A4O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 17, 2003 NCGA Hails Progress Toward Renewable Fuels Standard WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Corn Growers Associa tion (NCGA) moved two steps closer to attaining a renewable fuels standard (RFS) recently when the House and Senate took major action on related bills. In a 32-14 vote April 3, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved an energy bill that includes an RFS. Additionally, the Senate Fi nance Committee passed an en ergy tax incentive bill that promotes the use of ethanol with its inclusion of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) fix and the Small Producer Tax Credit up grade. Both achievements are being hailed a victory by the NCGA. Under the House bill, the cur rent oxygenate standard for re formulated gasoline would be re moved, air quality and anti backsliding provisions would be enhanced and an RFS reaching S billion gallons in 2015 would be established. The committee de feated several amendments that sought to eliminate or modify the fuels section. For example, an amendment by Rep. Rick Bouch er (D-Va.) to eliminate the RFS was soundly defeated 34-14. “While there are some aspects NCGA would like to see im proved in the House energy bill to reflect the rapid growth of the ethanol industry, mainly the RFS schedule, this was a positive step forward,” said NCGA President Fred Yoder. “The House Energy Committee should be commend ed for its action, but the work is not done yet. We have a long way to go in this important process.” Yoder noted the House last year did not include an RFS in its energy bill. “It is a huge step for growers to have an RES reported out of committee yesterday in the House energy bill,” said Yoder. The Senate success is also im portant for growers. The biparti san supported tax incentive legis lation corrects the gap in the ethanol excise tax exemption so that ethanol and gasoline make the same contribution to the HTF. Within the current gasoline * r,RICULTLto Thecrain of our economy* OA Dry Cow Booster That Costs 7c a Day Hoffmans Horse and Cattle Powder is an ideal tonic for cows over freshening. Feed 6 wks. before freshening. 1 Tablespoon a day. (Two weeks over freshening, feed 1 Tablespoon in the morning & 1 Tablespoon in evening) This is an over-all good booster if fed to dry cows, and it will pay you big dividends. Sugar Valley Collar Shop Elvin Zimmerman 18 Wagon Wheel Lane 18051 Ridgewood Ave Loganlon, PA 17747 Barnett, MO 65011 D & J Farm Store 573-378-2658 65 Hess Rd _ Quarty\ tile. PA 17566 B.rd-In-Hand Farm Supply Daniels Farm Store 200 Maple Ave 324 Glenhiook Rd Bnd-ln-Hand. PA 17505 Leola. P\ 17540 717-656-6982 G ideon F. King Gap Repair Shop 5465 Elam Rd 994 Gap Rd Kinzer, PA 17535 Kinzers. PA 17535 717-442-4781 , , excise tax, 18.4 cents is paid into the general fund (GF) for gaso line. For ethanol, only 13.2 cents is paid into the GF. The 5.2 cents deduction is the ethanol excise tax exemption. More specifically, refiners and gasoline marketers using 10 per cent ethanol blends receive a 5.2-cents-per-gallon reduction from the tax paid on straight gas oline. Since federal motor fuel taxes are a primary source of funding for highway programs, the issue has arisen as to the rev enue impact of ethanol-blended fuels on the HTF. The Senate Fi nance Committee fixed this gap yesterday. The Senate package also in cludes modifications to the small ethanol producer tax credit by al locating the 10-cents-per-gallon production income alcohol fuels credit to the members of a farmer cooperative (this credit is in addi tion to the S3-cents-per-gallon tax incentive generally available for ethanol). It also changes the definition of a “small ethanol producer” from 30 million gal lons per year to 60 million gallons per year. “Getting both of these bills passed out of commit- tee was a huge under- taking,” continued Yoder “Many peo- ple don’t re alize how complex the process is with several committees in each chamber working on related pro- visions. Dairy Farmers Lobby Congress On MPC WASHINGTON, D.C. About 60 dairy farmers from across the country spent three days recently working with law makers to close trade loopholes allowing imported milk protein concentrate (MPC) and casein to flood domestic markets. “Imported MPC and casein are displacing our domestic dairy supply at a time when U.S. dairy farmers are getting the lowest prices for their products since 1979,” said NFU President Dave Frederickson. “While some im- USD A Amends Central Milk Marketing Order WASHINGTON, D.C.— Earlier this year, the USD A is sued an interim order amending the pooling provisions of the Central milk marketing order. The tentative final decision for the Central order, issued Nov. 8, 2002, was approved by dairy farmers. This interim order amends pooling standards to prevent the inappropriate pooling of milk on the Central order. The approved Introducing new GLEANER R Gfrieg Combines with trie new COMFORTEXH II cab An Enduring Tradition Introducing the 2003 R 65 and R 75 CLEANER models —continuing the tradition of GLEANER innovation with many new features including an all new cab. For decades, farmers have counted on CLEANER for clean harvesting, innovative designs and efficient operation. The 2003 GLEANERs continue the tradition with the state-of-the-art COMFORTECH® II cab designed for comfort, efficiency and productivity: • A larger, curved windshield made from a single section of glass, provides great visibility • An enlarged frame opens up the cab for more comfort and easier access to controls • New electronic displays and controls provide unprecedented access to important data Efficiency. Quality. Reliability. Performance. To find out why thousands of farmers remain loyal—generation after generation —stop in today to see the new generation of CLEANER. ported powdered milk products are subject to tariff-rate quotas, MPC and casein are not. This loophole must be closed.” The farmers visited more than 160 congressional offices advo cating the Milk Import Tariff Eq uity Act, S. 560 and H.R. 1160, which Frederickson said would “level the playing field” by limit ing MPC and casein imports by imposing effective tariffs. The legislation is sponsored by Sens. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and Mark Dayton, D-Min., in the Senate amendments eliminate the ability to simultaneously pool milk on the Central milk order and on a state-operated order that has marketwide pooling. The interim order also will establish lower but year-round supply plant per formance standards; not consider the volume of milk shipments to distributing plants regulated by another Federal milk order as a qualifying shipment on the Cen tral order; exclude from receipts diverted milk made by a pool Just Got Better. and Reps. Don Sherwood, R-Pa., and David Obey, D-Wis., in the House. Sens. Craig and Dayton and Rep. Sherwood participated in a “MPC-free” ice cream social Tuesday evening during which each of the lawmakers commend ed the farmers for their efforts to gain cosponsors for the Milk Im port Tariff Equity Act. The lead ers reported that, while in Wash ington, the dairy farmers had helped increase the list of cospon sors to 92 in the House and 22 in the Senate. plant to another pool plant in de termining pool plant diversion limits; and, establish a “net ship ments” provision for milk deliv eries to distributing plants. The interim order became ef fective March 1. For additional information about the decision, contact: Donald R. Nicholson, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, P.O. Box 14650, Shawnee Mis sion, KS 66285-4650; Tel. (913) 495-9300; email: donald.nichol son@fmmacentral.com. 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers