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Priorities for NCGA Board

A newly-elected member of the National Corn Growers Association Board of Directors says increasing demand for corn is one of many priorities moving forward.

Tom Haag, a farmer from Eden Valley, Minnesota, tells Brownfield farmers are facing low commodity prices and with another good crop likely, finding more uses for corn becomes that much more important.

He says restoring the renewable volume obligations for ethanol under the original RFS statute would help.

“They (EPA) were 200 million gallons short.  There was a comment period.  A bunch of letters are going to EPA saying to follow that outcome so we can use up more of these bushels.”

Haag says the U.S. needs to stay competitive in the global market, and passing the Trans Pacific Partnership would aid in that effort.

Another policy issue that the NCGA Board has its sights on is the Clean Water Rule–commonly referred to as Waters of the U.S.

“They really haven’t defined the exact way.  (the EPA) says it’s not going to harm farmers, but we can’t say that for sure because I don’t think anyone knows definite answers.  So that’s still a major (issue).”

Joining Haag as new NCGA board members are Chris Edgington of Iowa, John Linder of Ohio and Don Glenn of Alabama.

Current member Kevin Ross of Iowa was re-elected.