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 proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
January 16, 2026 11:58 AM
·
Soft equipment sales signal cautious farm spending as producers prioritize cash flow over expansion.
January 16, 2026 07:00 AM
·
Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana discusses how the Affordable Homes Act will benefit rural communities, and her broader efforts to improve access to affordable housing.
January 15, 2026 03:04 PM
·
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses market conditions, policy priorities, and his outlook for agriculture moving forward.
January 15, 2026 01:36 PM
·
Congressman Dusty Johnson of South Dakota joined us to discuss key ag policy developments and his outlook for agriculture in 2026.
January 15, 2026 12:51 PM
·
House Agriculture Committee Democrats are calling for action on the Farm and Family Relief Act, warning that proposed SNAP cost shifts to states could reduce food assistance for low-income families amid ongoing tariffs and trade disruptions that continue to strain U.S. farmers.
January 15, 2026 12:30 PM
·
Record ethanol production and improving blending demand continue to support corn usage despite rising short-term inventories.
January 15, 2026 11:47 AM
·
RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports from Texas on the ongoing water dispute and its implications for U.S. farmers.
January 14, 2026 12:17 PM
·
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney discusses the latest developments in the Supreme Court, trade tariffs, and the future of the USMCA under President Donald Trump.
January 14, 2026 11:54 AM
·
