WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) has fired back at the Washington, D.C., area’s transit system, after the 700,000 daily passenger-service rejected the association’s annual subway car billboard campaign that calls on Congressional leaders and policymakers to recognize the leadership role that has led America’s corn farmers to be "the most productive in the world."

After seven years of the NCGA’s successful annual advertising campaign messages on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s 1,100 subway cars, the agency’s board of directors rejected the big-budget ads, saying the promotions were "issue" messages and against the board’s policy of promoting socially-minded targeted messages.

Of the board’s decision, a spokesperson said, "The board has decided to suspend all ‘issue’ related advertising until the end of the year" – at which time it will reconsider the matter.

The latest advertising ban by Metro falls on the heels of a rejection in May when the American Freedom Defense Initiative wanted to publish a cartoon ad of the Muslim prophet Muhammad – the contest for the artwork triggered a violent reaction last month in Texas. That ad may have prompted Metro’s NCGA ban, the spokesperson told Farm World.

In a sharp rebuke of the ban, the NCGA said it is widening its "educational" messages beyond subway cars and its digital and print ads, now bringing its message to the audience of Sunday morning network television news programs that reach a political policymaking base, according to NCGA spokesman Mark Lambert.

When the ban was enacted, Lambert said, "We immediately contacted the Metro system management and had multiple calls over the course of a week, arguing our position that the Corn Farmers Coalition effort is purely education.

"We don’t address any specific issues in the campaign, nor do we ask people to take any action. We simply want this important audience to have a better appreciation regarding who farms today, how they farm and why it’s important for everyone. We do that largely through showcasing USDA facts.

"Despite our best efforts," Lambert said, "they decided to exclude this important communications effort."

On May 28, the Metro board approved a motion by Chair Mort Downey to prohibit all "political, religious and other issue ads" until 2016. The board then plans to revisit the decision on whether to continue the ban. In the coming months, Metro will fully consider the impact issue-related advertisements have on the community by gathering input from the public, community groups and advocates, according to the Metro spokesperson.

In April, the New York City Metro Transit Authority voted to ban "political" subway ads following struggles with various controversial organizations over sensational ads in the transit system.