Check-in on the Checkoff: Staying Informed, Staying Ahead

By: Ralph Lents

Ralph Lents is a farmer from Menlo, Iowa, and currently serves as the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) President and on the Industrial Usage & U.S. Production Committee.

Farmers have always had to navigate a variety of unpredictable factors—everything from weather and markets to regulations and trade policies. This fall, with harvest underway, we’re also keeping a close watch on one particular issue that could easily disrupt not just agriculture, but the entire economy: the U.S. port strike on the East and Gulf Coasts.

While the strike has been postponed to January 15, it’s a situation we can’t afford to overlook. Why does it matter to us? Simply put, because a large percentage of U.S. pork, beef and grain exports move through these coastal ports. A prolonged work stoppage could have shut down critical supply chains, costing American farmers market share that we may never get back. In fact, if this strike had happened during the holiday season, it would have driven up food prices, limited the availability of products – and sent ripple effects through the broader economy.

We’ve already seen how delicate our global trade relationships can be. When disruptions occur, competing countries like Brazil and Argentina are quick to step in and take over our share of the export market. Once we lose those positions, it’s tough to regain them. For example, the meat export market alone contributes approximately 70 cents per bushel of corn through feed usage. Any setback in exports means a direct hit to our bottom line. While many of us in the grain sector are focused on harvest, this issue is flying under the radar for many farmers—but it shouldn’t be.

It’s not just about our farms. When trade is disrupted, it affects everything from the cost of meat at the grocery store to the availability of essential items like fertilizer, which heavily relies on Gulf Coast ports for shipment. Fertilizer prices have already been volatile, and a shutdown could further drive up costs, complicating our production plans for next season.

What can we do? As farmers, it’s crucial that we stay informed and work together to educate policymakers. While we’re busy in the field, we need to make sure our representatives in Washington are paying attention to these critical issues. Both sides of the political aisle need to be aware that trade and transportation policies impact agriculture in a big way, and they trickle down to affect every American. We need strong advocates in Congress who understand that it’s not just farmers feeling the effects—every consumer sees the impact on their grocery bill.

That is why it is important to become a member of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. While your checkoff investment are being put to work by the ICPB to build markets through the U.S. Grains Council and U.S. Meat Export Federation, your membership with the ICGA and National Corn Growers Association continues to work on policies and regulations impact market access for our products.

So, as harvest wraps up and we look ahead to 2025, let’s make a commitment to stay engaged and speak up. If you haven’t already, take the time to reach out to your congressmen and share your concerns. These trade policies and port decisions matter—not just to agriculture, but to the stability of our entire economy. As farmers, we don’t always have time to dive into every issue, but staying informed and making our voices heard can make all the difference.

To learn more about how the Iowa Corn Promotion Board is working on behalf of farmers, visit iowacorn.org and stay tuned for updates. Let’s make sure we’re not caught off guard when January rolls around.

Thank you,

Ralph Lents

Iowa Corn Promotion Board President