EPA'S OGE AND McCARTHY VISIT IOWA TO LEARN ABOUT AGRICULTURE
ANKENY,
Iowa - Accepting Senator Grassley’s invitation to visit Iowa, Director of the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality Margo Oge and Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation Regina McCarthy, along with other EPA associates, spent Thursday, Sept. 3, in the state. They learned firsthand about modern U.S. agriculture and received comments regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Accompanied by Senator Grassley and Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, the visitors started their day at the Iowa State University’s BioCentury Research Farm, hearing from Monsanto and Pioneer representatives, who talked about corn and soybean seed technology, and ISU staff, who presented concerns about EPA’s proposed indirect land use calculations and suggested the ISU Center for Agricultural and Research Development (CARD) model as an alternative.
From the discussion of charts and models, the group traveled to the Kimberley farm near Maxwell, where the same messages were reinforced in a very practical context.
Rick and Grant Kimberley talked about how their family farm has changed through the years to stay viable, growing in acreage and increasing in yields. They emphasized the technology they’ve incorporated, including no-till techniques for soybeans, larger equipment and seed technology that necessitates fewer passes through the field.
Iowa Corn Growers Association President Don Elsbernd and Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Directors Ron Heck and Ray Gaesser talked about corn and soybean production and expressed concerns with the methodology used to arrive at the proposed regulations.
Among their comments, Heck and Gaesser noted that soybeans are 80 percent meal and 20 percent oil. Historically, farmers have raised soybeans for meal, with the oil as a by-product. “We can make biodiesel without taking from anything else,” Heck said.
They emphasized farmers’ commitment to the environment. Heck described ISA’s On-Farm Network® and ISA’s Environmental Programs. “We’re looking at ways to do more with less and do it properly,” he said.
“We live here every day,” Gaesser said. “Protecting the environment is important to us.”
Responding to their comments, McCarthy said, “Today is a beginning of a new discussion. It is an opportunity to internalize your messages. We assure you that we will treat them with the importance they deserve.”
Oge, who as a child spent much time on her grandfather’s farm in Greece, said, “Listening to the Kimberleys, I heard my family speaking. You are the stewards of the land. We don’t want to undermine your work. We will continue this dialogue.”
Oge and McCarthy later told Heck and Gaesser they had specifically picked up several key messages:
•They now recognized that soybeans replace nitrogen in the soil rather than requiring nitrogen application.
• They realized that glycerin is actually a by-product they hadn’t considered and should be credited to reduce the carbon footprint of biodiesel.
• They conceded that the greenhouse gas formula doesn’t take into account improved yield and efficiencies.
• They gained new insight on the feedstock issue and said they will be open to suggestions regarding accountability for certification of feedstocks. They also realized that the amount of U.S. land not previously farmed that is being used for renewable fuels is very minute.
The visitors completed their farm visit by examining ears of corn and soybean plants, touring the farmstead and climbing into combine and tractor cabs.
As they headed to the Renewable Energy Group’s facility in Newton to tour the 30-million gallon/year biodiesel plant and hear an overview and update from the ethanol and biodiesel industries, Oge and McCarthy expressed appreciation to Senator Grassley for bringing them to Iowa and asked him to invite them back next year. They also invited their ISA hosts to “come to Washington and visit more about this.” In addition, they requested that all of the day’s comments also be submitted in writing before the Sept. 25 deadline to be given full consideration.
Afterward, Grant Kimberley said, “We heard the farm visit was the highlight of their trip. We were able to break down some walls and put a personal face on the issues. We could see them arrive at a new level of understanding regarding crediting soybeans for nitrogen fixation, yield and efficiency increases, difficulty in feedstock tracking and verification, importance to the economy and even indirect land use. They loved the equipment and technology and efficiency aspects of agriculture. They certainly were very engaged and seemed sincere in their comments. “
Based on the valuable information shared and the receptiveness of the audience as indicated by their feedback and questions, Heck summarized the visit by saying, “Senator Grassley, ISA, ISU and Iowa’s ag and biodiesel industry really had a great day.”
Accompanied by Senator Grassley and Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, the visitors started their day at the Iowa State University’s BioCentury Research Farm, hearing from Monsanto and Pioneer representatives, who talked about corn and soybean seed technology, and ISU staff, who presented concerns about EPA’s proposed indirect land use calculations and suggested the ISU Center for Agricultural and Research Development (CARD) model as an alternative.
From the discussion of charts and models, the group traveled to the Kimberley farm near Maxwell, where the same messages were reinforced in a very practical context.
Rick and Grant Kimberley talked about how their family farm has changed through the years to stay viable, growing in acreage and increasing in yields. They emphasized the technology they’ve incorporated, including no-till techniques for soybeans, larger equipment and seed technology that necessitates fewer passes through the field.
Iowa Corn Growers Association President Don Elsbernd and Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Directors Ron Heck and Ray Gaesser talked about corn and soybean production and expressed concerns with the methodology used to arrive at the proposed regulations.
Among their comments, Heck and Gaesser noted that soybeans are 80 percent meal and 20 percent oil. Historically, farmers have raised soybeans for meal, with the oil as a by-product. “We can make biodiesel without taking from anything else,” Heck said.
They emphasized farmers’ commitment to the environment. Heck described ISA’s On-Farm Network® and ISA’s Environmental Programs. “We’re looking at ways to do more with less and do it properly,” he said.
“We live here every day,” Gaesser said. “Protecting the environment is important to us.”
Responding to their comments, McCarthy said, “Today is a beginning of a new discussion. It is an opportunity to internalize your messages. We assure you that we will treat them with the importance they deserve.”
Oge, who as a child spent much time on her grandfather’s farm in Greece, said, “Listening to the Kimberleys, I heard my family speaking. You are the stewards of the land. We don’t want to undermine your work. We will continue this dialogue.”
Oge and McCarthy later told Heck and Gaesser they had specifically picked up several key messages:
•They now recognized that soybeans replace nitrogen in the soil rather than requiring nitrogen application.
• They realized that glycerin is actually a by-product they hadn’t considered and should be credited to reduce the carbon footprint of biodiesel.
• They conceded that the greenhouse gas formula doesn’t take into account improved yield and efficiencies.
• They gained new insight on the feedstock issue and said they will be open to suggestions regarding accountability for certification of feedstocks. They also realized that the amount of U.S. land not previously farmed that is being used for renewable fuels is very minute.
The visitors completed their farm visit by examining ears of corn and soybean plants, touring the farmstead and climbing into combine and tractor cabs.
As they headed to the Renewable Energy Group’s facility in Newton to tour the 30-million gallon/year biodiesel plant and hear an overview and update from the ethanol and biodiesel industries, Oge and McCarthy expressed appreciation to Senator Grassley for bringing them to Iowa and asked him to invite them back next year. They also invited their ISA hosts to “come to Washington and visit more about this.” In addition, they requested that all of the day’s comments also be submitted in writing before the Sept. 25 deadline to be given full consideration.
Afterward, Grant Kimberley said, “We heard the farm visit was the highlight of their trip. We were able to break down some walls and put a personal face on the issues. We could see them arrive at a new level of understanding regarding crediting soybeans for nitrogen fixation, yield and efficiency increases, difficulty in feedstock tracking and verification, importance to the economy and even indirect land use. They loved the equipment and technology and efficiency aspects of agriculture. They certainly were very engaged and seemed sincere in their comments. “
Based on the valuable information shared and the receptiveness of the audience as indicated by their feedback and questions, Heck summarized the visit by saying, “Senator Grassley, ISA, ISU and Iowa’s ag and biodiesel industry really had a great day.”
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Funded by the soybean checkoff
Funded by the soybean checkoff
