FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2006

CONTACT: Becky Grisham, Missouri Corn Growers Association, (573) 893-4181

MISSOURI CORN GROWERS ENDORSE SENATOR TALENT

(LA PLATA, Mo.) -- At an event held today in an Adair County cornfield, Missouri corn farmers endorsed Jim Talent for U.S. Senate for his leadership in working to transform their field of dreams into fields of fuel. The Missouri Corn Growers Association, representing more than 1,800 corn farmers in Missouri, are supporting Sen. Talent for his effectiveness in growing Missouri agriculture through his landmark legislation requiring oil companies to add at least 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol to the nation's fuel supply by 2012.

"No one has worked harder for Missouri corn farmers and for Missouri ethanol than Sen. Talent," said Brent Rockhold, MCGA board member and corn farmer from Arbela. "Much of the recent growth in today's biofuel industry is due to the important legislation he sponsored in the Energy Bill to establish the nation's first-ever Renewable Fuels Standard for ethanol. Missouri corn farmers are proud to endorse Jim Talent for U.S. Senate."

"It's a tremendous honor to have the support of hundreds of family corn farmers in Missouri," said Sen. Talent who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Senate Energy Committee and as Co-Chair of the Senate Biofuels Caucus. "One of my top priorities has been promoting ethanol for Missouri farmers and for America's energy independence. With the support and advocacy of corn growers in Missouri and around the country, we passed critical legislation for ethanol. We passed a watershed Energy bill that included the nation's first-ever Renewable Fuels Standard for ethanol. We passed tax credits for small ethanol producers. We passed legislation to increase the availability of E-85, an 85 percent ethanol blend. And with the strong support of our corn farmers, we will do even more to promote renewable fuels."

"Jim Talent has been a strong supporter of sensible economic policies that benefit the family farmer," said Sen. Bond, who joined Sen. Talent for the endorsement event. "He understands the importance of the family farm to our economy and our way of life and he delivers. Jim successfully established the nation's first-ever renewable fuels standard for ethanol and bio-diesel. His efforts will add value to our corn and soybeans and create jobs in Missouri, not to mention making us less dependent on foreign oil. He is a true leader on agriculture issues and Missouri farmers need to keep him in the Senate."

Corn is Missouri's second largest crop in production, producing nearly 300 million bushels of corn annually. From a bushel of corn you can make 2.8 gallons of ethanol fuel.

Due in large part to the federal Renewable Fuels Standard crafted by Sen. Talent, and the recently signed Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard strongly supported by MCGA, Missouri's ethanol industry is on track to exceed 150 million gallons in 2006. Production of the homegrown fuel is expected to continue it's rapidly expansion, reaching over 350 million gallons by 2008.

Senator Talent was also praised for his work on behalf of Missouri agriculture including his leadership on renewable fuels, protecting Farm Service Agencies in Missouri, supporting a permanent repeal of the death tax, working to reduce health care costs for producers, expanding access to markets for our farmers, updating locks and dams, increasing funding for roads and bridges to help farmers get products to market and working to resume U.S. beef exports to Japan.

To learn more about ethanol and the Missouri Corn Growers Association, visit Missouri Corn Online at http://www.mocorn.org.