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California Association of Wheat Growers (CAWG)

October 31, 2006

CHARLIE ROMINGER. Former CAWG President and longtime board member Charlie Rominger passed away recently. To quote from his obituary, “Charles Albert Rominger, one of Yolo County's most visionary advocates of farmland preservation and wildlife habitat restoration, died on October 15 at the age of 52 after an intense battle with cancer. As a fifth generation farmer, Rominger felt deeply loyal to the land, and sought to implement earth-friendly agricultural practices -- like creating tail-water return ponds to form closed-loop irrigation systems -- that worked in harmony, rather than conflict, with natural processes. He lived by the belief that it was possible to do well, and thrive, by doing good.”

His memorial service, held on October 27^th in Winters, was attended by hundreds of family and friends. For anyone wishing to make a donation in honor of Charlie, donations can be made to either the Charlie Rominger Farmland Preservation Fund, which has been established at the Yolo Land Trust, P. O. Box 1196, Woodland, CA 95776; or the Winters Friends of the Library, in memory of Charlie Rominger, 201 First Street, Winters, CA 95694.

Charlie was a dedicated wheat grower among his many other activities. His thoughtful contributions to our board discussions will be greatly missed by us all.

CHICAGO MERC BUYING CBOT TO CREATE COMBINED EXCHANGE. Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings, Inc. announced this week that it is purchasing the Chicago Board of Trade for $8 billion. The combined company would be called CME Group, Inc., and is expected to create significant cost efficiencies for customers and exchange members.

The combined company will have an average daily trading volume of about 9 million contracts representing about $4.2 trillion in notional value. It will be one of the world’s largest trading complexes including agricultural commodities like grains and the largest electronically traded agricultural futures contracts complex. The deal is expected to be finalized in 2007.

NOMINATION PERIOD OPEN FOR USDA GRAIN COMMITTEE. The nomination period is open for the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee.

The Committee is made up of 15 Secretary-appointed members representing all aspects of the grain industry. It meets twice annually to advise GIPSA on the programs and services delivered under the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Each member serves three years.

Nominations can be submitted on form AD-755 by e-mail or hardcopy and are due by December 18. For more information contact Terri L. Henry at USDA via Terri.L.Henry@usda.gov or visit the GIPSA Web site at: http://www.gipsa.usda.gov

 NAWG GEARS UP FOR CELLULOSIC ETHANOL SUMMIT. Following up on the NAWG Board’s recent decision to expand the organization’s role to include advocacy for biomass growers, NAWG leadership and staff are preparing for the upcoming Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in November.

NAWG President Dale Schuler is scheduled to participate in panel discussion during the Summit, which is scheduled for Nov. 13 to 15 in Washington, D.C.

Because NAWG is a supporting organization of this event, NAWG members can attend at a discounted rate. To register or obtain more information about the event, visit the event Web site at:

http://www.infocastinc.com/cell06.html

WHY NAWG CARES ABOUT BIOMASS.

By Mike Sullivan, NAWG Environmental Policy Committee Chairman

Many of you may have heard that the NAWG Board of Directors recently voted to expand the NAWG mandate to include representing the interests of dedicated energy crop growers. Almost all of you who have heard this are probably wondering what exactly we were thinking. As the chairman of the Environmental Policy Committee, where this resolution originated, I think I can provide a unique perspective on that question.

Wheat growers, like producers of all other crops, are ultimately looking to improve their bottom line through greater efficiency and alternative uses.  

There are a lot of things you can do with wheat and wheat straw, but one of the most promising new uses that has presented itself over the last number of years is cellulosic ethanol. Wheat straw is the feedstock of choice for many companies looking to commercialize this “second generation biofuel”. The catch is that there aren’t that many places in the country that can produce enough wheat straw for a full-size plant to be sustainable. Enter biomass.

By planting biomass crops, many communities have the opportunity to enhance their ability to support a cellulosic ethanol plant, which, in turn, helps the farmer’s wallet and the local community. Adding biomass crops such as switchgrass to the equation will make renewable fuels a realistic alternative use for wheat.

Right now, this may seem very pie-in-the-sky. No cellulosic ethanol plants currently exist in the United States, though a NAWG industry partner, Iogen, has plans to build in Idaho. But, that is also a reason NAWG leaders felt it was necessary to move on this issue quickly. By allowing NAWG to advocate for the needs of biomass growers, and by asking states to get involved in the issue formally, the NAWG Board is leading the charge to make sure that this technology is developed quickly and developed in a way that will benefit wheat growers.

This is a wonderful opportunity for wheat growers and for NAWG. Like most great opportunities, it is also a great challenge. Organizing on the local level to learn about the particulars of switchgrass and other biomass crops, as well as the cellulosic industry and what is driving it, is the first step. Organizing to advocate for the inclusion of cellulosic ethanol in the formula that decreases our dependence on foreign oil is the second.

The NAWG Board unanimously agreed with the Environmental Policy Committee that this opportunity is both very real and very near, and has tremendous potential to help wheat growing operations remain viable. NAWG is now consulting with its state associations on how best to proceed. I’ll keep you updated.

- Mike Sullivan is a wheat farmer in Wallace, Neb.

NOVEMBER 7^TH IS ELECTION DAY – PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE!!