As it was last year at this time, getting a new farm bill was the top priority for delegates to the National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress policy meeting last week during the 2013 Commodity Classic.

NCGA President Pam Johnson says NCGA supports fundamental changes to farm programs that include effective and affordable federal crop insurance to provide assistance only when most needed.

“An effective, affordable federal crop insurance program remains our No. 1 farm policy priority,” Pam said during the NCGA press conference at Classic. “And we have long supported programs that complement growers’ crop insurance protection in those years where prices or yields are significantly reduced. For growers, especially young farmers, managing the potential loss of revenue is critically important.’’

Another big priority for corn farmers is ethanol and Pam says they will continue to fight the attacks on both the Renewable Fuel Standard and the approval of E15 in the marketplace. “We will not let these attacks stand,” she said. “We know our potential to produce is very great and we know that we need to continue to build that demand.”

Pam adds that growers have been hit with demand destruction because of the drought but “we hope to plant a really great corn crop this year and get some of that back.”

Listen to Pam Johnson summarize issues important to corn growers at the 2013 Commodity Classic: NCGA President Pam Johnson

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album