Today's date: September 3, 2010
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| The Minnesota Corn Growers Association |
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October 15, 2003 |
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Ron Obermoller of Brewster, was named the MCGA president | Ron Obermoller elected |
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The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) board of directors has elected Ron Obermoller, a farmer from Brewster, Minnesota, as its new president. Obermoller's term began October first. The board also named Gene "Pucky" Sandager of Hills, vice president; Rodney Moe of Waltham, treasurer and Curt Watson of Renville, secretary. "One of our primary jobs as leaders of this organization this year will be to increase demand for, and awareness of renewable fuels, because of the positive effect they have on our rural economy," said Obermoller. He points to the proposed Renewable Fuels Standard in the federal Energy Bill as the single biggest issue for MCGA in the coming year. The Renewable Fuels Standard would raise the minimum amount of ethanol, biodiesel and other renewables in the nation's fuel supply to five billion gallons a year. Currently, Minnesota's 14 ethanol plants - most of them farmer-owned - produce about 300 million gallons of ethanol every year. Almost all ethanol produced in Minnesota is made from corn, a renewable resource. While ethanol will be a big issue nationally, Obermoller predicts that water issues will dominate the state public policy concerns of MCGA. "I'm concerned that state policies on water quality issues will use 'sticks' rather than 'carrots,' creating mandates rather than voluntary, incentive-based programs. We plan to work toward policies that are in the best interests of rural Minnesota." Obermoller and Sandager are graduates of the Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL) training program, a two-year series of seminars based at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. Obermoller is involved in a wide variety of other boards, serving as a director on the MARL board, Minnesota Soybean Processors board and is on the research and business development team for the National Corn Growers Association. "There's a really good staff," Obermoller added. With twenty-plus other directors, he says he'll "rely on their expertise." He's been on the MCGA board for five years. "I'm looking forward to the year and amazed at the number of issues already," he added. The MCGA, which is observing its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2003, is dedicated to promoting and creating opportunities for the profitability of Minnesota's corn farmers. The 5,000-member organization has 39 county affiliates across the state. |
©Fulda Free Press 2010