In The News

Jun 1, 2023

Author: Stacey Stiens

Josh Cooper is the newest addition to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) accounting department. Having just finished his junior year at University of Missouri – Columbia, Josh is studying accountancy and will receive both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the spring of 2025. While at school, Josh became a member of Theta Chi fraternity where he had the opportunity to be involved with homecoming activities as well as sponsoring a miracle child through a charity called MizzouThon. In his spare time, Josh enjoys playing basketball and hanging out with friends.     “Accounting, HR and Administration Director Marie Nelson piqued my interest in working within the world of corn as it is an industry that I do not know much about,” said Cooper. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with everyone at NCGA and learn more about the ag industry this summer.”   While interning with NCGA this summer, Josh will be focusing on accounts payable, accounts receivable, journal...

Jun 1, 2023

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Bryan Goodman

As the summer driving season picks up, consumers will benefit from uninterrupted access to higher ethanol blends at the pump thanks to recent action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.   Consumers would have lost the choice of lower-cost, higher blends of ethanol, referred to as E15 and often marketed as Unleaded 88, beginning today; however, EPA is using its authority to maintain consumer access.   The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has praised the development.   “Continued access to higher ethanol blends as summer demand for travel rises not only lowers fuel prices for drivers and increases our domestic fuel supply, but also reduces emissions,” said National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag. “We appreciate EPA and Administrator Regan for taking this commonsense action. We also appreciate the strong support from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and bipartisan members of Congress.”   A comparison of pump prices from more than 550 retail...

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 25, 2023

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. Supreme Court today handed a huge win to landowners, including farmers, in a case involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s jurisdiction over Waters of the United States, often referred to as WOTUS.    The National Corn Growers Association applauded the decision. “This sensible ruling preserves protections for our nation’s valuable water resources while providing clarity to farmers and others about the process of determining federal jurisdiction over wetlands,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “This is a great day for corn growers.”   In the decision, the court narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction by clearly rejecting the vague "significant nexus test," upending the Biden administration’s overreaching WOTUS rule.   A 5-4 majority on the court issued an opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, that significantly narrowed the definition of adjacent wetlands, saying that to be adjacent and therefore a WOTUS, the wetland must have a continuous...

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...

May 22, 2023

Author: Dusty Weis

In honor of Mental Health Month, we talk with a former grower who uses his past struggles with suicide to help others today.   The suicide rate among farmers is three and a half times higher than the general population. It’s a shocking statistic.   We’re losing good people, but we don’t have to.   From weather to markets, to prices, to the issues that come with a family business, farmers face a number of stressors that are unique to their occupation. And in rural America, suicide rates increased 46% from 2000-2020, compared to 27.3% in metro areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   So one of the National Corn Growers Association action teams is working with partners across the industry to spread the message that saying something could mean everything. In this episode, two of those partners share their stories and their expertise.   Jeff Ditzenberger is a former grower from southern Wisconsin who uses his past struggles with suicide to help...

May 19, 2023

Author: Bryan Goodman

Nicole Hasheider has been selected as the vice president of Marketing and Communications at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). She will begin her new role on Monday. NCGA CEO Neil Caskey said Hasheider will help deliver on his vision for the organization. “I am thrilled that Nicole is assuming this leadership role, which is critically important to fulfilling the mission of the organization,” Caskey said. “Her extensive marketing experience and strategic mind will take NCGA to new heights.”   Hasheider, who previously served as NCGA’s director of Crop Inputs and Investor Relations, will manage the organization’s marketing and communications functions, member services and relationships with checkoff and industry investor partners. “I am excited to take on this new role and elevate the influence of America’s corn farmers and NCGA,” Hasheider said. “Our farmers have an incredible story to tell, and I look forward to working with them to share that narrative.”   With a...

May 18, 2023

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a groundbreaking ceremony today marking the beginning of repairs to a lock and dam on the Upper Mississippi River that is crucial to the shipment of corn and other commodities.   Lock and Dam 25, which is almost 50 miles North of St. Louis, has not been extensively repaired since it was constructed in the early part of the 20th century, but thanks to decades of advocacy, funding for the project was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act when it passed in 2021. Now, thanks to that federal funding, updates to the structure have begun. The Illinois Corn Growers Association, which has been at the forefront of advocating for updates to Lock and Dam 25, praised the development. “The Illinois Corn Growers Association and the diverse partners brought together by Waterways Council Inc. have worked tirelessly to update our inland waterways infrastructure for nearly three decades,” said  ICGA President Matt Rush. “Our hope is this will...

May 17, 2023

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Sue Schulte

Testifying at a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing on vehicle emissions rules and electric vehicle transition, Kansas Corn Growers Association CEO Josh Roe said biofuels like ethanol should not be ignored as a climate solution.   Roe told the subcommittee the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed standards for new vehicles limit greater use of low carbon liquid fuels like ethanol to help reach climate goals. EPA’s focus on electric vehicles ignores a solution that is available to nearly every vehicle on the road today.   “The agricultural and liquid fuels industries stand ready to assist in reducing air pollution. Unfortunately, current, and proposed EPA rules prevent us from being part of the solution and adversely impact low income and rural citizens across the United States,” Roe stated. “While we believe electric vehicles will play a vital role in achieving these goals, other complementary alternatives, such as biofuels, have a key role to play but are being pushed...

May 15, 2023

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Bryan Goodman

Legislation was introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives that would remove an outdated provision from the Renewable Fuels Standard that prevents corn ethanol from being categorized as an advanced biofuel. The legislation recognizes the progress made in cutting the carbon intensity of ethanol since the RFS was enacted.   The bill, introduced by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and original cosponsors Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Eric Sorensen (D-Ill), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) and Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), would also require that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency use the more modern and accurate Argonne GREET model to assess the carbon reductions from biofuels under the RFS.   The National Corn Growers Association supports the legislation.   “We applaud Rep. Miller-Meeks and the original cosponsors for introducing legislation that recognizes the declining carbon intensity of today’s low-carbon ethanol and helps level the playing field,” said NCGA...