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.