In The News

Jul 15, 2024

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association, joined by five other commodity groups, sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo asking her to consider the impacts on farmers as she reviews a petition by the agricultural chemical company Corteva that would place duties on imports of the herbicide 2,4-D. “Restricting imports of 2,4-D will have wide-ranging consequences for farmers,” the letter said. “American farmers cannot solely rely on Corteva, which is the only domestic supplier of 2,4-D, because there is not enough supply to meet demand.”   The letter also said that, if granted, the petition would cause availability shortages and hamper the ability of growers to be successful. “Restricting the availability of 2,4-D will be very harmful at a time when farmers are grappling with rising input costs and low commodity prices,” the letter said.   The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects total farm production cash expenses for 2024 at a record-high level....

Jun 28, 2024

Key Issues: TradeBiotechnology

Author: Bryan Goodman

Officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative hammered arguments made by Mexican representatives this week during oral arguments over Mexico’s ban on imports of genetically modified corn used in some food products. The ban was issued in early 2023. USTR filed a dispute settlement under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement over the issue in August of that year after the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and state corn groups spent months pushing for action. “The science overwhelmingly shows that genetically modified corn is safe for consumers and does not harm native plants,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “U.S. officials did an excellent job of making their case, and more importantly they successfully argued that the Mexican government does not have the scientific evidence to support its actions or claims.” During the hearing, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday in Mexico City, U.S. officials made several convincing arguments,...

Jun 13, 2024

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Board has elected Jed Bower, of Washington Court House, Ohio, as the organization's next first vice president for the new fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2024.     “It is an honor to be elected to this role by my fellow board members,” Bower said. “With a new strategic plan in place, this is an exciting time to serve in a leadership role on the board. I look forward to working with my fellow board members, in partnership with grower leaders and staff from across our national and state partner organizations, to lead NCGA toward a future that I am confident will best serve U.S. corn growers”   Bower raises corn and soybeans with his wife Emily and children Ethan and Emma on their fifth-generation family farm. Bower is a current NCGA board member, who serves as board liaison to the organization’s Stewardship Action Team, Field to Market and the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture research. He also serves on the...

Jun 13, 2024

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Bryan Goodman

The National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation and six auto dealers representing 16 brands and collectively operating dozens of dealerships in major markets across the country joined the American Petroleum Institute today in filing a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s light-duty and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years 2027-2032. The groups said EPA exceeded its congressional authority with the regulation and rendered a decision that values one tool for fighting climate change over others.    “By approving tailpipe standards that focus exclusively on electric vehicles, EPA has ignored the proven benefits corn ethanol offers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change,” Minnesota farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle said. “While it could take decades to get enough electric vehicles on the road to significantly lower GHG...

May 24, 2024

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 has passed the House Committee on Agriculture by a vote of 33-21. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said many of the recommendations made by corn grower leaders are reflected in the legislation and language in the bill would improve programs for corn growers across the country.   “We are deeply appreciative of the members on the committee and their staff for their work on this legislation,” said NCGA President Harold Wolle. “Advancing the farm bill through committee is an important milestone in the legislative process.”   During the markup, corn growers supported several amendments that were filed by committee members to improve the farm bill. Wolle said growers were appreciative of Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) for offering an amendment on sustainable aviation fuel that was adopted by the committee. He also thanked Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) for leading and offering an amendment requiring a mandatory base acre update...

May 21, 2024

Key Issues: Farm Bill

Author: Bryan Goodman

In a letter sent today to the House Committee on Agriculture, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Harold Wolle reacted to the recently released House Farm Bill legislation. The committee is expected to markup the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 on Thursday, May 23. “NCGA’s farm bill recommendations seek to make existing USDA programs more effective, efficient, and responsive,” Wolle said. “Many of these recommendations are reflected in the proposed legislation and would be an improvement upon existing programs for corn growers across the country.”   The organization’s priorities include protecting federal crop insurance, bolstering U.S. international market development efforts, strengthening the producer safety net, supporting voluntary conservation programs, championing initiatives important to rural America and providing a base acre update.   The letter noted corn growers’ appreciation for the leadership of Chairman GT Thompson (R-Penn.),...

May 17, 2024

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

The U.S. International Trade Commission today agreed to advance a petition by Corteva Agribusiness to place anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of the herbicide 2,4-D shipped from China and India. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said the decision will impact farmers. “We are disappointed that ITC did not listen to the feedback from farmers about how harmful these tariffs could be to rural America,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “Corn prices are already low and input costs have been rising. This decision will only compound our problems.” Six of the nation’s major commodity groups, including the National Corn Growers Association, sent a letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission in April encouraging it to vote against advancing a petition.   Growers have said the imports covered by this case are the major sources of supply other than Corteva, which is the only U.S. manufacturer, and that America’s farmers cannot rely...

May 3, 2024

Key Issues: Trade

Author: Bryan Goodman

Leaders at the National Corn Growers Association said today that they are worried about the availability and price of inputs after the Commerce Department announced plans to raise tariffs on phosphorous fertilizers imported from Morocco from 2.12% to 14.21%.   Commerce’s actions come after the domestic fertilizer company Mosaic requested action from the agency in 2023 over an import dispute with another multi-national company. “The price of corn has dropped, and input costs are already high, so the Commerce Department’s decision is the last thing farmers need,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “If fertilizers continue to go up in price and are hard to secure, farmers will only have Mosaic and the Commerce Department to thank.”   The proposed new rate would be the final retroactive tariff for 2022 imports and serve as the new provisional rate required to be deposited with U.S. Customs for imports from November 2024 and onward until the conclusion of the...

May 1, 2024

Key Issues: New Uses

Author: Bryan Goodman

An announcement this week by the U.S. Department of Treasury regarding the final guidance on eligibility for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel tax credits enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act was met with concern from leaders at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) who say they are now committed to ensuring that the updated guidelines for the credit are vastly improved.    NCGA raised specific issues with the changes Treasury made to the Department of Energy’s GREET model, which is used to measure greenhouse gas emissions and will be a crucial mechanism in determining who receives the tax credit.   Corn grower leaders said they are particularly troubled that the updated model requires farmers to bundle the use of no-till practices, enhanced efficiency fertilizers and cover crops for their grain to meet the standards now required to qualify for the tax credit.   “We are deeply disappointed that this updated model requires farmers to implement environmental practices that...

Apr 30, 2024

Author: Krista Swanson

The United States is a global leader in corn production, producing a record 15.3 billion bushels of corn on 94.6 million planted acres in 2023.    Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents nearly 40,000 dues-paying corn growers and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 50 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to help protect and advance corn growers’ interests.    NCGA Quarterly Economic Report 2024: 2Q (pdf)