Cobcast: Inside the Grind with the National Corn Growers Association

From his roots on a Nebraska corn farm, Jeff Zeleny has gone on to become one of the nation's foremost experts on presidential politics, covering the White House and campaigns for the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times. Now as CNN's Senior White House Correspondent, he's spent every day of 2020 with his finger on the pulse of the election for U.S. president. In this episode, Jeff joins Jon to...

The NCGA’s outgoing President Kevin Ross had a term in office unlike any other. From a Twitter battle with the world’s largest beer brewer, to a public speech with President Donald Trump, to the NCGA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, his year at the helm was anything but boring. In this episode, NCGA CEO Jon Doggett asks the Iowa grower to unpack all the highlights from his term and look to the...

Even before the onset of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, this had been a tough decade for corn growers. It turns out our members have gotten REALLY GOOD at growing corn, and demand just hasn’t kept up with supply. NCGA’s efforts to spur corn demand have made great strides toward big-picture, far-horizon initiatives that will grow corn consumption in the future. But with the extra hit to corn de...

The poor quality of internet access in rural America has been an issue for a long time. The lack of reliable broadband has impacted farms, communities and the rural economy, and that was BEFORE the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that kids in farm country are headed back to school, some virtually and some in-person, broadband access is a bigger issue than ever before. In this episode, Jon talk...

While the USMCA trade agreement was a big win for corn growers in the U.S., the industry is still reeling amid the larger trade war that has embroiled the U.S. and its strategic partners. Since America’s retreat into protectionist economic policies, the U.S. corn industry has lost significant influence in global trade talks. Strong leadership and consistent trade policy are needed to right the ind...

The so-called “Urban-Rural Divide” has played a growing role in American life, politics and social issues recently. But it doesn’t need to be that way. In this episode, NCGA CEO Jon Doggett has a candid discussion with three-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee about her experience growing up in East St. Louis, the issues facing residents of the inner city, and her accomplishments as a...

When new materials can increase demand for corn, offer low-cost alternatives to traditional plastics AND benefit the environment, everybody wins. And, backed by organizations like Iowa State’s Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) and the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), researchers in the heartland are pioneering new uses for corn that could reinvent the future of manufacturing. In this episo...

This may be a tumultuous time for corn farmers and ethanol producers. But then again, the ethanol industry's entire history has been a roller coaster ride. In this episode, NCGA CEO Jon Doggett revisits the battles that got us to this point with "the Godfather of Ethanol" himself, Bob Dinneen from the Renewable Fuels Association. Plus, they're joined by NCGA's Director of Renewable Fuels, Mark Pal...

Creating a place to have a conversation instead of yelling at each other is one reason why NCGA CEO Jon Doggett started this podcast.  And in this episode, he takes that philosophy to one of the most contentious places in America—Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. From the Congressional office of Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Jon interviews the Democratic Congresswoman and her Republican colleagu...

In response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak, the institution of social distancing protocols has left growers and ag stakeholders with more questions than answers as they head into planting season. So we're interrupting your normal programming to provide a timely update with the CEO of inputs supplier Nutrien Ag Solutions, Mike Frank. In this episode, Mike tells NCGA CEO Jon Doggett that Nutri...

Farmers are the original environmentalists. For generations, they’ve tended the land, kept track of its health and put their hearts, backs and livelihoods into keeping it productive. But in an era of climate change and extreme weather events, it’s going to take new allies and new tactics to help farmers in that mission, and the National Corn Growers Association has found an important partner in an...

With the Super Bowl just a few days away, many in the corn industry will be thinking about a Super Bowl ad that ran during last year’s big game. In it, Bud Light launched a year-long attack against the corn syrup that Coors Light and Miller Lite use during their brewing process. This misleading smear campaign could have been a new low point in what was already a bad year for corn producers. But in...

Jon Doggett, the CEO of the National Corn Growers Association, travels thousands of miles each year in his mission to protect the future of the American corn-growing industry. And he's got the stories to prove it. But in this age of quick sound bites and snappy tweets, Jon believes it's time to have a real conversation again. And so he's launching "Wherever Jon May Roam," a podcast dedicated to te...

Big picture conversations about the future of corn farming with Jon Doggett, the CEO of the National Corn Growers Association. Launching on Jan 22, join Jon every month as he travels the nation on a mission to advocate for America’s corn farmers. From the fields of the Corn Belt to the DC Beltway, we’ll make sure that the growers who feed America have a say in issues that are important to them wit...