On Thursday, June 30, 2011, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency revised its prevented planting policy for farmers in parts of the prairie pothole region due to flooding.

United States Senator John Thune of South Dakota led the charge for his home state as his request for a change in federal prevented planting policy was approved. The change in policy would extend the preventive planting rule from three to four years making most producers eligible again in 2012 in case another round of flooding occurs. 

“After enduring another extremely wet spring planting season, producers in Northeastern South Dakota have not been able to plant tens of thousands of acres to corn, soybeans and other crops for the third consecutive year,” said Thune. “I applaud RMA’s modifying this policy change from what was originally proposed to ensure that producers in this region will be eligible for another year of crop insurance prevented planting assistance on otherwise ineligible acreage in 2012.

For a little history on this matter, in 2010, RMA proposed to change its policy on prevented planting eligibility due to parcels that were consistently enrolled year after year. A three-year window was announced to give farmers an opportunity to produce a quality crop in order to remain eligible for prevented planting in case of a natural disaster like flooding. Thune’s request came after South Dakota and other neighboring states experienced continued unusual weather patterns that have been disrupting the plantings of otherwise quality farm land. This additional year of coverage would qualify 250,000 additional acres in Northeastern South Dakota next year alone, providing much needed relief.   

“We appreciate Senator Thune pressuring USDA and RMA to consider using 2008 planted acres when determining eligibility for prevented planting in the 2012 crop year,” said Lisa Richardson, executive director of South Dakota Corn Growers Association. “Prevented planting coverage is critical to keeping many farming operations with spring-planted crops in Eastern South Dakota in business when they are unable to plant and harvest a crop.”

Knee high by the 4^th of July…or so the old saying goes. The old “knee high” adage meant that if your corn reached the height of your knee by Independence Day, your crop was on track and you were expected to have a good year. Whether that’s still true or not is up in the air but it seems that in more recent years the corn has been around waist high or better, which is definitely not the case this year.

While this measuring tool is still used by some, the height is hoped for by many as South Dakota and many other Midwest states have been severely dampened by excess rain falls throughout the spring and early summer. Late plantings, poor field conditions and a lack of sunshine have put crop progress behind the previous and five-year averages.

As I stand around six foot tall, my knee measures to be 21 inches high and the corn in the picture above (taken within the Sioux Falls city limits) measured to be about 27 inches, twice the size of the statewide average of 13inches as of June 26^th. South Dakota’s corn crop is currently 8 inches behind the five-year average of 21 inches (exactly knee high).

Those growing seasons figured in the five year average have produced four of the top five record corn harvests in South Dakota. Perhaps there is something to the “knee high” saying after all…

Let’s pray for sunshine and drier weather as we near our nation’s birthday giving our corn fields an opportunity to catch up and become the next bumper crop.

The Environmental Protection Agency approved a fuel pump label today for the blend E15 (15% ethanol and 85% gasoline), that the agency had declared safe for vehicles 2001 or newer back in January of this year.

The work on approving the E15 blend for non-flex fuel vehicles has been an ongoing ordeal for quite some time but progress continues to be made with the label finally being approved making the blend closer to a reality in the marketplace.

While the E15 label isn’t perfect, South Dakota Corn Growers Association President, Gary Duffy feels that it is a definite improvement from previous drafts.

“We feel that the language, ‘may cause damage’ and orange color of the label doesn’t necessarily represent the fuel in positive light,” said Duffy. “But as an organization, we are happy to see the EPA use industry recommendations and we support the use of the label in the marketplace.”

Gaining additional access to the marketplace will be a giant step for the ethanol industry who has been up against a blend wall for decades as oil companies have maintained a comfortable 90% gasoline mandate in the United States. Studies show that the E15 blend will create over 100,000 additional green jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40 million tons of CO2 per year and improve the countries’ overall energy security.

“We’re already reducing our dependence on foreign oil with our current ethanol production and E15 will only progress our country down the path of energy independence,” added Duffy.

Corn Comments Podcast with Jim Woster

Have lunch on us and get gas at DakotaFest in Mitchell, SD August 16-18. That’s right, with a new 3 year or lifetime membership with the South Dakota Corn Growers Association you will receive a Free Ticket to DakotaFest, one Free lunch at DakotaFest and $25 worth of ethanol certificates for your travels. Sign up today by calling the South Dakota Corn office at 605-334-0100.

Learn more about the many other SDCGA membership incentives and the importance of becoming a member.

Farmers, ag industry representatives and golf enthusiasts will all make their way to the Spring Creek Country Club in Harrisburg, South Dakota tomorrow, June 23rd for the 20^th Annual Corn Cob Open. The Corn Cob Open hosted by the South Dakota Corn Growers Association has turned into a premier golf event as more than 400 golfers will gather for industry networking and best-ball play.

 “This event allows businessmen, producers and SDCGA members the opportunity to come together, relax and enjoy a great day of golf while catching up with old friends,” said Gary Duffy, SDCGA president.

A fantastic meal and prizes including Blu-Ray players, iPods, GPS systems and get-away packages will be awarded following both the morning and afternoon flights.

The most notable prizes include a 2011 flex fuel vehicle (valued at $30,000), Nike SUMO irons, Panasonic 32” LCD TV and a $500 VISA Gift Card for those who are fortunate enough to sink a hole-in-one shot on holes 11, 6, 8 or 17 sponsored by Hefty Seed Company.

 “The Corn Cob Open has a reputation of never sending golfers home empty handed or without a great set of memories,” said Duffy. “Of course this outstanding event would not be possible without the support of our agricultural industry friends.”

The premier event sponsor for the 2011 Corn Cob Open is Pioneer, and Monsanto is sponsoring the golf carts. Green sponsors include the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, Raven Industries and First Dakota National Bank. Central Farmers Cooperative will be sponsoring the beverage carts.

This year’s event is completely booked so be sure to contact Kelly at the South Dakota Corn office to reserve your spot for next year.

Providing honest answers with sound science backing might not be the norm in Washington D.C., but it’s what the Corn Farmers Coalition brings to the capitol for the third year in row. 

The Corn Farmers Coalition is an alliance between the National Corn Growers Association and 14 state organizations which seek to educate policy-makers in Washington about how innovative farmers are growing more corn every year with fewer resources while protecting the environment. Real messages from real farmers aimed directly at our nation’s congressmen and women.

The campaign which was kicked off earlier this month will run until the end of July and includes signs like the one above sharing important messages with facts about today’s farmers. The campaign includes “station saturation” in the D.C. Metro meaning that every ad is part of the Corn Farmers Coalition. The media mix also includes Union Station, Capitol Hill publications, websites, radio and Reagan National Airport.

“This is a great opportunity for farmers to proactively tell their story to not just America’s politicians but also to the millions of consumers who either live or travel through our nation’s capitol,” said Chad Blindauer, President of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council.

You can view all of the CFC ads by clicking here.