In The News

Apr 8, 2024

Author: Krista Swanson

Motor gasoline use is expected to decline in the future even under a baseline case, but new tailpipe emissions rules really put the pedal to the metal – rapidly accelerating that process. This would be a major shock on demand for corn used to produce ethanol spurring potentially devastating impacts on farmers and the rural economy.       The New Tailpipe Emissions Rule The Environmental Protection Agency recently released its final rule for multi-pollutant emissions standards for model years 2027 and later light-duty and medium-duty vehicles with heavy reliance on the use of electric vehicles. The ruling dictates that sales of non-electric vehicles will drop from over 92% of new vehicle sales in 2023[i] to under 30% of new vehicle sales in 2032. In the EPA central scenario, that translates to a 6.9-billion-gallon reduction in motor gasoline use in 2032, a 5.7% decline from the baseline projection for that year. Motor gasoline use is expected to decline in the baseline, but...

Feb 16, 2024

Key Issues: Production

Author: Krista Swanson

USDA released the Grains and Oilseeds Outlook this week providing an initial look at the 2024/25 marketing year projections that include lower production, greater domestic use, increased exports, and higher ending stocks as compared to the current 2023/24 market years. The following is a summary and some additional context for five projections from the latest outlook.   Yield Corn yield is projected at 181 bushels per acre. Yield projections depend on the modeling approach and time series used. While a 3.7 bushel per acre increase over the 2023 record 177.3 bushels per acre may seem like a stretch, a regression on annual yields from 2023 to several different historical points including 1934, 1980, and 1996 all predict 2024 yields within about one bushel of the USDA projection.   Trendline yields are a reasonable expectation at this point. Adverse weather is generally thought to have a negative impact on yields but in 2023 a record yield was achieved in a year with widespread...

Feb 9, 2024

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Krista Swanson

A combination of climate, conflict, and currency values are factors in cost competitiveness that impacts transits and overall U.S. corn exports.   Climate Climate conditions brought widespread drought to the United States Corn Belt in 2023. Dry conditions in the Mississippi River basin led to record low water levels. As a result, barge weight and traffic restrictions were imposed, and the 7.7 million tons of corn moved by barge on the Mississippi River in 2023 was 30% lower than 2022 and 54% lower than 2021. Ultimately, the cost of added time and weight restrictions were factors contributing to a higher corn price at port but also meant pace of getting grain to the port was slowed.   Climate-induced waterway challenges for U.S. corn don’t end at the Gulf. Extreme drought has forced substantial scaleback of shipping through the Panama Canal, a key global maritime channel. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has reduced traffic to 24 ships a day, about two-thirds of the normal...

Dec 1, 2023

Key Issues: TradeTransportation and Infrastructure

Author: Krista Swanson

For the second year in a row, drought conditions are impacting transportation on the Mississippi River at the peak shipment point of the year. Shallower river levels mean barge weight restrictions, slower barge traffic, and higher costs to ship commodities on the river. Ultimately, this translates to a relatively lower price at the farmgate and higher cost for the world buyer.   Drought Slows Grain Barge Traffic in 2022 and 2023 The Mississippi River is an important channel for commodity transportation. The USDA reports the final mode of transport was barge for 13% of U.S. grains in 2020, and 46% of exported U.S. grains[i]. There are normally two peaks in grain barge movements, one in late summer leading up to the end of the marketing year for corn and soybeans, and the other emerging in the fall harvest season and into the post-harvest months.   The impact of low water levels on grain barge movements was notable in 2023, marking the second consecutive year of drought...

Jul 24, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Delegates attending the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Congress, which was held July 20 in Washington D.C., elected four farmers to serve on the organization’s Corn Board.  Taking office on Oct. 1, the start of NCGA’s 2024 fiscal year, are new board members Troy Schneider of Colorado, Kelly Nieuwenhuis of Iowa and Bill Leigh of Illinois. Current board member Jed Bower of Ohio was re-elected. All four candidates were elected to three-year terms.   “This year’s Corn Board candidates brought impressive records of service to their fellow farmers,” said NCGA Nominating Committee Chairman Chris Edgington. “Their willingness to share their time and talent serves as a testament to the importance of the work we do. I look forward to watching how the insights, ideas, experiences and perspectives each brings helps guide NCGA’s work to build a bright future for corn farmers across the country.”   The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while...

Jun 30, 2023

Key Issues: Research

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) encourages qualified graduate students to apply for the Research Ambassador program. If you are interested in building a personal network of future agricultural leaders as you begin your career, you will want to apply today.   To ensure all interested applicants have a chance at this incredible opportunity, NCGA has extended the deadline for applications to its NCGA Research Ambassador Program to July 15.   Graduate students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and are involved in research broadly related to corn production are eligible to apply. Selected students receive a $2,500 award, up to $750 to offset travel and registration costs for scientific conferences, and fully-funded travel to participate in NCGA events throughout the year.   For more information, visit NCGA Research Ambassador Program.   Interested applicants may contact Robyn Allscheid at allscheid@ncga.com

Jun 15, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

The National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board has elected Ken Hartman Jr. to become the organization's next first vice president for the new fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2023.    Hartman is a fifth-generation farmer who operates a grain farm along with his wife, Anita, daughter, Amanda, and mother, Joann in Waterloo, Illinois. Together, they have also raised specialty crops such as tofu soybeans and white corn, while also being early adopters of precision farming technologies. His daughter Alexis is a financial analyst for Waste Management in California and Ashley works for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa.     “I’m honored to serve America’s corn farmers in a new way with NCGA,” said Hartman. “I look forward to working with my fellow officers as we tackle issues that are critically important to corn growers and rural America.”    Hartman currently chairs the NCGA Finance Committee. He also served as co-chair of the 2023 Commodity Classic committee.     Hartman was...

Jun 12, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Applications for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) 2023/2024 Leadership Academy Class are live! The goal of this program is to bring together a diverse group of grower leaders who seek to improve their ability to serve their state organizations, enhance their communication skills, and understand the important role of advocacy—all to advance the priorities of our nation’s corn growers and build the next generation of industry leaders.   Through this program, NCGA’s members are empowered to pursue their leadership journey and utilize their skills to inspire action in others. Hear what participants have to say about this program’s success.   The 2023/2024 class will meet in St. Louis, MO from August 7-9, 2023, for a session on leadership, communication, and personal branding. The class will reconvene in Washington, DC from January 22-24, 2024, for advocacy training. NCGA is grateful to our sponsors, UPL and FMC, for their support of this program.      Interested in...

Jun 1, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) welcomed interns to both offices thanks to the support by the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA). These internships provide students with an overview of the corn industry through real-world professional experiences while developing the next generation of talent to move the industry forward.   Hannah Roebke is majoring in broadcasting, journalism and sports media and communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She will be interning with NCGA in St. Louis, focusing on communications and outreach.   Roebke says “I am excited for the opportunity to work in an industry that is close to my heart. I look forward to learning more about ag while getting to communicate the message of NCGA.”   Alexis Bodlak, who is majoring in nutrition-community health and wellness, policy analysis and pre-law at UNL will be spending her summer in Washington, D.C. working on policy with...

May 24, 2023

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Farmers adopting cover crops through Farmers for Soil Health can look forward to enhanced technical assistance. The recent $13.6 million grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation mark a significant step forward for farmers who plan to enroll in the program later this year. The grants, a key component of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $95 million Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities, will offer personal, on-the-ground technical support to farmers in 19 states.   Farmers for Soil Health is a collaboration between the National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Board and United Soybean Board with the goal to advance conservation practices to improve soil health across the U.S., including doubling cover crop acres in the U.S. to 30 million acres by 2030.   “U.S. farmers are dedicated to implementing sustainable practices that will not only feed and fuel a growing population but also protect our environment,” said Jack Cornell, director of sustainable...