Corn Exports Hold Strong Despite Tariffs

Despite tariffs having a less significant impact on exports, corn producers struggle with tariff-related increases on inputs, which complicates their bottom line.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Corn exports have not been as heavily impacted by trade tariffs as other commodity crops. However, according to Troy Schneider, a board member of the National Corn Growers Association (NGCA), corn growers still face similar challenges as they navigate the impact of tariffs.

“The tariffs have not affected our exports like they have other commodities,” Schneider said. “We’re seeing record exports of our corn going across the border into Mexico, into other countries, and that’s something we’re excited about.”

The NGCA leader says growers are struggling to keep up with rising input costs, such as those linked to tariffs on steel and fertilizer, impacting their bottom line.

“However, when you have those record high prices—you know, steel, you look at steel—okay, if I wanted to put a new irrigation well in right now, re-drill it, the casing alone would have…I wouldn’t want to guess what the percent-increase would be from five, six years ago, before COVID,” Schneider said. “And so, it’s just those input prices; yes, we are paying it. We’re paying it both ways, in every way.”

NGCA has recently formed a task force to address the growing needs of farmers in its sector, citing the exponential increase in input costs and the need to address these issues as the catalyst for the task force’s formation.

The USDA is set to issue a second ECAP payment and inform farmers that any application approved after September 25 will receive the payment in a single lump sum.

Related Stories
New U.S. fees on Chinese-owned and built ships took effect overnight, marking the latest escalation in maritime trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
President Trump is expected to press Argentina to take a tougher stance on China in exchange for political and economic support.
Treat storage as risk management and logistics, and budget to break even since export growth is unlikely to absorb bigger U.S. corn and soybean crops.
The FAA’s proposed rule to allow drones to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) could soon revolutionize how farmers and ranchers manage their land.
Nick Andersen, Nationwide’s VP of Agribusiness Claims, shares tips for managing weather-related risks in agriculture using their new Hail and Wind Alert Program.
“Good flies? Is that like a good fire ant?” Miller said. “I don’t know what a good fly is. I don’t know if they’re afraid to kill house flies or stable flies, but I’m ready to kill the screwworm fly.”
Tidal Grow Agri-Science joins us to celebrate Global Fertilizer Day, sharing how innovation continues to drive American agriculture forward.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is urging Congress and the Trump Administration to act quickly on behalf of American agriculture.
Escalating U.S.–China tensions threaten soybean demand as farm finances are stretched further.