About the ACGA

Advantages, Experience, Performance

Background

The American Corn Growers Association is America’s leading progressive commodity association, representing the interests of corn producers in 35 states. Since its inception in 1987, the ACGA has worked tirelessly to enhance farm income and protect rural communities. The ACGA recognizes that farmers here and abroad need to have the opportunity to be rewarded for their time, investment, and commitment to feeding the world.

The ACGA was formed in 1987 after strong dissatisfaction with corn producer representation during the 1985 farm bill debate, which was a turning point in US farm policy. At that time farm policy was passed that greatly undermined the ability of farmers to profit by reducing prices supports and marketing tools that farmers had used successfully for nearly fifty years. It was done so under the auspices of becoming “more competitive in the international marketplace” but in reality was an attempt by agribusiness to reduce commodity prices domestically and worldwide. This was done in the face of a US farm crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Great Depression. This radical approach to farm policy was supported by many commodity organizations, including the only existing corn grower association. It became very apparent that a new voice was needed for producers that was not influenced by the grain processing and exporting companies along with chemical and seed companies who had become very powerful not only in the farm policy arena, but also within many of these same commodity associations.

The ACGA has long understood how unique business of farming is. We were the first and only organization to fully explore and explain this business structure to policy makers and the general public. Given this understanding, we have logically come to the conclusion that market intervention is needed for agriculture to prosper here and abroad. We have reached these conclusions through research and compilations of USDA data of long-term trends in prices, productivity, exports and inflation. Collaboration between many experts on farm and trade policy has also led us to these conclusions.

Therefore, much of the emphasis for the ACGA has been on improving U.S. farm policy to the benefit of farmers and rural communities. Since we understand the major role the United States plays in determining world agricultural prices for basic commodities, we also know that our efforts affect the well being of farmers worldwide. We take this task very seriously, with a deep commitment to representing the interests of farmers worldwide. ACGA advocates increased commodity support rates, commodity reserves, international agreements to manage inventories, raising and stabilizing world commodity prices and shared marketing agreements between exporting countries to improve market prices for basic commodities.

We have become a key player in the development of farm and trade policy along with production issues such as seed patent law, GMO policies and many other issues that affect farmers. We have become a leading voice in the pursuit for renewable energy sources such as wind power, corn as a fuel source. We are seen as a voice that truly represents the interests of farmers, without the influence of agribusiness interests. Therefore we are constantly contacted and relied upon by national and international interests to speak to, advise, support and collaborate on issues that affect farmers globally.

We recognize the need for a strong and stable farm economy for not only farmers, but consumers as well. We also understand the significant role a stable food production system plays in encouraging political stability throughout the world. We believe that through improved US farm policy many countries around the world will be better off, both economically and politically, reducing strife and decreasing hunger and poverty globally. This is our goal.

Advantages

A board of directors who meet regularly to direct and advise the association on its activities guides ACGA. Members pay dues to belong to the organization and devise policy at the annual convention. Officers of the organization, who are all farmers, oversee the duties of the staff and are directly involved with the daily activities of the association. While small in numbers, the staff of the ACGA is second to none. Because of the organizations record of representing farmers’ best interests, the ACGA attracts talented people who are dedicated to improving the lives of farmers of all types throughout the world.

ACGA has several inherent advantages over other organizations that represent farmers. Since we are a younger organization, we are much more vibrant, and less bureaucratic than older more established organizations. We are able to move quickly on issues and take logical positions without being unduly influenced by insurance company ties, agribusiness funders or any longstanding internal cultures. Because of this we are seen as much more grassroots than many other organizations, and therefore respected more than many in the halls of the US Congress.

Since we are more of a national organization, our resources are focused more on national policy than state and local policies. This allows for greater efficiencies and putting resources where they will do the most good.

Our name also has its own advantage, that being “American” which allows us to focus more on an international arena than just within the borders of the US. Also corn is the basic commodity throughout the America’s and much of Africa. Corn policy to a great degree affects other commodities as well.

Most importantly we believe we also have a staff and people advantage. We have brought together the most knowledgeable people in the farm policy arena found anywhere to work together on these issues. Our board is very dedicated to their cause and spends their own resources to attend board meetings and conventions. Our policy analysis, lobbying capabilities, extensive networking and many years of farm policy experience allow us increased visibility and respect by many.

Performance

To assist corn producers here and abroad the ACGA has worked with the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee to draft The Family Farm Agriculture Recovery and Maintenance Act (F.A.R.M. Act), a long-term plan designed to benefit farmers, using analysis of 25 years of historic data.

We have played an important role at the highest levels in the development of the recent farm bill. Although we were unsuccessful in our attempts to pass our own proposal, we had many successes and affected the outcome significantly.

We have protected family farmers by working to stem the tide of further corporate concentration of agribusiness. Farmers require, demand, and deserve open and fair competition when buying their input supplies and when selling their harvest.

Our internet website is maintained to provide a wealth of information about the unique business of farming, farm policy analysis, historical key indicators of agriculture, and information to address customers’ concerns of genetically modified crops, availability of markets for alternatives to GMOs, and the rights of producers to have a choice in what they plant.

We continue as the nation’s recognized agricultural leader in the promotion and support of a renewable fuel standard for the country’s motor fuel needs and ETBE as the alternate fuel source that can expand the role for ethanol while reducing pollutants.

Sponsoring the Wealth from the Wind program, we highlight the potential economic and environmental benefits of wind power generation for small and mid-sized farmers and rural communities.

Our organization believes in networking and cooperation between like-minded organizations to build understanding and consensus on issues that face family farmers. We took a lead role in the 1999 Farm Leader Summit sponsored by National Farmers Union, which focused on building consensus between 27 farm organizations. We are a member of the National Family Farm Coalition as well as coordinating efforts between several other organizations such as The Organization for Competitive Markets, Rancher’s and Cattlemen’s Legal Action Fund and others. There is very little concern for “turf protecting” within this organization. We focus on results instead.

International Experience and Performance

Since it’s inception, ACGA has also played an international role in the development of farm, trade and other related agricultural policies. Some of the global events and activities ACGA has been a part of are listed below:

1987: Attended the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Negotiations in Geneva in 1987 and was a outspoken voice on the risks of GATT to agricultural producers worldwide. We toured the United States sounding the alarm on the risks of uncontrolled free trade to farmers of the world.

1994: Took part in an international exchange and dialogue of producers in Cuernevaca, Mexico focusing on international cooperation between farmers to improve farm and trade policies that affect them.

1999: ACGA represented corn producers at the Food and Agriculture Day and the Seattle Round of the WTO discussion.

2000: ACGA was invited to give a presentation to the French Grains Board in Montpellier, France explaining the role of US farm policy on international commodity markets and proposing joint marketing agreements.

2000: An invitation was accepted and a presentation given to the National Farmers Union of Canada national convention on the issue of farm and trade policy as well as genetically engineered crops.

2001: We offered a presentation at the AGROGENE Seminar 2001 in Paris, France presenting a paper on ‘USA Identity-Preserved and Traceability Systems’ regarding GMOs.

2002: Mr. Dan McGuire, policy chairman of the ACGA was invited to be a speaker and present a case study on cereals at Windsor Castle in London for a February 2002. “Agriculture In A Globalized World, What are the implications of world trade on local agriculture?’’ Only four speakers were invited to the conference, including Michael Moore, the WTO Secretariat.

Ongoing Programs of the ACGA