In The News

Nov 16, 2023

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said today that it is pleased that the House and Senate passed a continuing resolution that extends the 2018 farm bill for one year, but the association said the extension is no substitute for a fully reauthorized farm bill. “Growers are already making decisions for the 2024 crop year based on markets, growing conditions and risk calculations,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “This extension provides us with much needed certainty around the commodity title and other important USDA programs. But we continue to advocate for a full reauthorization of the farm bill as soon as possible.”   The 2018 farm bill, which expired on September 30, authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm and food programs. Late Tuesday night, the House of Representatives bundled the farm bill extension with a continuing resolution to fund the government through early next year. The Senate signaled its support soon after...

Jul 26, 2023

Key Issues: Farm Bill

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) released a video series featuring corn growers across the nation sharing their personal stories about how the farm bill affects their operations. The videos were unveiled at Corn Congress, which was held recently in Washington, D.C. The series features four farmers: Elizabeth Hinkle of Ashland, Pa.; Aaron Martinka of Holland, Texas; Brent Rogers of Hoxie, Kan.; and Eric Tipton of Jeffersonville, Ohio. These NCGA members shared the importance of crop insurance, trade, farm safety net programs and USDA conservation programming. NCGA’s Vice President of Public Policy Brooke S. Appleton noted the goal of the project was to help directly communicate with policymakers and their staff about the importance of the farm bill to corn growers and their families.     “Nearly half of the members of the House of Representatives were not around during the debate on the 2018 farm bill,” Appleton said. “We have known for some time that new member...

Jul 10, 2023

Key Issues: Farm BillFarm Policy

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) launched a campaign today that encourages advocates and allies to contact their congressional delegation about the importance of passing a bipartisan, comprehensive farm bill in 2023 that will support and protect the corn industry.   NCGA president, Tom Haag, noted the importance of this opportunity and the need for corn growers to send a strong, unified message to Capitol Hill.   “Farm bills only come around every five years. Sandwiched between legal jargon and formalities is language that directly affects the operations and livelihoods of corn growers,” said Haag. “This bill funds programs that help us stay in business in the tough years; support our continued stewardship and conservation of the land; explore new foreign markets; and advance innovative research. The stakes are high. We need a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will protect and bolster corn, America’s crop.”   NCGA has been working diligently since the...

May 2, 2023

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

Corn growers are championing several priorities as Congress debates reauthorization of the farm bill with crop insurance protection being the top focus, a leader of the National Corn Growers Association said today in testimony before the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade.   “We strongly oppose any efforts to restrict producer access to crop insurance products and oppose harmful program cuts that would negatively impact crop insurance products, their delivery, or the sound structure of the program,” said NCGA First Vice President Harold Wolle. During the hearing, which was held to elicit producer perspectives on the farm safety net, Wolle testified that NCGA supports increasing the affordability of crop insurance coverage. “Many corn growers purchase endorsement policies and higher levels of buy up coverage, but for others, the individual costs of purchasing coverage can discourage higher levels of coverage,” he said.     Wolle also...

Apr 26, 2023

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

Corn growers are optimistic that Congress can make key farm bill programs more effective and responsive to the needs of farmers by making strategic investments and policy enhancements as it reauthorizes the farm bill, the president of the National Corn Growers Association said today.   NCGA President Tom Haag, a Minnesota farmer, offered testimony before the House Agriculture General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit Subcommittee. The hearing, “Producer Perspectives on the 2023 Farm Bill,” focused on stakeholder priorities for the crop insurance and commodity titles.   “Federal crop insurance has a proven track record of helping producers quickly respond to natural disasters,” Haag said. “Corn growers consistently rank crop insurance as the most important program and title of the farm bill. NCGA broadly supports increasing the affordability of crop insurance.”   In addition to emphasizing corn growers’ support for crop insurance, Haag also offered recommendations...

Mar 15, 2023

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association joined a letter, signed by 400 national, regional, and state agriculture associations this week, which was sent to the Senate and House Budget Committees regarding budgetary resources needed to craft a comprehensive farm bill this year. Over 20 corn state grower affiliate associations also signed the letter with NCGA.   “We write to express our strong support for providing the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and House Committee on Agriculture with sufficient budgetary resources to write a new bipartisan, multi-year, comprehensive, and meaningful piece of legislation,” the letter read. The letter noted that farm bill budget resources are needed for “protecting and enhancing crop insurance to assist with volatile weather and crop loss, improving access to voluntary conservation incentives, addressing rural development needs, investing in research for innovation and competitiveness, providing opportunities to help the...

Feb 22, 2023

Key Issues: SustainabilityFarm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance today released policy recommendations for the 2023 farm bill. The National Corn Growers Association serves on the alliance’s steering committee and was active in the development of the recommendations.   NCGA said that the report couldn’t have come at a better time. “Corn growers are committed to helping advance a farm bill this year,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “These recommendations will help members of Congress working on the farm bill understand the types of voluntary conservation and climate policies that can support growers and help us maximize our stewardship efforts.”   FACA’s recommendations, developed by the 23-member Steering Committee, are divided into six categories:   Conservation, risk management and credit Energy Food waste Forestry Livestock and dairy Research, extension and innovation The farm bill is essential legislation that impacts not only farmers but every family in America and has enormous...

Jul 21, 2022

Key Issues: Farm BillFarm Policy

Author: Dusty Weis

Thought leaders from D.C. discuss important considerations for the upcoming farm bill legislation   The Farm Bill is an important piece of legislation that affects everything that is governed by the USDA. With Congress working to pass a new version for 2023, NCGA believed it was a topic worth discussing at this summer's Corn Congress in Washington, D.C.   Led by NCGA's VP of Public Policy, Brooke Appleton, this discussion panel, straight from the floor of Corn Congress, includes several experienced legislators and thought leaders in the field of agriculture:   Daniel Glickman, former Secretary, USDA Heidi Heitkamp, former Senator and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Richard Fordyce, former Administrator of the Farm Service Agency Together, these four discuss important topics to consider, and the work and relationships necessary to achieve our goals in creating a farm bill that is beneficial to everyone affected by agriculture.     Direct Share Link: Read More

Jul 20, 2022

Key Issues: Farm BillFarm Policy

Author: Bryan Goodman

Federal crop insurance is essential to farming and should be protected from harmful budget cuts and reforms in the 2023 farm bill, a National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) leader told House Agriculture Committee members today.   “Federal crop insurance is a major pillar of risk management for the vast majority of corn growers,” Minnesota farmer and NCGA First Vice President Tom Haag told the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. “Simply put, the public-private partnership of crop insurance works and plays a significant role for agriculture in the wake of natural disasters.” Haag’s testimony comes as Congress continues to review implementation of the 2018 farm bill ahead of debate and reauthorization of the farm bill next year. During development, passage, and implementation of the 2018 farm bill, NCGA’s top priority was to maintain support for a robust crop insurance program. Both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees were able to defeat attacks...

Apr 29, 2022

Key Issues: Farm BillFarm Policy

Author: Julie Busse

Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and committee ranking member U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), held the first 2023 farm bill hearing in Michigan. Michigan Corn Growers Association board member Allyson Maxwell testified at the hearing titled “Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunity: 2023 Farm Bill Perspectives from Michigan,” outlining many of the priorities that are important for corn farmers across the U.S.   “The safety net provided by crop insurance is vital to maintaining the agriculture industry in this country, especially in the face of increasingly unpredictable disasters like droughts, floods and extreme weather,” Maxwell said.   Maxwell went on to talk about the importance of assistance for new/beginning farmers, bolstering U.S. international market development efforts through the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, and the role...