ST. LOUIS, May 7, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The National Corn Growers Association Corn Utilization and Technology Conference announced today that Thomas Dorr, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development, will give a keynote address at the conference grand opening on Monday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m.
"We are excited to have Under Secretary Dorr attend and speak to the hundreds of researchers, growers, students, and engineers at CUTC," said NCGA Vice President of Research and Business Development Richard Glass. "His attendance demonstrates a strong level of commitment to the future of corn and the agriculture community."
Dorr serves as chairman of the USDA Energy Council, which is responsible for advancing President Bush's energy initiative. He also serves as federal co-chair of the Biomass Research and Development Board. Dorr has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the 7th District Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Iowa Board of Regents, and as a member and officer of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and NCGA. As president of a family farming and agribusiness company for 30 years, Dorr has broad agricultural, financial and business experience.
With a theme of "Corn: New Horizons," the 2008 CUTC will emphasize the importance of identifying the next generation of technologies to sustain corn as nature's feedstock of the future. CUTC will feature a distinguished list of speakers covering topics including the evolution of the dry grind platform, value-added chemicals, wet-milling technologies, DDGS opportunities, fractionation, biotechnology, technology transfer and commercialization.
Attendees will have the chance to meet with hundreds of valuable business contacts, identify potential new customers, and learn how new technologies will enhance the value of corn. CUTC will also offer more than 30 exhibitor booths presenting new technologies and equipment and a poster session.
CUTC will be held in Kansas City, Mo., June 2-4 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Visit www.corntechconf.org for more information and to register online.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is a national organization founded in 1957 and represents approximately 33,000 dues-paying corn growers and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to help protect and advance the corn producer's interests.