In The News

Feb 25, 2022

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Julie Busse

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) received the Renewable Fuels Association’s 2022 Ethanol Industry Award in recognition of the group’s dedicated and sustained efforts on behalf of the ethanol industry over the last 40 years. The award, RFA’s highest recognition, was presented at the 27th annual National Ethanol Conference earlier this week in New Orleans.   “RFA and NCGA have worked together for decades on policy, market development, research, and promotional efforts aimed at growing our nation’s ethanol industry,” Cooper said. “NCGA CEO Jon Doggett was personally involved in the very early negotiations with RFA, the oil industry, and other ag groups in an effort that ultimately led to the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. That legislation created the RFS and set the ethanol industry on a growth path few could have imagined. And it was NCGA that laid out the first vision for a 15 billion bushel corn crop and 15 billion gallons of ethanol by 2015 that became the...

Feb 23, 2022

Author: Kris Martinez

If you can’t commit to all three days at the 2022 Commodity Classic in New Orleans, one-day registrations are available. Commodity Classic provides a robust experience of education, new equipment and technology, entertainment and the opportunity to network with thousands of top farmers from across the nation.    The 2022 Commodity Classic will be held March 10-12 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. One-day registration provides admission to all applicable events and sessions scheduled for that day, including educational sessions, the trade show, the Main Stage on the trade show floor and other daily activities. Online registration is available in advance through March 8 at CommodityClassic.com; attendees can also register on-site beginning March 9 and throughout the event.     Thursday registration includes a wide range of educational sessions and technical presentations, the Early Riser session on grain marketing, the grand opening of the huge trade...

Feb 22, 2022

Author: Stacey Stiens

Last week, an all-American trio came together in Nashville to paint the town with dynamic and collaborative Beltway brushstrokes: country music, cowboy boots and corn. Representatives from both national and state corn grower associations were in attendance for the tandem events held by Farm Journal—the Top Producer Summit and the Trust In Food Symposium.   At the Top Producer Summit’s “Business on Broadway,” NCGA showcased the value of associations and partnerships, targeting to connect with interested producers who are not yet engaging with their state and/or national corn association. As part of the program available to attendees, NCGA Vice Presidents Brooke Appleton and Jim Bauman virtually hosted two different sponsored sessions--“How Washington Affects Your Bottom Line - A Legislative and Regulatory Update” and “Driving Corn Demand through Ethanol Infrastructure and Regulatory Avenues” which was moderated by Board Chairman John Linder. Both sessions were well attended and...

Feb 22, 2022

Key Issues: Farm Policy

Author: Stacey Stiens

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a federally-funded and voluntary land conservation program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Agricultural producers and landowners can sign-up to ensure that environmentally sensitive agricultural land is not farmed or ranched but instead devoted to conservation benefits.    In 2021, the USDA announced updates to CRP and extended the deadline for enrollment as farmers and landowners evaluated their options.  That year, producers and landowners enrolled 4.6 million acres into CRP sign-ups, including 2.5 million acres in the largest Grassland CRP sign-up in history. There are currently 22.1 million acres enrolled, and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is aiming to reach the 25.5-million-acre cap statutorily set for fiscal year 2022.  This year’s General CRP sign-up ends March 11, and the Grassland CRP sign-up will run from April 4 to May 13.   General CRP helps producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant...

Feb 18, 2022

Author: Dusty Weis

A potential Russian invasion of Ukraine and other global flashpoints have real implications for the corn industry.   Heightened tensions in Eastern Europe have dominated the news lately, as Russia seems poised to invade Ukraine.   As a result of this and other global flashpoints, the unstable geopolitical climate is creating uncertainty in the world of agriculture, and growers are already feeling the effects.   So in this episode, we’re talking to Colonel Mark Purdy, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Aimpoint Research, about how food security is vital to national security.   We’ll sort out the context of the showdown in Eastern Europe, explore scenarios for what’s likely to happen, and provide some insight about what this could mean for growers here in the U.S.   Most importantly, we’ll revisit how food power is vital to national security in the U.S.     DIRECT SHARE LINK   Mark Purdy: When it comes to the stability of society, I call it...

Feb 17, 2022

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Julie Busse

During the recent Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference, NCGA Communications Director Julie Busse received the TOBI Award for Public Affairs. Seven individuals were recognized for their leadership within the biofuels industry in the categories of Get Biofuel, Public Affairs, Technical, Advocacy, Market Development, Global Market Development and Membership.   In 2021, NCGA expanded its communications efforts, thanks to support from state partners and the Ethanol Action Team, to be on T.V., had sponsored content on Politico, were the sponsors of the AgriPulse Deep Dive on Biofuels, and were seen on digital platforms. The campaign’s goal was to reach policymakers and staff and highlight the environmental benefits of corn ethanol.   Also, at the conference, NCGA CEO Jon Doggett, Board Chairman John Linder and First Vice President Tom Haag participated in a panel with Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, discussing the opportunities for continued collaboration and current issues...

Feb 16, 2022

Key Issues: EthanolFarm PolicyHigh-Octane Low-Carbon

Author: Bryan Goodman

Three U.S. senators today highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of corn ethanol during a hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.   During the hearing, Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who serve on this important committee, discussed the transportation emission reductions that result from renewable fuels, ethanol’s contribution to lowering fuel prices and agriculture’s role in producing and improving renewable fuels, among other issues.   “We appreciate Sens. Duckworth, Ernst and Stabenow for setting the record straight when it comes to agriculture and ethanol,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Chris Edgington. “We were very pleased to have them highlight and include NCGA’s statement, which shows the environmental benefits of ethanol, into the hearing record.”   NCGA’s statement to the committee explains how...

Feb 15, 2022

Author: Neil Caskey

If the events of 2020 felt like a rollercoaster ridden too soon after lunch, then 2021 was more of a Ferris wheel that steadily ascended through the summer as corn prices recovered and gradually descended as the pandemic began to impose its will on our economy.    To that end, this report highlights what went down in 2021 while also looking ahead at where we’re going in 2022.    Click here for the 2021 Annual Report.

Feb 15, 2022

Author: Kris Martinez

Attendees at the 2022 Commodity Classic in New Orleans can make their experience even more memorable by signing up for one or more of the fascinating, family-friendly tours available during the event. These optional tours provide the opportunity to discover even more about the history, attractions, and culture of the New Orleans area—and this year’s tour schedule is packed with local delights:   •    Enjoy A Day on the Bayou, home to hundreds of species of swamp-based plants and animals •    The “Big Easy” City Tour will visit the French Quarter, St. Louis Cemetery, and other city attractions •    A visit to St. Joseph Sugar Cane Farm will take you back in time to a historic sugar cane plantation •    Enjoy a cooking class featuring Creole cuisine—complete with lunch •    Tap into the award-winning NOLA Brewing Company with tastings and a lesson on microbrewing •    The LSU Agricultural Center Rice and Crawfish Tour will take you inside the area’s local agriculture •  ...

Feb 11, 2022

Key Issues: Research

Author: Bryan Goodman

John Linder, a past president and current chairperson of the National Corn Growers Association, has been appointed to serve as a director on the board of MAIZALL, the international alliance of maize growers and exporters from Argentina, Brazil and the United States.   Linder is a fifth-generation farmer. Together with his wife and his brother, Linder grows corn, soybeans, soft red winter wheat and soybeans for seed. In addition to traditional row crop farming, he also has experience raising livestock.   “I am humbled and honored to serve on behalf of U.S. corn farmers as a director for MAIZALL,” said Linder. “I look forward to collaborating with my family farmer counterparts in Brazil and Argentina to tell our farming story and advance the adoption of agricultural innovation to provide safe and abundant food and fuel for the world.”   As of January 1, 2022, John Linder replaced Pamela Johnson as the NCGA’s representative on the MAIZALL Board. Pam Johnson was a founding...

Feb 11, 2022

Key Issues: Farm Policy

Author: Bryan Goodman

USDA’s Risk Management Agency just announced the continuation of the Pandemic Cover Crop Program for 2022. Agricultural producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies are eligible for a premium benefit from USDA if they planted cover crops during the 2022 crop year. To receive the benefit from this year’s Pandemic Cover Crop Program, producers must report cover crop acreage by March 15, 2022. The premium support is up to $5 per acre, but no more than the full premium owed. It was first offered in 2021, and producers received $59.5 million in premium subsidies for 12.2 million acres of cover crops. For more info and FAQ, visit: https://www.farmers.gov/cover-crops  

Feb 11, 2022

Author: Kris Martinez

Live Event in New Orleans Set to Attract Thousands   Hallway conversations and in-person connections are an integral part of the educational experience at Commodity Classic, as farmers share their knowledge, passion and insight with colleagues from across the nation.   The 2022 Commodity Classic will be held March 10-12 in New Orleans with the theme “The Future Is In Your Hands.” Attendees can register for all three days or for single-day attendance.   Networking with other farmers is one of the top reasons farmers enjoy Commodity Classic, according to attendee surveys. “Commodity Classic attracts thousands of America’s best farmers from across the nation. We share a passion for agriculture and a thirst for knowledge, and we’re all interested in how we can make our farms more profitable,” said Gary Porter, a Missouri farmer and co-chair of the 2022 Commodity Classic. “The educational sessions always offer little improvements we can make that can help save money down the line,...

Feb 10, 2022

Author: Kris Martinez

From the first Commodity Classic in 1996 through the upcoming 2022 event March 10-12 in New Orleans, one person, in particular, has been a constant guiding force for the annual agricultural trade show and educational event.   Peggy Findley, the show director for the past 26 years, has announced that she will be retiring later this year, once her replacement is hired and the transition of duties for managing the 2023 event in Orlando is complete. Commodity Classic is actively recruiting candidates for the position at commodityclassic.com/join-the-classic-team.   Findley was hired to help the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association combine forces to hold their annual meetings jointly, which they began doing in 1996 under the umbrella of “Commodity Classic” in Phoenix. “They were looking for someone with experience managing a joint convention,” she recalls, “someone who could help people understand other people’s point of view and work...

Feb 10, 2022

Key Issues: Research

Author: Stacey Stiens

Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start planning for spring!  In preparation, let’s sow some seeds of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education!  Nourish the Future (NTF)—a national initiative developed by science teachers for science teachers—has some upcoming workshops for educators.  At NTF workshops, teacher leaders guide participants through inquiry-based, hands-on STEM lessons aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for chemistry, biology and environmental science classes.   March 12, 2022, at 9 am CST Nourish the Future: Feeding and Fueling the World Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - New Orleans, Louisiana Learn more about feeding and fueling the future with these hands-on NGSS-aligned lessons and activities!    April 1, 2022, at 12:30 pm Mesofauna Investigation: Soil Biodiversity and Climate National Science Teaching Association NSTA Conference – Houston,...