In The News

Sep 12, 2024

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the American Soybean Association (ASA) expressed frustration today with a recently released recommendation by the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose preliminary countervailing duty rates on imports of the herbicide 2,4-D. The decision comes at the behest of domestic herbicide producer Corteva Agriscience, which filed a petition earlier this year calling for antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of herbicide 2,4-D from certain foreign suppliers. Farmers have said that their demand exceeds the domestic supply of the product, and foreign sources help fill this gap. “Access to this herbicide is critical for corn growers. Because there is only one domestic supplier manufacturing 2,4-D, growers in the U.S. must look to foreign suppliers to help meet our needs,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “We would welcome ideas from Corteva on how to ensure that this herbicide is available and affordable for...

Sep 9, 2024

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

Citing worsening economic conditions impacting the nation’s farmers, over 300 national and state groups, including the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and its affiliated corn state grower associations, sent a letter to congressional leaders today calling on them to pass the farm bill before year’s end. Signatories included groups representing farmers, livestock and specialty crop producers, lenders and other essential stakeholders in agricultural communities across the U.S. Commodity and lending groups will head to the Capitol en masse this week to advocate for passage of the legislation with a stronger agricultural safety net.    “It is critical that Congress pass a new farm bill that strengthens the safety net as many producers are facing multiple years of not being profitable, and this is causing their overall financial situation to deteriorate,” the letter said. “Some will have challenges as they seek operating credit for the 2025 crop year.” The farm bill is...

Aug 20, 2024

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association today urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resolve a dispute between his nation’s railways executives and union leaders that could result in a strike interrupting rail service into the U.S.   “If a strike shuts down rail service from Canada into the U.S., it will adversely impact America’s farmers who rely on rail to ship goods between the two countries,” said NCGA President Harold Wolle. “We encourage Prime Minister Trudeau, the Teamsters and Canadian rail workers to do everything possible to avoid such a strike.”   Canada is the third-largest destination for U.S. agricultural exports and the second-largest source of agricultural imports. Of great concern to corn growers, a strike could interrupt shipments of fertilizer imports and exports of ethanol, corn and byproducts used as animal feed.   The Teamsters have been at an impasse with the Canadian National Railways and the National Pacific Kansas City over labor contracts....

Aug 6, 2024

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

Eighteen members of Congress sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo yesterday saying they are concerned that tariffs on imports of a widely used herbicide – called 2,4-D – could compromise reliable, affordable access to agricultural inputs. The effort was led by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.).   “Agricultural producers already face record high input costs while competing in a volatile market and prices for all crops are forecasted to decline over the next several years,” the representatives said.  “Without careful consideration of the facts during these preliminary investigations, new tariffs will result in difficulties for producers who rely on this critical input. This will only exacerbate their economic challenges.” The National Corn Growers Association supported the congressional effort. “Duties on 2,4-D imports would intensify what is already a difficult period for many growers as key input costs...

Aug 2, 2024

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

As members of Congress head to their home states and districts for the August recess, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is reminding Representatives and Senators that the farm bill is still on their legislative to-do list this year.   “The farm bill is a top legislative priority for corn growers and agriculture at large,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “There is still an opportunity to build upon the 2018 farm bill by strengthening the commodity, conservation, trade and crop insurance titles and USDA programs."   The farm bill was originally scheduled for reauthorization in 2023. Last November, Congress voted to extend the legislation to September 30, 2024, with the Agriculture Committee leaders committing to work together to pass the legislation this year.   “We are counting on our elected officials to find a path forward for a strong bipartisan farm bill that can be signed into law this year,” Wolle said. “Let’s get it...

Jul 26, 2024

Key Issues: EthanolSustainabilityEthanol Action

Author: Bryan Goodman

The Biden administration should set fair and reasonable criteria around farming practices for farmers and refineries seeking tax credits for sustainable aviation fuels, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said in comments submitted this week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.   “Ethanol has played a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in cars and trucks, and we can do the same for the airline industry,” NCGA President Harold Wolle noted after the comments were filed. “But we need a level playing field that allows farmers to meet emission requirements using environmentally smart practices that will work on their farms.”   The issue stems from tax credits allocated under the Inflation Reduction Act for sustainable aviation fuels that would allow farmers to participate in this emerging market.   To produce qualifying fuels under the standards set by the U.S. Department of Treasury, biofuel producers must show they have lowered their carbon intensity...

Jul 23, 2024

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

A corn grower leader from Minnesota told the House Agriculture Committee today that farmers in her state and across the country need the support of a reauthorized and strengthened farm bill. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and state corn-affiliated associations are continuing to push for an improved farm bill this year. “Unless conditions change, I believe we’re heading into a perfect storm, a storm that I don’t think will be fully appreciated until early next year when farmers try to get loans but are unable to do so because they cannot demonstrate the ability to cash flow,” Minnesota Corn Growers President Dana Allen-Tully, Ph.D., told the committee as she testified about the state of the agricultural economy.   While farmers can feed and fuel the economy, she said, they need a strong farm bill that will assist when the chips are down.   “We have to have policies in place that reflect the realities of farming today,” Allen-Tully said.  The stakes of farming are so...

Jul 19, 2024

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. has made a strong case in the dispute with Mexico over genetically engineered corn under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a top official in the Biden administration told farmers this week during remarks at the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Congress meeting in Washington, D.C.   “This is something we will not rest until we get done,” said Ambassador Doug McKalip who serves as the chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “I know this is critically important, not just for corn growers, but frankly, farmers of all kinds. They say ‘we cannot allow trading partners to play loose with the science. If they can do it with corn, they can do it with anything.’”   McKalip said both U.S. and Mexican officials were given questions in writing by the panel considering the matter and both have responded. He said a decision is expected this fall.   McKalip said USTR is working on addressing unfair trade practices with Brazil and,...

Jul 19, 2024

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association elected four new farmers to its corn board this week. The organization also re-elected a farmer currently serving on the board. Those elected were Jon Miller of Pleasantville, Ohio; Jason Lewis, of Henderson, Neb.; Dan Nerud, of Dorchester, Neb.; and Jay Schutte, of Benton City, Mo. Randy DeSutter, of Woodhull, Ill., was re-elected to the board. “I was thoroughly impressed with the caliber of candidates who threw their hats in the ring during this board election,” said NCGA President Harold Wolle. “These new board members have a breadth of experience in agriculture, a long history of working to advance the goals and objectives of NCGA and are uniquely positioned to help take the organization to great heights as we implement our new strategic plan.” The terms for the board members begin on October 1, which is the beginning of the organization’s new fiscal year. The delegates at Corn Congress, held this week in Washington, D.C., cast their...

Jul 18, 2024

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Krista Swanson

Scott Gerlt, PhD, ASA Chief Economist Krista Swanson, NCGA Lead Economist Katelyn Klawinsky, ASA Economics Intern   The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in August 2022, created a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. This tax credit, called 40B due to its section in the IRA, is in effect for 2023 and 2024. The 40B credit amount is based on the carbon intensity from a lifecycle analysis for the specific sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) obtaining the tax credit. As such, lower carbon intensity (CI) biofuels receive a larger tax credit than those with higher CI scores[i].   While SAF can be produced from many different feedstocks, both soybeans and corn are options that can be used at scale. One option to lower the CI of the SAF is for corn and soybean farmers to implement specific conservation practices. Unfortunately, the requirements in 40B for conservation bundling severely limit the ability of producers to provide additional carbon intensity benefits to the 40B program....