In The News

Oct 19, 2020

Key Issues: New Uses

Author: Julie Busse

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has held two Consider Corn Challenge contests, garnering nine winners with unique technologies that would improve a product or process by using field corn to produce biobased materials. If all nine of the Consider Corn Challenge winners reached full commercialization with products available in the marketplace, the potential for additional corn demand would be approximately 2.9 billion bushels.   “The team is discussing having another Consider Corn Challenge because we know there is still a lot of untapped potential out there, and researchers have new and innovative ideas to bring to the table using corn as an industrial feedstock,” said NCGA Market Development Action Team (MDAT) and Nebraska farmer Dan Wesely. “This is an important area of focus because it will set us up for driving corn demand long-term.”   Previous Consider Corn Challenge winners have recently received more funding for their technologies. ExoPolymer announced the...

Oct 16, 2020

Author: Liz Friedlander

October 16 marks World Food Day, a day that has special significance in 2020, as COVID-19 continues to have a devastating impact on global food security and food systems. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that COVID-19 will drive an additional 130 million more people into food insecurity. Northwestern University recently estimated that the rate of food-insecure households, defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as, “household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food,” has more than doubled, from 10.5 percent of American households to 23 percent of American households, as a result of the pandemic.   It is no surprise that the recently announced 2020 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the World Food Programme for its efforts to combat hunger.   This week, the global community of NGOs, think tanks, academia, government, and industry leaders came together for the annual World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue....

Oct 15, 2020

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Liz Friedlander

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced yesterday an export sale of 420,000 metric tons of U.S. corn to China.   “I saw the sale this morning and China could be our biggest customer this year,” said Lesly McNitt, director of public policy and trade for the National Corn Growers Association. “We are seeing tremendous purchases.”   Agri-Pulse reported that outstanding sales of U.S. corn – the amount of purchases that have not yet been shipped – to China as of Oct. 1 totaled about 8.9 million tons, according to the latest weekly trade data out of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. A year ago that total was zero. And the sales to China are significantly boosting overall U.S. export sales. Total outstanding U.S. corn export sales as of Oct. 1 were about 22 million tons. Physical corn exports to China are also continuing to surge. China was again the biggest corn importer during the Sept. 25-Oct. 1 period. The U.S. shipped 349,900 tons of corn to China in that week-long...

Oct 14, 2020

Key Issues: Transportation and Infrastructure

Author: Julie Busse

The inland waterways system is essential to getting U.S. corn to export, with more than 60 percent of the grain produced in the U.S. being transported by barge. For the past few months, the Illinois River has been shut down to go through necessary upgrades, with a price tag totaling roughly $200 million.   “The waterway system is critical to all of agriculture,” said Bill Leigh, Illinois farmer and Vice Chair of the Risk Management and Transportation Action Team. “The work that’s gone into making the waterways viable transportation hubs to reliably move agricultural goods is what has made our grain so competitive around the world.”   The locks and dams on the Illinois River at LaGrange, Peoria, Starved Rock, Marseilles, and Dresden Island have been closed for various construction projects, with a target completion date of all the projects by the end of October. For more information on the locks and dams undergoing construction on the Illinois River, click here.   Tracy Zea,...

Oct 13, 2020

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Liz Friedlander

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) joined other agriculture leaders this summer in hosting a series of Farmers for Free Trade town hall discussions focused on the future of agriculture.   The AgTalks town hall series focused specifically on the big challenges American agriculture faces on trade, international supply chain resilience and global competitiveness. With the cancellation of many state fairs and agriculture conventions where farm and agriculture leaders typically engage in dialogues on industry-wide challenges, AgTalks served as a platform for insightful discussion on trade and its importance to the health of rural economies.   “Farmers and Agribusiness leaders from across the country are leading the way in defining the future for their industry and communities. Expanded trade is key to revitalizing Rural America and it is incumbent upon our local leaders to play a critical role in shaping future policies that will not only open markets but also ensure...

Oct 9, 2020

Key Issues: SustainabilityAnimal Agriculture

Author: Julie Busse

Sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand and that’s been the focus of a partnership between the National Pork Board (NPB), United Soybean Board (USB) and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).  Two years ago, the three organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a sustainability research platform that will benefit all three organizations and their producers.   Since the MOU was signed, the groups have been collaborating on sustainability goals and initiatives, as well as a feed sustainability blueprint project. This project intends to encourage on-farm and facility outcome-based goals that contribute to watershed and sustainability goals. The objective is to establish practices, definitions, and standards on how to measure and track the sustainability of feed ingredients, primarily soybean meal and corn, with a focus on water quality, water quantity, climate resilience and wildlife habitat.   “America’s pig farmers are committed to producing pork and...

Oct 8, 2020

Key Issues: EthanolFarm PolicyHigh-Octane Low-Carbon

Author: Liz Friedlander

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Chris Edgington, along with Minnesota Corn Growers Association leadership, today joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue for an Albert Lea, Minn., event in support of higher blends of ethanol.   Perdue announced today that USDA has invested $22 million out of the up to $100 million in grants available to increase American ethanol and biodiesel sales through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).  According to USDA, the $22 million HBIIP investments are projected to increase ethanol demand by nearly 150 million gallons annually. USDA will announce the remaining grant recipients in the coming weeks.   Further developing the infrastructure needed for higher blends of ethanol continues to be a priority for NCGA. These cost-share grants will support more retailers offering E15 and E85 across the country. Increasing the availability of higher blends today also helps expand...

Oct 7, 2020

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Julie Busse

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has been a leader in retailer education when it comes to utilizing and accessing higher blends of ethanol like E15 and E85. ACE’s Flex Fuel Forward website is a resource for retailers by retailers.   Ron Lamberty, Senior Vice President of Market Development, says the organization launched a new tool for retailers, helping them determine the compatibility of existing station equipment with E15.   “A huge number of retailers have E15 compatible equipment and could sell it tomorrow without a big investment,” Lamberty said. “But they don’t know, and most haven’t even checked, because API, AFPM, oil companies and petroleum marketer groups have been telling station owners their equipment isn’t compatible with E15 since it was approved, and replacing it will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We just want them to check because a lot of them will be shocked to find out they can add E15 for next to nothing.”   The National Corn Growers...

Oct 7, 2020

Key Issues: ProductionResearch

Author: Mark Lambert

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announces a new round of research grants to help farmers manage aflatoxin issues. Letters of intent from principal investigators, co-principal investigators, and collaborators not exceeding the $75,000 per year limit will be accepted by AMCOE until October 30, 2020. For more information about the review process, evaluation criteria and program, click here.   The Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence Research Program will again offer researcher grants for projects focused on solving profit-robbing aflatoxin issues for farmers. These grants, which will be awarded to researchers focusing on six priority areas, were designed by southern corn checkoff boards to bring a unified approach to funding research projects across the region and will thus favor research teams that include members from multiple states.   “We have made significant progress in understanding and managing Aflatoxin and other mycotoxins in recent years through the...

Oct 6, 2020

Key Issues: Animal Agriculture

Author: Julie Busse

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is rolling out another round of the Cattlemen’s Education Series (CES), focusing on protein and energy supplementation. NCGA is the sole sponsor of the CES, which is designed to provide resources to NCBA state and breed affiliates through grants, which allow them to extend outstanding educational experiences. The mission of the CES is to provide cutting-edge information to beef producers that contribute to increased knowledge, profitability, and sustainability. With the need for virtual events this year, NCGA and NCBA have pivoted CES efforts toward a virtual webinar series.    The beef cattle industry consumes more than 1.2 billion bushels of corn. One out of four bushels of added corn demand is due to beef and pork exports, with the beef industry providing $5.7 billion in corn value. DDGs account for nearly 8 percent of total domestic corn usage.   “Supporting programs like the CES...

Oct 6, 2020

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

The National Corn Growers Association announced the slate of new and returning farmer leaders who will serve their industry as members of the action teams and committees beginning on January 1, 2021. These volunteer farmers will actively shape the future of their industry by guiding programs and carrying out the policies and priorities that drive NCGA.   Current 2020 teams, committees and members will remain in place until the beginning of the new calendar year.   Leadership for NCGA’s seven major teams in 2021 will be:   Ethanol Action Team: Mark Recker, chair; JR Roesner, vice chair; Gary Porter, board liaison. Market Development Action Team: Robert Hemesath, chair; Troy Schneider, vice chair; Tom Haag, board liaison. Member and Consumer Engagement Action Team: Lowell Neitzel, chair; Dan Nerud, vice chair; Kenneth Hartman, board liaison. Production Technology Access Action Team: Kate Danner, chair; Patty Mann, vice chair; Dennis Maple, board liaison. Risk Management...

Oct 5, 2020

Key Issues: EthanolHigh-Octane Low-Carbon

Author: Julie Busse

A high-octane low-carbon (HOLC) fuel in the marketplace, once fully implemented, has the potential to increase ethanol consumption by more than 5 billion gallons. That’s equal to over 1.8 billion bushels of new annual corn demand. Not only is a HOLC fuel good for corn farmers, but it also benefits consumers and the environment.   Brian West, former Group Leader for the Fuels and Engines Research Group at the National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), says based on the engine testing work he’s done, the move to a HOLC fuel just makes sense.   “Ethanol has a high Research Octane Number (RON), which is why it is attractive as a spark-ignition engine fuel,” says West. “At ORNL, we tested an unmodified Ford F-150 with conventional E10 gasoline and splash blended that with more ethanol, to make a 98 RON E25 and found modest improvements in efficiency and the truck was four-tenths of a second faster in an acceleration test. Then, in a series of...

Oct 5, 2020

Author: Kendra Ricks

The first inaugural Women and Mentors Retreat will kick off virtually on October 15. Tara Smith, executive vice president at Michael Torrey and Associates and Kellie Bray, chief of staff at CropLife America, will open the event with a panel delving into mentorship relationships, including how these vital connections lead to career and personal growth. In January, NCGA will host a second virtual session designed to help participants set deliberate intentions and goals with an in-person meeting will June 24 to 25, 2021.    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, both foster leaders of tomorrow and learn how to share the wealth of knowledge and understanding accumulated through years of service.    Interested? NCGA is still accepting applications. This program provides an impressive platform upon which to network...

Oct 2, 2020

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Julie Busse

The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) has expanded its capabilities and offerings over the years, but one thing remains the same; its mission to create opportunities for America’s corn farmers.   NCERC opened its doors, thanks to the work and partnership with the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA), back in 2003. Along with ICGA, NCGA has worked closely with NCERC to help underscore the advantages of renewable corn ethanol.    “Ethanol production in the United States has grown significantly since NCERC opened its doors from roughly 2.8 billion gallons annually to the nearly 16 billion gallons of production today,” said NCERC Executive Director John Caupert. “NCERC has assisted in advancements in fuel ethanol production, with more than 75 products and technologies that have passed through our doors now in the commercial marketplace. These products and technologies are being utilized in every commercial corn ethanol plant operating today, with a significant...

Oct 1, 2020

Author: Neil Caskey

Happy New Year! Administratively speaking, it’s a new year at NCGA. And with that comes new leadership. Today, John Linder, a corn farmer from Ohio, takes over as president of NCGA.    Click on the video to see what John wants to get done in the year ahead.