National Corn Growers Association incoming First Vice President Ron Litterer (left) and First Vice President Ken McCauley (center) discuss farm policy with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns (right) at the Farm Progress Show in Amana, Iowa, on Wednesday.

NCGA Leaders Praise Johanns, Dorr for USDA Ventures (8-31-06)

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Ken McCauley and incoming First Vice President Ron Litterer met with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and Under Secretary of Rural Development Tom Dorr at the Farm Progress Show in Amana, Iowa, on Wednesday to discuss Department of Agriculture efforts to promote renewable energy and rural development.

Johanns announced Wednesday more than $17 million in renewable energy grants will be made available to develop or produce renewable energy resources.

“It was gratifying to hear Secretary Johanns reinforcing President Bush’s ethanol message at a large event like Farm Progress Show,” said McCauley. “He fielded a lot of questions about different topics affecting producers, and it is good to hear him discuss agricultural issues in person on a more personal level. Likewise, it was just as exciting to see Under Secretary Dorr highlight rural development.”

But McCauley said the highlight of the event was talking with Johanns.

“It was an invaluable experience for Ron and me to be able to ride with Secretary Johanns when he came into the show,” McCauley said. “We got to deliver NCGA’s messages to him first hand. He said he appreciated NCGA’s forward thinking on several issues and enjoys working with us.”