NCGA Participates in Renewable Fuels Summit (8-8-06)

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett emphasized corn will play a prominent role in reducing the nation’s dependence on oil at last week’s renewable fuels summit and exposition held by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa., 8th district). Doggett also reminded the audience corn growers will be able to provide feed, food and fiber for the world.

“This event was a wonderful opportunity to discuss corn, ethanol and agriculture issues to a new audience,” said Doggett. “It is critical to educate communities that are not always heavily involved in farm programs and policies. This event gave us the opportunity to let them know how important agriculture is to the entire nation and not just rural America.”

Doggett spoke on corn growers’ role in building the ethanol industry and how growers have every intention of doing their part to help the nation reach President George W. Bush’s goal of replacing more than 75 percent of U.S. oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. Doggett also discussed the ongoing question of whether ethanol will lead us to energy independence and will there be enough corn.

“Ethanol made from homegrown crops such as those grown here in Pennsylvania is lifting the prospect of renewable fuels being a critical player in reducing this country’s dangerous addiction to foreign oil,” Doggett said at the event. “Just last season, the 8th District of Pennsylvania produced 1.5 million bushels of corn on 15,400 acres.”

Pennsylvania’s 8th district includes Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County and northeast Philadelphia.

Doggett said ethanol will be one of many solutions to ‘break the oil habit” and will be a significant player, especially as the corn industry continues to see the exponential growth in technology which provides for ever-increasing corn yields and improved ethanol conversion rates.

“Our growers are looking to the future of the industry and ways that we can improve it,“ Doggett said. “By 2015, NCGA predicts the corn industry will be able to provide enough corn for producing 15 billion gallons of ethanol without affecting other markets for corn.”