As a farmer, you work from dawn to dusk. You plan. You budget. You worry. You sweat. You hope. You pray. And yet, one stroke of a pen in Washington, DC can do as much to make or break your profitability as the thousands of hours you devote to your crop each season.
If you believe...
the future of the soybean and corn industry is critically important to the success of US farmers...
Congress has a lot to say about whether or not you make money...
grain farmers need to have strong representation on Capitol Hill...
News from NCGA
Illinois Farmer, Kenneth Hartman Jr., Becomes President of the National Corn Growers Association (Tue, 01 Oct 2024)
Kenneth Hartman Jr., a corn farmer from Waterloo, Ill., began his term this week as president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). During meetings with the media today, Hartman discussed the current economic challenges corn growers face and said he wanted to push for passage of a robust farm bill, expand markets and address tariffs that are being placed on ag supplies and passed on to farmers. He also talked about the need to extend consumer access to higher blends of ethanol. Key to accomplishing these goals, he said, is building relationships. “My theme as president is “Building Bridges,” Hartman said. “We need to build on our ties with existing allies while cultivating new relationships with other organizations inside and outside agriculture. We also need to continue to reach out to policymakers and other leaders who may not represent rural communities but who benefit indirectly from the work of farmers. I strongly believe that coalition building is one of the most effective ways to get things done.” Hartman, a fifth-generation farmer, operates his farm along with his wife Anita, mother Joann and daughter Amanda. Hartman has extensive experience in advocacy. He served on the NCGA board for six years in a variety of leadership roles, and he is a past president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and past chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. He is also a member of the Illinois Leadership Council for Ag Education. In 2021, Hartman was honored by Prairie Farmer magazine with the Master Farmer award for his exceptional agricultural production skills as well as his commitment to family and service. Hartman takes the reins at NCGA as growers across the Corn Belt face rising input costs and lower commodity prices. To address the issue, Hartman said he will focus on several issues, including advancing ethanol legislation, working with U.S. officials to expand foreign markets and identifying new uses for corn. NCGA’s board elects a member of the board to serve as president each year. The term begins in early October, the start of NCGA’s fiscal year. Harold Wolle, the organization’s immediate past president who hails from Minnesota, will now serve as chairman of the board. Learn more about NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. by watching the video here. Headshot formal Headshot on-farm
>> Read more
Growers Applaud Move by U.S. House Members to Expand Ethanol Access (Fri, 27 Sep 2024)
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauded a bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House for introducing the “Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act” today, providing consumers with year-round access to higher blends of ethanol. “This legislation would remove needless limits on the sale of ethanol, particularly during the summer months, helping us further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut prices at the pump while helping corn growers by providing a steady market for ethanol.” said Minnesota corn grower and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “The members of Congress introducing and co-sponsoring this legislation clearly care deeply about the economic wellbeing of farmers and rural America.” Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) are sponsoring the legislation. Under current federal policy, 15% blends of ethanol, often called E15, cannot be sold at terminals during the summer months. But the Clean Air Act gives EPA authority to temporarily waive these requirements to address pressing concerns, such as fuel shortages. The policy has left corn growers who rely on the sale of ethanol with a great deal of uncertainty. Drivers have also been faced with higher gas prices during the summer vacation season. The Biden administration has issued waivers over the last few years. But growers and many Midwest governors have called for a permanent fix to the problem. Today’s legislation would offer that solution. Similar legislation, introduced by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), has been pending in the Senate. Corn grower leaders have also supported that legislation. "Our champions in both chambers of Congress have sponsored and co-sponsored sound and sensible legislation that will remove a major market barrier, for us” Wolle said. “Now we call on their colleagues and the president to do what it takes to ensure this legislation becomes law.”
>> Read more
Kenneth Hartman Jr., a corn farmer from Waterloo, Ill., began his term this week as president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). During meetings with the media today, Hartman discussed the current economic challenges corn growers face and said he wanted to push for passage of a robust farm bill, expand markets and address tariffs that are being placed on ag supplies and passed on to farmers. He also talked about the need to extend consumer access to higher blends of ethanol. Key to accomplishing these goals, he said, is building relationships. “My theme as president is “Building Bridges,” Hartman said. “We need to build on our ties with existing allies while cultivating new relationships with other organizations inside and outside agriculture. We also need to continue to reach out to policymakers and other leaders who may not represent rural communities but who benefit indirectly from the work of farmers. I strongly believe that coalition building is one of the most effective ways to get things done.” Hartman, a fifth-generation farmer, operates his farm along with his wife Anita, mother Joann and daughter Amanda. Hartman has extensive experience in advocacy. He served on the NCGA board for six years in a variety of leadership roles, and he is a past president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and past chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. He is also a member of the Illinois Leadership Council for Ag Education. In 2021, Hartman was honored by Prairie Farmer magazine with the Master Farmer award for his exceptional agricultural production skills as well as his commitment to family and service. Hartman takes the reins at NCGA as growers across the Corn Belt face rising input costs and lower commodity prices. To address the issue, Hartman said he will focus on several issues, including advancing ethanol legislation, working with U.S. officials to expand foreign markets and identifying new uses for corn. NCGA’s board elects a member of the board to serve as president each year. The term begins in early October, the start of NCGA’s fiscal year. Harold Wolle, the organization’s immediate past president who hails from Minnesota, will now serve as chairman of the board. Learn more about NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. by watching the video here. Headshot formal Headshot on-farm
>> Read more
Growers Applaud Move by U.S. House Members to Expand Ethanol Access (Fri, 27 Sep 2024)
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauded a bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House for introducing the “Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act” today, providing consumers with year-round access to higher blends of ethanol. “This legislation would remove needless limits on the sale of ethanol, particularly during the summer months, helping us further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut prices at the pump while helping corn growers by providing a steady market for ethanol.” said Minnesota corn grower and NCGA President Harold Wolle. “The members of Congress introducing and co-sponsoring this legislation clearly care deeply about the economic wellbeing of farmers and rural America.” Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) are sponsoring the legislation. Under current federal policy, 15% blends of ethanol, often called E15, cannot be sold at terminals during the summer months. But the Clean Air Act gives EPA authority to temporarily waive these requirements to address pressing concerns, such as fuel shortages. The policy has left corn growers who rely on the sale of ethanol with a great deal of uncertainty. Drivers have also been faced with higher gas prices during the summer vacation season. The Biden administration has issued waivers over the last few years. But growers and many Midwest governors have called for a permanent fix to the problem. Today’s legislation would offer that solution. Similar legislation, introduced by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), has been pending in the Senate. Corn grower leaders have also supported that legislation. "Our champions in both chambers of Congress have sponsored and co-sponsored sound and sensible legislation that will remove a major market barrier, for us” Wolle said. “Now we call on their colleagues and the president to do what it takes to ensure this legislation becomes law.”
>> Read more
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