In The News

Dec 17, 2021

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

One of the nation’s leading fertilizer companies has erected an insurmountable tariff barrier to keep its top competitors out of the U.S. market at the expense of America’s farmers, according to a letter released this week by the National Corn Growers Association.   Leaders from NCGA and its state affiliates signed the letter, which was sent to executives at Mosaic Co., one of the nation’s largest fertilizer producers. The letter takes Mosaic to task for the tariffs that were imposed in March by the U.S. International Trade Commission at the fertilizer company’s behest. Fertilizer prices have since skyrocketed.    “Mosaic’s posture to date has been a masterpiece of irresponsible corporate social responsibility,” the letter says.     The letter highlighted the stranglehold Mosaic has placed on its customers and suggested the company’s monopoly is creating serious problems for farmers.   “…only 15% of phosphorous imports now come into the U.S. without tariffs,” the letter...

Dec 15, 2021

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Corn growers showed the amazing possibilities open to agriculture with the use of modern seed varieties, advanced production techniques and innovative growing practices this year as David Hula topped the 600 bushel-per-acre mark again this year in NCGA’s National Corn Yield Contest.  Hula, of Charles City, Virginia, repeated his accomplishment and produced the highest yield in the contest with 602.1694 bushels per acre. These great yields, which have been achieved nationwide despite many challenges, reflect farmers' resilience and deep dedication to continuous improvement.   The National Corn Yield Contest is now in its 57th year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members.   “This contest offers farmers a chance to come together both for good-natured competition and to help innovate the future of our industry,” said Lowell Neitzel, chair of NCGA’s Member and Consumer Engagement Action Team. “These contestants grow to be leaders in many other ways as well. For many, the...

Dec 14, 2021

Author: Beth Musgrove

More than 300 photos were entered in the National Corn Growers Association’s 2021 Fields-of-Corn.com photo contest. Entrants and interested observers are invited to use the month of December to ramp up popularity through Facebook Likes.   Entrants compete for 26 cash prizes across 8 categories, with two $500 prizes, one for popularity and one of a panel of judges. The number of Facebook likes are an influential factor across all categories.   Annually the National Corn Growers Association invites amateur and professional photographers alike to help tell the story of farming field corn in America through the  Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest. Through this contest, NCGA seeks high-quality photos of corn growth from seed to harvest and the families that grow it.    Visitors can pick their favorite photos at Fields-of-Corn.com/vote by using the Like and Share buttons to accumulate votes through Dec. 31.     Winners are to be announced in...

Dec 13, 2021

Author: Dusty Weis

A Democrat and a Republican work together for reason and compromise in our national politics.   Bipartisanship is how things get done in Washington, and what holds us together as Americans. So how’s that going in our nation’s capital?   “Things are not good, from a bipartisan perspective right now,” Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson from South Dakota tells us in this episode.   And Democrat Abigail Spanberger from Virginia agrees.   As members of the bipartisan “Problem Solvers’ Caucus,” these two Congresspeople have developed a reputation for trying to work together instead of tear one another down.   But they can’t do it alone. And so in this episode, they join us once again to discuss how Americans can help bring compromise back, and why it’s important for the corn industry.     Direct Share Link   Rep. Abigail Spanberger: I value bipartisanship. It's being intentional with the desire to say, "I don't need you to agree with everything I'm about to say, but I want...

Dec 10, 2021

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Bryan Goodman

A report released this week by the Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council details the work of farmers to improve water quality issues along the Mississippi River Basin. The National Corn Growers Association, a member of ANPC, has played an active role in these efforts.    “This report demonstrates the unique approaches ag groups and farmers are employing to protect water quality,” said Iowa farmer and NCGA President Chris Edgington. “Corn growers are committed to being good environmental stewards as we feed and power America.” ANPC was initiated in 2010 to help state and local agricultural trade associations and companies work with farmers to improve water quality issues along the Mississippi River Basin. This latest report stems from interviews with state agricultural trade associations and highlights the work of farmers in 16 states.    The report will be presented at the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force on Virtual Meeting on Dec. 14. “We encourage our...

Dec 9, 2021

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Julie Busse

To improve air quality and remove arcane barriers to innovation and consumer choice in the retail fuel marketplace, six national farm and biofuel organizations have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enact regulations requiring lower-volatility conventional gasoline blendstock in the summertime. This would result in lower tailpipe and evaporative emissions during the summer ozone control season and improve air quality.   In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the Renewable Fuels Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and National Sorghum Producers said reducing the volatility of gasoline by just 1 pound per square inch (psi) would yield significant environmental benefits.   Regarding air quality, the six organizations referenced and attached a new study using EPA modeling tools, showing that reducing the vapor pressure of conventional gasoline blendstock by 1 psi “…would be...

Dec 7, 2021

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released delayed proposed biofuel blending volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The agency proposed an increase in the total biofuel blending requirement for 2022 of 22.77 billion gallons, which allows for an implied ethanol volume of 15 billion gallons. EPA also proposed to add 250 million gallons in response to a 2017 court decision, with the remainder of that 500-million-gallon court remand pledged to come in next year’s rulemaking.   The proposal includes a total renewable fuel volume of 18.52 for 2021, and a 2.96-billion-gallon reduction from the previous final 2020 volume requirement, the first time EPA has proposed a retroactive RFS volume reduction.   In addition, EPA proposed denial of the 65 pending RFS refinery waiver petitions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture separately released COVID assistance funding for biofuel producers that Congress approved last year and committed an additional $100 million to...

Dec 6, 2021

Author: Bryan Goodman

In response to the passing of Sen. Robert J. Dole of Kansas, NCGA CEO Jon Doggett released the following statement:    “We are deeply saddened by the death of Sen. Dole. A champion for farmers, Sen. Dole was crucial in forging important and long-lasting coalitions to pass Farm Bills through Congress, at times having to navigate steep budget cuts to do so. As Senate Republican Leader, he worked with colleagues across the aisle to promote disability rights and address hunger in America and abroad. The senator was a war hero and true statesman who cared deeply about America. Dole’s legacy should remind us all that when we connect through humor and work together we can tackle major issues for this great country.”     

Dec 3, 2021

Key Issues: Farm Policy

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls this week agreed to provide a reprieve through April of next year on sanctions on potash fertilizers imported to the U.S. from Belarus.    “This is a win for the American farmer,” said Iowa farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “Farmers are having a very hard time securing fertilizers, so a positive development like this couldn’t come at a better time.”    NCGA and other groups initiated dialogue in November with the Treasury Department expressing concern that sanctions on potash were resulting in fertilizer shortages across the country.    As farmers have struggled to secure and pay for fertilizers and other inputs, NCGA has been sounding the alarm saying that tariffs and sanctions on imports only make a bad situation worse.  “The American farmer should not have to suffer for the trade practices of foreign governments or for disagreement between multi-national corporations,”...

Dec 2, 2021

Author: Gaylen Holloway

The National Corn Growers Association and its members are proud to support three scholarship programs for three distinct audiences. These programs support students who are passionate about agriculture and are looking to build careers that support the agriculture sector. Qualified students will receive scholarship funding for the fall 2022 semester.   The three programs include:    Five $1,000 scholarships for students pursuing a technical school or community college degree. Five $1,500 scholarships for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in any field, provided by BASF Corporation and NCGA. One $2,500 scholarship for a graduate student whose area of study will benefit the corn sector. To apply, students or a parent/guardian must be a member of the NCGA. In addition, past scholarship winners and employees and the families of employees of any division of BASF or their subsidiaries or the NCGA are not eligible for the scholarship.   Applications are currently open, and...

Dec 1, 2021

Key Issues: Farm Policy

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. Department of Commerce today made a preliminary determination in favor of a complaint filed by CF Industries that urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) imports from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago are unfairly subsidized by their governments. As a result, the Department of Commerce is recommending countervailing duties on fertilizers from these countries. The decision comes on the heels of a decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission in March to grant a petition by the Mosaic Company to place tariffs on phosphorous fertilizer imported from outside the country. Those tariffs were also recommended by the Commerce Department. In response to this development, the National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington released the following statement:   “Farmers across the country have spoken publicly over the last several weeks about the severe impact fertilizer shortages are having on the budgets of family farms. While there are a host of issues that contributed to this...