Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome to Missouri Corn Talk, your go to weekly agriculture podcast delivering fast, reliable updates on market development efforts, ethanol demand and the issues shaping today's corn industry. I'm your host, David Geiger. For the past year, Brian Lehman has volunteered his time as president of the Missouri Corn Growers association, representing growers on issues ranging from input costs and crop protection to ethanol trade and farm policy. As Brian wraps up his term as president, we're taking a look back at these different issues.
Brian, thank you so much for joining us. And one of the biggest challenges you and Missouri farmers faced in 2026 was input costs, the fertilizer market's transparency issues. There was a lot to cover. What was your perspective as president this last year?
[00:00:42] Speaker B: Yes, we're making progress on that that it's been going on for multiple years and USDA Under Secretary Vaden has kind of opened it up with through NCGA that Missouri corn is part of and we've had a couple listening posts and some high level meetings that brought the attention to D.C. and the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. So they are investigating to see if there is price fixing or, or there different things. You know a lot of, a lot of the companies, they want their profits and you know, they blame it on the straight of her moose which you know that was just this year, it just goes back to multiple years. So looking for people step forward and, and, and tell what what's been happening on their farm and fertilizer and you know, make those cases so it can be looked into that we, we want to do all we can to help the bottom line. And that's one thing, you know, fertilizer prices that have went sky high over the last year and a half that for really no reason besides of big companies taking profit.
[00:01:47] Speaker C: Another big issue Missouri corn growers have been working with is ethanol demand year round. E15, that's been a longstanding priority.
There's been both progress and frustration this year. What have you seen? What's your perspective there?
[00:02:01] Speaker B: 12 years I think or longer we've been at it for E15 in the, in the US and you know we get some of these summer waivers and finally the, the House passed this summer and there's progress but the Senate and farm bill, it's kind of being held up and you know there's frustration always we think we're getting somewhere and then the votes just aren't coming in. And even some of the, you know, it's a bipartisan deal that there's farmers in every state and senators and it's just not going the way we want it to. We're giving consumers a choice. It's not a mandate or anything and it would certainly ease prices. But it's not a, you know, not a true fix. We want a new fuel standard. E15 is just a step in the right way, but you know, it's hard to promote it in other countries when US is here trying to get E15. And we got countries such as India looking for an E30. So, you know, it's frustrating for the US farmer.
[00:02:58] Speaker C: Another major priority, speaking of talking to other countries, is creating demand. So beyond ethanol, there are more mission priorities that involve more crops than just corn. But including corn, what has that been looking like over the last year? What's your memories on that?
[00:03:16] Speaker B: Yes, some of the partnerships we have with Missouri Corn throughout US Meat Federation and US Grains and Bioproducts, those are two that we're a part of and we have members on these different committees and serve on the board there. Different ones.
And the investment, we can make a dollar and a hundred dollars in return. So promoting beef in South Korea, one of the biggest markets, corn in Mexico, ethanol in Canada. So USMCA is a big, a big deal. We need trade partners and it's a global, a global economy and we have a lot of Missouri products getting shipped. You know, whether it's corn, corn, bioproducts or byproducts, or even meat that goes to building demand in other countries. So wherever we can put corn or corn products, that's what we're after. And that's the membership that's, you know, I know the board wise, we're, we're working hard on that and the staff as well, they, they're constantly going places or bringing people here to, to different farms, farm tours and showing the quality of Missouri corn and what we have to offer.
[00:04:27] Speaker A: Let's move back to policy.
[00:04:29] Speaker C: Domestically it's still very important. Crop insurance and the farm bill are major, major topics. We've been waiting a long time for a farm bill. There's been a lot of work with NCGA as well as Missouri Corn. Tell me more about that. This last year.
[00:04:43] Speaker B: Yeah, the state side there's, you know, every two years they're turnover in the house and, and send it some new people in just city. So you have to be there and educate and build those relationships and with staff in D.C. and you know, the senators and your representatives and have them come out to, to your farm, to, to your area and even if it's a staffer, you know, a lot of Times those people rely on their staffers. So have building those relationships is a big deal and big beautiful bill that helped some things. But a farm bill by far is the biggest thing. We need that Missouri this year crop insurance probably be low compared to the last few, which is encouraging. We have a decent crop but still a safety net for years that do come. And there are a lot of policies that protect the farmers and so those regulations and things like that, we have to be at all those tables and, and having those conversations because it can turn in an instant. So we have to protect our rights.
[00:05:42] Speaker C: In addition to that, farmers continue to need access to tools that make them more productive. Can you tell me about how that seems to be going on this year and this effort to make science based decisions on that topic?
[00:06:00] Speaker B: Yes. We meet a lot with different chemical representatives and some of these bills that you know, they don't want. Roundup 1 atrazine and these products have been proven year after year and you know, scientific data. So a lot of times things are led by emotion but by showing the scientific evidence and farmers have to tell their story. You can't rely on, on somebody else. So, so being involved in that as well. There's different bills that come through.
That's where our staff really keeps an eye on things and, and lets us know and if we have to make a call or, or things like that, that we need all corn farmers to join in on that because you know, taking away a cheaper chemical such as atrazine, you know, if we don't have it, that's really puts a big hurt on the corn farmer and control weeds and things like that. So it's very important.
[00:06:54] Speaker C: Now Brian, you've been volunteering as president for the last year now and you're also a farmer. So you have a lot to balance a lot on your plate. Tell me about how advocacy works best when growers like you are involved with this whole process.
[00:07:08] Speaker B: Well, technology's helped a lot because you can send an email or make a call or text messaging that I have all my senators and reps on call and, and can call the office and have a conversation with the staff, if not them themselves. But it's very important to tell your story because if we're not telling our story as a farmer, corn farmer especially that somebody else is and it might not be accurate. So you know farmers, they're, they're the professionals of, of raising a crop. So I encourage everyone to step forward. I just did. Very rewarding, probably more so than, than I can ever pay back. But the opportunities. And I think everybody on the board will say that our past board members, that it does, it opens your eyes up to what happens in the world. And we have great leadership in Missouri Corn. The staff all the way up, their national staff, that they're. They're working. They. They understand and we get the staff out to farms as well, to where they know they can see your daily operation. And I think that helps do that. They understand what goes on, so they're. They're working for you.
[00:08:19] Speaker C: Brian, is there anything you'd like to add or talk about this last year, volunteering, serving as president that you think would be really good for folks to know farmers to know about how this process works and about the things you've experienced just from a personal level.
[00:08:34] Speaker B: Yeah, just a small corn farmer. But know it opens your eyes to. To the world. The state of Missouri is diverse, but the world is. Is bigger yet. And you make relationships with everyone across the U.S. you know corn farmers by being in. Involved. So it's been rewarding on that aspect to visit different countries on trade missions trying to build markets. And that's what it's all about is if you're not promoting your product, that's probably the biggest thing. So just doing that, you represent all farmers, so you take that in consideration. It's not about you or your farm. It's about the industry. And you have to kind of put some things aside sometimes that might not agree on this or that, but under the corn it's all, all there. And that's what we're after is what's best for the corn farmer when you serve on these boards. And you know, I involve any. Every corn farmer to get involved at your winter meetings, our annual meetings, different things like that. We have different days going to just city to talk policy so that you step out of your comfort zone by far that they prepare you for it. But you know what your. Your story is on your farm. You just have to tell it. So probably been the most rewarding thing is just having people visit the farm or you're. You're telling your story about your livelihood. So that's been probably the biggest thing and building those relationships. It will last a lifetime.
[00:09:59] Speaker A: Brian Lehman is president of the Missouri Corn Growers Association. Thank you so much for taking the time to look back at the past year and most importantly, for the time you've invested in representing Missouri corn growers.
[00:10:10] Speaker B: I appreciate it. Thank you.
[00:10:12] Speaker A: The issues may change from year to year, but the goal remains the same. Protecting opportunities for Missouri farmers and creating a stronger future for the corn industry. The work continues, and so does the need for farmers to stay involved.
And that's it for this week's Corn Talk, made possible by the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and the Missouri Corn Growers Association. To learn more about Missouri corn's efforts to build demand for corn at home and around the world, or to become more involved, visit mocorn.org or follow our social channels. Thanks for listening. I'm David Geiger.
