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.
The Surface Transportation Board rejects the proposed Norfolk Southern–Union Pacific merger, prompting concerns from agricultural shippers about rail consolidation, service reliability, and higher transportation costs.
January 20, 2026 12:25 PM
·
Freight volatility and route selection remain critical to soybean export margins and competitiveness.
January 19, 2026 04:00 PM
·
Strong balance sheets still matter, but liquidity, planning, and lender relationships are critical as ag credit tightens, according to analysis from AgAmerica Lending.
January 19, 2026 03:00 PM
·
While short-term volatility remains a risk, softer ocean freight rates in 2026 could improve export margins.
January 18, 2026 12:00 PM
·
Trade volatility and shifting export destinations increase marketing risk for producers heading into 2026.
January 18, 2026 07:00 AM
·
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey speaks with Texas’s Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez about USMCA renegotiation and its impact on U.S.–Mexico agriculture trade.
January 17, 2026 05:00 PM
·
Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
January 17, 2026 02:00 PM
·
Shaun Haney joined us to discuss Canada’s new trade agreement with China, the potential impact on farmers and exporters, and what it could mean for U.S.–Canada trade relations going forward.
January 16, 2026 01:16 PM
·
National Corn Growers Association Chief Economist Krista Swanson discusses corn supply pressures, market fundamentals, policy considerations, and producer outlook for the year ahead.
January 16, 2026 01:13 PM
·
