Cobcast: Inside the Grind with the National Corn Growers Association

Herbicides, insecticides and fungicides make up some of the most important tools in a farmer’s tool box.

And it’s up to each one of us to take seriously the responsibilities of being a good steward for those tools, and the environment around us.

But recently, the process by which the Environmental Protection Agency regulates pesticides has been challenged in court, on the grounds that it didn’t comply with parts of the Endangered Species Act.

And so EPA has to build a plan to prove it’s in compliance with the ESA, causing potential disruptions for growers.

In this episode, we’re examining how we got here, what changes growers should expect, how farmers should get prepared, and how groups like the National Corn Growers Association are working with the EPA and other environmental services to minimize the impact on farming operations.

Our expert guests include:

This episode is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience.

Corn growers need to act now in order to support some important pieces of legislation that are moving through Congress in Washington, D.C.

The Farm Bill. The Next Generation Fuels Act. Opening up global trade opportunities to lower the cost of inputs.

Your lawmakers need to hear from constituents like you who support these issues.

And now is the perfect time to let them know.

With lawmakers returning to their home districts for the August recess, we have a golden opportunity to advocate for the issues that matter most to the agriculture community.

So in this episode, we’re talking to Lindsay Croke, the marketing director at Illinois Corn, and Luke Crumley, director of public policy and sustainability at Ohio Corn and Wheat, about how local advocacy makes a national impact.

They’ll offer practical advice for farmers to stay informed and effectively communicate with their elected representatives and staff, and discuss the opportunities that are available at this time of year for growers to show up and be heard. 

Ever since Mexico issued a decree that banned genetically modified corn, there's been confusion and concerns from growers and policymakers alike here in the United States.

Mexico is the number one market for U.S. corn growers by a wide margin, and over 90% of the corn that's planted in the United States is biotech. Accordingly, Mexico's decree threatens market access and adds a great deal of legal uncertainty for our corn growers.

And ever since the decree was announced, organizations like the National Corn Growers Association, the Corn Refiners Association and the U.S. Grains Council have been leveraging every opportunity to push back.

Recently, those efforts resulted in a trade dispute settlement hearing under the USMCA, which represents the best opportunity to reverse this destructive trade policy.

So in this episode, we're going to revisit the history of the ban, explore the arguments that were made in the dispute settlement hearing, and discuss what it all means for farmers. Our guests include:

We'll also hear about the U.S. Grains Council's work to maintain relations in Mexico, in a segment that is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience.

Now entering its 60th year, the NCGA Corn Yield Contest is an institution in the agriculture world.

Growers from all across the country can compete against one another to see who can coax the most bushels per acre out of their ground, blending tried-and-true techniques with new and emerging practices to maximize their production.

Last year, NCGA launched a new pilot class for the contest, the first in its history to limit an input in the hunt for high corn yields.

So in this episode of the Cobcast, we're discussing the Nitrogen Management Pilot Class of the Corn Yield Contest with Nick Preissler, the first-ever winner of the class, and Jim Isermann, an agronomist working with the NCGA to design rules for the class.

Together we'll discuss the impetus behind the development of the class, the challenges and opportunities it presents and the specific limitations set for nitrogen usage. Nick will share what he learned on his operation in Aurora, Nebraska, and what other growers can take away from his experience.

To learn more about the new pilot class, and the Corn Yield Contest in general, visit ncga.com/yieldcontest.

Since its adoption in 2005, no other piece of policy has changed the corn industry more than the Renewable Fuel Standard. Ethanol has become one of the most important markets for corn in that time.

But over the last couple of years, there are new developments that could be major boon for this crucial sector.

So in this episode, we're going to talk with a few ethanol experts to get their perspectives on how that market has developed, where it's at today, and where they’re hoping it will go in the future.

Joining us are agricultural economist Scott Irwin from the University of Illinois; Julie Busse, a member of the National Corn Growers Association ethanol team; and Bradley Schad, the CEO of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and Missouri Corn Growers Association.

They’ll provide some important context about ethanol’s history as a fuel, and also tell us how you can get involved with critical efforts to secure its future.

Visit NCGA.com/Octane to get involved yourself.

And you can learn more about Scott Irwin’s new book, “Back to the Futures: Crashing Dirt Bikes, Chasing Cows, and Unraveling the Mystery of Commodity Futures Markets,” by visiting this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Back-Futures-Crashing-Unraveling-Commodity/dp/B0CPKXFZ2Y

The suicide rate among among farmers is three and a half times higher than the general population. It’s a shocking statistic.

We’re losing good people, but we don’t have to.

From weather, to markets, to prices, to the issues that come with a family business, farmers face a number of stressors that are unique to their occupation. And in rural America, suicide rates increased 46% from 2000-2020, compared to 27.3% in metro areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So one of the National Corn Growers Association action teams is working with partners across the industry to spread the message that saying something could mean everything. In this episode, two of those partners share their stories and their expertise.

Jeff Ditzenberger is a former grower from southern Wisconsin who uses his past struggles with suicide to help other people today. He travels around the country delivering his outspoken message that, “It’s okay to not be okay.”

And Dr. Josie Rudolphi is an Associate Professor in the University of Illinois School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering with expertise in not only mental health, but its specific impacts in agricultural populations.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please share one of these important resources we discuss in this episode:

The Silicon Valley Bank collapse, and the sudden perception that there’s instability in the banking system, has a lot of us thinking back to 2008 and the financial crisis that spurred the Great Recession.

And, whether it’s the war in Ukraine, lingering supply-side issues from Covid-19 or high interest rates, we are all feeling the effects of the world economy a little more acutely this year.

So are we staring down another financial crisis, or just feeling a little economic speed bump?

For some perspectives on those questions, and what it means for corn growers, we’re joined in this episode by Krista Swanson, the National Corn Growers Association’s lead economist.

She provides some much-needed context, and an informed take on what the farm economy might have in store for us over the next few years. 

A major disruption to the market for U.S. corn is set to take effect in one year, as a decree by Mexico’s President would ban the import of GMO corn effective January 31, 2024.

Historically, Mexico is the number one market for U.S. corn, and so the NCGA has been active in pushing back, with strong support from the Biden administration in Washington.

The NCGA is urging the administration to hold the line and file a dispute settlement under the USMCA to hold Mexico accountable to their obligations under that trade agreement.

In order to build awareness of the issue in Congress, on January 31 NCGA held a well-attended briefing for Congressional staffers with an all-star panel of experts:

And the discussion was moderated by NCGA Vice President of Communications Neil Caskey. 

When she is sworn in on January 3, 2023, Congresswoman-Elect Nikki Budzinski will be tasked with representing the interests of farmers in a vast swath of her home state of Illinois, all the way from Champaign to Springfield to just north of St. Louis.

It’s the heart of corn country, and she knows that agriculture will factor heavily in many of the issues she will have to address in Washington.

But Budzinski, a Democrat, also represents an evenly-divided constituency that previously elected a Republican to the seat.

And she recognizes that it’s more important than ever to build bridges, find common ground and strive toward bipartisanship in the Capitol.

In this episode, we ask the newly-elected Congresswoman what she sees as the biggest issues that growers face today, how she’s planning to go to bat for America’s farmers, and what it’s like going to a place like Washington as a Congressional freshman. 

Inflationary costs—and rising interest rates—are hitting growers where it hurts worldwide.

Add to these worries the impact of the North American drought, transportation and logistics headaches, and other market uncertainties, and growers may feel like the high price of corn is the only good news they've heard in more than a year.

But what do you need to know to maintain your operation in this changing economic situation? What tools do we have to keep operating costs from spiraling out-of-control? And how much worse is it going to get before it gets better?

In this episode, we’re talking to Todd Van Hoose, President and CEO of the Farm Credit Council, for the answers. 

Plus, we send our best to Jon Doggett, NCGA CEO and podcast host, as he nears his retirement date.