Ethanol and Trade Dominate Conversations at Farm Progress Show

It’s no surprise that trade and ethanol were top-of-mind, driving the conversations with farmers, media and industry partners at this year’s Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois. The National Corn Growers Association officer team engaged in a number of conversations around these topics, talking about the importance of growing corn demand.

“One of the primary questions we were getting asked at the show was what is happening in regard to the small refinery exemptions,” said NCGA President Lynn Chrisp. “We are in a situation where we are putting some importance on the fact that the gallons need to be reallocated and they need to be reallocated to 2020, not 2021. Farmers can’t wait another year and President Trump needs to act to restore lost ethanol gallons starting this year.”

NCGA First Vice President Kevin Ross had the opportunity to briefly discuss the reallocation of gallons with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “I told the Secretary that we absolutely could not wait, and the gallons need to be accounted for in the 2020 renewable volume obligation. Farmers need some relief now.”

John Linder, NCGA First Vice President-elect, also attended the show and participated in a tour with Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, the assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention with the Environmental Protection Agency. “It was a great experience being able to interact with the assistant administrator and help answer her questions about farming practices and the environment,” Linder said. “We talked a lot about sustainability and the types of technologies farmers are using to maximize production while being efficient with the use of inputs.”

While at the show, the officers were interviewed by members of the media and met with various government officials and industry partners.

NCGA was also a part of the Illinois Corn Growers Association tent at the event. Illinois Corn had a large presence at the show this year, with displays on soil health, new uses of corn, corn in pet food, ethanol, trade and more.