Tennessee Corn Farmer Survey Highlights Key Challenges, Priorities & Opportunities
Click on the infographic to view.
To better understand the challenges and opportunities shaping the way Tennessee corn growers are farming in today’s agricultural landscape, Tennessee Corn surveyed farmers to gather their perspectives on key issues such as profitability, conservation practices, market trends, and policy priorities.
The findings will help guide the allocation of corn checkoff dollars by the Tennessee Corn Promotion Board (TCPB) and establish priorities for the Tennessee Corn Growers Association (TCGA), ensuring our advocacy efforts align with the needs of Tennessee corn farmers.
Read more about the results below or click on the infographic.
Farmer Demographics & Farm Structures
Out of the farmers who participated in the survey, over half (54%) of the respondents were aged 61 and older. Most respondents (54%) operate grain-only farms, while 36% manage grain and livestock operations. Additionally, decision-making is largely centralized, with 75% of farms operating with one or two key decision-makers.
Top Challenges & Priorities
Farmers identified innovation, market growth, and economic stability as their top concerns. Profitability remains a challenge, with 68% of farmers expressing high concern about their financial outlook and 93% supporting federal disaster aid to address 2024 losses. The highest priorities for Tennessee Corn include developing new uses for corn (68%), expanding ethanol markets (57%), and eliminating trade barriers to boost exports (57%). These responses highlight the need for initiatives that drive market expansion and financial resilience.
Conservation and Environmental Best Practices
Tennessee corn farmers show a strong willingness to embrace environmental best management practices (BMPs), with 82% indicating they would voluntarily adopt measures to avoid regulation and reduce nutrient loss. However, opinions are divided on mandatory BMPs, with 39% in favor, 32% undecided, and 25% opposed.
Barriers to adopting additional conservation practices include high upfront costs and slow return (32%). However, many farmers (36%) are already engaged in conservation efforts, highlighting their commitment to sustainable practices.
Trade & Market Opportunities
Tennessee farmers recognize trade as a key driver of profitability, with 79% seeing it as increasingly critical in the next five to ten years. However, 50% of farmers express neutral to moderately negative views on current trade policies. This suggests cautious optimism for trade’s future impact.
When looking at future market growth, farmers report ethanol (43%) and exports (29%) as the most promising areas for increased demand. To support this growth, 82% of farmers advocate for greater USDA investment in foreign market development. However, 54% believe such funding should only increase if additional resources are available.
Input Costs & Competition
Farmers expressed concerns about the rising costs and limited competition in the inputs marketplace, with 71% highly concerned about access to fertilizer and fuel. This indicates a strong perception of market pressure with limited options driving costs.
Opinions are more divided on the potential threat of electric vehicles (EVs) to the ethanol market. While 43% see little to no threat from EVs, 39% voice moderate concern, reflecting uncertainty about the shift in alternative energy sources and how it may impact ethanol demand.
Policy & Membership Motivations
When it comes to Farm Bill payments, 71% of farmers are in favor of payments based on recent plantings rather than historical base acres. This shift reflects a preference for aligning government support with current farming practices.
Membership in TCGA is primarily driven by advocacy and education. Legislative representation (82%) tops this list of motivations, followed by education and promotion of new corn uses (54%), and consumer/youth education programs (46%). These priorities point to the values farmers place on having a strong voice in policy and access to resources that support their operations.
With these insights, Tennessee Corn will work to address the needs of our farmers and invest in initiatives guided by advocacy and sustainable growth. If you’re passionate about building a sustainable future for your farm and ensuring your voice is heard, join the Tennessee Corn Growers Association today. As a member, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in future surveys and play an active role in guiding the decisions that impact your farm.