Ohio farmer John Linder is the new President of the National Corn Grower’s Association. He says they’ve been in conversations with ag policy leaders and will be speaking with the new Congressional Ag Committee Chairs as well as with President Elect Joe Biden. He says the new Senate Ag Chairman will likely be John Booseman of Arkansas while they’ve already had a good relationship with Democrat Ag Committee leader Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.
He says the allowance of small refiner waivers have hurt the renewable fuels industry but there was some progress with the EPA in pushing back against those. Linder says it’s uncertain as to what will happen with a new EPA administrator under the Biden administration.
Linder says on the trade front, the phase one deal with China has been positive for corn growers with them picking up their purchases. He says there’s room for improvement however in getting them to purchase Dried Distillers Grains and Ethanol.
Linder says they’re looking forward to working with whoever heads up the House Ag Committee as they start discussions soon on the next farm bill.
