Ontario Grain Farmer December 2021/January 2022

ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 21 DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 China. There are challenges with China, but they have a huge population to feed, so we see the country as an opportunity for trade. We’re also watching the European Union and how their policies will impact trade opportunities for U.S. corn. As I look ahead to the coming year, I’m optimistic about our industry’s ability to drive demand. The world continually needs more corn, for feed and fuel, and our growers are ready to deliver. I’ll be keeping an eye on the domestic and international market for ethanol. And we’ll continue working on behalf of our members to make sure their farm businesses remain profitable and sustainable. The transition in leadership in Washington, D.C. means it’s been a slow process to appoint people to positions necessary to keep policies moving. SCOTT PERSALL, DIRECTOR, AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION. farm, and continuing to build trust in our sustainable production methods. We’ve identified growth in ethanol and international trade as opportunities to drive demand for corn. Right now, we’re waiting on the new federal administration to come out with information on the Renewable Volume Obligation that will affect demand. The implications of a potential change to taxes impacting family farm transitions, along with the upcoming Farm Bill and crop insurance discussions could impact farm profitability and are on our radar for 2022. As farmers, we all understand the tremendous improvements being made on farms in recent decades to sustainably manage land use and water. The challenge will be to get consumers to understand that, while the practices corn farmers follow are sustainable to the environment, they differ across the country and our various growing regions. There’s no one size fits all solution for environmental policies surrounding corn production. Right now, corn growers are concerned about tax implication on their farm businesses, discussions on a new Farm Bill (the current program expires in 2023), how ethanol and trade will impact demand for corn and how potential changes to Waters of the U.S. (a resource management regulation) will impact their cropping applications. In the field, tar spot is getting a lot of attention because this disease is no longer emerging, it’s here. Tar spot is easily taking 40 - 60 bushels off corn yields and growers have very few control options. Trade is always a concern for our organization, especially when we look to CHRIS EDINGTON, PRESIDENT NATIOAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION. CHANDLER GOULE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHEAT GROWERS. continued on page 22