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NCGA announces input cost task force

The National Corn Growers Association has launched a tasked force that will work to identify solutions for elevated input costs.

NCGA incoming first vice president Matt Frostic, a corn farmer from Michigan and leader of the new task force, says corn growers nationwide are in the third consecutive year of net negative returns, with 2026 projected to be the fourth year of negative returns.

“I’m getting calls from various farmers around the country that are saying it’s almost better to leave the ground fallow for a year and harbor that land cost than it is to actually plant the crop. They’d be better off.”

He tells Brownfield his operation has been impacted.

“We’re in the red in the margins. Kind of came into the year hoping we could break even, stay close to that watermark, or maybe bushel ourselves into a profit. I don’t see that being the case.”

Recent analysis from NCGA economists show that input prices remain at near-record highs despite the precipitous drop in per bushel corn prices in the last three years. Average production costs have dropped just three percent from their peak in 2022 to 2025 while corn prices have declined by over 50 percent over the same period. 

Frostic says the task force is comprised of corn farmers, NCGA and state corn organization staff.

“Now it’s just a matter of peeling the onion back and seeing where we can press where we need to or find answers within the industry that we can work together with. We farm, and we’ve got to work with these industries and companies to do a better job.”

Last month, NCGA sent a letter to the USDA to draw attention to the ongoing financial challenges facing growers.

INTERVIEW: NCGA’s Matt Frostic 9-24-2025