National Corn Growers Association

More Farming. Fewer Uncertainties.

Corn farming is full of uncontrollable things like weather and the markets. How you farm isn’t one of them. Sustainable farming practices that build up soil health allow you to take more control of your farm by strengthening productivity and enabling profitability.

That’s why NCGA offers a broad portfolio of programs to help corn farmers explore and enact sustainable farming practices that work best for your operation.

Facts

Since 1980, corn farmers has been working to improve the quality of soil, water and air around our farms.

Soil loss per bushel of corn has decreased by 68 percent.
Corn production has seen a 36 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions per bushel.
The energy used to produce a bushel of corn has decreased by 44 percent.

Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present while improving the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

NCGA is proud to be part of Field to Market: The Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, a collaborative stakeholder group involving producers, agribusinesses, food and retail companies, and conservation organizations striving to develop a supply chain system for agricultural sustainability.

Field to Market focuses on these specific, critical outcomes: increasing agricultural productivity to meet future nutritional needs while decreasing impacts on the environment, including water, soil, habitat, air quality and climate emissions, and land use; improving human health through access to safe, nutritious food; and improving the social and economic well-being of agricultural communities.

In its first report, issued in January 2009, the alliance looked at environmental resource indicators in five areas: water use and quality, land use and biodiversity, soil loss, energy use and climate impact. The report reviewed indicators for corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat and reported on progress from 1987 to 2007.

In July 2012, its second report on sustainability and today’s agriculture revealed that our nation’s corn farmers have a good story to tell, with improvement across all metrics.

“What makes the Field to Market tools appealing to farmers is their real-world application,” said Gary Edwards, a corn grower from Anamosa, Iowa, who serves as a National Corn Growers Association representative to Field to Market. “Because the metrics used were developed from discussions among the folks who would use them, they fit the nature and scope of the work being done. To make a profit, farmers need to sustain both the land and the business, and the exciting take-away from this report is that we now have the means to show you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other.

Click here for the 2012 report.

Environmental indicators looked at water use and quality, land use and biodiversity, soil loss, energy use and climate impact. Corn improved on all measures of resource efficiency, decreasing per-bushel land use by 30 percent, soil erosion by 67 percent, irrigation by 53 percent, energy use by 43 percent and greenhouse gas emission by 36 percent. At the same time, corn increased 101 percent in total production and 64 percent in yield bushels per acre.

New socioeconomic indicators measure debt, returns, GDP, labor hours, injuries, fatalities and production time. For example, the time to produce corn decreased both per acre (59 percent) and per bushel (75 percent), incidences of one or more work days lost due to injury decreased by 49 percent and fatalities decreased by 32 percent. The national growth rate trend has increased 69 percent for the agricultural sector contribution to national gross domestic product.

“This is a great time to be a farmer,” Edwards said. “The productivity and sustainability of the modern American farm should be an inspiration to all – and the positive economic impact of what we do must always be a part of the story.”

Field to Market is developing and piloting scalable, science- and outcome-based sustainable metrics and tools to identify strategies for continuous improvement in agriculture. These tools are the result of dialogue with farmers, agribusinesses, food and retail companies and conservation organizations, which is grounded in science and open to the full range of technology choices available.

Sustainability News

February 20, 2020

Farmers Join Forces for Sustainability and Responsible Climate Policy

This week, NCGA joined 21 farm groups to publicly launch Farmers for a Sustainable Future (FSF)....

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February 12, 2020

Now Is A Great Time to Consider Pollinator Habitat

A growing partnership between the National Corn Growers Association and the Bee and Butterfly...

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February 5, 2020

Soil Health Partnership Expands Capabilities with New Staff

The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is pleased to introduce Dr. Carrie Roever as the new Data...

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February 4, 2020

NCGA’s Annual Report Reflects On Significant Wins Amidst Challenging Times

The National Corn Growers Association’s Ann ual Report for the 2019 fiscal year is now available...

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December 9, 2019

Winter is a Great Time to Plan Monarch Habitats

Continuing to expand pollinator habitat was a central...

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November 22, 2019

Growing Trust A Key Development Driving Sustainability Efforts

The word “sustainability” may be a bit over-used in agriculture, but it is way more than a buzz...

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October 23, 2019

NCGA Joins America’s Conservation Ag Movement

Driving sustainable farming practices is a priority of NCGA. That’s why it joined the America’s...

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September 16, 2019

Farmers Must Play Key Role in Effort to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

Efforts throughout society, and virtually every industry, to cut greenhouse gases are underway...

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August 27, 2019

Teeter Joins SHP as Minnesota Field Manager

Anna Teeter is SHP’s newest team member, joining as a Field Manager covering Minnesota. Anna...

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August 22, 2019

Conservation Action Tour Showcases Advances in Sustainability

NCGA Stewardship and Sustainability Director Rachel Orf is in central Iowa this week attending...

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August 1, 2019

Soil Health Partnership Celebrates 5 Years of Growth and Collaboration

The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) has been fostering transformation in agriculture through...

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July 30, 2019

Senate Staffers Hear About the Intersection of Soil Health and Climate Change

A standing-room-only crowd attended a briefing: “An Overview of Climate Smart Agriculture...

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July 26, 2019

Annual Monarch Blitz Kicks Off July 27

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the 3rd Annual International Monarch Monitoring Blitz in Canada,...

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July 19, 2019

SHP Soil Sessions: Crop Update and Scouting Tips

You still have time to sign up for a unique webinar to get a U.S. crop update and learn crop...

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July 12, 2019

Cover Crop Benefits Clearer in Drought and Wet Years

Joe Breker needs his own tee shirt that reads “No Tillage, More Plants” or “Cover Crops Are Good...

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June 26, 2019

Sustainability: Making Dollars and Sense in Agricultural Sustainability Programs

Consumer interest in where and how their food is produced is on the rise, and many leading...

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June 25, 2019

SHP Testifies in Support of Investment and Collaboration in Soil Health Practices

The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) Executive Director, Dr. Shefali Mehta testified today at a...

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June 19, 2019

Virtual Reality Immerses Viewers in Monarch Butterflies’ 3000-Mile Migration

The Monarch Effect, an interactive, virtual reality experience, will debut today during National...

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June 19, 2019

Mesko joins SHP as Development Director

The Soil Health Partnership is pleased to announce that John Mesko has joined as the Development...

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June 19, 2019

Byerly Joins SHP as Kansas & Nebraska Field Manager

Keith Byerly has joined the Soil Health Partnership as the Kansas and Nebraska Field Manager....

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June 17, 2019

Pollinator Week Is A Great Time To Think Small

So many big things on a farm: buildings, equipment, fields, and even the scale of business...

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June 7, 2019

Ag Innovation and Sustainability on Display at DC Area Farm

Key staff from multiple government agencies are getting a crash course in the latest farming...

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June 5, 2019

U.S. Farmers Should Take a Bow on World Environment Day

Today is World Environment Day and for U.S. farmers that makes it a great time to celebrate...

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May 22, 2019

Efforts to Help Struggling Honey Bee Population Gaining Momentum

Corn is wind pollinated and does not benefit from insect pollination so why the heck do corn...

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April 3, 2019

Exploring the Role of Corn Sustainability in the Beef Supply Chain

The National Corn Growers Association participated in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef’s...

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April 2, 2019

NCGA Releases Pollinator Protection Guide

The National Corn Growers Association – in partnership with the Honey Bee Health Coalition – is...

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March 28, 2019

Good Weed! Bad Weed!

If you’re a city dweller, you probably don’t think much about weeds except for the occasionally...

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March 25, 2019

Soil Health Partnership Announces Several Open Positions

As the Soil Health Partnership heads into its fifth year of long-term data collection on working...

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March 19, 2019

Consider Pollinator Plantings as You Gear Up for Spring

If you are a Monarch butterfly supporter buckle up because here’s some good news. The yearly...

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March 6, 2019

Minnesota Farm Family Represents Generations of Stewardship

A Minnesota farm family’s four generation conservation initiative garnered national attention at...

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February 26, 2019

The Bottom-Line Benefits of Sustainability

In today’s economic environment it’s more important than ever to focus on business survival as a...

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February 20, 2019

Planting is Coming and So Are the Pests. Are You Ready?

If you haven’t looked into the innovative and proactive Take Action initiative of late, it might...

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February 13, 2019

Soil Health Partnership Call for Proposals

The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) announced it is accepting proposals for partnerships and...

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January 28, 2019

RFA & NCGA Co-Title Sponsorship of 2019 Crappie Masters Tournament Trail Begins This Week

The 2019 season of the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail begins later this week, with the...

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January 17, 2019

Weak Farm Economy Not Hampering Drive to Healthier Soils

This week’s Soil Health Summit 2019 with Soil Health Partnership was the largest ever—360...

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January 16, 2019

Second Annual Soil Health Summit Awards Honor Best in Soil Health

Five dedicated leaders in soil health received “Seeds of Change” awards at the 2019 Soil Health...

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January 15, 2019

Look Down, You Are Standing on Our Future

How do we feed a growing population and meet additional, related demand from other sectors for...

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December 11, 2018

NCGA Statement on WOTUS Rule

National Corn Growers Association President Lynn Chrisp made the following statement on the...

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December 4, 2018

Soil Health Partnership Expands New Program to Grow Network and Data

Just in time for World Soil Day on December 5, the Soil Health Partnership announced it is...

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November 15, 2018

NCGA, USFRA Put Farming Sustainability in the Spotlight in Denver

The National Corn Growers Association joined other agricultural groups in telling farmers’...

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November 15, 2018

NCGA Names Robyn Allscheid Director of Research and Productivity

The National Corn Growers Association welcomes back Robyn Allscheid, who rejoins the...

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November 14, 2018

Environmental Defense Fund, National Corn Growers Association Launch First-of-Its-Kind Partnership

Powerful collaboration will scale conservation through data, policy and farmer...

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November 8, 2018
Commodity Classic Registration Opens Wednesday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. Central
Registration for America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural and educational...
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August 24, 2018
Solutions to Lake Erie’s Nutrient Issues Found in Emerging Partnerships
Water management and water quality are the key focus this week for State and National Corn...
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August 21, 2018
NCGA Joins Efforts to Block WOTUS
On Monday, a broad coalition of agriculture organizations, including the National Corn Growers...
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August 16, 2018
Dr. Shefali Mehta Tapped as New Leader of Soil Health Partnership
Shefali Mehta had a fascination with plants from early in her childhood. From her time growing...
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August 2, 2018
Get #SoilSmart: Soil Health Partnership Launches Soil Health Awareness Campaign
Visit Brian Corkill’s Twitter page, and you’ll learn that he’s a farmer, husband, father, Illini...
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July 30, 2018
Good Steward Aug. 6, Deadline Rapidly Approaching
If you have a farmer friend, neighbor or family member who epitomizes the title “Good Steward”...
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July 2, 2018
Recognizing Good Stewardship Matters
If you have a farmer friend, neighbor or family member who epitomizes the title “Good Steward”...
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July 2, 2018
Field to Market Sustainability Efforts Continue to Grow
Representatives from farmers through the entire production chain met in Madison, Wis. last week...
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April 20, 2018
Collaborative Effort on Climate Change
If the farming profession had a job description somewhere it would say good problem-solving...
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March 26, 2018
Soil Health Partnership Begins Search for New Director as Organization Continues to Grow
Goeser to remain engaged in new role with National Corn Growers Association As the Soil...
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March 12, 2018
Soil Health Partnership Builds One of Largest U.S. Databases of Soil Health Sample Info from Working Farms
The seeds of good data have been planted—and the Soil Health Partnership is eager to harvest...
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March 1, 2018
Kansas Farm Family Showcases New Sustainability Ethic on the Farm
A Kansas farm family’s soil-friendly, progressive farming practices and contributions to...
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February 22, 2018
This Grain Bin Safety Week, Remember the Importance of Precaution
The National Corn Growers Association reminds farmers of the importance of proper grain bin...
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February 22, 2018
New Virtual Reality Video Tells Soil Health Story from ‘Every Angle’
As interest grows in soil health and its potential to optimize farming, the Soil Health...
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September 9, 2016
NCGA's Soil Health Partnership receives $1 million Conservation Innovation Grant
A $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help spur a groundbreaking...
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More Sustainability News