Recent reports urge adaptation to a new environment

Tilden, Neb., April 6, 2012. On the last day of March, I sat on our patio after another spectacularly warm day, enjoying all the flowering trees.  Towards evening, I heard the buzz, and a cat scrambled to catch the June bug that crash landed on the floor.  June bugs in March in Nebraska?  Next day, on a trail ride across the scenic--though dry--grasslands near Ashfall Fossil Beds north of our farm, I saw grasshoppers flying on the first of April (my birthday).  Was this April fool baby just seeing things?

Hail U.S. Secretary Tom Vilsack for Conservation Leadership

Tilden, Nebraska  March 6, 2012 – Keith Dittrich, Co-Chairman of the American Corn Growers Institute for Public Policy today announced his support and hailed the USDA’s new CRP Initiative.  Dittrich had an opportunity to personally thank Secretary Vilsack for his leadership in conservation and working to protect our natural resources, at a farmers convention in LaVista, Nebraska earlier this week.

 Co-chairs Elected at Following Meeting

Chicago, Ill., February 27, 2012  Pam Horwitz, Executive Director of the American Corn Growers Institute for Public Policy today lauded the successful accomplishment of the first summit meeting held in Chicago last Friday.  Following the meeting, a new slate of officers was elected to represent the Institute.  Keith Dittrich, a corn farmer and longtime farm policy leader from Tilden, Nebraska, Dan McGuire, a nationally recognized farm, trade and renewable energy policy analyst, advocate and consultant from Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as Mark Lounsbery, farmer and longtime national commodity promotion, development leader and renewable energy advocate from Revillo, South Dakota were elected as Co-chairs    David Dechant, a farmer and farm policy leader and advocate from Ft. Lupton, Colorado was elected as Secretary/Treasurer of the organization.

Princeton, Ill.  January 24, 2012 — Pam Horwitz, Executive Director of the American Corn Growers Institute for Public Policy, requested input from stakeholder of the food, energy and environment sectors to provide input on any concerns regarding the Administration’s recent proposal to close over 250 USDA offices  and facilities across the nation.  “While we appreciate Secretary Vilsak’s efforts to streamline and cut costs, we must make sure that adequate oversight of our food system is maintained and that good access to USDA programs and services are maintained at a time when the agricultural sector carries a heavy load of providing the raw materials for a robust food and energy system,“ stated Horwitz.  “Consumers need to be assured that the food security and safety are one of the top priorities of this nation,” she went on to say.