Corn Farmers Coalition Campaign Returns to Washington D.C.

For the third year in a row, corn farmers from 14 different states, along with the National Corn Growers Association, are running a campaign on Capitol Hill educating lawmakers on the importance of corn farming here in the U.S. This campaign is part of the Corn Farmers Coalition program and will last until August, which is when congress will break for recess.

The whole purpose of this campaign is to tell the story of American corn farmers. Over the last several years, there has been an increasing disconnect between rural and urban areas. These days, many people question where their food is coming from and who is growing it. A majority of Americans don’t realize that 95 percent of all the corn farms here in the U.S. are family owned and have been in the family for many generations.

Most Americans also don’t realize that family farms are being more efficient with chemicals, seed, water, and land. Today, corn farmers are growing 5 times more corn than they did back in the 1930’s, and that is on 20 percent less land.

Some local faces you might recognize are being used to help share that story. The Kimball family from Callaway, Neb., and the Cantrell Family from Merna, Neb., are featured in ads, and Chris and Korene Flaming from Elsie, Neb., are featured on the cover of the Corn Fact Book.

The Corn Farmers Coalition will share key facts about family farms in Capitol Hill publications, radio spots, popular websites, and also in the metro and at Reagan National Airport. The purpose of this campaign is not to directly influence or change policy, but to present a foundation of facts so that policy makers can make the best policy decisions. The coalition will also meet with members of the media, environmental groups, members of congress, and others to share with them the importance of American agriculture!

To learn more about this campaign or about the Corn Farmers Coalition visit http://www.cornfarmerscoalition.org/.