ST. LOUIS, Oct. 12, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says the film "King Corn" may be an interesting idea for a movie, but, unfortunately, does little to cultivate real knowledge about agricultural production.
The film, which premieres in theaters Friday, is an attempt to influence the farm bill, a federal law that governs the nation's farm policy. Film makers Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney based an unsubstantiated assault on the corn industry on their experience growing one acre of corn in 2005. Corn growers planted more than 93 million acres this year.
"This film could have been an excellent vehicle to educate viewers on the lives, dedication, and strong work ethic of corn growers nationwide," said National Corn Growers Association president Ron Litterer, a resident of Greene, Iowa -- the site of the film. "Unfortunately it fails to communicate to its viewers the efforts by corn growers to develop new markets for the crop."
To learn more about corn and farm production, visit www.ncga.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: NCGA Fact Sheet on farm policy follows.
The National Corn Growers Association's mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents more than 33,000 members and 47 affiliated state organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. For more information on NCGA, log on to www.ncga.com.
NCGA FARM POLICY FACT SHEET
* U.S. agriculture is changing, as is the taxpayer's perception of
agriculture. The American public expects today's agricultural industry
to capitalize on new uses and new markets while maintaining our role as
the world's premier food producer.
* NCGA supports farm policy designed to increase the market orientation of
U.S. agricultural policy and to enhance the targeting of farm support.
* U.S. farm policy must be brought into the 21st Century and protect the
long-term interests of both farmers and taxpayers. It's essential that
our nation's farm programs reflect both the demands of the marketplace
and allow producers to adapt to them.
* The farm bill is influenced significantly by economic conditions in the
farm sector and commodity markets at the time the bill is written.
* The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) cannot predict how crop
conditions in the United States will evolve. NCGA's farm bill proposal
is designed to increase the market orientation of U.S. agricultural
policy and to provide an effective risk management safety net.
* NCGA supports a farm safety net program alternative for the 2007 farm
bill that would authorize changes in farm support programs to better
protect producers against rising costs of production, crop losses and
volatile commodity prices.
* The corn industry and the U.S. agriculture economy have performed well
in the recent years. NCGA sees a bright future for the corn industry
and many opportunities within that future including the possibility of
expanded market access, growth in renewable fuels, new markets for
biobased products, investments in value-added businesses, potential for
improved protection against revenue losses, and more affordable
conservation practices.
* NCGA supports programs for conservation, research and rural economic
development.