News

Corn farmer urges DC to deliver on nationwide E15

A Wisconsin farmer is urging Congress to get the nationwide E15 deal done.

Mike Berget is a representative of the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, the state’s corn checkoff program.  He tells Brownfield that farmers did not need Washington punting on the E15 issue again. “We need to talk to our legislators and tell them how it’s dire straits out here right now, and we need to get that passed because that would be another two billion bushels usage if every state had that, not mandated, but had the right to use it.”

Along with more acres and a potentially bigger corn supply this year, Berget is also concerned about how some growers will get credit to put a crop in the ground this spring. “I talked to some fertilizer suppliers that supply loans, and the trouble is, they haven’t got their crop sold from last year to pay last year’s bill, and some of the credit companies are saying you’ve got to get that paid off before we can give you money for a new crop.”

Berget says with the end of February coming quick, farmers are going to need that credit to get products for planting soon.

Berget spoke to Brownfield during the recent Wisconsin Corn-Soy-Pork Expo in Wisconsin Dells.

AUDIO: Mike Berget discusses E15, the need for more corn uses, and tough credit circumstances with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.