By Scout Nelson
The Kansas Corn Growers Association recently joined corn organizations from several states in Washington, DC, to raise concerns about rising fertilizer prices and support federal legislation aimed at improving market conditions for agricultural producers. The effort focused on encouraging lawmakers to advance a package of five fertilizer bills introduced by Kansas Senator Roger Marshall.
The proposed legislation is designed to improve fertilizer price transparency, increase competition in the fertilizer industry, and reduce trade barriers that may contribute to higher input costs. Agricultural leaders say fertilizer prices continue placing heavy financial pressure on crop producers during the growing season.
Kansas Corn Growers Association board member Tanner McNinch traveled to Washington during planting season to meet with lawmakers and participate in a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing focused on fertilizer pricing issues.
“I left the planter sitting idle so I could talk to the legislators and the committee about fertilizer policy that is in dire need of change. The input costs are so high right now for the farmer and right at the top is fertilizer. We need trade relief, we need price transparency, and we need more competition,” McNinch said.
During the visit, corn grower representatives from multiple states met with senators and discussed the challenges producers face because of increasing fertilizer costs. Kansas Corn leaders also worked alongside the National Corn Growers Association to encourage stronger congressional attention on the issue.
KCGA Director of Policy and Economics Taylor Williamson said grower participation made a strong impact during the meetings and Senate hearing.
“Without a shadow of doubt, we had a positive impact on the fertilizer issue this week. We first engaged in significant efforts to work with the members of the Senate Ag Committee to not only push for a hearing but also to have a corn farmer witness—South Dakota Corn Grower Trent Kubik,” Williamson said. “That led to this week’s fly-in where Kansas Corn leader Tanner McNinch joined growers from nine states visiting fourteen Senate offices on Monday and Tuesday morning leading up to the hearing. Thanks to our work, committee members entered the hearing engaged on this issue and brought a lot of excellent questions at the hearing.”
KCGA CEO Josh Roe also emphasized the importance of growers taking time away from farm operations to discuss policy concerns directly with lawmakers.
“It takes a lot to ask one of our Kansas Corn leaders to fly to Washington, DC during planting season. The fact that Tanner left his farm at height of planting season is a testament to how important the fertilizer issue is to farmers,” Roe said. “Tanner is a young farmer who directly feels the impact of high input prices now, especially fertilizer prices. He did an excellent job explaining how this impacts the future of his family’s farm.”
More information about Kansas Corn programs and advocacy efforts is available through the Kansas Corn Growers Association website.
Photo Credit: kansas-corn
Categories: Kansas, Crops, Corn, Government & Policy