers the time period of one of the worst droughts in our region's history, and illustrates the challenges our growers are facing," White said. "This is why we need to look at multiple year crop losses and improve crop insurance so those growers are not penalized."

Companies, universities and private sector researchers attended the RMA meeting to discuss the problem of multi-year crop losses and submit proposals to address those problems.

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5/5/04--Garnett Station to Celebrate E85 Ethanol Opening
Ethanol fuel will be spotlighted from 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 14 at the Garnett Petro Plus. The station will celebrate the opening of its fueling facility for E85 fuel, 85 percent ethanol fuel for flexible fuel vehicles. The station also offers E10 Unleaded with 10 percent ethanol for all gasoline powered vehicles. The event is sponsored by the Kansas Corn Commission, Petro Plus, National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition and Abengoa Bioenergy.

E85 fuel, which is normally priced lower than regular unleaded, will be on sale for 85 cents per gallon during the event. E10 Unleaded fuel will also be sold at a 10 cent discount. In addition to fuel specials, prize drawings and food and drink discounts will be featured at the store. WIBW radio 580 AM will broadcast live from 1 to 3 p.m. Special guests will give comments at 2 p.m.

Flexible fuel vehicles, which can operate on any combination of ethanol and unleaded fuel up to 85 percent ethanol, will be on display. Information on E85 and E10 ethanol blended fuels will be available at the event.

"Ethanol is an excellent choice, whether you have a flexible fuel vehicle or not. Petro Plus offers both E85 and E10, to allow its customers to use the ethanol blend that is right for their vehicle," according to Robert White, the corn commission's Director of Value Added Programs. "This will be an excellent opportunity for people to learn about ethanol fuels, both E85 and E10 Unleaded."

Garnett is the home of the Kansas Corn Commission, Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, all proponents of ethanol fuels. "We have excellent support for ethanol in our community," White said. "In addition to the association and commission vehicles, our school district and county extension office have flexible fuel vehicles. Also, there are many privately owned flexible fuel vehicles in this area that can use E85. There is a lot of interest in ethanol fuels in the Garnett area."

E85 can also be found in the Wichita area at the Maize Kwik Shop at 53rd and Maize. Work is underway to add E85 fuel at other locations across to state.

E85 is a domestically produced alternative transportation fuel. In addition to superior performance (over 100 octane), ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline and is a completely renewable, domestic fuel made primarily from corn and grain sorghum.

Currently, there are approximately 3 million flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) operating on the nation's roads that are capable of operating on E85. Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Daimler Chrysler, Mercedes and Dodge all produce FFVs.

"If you think you might have a flexible fuel vehicle, but aren't sure, stop by during the event, and we'll help you find out," White said. "Even if you don't have an FFV, you can still use E10 Unleaded that is approved by for use by all foreign and domestic automakers."

A list of flexible fuel vehicles is attached.



Flexible Fuel Vehicles

Daimler Chrysler Corporation
2004: 4.7L Dodge Ram 1500 Series
2003-04: 2.7L Stratus Sedan, Sebring
2003: 3.3L Dodge Cargo Minivan
1998-03 and 2005: 3.3L Dodge, Plymouth & Chrysler Minivan

Ford Motor Company
2004: 4.0L Sport Trac
2002-04: 4.0L Explorer
1999-04: 3.0L Taurus LX, SE & SES Sedan
2001-03: 3.0L Ranger Supercab 2WD
1999-00: 3.0L Ranger 2WD & 4WD

General Motors Corporation
2002-04: 5.3L Suburban, Tahoe & Yukon
2002-04: 5.3L Selected Sierra & Silverado Pickup
2000-02: 2.2L Chevrolet S-10 & GMC Sonoma Pickup
2005: Avalanche

Mazda
1999, 2001-02: 3.0L Mazda B3000 Pickup

Mercury
2002-04: 4.0L Selected Moutaineer
2001: 3.0L Selected Sable

Isuzu
2000-01: 2.2L Hombre Pickup

Mercedes-Benz
2003-04: 3.2L C320 Sport Sedan & Wagon

4/1/04--KDA Announces Commodity Commission Election Results
Kansas Corn Commission Results
March 31, 2004--The Kansas Department of Agriculture today announced the names of producers from the eastern third of the state who were elected to the state's four commodity commissions - corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and wheat.

This was the first election for districts seven, eight and nine under the new law that privatized the commissions in July 2000. District seven includes Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley and Wyandotte counties. District eight includes Anderson, Chase, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Johnson, Linn, Lyon, Miami, Morris, Osage, Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties. District nine includes Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson counties.

Ballots were cast between January and March 1 and were counted at the Kansas Department of Agriculture during March. The newly elected commissioners will take office April 1 and will serve for three years. Previously, commissioners were appointed by the governor.

Commissioners-elect for the Kansas Corn Commission

District seven - Ken McCauley, who farms 3,500 acres with his wife, Mary, and son, Brad, near White Cloud. They grow corn and soybeans. McCauley has served on the Kansas Corn Commission in many different positions of leadership, and he has held leadership positions in his church and community. He was the vice chair of the National Corn Growers Association's ethanol committee and a member of the research and development action team. He currently serves as a NCGA finance committee member and liaison on the biotechnology working group.

District eight - Daniel Guetterman, who farms 500 acres with his wife, Kathryn, near Bucyrus. They grow corn, soybeans and wheat. Previously, Guetterman and his three brothers operated Guetterman Brothers Farms Inc., under which they farmed 6,500 acres, and Guetterman Brothers Elevator. He has served six years on the Kansas Corn Commission, and he was a board member of East Kansas Agri Energy LLC, which plans to build an ethanol plant in Garnett. Guetterman and his wife, Kitty, have three grown children.

District nine - Bob Timmons, who farms near Fredonia in a partnership with his brother. They grow corn, soybeans and wheat. He graduated from Baker University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, and he is active in his church, the Lions Club and the Wilson County Fair Board. He serves on the FSA county committee and as district nine director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association. Timmons and his wife, Rebecca, have two daughters.

2005 election will cover central third of state
Corn, grain sorghum, soybean and wheat growers in the central third of the state can expect to receive information by mail this summer outlining the 2005 election procedure. Also, commission representatives will visit field day events to distribute information.

Affected by the 2005 election will be districts four, five and six. District four includes Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Republic, Rooks, Smith and Washington counties. District five includes Barton, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Lincoln, McPherson, Marion, Rice, Rush, Russell and Saline counties. District six includes Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Sedgwick, Stafford and Sumner 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 2005 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 or wheat during the last three years. The filing deadline for candidates is Oct. 31.

Voters may register by signing a valid candidate petition form or by filling out a voter registration form. Voter registration forms and candidate petition forms may be obtained from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, or any of the grain commodity commission offices. Or, an electronic voter registration form may be filled out online at www.ks-agr.org/commod/elections.htm. Growers must register by Dec. 31 to vote in the election.

Registered voters will receive an official ballot in January. Votes must be cast, or postmarked if submitted by mail, by March 1. After votes are cast, an official counting day in March will be announced so interested individuals may observe the vote-counting process. The names of commissioners-elect will be announced in mid-March and the elected will take office April 1.

3/30/04--IRM Learning Center Helps Bt Growers Meet Requirements

Bt corn is popular with Kansas growers, but to keep the technology that protects against certain pests, growers must follow Insect Resistance Management (IRM) rules. An internet-based IRM learning program provides a quick and easy way for growers to learn the ins and outs of Insect Resistance Management.

Bt corn varieties have been genetically modified to protect against corn borer, corn rootworm, or both.

The IRM Learning Center is the industry's first online education center for training growers on the principles of Insect Resistance Management. This is a web-based tool developed by NCGA with the support of a coalition of the four leading agriculture biotechnology companies.

Kansas Corn Commissioner Ken McCauley serves on the NCGA Biotechnology Working Group. Surveys are showing that growers are using IRM plans.

"This is a good technology and a good tool for many of our farmers, and IRM is just something you have to do if you want to keep that the Bt tool," McCauley said. "Now is a great time for growers to take a refresher course on Insect Resistance Management. Growers planting Bt corn need to have a good understanding of the IRM planting requirements if they want to continue to have access to Bt corn products."

The IRM learning Center is the industry's first online education center for training growers on the principles of Insect Resistance Management. This is a web-based tool developed by NCGA with the support of a coalition of the four leading agriculture biotechnology companies.

The IRM plan requires farmers who plant Bt corn to maintain at least a 20 percent non-Bt corn refuge. Bt cornfields must be located within ½ mile (preferably ¼ mile) of their refuge cornfields. Within certain corn/cotton areas in the southern states, growers are required to plant at least a 50 percent non-Bt corn refuge.

"The growers who use it know that if they want to keep it, they have to follow the rules," McCauley said.

The web site illustrates different types of refuge configurations, for different types of fields, including center pivot circles.

Growers can find a convenient link to the IRM Learning Center module con the Kansas Corn Commission web site at www.ksgrains.com.

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, promotion and education.

 

1-27-04--East Kansas Agri Energy Moves Forward with Plans to Build Ethanol Plant at Garnett
Organizers of East Kansas Agri Energy LLC announced today that they reached the requirements to break escrow for the construction of a 25 million gallon ethanol plant at Garnett. EKAE's equity drive ended Saturday.

According to Bill Pracht, EKAE Chairman, the group reached the bank requirement to break escrow on the project. Organizers are now going through last minute investments and finalizing financial and legal agreements that will lead to the completion of the project. The group raised over $16 million in equity from more than 500 investors.

"We'd like to thank everyone who had faith in us and invested in this project," Pracht said.

The size of the Garnett plant has been increased from 20 million gallons to 25 million gallons, and will be built at the same cost of $36 million.

The announcement comes a week after Western Plains Energy LLC produced its first drops of ethanol. The 30 million gallon plant, located in Campus in northwest Kansas completed its equity drive about a year ago.

"We're seeing dynamic growth in the Kansas ethanol industry," according to Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. "That's good news not only for farmers, but also for the local economies where the ethanol plants are located, and for our state's economy as well."

Kansas now has six functioning ethanol plants, located in Atchison, Colwich, Garden City, Leoti, Russell and Campus that are producing a combined 117 million gallons of ethanol per year.

"This is a dramatic increase from where we were just a few years ago, when Kansas had an ethanol producing capacity of 50 million gallons," White said. "Not only did growers invest in the Campus and Garnett plants, they also played a part in the development of the plants through their corn and grain sorghum check off."

The Kansas Corn Commission and Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission assisted in funding feasibility studies for groups who were interested in bringing ethanol plants to their communities. The Campus and Garnett plants both worked closely with the commissions.

The nation's ethanol industry is growing as well. Ethanol production was up over 30 percent in 2003, setting an annual production record of 2.81 billion gallons.

"We're seeing a lot more usage of ethanol throughout the United States," White said. "These new plants are being built to meet that demand for a fuel that is renewable, domestic and clean burning."

Availability of ethanol blended fuels is growing in Kansas. The state now has 341 stations in 95 Kansas counties that carry E10 Unleaded, an ethanol blended fuel that is approved for use by all foreign and domestic automakers. Kansas now has three E85 fueling sites that carry 85 percent ethanol fuel for flexible fuel vehicles at Topeka, Maize and Garnett. The Maize and Garnett sites opened in the past six months.

US Ethanol Industry Facts
72 ethanol plants in operation
15 ethanol plants under construction
3.1 billion gallon annual production capacity
40% of current and under construction production capacity is farmer-owned.

Kansas Ethanol Facts
6 ethanol plants in operation
Over 117 million gallon annual production capacity

Kansas Plant Capacity
US Energy Partners, Russell: 40 million gallons per year
Western Plains Energy LLC, Campus: 30 million gallons per year
Abengoa, Colwich: 25 million gallons per year
Reeve Agri-Energy, Garden City: 12 million gallons per year
MGP Ingredients, Atchison: 9 million gallons per year
ESE Alcohol, Leoti: 1.5 million gallons per year

1-27-04--Kansas Ag Innovation Center Opens for Business

The Kansas Ag Innovation Center has opened for business after receiving a $1 million grant from USDA to help producers benefit from their efforts in agricultural value-added businesses.

The center is a partnership involving the Agriculture Marketing Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas State University, Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Kansas Polymer Research Center, and 21st Century Producers. The partners matched the USDA grant with their own cash and in-kind resources valued at $1 million. These resources allow them to provide operational support, technical and engineering services, and education programs that work together to improve the management, decision-making, and implementation skills of value-added agricultural producers.

"We believe that if we surround promising agricultural value-added businesses with the appropriate resources at the right time, they will succeed," noted Patty Clark, Director of the Agriculture Marketing Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce and chairperson of the Innovation Center's Board of Directors. "And what we have done here is bring those resource