TAMPA, Fla., March 5 – Delegates attending the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) annual policy session on Saturday did not approve any major farm program changes, but signalled that they are willing to consider new options. For example, they approved a resolution
to “investigate transitioning direct payments into programs that allow producers the ability to manage risk while assuring food security.”
On ethanol, which NCGA voted as their top priority issue for the next year, delegates provided plenty of options.
“NCGA supports reforming ethanol tax policy. Ideas to replace existing tax law, in the following priority order: a variable ethanol tax credit, an ethanol tax credit at a reduced rate. Non-tax policies should include: biofuels infrastructure, higher blends, corn starch ethanol as an advanced biofuel, favorable flexible fuel vehicle policy.”
Garry Neimeyer, First Vice President for the National Corn Growers Association, says the new language gives the group greater flexibility when they work on Capitol Hill.
“We didn’t want to hamstring our lobbyists as they work on these issues,” he told Agri-Pulse.
The new ethanol language also keeps NCGA on par with other ethanol lobbying groups—American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association, who are considering ways to re-invest the tax credit into other market-building options.
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