Corn Farmers Launch Campaign to Open Minds

Chuck Zimmerman

In an effort to provide information about corn farmers and their accomplishments to constantly improve their farming practices, especially as it relates to the environment, a campaign was launched over the weekend. This Saturday, key public policy influencers in our nation’s capital met the corn farmers of America’s Heartland in their homes, at the airport, and even while listening to …

Ag Groups, Corn, Farming, NCGA, Sustainability

CUTC Moved to 2022

Chuck Zimmerman

The Corn Utilization & Technology Conference (CUTC) has been moved to June 6-8, 2022 and it is because of the continuing situation with COVID-19. What is definitely continuing are statements and posts from a variety of sources that seem to completely contradict each other. It is definitely a nightmare for meeting and event planners. On the one hand you have …

Ag Groups, Corn, CUTC, NCGA, Technology

Congrats to Two Industry Retirees

Cindy Zimmerman

Two long-time agribusiness industry communicators are retiring from the business the next month. One of the best farm broadcasters in the business is retiring from Brownfield Ag News. After a 43-year career in agriculture, anchor/reporter Ken Anderson will sign off for the last time on December 30. Ken has received many awards over the years, including NAFB Farm Broadcaster of …

Media, NCGA

2021 Commodity Classic Will Be Virtual

Cindy Zimmerman

Even though we all expected it, the news is still sad. Commodity Classic will be virtual in 2021. The annual conference and trade show was originally scheduled for March 4-6, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas. The new format is expected to be offered the first week in March 2021. The 2022 Commodity Classic will be held in New Orleans on …

AEM, Commodity Classic, Corn, NAWG, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Virtual, Wheat

New NCGA President Starts New Year

Cindy Zimmerman

It’s a new year for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) with new president John Linder of Edison, Ohio who took over the post on October 1. Linder, along with his brother, Mike, and wife, Cheryl, run a fifth-generation farm raising corn, soybeans, soft red winter wheat and soybeans for seed in central Ohio. In addition to traditional row crop …

Corn, NCGA, Video

All Ag All Day Reports From DC

Cindy Zimmerman

Thanks to COVID, there have been few opportunities for in-person visits on Capitol Hill but farm broadcaster Tony Ricketts spent all last week on the 4th Annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour. Ricketts met with members of Congress, including the House Ag Committee, and agricultural industry leaders to discuss important topics such as trade, infrastructure, broadband, and …

Audio, Media, NCGA, Trade, USGC, Wheat

EPA Denial of RFS Waivers Good News for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol producers and farmers were pleased to hear Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is denying petitions for retroactive small refinery waivers for the 2011-18 compliance years. EPA announced it is denying 54 “gap-year” small refinery exemption petitions and will deny the remaining 14 petitions once they are received from the Department of Energy. In announcing its decision, EPA …

ACE, Audio, Corn, NCGA, RFA

EPA and USDA Announce Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency has teamed up with USDA to advance agricultural sustainability with the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges. The competition includes two challenges that seek proposals for new and existing fertilizer technologies to maintain or improve crop yields while reducing the impacts of fertilizers on the environment. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced …

AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Environment, EPA, Fertilizer, NCGA, Precision Agriculture, USDA

Corn and Sorghum Groups Urge Aid for Ethanol Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

Members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus held a virtual town hall Wednesday to discuss the challenges currently facing the ethanol industry and what can be done to help. Caucus members participating in the meeting were including Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Rodney Davis (R-IL) as well as ethanol and agricultural group leaders. House Agriculture …

Audio, Biofuels, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA, NSP, sorghum