NCGA VP Provides Welcome To CUTC

We were welcomed to the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference by NCGA First Vice President, Bob Dickey.

He welcomed everyone and introduced the keynote speaker, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, Tom Dorr, seen here (left) talking to Bob prior to the start of the session. I spoke to Bob before things got going. He says there’s a contingent of foreign visitors here and although he doesn’t have attendance figures yet he’s hoping for a good crowd. I asked him how things were going with corn planting after seeing that we’re finally nearing completion and he said that he’s hoping for a normal amount of heat units during the next couple months. I can understand that with all the rain we’ve been having in the midwest.

I also recorded his welcoming remarks and am posting them for you here too.

Here’s my interview with Bob:

Here’s Bob’s welcoming remarks:

You can find photos of the CUTC in this photo album:
CUTC Photo Album

Getting Started at the CUTC

The 2008 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference is about to begin. The event is being held at the Marriott in downtown Kansas City and I just got in and connected in the media room.

In less than an hour we’ll kick things off with a Keynote Speech by USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Tom Dorr. He’ll be introduced by NCGA First Vice President Bob Dickey. Afterward we’ll all head across the street for the opening reception. I’m going to be recording the opening session to post later this evening.

I’ll also be bringing you stories and interviews from the presentations starting tomorrow and over the next week or so.

UN Exec: Biofuels Part of Solution

From Reuters:

EU Urges Action on Climate Change

The head of the U.N.’s climate agency (UNFCCC) rejected the idea that carbon-cutting biofuels should be banned, after helping drive up food prices by using crops such as corn to make an ethanol alternative to gasoline.

“I think biofuels are a very important part of the solution,” de Boer said.

More Exports Than Ever

Despite all the hue and cry about food shortages, the United States is exporting more corn than ever before.

According to the latest USDA forecast, U.S. agricultural exports are expected to reach a record $108.5 billion for fiscal year 2008. The new numbers represent a $7.5 billion increase from February’s previous record forecast and $26.5 billion above the final 2007 exports. Grains and animal products account for two-thirds of the export gains.

According to Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, “America’s increased export volume in bulk commodities like corn, other animal feeds and soybeans make agriculture the bright spot in the overall balance of trade. U.S. producers are on track to export a record 63 million tons of corn, and set new export volume and value records for pork. Export volumes and values are also up for many horticultural products with sales growth to Canada and the European Union being exceptionally strong.”

One of the biggest export market growth areas is China. U.S. exports to China are forecast to reach a record $10.5 billion, up almost $3.4 billion from 2007 levels.

China will be a topic at the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference this week. Scott Rozelle, a Helen Farnsworth Endowed Professor at Stanford University, will speak about “Corn in China in This Time of Global Uncertainty.”

Rozelle’s presentation will cover China’s trade policy, corn research and development, supply and demand, and more. “As incomes grow, as migrations happen, the demand for meat and other livestock product rises,” Rozelle said. “China just cannot produce the amount of feed it needs, so in the long term China is going to be a really good market.”

Point here is that U.S. corn growers continue to meet the demands of producing food for the world.