U.S. Grains Council, NCGA Observe Corn Planting In Nebraska

Earlier this month, Nebraska Corn invited U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) staff to visit local farms as they plant the 2025 corn crop and tour key cogs in the state’s agricultural value chain.

USGC Manager of Global Programs Samantha Redfern; USGC Industry Relations Coordinator Emily Schneider; USGC Manager of Global Programs Shuda Jarboe; USGC Regional Ethanol Manager for the European Union, United Kingdom and Canada Stephanie Larson; and USGC Global Programs Coordinator John Owen attended to learn about the planting process and the conservation efforts in use to ensure healthy harvests for years to come.

“Planting season is the perfect opportunity for Council staff, especially new employees, to visit our members across the country and learn about their operations and their priorities in how their crops are grown, shipped and sold,” Redfern said.

Upon arrival, the group visited the greenhouse at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Innovation Campus to observe the latest research and development in the academic agricultural community. Later, they stopped at the Nebraska Corn Board to learn about modern irrigation techniques that reduce the water consumption of U.S. corn.

The next day, USGC member POET hosted a tour at its Fairmont ethanol plant for staff to see how biofuels and their co-products, like distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn fermented protein (CFP), are produced.

For further insight into corn production and uses, the team visited the farms of Nebraska Corn Growers Association President Michael Dibbern and Nebraska Corn Board Director Dan Nerud to check in on their planting progress and study their production methods. Additionally, staff visited a local feedlot to further their understanding of feed grains’ role throughout the value chain.

“International customers prefer to know as much as possible about where their product came from, and by visiting U.S. producers and sharing their stories, the Council’s staff is better equipped to nurture global market growth,” Redfern said. “Thank you to our members, Nebraska Corn and POET, for their warm hospitality and for contributing to the Council’s mission of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives.”

Learn more about the Council’s work in Nebraska here.