In The News

Apr 28, 2023

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it will use existing authority to prevent drivers from losing access to lower-cost and lower-emission E15, a higher ethanol blend often marketed as Unleaded 88.   The National Corn Growers Association and state corn grower organizations, which have advocated for the move, praised the decision.   “We appreciate Administrator Regan’s timely action to prevent a disruption in E15 availability,” said National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag. “EPA’s action will help address fuel supply constraints and ensure drivers continue to have access to a lower-cost fuel choice that cuts emissions.”   The fuel market conditions that warranted EPA taking the same successful step last year continue today, Haag noted, and he said corn growers are proud to contribute to an energy and environmental solution that saves consumers money at the pump.   Continued access to E15 during the summer months will help relieve ongoing...

Apr 27, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Apply to become a part of the third class of the NCGA Women and Mentors Program to be held in St. Louis on June 22-23. In addition to learning how to quiet their inner critic, exploring what they can learn from another woman’s leadership journey, and developing an action plan for their own mentorship journey, each participant gains a supportive group of peers committed to their success. Everyone will leave the retreat with a concrete action plan and a mentorship pairing to help each other reach their goals.   The Women and Mentors program provides an opportunity for women looking to find the next steps in their leadership journey to partner with a mentor who has traveled that path. Mentors, who can be of any gender, and help to foster leaders of tomorrow and learn how to share the wealth of knowledge and understanding accumulated through years of service.    The program also includes a component for interested state, national and industry staff—creating a support network and a...

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...

Apr 24, 2023

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Stacey Stiens

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is proud to announce the expansion of the National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) to include a new pilot class focused on nitrogen management. The pilot allows corn growers to continue experimenting with practices that reduce inputs to optimize economics and environmental stewardship, while creating opportunities for current participants to pilot new practices, and new participants to join the contest.   NCGA will partner with Verdesian Life Sciences to bring this new opportunity to corn growers for the 2023 contest, which launches on May 1.   The pilot parameters are simple: growers will decide what nitrogen forms to use and when to apply, but total nitrogen applied must be 180 pounds or less. 2023 participation will be limited to the first 100 growers located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, or Wisconsin.   “One thing I know about corn farmers . . . they are #AllIn. They love to push themselves...

Apr 17, 2023

Key Issues: New Uses

Author: Stacey Stiens

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is launching its fourth iteration of the Consider Corn Challenge. This open-innovation contest invites participants to answer the call and submit proposals for new uses of field corn as a primary feedstock for producing novel sustainable chemicals and products with quantifiable market demand.    “Consumers have a genuine interest in biobased products; and corn is investing in solutions to meet that need,” said NCGA Market Development Action Team (MDAT) Chair and Colorado farmer Troy Schneider. “In order to continue drawing in the cutting-edge, game-changing participation we have seen for the past three years, the prize pool for the fourth challenge has been increased to $250,000.”   Previous winners of the Consider Corn Challenge contests have scaled up to the next phase of development, received additional grant funding, entered into joint agreements and obtained registration for state biobased production incentives.   “The...

Apr 13, 2023

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota has granted a preliminary injunction halting the 2023 Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, rule from taking effect in 24 states. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) praised the decision. “NCGA has been on the forefront advocating on behalf of corn growers on this issue,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “We are pleased to see that the court has affirmed that the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule is overreaching and detrimental to farmers.” Thanks to the court’s action and a recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, WOTUS has now been put on hold in 26 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Apr 12, 2023

Key Issues: EthanolHigh-Octane Low-Carbon

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a proposal for new greenhouse gas and multi-pollutant emissions standards for light-duty vehicles, which does not adequately account for the environmental benefits of low-carbon ethanol. In response to the announcement, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) released the following statement:   “While we share the administration’s goal of lowering emissions, we are frustrated that EPA appears to be turning exclusively to electric vehicles to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The limitations on raw materials, charging infrastructure, consumer preferences, and other factors dictate the need for a wider range of options to immediately mitigate carbon emissions.   “We urge EPA and the Biden administration to focus on outcomes and opening pathways for all low-carbon fuels and technologies to help meet these strong standards, rather than appearing to focus on only enabling one technology in electric vehicles. Vehicle...

Apr 5, 2023

Key Issues: EthanolHigh-Octane Low-Carbon

Author: Bryan Goodman

Biofuel and farm leaders today called on President Biden to get ahead of rising fuel costs by authorizing sales of E15 this summer. In a letter, the National Corn Growers Association, along with five other groups, noted that current conditions are analogous to those in place last summer, when President Biden waived outdated Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) restrictions on E15. The move saved drivers up to nearly a dollar per gallon at the pump in some areas and an average of 23 cents per gallon, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce.     “The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, now extending into its second year, continues to reverberate across global energy markets,” said the letter, whose signatories included  NCGA, Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Sorghum Producers, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union. “At home, this conflict continues to cause fuel supply disruptions, high gasoline prices, and ongoing uncertainty for...

Apr 4, 2023

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should use its authority under the Clean Air Act to provide consumers with continued access to low-cost, low-emission E15 during the summer months, according to a letter sent today from corn grower leaders to EPA administrator Michael S. Regan. The president of the National Corn Growers Association, joined by leaders from 18 state corn grower groups, signed the letter, which called on EPA to replicate its actions from last year and ensure uninterrupted access to E15 through the summer.   “At a time when fuel supplies remain constrained and prices remain high, consumers and retailers need all fuel choices available, especially as seasonal demand increases during the summer,” the farmer leaders stated. “Fuel market conditions that warranted EPA’s actions last summer are expected to continue this summer, and Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to disrupt global energy markets.”   EPA approved E15, or 15 percent ethanol blends, in 2011 for...