The victory is a direct result of the advocacy efforts of Texas Corn Producers Association, which joined the National Corn Growers Association and other state corn grower organizations in calling on the Biden administration to file a dispute settlement under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2023 after Mexico banned genetically modified white corn imports that year.

The organization’s leaders argued that the ban would significantly harm growers and rural communities, especially because Mexico is the number one export destination for U.S. corn. Mexico is an obvious integral player in Texas‘ corn market – playing a crucial role in market prices for farmers in the state.

“This outcome is a tremendous victory for our farmers and is a direct outcome of our advocacy efforts that have been underway for years since the initial Mexican decree of this nature in 2020,” TCPA President Jim Sugarek said. “It illustrates what we can accomplish when we work together.”

Since the enactment of USMCA, the formation of dispute panels has been uncommon and must meet a high threshold of requirements. National corn grower leaders noted the outcome is a big accomplishment.

“This is an incredible development for the nation’s corn growers and rural communities,” Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. said. “This outcome is a direct result of the advocacy efforts of corn grower leaders from across the country. We want to thank the nation’s growers for speaking out and U.S. officials for listening and acting.”

Now that a decision has been made, TCPA will continue its efforts alongside NCGA to work with USTR and the incoming administration to ensure the ruling is enforced.

— Texas Corn Producers Association

The post Texas Corn Association Celebrates Win in Mexico Dispute appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

LINCOLN, Neb. — In a major win for corn growers, a dispute panel ruled that Mexico violated its commitments under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) when it issued a decree that banned genetically modified corn imports in early 2020.

The decision was met with praise from the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and Nebraska Corn Board among other corn grower advocates who had called on the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to file the dispute.

“We have been engaged on this issue closely for several years,” said Andy Jobman, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association “Our staff and grower advocates made it a priority to interact with state and national corn grower leaders, we met with both Mexican and Canadian Embassies and echoed the voices of Nebraska’s corn growers in pushing USTR to challenge this ban. Today’s decision shows the real value of corn grower advocacy and what we can accomplish when we work together.”

“This is an imperative development for the America’s corn growers and rural communities,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, chair of the Nebraska Corn Board. “As the nation’s top producer of white corn, Nebraska is uniquely positioned to capitalize on Mexico’s continually growing demand for our high-quality corn. This ruling will hopefully remove this potential trade disruption and secures Mexico’s position as the leading export destination for U.S. corn, paving the way for increased economic growth and opportunity.”

Past Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador first set off alarms in the Corn Belt in December 2020 when he initiated a decree to ban genetically modified corn by the end of 2024. At the time, corn grower leaders began outreach to the Trump administration to head off the ban. Those efforts continued with the Biden administration as well as with members of Congress and Mexican officials.

Nebraska corn growers took a lead with other state and national corn leaders who argued that the ban would significantly harm growers and rural communities, especially as Mexico is the number one export destination for U.S. corn.

Corn grower advocacy efforts intensified in 2023 when the Mexican president issued a decree banning genetically modified white corn, effective the following day. NCGA and state corn grower groups responded by urging USTR to file a dispute settlement under USMCA, which eventually occurred.

Nebraska Corn would also like to extend appreciation for Senator Fischer, Senator Ricketts, Representative Smith, Representative Bacon and Representative Flood for continually raising this issue with their colleagues in Washington, D.C.

The Nebraska Corn Board is funded through a producer checkoff investment of ½-cent-per-bushel checkoff on all corn marketed in the state and is managed by nine farmer directors. The mission of the Nebraska Corn Board is to increase the value and sustainability of Nebraska corn through promotion, market development and research.

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) is a grassroots commodity organization that works to advance Nebraska corn farmers through leadership, policy and education. NeCGA has more than 2,400 dues-paying members in Nebraska. NeCGA is affiliated with the National Corn Growers Association, which has more than 36,000 dues-paying members nationwide.

The post Corn Growers Win Dispute with Mexico Over GM Corn Ban appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

The decision was met with praise from Iowa Corn Growers Association farmer members along with our fellow state and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) corn farmers who had called on the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to file the dispute.

“Iowa’s farmers rely heavily on trade and corn exports to Mexico,” said Stu Swanson, Iowa Corn Growers Association President and farmer from Galt “That’s why we joined other state and NCGA grower leaders in pushing USTR to challenge this ban. Mexico is a key market for corn in all forms and it has been an important push to remove barriers to allow trade.”

Since the enactment of USMCA, the formation of dispute panels has been uncommon and must meet a high threshold of requirements. Now that a decision has been made, corn farmer leaders will work with USTR and the incoming administration to ensure the ruling is enforced.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is a 7,000-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.

–Shannon Textor, Iowa Corn Growers Association

The post Iowa Corn Growers Win Dispute with Mexico Over GM Corn Ban appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

U.S. growers, who had worried about the potential loss of the single biggest export market for U.S. corn, welcomed the decision, calling it “a major win.”

Mexico’s Economy Department said it disagreed with the ruling by a panel of experts convened under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, known as the USMCA, but said it would abide by it.

“The Mexican government does not agree with the panel’s finding, given that it considers that the measures in question are aligned with the principles of protecting public health and the rights of Indigenous communities,” Mexico’s Economy Department said. “Nonetheless, the Mexican government will respect the ruling.”

Mexico has been importing genetically modified corn from the U.S. for years, buying about $3 billion worth annually. The corn is mainly used to feed livestock in Mexico but the country announced plans for a ban on human consumption in 2020, including a possible future ban on GM corn for livestock as well.

The U.S. government formally requested the dispute settlement panel over Mexico’s limits on genetically modified corn in 2023. Mexico had long claimed “the measures under debate had no effect on trade,” and did not violate the trade agreement.

The U.S. Trade Representatives Office, or USTR, objected to Mexico’s ban on GM corn for human consumption and plans to eventually ban it as animal feed.

The USTR said Friday that the panel agreed with the U.S. on all legal claims, “finding that Mexico’s measures are not based on science and undermine the market access that Mexico agreed to provide in the USMCA.”

The decision was met with praise from the U.S. National Corn Growers Association. “This outcome is a direct result of the advocacy efforts of corn grower leaders from across the country,” said the association’s president, Kenneth Hartman Jr.

Mexico is the leading importer of U.S. yellow corn, most of which is genetically modified. Almost all is fed to cattle, pigs and chickens in Mexico, because Mexico doesn’t grow enough feed corn.

Corn for human consumption in Mexico is almost entirely domestically-grown white corn, though corn-meal chips or other processed products could potentially contain GM corn.

Mexico argues biotech corn may have health effects, even when used as fodder, but hasn’t yet presented proof. It had previously appeared eager to avoid a major showdown with the U.S. on the issue — but not eager enough to completely drop talk of any ban.

In early 2023, Mexico’s Economy Department issued new rules that dropped the date for substituting imports of GM feed corn. The new rules say Mexican authorities will carry out “the gradual substitution” of GM feed and milled corn, but sets no date for doing so and says potential health issues will be the subject of study by Mexican experts “with health authorities from other countries.”

Under a previous version of the rules, some U.S. growers worried a GM feed corn ban could happen as soon as 2024 or 2025.

While the date was dropped, the language remained in the rules about eventually substituting GM corn, something that could have caused prices for meat to skyrocket in Mexico, where inflation is already high.

–Associated Press

The post US Wins Ruling in a Trade Dispute With Mexico Over Its Bid to Ban Genetically Modified Corn appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

The recent reports of both tar spot and corn stunt being detected in the region, Cornell University Plant Pathologist Dr. Gary Bergstrom will update. “Corn Stunt” is a disease caused by a spiroplasma bacteria transmitted by the corn leafhopper, leading to stunted growth and abnormal ears on the corn plant. Both diseases are being monitored and studied by Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Free! Bring your camp chairs and come on out!

Cornell Extension supplies coffee and donuts. No registration needed

Questions or directions contact Ron Kuck, 315-704-8810, rak76@cornell.edu

For the past 5 years CCE Cayuga Winter Shop Meetings have been hosted by a local farm and held in their barns or heated workshops. Shop Meetings are an opportunity to hear from local farms and industry experts, to encourage conversation and sharing amongst the county’s farms. The objective of the series, is to keep Cayuga County producers informed of timely issues affecting their business.

–CCE Cayuga County

The post CCE Cayuga County 2025 Winter Shop Meetings Continue appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

Notably, the proposed legislation includes funding and provisions for:

• Farm Bill Extension: Keeping the 2018 Farm Bill in place through September 2025
• Economic Loss Assistance: $10 billion in relief for the 2024 crop year
• Crop Loss Disaster Assistance: $21 billion for the 2023 and 2024 calendar years
• Year-Round E15 Sales
• Aid for agricultural producers who have suffered losses due to the failure of Mexico to deliver water to the U.S.
• Extension of the feral swine eradication and control pilot program

This is welcomed news to corn farmers in the state, yet it still needs to cross the finish line.

It’s important for corn farmers to contact their congressional representatives now and encourage their support for the continuing resolution and supplemental disaster appropriations.

“We appreciate the lawmakers who saw that farmers across the nation are hurting and need assistance now,” TCPA President Jim Sugarek said. “We’re hopeful Congress will deliver with passed legislation that includes this funding and provisions this week.”

— Texas Corn Producers Association

The post TCPA Member Alert: Urge Congress to Pass CR appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment provided matching funds for nutrient recycling research, and Bayer, Corteva, GoogleX, KWS and Limagrain Field Seeds provided matching funds for cold tolerance research, for a total investment of $9,000,000 across 10 universities. USDA-ARS has additionally invested $6,800,000 to support its nine locations partnering with this research. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies Harnessing Plants Initiative is collaborating with the group on integrating basic research and soil carbon work.

“Reducing fertilizer inputs not only lessens the environmental impact of agriculture but also puts money back in the pockets of farmers,” said Dr. Kathy Munkvold, FFAR scientific program director. “By redesigning nitrogen utilization in corn production systems, this grant is paving the way for a new era in efficient and sustainable crop production.”

While corn is an efficient starch producer, the protein it produces is of low nutritional quality and, for many of the harvested crop’s uses, not needed. However, this protein requires tremendous fertilizer inputs to produce. The CERCA project, led by Dr. Edward Buckler, is using a combination of modeling, genetics, physiology and agronomy to reduce fertilizer needs while maximizing starch yields by optimizing the plant’s ability to recycle nitrogen. To achieve these goals, the researchers are focusing on two strategies – the first taps into the higher level of natural soil nitrogen and light available in spring, and the second reduces the protein in corn grain, which lowers nitrogen demand and provides an opportunity for the plant to return nitrogen to the soil for the next season.

For the crop to use the natural nitrogen available in spring, it needs to be planted a few weeks to a month earlier than it currently is, but this risks damage from frost and cold temperatures. Corn and its wild relatives have genetic variation that can allow cold tolerance, and this project is finding and testing this variation to enable earlier planting, which would have additional benefits to yield and planting and harvesting flexibility. In addition, the project also aims to reduce the low nutritional quality protein in corn and foster the plant’s ability to return unused nitrogen to the soil at the end of the season by tapping into the genetics found in corn’s perennial relatives. Overall, the aim is to reduce nitrogen losses by over 50%, which would reduce fertilizer requirements, water pollution and GHG emissions by similar levels or more.

“Millions of years of evolution, 10,000 years of domestication and breeding and a century of developing efficient farms have made corn into the most productive starch crop in the world,” said Dr. Buckler. “With this amazing team, we are hoping to kick off a second revolution in corn research, and then production, that addresses its environmental impact and makes it even more efficient for farmers.”

The cold tolerance research is funded in part through FFAR’s Crops of the Future Collaborative.

The Circular Economy That Reimagines Corn Agriculture grant page includes more information about this project.

Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR

Crops of the Future Collaborative

The Crops of the Future Collaborative is a public-private, multi-participant consortium convened by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research. The Collaborative brings together companies, nonprofits, and research organizations to accelerate development of new crop varieties that address food and agriculture challenges. The Collaborative leverages participants’ resources to expand the scientific understanding of characteristics giving rise to complex traits that crops need to adapt to changing environments.

–Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
Crops of the Future Collaborative

The post FFAR Grant Seeks to Decrease Corn Inputs, Increases Climate Resiliency appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

With record soybean and corn harvests, profitable storage options and recovering export demand, the landscape is shifting. Learn how ethanol production and renewable diesel demand are driving the market, despite challenges from trade policies and global competition.

This webinar is part of Farm Credit East’s Insights and Perspectives series, which includes webinars and outlook papers for the diverse sectors of Northeast agriculture and forest products. Visit FarmCreditEast.com/CashGrain to read the 2025 grain and oilseed outlook report.

This outlook webinar taking place on January 6 is free to attend. You do not need to be a Farm Credit East or Horizon Farm Credit customer to attend. Learn more at FarmCreditEast.com/Webinars. Contact Chris Laughton at (800) 562-2235 or Chris.Laughton@farmcrediteast.com for more information.

Farm Credit East is a member-owned cooperative serving businesses involved in agriculture, forest products and commercial fishing throughout its eight-state territory of New York, New Jersey and New England. In addition to loans and leases, the organization offers a full range of specialized financial services. Farm Credit East is governed by a 16-person board of directors, comprised of 13 customer-elected, one customer appointed and two outside appointed directors. For more information, visit FarmCreditEast.com.  

Horizon Farm Credit is a member-owned agricultural lending cooperative, providing short-, intermediate- and long-term financing and related services to full- and part-time farmers, agricultural-related businesses and rural landowners. It serves Delaware, Pennsylvania, and parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Association has more than 22,600 members and over $7.0 billion in loans outstanding. Learn more at horizonfc.com.

–Farm Credit East

The post Farm Credit Presents 2025 Grain and Oilseed Outlook Webinar appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

The project began in early 2021 with the project’s principal investigator, Dr. Ramon Leon, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and University Faculty Scholar, and partners such as then NCSU graduate student Dr. April Dobbs, examining multiple fields growing cover crops in North Carolina, Iowa, and Texas. They used a hand-held GoPro camera, which takes aerial videos of the cover crops that are then analyzed using a technique called Structure-from-Motion that recreates the cover crop canopy in a 3D format. The use of 3D images provides a more realistic and accurate quantification of density, growth, and biomass of the cover crop than regular 2D images. This is particularly useful since cover crop growth can be patchy in fields, making biomass estimation difficult. 

Once this 3D rendering has been generated, the image gives farmers a map showing cover-crop biomass throughout their fields. GoPro cameras are also used to generate a heat map of the field, showing areas of high and low cover crop biomass. Since cover crop production helps limit weed suppression, this method can help predict expected weed suppression levels in different areas of the field. Areas with the lowest biomass production may be most likely to have late season weed escapes.

This project focused on cereal rye, a cover crop widely used throughout the country due to its suitability in broad climates and its high biomass production potential. Also, cereal rye biomass reaches levels high enough to effectively suppress weed emergence and establishment. The next steps for the project are for current researchers, such as NCSU graduate student Avi Goldsmith, to test how accurately this method can predict late-season weed escapes in the field and optimize how 3D technology can be used to estimate biomass, including testing the method in mixtures of grasses and broadleaf species.

According to Dr. Leon, NRCS support has been key. He believes the vision and commitment of NRCS to incorporate modern technologies making it easier for farmers to adopt soil conservation practices will certainly pay off. 

“The development of equipment and systems that farmers can use takes several years,” said Dr, Leon. “However, we must start somewhere, and as we make progress, we learn what needs to be improved. Having government agencies such as NRCS that invest in the future is what will help us to have more sustainable food production systems.”

–Derric Cushman, Public Affairs Specialist
USDA NRCS

The post Battling Herbicide-Resistant Weeds: New 3D Technology Helps Farmers appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

“Getting eyes on ears is important,” says AgriGold Brand Product Manager Steve Schany. “The more people we have evaluating corn hybrids in farmers’ fields, the better our opportunity to gauge their capabilities and whether they are good enough to be added to our lineup.” 

Research plots grounded in the realities of farming

The research plots AgriGold uses as testing grounds for its hybrids are located across North America in areas the brand sells corn seed. The pre-commercial research (PCR) system covers most yield environments and farmer practices.

AgReliant Genetics contracts with farmers to establish these plots. “We adopt the farmers’ practices — planting rates, fertility programs, fungicide applications — to keep our plots aligned with the realities of farming,” Schany details. “There are some thresholds on critical nutrients like nitrogen. But generally, we go with what the farmer does in that field.”

Many eyes on ears

“After planting comes evaluation mode,” Schany says. There’s a group of product experts called technical product specialists (TPSs) who look at products every day throughout the growing season. Their notes help the brand determine what hybrids bring to the table, as well as any limitations to be managed around.

AgriGold’s product management team also spends time in these research plots and provides additional feedback to the TPS team. Brand agronomists are also given a sneak peek into a limited number of research plots just before they are harvested.

This enables agronomists to better understand the strengths of new hybrids entering the market and assess how they align with customer needs. It helps them make better placement and management recommendations. “When we launch a new corn seed product, our goal is to know that new hybrid as well as one that’s been in our lineup for five years,” Schany says.

Metrics beyond yield

In the business of seed, yield is king. “With any new corn hybrid, our goal is for it to outyield the product it’s going to replace or fill a specific market need,” Schany says. It also needs to be a consistent performer.

Beyond high yields, other important metrics AgriGold evaluates in field corn seed trials include: 

• Emergence
• Early season vigor
• Stalk strength
• Root structure
• Ability to withstand disease pressure
• Standability

They also analyze how corn hybrids handle things like heavy wind or poorly drained soils. That helps the team decide whether products make the lineup and where they’ll work best for farmers.

Agronomist feedback key to products success

Heading into 2025, Schany says tar spot, corn rootworm, drought tolerance and late-season standability are top of mind for farmers around the Corn Belt. But that list changes from season to season.

“As farmers’ operations progress and evolve, we’re always trying to stay ahead of those needs,” Schany says. “We rely on our sales and agronomy teams to help us identify and anticipate those needs because they’re the ones out in fields talking to customers every day. They see customers’ struggles firsthand.”

After about five years, farmers tend to wonder whether a better hybrid option is out there. “Our goal is to stay ahead of that need, too,” he says.

Why farmers can confidently plant new hybrids

When a farmer incorporates a new hybrid, Schany says there are several reasons to be confident in that decision. The PCR process has a lot of new hybrids, but also a lot of internal commercial checks. Those checks might be existing leaders within the AgriGold portfolio or corn hybrids that serve regional niche needs.

Those hybrid checks act as benchmarks. “If we’re going to replace a hybrid in our lineup,” Schany says, “we want to be confident in its ability to outperform its predecessor in agronomics and/or yield.”

The inclusion of benchmark products also enhances product understanding, helping the team get a better feel for what environments they can be planted in and their capabilities. “It helps us determine whether new hybrids check the box for various market needs,” Schany says. “And it makes our agronomists more confident in their ability to help farmer customers choose the best hybrids for their acres.”

To learn more about AgriGold’s exciting new offerings and where they might fit on your farm, reach out to your local AgriGold agronomist.

ABOUT AGRIGOLD
AgriGold offers high-performing hybrids paired with the latest agronomic knowledge and data to achieve exceptional crop performance, year after year. Based in Westfield, Indiana, AgriGold is for the farmer who wants a true seed partner that is an ally in the field. For more information, visit AgriGold.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X, formerly known as Twitter.

ABOUT AGRELIANT GENETICS
AgReliant Genetics is committed to providing trusted seed solutions that help farmers grow. We do this by focusing solely on seed and delivering one-of-a-kind, high-performing hybrids. Founded in 2000 by global seed companies KWS and Limagrain, AgReliant Genetics benefits from direct access to a global corn germplasm pool and has a top four corn research program. Through our seed brands — AgriGold^® and LG Seeds in the U.S. and PRIDE^® Seeds in Canada — we proudly offer the latest innovation to our farmer customers, whether they grow corn, soybeans, sorghum or alfalfa. Discover more at AgReliantGenetics.com.

Contacts:
Ashley Davenport
Ashley.Davenport@AgReliantGenetics.com
574-780-0203

Julianne Johnston
jjohnston@morganmyers.com
319-233-0502

The information and statements contained in this release are merely for informational and educational purposes and do not guarantee future performance. Performance may vary from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW IRM, WHERE APPLICABLE, GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS.

AgriGold^®, the AgriGold Design^® and FieldGX are trademarks of AgReliant Genetics, LLC.

©2024 AgReliant Genetics, LLC

–AgReliant Genetics, LLC

The post Approach Builds Confidence in New Corn Hybrids appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.