In The News

Feb 27, 2020

Key Issues: Sustainability

Initiative from National Corn Growers Association and Environmental Defense Fund will help farmers collaborate to remain productive and profitable   The National Corn Growers Association and Environmental Defense Fund today launched the Success in Stewardship Network at Commodity Classic to celebrate and accelerate the use of agricultural conservation practices on U.S. corn farms.   The network will showcase success stories from the many farmers and state-level programs putting stewardship into practice, with the goal of building an ever-growing network of corn farmers who are also conservation leaders. Today, NCGA and EDF recognized the Minnesota Corn Innovation Grant Program and the Illinois Corn Precision Conservation Management Program for their farmer-supported efforts to deliver clean water, healthy soils and farm profitability.   “The Success in Stewardship Network will break down the notion that conservation is only for an elite group of farmers,” said Callie...

Feb 26, 2020

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Dusty Weis

Listen to Wherever Jon May Roam on iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.   Farmers are the original environmentalists. For generations, they’ve tended the land, kept track of its health and put their hearts, backs and livelihoods into keeping it productive.   But in an era of climate change and extreme weather events, it’s going to take new allies and new tactics to help farmers in that mission, and the National Corn Growers Association has found an important partner in an unexpected place.   In this episode, NCGA CEO Jon Doggett and Environmental Defense Fund Senior VP of Ecosystems David Festa discuss the common ground they’ve discovered in helping growers weather storms, grow their profits and reduce their impact on the environment. They’re joined as well by NCGA VP of Production and Sustainability Nathan Fields.   Learn more about EDF’s conservation efforts to bolster farm finances.      Direct share TRANSCRIPT   David Festa: I've never...

Feb 20, 2020

Key Issues: SustainabilityFarm Policy

Author: Mark Lambert

This week, NCGA joined 21 farm groups to publicly launch Farmers for a Sustainable Future (FSF). The coalition’s mission is to share U.S. agriculture’s commitment to sustainability and the tremendous strides that have already been made to reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint. FSF will serve as a resource for lawmakers as they consider climate-related policies, providing its guiding principles as a foundation to further advance adoption of conservation programs. FSF’s principles call for policies that support science-based research, voluntary incentive-based conservation programs and investment in infrastructure   Corn farmers have long been leaders in working to improve the quality of soil, water, and air around our farms through NCGA programs, including the Soil Health Partnership (SHP).   More about the coalition, guiding principles and sustainability achievements can be found at sustainablefarming.us.   Also this week, USDA Secretary Perdue announced a new USDA...

Feb 19, 2020

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Julie Busse

Putting 2019 in the rear-view mirror, the Renewable Fuels Association is focusing forward in 2020, looking at the future of clean fuel standards and high-octane low-carbon fuel.   At the National Ethanol Conference, CEO Geoff Cooper, in his state of the industry address, told the roughly one-thousand attendees, “as we focus more acutely on positioning ethanol in discussions about energy and climate change, we need to play to ethanol’s unique strengths and emphasize the Three Cs: Clean Octane, Carbon Reduction and Consumer Choice.”   Cooper went on later in his speech to say “As we write the next chapter of renewable fuels policy, RFA and its allies believe ethanol has a tremendous opportunity to serve as the key ingredient of a future high octane low carbon fuel that delivers significant benefits to American consumers.”   NCGA CEO Jon Doggett was part of a stakeholder’s round table discussion with Callie Eideberg of the Environmental Defense Fund, John Reese with Shell Oil...

Feb 14, 2020

Key Issues: New UsesResearch

Author: Mark Lambert

Dr. Todd Werpy, senior vice president and chief science officer for ADM Company, will be the keynote speaker at the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference on June 1-3, 2020 in Chesterfield, Mo. Werpy, a member of ADM’s Executive Council, will address growth opportunities for sustainable materials from corn.   The biennial CUTC, put on by the National Corn Growers Association, is June 1-3, 2020 at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, St. Louis. CUTC provides a great opportunity for attendees to interact with key stakeholders throughout the corn supply chain, sharing each other’s needs, priorities and successes.   Scientists, farmers, researchers and corn industry leaders attend the sessions that focus on what is new and novel in corn product production, processing and utilization.  Since 1987, CUTC has brought together leading innovators in the corn industry with the goal of more efficient and increased corn utilization.   Werpy is responsible for...

Feb 13, 2020

Key Issues: Farm Policy

Secretary Perdue came by his knowledge of agriculture early: He was born into a farming family in Bonaire, Georgia. From childhood, and through his life in business and elected office, Secretary Perdue has experienced the industry from every possible perspective. Uniquely qualified as a former farmer, agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator and governor of Georgia, he became the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture on April 25, 2017.     Secretary Perdue has served as a board member for the National Grain & Feed Association and as president of both the Georgia Feed and Grain Association and the Southeastern Feed and Grain Association. Secretary Perdue has long-standing, close relationships with the leadership of the American Farm Bureau Federation and has been recognized by the Georgia 4-H and FFA programs, among others, for his leadership in agriculture.   During the General Session, the audience will also hear an inspiring presentation from Lt. Col. Waldo...

Feb 13, 2020

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Mark Lambert

This week supporters of the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) are meeting to discuss progress and review pilot programs geared toward expanding stewardship on the nation’s farms.   Driving the novel approach of ESMC is the notion that rewarding farmers is the best way to generate environmental assets that improve soil health on farmer’s land, according to Rachel Orf, NCGA’s Stewardship and Sustainability Director.   Participants heard about pilot project opportunities for 2020 surfaced by four working groups made up of volunteer ESMC member representatives and science advisers. The selected projects will drive ESMC’s efforts to launch a fully functioning national scale ecosystem services market conceived and designed for the agriculture sector by 2022.   “The ESMC will enable farmers and ranchers to voluntarily adjust crop and livestock production systems in ways that increase soil carbon sequestration and retention, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water...

Feb 12, 2020

Key Issues: Animal Agriculture

Author: Julie Busse

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Annual Cattle Industry and Trade Show, #CattleCon20, was attended last week by nearly 9,000 in the ag industry including representatives of the National Corn Growers Association addressing the next generation of feed products.   NCGA Corn Board Members Dennis McNinch, a Kansas farmer, and Gary Porter, a Missouri farmer, along with staff members Sarah McKay and Michael Granché, attended the convention in San Antonio, Texas.   “The beef industry consumes roughly 1,250 million bushels of corn annually,” said NCGA Market Development Director Sarah McKay. “It’s important for us to engage with our partners and talk to them about some of the exciting research and projects we are working on in the feed space.”   NCGA hosted a Learning Lounge session on Friday afternoon, talking to attendees about the relationship between corn and cattle and how next-generation feed products, such as HP-DDGS and residual fiber and solubles from advanced corn...

Feb 12, 2020

If you can’t commit to all three days at the 2020 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, never fear!  One-day registrations can provide a robust experience of education, new equipment and technology, entertainment and the opportunity to network with thousands of fellow farmers from across the nation.   The 2020 Commodity Classic will be held Thursday, Feb. 27 through Saturday, Feb. 29 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.   One-day registration provides admission to all applicable events and educational sessions scheduled for that day including educational sessions, the trade show, the Main Stage on the trade show floor, and other daily activities.   Registration is available in advance at www.CommodityClassic.com through February 19.    Attendees can also register on-site during the event.    Thursday registration includes a wide range of educational sessions and technical presentations, the Early Riser session on grain marketing, the grand opening...

Feb 12, 2020

Key Issues: SustainabilityPollinators

Author: Mark Lambert

A growing partnership between the National Corn Growers Association and the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund (BBHF) supports creating new habitat for pollinators and you can help by considering adding habitat on your farm. The good news is the technical assistance and seed mix is free.   NCGA, with the assistance of state corn checkoff dollars, is working to raise the profile of the BBHF’s efforts and the free resources they make available to make farms more sustainable.   “If farmers have a resource concern, they have an area that is underperforming, it’s a great place to consider putting in some habitat, some additional vegetative cover, for water quality issues or erosion,” said Peter Berthelsen, Partnership Director at BBHF. “These areas present opportunities where pollinator habitat can work with a producer to address their resource concerns, and that’s a great fit for how we want to work with agriculture.”   Brandon Hunnicutt, an NCGA board member who works with the...

Feb 10, 2020

Author: Mark Lambert

National Corn Growers Association is excited to announce the official launch of a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education program called Nourish the Future. The effort, funded with the support of corn state checkoff investment, kicked off with a virtual meeting of the Teacher Leadership Community.   “Biology and chemistry teachers from across the country were selected to participate in the inaugural year-long program,” said NCGA Research and Productivity Director, Robyn Allscheid. “The goal is to help these teachers identify opportunities to introduce agriculture topics into their classrooms and provide leadership and mentoring opportunities.”   The next step for Nourish the Future will be a workshop during Commodity Classic in San Antonio Feb. 26-29, 2020. The group will learn about a broad range of subjects from the role of genetics in feeding a growing population to fermentation and the chemistry of biofuels. The selected teachers will be joined...

Feb 10, 2020

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Julie Busse

Growing demand for the ethanol industry domestically with E15 and higher ethanol blends and expanding markets internationally were the key themes of the Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference last week, Vision 2020.   National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross participated in a discussion on-stage with Mark Marquis, CEO of Marquis Energy. “The farmer voice is so important in Washington D.C.” Ross told the crowd. “We are a grassroots organization and partnerships with industry groups that have similar goals like Growth Energy will help us continue to grow the E15 market and higher blends of ethanol.”   Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, during her CEO address, told attendees “Make no mistake, successful E15 market adoption paves the way for even higher blends. We will only get higher blends when we show E15 isn’t niche fuel – that this higher blend is the preferred, regular fuel consumers use every time they fuel up.”   Skor went on to say "We now have more than...

Feb 5, 2020

Key Issues: Sustainability

The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is pleased to introduce Dr. Carrie Roever as the new Data Manager.   Dr. Roever’s primary responsibility will be to assist in organizing and finding efficiencies in the SHP data. “I enjoy assembling the puzzle that is involved with figuring out data and looking for efficiencies. I’m eager to dig into SHP’s data and make sense of how it all fits together,” she commented.   SHP, a program of the National Corn Growers Association, promotes the adoption of soil health practices for economic and environmental benefits. SHP collects on-farm data that enable farmers to understand the long-term changes in soil health in order to make management decisions based on regional data sets.   Dr. Roever completed her bachelor’s degree at Indiana State University, her master's degree at the University of Alberta and her doctorate at the University of Pretoria. Her degrees are in wildlife biology, looking at habitat selection.   After her doctorate, Dr....

Feb 4, 2020

Key Issues: Farm Policy

Author: Liz Friedlander

Wayne Stoskopf has joined NCGA’s Washington, D.C. office as Director for Public Policy for Risk Management and Tax. Stoskopf will also serve as lead staff for the Risk Management and Transportation Team.   Stoskopf comes to NCGA from the Senate Agriculture Committee where, as Senior Professional Staff, he oversaw commodity programs, crop insurance, disaster, and grain standards programs. He led staff-level negotiations for the commodities and crop insurance titles of the 2018 Farm Bill.   “Wayne is a great addition to the NCGA DC team,” said NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Brooke Appleton. “He brings vital Capitol Hill experience to the role and will lead the association's efforts on the next farm bill.”   Prior to his work on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Stoskopf served as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Pat Roberts and U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, handling agriculture issues for both offices. Wayne was raised on his family’s farm near Hoisington, Kansas and...

Feb 4, 2020

Key Issues: EthanolSustainabilityTradeAnimal AgricultureBiotechnologyConsumer EngagementFarm PolicyNew UsesProductionResearch

Author: Mark Lambert

The National Corn Growers Association’s Ann ual Report for the 2019 fiscal year is now available online.  The report highlights memorable events and victories accomplished in a year characterized by weather and policy challenges.   “NCGA was in some pretty amazing positions in 2019. From sharing the stage with President Trump to having a beer with the Coors family after the Super Bowl attack on corn sweetener,” said 2019 NCGA First Vice President Kevin Ross from Iowa. “We are constantly prepared to engage, and we are looking for new allies and new conversations to represent corn growers better.”    Through unruly weather, flooding, sluggish markets and trade disruptions, NCGA members kept moving forward together to reach long-term, strategic goals to improve prices and the overall future of the industry. As the year ended NCGA’s grassroots efforts resulted in several major trade victories, a strong support system through the farm bill, and more opportunity for E15 and other...