The issues of climate change and indirect land use dominated much of the discussion at the recent Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) annual policy conference.
Delegates affirmed their opposition to the Waxman-Markey climate change bill that passed the House, unless it is modified to “support long-term corn grower profitability”. Another resolution states ICGA’s opposition to the use of international indirect land use to calculate the carbon footprint for renewable fuels.
New ICGA president Don Elsbernd of Postville says most delegates felt policymakers are moving too fast on climate change legislation. They called on Iowa’s congressional delegation to hold town hall meetings on the issue, similar to those for health care.
“This is a huge topic and I think that we need to have this discussion out in the public,” Elsbernd says.
ICGA president-elect Dean Taylor of Prairie City says it’s hard to envision climate change legislation, in its current form, passing the Senate. “As people get more acquainted with this-especially out in the country or the rural areas-they are more and more scared of it,” Taylor says, “and I think businesses that produce anywhere tend to be that way.”
Over 240 delegates participated in the ICGA policy conference.
ICGA media conference call (10 min MP3)
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