Nebraska Corn Board Elects New Officers

The Nebraska Corn Board met and elected officers for the 2016-2017 fiscal year at their board meeting on Tuesday, November 22 at The Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. The board met to conduct regular board business and hold election of officers.

David Merrell, District 7 director for St. Edward, Nebraska, was reelected as chairman of the board. Merrell has been a director on the Nebraska Corn Board since 2006 and will serve his second year as chairman. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanized Agriculture (Mechanized Systems Management). He and his wife, Cyndee, have three children and have been farming for over 20 years around St. Edward located in Boone County, Nebraska.

Merrell said it’s an honor to continue to serve as the chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. “We are fortunate to have farmer leaders and staff members who are extremely dedicated to an industry that is vitally important to our state. I look forward to working with the board, staff and industry leaders to continue the positive momentum of enhancing demand, adding value and ensuring sustainability of Nebraska’s corn industry.”

David Bruntz, District 1 director from Friend, Nebraska, was elected as vice-chairman. Bruntz previously served as the secretary/treasurer and currently serves on the board’s research and stewardship committee.  He has been a director on the Nebraska Corn Board since 2013.

Dennis Gengenbach, District 6 director from Smithfield, Nebraska, was elected as secretary/treasurer. Gengenbach previously served as the vice-chair and currently serves on the board’s market development committee.  He has been a director on the Nebraska Corn Board since 2006.

Tim Scheer, District 5 director from St. Paul, Nebraska, will continue to serve as the past-chairman of the board. Scheer has been a director on the Nebraska Corn Board since 2007.

“Our dedicated farmer-leaders have contributed great time and energy to our industry over the years,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. “Through their passion and leadership in the corn, livestock and ethanol industries, they continue to play a dynamic role in supporting the mission and vision for Nebraska’s 23,000 corn farmers that invest in the corn checkoff.”

Holzfaster Concludes 6-Year Term on National Corn Growers Association

Nebraska Corn Board member, F. Jon Holzfaster, farmer from Paxton, attended his final board of directors meeting for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), bringing a six-year term to a close.

“My time as a board director has broadened my perspective of the agricultural industry. I now take a more worldly view on the effect global events have on agriculture, the vulnerability of our industry and the importance of pushing forward on demand issues; such as new uses, old uses, livestock and ethanol,” said Holzfaster. “These factors play an important role in keeping supply and demand in check and ensuring the value of the products we grow.”

During Holzfaster’s tenure on NCGA’s board, he served as chairman of the NCGA Ethanol Committee and was also an instrumental leader in NCGA’s partnership with Growth Energy to establish E15 as the official racing fuel for NASCAR.

Holzfaster said that his six years spent as a NCGA board director were also six years that he was able to commit to working with the American Ethanol and NASCAR partnership. “It has been phenomenal for me to get to know some of the folks within that sport and understand how not only the entertainment component of NASCAR works, but the marketing component. NASCAR is a marketing monster; and, when you can use that for your industry's benefit, that can be very, very beneficial.”

Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, said that Holzfaster was an influential leader with NCGA’s E15 effort and NASCAR partnership. “Jon’s passion for the industry and commitment to NCGA’s ethanol efforts have played a major role in guiding American Ethanol to become a centerpiece for NASCAR. It has been gratifying to see a Nebraska corn farmer give so much of his time to serve and expand opportunities for our industry.”

The Nebraska Corn Board has supported NCGA with corn checkoff dollars for many years. The board strongly believes that collaboration and strategic partnerships with other like-minded organizations like NCGA make for an even greater impact. Through the continued support of NCGA, Nebraska corn checkoff dollars are leveraged with those of other corn-producing states to create programs and initiatives that are national in scope and impact. From biotech and stewardship education, to high profile consumer and influencer outreach programs; from the American Ethanol NASCAR sponsorship to white papers on critical issues such as trade and biofuels, NCGA provides leadership and partner-building influence to make a difference on a national scale.

“There is great power in our ability to leverage Nebraska corn checkoff dollars with those of other corn states—and it has been extremely rewarding to see this process first-hand on a national level,” said Holzfaster. “Despite the many challenges facing the corn industry today, the phenomenal board and staff at NCGA are able to accomplish amazing things on behalf of the industry.”

“All of us involved in Nebraska agriculture owe Jon Holzfaster a big thank you for his outstanding service and selfless leadership as a National Corn Board director over these past six years,” added Brunkhorst.

Holzfaster operates a third-generation family farm based in Perkins County. He produces corn, popcorn, alfalfa, wheat, soybeans, edible beans and operates a background feed yard. He has been involved with the Nebraska Corn Board since 2003. He is currently the district 8 director and past chairman for the Nebraska Corn Board and has been representing the board as a director on the National Corn Board since 2010. Prior to that, Holzfaster served for six years on the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission.

AUDIO CUTS:

Holzfaster 1 (31 seconds)


Holzfaster 2 (25 seconds)

Home Run Heroes

Photo Credit: Flickr

Since we are in the midst of the World Series competition, we thought it would be fun to compare baseball and corn farming. 

A corn growing season is similar to a baseball game: in the end, everyone wants a home run!

Weather, yields, and commodity prices are unpredictable factors that corn farmers play against year after year. Predicting these factors and outlining a strategy to compete with these volatile factors during the "game" are the steps a corn farmer takes for a chance at a profitable growing season or a “home run” year.

To be successful, a baseball team needs multiple players, with diverse talents but one common goal. The same is true in the corn growing season. The "corn team" is made up of corn growers, seed/chemical companies, grain elevators, ethanol plants, livestock producers, food companies, international trade partners and more. These players are different but all have an essential role on the “team.”

Government and the current policy "umpire" the game, influencing how the crop is grown, where it is exported and how it's used. While sometimes they get in the way, they ultimately are there to keep it fair.

Markets are volatile and act as the "pitcher." Throws can be fast or slow, unsuspected or predicted. No matter what, we as corn team can't control the pitcher so we hit what we can. 

The grain merchandisers act as "catchers," trying to catch what the markets throw and providing everyone else a heads up.

The National Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, and Nebraska Corn Board roles are to serve as the fans. At times, cheering or booing, but always providing insight, educating, and tirelessly promoting the great things their team can do. Being a fan has its challenges, but is not impossible. The fans have passion for their team and passion for the game.  Even when times are hard, they will be there to show their support.

But who's coaching?

The corn farmers are playing multiple roles: they are playing and coaching. Each game- or growing season- corn farmers try to incorporate strategy, react to events of the game, throw out signals and keep the morale up even when it doesn't go their way.

What's more American than baseball and corn farmers? Not a lot. But when it comes down to it, we all just want a home run.

How do we get a home run? Keep coaching. Keep playing. Keep growing. 

Blog submitted by Toni Rasmussen, an attendee of Nebraska Corn Board's Corn Congress Leadership Mission.

Shelby Field Day Features Soil Health

On September 7, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), in conjunction with the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA), hosted a field day in Shelby, Nebraska, highlighting the Soil Health Partnership. Farmers, land owners and community members had an opportunity to engage in hands-on learning and group discussions around the topic of soil health.

The field day took place at two locations. During the morning, attendees gathered at Central Valley Ag in Shelby for group discussions. Here, staff with the Soil Health Partnership showcased how changing nutrient management and tillage strategies, along with cover crop adoption, can create lasting environmental and economic benefits. The afternoon was spent on Greg Whitmore’s farm where attendees had the opportunity to take part in hands-on field demonstrations, including a soil pit for participants to observe cover crop root growth and soil properties. Whitmore, a farmer from Shelby Nebraska and vice chair of Nebraska Corn’s research and stewardship committee, has been involved in the partnership for three years.

“The Soil Health Partnership has been a great program to help bring awareness to the importance and benefits of soil health,” said Whitmore. “As a farmer, I have a strong interest in not only achieving good yields, but also in sustaining the productivity of my land for future generations. This program has taught me that improving the health of my soil can help with both of these objectives.”

The soil health field day covered a variety of topics, including a discussion on practical methods to improving soil health and what a soil health test really tells you. Cover crops were also discussed—digging into why they are important, the variety of cover crops that can be used and how cover crops improve the health of the soil. As more farmers seek innovative practices to change the way they care for their land, the Soil Health Partnership aims to bring farmers and experts together to share information and resources on these topics on a local level.

 “Implementing practices to improve soil health can have numerous benefits including preventing nutrient loss and erosion, and improving soil structure,” said Boone McAfee, director of research at NCB. “Farmers are our best ambassadors for sharing these soil health practices and encouraging adoption among their peers.”

Nebraska Corn is encouraging farmers to consider becoming involved in the Soil Health Partnership. If you are interested in learning how to use innovative soil management strategies and would like to become one of the Soil Health Partnership’s demonstration farms, contact the Nebraska Corn Board office.

About the Soil Health Partnership 
The Soil Health Partnership brings together diverse partner organizations including commodity groups, federal agencies, universities and environmental groups to work toward the common goal of improving soil health. Over a period of at least 10 years, the SHP will identify, test and measure farm management practices that improve soil health and benefit farmers. We believe the results of this farmer-led project will provide a platform for sharing peer-to-peer information, and lend resources to benefit agricultural sustainability and profitability. An initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, we provide the spark for greater understanding and implementation of agricultural best practices to protect resources for future generations. For more, visit soilhealthpartnership.org.

Support For Atrazine Crops Up At Husker Harvest Days

Husker Harvest Days goers and elected officials alike showed their support for atrazine during the 2016 Husker Harvest Days show. Visitors to Nebraska Corn's booth in the agriculture commodities building were invited to fight back against the Environmental Protection Agency's recent proposal to drastically limit the amount of atrazine farmers can apply to their fields. Nearly 1,000 signatures were collected on Fight EPA petitions, showing support for Nebraska farmers.

Fight EPA postcards also hit farm mailboxes across the state earlier this month. Please join the fight. Make your voice heard by returning one of these cards to Nebraska Corn, or sign the online petition at www.fightepa.com.

Photo Caption: Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed a Fight EPA petition while visiting the Nebraska Corn booth on September 14th at Husker Harvest Days.

Nebraska Corn Board Welcomes Bentzinger on Staff

The Nebraska Corn Board is pleased to announce that Nikki Bentzinger has joined its team as the staff assistant on June 20.

In this role, Bentzinger will work on behalf of Nebraska corn farmers and industry to help plan, organize and coordinate the Corn Board’s presence at the Nebraska State Fair, Husker Harvest Days, River City Rodeo, ethanol promotions and many other events across the state. She will work alongside the other members of the Corn Board staff as well as outside vendors and contractors to ensure project deadlines are met and contracts are fulfilled. Bentzinger will also design and coordinate the production of various online and written promotional materials.

“We are happy to welcome Nikki to the Nebraska Corn team,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, Nebraska Corn Board’s executive director. “With her many years of experience at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, in addition to her diverse agriculture background, she has an extensive understanding of the industry and will be a great asset to the team.”

Bentzinger grew up near Odell, Nebraska, where she had an active role in helping her grandparents with their livestock operation. She earned her associates degree from Lincoln School of Commerce in 2003. She began her career as a Loan Processer at Lincoln Federal Savings Bank. In 2007, Bentzinger decided to make a move to the agricultural industry and took on a role with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture in the Animal Health division. Bentzinger and her husband Corey have two young boys and currently live on the family farm near Hickman, Nebraska where they grow corn and soybeans.

“Agriculture has always been a big part of my life, and I am excited to continue my career in the industry by joining the Nebraska Corn staff,” said Bentzinger. “I look forward to working closely with the staff and board members to serve on behalf of Nebraska’s 23,000 corn farmers.” 

From Dirt Roads to Downtown

By Morgan Schilling, NCB office intern, Lincoln, Nebraska.

            As I exited the state office building after my first official day of my internship with the Nebraska Corn Board, numerous feelings rushed throughout my head.  I felt eager, passionate, and a little intimidated as I walked past the state capitol building on the way to my pickup.  Coming from a farm and ranch south of McCook, NE, I am used to walking through fields of corn and checking cattle on grass, not maneuvering my way through a crowd of suited businessmen.

           

I’m honored to have received the opportunity to be a staff member in the Nebraska Corn Board office in Lincoln.  Even though my internship has been a much different experience than I’m used to, I am enjoying it greatly and find it a tremendous opportunity to observe what all goes into the agriculture industry besides just the nitty-gritty hands on work that I’m used to.

           

As the market development and communications intern, I have been able to help with many of the Corn Board’s promotional activities.  I participated in my first American Ethanol promotion a couple of weeks ago.  During this event, we sold E85 fuel for $0.85 for three hours at the Sapp Bros. fueling station in Omaha.  It was great to talk to the general public about the many benefits of American Ethanol, especially noting the positive impact it has on the environment.  I also have traveled to the Children’s Groundwater Festival in Grand Island and to Werner Park in Omaha for their ag night.  At both of these events, we conversed with the public about how Nebraska corn affects their daily lives and how it plays a huge role in our state’s economy.

As a continuous project throughout my internship, I will be helping update the corn board’s social media networks with current issues and topics.  These topics include the state’s current crop progress, E-Agletter’s, E-agUpdates, and blogs.  By doing this, the public can get a better understanding of Nebraska corn and can also learn about topics and issues they may have not been aware of.

As a Nebraska Corn Board intern, I want to leave a lasting impact on not only the corn board, but also on people’s understanding of agriculture and the corn industry.  To accomplish this, I have created a video series, titled “The Journey”, which will follow Nebraska corn from seed to product.  I feel that this will be a great way to connect with people and share new aspects of Nebraska corn and how it has an impact on the state.

I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Nebraska Corn Board team and I am anticipating a great time during the remainder of my internship.  I look forward to making some lasting connections with people not only in my home state, but also across the entire country.

Farm Women Ascend to Leadership Positions in Corn Organizations

Farm women are taking their place with their male counterparts to lead the corn industry in times of challenge and opportunity. A few examples include:

Debbie Borg, an Allen, Nebraska farmer, was appointed as District 4 director on the Nebraska Corn Board in 2013. She serves as chair of the Nebraska Corn Board's research committee and is a member of the Grower Services Action Team of the National Corn Growers Association. She also served as a director on the Nebraska Soybean Association for 9 years. "Farmers--both men and women--need to use their skill set to show the nation and the world how we care about our land, our livestock and our crops, and the people we are producing food, fiber, and fuel for," Debbie said. "According to credible statistics, women account for almost 85 percent of consumer spending in our country. Just by virtue of our gender, that means women in agriculture have a natural connection to the consumer, which gives us an urgent mission to share the positive story of agriculture in the consumer marketplace."

Deb Gangwish, a Shelton, Nebraska farmer, is the first woman in the Nebraska Corn Growers Association to be appointed to the board of directors since the organization was formed in 1972. Deb is a member of the current LEAD class and has recently challenged herself to becoming an even more active and involved advocate for agriculture in Nebraska. "I'm very excited to be engaged in agriculture at this level and I look forward to working with my fellow board members and other ag advocates to create opportunities for Nebraska's corn farmers," she said.

Pam Johnson, a Floyd, Iowa farmer, served as the first female president of the National Corn Growers Association during 2012-13. In that capacity she became the chief national spokesperson for America's corn farmers, testifying at Congressional hearings and representing the corn industry on national councils, organizations and initiatives. Prior to becoming NCGA president, Pam held a number of leadership and committee positions at the state and national levels.

One last look at my time as the NCB Intern

Exactly one year ago I was going through the training process for my internship. Morgan Zumpfe, the previous intern, did such a great job teaching me all about what the internship entailed and all of the duties that I would have for the upcoming year. Also during my time with Morgan, we attended the Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival in Grand Island, and taught Nebraska 4th graders about the importance of water to growing corn. Now, one year later, I have switched roles and am now training Morgan Schilling, who will be replacing me beginning this week as the new Nebraska Corn Board Intern. I know he will be a great addition to the Corn Board team.

During the past year, this internship has allowed me to learn so much about the agricultural industry. Attending ethanol promotions, traveling to Commodity Classic, going on the Nebraska Agribusiness Club Tour, and being a sponsor at Frog Fest were just a few of the highlights of my internship. Through all of my experiences, I have truly grown as an individual. Coming into this internship as a freshman with only one year of college under my belt, I was a little nervous about having an internship so soon, but I am so thankful that the staff at the Corn Board allowed me to have this great opportunity. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined, and this truly was a growing experience over the past year. Although I am sad that my time here has come to an end, I am so excited to see Morgan take over.

I want to extend my thanks especially to the Corn Board staff. These staff members have been there for me from day one, and have been the main reason of why I have enjoyed this internship so much. I can't think of a better group of individuals to come to work with each and every day. You will all truly be missed. Also, I want to thank all Nebraska corn farmers for their continuous support. It is your support that allows students like myself to attain these internships. It is internships like this that grow and develop our next generation of agricultural leaders.

Nebraska Corn Board Welcomes Roger Berry on Staff

The NebraskaCorn Board is pleased to announce that Roger Berry has joined its staff as the Director of Market Development on October 5.

In this role, Berry will work on behalf of Nebraska corn farmers and industry to coordinate all facets of market development projects to increase demand for Nebraska corn and value-added products. He will work to establish relationships with state, national and international organizations and cooperators to expand market development opportunities both domestically and internationally. Berry will also coordinate educational and promotional activities of corn and value-added corn products such as biofuels, distillers’ grains and the Nebraska Corn Board’s support of red meat, dairy, poultry and livestock expansion. Along with these responsibilities, he will monitor issues between farm gate and retails, such as transportation and consumer attitudes.

“Roger is a great addition to our staff and we are pleased to welcome him to Nebraska Corn,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. "He has an extensive background and thorough understanding of the agricultural industry, making him well qualified to lead our market development efforts. With market development as a key pillar of the Nebraska corn checkoff, I look forward to Roger leading and expanding our efforts.”


A native of Red Cloud, Nebraska, Berry is a graduate of Southeast Community College and of Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education/Action Development) Program, LEAD 19. Before beginning his career in agricultural leadership, Berry was engaged in full-time farming and livestock production for 12 years near Farnam, Nebraska. When he transitioned into agricultural leadership, he served as the central district director of member services for the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation before becoming the field director for the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-FAN). He then became the vice president of membership at Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation. 


“Working in agriculture has always been my passion, and it’s truly an honor to join the Nebraska Corn Board staff and work on behalf of the industry,” said Berry. “I look forward to working with Nebraska’s corn farmers and industry partners around the world to expand new and existing markets and increase demand for Nebraska corn and value-added products.” 

Strategic Research Survey

In an effort to be more strategic in prioritizing the research funded by the Nebraska Corn Checkoff Program, the Nebraska Corn Board is asking for your assistance in identifying the issues that hold the most importance to Nebraska farmers.

As the first step in focusing research funding, the Board would like to ensure that no issues impacting your profitability have been overlooked – including opportunities for increasing demand.  Please take a moment to complete this anonymous survey by selecting the level of importance each issue has in terms of value to your farm and your profitability over the next 10 years.  The survey is only 11 questions and we expect it will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

While our first priority is to hear from farmers, we welcome feedback from others with valuable input (e.g. crop consultants, extension educators, etc.).  To participate, please click on the following link:  

Nebraska Corn Board Research Strategy Survey

This survey will be open through Wednesday, September 30. The Nebraska Corn Board appreciates your assistance in helping us capture the greatest value from your checkoff investment in research.

Nebraska Corn Board Elects New Officers

The NebraskaCorn Board met and elected officers for the 2015-2016 fiscal year at their board meeting on Monday, August 31 at The Embassy Suites Hotel in Lincoln. The board met to conduct regular board business and hold election of officers.

David Merrell, District 7 director from St. Edward, Nebraska, was elected chairman.  Merrell previously served as the vice-chairman of the board and has been a director on the Nebraska Corn Board since 2006. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanized Agriculture (Biological Systems Management). He and his wife, Cyndee, have three children and have been farming for over 20 years around St. Edward, located in Boone County, Nebraska.

Dennis Gengenbach, District 6 director from Smithfield, Nebraska, was elected vice chairman. Gengenbach previously served as the secretary/treasurer and was chair of the board’s biofuels committee.  He has been a director on the Nebraska Corn Board since 2006.

David Bruntz, District 1 director from Friend, Nebraska, was elected secretary/treasurer. Bruntz previously served on the board’s biofuels committee and has been a director on the Nebraska Corn Board since 2013.

Tim Scheer, District 5 director from St. Paul, Nebraska, will now serve as the past-chairman of the board. Scheer has been a director on the Nebraska Corn Board since 2007.

“It’s an honor to be elected chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board,” said Merrell.  “This organization represents an industry that is vitally important to our state and we are fortunate to have farmer leaders and staff members who are extremely dedicated to it. I look forward to working with the board, staff and industry leaders to continue the positive momentum of Nebraska’s corn industry in the areas of market development, research, promotion and education.”

“On behalf of the board, I want to thank Tim for his dedication and efforts over the past years of serving as chairman and Alan Tiemann for serving as past-chairman,” added Merrell. “Both of these farmer leaders have contributed substantial time, shown great commitment, and brought innovative ideas to our industry over the last three years.”

Nebraskan, Alan Tiemann Elected Chairman of U.S. Grains Council

Nebraska Corn Board member Alan Tiemann, a farmer from Seward, Nebraska, was elected chairman of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) at the organization’s 55^th annual board of delegates meeting in Montreal, Canada. Tiemann served as USGC vice-chairman over the previous year.

“I have enjoyed addressing issues and helping open markets for the Grains Council over the past few years and look forward to continuing those efforts on behalf of our industry,” said Tiemann.

In his first speech to USGC delegates as chairman, Tiemann said, “Markets don’t just happen, we have to work to make them happen. The U.S. Grains Council has been successfully doing that for more than 55 years and has developed a level of excellence in its work that I want to focus on this year.”

“Although most corn grown in Nebraska is used right here in our state for livestock and ethanol, we still have a lot at stake when it comes to exports,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. “As the old saying goes, the last bushel of corn sets the price. The work that the USGC completes around the world is very valuable to Nebraska’s corn and ethanol producers.”

The Nebraska Corn Board believes strongly in USGC’s mission and has supported the organization with corn checkoff dollars since 1979. USGC strives to develop export markets around the world and has offices in more than 50 countries. With 95% of the world’s population outside of the U. S. and that population projected to grow to 9 billion by 2050, USGC is working hard to teach producers around the world how to use feed grains effectively and manage their operations efficiently.

“That is why our theme this year is Excellence in Exports. I have found the Council displays excellence in its membership, its global staff team, the relationships it fosters, the collaboration it has with its partners and its dedication to export markets. All these areas have been key in making the Council the successful organization it is today,” added Tiemann.

Tiemann farms near Seward and has spent more than 35 years in production agriculture. He serves as the at-large director and past chairman for the Nebraska Corn Board. Tiemann has been a delegate from the Nebraska Corn Board to the USGC since 2005. Prior to that, Tiemann served as a delegate to USGC from the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board for a number of years.

Continuing the Conversations of Nebraska Corn

For the past few weeks, I have kept very busy in and out of the Nebraska Corn Board Office. I am really enjoying the projects I have been working on, and the events I have been able to attend. On a weekly basis, I have been posting crop progress updates Tuesday's, and on Friday's I post a #FunFactFriday info-graphic that I have designed for the week. I have found that the info-graphics are a great hit and they are a wonderful way to share the message of the Nebraska Corn Board through social media.

As my internship continues to fly by, I am constantly learning more about the corn industry and becoming a better communicator through the process. Not only have I been busy in the office, but I have been out of the office on many occasions as well. Below are some photos of events I have attended along with projects I have been working on...

On June 28, I was able to attend the I-80 Ethanol Night at the Races in Ashland, NE with Sam, the Corn Growers Intern and Victoria, a Corn and Soy Mentor. This was such a great experience being able to promote ethanol at this fun event.

On July 8, I traveled to Omaha, NE for a Storm Chasers baseball game, and the theme for the night was "Ag Night." I met up with Morgan, from the Corn Growers Association and Emily, a Corn and Soy Mentor. I had many great conversations with consumers about the corn industry, and received many great questions regarding ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard. It was rewarding being able to share my knowledge of the corn industry with those who aren't around agriculture on a day-to-day basis.

On July 9, I attended the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute Career Fair on UNL's East Campus. I spoke with high school students from all over the state about opportunities with the Nebraska Corn Board such as internships and scholarships. Since I was in these student's shoes just one year ago, I was able to have such great conversations with them.

Greetings from Denver!

By Kaydee Caldwell, US Meat Export Federation Intern

My name is Kaydee Caldwell; I’m a 5^th generation cattle producer and avid beef eater. I’m going into my junior year at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a major in Animal Science. This summer I am spending my time in Denver, CO at the U.S. Meat Export Federation through a partnership with the Nebraska Corn Board. Being a producer I have been trying to gain knowledge on what happens after my cattle leave our pastures and enter the feed yards to be finished out. Where does the end product go? Of course the grocery stores, but OUR beef is sent all around the world, and people LOVE it! I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be working with the Meat Export Federation so I can fully grasp the trade concepts as well as what I, as a producer, can do to make our exports even stronger and more sought after.

 I moved to Denver the 11^th of May and started working on the 12^th. I take the Denver Light Rail to and from work every day, which is pretty handy! It really hasn’t been too hard adjusting to getting through the city; the hardest part is not being able to see pastures of cattle or cornfields! 

I’ve had a few adventures since starting. My second week at work USMEF flew me down to San Antonio, TX for their Board of Directors meeting. I got to walk along the River Walk, eat at NAO, dine at Texas Land & Cattle AND find out what happens when your car keys get lost in a different state! It was a great week listening to numerous industry leaders and having great discussions with members of the international offices. I had a great chat about Beta Agonists with a representative from the EU.

My project for the summer while at USMEF is to compile a pork cuts book that targets the international markets. I’ve contacted our international offices, lined up a photo shoot with a packing plant and photographer and will be going to Guymon, OK next week to get the photos done for the book!

The staff here in Denver is amazing, there’s quite

a few in the office that have really helped me to adjust to living in Denver and helped me through some stressful times, mostly losing my keys in San Antonio. I am truly thankful for the experience and having the opportunity to work with some VERY amazing people. I can’t wait to see what I learn throughout the summer, there’s a lot of knowledge in this office and I plan on absorbing as much of their wisdom as I can.

Now for some fun pictures!

This is my office farm, I have a cow, pig, chicken, steer and owl. 

I have taken up indoor sky diving and it is VERY fun, scary, but fun. 

I was also very excited to find out there is such a thing as a S’mores frappucino!

Nebraska Corn Farmers’ Frustration with EPA Continues Following Biofuels Requirement Release

After a very lengthy deferment, Nebraska corn farmers are frustrated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent release of the proposed 2015 and 2016 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) figures. Once again the EPA reveals their flawed tactics in implementing the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by proposing to cut the corn ethanol obligation. EPA proposes to adjust the conventional biofuel requirements in the RFS passed by Congress downward by more than 1.5 billion gallons.

“It is disappointing to see the methodology behind this long overdue proposal. EPA is continuing to play into the hands of the oil industry,” said Tim Scheer, farmer from St. Paul, Nebraska and Chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. "Family farmers have responded to ethanol demand by using technology to produce larger crops and grow more with less. Yet, the EPA still chose to side with the oil industry and decrease the RFS levels, ignoring the fact that American farmers can easily supply enough corn to meet the RFS requirements previously set forth.”

The long-awaited 2015 and 2016 RFS proposals increase the overall use of biofuels over the two-year period; however, the levels are below what Congress had mandated in the original legislation. The proposed RVO level for conventional ethanol in 2015 is 13.4 billion gallons and 14.0 billion gallons for 2016.  Nevertheless, congressional statue dictates that RVO levels for both 2015 and 2016 should be at 15 billion gallons. 
These proposed figures represent nearly 1 billion bushels in lost corn demand and 8.5 million tons of distillers grains (DG) that the livestock industry will not have access to.

“All the work and investment that Nebraska corn and livestock farmers have put into building the ethanol industry is at risk. We've already seen corn prices drift at or below the cost of production and cutting the use of corn for ethanol could drive prices even lower. This decision could also idle capacity and restrict access to the distillers grain market for the livestock sector,” Scheer added.

The RFS is one of our nation’s most successful energy programs and is working exactly as designed. It has reduced greenhouse gas emissions, decreased our reliance on foreign oil, lowered gasoline prices for consumers, increased economic stability in rural American and spurred innovation in advanced and cellulosic biofuels.

"It might be expected that farmers would be frustrated about this, but every American should be upset as well," said Larry Mussack, farmer from Decatur, Nebraska and President of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. "The RFS is federal policy that has been very beneficial to our country, and there is no reason we should not stay on course to increase the diversity of our nation's transportation fuel supply and help keep down costs at the pump.”

Mussack also added, “American farmers and consumers were promised the opportunity to utilize an American-made, cleaner, renewable alternative to oil. This proposal not only ignores that agreement, but diminishes the cost-saving options that ethanol provides in the marketplace for consumers.”


Once the proposal has been posted to the Federal Register, comments will be accepted with the EPA planning to issue the final volume requirements in November, 2015.

International Internship in Panama

By Greg Sullivan, USGC International Intern, Panama City, Panama.

Hola from Panamá! My name is Greg Sullivan and I am currently finishing up a Masters degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Agribusiness at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In order to further my educational pursuits and capitalize on previous learning I found it pertinent to seek out an opportunity abroad in order to gain a better understanding of the global nature and reach of American agriculture. Fortunately, the Nebraska Corn Board has assisted me in this effort by selecting me to represent you and the rest of the Nebraska corn producers at the U.S. Grains Council’s regional headquarters here in Panamá City.

So far the work has consisted of getting up to speed on trends in regional markets and educating myself on the USGC strategies for the remainder of the 2015 marketing year. Nebraska producers should be delighted to hear that there is a strong drive to increase DDGS (among other grains/feed ingredients) usage in the region by educating marketers and business on the cost-effectiveness of their usage in feed rations, the quality of the ingredient, and the efficiency of the supply chain from the American producer to the regional consumer. These efforts will ultimately culminate in a USGC sponsored regional buyers conference to be held in Medellín, Colombia this July.

Outside of the office, adapting to life in Panamá has been relatively smooth and easy going. In fact, up to this point I can’t think of much that I don’t like about the country.  The language barrier is certainly an obstacle that needs to be overcome, but the occasional Spanish lesson and daily interaction with strangers should help knock it down fairly quickly. Most of the populace is bilingual to some extent in part due to the reliance of the economy on tourism and trade. The extent of that dual dependence helped create a Panamanian culture that is certainly an anomaly in the Latin American world. With a heavy concentration of businesses relating to international trade and the use/expansion of the Canal (a walkthrough of the expansion is pictured above) the country has become somewhat of a cultural melting pot. The Latin American culture is certainly prevalent, but it is not as overwhelming as it is in other Central and South American countries. This melting pot culture was summated perfectly by a recent volunteer opportunity in which I partook at a well-known local food establishment – Quesos Chela (which was recently featured on the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods). The event (picture below) was organized to promote the arts and highlight child labor as an irresponsible business and humanitarian practice. And while the primary beneficiaries were indigenous Panamanian children, the volunteers hailed from Venezuelan, Colombian, Panamanian, Chinese-Panamanian, and American backgrounds. It was a perfect microcosm of my experience so far, a genuine experience that involved individuals from multiple backgrounds working together towards a common cause.

It has barely been two weeks, but the time here has flown by and has been nothing short of memorable. I can only imagine what the next few months have in store.

2015 Nebraska Corn Interns Announced

Seven Nebraska Students Selected to Represent Nebraska Corn in Internships

(Left-Right): Amanda Clymer, Emily Scholting, Greg Sullivan, Megan Hamling
and Kaydee Caldwell.  Not pictured: Samantha Schneider and Glen Ready.

The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) are proud to support seven college students as interns starting this summer, including an international internship.

NCB will once again partner with the U.S. Grains Council to host an international student intern in their regional office of Panama City, Panama. Four of the other six internships will be hosted by national cooperators of Nebraska Corn: National Corn Growers Association in St. Louis, Missouri and Washington, D.C., the U.S. Grains Council in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Meat Export Federation in Denver, Colorado. The last two internships will be held in the Nebraska Corn offices in Lincoln and will be year-long internships.

“Nebraska Corn’s internship program has been engaging students for over 20 years, and year after year, we continue to hit homeruns, finding excellent students to fill the various internship opportunities,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, Executive Director for the Nebraska Corn Board. “We are thrilled to be able to offer our future agricultural leaders these great internship opportunities.”

“We have very high expectations for these interns. Nebraskans should be very proud of our collegiate candidates who apply for these internships and go on to excel in agricultural focused careers," added Brunkhorst.

Below is a listing of students who were selected for this year's internships and a short description of what they'll be experiencing. You can keep up with many of these students and their experiences throughout the summer on our blog under the tag: Interns 2015.

The NCB office in Lincoln is excited to welcome Megan Hamling of Garland, Nebraska, for a year-long internship. Megan will be a sophomore in agriculture business with a minor in communications and leadership at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. As part of her internship, she will oversee crop progress report placement, contribute to communication and outreach programs and help with education and promotion activities.

The NeCGA office in Lincoln is happy to welcome Samantha Schneider of Cozad, Nebraska, for a year-long internship, supported by DuPont-Pioneer. Samantha will be a senior in agricultural journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She will oversee NeCGA’s online communications as well as contribute to a variety of communication and outreach projects.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) office in Washington, D.C. will host Glen Ready of Scribner, Nebraska, as their summer intern supported by a partnership between NCB and NCGA. Glen will be a senior in agricultural economics with an emphasis in public policy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He will be involved with a variety of agricultural issues related to environmental regulations, transportation, free trade agreements, biotechnology, ethanol, and energy.

The National Corn Growers Association headquarters office in St. Louis, Missouri, will host Emily Scholting of Springfield, Nebraska, as their summer intern supported by a partnership between NCB and NCGA. Emily will be a senior in political science with an emphasis in pre-law at Nebraska Wesleyan University. She will be assisting with production and stewardship projects, as well as participating in committee meetings and policy issues.

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) will host Amanda Clymer of David City, Nebraska, as their summer intern supported by a partnership between NCB and USGC. Amanda is a junior in agricultural economics with a minor in entrepreneurship and leadership at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She will be working with the global programs team and assisting with preparation for international trade teams and other market development programs that help to develop demand for U.S. coarse grains and co-products. 

The U.S. Grains Council will host their second international intern, Greg Sullivan from Omaha, Nebraska, in Panama City, Panama, in cooperation with NCB. Greg earned bachelors in psychology from St. John’s University (Minnesota) and is currently working on his masters in agricultural business at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He will be working on issues related to global trade in food and agricultural products, assisting with communication to importers and working on the upcoming USGC Regional Buyers Conference in Medellin, Colombia, July 7-8, 2015.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) will host Kaydee Caldwell of Edgar, Nebraska, as their summer intern supported by a partnership between NCB and USMEF. Kaydee is a junior in animal science with a management and reproduction option from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She will be assisting with beef, pork and lamb specific projects, as well as promotions and international relationship opportunities.