Sep 30, 2024
A farewell note from outgoing NCGA President Harold WolleAuthor: Harold Wolle
As I conclude my term this week as NCGA president, I can’t help but reflect on the past year and the work that has been done to keep moving our industry forward. Uncertainty is a fixture in farming. We know all too well that we can’t control prices or the weather. But we focus on what we can control, and we do our best to prepare for opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. That’s why “Shaping the Future” has been the theme of my presidency and why I spent this year working with incoming NCGA president Kenneth Hartman Jr. to hammer out a clear vision for building corn demand and protecting grower profitability. While we are looking to the future, we are also addressing current challenges. Farmers have been hit hard economically with falling corn prices and rising input costs. And we have relayed these concerns to Congress and the Biden administration while asking them to act on our priorities. It may not feel like it with what we’re facing right now, but we do have...
Read MoreJul 11, 2024
We’re Pressing Policymakers on Your BehalfAuthor: Harold Wolle
Corn growers nationwide are facing rising input costs and sinking corn prices. Severe weather is compounding it for some, including me. And I want you to know your associations have your back in Washington, D.C. Indeed, the National Corn Growers Association and state corn grower leaders are pushing Washington to act on priorities important to you that have long been bottlenecked. As part of these efforts, hundreds of corn growers from across the United States will convene in Washington next week to advocate for our industry, meeting with staff and officials on Capitol Hill and across federal agencies. Among our specific asks: Support passage of a robust farm bill that addresses our priorities this year. The farm bill and USDA programs are critical to growers on every front—particularly when it comes to developing markets and managing risks. Pledge support for the Next Generation Fuels Act and pass legislation providing consumers with year-round E15. We also need ethanol...
Read MoreJan 11, 2024
Shaping the Future for America’s Corn Farmers in 2024Author: Harold Wolle
I love this time of year, as it’s filled with family gatherings, enjoying the time-honored Minnesota pastime of ice fishing and planning for the planting season ahead. As president of the National Corn Growers Association, I am also thinking about the advocacy work that is needed to better enable you to plant, grow, harvest and sell your crops. With major agricultural legislation pending in Congress, we have a real opportunity this year to Shape the Future. Here is just a sampling of what we plan to tackle over the next 12 months: Advocating for reauthorization of the Farm Bill. We will work closely with policymakers to ensure that a Farm Bill that includes all the priorities of corn growers is passed this year. Ensuring future ethanol demand. We are working to increase demand for ethanol by securing congressional support for the Next Generation Fuels Act and advocating for the use of ethanol in sustainable aviation fuel. Promoting free, fair and open trade....
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