Indiana Corn

Remember, funds collected from Indiana’s new corn checkoff, by law, cannot be used to lobby or perform national or state legislative and policy work for you. To support those efforts, join ICGA now by downloading a membership application. 

Through a comprehensive strategic planning process, which included six regional meetings of corn producers, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council board of directors (made up of 17 farmer-directors), the ICMC’s mission statement became “Creating value for Indiana farmers through research, promotion, market development and education.”
 
To accomplish this goal, six initiative programs have been developed to invest corn checkoff dollars in - Ethanol; Public Communications; Value Added & Exports; Livestock; Production & Environmental Stewardship; and New Uses.

The Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) is seeking Indiana corn producers interested in serving on its board of directors. The deadline is June 30, 2010.  Click here for more information. 

 
Some projects highlighted in each are:
 
Production & Environmental Stewardship Initiative

• Funding of county Soil and Water Conservation District workshops - We All Live Downstream - which are part of the 2008 Clean Water Indiana grants to support local efforts for nutrient and sediment reduction. Participants can expect to learn about conservation tillage, nutrient management, pasture and livestock management; buffers and cover crops; and other practices.
• Funding of research project at Purdue titled: Evaluating Region and Soil-Specific Nitrogen Recommendations for Corn Cropping Systems in Indiana

 
Livestock Initiative

• Community Outreach to educate rural neighbors about modern livestock production.
• Funding of a market analysis study of Indiana DDGs (dried distillers grains) to obtain specifics of production and sage.
• Other projects: Development of DDGs purchasing guide; funding of biomass project; livestock co-product feed research in poultry and turkeys.

 
Value Added & Exports Initiative

• Indiana Roads and Bridges Project with Indiana LTAP - evaluation of Indiana’s county roads and bridges to determine how to minimize the impact of load restrictions and closures affecting daily business of growers and elevators/delivery points.

 
New Uses Initiative
•         Development of a student new uses contest (Corn Innovation Contest) at the collegiate level for the 2008-2009 school year.
•         Funding of research on grain based new uses and non-grain based new uses.
 
Ethanol Initiative

• Consumer Education & Acceptance including - Biofuels Mobile Marketing Unit (interactive educational display aimed at consumers that explains biofuels and their importance - will be all over the state over then next year); and Ethanol billboard and radio campaign (billboards already have been or are up in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Evansville and radio spots have aired in the same markets with another radio campaign starting in June).
• Consumer Campaign focused on increasing the number of Flex Fuel Vehicles in Indiana including - Flex Fuel Vehicle Kits available to consumers buying an FFV; auto dealer and auto dealer mechanics training programs to help educate them on FFVs and the positives of owning/operating one.
• Grant program to retailers for installation or conversion of E85 pumps ($5,000 each).

 
Public Communications Initiative

• Consumer Awareness Campaign focused on the food and fuel issue. It is focused on providing consistent and factual information to consumers.
• Co-Sponsorship of Indiana Corn & Soybean Day at the Indiana State Fair on August 13. This will be an opportunity to reach thousands of Indiana consumers and talk about the value of Indiana corn farmers, the Indiana corn crop and the products made from corn - including but not limited to Ethanol.

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