WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 13, 2012 -- In its monthly agricultural supply/demand update the U.S. Department of Agriculture on August 10 again lowered the outlook for U.S. corn production, reflecting the continued deterioration of this year's crop due to the once-in-a-lifetime drought that affects most of the U.S. corn belt.

The latest USDA projection lowers U.S. corn production to 274 million metric tons (10.8 billion bushels), down almost 40 million tons (1.6 billion bushels) from last year, and the lowest since 2006. World corn production is estimated at 849 million tons (33.4 billion bushels), down 27 million tons (1.1 billion bushels) from last year, but 19 million tons (748 million bushels) higher than 2010/2011 due to higher production from China, Brazil and Argentina.

With this large reduction in U.S. corn supplies, higher prices are expected to ration demand during the coming year. USDA projects that total world corn use will decline about 7 million tons (275.6 million bushels) from last year, while U.S. total use will drop 25 million tons (984.2 million bushels) ? feed use down 12 million tons (472.4 million bushels), corn use for ethanol down 12.7 million tons (500 million bushels), and exports down 6.3 million tons (248 million bushels). USDA expects world corn imports to decline by almost 7 million tons (275.6 million bushels), while non-U.S. feed use will continue to grow, up 13 million tons (511.8 million bushels) from last year to 405 million tons (15.9 billion bushels).

From a broader perspective, world coarse grain feed use (including mainly corn, sorghum and barley) will be essentially unchanged from last year at 660 million tons, compared with 658.5 million tons in 2011/12.

Countries will respond to the tight corn supplies and higher prices in the coming year in different ways according the USDA estimate. For example, Japan and South Korea imports are projected be unchanged from 2011 to 2012. China's corn imports likely will decrease by 3 million tons (118.1 million bushels) due partly to a record domestic corn harvest of 200 million tons (7.9 million bushels), which is up 7 million tons (275.6 million bushels) from last year.

Globally, all corn users will face the challenge of higher prices and the need for increased efficiency, careful risk management and creative marketing strategies during the coming year. As the projections for U.S. corn use demonstrate, the high prices will ration demand in all markets and in all sectors (feed, food and fuel). Also, the relatively smaller decline in U.S. exports compared to domestic use reflects the resilience of global feed demand.

Despite the decreases projected for U.S. corn production, the United States remains open to trade. In the coming year it will be vital that all exporting countries follow the U.S. example: Open markets, transparent market information and careful planning can help us all work through the coming year.

Agricultural production depends each year on weather factors beyond the control of governments or farmers. But agriculture and food production are basically optimistic lines of work. Each year U.S. farmers plant with hope, and do their best with what nature provides at harvest. U.S. farmers use the best genetics, technology and management practices to grow grains for the world market. As they prepare to harvest this year's disappointing crop, they look forward to normal weather and a record harvest in 2013.

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The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit partnership of farmers and agribusinesses committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and their products. The Council is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has nine international offices that oversee programs in more than 50 countries. Financial support from our private industry members, including state checkoffs, agribusinesses, state entities and others, triggers federal matching funds from the USDA resulting in a combined program value of more than $28.3 million.

The U.S. Grains Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation or marital/family status. Persons with disabilities, who require alternative means for communication of program information, should contact the U.S. Grains Council

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano expressing concern about the Department's plan to grant deferred action and work permits to illegal immigrants, particularly with regard to how the President's directive will be implemented without a serious plan to combat fraud and abuse.  Both Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Grassley have repeatedly asked for more information on how the Department will detect fraud and verify documents provided, but no assurances have been provided to Congress thus far.

Below are excerpts from the letter to Secretary Napolitano. To read the full letter, click here.

"We are very concerned about the Department of Homeland Security's plan to grant deferred action to individuals here illegally, particularly with regard to how the President's directive will be implemented without a serious plan to combat fraud and abuse. While potentially millions of illegal immigrants will be permitted to compete with American workers for jobs, there seems to be little if any mechanism in place for vetting fraudulent applications and documentation submitted by those who seek deferred action ... It's distressingly clear that the administration plans to press the replay button for the large-scale fraud from the 1986 amnesty.

"Department officials indicated to Committee staff that they would not use fraud prevention and detection measures that you consider "too expensive" or "time consuming", or that would "unduly impact" USCIS's other responsibilities.  This attitude blatantly demonstrates that the Department has little regard for preventing fraud, especially since the law allows the Department to impose fees for the benefit of deferred action.  The illegal immigrants themselves, rather than the American taxpayer or legal immigrants, should bear any expense associated with the program.

"For the sake of preserving the integrity of our immigration system and ensuring that the process is not riddled with fraud, we would like to understand the Department's rationale for not placing in removing proceedings illegal immigrants denied deferred action and for attaching confidentiality provisions."

(DES MOINES) - Today, Gov. Terry Branstad sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius expressing his concerns over the weakening of work requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

In the letter, Gov. Branstad states, "I am concerned that your Department has watered down the most powerful element of the welfare reform efforts - a clear expectation that those who get temporary help from their fellow citizens must become self-sufficient through work in a timely manner."

Gov. Branstad, along with Govs. Thompson of Wisconsin and Englar of Michigan, helped lead a bipartisan effort to reform welfare in the mid-1990s. Together, they worked with Congress and President Clinton to pass the landmark legislation.

Gov. Branstad continued: "The work requirements in TANF have been successful in Iowa. In 1996 when work requirements were implemented, Iowa had more than 86,000 Iowans on TANF. Today, Iowa has just over 43,000 Iowans on TANF. Work requirements have been instrumental in serving Iowans in this program."

The governor also wrote, "Simply put, we believe the work requirements have led to greater long-term success for Iowans and the management of our TANF program."

Gov. Branstad in releasing the letter said, "I understand President Obama while an Illinois State Senator opposed the Federal welfare reform efforts. The success of the reform efforts is evident across Iowa and the nation. However, that success did not prevent President Obama's administration and HHS from diminishing the power that clear work and training expectations can play in improving peoples' lives."

CHICAGO - August 13, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 4029

An Act Concerning: Education

Expands the selection criteria for school boards in order to enable them to consider factors such as student safety and comfort, rather than just cost, when awarding transportation contracts.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4615

An Act Concerning: Housing

Clarifies that existing caps on operating expenses for distributing Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) grants are annual caps, and establishes caps on operating expenses if grants are awarded for multiple years.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 4665

An Act Concerning: Residential Construction

Creates the Radon Resistant Construction Act to mandate that all new residential construction in Illinois include passive radon resistant construction. The law also changes reporting requirements for the Task Force on Radon-Resistant Building Codes as outlined in the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: June 1

Bill No.: HB 4689

An Act Concerning: Business

Changes the definition of "gift certificate" to include credit slips issued for returns.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

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