Exports and animal agriculture make up nearly 70% of annual corn demand. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Market Development Action Team (MDAT) portfolio includes these, as well as new uses of corn. The team’s primary goal and focus is to drive demand for America’s corn farmers.
“Last fall, we announced the winners of the Consider Corn Challenge III, engaged with our animal ag partners on a variety of projects, and worked with trade industry partners to promote the benefits of corn grown here in the U.S.,” said MDAT Chair and Colorado farmer Troy Schneider. “We are going to build upon our wins from 2021, and continue to make strides in this space in 2022 and beyond. I look forward to seeing what we can get accomplished over the next year.”
The team’s 2022 priorities include:
- Increase demand for U.S. Animal Agriculture domestic demand and exports
- Support research into corn and corn co-product use within animal feed
- Identify new & support existing industrial uses of corn
- Support development of trade policy that opens markets, removes trade barriers, and advances international demand for corn and corn products.
“As a corn farmer and livestock producer, being good partners with our animal ag customers is extremely important to me,” said MDAT vice chair and Ohio farmer Dennis Vennekotter. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of hosting various international trade delegations to talk about how we sustainably produce our crop. This is why working with organizations like the U.S. Grains Council and U.S. Export Meat Federation is critical to our future growth and success.”
Through the Market Development Action team, NCGA actively engages with the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), U.S.A. Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), U.S. Pork Board, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Egg (USRSPE), National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Certified Angus Beef, National Pork Board (NPB), MAIZALL, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), North American Meat Institute (NAMI), National Corn to Ethanol Research Center (NCERC), the Animal Agriculture Alliance, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, Corn Refiners Association, Biotechnology Innovation Organization and Plant Based Products Council.
You can learn more about the recent successes and work being done in the Market Development Action Team at ncga.com and look under the Key Issues tab for animal agriculture, new uses, and trade.