Corn growers from across the country are in Washington, D.C., this week for the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Congress and fly in, where they’re meeting with members of Congress and administration officials to discuss the challenges facing agriculture and the policy priorities they believe can strengthen the farm economy. With another year of negative returns expected for many producers, NCGA leaders say they’re focused on increasing demand, expanding export opportunities, and addressing high input costs.
One of the organization’s top priorities is creating new markets for corn and ethanol. Lesly McNitt, vice president of public policy with the National Corn Growers Association, said expanding the use of corn-based products and renewable fuels can help build long-term demand for farmers.
Another major priority is securing year-round sales of E15. McNitt said passage of year-round E15 legislation in the House has given corn growers renewed optimism that the Senate could also act, providing another opportunity to expand domestic demand for ethanol and corn.
Trade is also a major topic of discussion during this week’s fly-in. McNitt said the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement remains critical to the corn industry because Mexico is the largest export destination for U.S. corn, while Canada is the leading market for American ethanol. She said maintaining stable trade relationships with both countries is essential for growers and the renewable fuels industry.
Along with demand and trade, growers are urging lawmakers to address rising input costs. McNitt said fertilizer prices and supply chain challenges continue to squeeze farm profitability, and NCGA is working with lawmakers and the administration to identify solutions that improve transparency and fairness in the fertilizer market.
NCGA leaders say those conversations will continue throughout Corn Congress as growers share firsthand experiences from their farms and advocate for policies they believe will strengthen the long-term outlook for corn producers.
