ST. LOUIS, Mo. (RFD-TV) — Corn growers are staring down another year of negative returns. Production costs are high, prices are low, and analysts predict another record crop this fall. The situation is so grim that the National Corn Growers Association (NGCA) has launched a task force to address high input costs.
Ethanol output fell to its lowest level in four months last week, averaging just over one million barrels a day, according to the Energy Information Administration. The Midwest led production declines, while inventories climbed to their highest since early August.
“Corn growers have been sounding the alarm for a while that on-farm economics are not working,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., Illinois farmer and NCGA president. “This is a time to look at all pieces of the farm profitability picture. Low prices, of course, contribute to one side of the equation, but we must also look at the extremely high prices growers are paying for essential inputs on the other side.”
Michigan corn farmer and NCGA Vice President-Elect Matt Frostic will lead the task force, which will comprise other corn farmers, NCGA staff, and state corn organization staff.
Frostic joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective from both the farm and the policy front. In his interview with RFD-TV News, Frostic described the challenges producers face in the current low-price environment and the strain it is putting on the farm economy. He explained the mission of NCGA’s new task force, outlining the first steps the group is taking to bring solutions forward for growers.
Frostic also weighed in on the possibility of a federal aid package, saying the Trump administration has signaled it may act after the fall harvest, with some backing from agricultural lawmakers. He noted what kind of support could be most effective for producers.
On trade, Frostic addressed the lack of corn purchases from China this year, pointing to ongoing talks between top officials but little progress ahead of the Supreme Court’s review of tariffs in November. He closed with an update on harvest progress in Michigan, where growers are feeling the same pressures as producers nationwide.
Crop Insurance Deadline for Fall Plantings Approaches
The USDA states that producers must apply for or update their crop insurance coverage by September 30 to protect their 2026 crop. Farmers are urged to contact their insurance agents now to ensure their winter wheat is covered before the cutoff.
