Iowa Corn Farmer-Leaders Set Policy at Commodity Classic in San Antonio

 

Iowa Corn farmer-leaders headed to San Antonio, Texas this past week to take part in the 2017 Commodity Classic. The delegation from Iowa consisted of both Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) directors as well as:

• Iowa Corn farmer voting delegates and alternates

• Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team (CAT) representing future leaders in agriculture

• Premier County Achievement grassroots leaders

A main task for ICGA at Classic is debating the policies that the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) should promote to benefit Iowa’s farmers. "In Iowa, the policy process starts with the grassroots farmer-members from across the state through our membership survey and at our local roundtable meetings. The resolutions then move to the ICGA Grassroots Summit, and now onto national policy development during NCGA’s Corn Congress at Commodity Classic," said Kurt Hora, a farmer from Washington and current ICGA President. "Last week Iowa farmers brought their concerns and policy positions that matter back at home in Iowa to the national platform.”

Our delegates discussed ICGA priority issues such as:

•          Expanding existing and exploring new trade agreements, such as the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

•          Retaining U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ag export promotion programs

•          Defending the Renewable Fuel Standard

•          Protecting Crop Insurance funding

The Iowa resolutions passed by the delegate body include:

• Supporting the use of high compression engines, using low carbon, high octane renewable fuels to meet the CAFÉ standards

• Providing farmers access to the information and tools necessary to upkeep and repair their farm equipment

• Allowing for noxious weed control or drainage ditch maintenance within Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land or continuous CRP land

“ICGA delegates presented resolutions and in turn voted on these and other resolutions and policies brought forward by NCGA and other states,” said Hora. “These policy positions set the framework for our federal legislative efforts and directly influence our direction for years to come.”

The new NCGA policy document will be posted at iowacorn.org/policy when it becomes available. For more information on upcoming policy development meetings in your area, contact the Iowa Corn office at (515)225-9242 or email at corninfo@iowacorn.org.

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The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is an 8,000-member strong grassroots-driven organization, headquartered in Johnston, Iowa, serving members across the state, and lobbying on agricultural issues on behalf of its farmer members to create opportunities for long-term Iowa corn grower profitability. For more information, visit iowacorn.org.