2-1 IAN Field to Market

 Field to Market is a diverse group working to create opportunities for improvements in agricultural productivity, environmental quality and human well-being. The National Corn Growers Association has been a part of the group since its inception. With different sustainability standards and retailers and consumers asking for measures of sustainability - Corn Board Member Keith Alverson says NCGA’s involvement with the group is delivering great value to the nation’s corn growers: “We know as farmers that we are continually improving in our efficiencys in fertilizer use so this allows NCGA and other commodity groups to come together with Walmart, Coca-Cola, General Mills to sit around the table and discuss that.”  Alverson explains why it’s so important to bridge that gap between field and market: “We always have the concern of a disconnect, there are requirements or things being asked of us that are not real feasible. So when we can sit at the table and discuss those things, given realistic expectations about how things are improving along with some of the possibilities, I think that they can be more reasonable about the approaches they take and it can also help spread our message. We know we are improving and we are getting that approval from the Walmarts and Coca-Colas and they can help spread the message  that we have been carrying ourselves for quite some time.”