By DAN McGuire

WILCOX, NEB –October 24, 2025 – ACGF Officers Mark Lounsbery, Vice Chairman; Dennis Mitchell, Secretary-Treasurer and Policy Director Dan McGuire sadly report the loss of ACGF Chairman Gale Lush who passed away on September 13, 2025. It has been a distinct honor to have been Gale’s friend and colleague all these years and to have worked with a national farm policy leader and man of Gale’s high caliber and integrity. read more...

By DAN McGuire

WILCOX, NEB –September 14, 2025 – ACGF Officers Mark Lounsbery, Vice Chairman; Dennis Mitchell, Secretary-Treasurer and Policy Director Dan McGuire sadly report the loss of ACGF Chairman Gale Lush who passed away on September 13, 2025. It has been a distinct honor to have been Gale’s friend and colleague all these years and to have worked with a national farm policy leader and man of Gale’s high caliber and integrity. read more...

By Gale Lush: 308-991-4138

WILCOX, NEB –July 23, 2025 – American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF) Chairman Gale Lush announced that ACGF Policy Director Dan McGuire received the ACGF Lifetime Service to Agriculture Award at their May 2025 board meeting. “U.S. farmers and rural America can be thankful that Dan McGuire never forgot where he came from. Growing up on that diversified Greeley County McGuire family crop and livestock farm east of OConnor gave Dan his hard work ethic, the understanding of risks in farming operations and the grasp of the major economic benefits that farmers generate for rural communities and the national economy,” said Lush. “After military service Dan attended the University of Nebraska, getting a BA De ee in Journalism. ” read more...

By Gale Lush: 308-991-4138

WILCOX, NEB –July 9, 2025 – “WILCOX, NE, March 22, 2025: WILCOX, NE, July 9, 2025: Kearney-area farm leader Gale Lush and the Lush family were honored at the Franklin County Fair with the Aksarben Foundation’s Pioneer Award, given to families whose land has been in their family for at least 100 years. The Lush family has had the farm for 119 years. “The entire Lush family is honored to receive this important award from the Aksarben Foundation”, said family spokesman Gale Lush. “This award acknowledges generations of the Lush family’s investment in our farming business, overcoming the inherent risk and financial challenges that go with a successful farming enterprise. We have always seen our farming business and its growth as an investment in rural economic development success for our community.” read more...

By Gale Lush: email: galelush77@gmail.com

WILCOX, NEB –March 22, 2025 – “WILCOX, NE, March 22, 2025: “Agricultural news services reported this week that the Administration is drafting an executive order or proposal that would levy fines of up to $1.5 million on China-made ships or vessels from fleets including ships made in China. Those proposed fees are already limiting available ships to export U. S. grain and other products to international buyers,” said Gale Lush, chairman of the ACGF, a corn, soybean and wheat farmer from Wilcox, Nebraska.” read more...

By Gale Lush: email: galelush77@gmail.com

WILCOX, NEB –February 21, 2025 – “Wilcox, NE, February 21, 2025: “USDA’s February 2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate projects total MY 2024/25 world grain supply at 3,612.41 million metric tons (MMT), world ending stocks at 756.33 MMT, total U.S. grain supply at 527.02 MMT, total U.S. ending stocks at 64.90 MMT and the U.S. 2024/2025 average farm-level corn price at a low $4.35 per bushel,” says Gale Lush of Wilcox, NE, a corn, soybean and wheat farmer and Chairman of the ACGF.  read more...

By Gale Lush: email: galelush77@gmail.com

WILCOX, NEB –January 8, 2025 – “Wilcox, NE, January 8, 2025: “According to USDA’s 12/10/24 WASDE report the U.S. will have ending corn inventories of 1.738 billion bushels on 9/30/25 with an estimated average corn price of only $4.10/bushel,” said Gale Lush of Wilcox, NE, a corn, soybean and wheat farmer and Chairman of the ACGF. read more...

ACGF Says U.S. House Blundered Last Week by Deleting Year-Round E15 Ethanol Blends in Gasoline from Their Continuing Resolution (CR). That Action Hurts Consumers by Raising Gas Prices at the pump. It Hurts Farmers by Causing Surplus Corn Supplies and Lower Corn Prices.

By Gale Lush: email: galelush77@gmail.com

WILCOX, NE, December 23, 2024--- The American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF) issued the following statement: Last week the U.S. House of Representatives deleted a provision in their Continuing Resolution (CR) that would have authorized the year-round, nationwide use of E15 ethanol blends in gasoline. That misguided action by the House will cost motorists at the pump because E15 blends lower gasoline prices. That’s something for consumers to think about, especially during the holiday season and one of the busiest driving times of the year. read more...

ACGF Reminds Consumers That E-15 Ethanol Blends Can Be $1/gallon Less at The Pump Than Straight Gas

By Gale Lush: email: galelush77@gmail.com

WILCOX, NE, May 8, 2024--- “We’re pleased that on April 19, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House announced a waiver so that E15 (15% ethanol blend in gasoline) sales will continue uninterrupted, nationwide this year. E15 is a lower-cost, lower-carbon gasoline blend approved for use in more than 95% of vehicles on the road. Motorists typically save about 25 cents per gallon with E15. American motorists and consumers, planning summer vacation can thank the ethanol industry for gas prices at the pump currently being nearly $1 per gallon cheaper for E85 flex-fuel ethanol blends than 87-octane Plus with 10% ethanol,” said Gale Lush, ACGF Chairman from Wilcox, NE, a corn, soybean and wheat producer. read more...

ACGF: Calls for Stronger Federal Policies That Facilitate Greater Corn Use for Ethanol

By Gale Lush: email: galelush77@gmail.com

WILCOX, NE, February 22, 2024--- “The very low $3.28-$4.06 per bushel corn price range in Nebraska on February 21, 2024, versus $6.71 to $7.30 one year ago is a big concern. $3.51-$4.09 was the corn price range in South Dakota on the same day. Fortunately, USDA projects that the U.S. will use 5.375 billion bushels of corn for ethanol production in the 2023-2024 marketing year.”

“Without that ethanol-driven corn demand just imagine how low the corn price would be right now. If that corn-use-for-ethanol demand dropped by 1 billion bushels the price would likely be below $2.00,” said Gale Lush, Chairman of the American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF), a corn, soybean and wheat farmer from Wilcox, Nebraska. read more...

ACGF: 2023 Farm Bill Should Prioritize Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Crop Insurance and SNAP

By Gale Lush: email: galelush77@gmail.com

WILCOX, NE, February 18, 2023---“Congress should prioritize biofuels, renewable energy policies (ethanol, biodiesel, wind, solar, hybrid storage systems), crop insurance, sustainable farming practices and SNAP in the 2023 Farm Bill,” says Gale Lush, Chairman of the ACGF, a corn, soybean, and wheat farmer.

“All corn demand is important (domestic feed, seed, industrial use, and exports) but corn use for ethanol is the prime new demand corn price driver. There are not enough rural votes in Congress to pass a Farm Bill. Urban votes are essential. That means supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP).” read more...

The ACGF news release below also appeared in the November 23, 2022 Kearney Hub on the editorial page under the headline, "Be thankful for renewable energy"

Americans Can Be Thankful for Renewable Energy Addressing Climate Change Impacts. Traditional Fuels and Renewables Are Complementary, Especially in The Near-Term.

November 2022:

By Gale Lush: 308-991-4138

WILCOX, NE, November 21, 2022---“With the Thanksgiving Holiday celebration here Americans can be thankful for our abundance of agriculture/food resources and energy sources, especially renewable energy,” said Gale Lush, corn, soybean and wheat farmer from Wilcox, NE and Chairman of the American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF). “Renewable energy (ethanol/biofuels, wind, solar and hybrid battery storage systems) are essential for America’s sustainable energy future and the energy needs of American consumers. Likewise, Americans need traditional fuel supplies because renewables and traditional fuels complement each other. For instance, ethanol blends enhance gasoline by providing the consumer cheaper motor fuels that are higher octane and cleaner burning. Farmers are environmental stewards of the soil and focused on sustainable practices as articulated in a video segment on the American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF) website, at ACGF.org, “Land and Water: Farmers Adapt to Climate Change” produced by University of NE Journalism students. It covers timeframes when Nebraska went from extremes, excessive rainfall in 2019, to excessive drought. The segment interviews farmers and experts on renewable energy, sustainability, and local food production.”

Source: National Renewable Energy Labratory, https://www.nrel.gov

Lush added, “America needs both older and newer energy generation sources and resources, working together, just as we need older and younger generations working together to transition our farming operations into the future. My generation implemented sustainable, no-tillage and lower water-use irrigation technology. My son and his generation are implementing IT and modern technology on everything from precision GPS-driven planting, fertilizing, production and pest management to grain harvesting and storage, all for the benefit of the American economy and the American consumer. Energy and food go hand-in-hand, just like farming from one generation to the next. This is a timely and timeless renewable perspective.” read more...

From the University of Nebraska College of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni News, Huskers On The Move

November 2021:

Dan McGuire '76---received a REpowering Schools Special Recognition Award acknowledging his decades of work as a supporter and advocate of renewable energy in agriculture and student learning. Currently, McGuire is director of the American Corn Growers Foundation.  Read more..

REpowering Schools Special Recognition Award to Dan McGuire and ACGF

Wilcox, NE—November 17, 2021:

By Gale Lush

WILCOX, NE-October 19, 2021---“The American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF) is pleased to announce that ACGF Director Dan McGuire just received a REpowering Schools Special Recognition Award at their Annual Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2021,” said Gale Lush, ACGF Chairman, a corn, soybean and wheat farmer from Wilcox, Nebraska.

“The Special Recognition Award acknowledges McGuire’s decades of work in optical articulating the role that renewable energy can play in support of farming communities and their students nation-wide.”

Dan McGuire and the ACGF have been national leaders on renewable energy for decades, beginning with ethanol, especially advocating for a strong federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) policy.  Read more..

Growing Ethanol and Carbon Markets Strengthen Biden Climate and Jobs Plan.

It Will Be A “Rare Earth Day” When the U.S. Isn’t Importing Rare Earths/Metals from China.

Wilcox, NE—April 22, 2021:

By Gale Lush

"The bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act which will set up a structure in USDA to help farmers fight climate change by sequestering carbon and accessing carbon markets is supported by 50 agricultural groups including the National Farmers Union and American Farm Bureau Federation, as it should be,” says Gale Lush, Chairman of the American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF), a corn, soybean and wheat farmer from Wilcox, NE. Storing carbon through modern farming practices while improving the current liquid fuel infrastructure with higher ethanol blends, without needing to replace fuel storage tanks, is a great climate-smart strategy.  Read more..

Land and Water: Farmers Adapt to Climate Change

LINCOLN, NE—January 12, 2020:

By Brandon Thomas and Brandon VanDeMortel 

As climate predictions remain ominous, farmers utilize sustainable methods toward their farming practice. But will they be able to keep up with a drastically varied climate? Farmers have been adapting since the beginning of agriculture, but will their methods be enough to keep up?  Read more...

Dan McGuire and UNL Journalism Student Brandon Thomas

Job Opportunities in Renewable Energy

LINCOLN, NE—February 28, 2020:

By Dan McGuire

A panel session on job opportunities in renewable energy incorporating multiple perspectives  Read more...

Foundation chair says competitors taking advantage of U.S. trade wars

GRAND ISLAND, NE—April 21, 2019: