Help Fuel Corn Grower Advocacy in 2026

By Lesly McNitt

After spending valuable time with family and friends over the holidays, I was eager to get back to work advocating for the nation’s corn growers. But as my family and I prepared to return to Washington from a trip to Puerto Rico, we learned that the island’s airspace was closed due to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, causing flight cancellations and delays. Thanks to modern technology and my amazing team, I was able to work out of NCGA’s “Caribbean office” for a few days.

This experience is illustrative of life and political advocacy. We can make plans, but those plans can be shaped or even halted by events beyond our control. This truism shapes our work at the National Corn Growers Association. As we lobby in Washington, we realize we must ride the political waves, adapt and seize opportunities when they present themselves.

That’s exactly what we are doing as we work this month to push for immediate passage of legislation in Congress that would allow for year-round access to fuels with 15% ethanol blends nationwide.

As you may be aware, absent a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency, the sale of these higher blends of ethanol, referred to as E15, is prohibited during the summer months because of an outdated clause in the Clean Air Act. It will require an act of Congress to allow the consistent sale of E15 over the summer months, which would create the certainty needed to increase demand and help stabilize the farm economy.

So, to make that possible, we are cutting through the controversies of the day and identifying potential legislative vehicles that will help us win.

Working with a broad coalition of partners, we are talking regularly with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and making the case for why year-round E-15 is a win for farmers, consumers and rural economies.

We are also working with the Trump administration and have been pleased that the president and his cabinet officials have expressed support.

Corn grower leaders are playing a major role, which is important, as they are well respected by policymakers in Washington. These leaders, including representatives from your state corn growers association, continue to visit Capitol Hill regularly and are making their voices heard through videos and a letter-writing campaign.

But there is going to be one crucial person we need in this and other efforts over the year ahead, and that person is YOU. We need you to stay engaged and consistently reach out to your members of Congress. To do this, we encourage you to continue your affiliation with your state corn growers association. If you are not currently a member, be sure to join, which will also make you a member of our national association. You can find your organization here: https://ncga.com/about-ncga/who-we-are/state-affiliates.

I would also encourage you to sign up for advocacy alerts from my team by visiting www.ncga.com/advocacy. That way, you will be kept abreast of breaking news on these topics and will have the opportunity to weigh in with the policymakers who represent you.

As my latest travel challenges demonstrate, we can expect curveballs on the road to victory. But with the help of corn grower leaders like you, I am convinced we will soar in 2026 even with the occasional travel delay.

Cheers to a new year and victories ahead.

McNitt is the vice president of public policy at the National Corn Growers Association.