In The News

Jul 24, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Delegates attending the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Congress, which was held July 20 in Washington D.C., elected four farmers to serve on the organization’s Corn Board.  Taking office on Oct. 1, the start of NCGA’s 2024 fiscal year, are new board members Troy Schneider of Colorado, Kelly Nieuwenhuis of Iowa and Bill Leigh of Illinois. Current board member Jed Bower of Ohio was re-elected. All four candidates were elected to three-year terms.   “This year’s Corn Board candidates brought impressive records of service to their fellow farmers,” said NCGA Nominating Committee Chairman Chris Edgington. “Their willingness to share their time and talent serves as a testament to the importance of the work we do. I look forward to watching how the insights, ideas, experiences and perspectives each brings helps guide NCGA’s work to build a bright future for corn farmers across the country.”   The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while...

Jun 30, 2023

Key Issues: Research

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) encourages qualified graduate students to apply for the Research Ambassador program. If you are interested in building a personal network of future agricultural leaders as you begin your career, you will want to apply today.   To ensure all interested applicants have a chance at this incredible opportunity, NCGA has extended the deadline for applications to its NCGA Research Ambassador Program to July 15.   Graduate students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and are involved in research broadly related to corn production are eligible to apply. Selected students receive a $2,500 award, up to $750 to offset travel and registration costs for scientific conferences, and fully-funded travel to participate in NCGA events throughout the year.   For more information, visit NCGA Research Ambassador Program.   Interested applicants may contact Robyn Allscheid at allscheid@ncga.com

Jun 15, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

The National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board has elected Ken Hartman Jr. to become the organization's next first vice president for the new fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2023.    Hartman is a fifth-generation farmer who operates a grain farm along with his wife, Anita, daughter, Amanda, and mother, Joann in Waterloo, Illinois. Together, they have also raised specialty crops such as tofu soybeans and white corn, while also being early adopters of precision farming technologies. His daughter Alexis is a financial analyst for Waste Management in California and Ashley works for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa.     “I’m honored to serve America’s corn farmers in a new way with NCGA,” said Hartman. “I look forward to working with my fellow officers as we tackle issues that are critically important to corn growers and rural America.”    Hartman currently chairs the NCGA Finance Committee. He also served as co-chair of the 2023 Commodity Classic committee.     Hartman was...

Jun 12, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Applications for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) 2023/2024 Leadership Academy Class are live! The goal of this program is to bring together a diverse group of grower leaders who seek to improve their ability to serve their state organizations, enhance their communication skills, and understand the important role of advocacy—all to advance the priorities of our nation’s corn growers and build the next generation of industry leaders.   Through this program, NCGA’s members are empowered to pursue their leadership journey and utilize their skills to inspire action in others. Hear what participants have to say about this program’s success.   The 2023/2024 class will meet in St. Louis, MO from August 7-9, 2023, for a session on leadership, communication, and personal branding. The class will reconvene in Washington, DC from January 22-24, 2024, for advocacy training. NCGA is grateful to our sponsors, UPL and FMC, for their support of this program.      Interested in...

Jun 1, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) welcomed interns to both offices thanks to the support by the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA). These internships provide students with an overview of the corn industry through real-world professional experiences while developing the next generation of talent to move the industry forward.   Hannah Roebke is majoring in broadcasting, journalism and sports media and communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She will be interning with NCGA in St. Louis, focusing on communications and outreach.   Roebke says “I am excited for the opportunity to work in an industry that is close to my heart. I look forward to learning more about ag while getting to communicate the message of NCGA.”   Alexis Bodlak, who is majoring in nutrition-community health and wellness, policy analysis and pre-law at UNL will be spending her summer in Washington, D.C. working on policy with...

May 24, 2023

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Farmers adopting cover crops through Farmers for Soil Health can look forward to enhanced technical assistance. The recent $13.6 million grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation mark a significant step forward for farmers who plan to enroll in the program later this year. The grants, a key component of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $95 million Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities, will offer personal, on-the-ground technical support to farmers in 19 states.   Farmers for Soil Health is a collaboration between the National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Board and United Soybean Board with the goal to advance conservation practices to improve soil health across the U.S., including doubling cover crop acres in the U.S. to 30 million acres by 2030.   “U.S. farmers are dedicated to implementing sustainable practices that will not only feed and fuel a growing population but also protect our environment,” said Jack Cornell, director of sustainable...

May 11, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

There’s still time to apply for the third class of the NCGA Women and Mentors Program to be held in St. Louis on June 22-23. In addition to networking with other women committed to their success, participants learn how to quiet their inner critic, explore what they can learn from another woman’s leadership journey, and develop an action plan for their own mentorship journey. Each participant will leave the retreat with an action plan and mentorship pairing to help each other reach their goals.   In this third year of the program, participation is expanding to include a state, national, and industry staff component—creating a support network and a place for these women to discuss issues they face as women in a male-dominated industry.   Members of the new class will be welcomed to an ongoing quarterly virtual leadership lunch and learning sessions already underway with the prior year’s participants.   Do you know of any women looking for the next step in their leadership...

May 10, 2023

Key Issues: Sustainability

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

This April, state and national corn staff came together in Omaha, Nebraska for a biannual meeting addressing water quality topics.   Focus during these discussions included WOTUS, Farm Bill Title II priorities and Climate-Smart Commodity Grants.   "It is so meaningful for the work I do to come together with other states and share our successes, challenges and new ideas regarding these important topics," said Rachael Whitehair, director of innovation and stewardship for the Nebraska Corn Board.   The group also toured Midwest Laboratories and Valmont Industries, where they gained a deeper understanding of precisely how they run relevant testing for farmers and how irrigation pivots are made, respectively.   Importantly, the meeting provides a forum to share lessons learned from state policy efforts and innovative agricultural nutrients and water quality efforts. States attending included: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska....

May 5, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

A committee of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) grower leaders announced the finalists for the 2023 NCGA Scholarship Programs. Twelve students will be awarded scholarships for the fall 2023 semester. NCGA is proud to support these programs in partnership with BASF Corporation.   “NCGA works to build a strong future for corn farmers in all programs. These scholarships provide an important investment in building tomorrow’s ag industry leaders and problem-solvers,” said NCGA Member and Consumer Engagement Action Team Chair Dan Nerud. “Given the number of quality applicants and the breadth of their talents, I am excited to see how these students will help shape the industry and find solutions that keep farms strong well into the next generation.”   Learn more about the program winners below and read their full bios.   Graduate Student Scholarship Winners: Maxwell Harman, Michigan State University Autumn Mclaughlin, University of Tennessee   William C. Berg...

Apr 27, 2023

Author: Cathryn Wojcicki

Apply to become a part of the third class of the NCGA Women and Mentors Program to be held in St. Louis on June 22-23. In addition to learning how to quiet their inner critic, exploring what they can learn from another woman’s leadership journey, and developing an action plan for their own mentorship journey, each participant gains a supportive group of peers committed to their success. Everyone will leave the retreat with a concrete action plan and a mentorship pairing to help each other reach their goals.   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, and help to foster leaders of tomorrow and learn how to share the wealth of knowledge and understanding accumulated through years of service.    The program also includes a component for interested state, national and industry staff—creating a support network and a...