In The News

Nov 14, 2023

Key Issues: Research

Author: Stacey Stiens

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is pleased to announce that eight Research Ambassadors have been selected for the 2023-2024 academic year:   Travis Banet, University of Kentucky Jensina Davis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Ella Hampson, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Max Harman, Michigan State University Leannah Hicks, University of Massachusetts Sendi Mejia Jimenez, Purdue University Ty Thomas, North Carolina State University Alexandria Tran, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   Developed and funded by NCGA’s Sustainable Ag Research Action Team, the objective of the Research Ambassador program is to build a network of future leaders in the agricultural sector. To qualify, students must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and be involved in research relevant to corn production.   "As we embark on the third year of the Research Ambassador Program, we continue to advance the connection between the field and the lab,” said...

Nov 8, 2023

Key Issues: Research

Author: Stacey Stiens

November 8 is a day to celebrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Need any ideas for how you can inspire young minds for agricultural science? We’ve got you covered!   Find activities and lessons on biotechnology, biofuels, water quality, soil and sustainability by visiting the Nourish the Future's (NTF) curriculum page.  4-H’s STEM and Agriculture programs cover topics not limited to Engineering & Technology, Environmental Science & Alternative energy, and Plant & Animal Science. For younger readers, check out Kansas Corn STEM’s book, “We Grow Corn.”  There are additional activities, videos and resources to help with corn-centric hands-on learning. Texas Corn Producers also have a collection of Educational Resources to keep K-4 students engaged and learning about the world of agriculture. For older students, broaden their horizons in career pathways with a tour of FFA’s Ag Explorer. Utilize some corn quick facts and resources from Ohio Corn &...

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 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...

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

Nov 8, 2022

Key Issues: Research

Author: Stacey Stiens

Today is National STEM Day!  The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) believes that agriculture is a vital partner in engaging students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) concepts which directly—and indirectly—impact their lives. Not only does teaching an ag-based curriculum in the science classroom spark students to solve real-world science issues, but it also familiarizes them with ag-related careers, many of which go unfilled.   NCGA is committed to growing a more sustainable future—which includes carving a legacy for future generations. Today’s students will be tomorrow’s decision-makers and stewards of the land.  NCGA’s Sustainable Ag Research Action Team (SARAT) recently led the charge in impacting change by partnering with DonorsChoose—a teacher-founded nonprofit which helps bridge the gap and create equity for underfunded schools.  Through matched funds with donors, NCGA’s 2022 project supported 122 STEM-based projects at 107 different schools...

Oct 31, 2022

Key Issues: Research

Author: Stacey Stiens

High school science teacher Christine Girtain is being celebrated for one of teaching’s top honors—New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. Not only is this a testament to Girtain’s commitment to her profession and her students, but confirmation of her passion for her subject area.  She is always looking for new opportunities to expand her enthusiasm and her reach.  At the 2019 National Biology Teachers Conference, she discovered a booth which would bring her love of science together with the world of agriculture—Nourish the Future.   Nourish the Future (NTF) is a national education initiative developed by science teachers for science teachers. Their goal is to inspire a network of educators to foster critical thinking, connect students to modern agriculture, and provide sound science-based resources that meet teachers’ and students’ needs in the classroom.  Girtain became part of that dynamic movement in 2020 as part of the Teacher Leader Community (TLC) Class I.  She has continued...

Sep 29, 2022

Key Issues: Research

Author: Stacey Stiens

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is pleased to announce that eight Research Ambassadors have been selected for 2022-2023 academic year:   Julian Cooper, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities   Brendan Hanson, Purdue University   Kirsten Hein, Colorado State University   John Searl, University of Wisconsin-Madison Aimee Schulz, Cornell University Seth Tolley, Purdue University Rachel Veenstra, Kansas State University Brandon Webster, Michigan State University   Just in its second year, the program is continuing to build great momentum. Developed and funded by NCGA’s Sustainable Ag Research Action Team, the objective is to build a network of future leaders in the agricultural sector; ambassadors must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and be involved in research relevant to corn production.   “The first year of the Research Ambassador Program was even more successful than we imagined it would be,” said NCGA Sustainable Ag Research Action...

Aug 9, 2022

Key Issues: Research

Author: Savannah Peterson

University of Georgia Bioinformatics doctoral student, Corey Schultz has focused on finding way to improve yields by understanding how corn interacts with beneficial microbes. Through the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Research Ambassador program, Corey has recognized farmers’ concerns and learned how to proactively communicate research results.   With a saturated market of beneficial-bacteria products, Corey began to realize that different corn lines reacted differently to the same microbes. This concerning realization led Corey to study both how microbes affect corn and how corn affects microbes.   “I used three different growth-promoting microbes on a variety of genetically-diverse corn lines in the greenhouse. I found variable growth promotion among the different types of corn, with some corn lines showing improved growth above ground, some below ground, and some not responding at all,” shares Corey, concluding that the best way to tailor microbes depends on the...

Aug 1, 2022

Key Issues: Research

Author: Savannah Peterson

Matthew Runyon is a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign and is a part of the National Corn Growers Association's (NCGA) Research Ambassador Program. After seeing how drought affected his family’s farm, Matthew sought to find sustainable ways to improve yield during dry times.   Matthew focused his research on aquaporins, which are proteins that help facilitate water movement, as well as other small molecules like CO2, between plant cells. By characterizing mutants with altered aquaporin expression profiles, Matthew hopes to change water-use efficiency (WUE) and photosynthetic parameters.   “In principle, overexpressing CO2-permeable aquaporins should increase the rate of carbon uptake,” shares Matthew. “This will reduce the amount of time the stomata need to be open to allow CO2-rich air to enter the leaf, consequentially reducing the amount of water transpired.”   Matthew’s research is divided into two pieces. First, he is studying...