MCGA Winter 2012 Newsletter

The official publication for members of the Michigan Corn Growers Association Winter 2012

INSIDE

Corn on the Hill ................................. 2Rector Joins Michigan Corn .......... 3Coffee with Corn Meetings ........... 3Upcoming Events .............................. 4Annual Meeting .......................... 5 - 8Member Benefits .............................. 9MCGA Scholarship ......................... 10Corn Yield Contest Winners ........11

A Year in Review from the Executive DirectorThe year 2012 will be known as one that established a placeholder

for discussions for years to come. For those of us involved in production agriculture, it will be one of those years we will never forget and continue to talk about, much like the dust bowl years, and 1988.

Despite early season speculations that painted a dismal picture for Michigan’s corn harvest, corn yields in some areas, like the northern growing areas, had some reports over 200 bushels per acre. For the rest of the state it seemed that a line from Muskegon to Lansing, south to Ann Arbor and all points south ended with yields 50 to 75 percent of normal trend yields. However, a typical comment was that “the crop was a lot better than what we were expecting.” We think anyone would agree that today’s genetics was the main reason why corn performed better than anticipated. We are awaiting the final productions numbers and anticipate a 20-percent drop from last season. We are all hoping and praying that 2013 is not a repeat of 2012.

In 2012, Michigan Corn had the distinguished opportunity to host both Senator Stabenow and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for a round table discussion on issues important to the Ag Industry. We covered topics of credit, farm program, crop insurance, renewable fuels and the farm bill. The farm bill was very big on our agenda, as we tried to encourage our congressmen to persuade leadership to take up the vote and pass the farm bill. The farm bill quickly became overshadowed by the created fiscal cliff and, as of this writing, is still not resolved.

Michigan Corn also experienced personnel changes in 2012, as I was named the new Executive Director in June. We also lost personnel with Val Vail-Shirey returning to her lobbying firm and taking on Executive Director duties for the Michigan Allied Poultry Association and Michigan Floriculture. Michigan Corn was very fortunate to enter into a contract with Natalie Rector to oversee and direct the research that is funded through the Corn Marketing Program. Natalie, who is very well known in Michigan’s ag community, brings a wealth of experience and dedication, as well as a reputation and ability to get things done, to the organization.

Michigan Corn’s boards of directors are also working through board governance policies to better serve its members and to enhance the leadership they have provided for you. We will continue to strive to meet the needs for all corn producers in the state and look forward to hearing from you with issues you feel we should be addressing. The staff at Michigan Corn hopes that you all have had a Merry Christmas and also hopes your Happy New Year will continue throughout the remainder of the year.

Jim Zook

Upcoming EvEntsMABA Winter Conference & Trade Show

January 14 - 16, 2013 Lansing Center, Lansing

Coffee with Corn Meeting - January 22, 2013 Scott Miller’s Farm, Elsie

Coffee with Corn Meeting - January 23, 2013 Main Street Café, Buckley

Coffee with Corn Meeting - January 24, 2013 Sleeping Bear Winery, Albion

MCGA Annual Meeting - February 4, 2013 Radisson Hotel, Lansing

**Note the change in date and location**

MCGA Bus Trip to the National Farm Machinery Show - February 12 - 14, 2013

Louisville, KY

Commodity Classic February 27 - March 2, 2013

Kissimmee, FL

Corn on the Hill

Winter 2012

Election RecapThe Michigan Legislature will begin its

2013 session in January with Republicans narrowly maintaining a numbers advantage. Despite losing five incumbents, the Republicans managed to preserve control of the House. The new House of Representatives will be composed of 59 Republicans and 51 Democrats. The Senate seats remain unchanged with 26 Republicans and 12 Democrats.

Issues that the Michigan Corn Growers Association (MCGA) will follow closely during the upcoming year will be MISS DIG, water legislation, wetland legislation, the Renewable Fuel Standard and the Farm Bill. Although the MCGA will be diligently representing your interests with our legislators, the grassroots movement is crucial in assisting our efforts. As such, we encourage you to foster relationships with your local representatives by contacting them and sharing your views and concerns.

Find Your LegislatorFind your State Senator Visit www.senate.michigan.gov and click on the Find Your Senator link in the right-hand column.

Find your State Representative Visit www.house.mi.gov and click on the Representatives link at the top of the page.

Find your U.S. Representative Visit www.house.gov and enter your zip code in the box in the center of the page.

Contact your U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D) Phone: (202) 224-6221 Website: www.levin.senate.gov

Debbie Stabenow (D) Phone: (202) 224-4822 Website: www.stabenow.senate.gov

State LegislationLame Duck session is over -- and what a session it

was. There were two major bills that we were watching and weighing in with our input to help make sure that protections were in place for your farming operations. The Michigan Corn Growers Association was in support of both bills as their language was being adjusted throughout the process. I make this statement because we were being named as a non-supporter of Senate Bill 1008, which addresses Dispute Resolution for High-Capacity Wells. We were tied in with a non-supporting organization of which we have a membership, but their message was not the one agreed upon by us and our hired lobbyist. If you happen to hear that the Corn Growers were not in support of this legislation, please advise them otherwise.

The focus of SB 1008 is to put a process in place, through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, to investigate and determine if a high-capacity well may be causing harm to surrounding wells. A high-capacity well is a well that extracts more than 100,000 gallons of water per day. SB 1008 would allow MDARD to fund the investigation rather than the high-capacity well

owner. However, if the high-capacity well owner is found to have caused an issue beyond normal recharge levels, they will be assessed the investigation costs as well as the cost of resolution. If you would like more details, we would be happy to provide them for you. SB 1008 has been approved by both chambers and is expected to be signed by the governor in the coming weeks.

Senate Bill 1083 addresses underground utility notification. SB 1083 was to be very restrictive on your ability to do normal tillage in your field, by requiring you to contact Miss Digg before performing normal tillage work. This bill did have some amendments proposed that would exempt contact if work to be performed outside the right-of-way is less than 24 inches or within the utility right-of-way less than 12 inches. This bill, which was met with some resistance, did not move, and has expired.

National LegislationThere’s not much to update on the federal level as the Farm

Bill continues to be debated in Congress and lawmakers focus their attention on addressing another critical issue, the fast-approaching “fiscal cliff” deadline.

Winter 2012

Rector Joins Michigan Corn as Research Coordinator

Since its inception 20 years ago, the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan has always looked to the future as it worked to move the state’s corn industry forward through education and research. With that in mind, the CMPM has added ag specialist Natalie Rector to its team

as Research Coordinator to oversee CMPM’s many research projects.

As an MSU Extension educator, Rector was involved with the formation of the Innovative Farmers of South Central Michigan, a farmer-organized group that sought grant funds, conducted on-farm demonstration projects and shared their data with area farmers through field tours and plot reports. Rector said that localizing field practices to the soil and cropping systems was an integral part of that work which she hopes to bring to Michigan Corn.

“I have been on both sides of grant funds and field-research projects, and I am hoping to bring relevant research to the table and be sure that all corn producers in the state can, and do, benefit from the findings,” Rector said.

Rector, who grew up on a corn, beef and hog farm in Cass County, started her career as a summer field scout for the Michigan Crop Improvement Association. She began her MSU Extension career as an Ag Agent in Lapeer County, and then Crops Agent in Branch, Calhoun, Jackson and Hillsdale counties. Since 2002, Rector has been a statewide manure nutrient management educator.

Rector recently received the 2012 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award from Michigan Farm Bureau at the group’s annual meeting. Rector has been an active member of the Calhoun County Farm Bureau for the past 20 years and currently serves on its board of directors.

Coffee With Corn Meetings Coming in January

Michigan Corn’s annual Coffee with Corn meetings help provide an update to growers on important issues affecting the industry, and offer the opportunity to get involved.

Currently, three town-hall type meetings have been scheduled for January:

• January 22: Hosted by Scott Miller at his farm at 6757 Warren Road in Elsie.

• January 23: Hosted by Ed Breitmeyer at Main Street Café on M-37 in Buckley.

• January 24: Hosted by Richard Dobbins at Sleeping Bear Winery, 2110 N. Concord Road in Albion.

As part of the meeting, nominations will be accepted for the CMPM board of directors to fill open positions as District Representatives. Nominees will be submitted to the Governor’s office for his consideration and appointment to the CMPM board. The new board members will play a direct role in charting the future course of the check-off dollars through the CMPM. The board invests in research, market development, education and new use projects. Those interested in the board position must grow corn within the district. If you are interested, please contact the Michigan Corn office for details on how to participate in any of the meetings.

Coffee with Corn is a great way for growers to connect with other local farmers and Michigan Corn board members and staff to learn more about the corn industry and the challenges facing the industry. Michigan Corn holds Coffee with Corn meetings in farming communities throughout the state to bring corn growers who contribute to the state’s check-off together to talk about issues of importance to corn farmers. Through these meetings, Michigan Corn hopes to provide growers with information that will be useful to them on their farming operations, and learn how Michigan Corn can better serve check-off contributors and improve Michigan’s corn industry.

To request a Coffee with Corn meeting in your district, or to learn more about the Michigan corn industry, call the Michigan Corn office at (517) 668-2676.

Natalie Rector

In 2013, the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan will mark its 20th anniversary of providing Michigan corn farmers with top-notch programs focused on research, education, promotion and market development. It will also be time for another referendum.

Things to remember about the referendum:

5 Corn producers who grow and sell more than $800 worth of corn are eligible to vote in the referendum.

5 Ballots will be mailed out from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development around January 28.

5 Ballots must be completed and postmarked by February 8, 2013.

28January

20 Years of Progress1993 - 2013

Brought to you by the

Power of the PennY!Corn Marketing Program of Michigan1-888-323-6601 • www.micorn.org

Continuation Referendum to Take Place in 2013

Winter 2012

Upcoming EventsMembers Invited to Attend Commodity Classic

MCGA members are invited to attend the 2013 Commodity Classic from February 27 to March 2 in Kissimmee, Florida. This year’s event will feature educational seminars; an agricultural trade show with hundreds of exhibitors featuring the latest in equipment and farm inputs; and world renowned speakers.

Commodity Classic is the premier convention and trade show for America’s corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum farmers and is held annually through a joint collaboration of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the American Soybean Association.

During the event, attendees will learn from industry leaders about methods to continue improving efficiency and profitability on their own farms. The Commodity Classic experience offers lasting educational, business and networking opportunities for farmers across the United States.

Online registration opened on November 16 and discounted early registrations are due January 20. MCGA members should have received a registration packet in the mail in early December. If you did not receive a packet but are interested in attending, please visit www.commodityclassic.com for more information.

Bus Trip to National Farm Machinery ShowTime is running out to register for the first-ever Michigan Corn Growers

Association’s bus trip to the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. The trip will take place from February 12 - 14, 2013 and includes round-

trip transportation, two nights’ accommodations at the Horseshoe Casino, two breakfast buffets and two dinner buffets. There will also be an optional tour to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory and optional tickets available for the Championship Tractor Pull. For MCGA members the cost of the trip is $250 for a double occupancy room and $350 for a single occupancy room. Non-members may also participate in the trip for a cost of $310 for a double occupancy room and $410 for a single occupancy room. Non-members will also receive a one-year MCGA membership as a part of the trip cost. Reservations for the trip are due by January 10, 2013.

For more information about the trip or to register online, visit www.micorn.org.

www.CommodityClassic.com

Spend a few days this winter where everything is bright, brilliant, warm and incredibly clear.(Better yet, it’s in Florida this year!)

The forecast for farmers attending Commodity Classic this year looks outstanding.

• Bright ideas from industry leaders and innovators

• Brilliant technology and insight shared at the incredible trade show and dozens of educational sessions

• Warm, friendly farmers from across the nation ready to share their experiences

When it’s all over, you’ll have a clear idea about how you can improve your operation and your profitability.

You can’t control the weather. But with what you’ll learn at Commodity Classic, you’ll be in charge of your future like never before.

Join us in Kissimmee, Florida: February 28 – March 2, 2013

Register Online: www.CommodityClassic.com

America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention & trade show.

Open TO all FRiendS OF CORn, SOYBeanS, WheaT & SORghuM!High-Powered Presentations • Thought-Provoking Discussions • Expert Speakers • Top National Talent • New Technology & Ideas • Incredible Trade Show • Opportunities to Meet Other Growers from Across the Nation

Mark Your Calendars!MCGA Summer Golf Outings

Central Outing - Aug. 6, 2013 Centennial Acres, Sunfield

Thumb Outing - Aug. 14, 2013 Verona Hills Golf Club, Bad Axe

Michigan corn growers association

2013 Annual Meeting

Thank You to our Sponsors:

Corn Marketing Program of Michigan

Featuring Kenny WallaceNASCAR Driver and American Ethanol SupporterJoin Us!

Monday, February 4, 201310:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Radisson Hotel - 111 North Grand Avenue, Lansing

**Please note the new date and location**

If you want the latest information about the issues that will affect the Michigan corn industry during the next year, attend the Michigan Corn Growers

Association (MCGA) 2013 Annual Meeting on Monday, February 4, 2013 at the Radisson

Hotel in downtown Lansing. Please note that the date and location for this year’s annual meeting

has changed from last year. Registration and a continental breakfast will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the program will follow at 10:00 a.m. The keynote speaker for this year’s event is Kenny Wallace, a well-known NASCAR driver and

American Ethanol supporter.

Michigan Corn Growers Association13750 S. Sedona Parkway, Suite 5, Lansing, MI 48906

www.micorn.org • 1-888-323-6601

Tentative Schedule9:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast

10:00 Welcome and Introductions

10:05 State of the MCGA

10:25 NCGA Industry Overview - Pam Johnson, NCGA President

10:55 Annual Business Meeting

11:10 The Effect the Egg Bill (H.R. 3798) Will Have on Michigan’s Corn Industry - Tim VandeBunte, Konos Inc.

11:55 Lunch

12:45 p.m. The Future of Michigan Agriculture - Derek Bajema, MDARD Legislative Liaison

1:00 Keynote Address - Kenny Wallace, NASCAR Driver and American Ethanol Supporter

2:00 Award Recognition

2:35 Government Standards, Auto Manufacturers and the Ethanol Industry - Coleman Jones, General Motors

3:05 Michigan Legislative Discussion - Julian Vail

3:20 Corn Mission Trip to China Report - Ed Breitmeyer, USGC Advisory Board Member

3:40 Adjourn

3:45 Ice Cream Social and Door Prizes

Speakers• Kenny Wallace has been a driver in the NASCAR

Racing Series for more than 20 years. Wallace, who drove the No. 99 Family Farmers car and the No. 99 American Ethanol car in numerous races last season, will entertain us with stories about his driving career and his support of ethanol and America’s farmers. Wallace has been behind the wheel for nearly 900 series races and has won the Nationwide Series’ Most Popular Driver Award three times. He also co-hosts two racing programs each week on SPEED Channel.

• Derek Bajema, Legislative Liaison for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, will share the Governor’s outlook for agriculture in Michigan for the upcoming year.

• Ed Breitmeyer, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan member and U.S. Grains Council Advisory Board member, will share a video highlighting his recent trip to China on the corn harvest tour.

• Pam Johnson, newly elected President of the National Corn Growers Association, will discuss issues affecting the national corn industry as well as the challenges that corn farmers will face in the coming year.

• Dr. Coleman Jones is the Biofuel Implementation Manager for General Motors in North America. He is focused on the technical aspects of biofuels including properties, manufacturing processes, costs, and interactions with vehicles and petroleum fuels. He supports GM engineering and public policy worldwide on expanding the portfolio of biofuel-capable vehicles and supplies of vehicle-ready biofuels. Dr. Jones will provide an auto manufacturer’s perspective on government standards and the role ethanol can play in meeting those standards.

• Tim Vande Bunte is the President of Konos, Inc., which he has owned and operated for the past 25 years. Tim will discuss House Resolution 3798, which would provide for a uniform national standard for the housing and treatment of egg-laying hens, and how its implementation would affect Michigan’s corn industry.

Name: ______________________________________________________________________ MCGA Member: Y N

Farm/Company Name (if applicable): ___________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________________________________Fax: ________________________

Email: ________________________________________________________________County: _____________________**Help us utilize your membership dollars wisely and effectively by providing your email address. Electronic communication ensures your dues go toward projects instead of postage and printing.**

Registrant Information (Please list guest’s names below. Attach sheet for additional names): Member Ticket (Each MCGA membership is good for one individual) No ChargeGuest Information (Non-MCGA member tickets are $20 per person):Name: ______________________________________________________________________ MCGA Member: Y N

Address: ____________________________________________________________________


Address: ____________________________________________________________________


Address: ____________________________________________________________________

Total number of member tickets at no charge: ___________________ Total number of guest tickets at $20 each: ___________________ Total Registration Amount: ___________________

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Total Sponsorship: ___________________

Form of Payment: ____Visa ____MC ____Discover ____Check

Credit Card No. ____________________________________ Exp Date: ________________ CCV Code: _____________

Signature: ________________________________________ Printed Name on Card: _____________________________

Total Amount Enclosed: ___________________

To Register By Mail: Fill out the registration form and mail it to:

2013 Annual MeetingMichigan Corn Growers Association13750 S. Sedona Parkway, Suite 5Lansing, MI 48906

To Register Online: Visit www.micorn.org and click on the Annual Meeting link.

To Register By Fax: Fill out the registration form and fax it to (517) 668-2670.

Grower Bus – Investment: $1,500 Lunch – Investment: $800 Ice Cream Social – Investment: $550

Parking – Investment: $500 Speakers – Investment: $400 Booth – Investment: $400

Break – Investment: $350 Lanyards – Investment: $300

REgISTRATION DEADlINE IS JANuARy 25, 2013!

Michigan Corn growers Association2013 Annual Meeting Registration Form

A Message from Your PresidentThis past year was a very challenging one for those involved in Michigan’s corn industry. While Mother Nature had an impact in the Midwest and across the country with a staggering drought that negatively affected yields, Michigan corn farmers came out in better shape than many of our neighboring states’ growers.Legislatively, Michigan Corn continues to have impact statewide and nationally. In August, we were honored to host a roundtable discussion with top state and national agriculture leaders that included Tom Vilsack, U.S. Agriculture Secretary, and Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, to discuss vital issues facing the nation’s corn and agriculture industries.

With our focus on corn-friendly policy development in the state legislature, we have been closely following the aquifer protection and dispute resolution measures, as well as legislation addressing the flushing of ballast water that affects shipping through Michigan ports. Nationally, we continue to support Sen. Stabenow’s work as Chairwoman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee to pass the Farm Bill, and to battle those groups working to waive the vital Renewable Fuel Standard. We are also working for clarification on the NRCS wetlands determinations.We hope you are able to join us for the MCGA Annual Meeting as we take time to reflect on the past year, listen to a wide variety of guest speakers, honor individuals and farms for their contributions to Michigan’s corn industry, and elect new members to the board of directors. I look forward to seeing you there!

Jeff Sandborn, MCGA President

Directions to the Event and Parking Information:Address: 111 N. Grand Ave., Lansing, MI 48933

Directions: From 496, take the Grand Ave. exit. Go north on Grand Ave. and the Radisson is located just past the corner of Grand Ave. and Michigan Ave.

Parking: There will be two parking options for attendees. The first option is to pull your vehicle into the Radisson Hotel and have it valet parked. If you do not wish to wait for valet parking, you can continue north on Grand Ave. and park in the North Grand Parking Ramp (A), which will be on your left just past Ottawa St. Both parking options will be complimentary. Please note, for oversized vehicles the preferred parking method is to allow the Radisson to valet park your vehicle.

MCgA members may attend the Annual Meeting free of charge.

Each membership in the MCGA denotes one individual. Non-members may attend at a

cost of $20 per person.

If you are not a member, but would like to vote during the business session and have your voice heard at the Annual Meeting, please contact the MCGA at 1-888-323-

6601 or log onto www.micorn.org to become a member or for more information.

Winter 2012

The Benefits of SponsorshipBeing a sponsor at one of the Michigan Corn Growers

Association’s (MCGA) events is more than just having your logo on a registration form. It’s the opportunity to personally interact with Michigan’s corn farmers and connect with them face to face. Your sponsorship with us will help you to create long-lasting and mutually-beneficial relationships. It will offer your business optimum exposure and an unrivalled opportunity to increase your visibility within Michigan’s agricultural community. We’re excited to share our sponsorship opportunities with you and to help your company spread your brand recognition with our members. We have a number of different sponsorship options available which are designed to fit a variety of marketing strategies and budgets. On February 4, 2013 we are hosting our Annual Meeting which is an excellent venue for you to begin or renew your sponsorship with us. Our sponsorship team would be happy to speak with you about your needs and looks forward to working with you. Please contact us today at 517-668-2676 to plan your sponsorship.

Join Us! Membership in the MCGA connects you to a powerful

network of partners in the agricultural community. It provides your business with a voice both in Michigan and at a federal level and by joining with others you strengthen that voice with our elected officials. As an MCGA member with nearly 1,200 others, you can be confident that your interests are being represented in Michigan and at our nation’s capital. In addition, joining the MCGA gains you dual membership with the National Corn Growers Association which has five full time lobbyists working in Washington D.C. to assure our interests are being represented. If you are already a member we thank you for your commitment to the advancement of Michigan’s corn industry. If you are not a member we urge you to join us!

mcgA mEmbEr bEnEfitsDiscoUnt progrAms

• Worldwide Hotel Discount Program - Savings may exceed 50% and average 10-20% below best available rates on any hotel.

• Auto Owners Insurance - Savings of up to 10% on most policies.

• Cabela’s - A 10% discount on the purchase of Cabela’s gift cards.

• Connect Your Home - Discounted home services and promotional incentives from Dish Network; Protect Your Home – ADT Authorized Dealer; DirecTV; Verizon; Charter; Time Warner Cable and more.

• Dell Products - Significant discounts on many Dell products that includes a lower price on Dimension and Inspiron Computers when compared to the Home & Home Office pricing.

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Leasing - 5% to 10% off rental fees at Enterprise. Members can also lease or purchase vehicles from the Enterprise Fleet Management program with competitive financing and fantastic rates.

• Ford Motor Company - Members are eligible for Ford’s X-Plan vehicle pricing plan which provides reduced prices on dozens of Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

• Growers National Cooperative (GNC) - Members can participate in exclusive benefit opportunities from Hudson Insurance Group and take advantage of other cost-saving programs.

• Office Depot - Receive 15% off on 50 office essentials and the three top-selling case paper products; and 15% off a custom list of the items you buy most often. Free next day shipping on orders over $50.

• Volunteer Energy - Discounted rates on natural gas that average a savings of 5% to 10% per month. There are no contracts and no cancellation fees.

othEr bEnEfits• Exclusive Events - Members have access to events

at no-cost or reduced cost, such as golf outings, Ethanol Night at the Races, the Annual Meeting, National Farm Machinery Show Bus Trip and Commodity Classic.

• Scholarships - Members are eligible for scholarships, including MAEAP, Great Lakes Leadership Academy, the Farm Women’s Symposium and college scholarships for themselves and their children.

• Plant Management Network (PMN) - Through PMN, members receive access to the Focus on Corn webcast resource, journals, trial data and other electronic resources, which provide crop management information to growers.

Featured Guest Speaker: Jerry Cox• 23 Times placed in the National Corn Growers Association competition• 4 First place finishes in the past five years• Place 27 times in their state yield contest• Received the Missouri Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement

Featured Presenter: Dennis Dammen• 40 Years of experience in plant nutrition, crop management & consulting• Preferred agronomist by many of the national yield champions

Dates & Locations:Jan. 8 - Marshall, Schuler’s Restaurant (Note: Jay Myers will be the guest speaker at this seminar)Jan. 9 - Grand Rapids, Quality Inn, 3333 28th Street SE Jan. 10 - West Branch, Quality Inn, 2980 Cook Rd.Jan. 11 - Bay City, DoubleTree Hotel, One Wenonah Park Place

Michigan Crop & Soil Management Seminars

Michigan Pro Ag Team LLC“Increasing Yields and Profits thru more Efficient Farming”Phone: 989.912.0480 • [email protected]

5 RUP and 5 CCA credits available at

each seminar

Winter 2012

Membership Continues to Climb

Our state’s corn growers and industry partners continue to show their devotion to Michigan’s corn industry by their participation in the Michigan Corn Growers Association. Our membership has increased by 15 percent since 2011 and has more than doubled in the past ten years. These increases are particularly impressive as most associations have seen memberships decline during the last decade. Kudos to Michigan’s corn farmers for their commitment to the future!

MCGA Scholarships Now Accepting Applications!The Michigan Corn Growers Association is proud to again offer the availability of its scholarship program in 2013. The

MCGA will award a minimum of two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. Student members, growers, associates and members’ children between the ages of 17 and 25 are qualified to apply. To be eligible applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student at a post-secondary educational institution during the fall 2013 semester. Applications must be received in the MCGA office no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, February 11, 2013. To receive more information and obtain an application, please visit us online at www.micorn.org or call 1-888-323-6601.

The Michigan Corn Growers Association continues to see impressive increases in membership. Since 2007, the number of MCGA members has increased by 88 percent.

MCGA Board of Directors and Staff

District 1 Ed Breitmeyer, Buckley (Chairman)

District 2 Matt Cary, Alma

District 3 Matt Frostic, Applegate Richard Maurer Jr., Harbor Beach

District 4 Tony Igl, Mason Mike Turner, Williamston

District 5 Alvin Ferguson, Allenton (Secretary)

District 6 Kenneth Blaauw, Shelbyville Loren Koeman, Hamilton (Treasurer)

District 7 Jim Gillispie, Concord Ned Wyse, Camden

District 8 Dan Cable, Monroe Phil Gordon, Saline

At-Large Scott Lonier, Lansing (Vice President) Scott Miller, Elsie Jeff Sandborn, Portland (President)

Industry Representatives John DiMartini, The Andersons, Inc. Dr. Kelvin Grant, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

Michigan Corn Growers Association13750 S. Sedona Parkway, Suite 5

Lansing, MI 489061.888.323.6601 • www.micorn.org

County Presidents Clinton Russell Braun, Ovid Hillsdale Mark Kies, Allen Huron Tom Ziel, Pigeon Monroe Brian Kreps, LaSalle Saginaw Don Morse, Birch Run Sanilac Paul Gerstenberger, Snover

Ex-Officios Pat Feldpausch, CMPM President Dr. James Kells, Michigan State University

StaffJim Zook, Executive Director Kay Barclay, Accountant & Office Administrator Dennis Raymo, Communications DirectorNatalie Rector, Research Coordinator Theresa Sisung, Advocacy & Outreach DirectorPenni Sweeney, Membership & Events Coordinator

Winter 2012

NASCAR UpdateAs you know, Michigan Corn hosted a hospitality tent for

more than 60 ag leaders and consumers before the August 19 Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. The appreciation and outreach efforts were directed at the top eight elevators, who collect 60 percent of corn check-off dollars. The tent also included 12 ticket winners from our giveaway on WITL Radio. This allowed us to educate those winners on the importance of ethanol to their life. WITL also produced a live, three-hour trackside remote with Jim being interviewed twice.

In other developments, Michigan Corn will have more impact on the national level as Communications Director Dennis Raymo has been appointed to NCGA’s NASCAR Advisory Committee. Raymo attended the Dec. 11 meeting of the eight-

member group in St. Louis to discuss activations and funding for the 2013 season. The committee then met with representatives from Growth Energy and New Holland to talk about our partnership. While funding is down for next year, many activities are still being planned by the committee, including events at MIS.

Mark Lambert, NCGA Senior Communication Manager, has provided a Power-Point summary of the season that provides information on where funds were directed, how fans are reacting to ethanol awareness campaigns, and a summary of the media exposure received. If you would like to review those details, please contact the Corn Office to request a copy.

Corn Yield Contest WinnersA challenging growing season proved to be no match for the 12 MCGA members who won top state honors in the National

Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest. Supported by the NCGA, the National Corn Yield Contest allows members from across the country to compete against one

another in an attempt to achieve the greatest corn yields in various classes. Michigan’s top honors in the 2012 contest went to:Non-Irrigated Class

• First place – Vic Wolfert of Zeeland, with 263.0 bushels an acre.• Second place – Jay Parr of Brown City, with 261.0 bushels an acre.• Third place – Royal Star Farms of Decatur, with 259.9 bushels an acre.

No-Till/Strip Till Non-Irrigated Class• First place – Amanda Ferguson of Brown City,

with 281.2 bushels an acre.• Second place – Jay Ferguson of Brown City,

with 278.6 bushels an acre.• Third place – Alvin Ferguson of Allenton, with

259.9 bushels an acre.Irrigated Class

• First place – Don Stall of Charlotte, with 331.7 bushels an acre.

• Second place – T Jon Drozd of Allegan, with 300.8 bushels an acre.

• Third place – Jon & Jay Drozd of Allegan, with 291.4 bushels an acre.

No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated Class• First place – Landis Farms of Schoolcraft, with

267.9 bushels an acre.• Second place – Ryan McKenzie of Marcellus,

with 266.5 bushels an acre.• Third place – Jeff Fuller of Fulton, with 263.1

bushels an acre.Congratulations to this year’s winners!

The system that more than 300 world, national and state NCGA champions use.

NRCS CSP Program Points

Your Great Lakes Area Dealer for 36 YearsMember of the Michigan Farm Bureau and

the Michigan Corn Growers Association

Tom Warschefsky Regional Director

[email protected]

• Nitrogen Management• Clear Liquid Fertilizer• Seed Treatments• Biologicals• Soil Analysis• Foliar Feed• Forage Preservatives

Corn - LIA

n FIxIng BACterIA

WheAt - FeAst0-9-18-6s + 28%

Michigan Corn’s hospitality tent at the Pure Michigan 400 in August.

Michigan Corn Growers Association13750 S. Sedona Parkway, Suite 5Lansing, MI 48906

PRST STDU S POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT # 108LANSING MI

You’ve kept your farm equipment up-to-date …n What about your estate?n How much has changed since you set-up your succession plans?n How much of a tax burden are you leaving to the next generation?

Estate Transfer Estate Equalization Covering Debts

www.BaileyFinancialSolutions.com | (866) 773-8383 We look forward to meeting you at the 2013 Annual Meeting!

MCGA Winter 2012 Newsletter

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Transcript of MCGA Winter 2012 Newsletter