The National Corn Growers Association and 15 state corn organizations are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase research investments focused on expanding uses for corn grain, arguing the move could create new markets and improve farm profitability during a challenging economic period.
In a letter sent to USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Scott Hutchins, the groups said corn growers are facing mounting pressure from high input costs, low commodity prices and continued trade uncertainty, making new demand opportunities increasingly important for rural economies.
The organizations said they support USDA’s broader research priorities, including efforts to increase farm profitability and expand markets for agricultural feedstocks, but want stronger emphasis placed on corn grain itself rather than crop residues such as corn stover.
The letter highlighted corn grain’s versatility as a feedstock for biofuels, industrial products and biobased chemicals, noting its established infrastructure for harvest, storage and transportation gives it an advantage for commercial development.
NCGA said growers are concerned that federal research dollars have increasingly flowed toward projects involving corn stover, while research aimed at increasing the use of corn grain has struggled to secure funding. According to the association, university researchers have reported avoiding the term “corn grain” in grant proposals because of concerns it could reduce their chances of receiving support.
The group argued this imbalance overlooks the practical value of stover on the farm. Corn residue plays an important role in protecting soil, cycling nutrients and providing livestock feed and bedding. NCGA said many farmers are reluctant to sell stover because of the added labor, equipment and nutrient replacement costs involved in harvesting it.
Instead, the association is calling for more targeted investment in technologies and products that use the grain’s protein, oil, starch and fiber. Leaders said those efforts could diversify demand and create scalable new uses for corn.
One example outlined in the letter is monoethylene glycol, or MEG, a chemical used in plastics such as beverage bottles. NCGA said biobased MEG derived from corn sugar could help capture a share of the global plastics market and create additional revenue streams for U.S. farmers. The association estimated replacing 10% of the projected global MEG market with U.S. feedstocks could generate roughly $5 billion in revenue.
NCGA said stronger support for corn grain research would align with USDA’s goals of expanding agricultural markets, strengthening farm income and supporting long-term sustainability.
Sources:
National Corn Growers Association, "Corn Growers Urge USDA to Fund Research on Corn Grain, Not Just Stover"
National Corn Growers Association, NCGA Letter to Under Secretary Hutchins