In The News

Oct 30, 2023

Author: Gaylen Holloway

The National Corn Growers Association calls corn growers nationwide to submit their harvest results for the 2023 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC). The deadline for harvest results is approaching quickly, so farmers are urged to submit their entries as soon as possible to ensure that all requirements have been met.    The National Corn Yield Contest is a long-standing tradition in the corn industry, and each year, corn growers across the country achieve incredible results. Don’t miss your opportunity to contribute your agronomic data and compete with fellow corn growers.    To be included in the 2023 rankings, harvest results must be submitted by Thursday, November 30.  Participants can submit their 2023 harvest results at ncga.com/ncyc. Please contact NCYC at ncyc@ncga.com with any questions.

Oct 26, 2023

Key Issues: Research

Author: Stacey Stiens

Nourish the Future—a national education initiative developed by science teachers for science teachers—is recruiting its next round of Teacher Leaders! The Teacher Leader Community (TLC) is a year-long cohort experience specially designed for middle and high school teachers. The program offers participants opportunities to:   Enhance professional development capacities to fit diverse audiences and venues. Become skilled in inquiry-based lesson design. Become a leader in exploring solutions with your students on issues affecting sustainability, climate, environment and food production. Expand a professional network to include teachers and industry experts from different states. Become a career coach for students.   The deadline for the TLC V application is Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The leadership experience begins in January 2024 with a virtual celebration and introduction to the Nourish the Future program.   "The Nourish the Future program plays a crucial role in...

Oct 25, 2023

Author: Gaylen Holloway

The National Corn Growers Association is thrilled to announce the launch of its annual scholarship program for the 2024 academic year. This program is designed to support students who are passionate about agriculture and making a positive impact in their community.   NCGA will award scholarships to deserving students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and community involvement. The scholarships are open to students attending technical school, undergraduate universities, and pursuing graduate-level studies.   "We believe that education is critical in shaping the future of the agriculture industry, and we are committed to providing opportunities for students to achieve their academic and career goals," said Membership & Consumer Engagement Action Team Chair Dan Nerud. "This scholarship program is just one way we are fulfilling this commitment."   To apply for the scholarship, students must complete an online application. Submissions are now being accepted, and the...

Oct 24, 2023

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauded Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement today that his agency is releasing $1.3 billion in funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to support trade promotion to diversify and develop markets for commodities and specialty crop industries.   Vilsack’s decision, which will help growers break into new markets in Asia and Africa, was strongly supported and encouraged by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.). “To remain competitive globally, American farmers need our policymakers to make the necessary investments that will help ensure a strong global market for our crops,” said NCGA President Harold Wolle. “We are deeply appreciative of Secretary Vilsack as well as Sens. Stabenow and Boozman for making this funding a reality.” Analysis has shown that for every $1 invested in export market development, exports are increased by $24.50, according to USDA. The...

Oct 20, 2023

Key Issues: New Uses

Author: Stacey Stiens

At yesterday’s Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership 2023 Conference in San Francisco, California, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced the winners of the Consider Corn Challenge IV. Four winners were chosen, each with a unique way to improve a product or process using feed corn to produce biobased materials.    “The Consider Corn Challenge fosters innovative collaborations between corn farmers and industry, which paves the way for new products, chemicals and applications. This year’s winners have continued to demonstrate corn’s adaptability,” said Director of Market Development Sarah McKay. “And corn’s unique versatility can be witnessed in the showcase of their diverse approaches and applications. This contest continues to highlight the fact that U.S. corn is an extremely flexible feedstock suited for biobased products.”    The four winners for the Consider Corn Challenge IV are Bluestem Biosciences Inc., based out of Omaha, Nebraska; Pennsylvania State University,...

Oct 19, 2023

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

Saying fertilizer shortages are creating a hardship for farmers across the U.S., the National Corn Growers Association – along with 62 other agricultural groups, including state corn grower organizations – sent a letter today to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo calling on her to consider the current difficulties faced by farmers as she recalculates duties on phosphate fertilizer imported from Morocco.   The letter comes after the U.S. Court of International Trade ordered the agency to reconsider its previous decision on calculating the duties.    “High costs and limited availability of fertilizer continue to strain family farms across the United States,” the letter said. “[We] urge you to consider the impact of phosphate duties as the Department of Commerce works to reconsider its duty rate calculation.”   The duties levied on fertilizes have caused one of the U.S.’s top importers of certain phosphate fertilizers, the Moroccan-based OCP Group, to drastically reduce U.S....

Oct 18, 2023

Key Issues: Research

Author: Stacey Stiens

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announces a new round of research grants to help farmers manage aflatoxin issues. Proposals from principal investigators, co-principal investigators, and collaborators—and not exceeding the $100,000 per year limit—will be accepted by the Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence (AMCOE) no later than Wednesday, November 15, 2023. For more information about the review process, evaluation criteria and program eligibility, click here.   AMCOE’s Competitive Grants Program offers research grants for projects focused on solving profit-robbing aflatoxin issues for farmers. The program was developed by a consortium of southern state corn checkoff boards to provide a unified approach to funding projects affecting growers across the region. NCGA serves as the management structure in order to leverage more dollars for solving aflatoxin issues and to build strong regional teams which would be highly competitive for federal, public, and private...

Oct 16, 2023

Key Issues: Ethanol

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s proposed new fuel economy standards “greatly missed the intent” of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program to enhance energy security, according to technical comments filed today by the National Corn Growers Association, Renewable Fuels Association and National Farmers Union. The proposal, they assert, will lead to an overreliance on foreign critical minerals due to its myopic dependence on electric vehicles.   “As NHTSA determines the appropriate CAFE and fuel efficiency standards, it should avoid putting all our eggs in the electrification basket,” the three national trade associations wrote. “NHTSA’s current proposal greatly missed the intent of the CAFE program.  As Congress has acknowledged, solving energy security and air pollution issues related to the transportation sector requires a diversified portfolio of approaches.”   The associations noted an overreliance on electric vehicles that ignores specific challenges...

Oct 5, 2023

Author: Bryan Goodman

Laura Wolf, a seasoned communications strategist, has joined the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) as director of investor relations and communications.   Wolf will work closely with NCGA funders, such as checkoff programs, thinking globally about the organization’s funding needs and reporting on its accomplishments. She will also work on public relations efforts for the organization.   “Laura brings a great deal of experience and know-how to this position and will be an incredible asset as we work to communicate with all of our stakeholders,” said NCGA Vice President of Marketing and Communications Nicole Hasheider. “She is equal parts strategist and tactician, and her skills will go a long way in advancing the cause of corn growers.”   Wolf comes to NCGA from OBP Agency, one of the country’s leading agencies focused on advertising and public relations for the agriculture industry, where she worked on campaign development, brand strategy and cross-channel...

Oct 3, 2023

Author: Bryan Goodman

Harold Wolle, a corn farmer from Madelia, Minn., took over as president of the National Corn Growers Association this week.   During a press conference today, Wolle talked about his goals over the next year, saying reauthorizing a farm bill that reflects the priorities of corn growers will be a pressing concern. He also noted that he plans to push for support of the Next Generation Fuels Act in the House and Senate while making ethanol a go-to biofuel in the aviation sector.   “My theme as president is ‘shaping the Future,’ and nothing shapes the future like effective advocacy,” Wolle said. “And no other group does advocacy as well as our state corn grower groups and NCGA.”   Wolle has deep experience in many issues important to corn growers, having served on NCGA committees and the organization’s board, including as a board liaison to the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Advisory Board. He is also past president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.   Wolle said NCGA...