In The News

Jan 31, 2019

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Corn farmers from across the country traveled to Washington this week to take part in the second phase of the annual leadership development programs co-sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association and Syngenta. While in town, the group visited numerous congressional leaders and got an inside look at parliamentary procedure and how lobbying works on Capitol Hill.   “For three decades, the Leadership At Its Best program has played an important role in helping corn growers become leaders at the state and national level,” said Kevin Ross, NCGA’s current first vice president and a LAIB graduate himself. “In Washington, our farmer leaders saw firsthand how decisions made in our nation’s capital impact us all back on our farms. Using the skills developed here, these farmer leaders effective, compelling voices will concretely benefit NCGA and all its farmer members through their current and future endeavors.”   The Leadership At Its Best class received briefings on the issues...

Jan 28, 2019

Author: Beth Musgrove

It was a record-breaking year for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest. More than 590 images were submitted for judging in the 2018 contest.   In total, 25 prizes were awarded, representing photographers from 16 states. This year’s grand prize photo was submitted by Ryan Kanode from Colorado with the photo titled “Golden.”   “Every year it gets harder and harder to judge the photos as the quality and quantity continues to grow,” said NCGA Graphic Communications Manager Beth Musgrove. “One of the things the judging committee loved about Ryan’s photo is that it represented part of the story of agriculture that we typically don’t see captured in photography. This photograph could have a variety of different meanings to it, depending on who is viewing it. For some, it signals the last load being delivered and the end of the season. For others, it could represent the beginning of harvest. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.”   “We continue to...

Jan 28, 2019

Key Issues: EthanolSustainability

Author: Julie Busse

The 2019 season of the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail begins later this week, with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) signed on as co-title sponsors for the third consecutive year. The first of 16 tournaments begins Friday, Feb. 1 in Deland, Fla., between Daytona and Orlando, at St. Johns River.   “Crappie Masters is pleased to again have the Renewable Fuels Association as a 2019 co-title sponsor of the Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail,” said Crappie Masters President Mike Vallentine. “We have done significant education outreach to the boating community on the benefits of 10 percent ethanol blends (E10), and have helped push back on misinformation on higher blends like E15. Every Crappie Masters tournament winning team for the past four years has safely used E10 fuel with no reported engine issues. We plan to continue to help dispel the myths propagated by ethanol’s opponents, and support homegrown,...

Jan 25, 2019

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

In a follow-up to its October 2018 meeting, five members of MAIZALL, the international maize alliance, were in Geneva this month to advocate for agricultural innovation with World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Roberto Azevedo and five other WTO country representatives.   Rapid innovation in agriculture benefits farmers who can grow more and higher quality crops using fewer natural resources. But these same innovations push governments around the world to determine the best ways to regulate these modern practices, and the WTO helps determine whether these policies are fair. MAIZALL encourages countries to adopt science-based policies to prevent disruptions to trade.   “It is extremely important to show the Director-General that the farmer alliance that is MAIZALL believes innovation is important and we need to draw attention to innovation at the highest levels within the WTO,” said MAIZALL Board Member Chip Councell.   MAIZALL President Cesario Ramalho, MAIZALL...

Jan 24, 2019

Key Issues: New Uses

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Will you help the National Corn Growers Association find the untapped potential of corn? NCGA is holding the Consider Corn Challenge II and will be hosting an informational webinar January 28, 2019 at 11 a.m. EST. To register for the webinar, click here: 9sig.co/CCIIWebinar .   “The webinar is an opportunity for participants to hear directly from one of the previous Consider Corn Challenge winners, get more specifics about the contest and ask questions about the contest,” said Director of Market Development Sarah McKay. “We had a diverse set of applications last year and look forward to receiving more this year.”   “The goal of the contest is to identify and highlight new uses and markets for the U.S. corn crop,” McKay added. “Corn production continues to increase year over year, and corn farmers are able to do more with less. Corn is an affordable, sustainable and abundant feedstock for the bio-based chemical industry to use.”   Three to six winners will be selected for a...

Jan 23, 2019

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

NCGA is committed to helping corn producers weather this tough economy by creating market opportunities for U.S. corn, including expanding market access for our products around the globe. Exports of corn and corn products account for a third of corn farmers’ incomes.   To accomplish these goals, we work closely with our partners at the U.S. Grains Council. NCGA advocates for elimination of barriers to corn and corn products in the U.S trade policy agenda, passage of strong trade agreements by Congress and helps secure market development funds that USGC puts into action. USGC’s mission is clear - develop markets, enable trade and improve lives. USGC leaders, staff members, and consultants strive to be the most relevant, passionate and trusted ambassadors for free and fair trade between U.S. agriculture and our customers around the world.   The flow of goods, ideas, capital, and people are essential for prosperity, and for American competitiveness in the global economy. This is...

Jan 17, 2019

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Mary Quigley

This week’s Soil Health Summit 2019 with Soil Health Partnership was the largest ever—360 registered attendees made their way to St. Louis to learn and network. A diverse group including farmers, corporations, educators and environmental groups spent two days talking about soil health. The summit provided many takeaway messages and insights of interest. Here are just a few:   Enthusiasm for learning new sustainability practices and adopting new farm management tools to protect and improve soil is not being slowed by a prolonged downturn in the farm economy. Many farmers, landlords, and others are investing in the long game to assure more sustainable and profitable agriculture.   SHP outreach is building a diverse coalition of partners from farms all the way to consumers. The program and the network being created is growing rapidly.   The common interest of proving the latest farming techniques, building healthier soils, cleaner water while maintaining farmer...

Jan 15, 2019

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Mary Quigley

How do we feed a growing population and meet additional, related demand from other sectors for crops (like corn) while also addressing farmers and consumers desire for continuous improvement, healthier soils and cleaner water? Enter the Soil Health Partnership.   Today and tomorrow, SHP is hosting a meeting with national significance called the Soil Health Summit 2019 in St. Louis, Mo.  SHP Executive Director Shefali Mehta says the diverse partnership is “a gathering of unlikely partners” that includes farmers, agronomists, environmental groups, and partners from throughout the value chain from the farm all the way to finished consumer products.   Mehta, notes a key thing that sets SHP apart is supporters moved beyond “just talking” quickly, and the “unlikely partners” rallied around their shared desire to help farmers improve soil health while maintaining and improving profitability. The result is a boots-on-the-ground effort that is turning farmers fields into a research...

Jan 11, 2019

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Beth Musgrove

Yesterday, the National Corn Growers Association and its CommonGround were recognized for excellence at the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Region II Awards Ceremony. NCGA’s World of Corn Publication, which is sponsored by Bayer, took the first-place award for Company Publications- Annual Report. CommonGround, one of the programs managed by NCGA’s Consumer Engagement Action Team, won the first-place award for Social Media Campaigns Directed to Consumers for its series of carpool moments videos.   See these videos by clicking here.   To see the World of Corn, click here.   “Consumers have many questions about how farmers and ranchers grow and raise food. It is understandable given their desire to raise healthy, happy families,’ said NCGA Consumer Engagement Action Team Chair Ted Mottaz. “Through programs such as CommonGround, NCGA works to bridge the gap from farm to plate so that families who buy the foods we raise can feel confident in their choices.   “When farmers...

Jan 10, 2019

Author: Mary Quigley

NCGA is committed to creating new market opportunities for U.S. corn. This includes expanding market access for U.S. corn around the globe and securing our most important markets by injecting certainty back into our relationships with Mexico and Canada.   The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been an unequivocal success for American corn farmers. Since 1994, U.S. corn exports to these regional partners have increased 300 percent and Mexico is now the top export destination for U.S. corn.   Corn exports to Mexico were up nearly 13 percent for 2017/2018 from the previous year, reaching a record high of 15.7 million tons or 618 million bushels.   In 2016 alone, more than 17.3 million metric tons of corn and corn co-products were exported to Mexico and Canada, valued at $3.2 billion. These exports produced $4.1 billion in economic activity as well as supported 25,000 jobs and 300,000 farms.   Now, as Congress looks to consider the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement,...

Jan 4, 2019

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman, Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, today announced his decision not to seek reelection in 2020. Roberts was first elected to Kansas’s First Congressional District in 1980 before his election to the U.S. Senate in 1996.   Roberts has been an outspoken advocate for farmers and agriculture. He is the first member of Congress in history to have chaired both the House Agriculture Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee. He has also served as the ranking member of each committee.    “Senator Roberts’ influence on agriculture, from his leadership roles on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, is unmatched,” said NCGA CEO Jon Doggett. “He has been a steadfast advocate for farmers on a host of issues important to American agriculture. While we will miss his leadership in the Senate, we look forward to working with him during the 116th Congress and wish him and his family the best.”   "I can't think of a lawmaker who is more in touch...

Jan 3, 2019

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

NCGA President Lynn Chrisp, First Vice President Kevin Ross, and Chairman Kevin Skunes were in Washington, D.C. this week for the swearing-in of the 116th Congress. The Leadership Team attended several Capitol Hill receptions to welcome both new and returning members of Congress and offer NCGA as a resource to lawmakers as issues of importance to corn growers arise in the new Congressional session.   “NCGA has strong relationships on Capitol Hill, but with so many new members of Congress, many of whom might not represent corn growers, we wanted to take this opportunity to introduce NCGA. We were able to stress the importance of creating market opportunities for corn and lay the foundation for a good working relationship in the future,” said Chrisp.   The 116th Congress includes ten new Senators and 100 new Representatives.