A farewell note from outgoing NCGA President Harold Wolle

As I conclude my term this week as NCGA president, I can't help but reflect on the past year and the work that has been done to keep moving our industry forward.

Uncertainty is a fixture in farming. We know all too well that we can't control prices or the weather. But we focus on what we can control, and we do our best to prepare for opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

That's why "Shaping the Future" has been the theme of my presidency and why I spent this year working with incoming NCGA president Kenneth Hartman Jr. to hammer out a clear vision for building corn demand and protecting grower profitability.

While we are looking to the future, we are also addressing current challenges. Farmers have been hit hard economically with falling corn prices and rising input costs. And we have relayed these concerns to Congress and the Biden administration while asking them to act on our priorities.

It may not feel like it with what we're facing right now, but we do have some wins to celebrate from the last year. It starts with the Biden administration's decision this year to extend consumer access to higher blends of ethanol through the summer months, protecting an important market for corn growers.

We have also aided administration officials as they made a formal case under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement against Mexico over that country's ban on genetically modified corn. Signs are positive that the panel could render a decision in our favor as a result.

Still there is so much work to do. Despite our staunch efforts to get it over the finish line, Congress still hasn't reauthorized the farm bill, which expired in 2023. But we are not giving up. We continue to push for passage this year of a robust farm bill that reflects corn grower priorities.

We have also pushed the Biden administration to better engage in efforts to open new markets abroad for growers. We will continue this advocacy with officials in the next administration. New markets could go a long way toward moving the pile of corn, supporting prices and therefore farm profitability. And when corn growers have more revenue, it's an economic boon for rural communities, too.

While today is my last day as NCGA president, I'll will be chairman of the Corn Board for the next year. In that role, I'll work with the leadership to build on this year's successes and continue realizing the fruits of our planning and labor.

Here's to the work you do and to a safe and prosperous harvest!

Harold Wolle
President
National Corn Growers Association

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