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About Us
Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) represents approximately 35,000 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 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to help protect and advance corn growers' interests.
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Growers who have sold grain to VeraSun may have received letters from attorneys asking for a repayment of funds. In response to questions raised by growers, the National Corn Growers Association is providing a guide to responding. It does not constitute legal advice; growers are urged to consult an attorney should they need additional consultation. Click here for the document (updated 9/1/10). |
 Best of Modern Ag on Display at Farm Show
Pictured: NCGA First Vice President Bart Schott talks to ag reporter Michelle Rook.
Attendees at this week's Farm Progress Show, being held in Boone, Iowa, are getting to see the best technology, products and services to help today's farmers, said National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Bart Schott, a grower from North Dakota who is there with NCGA Corn Board Director Garry Niemeyer of Illinois.
"Shows like this are great opportunities for farmers to get out and see what sorts of new machines, technology and practices can help them be better growers," Schott said. "it gives us a lot to think about when we return home to start or continue our harvesting."
NCGA is sharing a booth at the Farm Progress Show with the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board to promote the activities of the organizations and energize corn growers to learn more and take action.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Schott and Niemeyer took part in numerous interviews with farm radio and other media outlets, coming away with a good sense of what the media and their audiences are talking about - especially repeated attacks on American agriculture and conventional family farmers such as themselves.
"Farmers want to be informed and engaged because they are concerned about attacks from environmental extremists and food elitists," Niemeyer said. "It's great to work with Iowa Corn to make sure our farmer-members know what they can do, and how we can help them."
Click here for an interview with Bart Schott.
Click here for more information on the Farm Progress Show. |
Sixth Season of America's Heartland To Include New Features
America's Heartland, the only nationally-distributed program on agriculture in America, kicks off its sixth season this month with new stories and features demonstrating the importance of American agriculture to our nation and the world. The National Corn Growers is a promotional partner of the program.
"We're excited to see America's Heartland enter its sixth season so strongly," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen, a corn grower in Hurley, S.D. "As urban and suburban Americans get more distant from the farm, this provides them an entertaining and informative look at the hard work and dedication of our nation's family farmers, providing many of the food and other products they use every day and may sometimes take for granted."
New features include "Farm to Fork," where celebrity chef Dave Lieberman travels the Heartland seeking out fresh farm products and creates tasty dishes viewers can try at home. "Fast Facts about Food" delivers surprising and informative nutritional information, helping consumers learn more about antioxidants, fiber and vitamins.
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Corn's Benefits as Part of a Livestock Diet
In a world where the importance of a high-protein diet is widely recognized, consumers value the meat they eat and recognize the role it plays in keeping them healthy and strong. A lot of this has to do with what goes into the meat in the first place, and our food-sensitive culture often does not understand the role of grains in the livestock world.
"At National Corn Growers Association, many of our grower-leaders, myself included, have livestock feeding operations," said NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. "I see the value every day of using corn as a natural, healthy and nutritious feed for our animals. Likewise, as someone involved in the industry, I see a lot of the myths that are out there about grain feed."
In the first place, there is no clear division between "grass-fed" and "corn-fed." Corn-fed beef actually spend most of their lives on a range or pasture, eating grass. At 9 to 12 months of age, they are moved to a feedlot for about four to six months, eating a balanced mixed meal of different grains hay, and forage. This allows them to grow more quickly.
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NCGA Fights Pesky Pesticide Regulations
Since the Clean Water Act was passed in the early 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency has interpreted the law to exclude lawful pesticide applications regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. But early in 2009, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the permits are necessary for the application of pesticides. The National Corn Growers Association sees this as a game changer that would impact any grower that uses pesticides.
"In the past, you knew if you were applying a pesticide according to the label language you were in compliance with federal pesticide law," said NCGA Director of Public Policy Rod Snyder. "At this point, with additional Clean Water Act requirements and the possibility of citizen suits under that act should a pesticide happen to reach a body of water, even a ditch or a puddle, you have a secondary layer of regulations with potential legal vulnerabilities that you did not have before."
To hear a recent interview with Snyder on the subject, click here. |
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Break Down Trade Barriers
Restrictions on trade and travel with Cuba make it difficult for U.S. growers to effectively access a growing market only 90 miles from their shores. Currently the 10th largest export market for U.S. corn, Cuba holds the potential to use an even more significant portion of the crop, should the government move to relax trade and travel restrictions. Notably, if the ban is not eased, growers could possibly lose market share to competitors with more normalized trade relationships.
"First, we want to ensure that we are able to continue to serve this market," said National Corn Growers Association Director of Public Policy DaNita Murray. "There are policies in place that make us worry that our farmers are at a competitive disadvantage with other producers also well situated to serve this market. We need to preserve this market as well as grow it."
Click here to listen to a recent interview with Murray on the implications of trade and travel ban relaxations. |
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