Off The Cob

On July 11, Brooke S. Appleton, NCGA vice president of public policy, participated in a press conference with leaders from the American Petroleum Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers. The group called on the Biden administration to be more inclusive of ethanol and other environmental solutions as it finalizes its tailpipe emissions standards for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles.

MAY 17 2023 - Krista Swanson, NCGA's lead economist discusses the Black Sea Initiative - war on the Ukraine and market impacts with Mike Pearson, American Ag Network. Note: Shortly after this interview, Reuters reported the Black Sea Initiative has been extended 2 months. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/last-ship-leave-ukraine-fate-black-sea-grain-deal-russias-hands-2023-05-17/

On May 1, 2023, the National Corn Growers Association will launch the 59th annual National Corn Yield Contest. This year, NCGA is bringing an additional feature to the contest in the form of a new pilot class for growers to enter, all centered around the idea of maximizing nitrogen use for high yields. Visit ncga.com/NCYC to learn more.

Farmers for Soil Health Moving Forward on Sustainability Work by National Corn Growers Association

New Jersey Teacher of the Year Incorporates STEM, Agriculture in Curriculum by National Corn Growers Association

The NCGA's Sustainable Ag Research Action Team Chair (SARAT) and Nebraska grower Jason Lewis discusses key priorities and the inaugural success of its Research Ambassador Program. Learn more by visiting https://ncga.com/key-issues/other-topics/scholarship-programs/profile/ncga-research-ambassador-program.

Interview on WHO the Big Show with Iowa Corn's Industrial Innovation Manager Alex Buck by National Corn Growers Association

Robyn Allscheid, NCGA Director, Research and Productivity with Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News by National Corn Growers Association

National Corn Growers Association's Kendra Ricks speaks to RFD-TV on the new leadership program.

NCGA's National Corn Yield Contest Manager Linda Lambur, discusses the history, and the relevance of the contest to the corn industry today. Corn growers can save by entering the NCYC by June 30. Learn more at NCGA.com.

Earlier this week, Field Notes caught up with Lowell Neitzel, who farms near Lawrence, Kansas. Still in his combine, he remains hopeful despite a harvest that is running long. “If you look at a calendar, we are a little bit behind schedule compared with the last few years, but harvest is coming along pretty well,” said Neitzel. “Quality has been good. Yields have been all over the place.”

Field Notes caught up with Jim Raben, who farms in southern Illinois, this week. Given planting conditions and the weather throughout the summer and fall, he had worried about yields. Now that the crop is largely in the bins, he found some surprising results. “Even though we did have a lot of bad spots, the yields were better than we anticipated,” said Raben. “It probably isn’t anything great in our area. It is an average crop or, maybe, just a little below, but it is still better than what we had anticipated. “The quality is probably equal to if not better than last year. The quality is fantastic. We’re running a 61 lb./bu. test weight, and 90 percent of the crop was in the 14 to 15 percent moisture range when we picked it.”

Field Notes caught up with April Hemmes, who farms in northern Iowa, today. While weather presents harvest challenges across much of the Corn Belt, she has finally gotten her combine into the fields. “Harvest is finally coming along pretty well. Right now, I am actually sitting and unloading corn into my drying bin,” said Hemmes. “I just finished harvest soybeans, but they are wet everywhere. Some in my area are finding 14 to 15 percent moisture. So, soybean harvest is holding up corn harvest in those places.”

The National Corn Growers Association entered a new fiscal year on October 1 and seated the 2020 Corn Board with John Linder of Edison, Ohio assuming the position of first vice president. Off the Cob spoke with him to delve into his views on what lies ahead for farmers in the upcoming years and his thoughts on the important role farmers play in NCGA as a grassroots organization. Looking at the year ahead, Linder looks forward to working with the talented team already in place, in both the states and nationally, to maximize these human assets and tap into both the board and membership to maximize NCGA’s impact.

The National Corn Growers Association entered a new fiscal year today and seated the 2020 Corn Board with Kevin Ross of Minden, Iowa assuming the presidency. Off the Cob spoke with the new president to explore his views on what lies ahead for corn farmers in 2020 and his goals for his term. Looking at the year ahead, Ross is grateful for the chance to serve and to create opportunities to fully utilize the talents of his fellow grower leaders. “I am looking forward to having the opportunity to facilitate the growth amongst our board and to lead the organization in which I have spent so much time,” said Ross. “It is such a privilege to be able to step into this role. In doing so, I hope to represent fellow neighbors and farmers across the country well.”

As the fiscal year comes to an end, the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board prepares to seat new members and officers on October 1. When the 2019 Executive Committee steps down, NCGA President Lynn Chrisp, of Hastings, Nebraska, will move into the role of chairman, passing the role of president to current NCGA First Vice President Kevin Ross. The Off the Cob podcast series caught up with Chrisp for a conversation about his perspective on his years in leadership, his insight into the future and how members can work together to make

Field Notes caught up with Lowell Neitzel, who farms near Lawrence, Kansas, earlier this week. With his combine already rolling, he explained why he harvests some of his corn while the moisture levels remain high. “The high moisture corn will be used in the rations at our cattle operation,” said Neitzel. “We aim to harvest this corn in the 20 to 24 percent moisture range.”

As the end of the current fiscal year nears, the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board prepares to seat new members and officers on October 1. When the 2019 Executive Committee steps down, NCGA Chairman Kevin Skunes, a farmer from Arthur, North Dakota, will complete his term, passing the role of chairman to current NCGA President Lynn Chrisp. The Off the Cob podcast series caught up with Skunes to discuss his perspective on his years in leadership, provided his insight into the future and explored how members can work together to make NCGA an even more effective advocate for farmers

Over the holiday weekend, Field Notes checked in with Lindsey Bowers, a farmer and grain merchandiser from southeastern Texas. With this year’s crop in the bins, she keeps busy with her work as a grain merchandiser and in promoting U.S. ag products to export markets. “We harvested a bit later than is typical, but we planted later also. Now, we are wrapped up,” said Bowers. “I received my last loads of corn and grain sorghum at the coop last week. We are still receiving soybeans but the rain we couldn’t catch before finally came. Unfortunately, it has done a number on the quality of the soybeans. Untimely rain on soybeans in our area is pretty detrimental. So, I do not know that we will receive many more.”

This week, Field Notes caught up with Jim Raben, who farms in southern Illinois. While the crop continues to mature, the yields and overall quality of corn and soybeans in his area seem to have been impacted by this year’s difficult growing conditions. “In southeastern Illinois, crops are maturing for the most part,” said Raben. “We did have some soybeans harvested in the area last week. The yields were 25 to 30 bushels less per acre than what they saw last year.”

This week, Field Notes caught up with Lowell Neitzel, who farms near Lawrence, Kansas. The USDA Crop Progress report earlier in the week indicated crop progress in Kansas was closer to the five-year average than that in many other states. Looking at his fields, Neitzel does see progress delays. “We are probably about two to three weeks behind where we normally would be at this time,” said Neitzel. “In terms of quality, I think this crop is going to be average to maybe just a pinch above average.”

Field Notes checked in with Lindsey Bowers, a farmer and grain merchandiser from southeastern Texas. Further along in terms of crop development than her counterparts further north, she has already begun harvesting this year’s crop. “Harvest is coming along quite nicely. Fortunately or unfortunately, we had had quite a bit of dry weather. So, we have made quite a bit of progress,” said Bowers. “We are about 95 percent complete on harvesting milo and about 65 percent complete on harvesting corn.”

Field Notes caught up with Jim Raben, who farms in southern Illinois, this morning. Like many farmers, a wet planting season continues to impact the quality and size of his crop. “Our crop definitely doesn’t look as good as it has in years past, but we have some corn that looks halfway decent,” said Raben. “We also have other corn, that was planted later, that looks very uneven and very stressed. It will still make some sort of corn – we hope.”

Field Notes caught up with April Hemmes, who farms in northern Iowa, today. Given weather challenges during planting across much of the Corn Belt, she sees a varied picture in terms of crop progress in her state. “This was probably one of the most difficult spring planting seasons that I, and other farmers, have seen,” said Hemmes. “I drove from north central Iowa to Davenport recently for an open house held by another farmer that was organized to bring urban audiences to the farm. On our way across the state, we saw everything from knee-high corn to corn that was just about ready to tassel… There were spots where it was pretty sparse.”

This week, the National Corn Growers Association continued its ninth season of Field Notes, a series that takes readers behind the farm gate to follow the year in the life of American farm families. While these growers come from diverse geographic areas and run unique operations, they share a common love for U.S. agriculture and the basic values that underpin life in farming communities. Field Notes caught up with Lowell Neitzel, who farms near Lawrence, Kansas, earlier this week. USDA reports earlier in the week indicated 97 percent of corn acres in his state had reached emergence, and he sees that number being accurate so far as the progress he has heard from fellow farmers. “I talked to some friends in western Kansas, and their corn has all emerged,” said Neitzel. “Everything around here is fairly well along. Some of the corn that I saw in my travels today is actually starting to tassel, and some is about six inches tall. There is a wide variety in term of progress in this area. It should be an interesting harvest this fall. Despite continued progress, he believes that a good amount of damage has already been done in terms of the overall crop this year.