Chad Epler

Planting Season is Underway! 🌱 “We’re getting started today with corn planting. If everything goes right, we’re looking at about 5 days to cover 900 acres with 104–116 day corn. The ground is in good shape and fertilizer is already applied. We did have to work everything this year due to sprayer ruts from last season, but we’re ready to hit the field and rock and roll.” — Field update from Mike and Clell Froebe, Labette County 🚜 Here’s to a strong start and safe planting season across Kansas! 🌽

Kansas corn doesn’t just make an impact here at home, it’s making a difference around the world. Central Kansas Corn Commissioner, Derek Belton, is helping build demand for Kansas corn on an international level by connecting with global partners, sharing our story, and opening doors to new markets. Learn more about Derek's work with the U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council in this video.

Happy National Agriculture Week to the men and women who feed and fuel the world 🇺🇸🌽

Kansas corn farmers rely on strong markets and sound policy. That’s why Brett Grauerholz and Josh Roe met with Derek Schmidt this morning in Washington, D.C. The conversation focused on issues that directly impact Kansas farms; passing year-round E15 legislation to expand ethanol demand, strengthening international trade opportunities for corn, addressing rising fertilizer and input costs, and growing markets for biobased products made from corn. KCGA is committed to making sure farmers’ voices are heard where decisions are made.

A beautiful, perfect thing: The 2026 men's NCAA Tournament bracket WITH tip times, TV channels and all tournament sites included. Mandatory inventory.

The K-State and KU women's basketball teams have both accepted bids to the WBIT. They are each No. 2 seeds and will host games in the early rounds.

Jed Bower spoke to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry about the importance of domestic markets and how corn plays a significant role. See his testimony at youtu.be/Bk9eClOTYao

KSNT talked with Jeff Albers, a farmer and Kansas Corn leader from Denton, KS. High input costs, especially fertilizer, were the topic, but Albers also noted that farmers place taking care of the land as a priority even in these tough times. Listen to the full story at: ksnt.com/news/kansas/we…

Citing the impact of the Middle East conflict, 64 agricultural groups, including the National Corn Growers Association, sent a letter today to the chief executives of @MosaicCompany and @Simplot_SGS urging them to support the removal of duties placed on imported phosphate products from Morocco. Read more: bit.ly/4sbanC4

Great day in Topeka today with the KS Senate passing the ethanol tax credit bill 38-1! I didn’t have it on my bingo card that a tax credit for the purchase of gun safes would be amended! However, as a shooting sports instructor that teaches firearm safety to youth, I can get behind that! Special thanks to our partners at @RenewKansas and of course Senator @CarynTysonKS, Chair of the Senate Tax Committee for hearing and carrying the legislation. Looking forward to working with the house to get this across the line!

Here’s some fast facts to share with your students while talking about ethanol. Learn more about this industry here: bit.ly/4aaFHdI

Kansas Corn STEM’s Mystery of Corn Readers are a great way to help students explore the real-world connection between science, agriculture, and everyday life. Perfect for STEM lessons, sub plans, and career exploration! 👉 Request resources here: kansascornstem.com/readerresource…

E85 spreads popping across the country as gas climbs faster than ethanol. Differential now tops 50% in California and most of the Midwest is reporting in at 20-30%. Enjoy your flex fuel vehicles (FFVs)!

Farmers need #E15now. We're tired of excuses. Take action and make your voice heard here: bit.ly/3NiMjOa

You may be hearing a lot about “45Z” in ag policy news lately and wondering what it means for your farm. Last week at National Commodity Classic, we caught up with Lane Howard from the National Corn Growers Association to break it down. The 45Z tax credit could play an important role in the future of ethanol and corn demand. But grower participation will depend on how Climate/Conservation Smart Agriculture is defined because those definitions will determine which on-farm practices qualify as low carbon intensity. Lane is part of the team working to make sure the guidelines reflect real, practical farming practices happening on family farms every day so Kansas corn growers can participate and benefit.

It’s happening tonight! The House Committee on Agriculture is marking up the 2026 Farm, Food, and National Security Act (AKA the Farm Bill). You can watch it here: bit.ly/3OLp7sE Read our position on the Farm Bill here: bit.ly/403KIyR @HouseAgGOP @HouseAgDems

Today Kansas Corn Commission Chairman, Kent Moore is testifying in front of the Kansas Senate and House Ag Committees on the KCC annual report. Market Development remains KCC’s top funding priority as we look to move a record harvest from 2025. Building markets in the U.S. and around the world for corn and corn products like ethanol and red meat to increase profitability for farmers is our main mission. We are currently seeing record high export quantities for both corn (3.2 billion bushels) and ethanol (2.25 billion gallons).

Kansas farmers showed up strong at NCGA’s Corn Congress during Commodity Classic last week. Tanner McNinch represented KCGA as a delegate and as Vice Chair of NCGA's Production and Sustainability Action Team. He explained how his team is working to tell farmers’ sustainability story, strengthen corn markets at home and abroad, and push back on unnecessary EPA overreach. Chad Epler, Chair, and Connie Fischer, State Staff Representative, highlighted the work of NCGA's Research and New Uses Action team. The team has advanced new market opportunities through the Radicle and Consider Corn Challenges while also protecting existing markets through mycotoxin research in partnership with K-State. If you have any questions about the work our Kansas farmer leaders and staff on doing on behalf of corn farmers please reach out! Our staff would love to answer your questions and hear feedback.

Kansas Corn STEM program is excited to offer the Summer Scientist: Does Corn Need Light? lab kits again! 🧪 Fun, engaging, and inquiry-based 🌱 Perfect for summer learning programs 📅 Request deadline: April 10, 2026 👉 Request your kit at kansascornstem.com/summer

•The pro-E15 coalition of large and small oil refiners and ethanol producers are responsible for 95% of total American annual fuel production ◦This coalition produces almost 300 billion gallons of fuel each year •The anti-E15 refiners account for only 5% of total US annual fuel production ◦These refiners produce only 17 billion gallons of fuel each year