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
NCGA Taps Lane Howard to Lead Ethanol Portfolio (Wed, 12 Feb 2025)
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced today that Lane Howard recently joined the organization’s staff as director of biofuels. “Ethanol is one of our marquee issues and is important to rural economies,” said Sean Arians, vice president sustainable production and value chain engagement at NCGA. “We are thrilled to welcome a professional of Lane’s caliber to manage this important portfolio. He is the perfect fit for this role.” With close to a decade of experience handling agricultural issues, Howard most recently managed the market development portfolio for the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and Missouri Corn Growers Association. In that role, he oversaw issues related to all corn use and demand growth, including biofuels, livestock, trade, new uses and research. He also focused on sustaining and growing industry relationships, collaborating with other program areas on relevant work, and disseminating information to appropriate board members, staff and members of Missouri Corn. Howard also has experience on the national level. He served on various NCGA action teams, participated in monthly working group meetings for ethanol, new uses and animal agriculture. He also played a key role in NCGA’s recent strategic planning process and served as a content area expert for the organization’s staff and state colleagues. Howard, a graduate of the University of Missouri, officially started the position on Feb. 3.
>> Read more
NCGA Encouraged by Mexicos Actions on Genetically Modified Corn (Thu, 06 Feb 2025)
The National Corn Growers Association expressed optimism today after Mexico rescinded portions of a decree that banned genetically modified corn. The development is an outgrowth of corn grower advocacy that led to a dispute panel that ruled in late December last year that Mexico had violated its commitments under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement when it banned the imports. “We are encouraged by today’s development and pleased by the impact of corn grower advocacy,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr . “Mexico must comply with the report and eliminate all measures that ban or restrict the trade of genetically modified corn.” The settlement process is still ongoing, Hartman noted. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador first set off alarms in the Corn Belt in December 2020 when he initiated a decree to ban genetically modified corn by the end of 2024. At the time, NCGA began outreach to the Trump administration to head off the ban. Those efforts continued with the Biden administration as well as with members of Congress and Mexican officials. The organization’s leaders argued that the ban would significantly harm growers and rural communities, especially because Mexico is the number one export destination for U.S. corn. NCGA’s efforts intensified in 2023 when the Mexican president issued a decree banning genetically modified white corn, effective the following day. NCGA and state corn grower groups responded by pushing USTR to file a dispute settlement under USMCA, which it eventually did.
>> Read more
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced today that Lane Howard recently joined the organization’s staff as director of biofuels. “Ethanol is one of our marquee issues and is important to rural economies,” said Sean Arians, vice president sustainable production and value chain engagement at NCGA. “We are thrilled to welcome a professional of Lane’s caliber to manage this important portfolio. He is the perfect fit for this role.” With close to a decade of experience handling agricultural issues, Howard most recently managed the market development portfolio for the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and Missouri Corn Growers Association. In that role, he oversaw issues related to all corn use and demand growth, including biofuels, livestock, trade, new uses and research. He also focused on sustaining and growing industry relationships, collaborating with other program areas on relevant work, and disseminating information to appropriate board members, staff and members of Missouri Corn. Howard also has experience on the national level. He served on various NCGA action teams, participated in monthly working group meetings for ethanol, new uses and animal agriculture. He also played a key role in NCGA’s recent strategic planning process and served as a content area expert for the organization’s staff and state colleagues. Howard, a graduate of the University of Missouri, officially started the position on Feb. 3.
>> Read more
NCGA Encouraged by Mexicos Actions on Genetically Modified Corn (Thu, 06 Feb 2025)
The National Corn Growers Association expressed optimism today after Mexico rescinded portions of a decree that banned genetically modified corn. The development is an outgrowth of corn grower advocacy that led to a dispute panel that ruled in late December last year that Mexico had violated its commitments under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement when it banned the imports. “We are encouraged by today’s development and pleased by the impact of corn grower advocacy,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr . “Mexico must comply with the report and eliminate all measures that ban or restrict the trade of genetically modified corn.” The settlement process is still ongoing, Hartman noted. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador first set off alarms in the Corn Belt in December 2020 when he initiated a decree to ban genetically modified corn by the end of 2024. At the time, NCGA began outreach to the Trump administration to head off the ban. Those efforts continued with the Biden administration as well as with members of Congress and Mexican officials. The organization’s leaders argued that the ban would significantly harm growers and rural communities, especially because Mexico is the number one export destination for U.S. corn. NCGA’s efforts intensified in 2023 when the Mexican president issued a decree banning genetically modified white corn, effective the following day. NCGA and state corn grower groups responded by pushing USTR to file a dispute settlement under USMCA, which it eventually did.
>> Read more
News from ASA
Print 