National Corn Growers Association

Issue Briefs

Many of the concerns now facing our nation – renewable fuels, global trade and clean water among them – are inextricably tied to U.S. agriculture. Farming and ranching activities affect, and are greatly influenced by, the policies in these areas.

America’s corn growers want to be part of the solutions that will contribute to the economic, agronomic and environmental welfare of the country. As representatives of America’s corn growers, the National Corn Growers Association has created this document to present some of these issues as they affect the nation’s corn producers, and to put forward the actions we recommend.

Ethanol
Overview As part of a comprehensive domestic energy strategy, corn ethanol helps to diversify America’s fuel supply, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and foster a more vibrant economy. Ethanol has become an essential component of the U.S. motor fuel market. Today, ethanol is blended into more than 90 percent of the nation’s fuel, and is sold virtually from coast to coast and border to border. The U.S. industry supports over 400,000 jobs around the country, 70,000 of which...
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Farm Policy
Overview As the federal budget continues to rack up record deficits, NCGA and other commodity organizations understand the need to find effective and efficient farm programs that help farmers manage risk and cost less money. Last year, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Thune (R-SD), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Dick Lugar (R-IN) introduced the Aggregate Risk and Revenue Management Program (ARRM) legislation that establishes a market based revenue risk management program. In...
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Global Trade
Overview During the 2010 marketing year, the United States exported 1.8 billion bushels of corn worldwide. In addition, the United States exported 281 million of distillers grains. Farm exports in fiscal year 2011 reached a record high of $137.4 billion, exceeding the previous high by $22.5 billion. This also supported 1.15 million American jobs. Today’s top markets worldwide for U.S. corn are Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Egypt and Taiwan. NCGA remains committed to the World Trade...
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Pesticide Permits
Overview In 2008, the 6th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals ruled that pesticide users would be required to apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit under the Clean Water Act if the chemical is sprayed over, near or into a body of water. The decision creates unprecedented regulatory requirements and expands the Clean Water Act into an area of agriculture that was previous considered a non-point source activity. For most of the past four decades, water...
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