UP

2009 ANNUAL REPO R T

STEPPING
STEPPING UP
 introduction
T
ime and again, corn farmers have been challenged by doubters,
regulators, media, Mother Nature and more. Yet as each
challenge is tossed into the echo chamber, the National Corn
Growers Association steps forward to tell its story – the story of
thousands of innovative farmers across the country who strive every
day to maximize production while protecting natural resources.

Of course, NCGA is not standing alone.

You and 35,000 other NCGA members are beside us, stepping up to
give voice to our messages and representing a grassroots strength
that is a powerful force on Capitol Hill and across the country.
Your support opens doors, and your efforts ultimately prove the
critics wrong.

America’s corn farmers have truly stepped up to affect change

in virtually every area: You have stepped up production to meet
demand. You have stepped up your support of NCGA by helping
your association enjoy record membership numbers. You have
stepped up your efforts to ensure that the corn industry’s value
and contributions are both understood and appreciated.

Knowing we are on the right path gives us the confidence

and commitment to climb the steps, knock on doors, make the call
and send the e-mail. Every contact made and every relationship
built is vital to our success in an era when legislative and regulatory
actions can have a significant impact on farming in so many ways –
from cap and trade to ethanol to research priorities.

We are a farmer-led organization composed of action teams,

committees and working groups that identify our goals, define
our purpose and guide our decisions. These farmers give their
time because they believe in the future of corn production. They
see endless opportunity in this incredibly complex plant that can
provide feed, food, fuel, fiber and more for people in our nation and
around the world.

It is their vision – your vision – that is the lifeblood of NCGA. That

vision – and the energy and commitment that fuel it – are helping
NCGA make giant steps in our mission to ensure a profitable future
for the nation’s corn farmers.

National Corn Growers Association Annual Report 2009

2
STEPPING UP

W
hen the National Corn Growers
Association called on its members to
step up their support of increasing
the ethanol blend rate, its powerful
grassroots membership followed through
by submitting the most comments to the
Environmental Protection Agency in the
history of our electronic commenting system.
More amazingly, this tremendous response
began as planting was in full swing and
continued into July. What an opportunity
corn farmers had to tell the positive story of
ethanol and corn production to the EPA and
the country as a whole!
While energized with the response to the
ethanol waiver, this was only one component
of all the efforts put forth by NCGA and corn
farmers across the country over the last year.
A new Administration and Congress
coming to Washington created a different
atmosphere inside the Beltway. Visits by NCGA
farmer-leaders and members allowed the
new Administration, agency and department
heads, members of Congress, Congressional
staff and others to better understand our
position on critical issues. This also gave us a
chance to build relationships and create an
atmosphere of cooperation.
bob dickey
Bob Dickey
President
(2009)
president’s message
This was particularly true when it came to discussions on climate change legislation,
popularly known as “cap and trade.” There are difficult choices to be made when
approaching legislation such as this. On one hand, NCGA members are very skeptical about
the impact of such legislation on farmers. On the other hand, pushing for this legislation’s
demise could potentially leave growers and others in agriculture subject to Environmental
Protection Agency regulations.
Yet NCGA believed – rightly so – that by being involved and encouraging important
amendments to the version of the bill that passed the House would pay dividends down
the road. After all, as the saying in Washington goes: If you’re not at the table, you’re
on the table. Corn growers stepped up to take a place at the table, and because of that
we will be at the table should the legislation move in the Senate – or should EPA take
action on its own.
Over the years, NCGA has strived to be positive, work constructively and take the high
road. This has served your organization well, and when combined with a vibrant and active
grassroots membership, NCGA is a force with a reputation that is second to none.
This reputation and strong grassroots is what allowed the Average Crop Revenue Election
program to be included in the farm bill and implemented in a positive way this year.
It was also behind enhancing the Farm Storage Loan program, which provides for low-cost
financing for farmers to build or upgrade grain storage and handling facilities, and the
adoption of a pilot program that will offer a greater opportunity for farmers to convert
basic crop insurance to higher levels of coverage for enterprise and whole farm units.
While the contrived food versus fuel issue mostly subsided in 2009, with NCGA’s position
being proven correct, corn farmers from across the country felt it was time to share a few
facts about corn production and use. NCGA worked with state affiliates to launch a major
educational campaign in Washington that highlighted important messages. The primary
theme: Innovative farmers are growing more corn every year with fewer resources while
protecting the environment.
In turn, these messages were utilized by members in their own states to further spread
the positive messages of farming today. In 2010, this campaign will dramatically broaden
its scope as the NCGA launches a program to enhance the image of the American farmer
with the public. We will remind consumers about the innovative nature of our industry, the
many benefits it provides for our citizens and our nation, and the stewardship that farmers
across the country practice every day.
As I reflect on 2009, I take great pride in being a member of NCGA, an organization with 35,000
members – in 47 states – that has earned the respect of so many.
I am proud of the NCGA staff, its board and member-leaders who work tirelessly on behalf
of all members to ensure that future generations of farmers will benefit from intelligent
public policy decisions.
Finally, I would like to thank all members for their confidence in NCGA leadership and words
of encouragement. Your spirit of cooperation and unity ensures a bright future for us all – and
for those who will continue to step up to keep our organization moving forward.
National Corn Growers Association Annual Report 2009
4
TRADE
T
he United States clearly plays a key role
in global agricultural trade, and we
continue to be the major supplier of
corn to the world.
The National Corn Growers Association
and its joint trade team with the U.S. Grains
Council help to provide policy positions that
further corn growers’ interest in trade and
its implications on many issues. Our team
reaches out to farmers and farm groups
around the world, helping to represent
U.S. farmers.
For example, trade policy issues were on
the agenda during a series of meetings in
Europe. Together with USGC, our farmers met
one-on-one with World Trade Organization
NCGA First Vice President Darrin Ihnen, center, met with United
States Trade Representative Ron Kirk, right, in April to discuss
the importance of trade for corn growers. Also attending the
meeting was NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett.
officials to talk about the Doha Round.
Having U.S. farmers discuss these issues with
those involved in Doha is critical to fostering
understanding regarding unresolved issues
on market access.
This is true for more than just bulk corn. Corn
value-added products like gluten feed and
co-products such as dried distillers grains
with solubles are also affected by market
access issues.
5
While in Europe,
the trade team met
with the French Corn
Growers Association.
French farmers
recounted the
difficult atmosphere
for biotechnology in
agriculture in Europe,
which has closed the
door in the past to corn
and many corn products.
Yet many French farmers
believe adopting this technology
themselves would be beneficial.
ff Travel restrictions between the United States
Back at home, NCGA worked with the new and Cuba were eased somewhat, a sign that
Administration as it appointed trade officials the current Administration may take steps
to key positions. As it is important to make to more normalized commerce between
our members’ positions clear and to build the two countries. NCGA believes that Cuba
relationships, NCGA staff and farmer-leaders presents a significant market opportunity
met personally with the new U.S. Trade for U.S. agricultural products, including dried
Representative, Ambassador Ron Kirk, and distillers grains and other corn value-added
his staff. products.
We encouraged the Administration and
members of Congress to move forward
with free trade agreements that have
been negotiated but not yet approved
by Congress – a difficult task in a year full
of change in Washington. Failure to address
trade will have direct impact on the balance
of trade and farm gate prices.
bill hoffman
Bill Hoffman
Columbus, Wis.
ff NCGA and 140 other agriculture groups
Chair of the
urged the Administration to work quickly to
Joint Trade Policy
resolve a dispute over the U.S. Department Action Team (2009)
of Transportation’s termination of the Cross
Border Trucking Pilot Program with Mexico.
Within days of this program’s cancellation,
We continue to press Congress to pass
Mexico placed retaliatory tariffs on
trade agreements as these agreements
$900 million in agriculture products.
will help open new markets for U.S.
corn, distiller’s grains, meat and other
value-added products. Meeting with
officials at the WTO provided important
perspective to us and we hope it
provided the same benefit to those
we met with as well.

A
fter a hard-fought and successful
effort by the National Corn Growers
Association – and its grassroots who
stepped up to make it happen – the
Average Crop Revenue Election program
was implemented this year. ACRE provides
an optional risk management tool for
farmers.
Just getting to the point where farmers could
sign up, however, involved testifying before
Congress to encourage a careful approach
at both the federal and county Farm Service
Agency levels. NCGA also pushed for the
two-year price average for 2009 to be based
on the 2007 and 2008 crop years.
Success on both of these fronts was realized
when the U.S. Department of Agriculture
released its rules to implement ACRE. This
allowed farmers to sign up for the 2009
ACRE program beginning in April. To provide
information to farmers, NCGA co-hosted
a webinar that drew more than 1,000
participants. We also continued to distribute
an ACRE calculator and ensure updates
were made as ACRE numbers were finalized.
Mike Geske
MIKE GESKE
Matthews, Mo.
Chair of the
Public Policy
Action Team (2009)
Transition and change in political circles
in Washington, does not make our job
any better or worse. Regardless of
the political winds, we are charged with
the task to overcome challenges and
seize opportunities. While NCGA works
tirelessly on its members’ behalf, the
secret lies within the strength of those
members, those farmers and their
families who make up our grassroots.
farm & rural development
These efforts drew a large number of ff NCGA continues to push for funding
farmers to ACRE, with more than 13 percent to upgrade locks and dams along the
of base corn acres on more than 120,000 Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Current
farms being signed up when registration waterway improvements are only
closed in August. Corn made up the largest funded through the design phase, not
enrollment sector. construction.
The new Administration arriving in ff Personal visits by corn farmers from across
Washington also meant a new Agriculture the country to members of Congress,
Secretary, new staff, new members of assorted federal agencies and departments
Congress and more. While the transition and industry partners helps build
and changes created challenges, they also relationships and demonstrates that
created opportunities. farmers are paying attention to issues
inside the Beltway. These grassroots efforts
Whenever there is turnover like this, shifts open doors and amplify messages that are
occur. For example, climate change moved critical when key legislative or regulatory
to the front of the line and Renewable Fuel items arise.
Standard implementation is happening with
a different Environmental Protection Agency
than was in place when the RFS passed.
This makes it critical that NCGA staff and
its grassroots members are on the ground
providing information on modern corn
production and encouraging proper
action on issues that are critical to farmers,
including important risk management tools
like crop insurance and convergence issues
in futures markets.
Farmer visits to Washington – and telephone
The NCGA Corn Board met with newly confirmed
calls, postcards, letters and e-mails – ring U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a
loudly on Capitol Hill. These efforts are critical March meeting in Washington, and discussed
President Obama’s federal budget proposal, the
and lend a significant amount of credibility farm bill and ethanol.
and weight to the positions NCGA takes on
behalf of farmer-members.
ff Shortly after former Gov. Tom Vilsack was
confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture,
NCGA met with him and his staff to discuss
budget proposals, the farm bill and ethanol.
Vilsack told NCGA he was committed to
increasing the market opportunities for
ethanol and other biofuels, including
through higher ethanol blends.
National Corn Growers Association Annual Report 2009
6
production & stewardship
A
s farmers survey their fields and prepare
for another crop each spring, they aim
to improve on the year before and be
more efficient with resources on every
acre while producing a bigger crop.
This, in part, is what farming is all about –
and farmers excel at producing more corn
with fewer inputs.
While farmers have known this for some
time, and seen the results in their fields, the
National Corn Growers Association helped
organize hard facts to back it up through
its participation in Field to Market: The
Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.
The Keystone Alliance is a collaborative
stakeholder group that includes NCGA and
other farm organizations, food and retail
companies, agribusinesses and conservation
organizations.
The report’s findings show tremendous
improvement over the last two decades:
corn farmers have reduced the amount of
land needed to produce one bushel of corn
37 percent, reduced soil loss per bushel
69 percent, reduced the energy used to
produce a bushel by 37 percent and reduced
important emissions by 30 percent. While
less than 15 percent of the nation’s corn crop
is irrigated, those acres that have cut water
A whitepaper on hypoxia provided
important facts and a clearer picture of a
misunderstood and complex water quality
issue that can greatly impact corn growers.
Renewable fuels are often produced away
from metropolitan centers, which may
make “energy corridors” that can move
ethanol and wind power more important
in the future. To better understand
the potential and challenges
of energy corridors,
NCGA commissioned
the National Trans-
portation Corridors
and Renewable
Energy study.
ffUnderstanding the political winds
in Washington, NCGA spearheaded an effort ffNCGA funded research projects and pushed
to make “cap and trade” legislation more for more federal funding to address concerns
farmer-friendly. While NCGA realizes there with mycotoxins. A key focus was building
are divergent thoughts on climate change federal support to establish and operate the
legislation, by being involved and working Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence. This
toward a compromise in the House we earned partnership between a number of land grant
a seat at the table for future discussions and universities and grower organizations looks
negotiations, which will benefit corn farmers for ways to control or mitigate mycotoxins
across the country. NCGA has also initiated a in corn.
study to determine what costs farmers would
face should various climate change bills
become law.
ffA record number of entries – 6,960 – poured
DAVID WARD

use some 27 percent.

These are important numbers – and they
allowed NCGA and many member states
to more effectively share our sustainability
story with a much broader audience.
The Keystone report was one of several that
NCGA supported – or produced – during
the year. For example, an NCGA whitepaper
on water utilization updated water use
statistics in corn production and helped put
this natural resource issue into perspective.
into NCGA for its National Corn Yield Contest.
A study NCGA commissioned that examined
National Corn Yield Contest data found that
top yield winners in the contest are ahead of
the curve, setting trends that lead the industry
to the future. In 2009, the 24 national winners
in eight production categories had verified
yields averaging more than 300 bushels
per acre.
David Ward
Mapleton, Minn.
Chair of the
Production &
Stewardship
Action Team (2009)
This committee – Production & Stewardship
– is perfectly named because “production”
and “stewardship” are not two separate lines
on a balance sheet. Instead, corn farmers
strive daily to produce high yields while
being good stewards of the land, air and
water. Important studies released this year
demonstrate the many good things farmers
do and show that farmers are indeed
producing more with less, a trend that is
certain to continue.

7

F
ew, if any, organizations see their
membership numbers grow consistently
from year to year. Yet the National Corn
Growers Association saw membership
numbers reach a new record of more than
35,000 in 2009, continuing an enviable
upward trend.
NCGA strongly believes that high ideals
and operating with integrity, while sharply
focusing on member needs, will draw new
members to the organization. Meanwhile,
the more members NCGA has, the more
grassroots strength we can leverage when
pressing critical issues on Capitol Hill and
across the country. This effective stair-
stepping method ensures growth and brings
tremendous benefits for all.
Steady membership growth would not be
possible without active recruiters motivated to
share the benefits of NCGA membership with
their peers. These individuals demonstrate
their excitement about NCGA’s efforts,
programs and accomplishments by engaging
others and adding to our strength.
Gene Fynboh, Brandon, Minn.; and Gerald
Mulder, Renville, Minn.
For outstanding recruiting efforts year after
year, NCGA inducted a new member into
the Recruiter Hall of Fame. Denice Dirks of
Luverne, Minn., is the fifteenth recruiter to
join this elite group with 134 new recruits in
2008 and 780 since 2003.
Within the elite Hall of Fame recruiters group,
four growers were awarded top honors. This
included Leslie Roach, Wheatland, N.D.;
Roger Bonham, Washington Court House,
Ohio; Douglas Toreen, Bird Island, Minn.; and
Myron Peterson, Sacred Heart, Minn.
In addition to honoring these individuals
at the 2009 Commodity Classic, NCGA also
recognized two state organizations for their
efforts to grow their membership base. The
North Dakota Corn Growers Association was
highlighted for a 25.24 percent growth in
its members, while the Iowa Corn Growers
Association was honored for adding 538
new members.
membership
ffNCGA continued to provide timely
communications to its members, partners,
media and consumers through its blog
and other social media outlets, including
Facebook and Twitter. In addition, NCGA
launched Corn Action News, its members-
only weekly e-mail summary of news and
information important to corn farmers across
the country. Visit www.NCGA.com to sign up.
ffNCGA’s Online Learning Library launched in
2009, providing a resource for members to
learn more about insect resistance
management, weed resistance management,
“Know Before You Grow,” and other
production-related information. A water
quality module will launch in 2010.

Among the more than 400 recruiters, three
individuals were honored in 2009 for their
membership recruitment work during the
previous year – Chad Blindauer, Mitchell, S.D.;
TIM DOLAN
ffNCGA and its scholarship partner BASF Corp.
awarded college scholarships to five deserving
undergraduate and graduate students
pursuing a degree in an agriculture related
field. Each received a $1,000 scholarship and
Farmers from across the Corn Belt took time off their schedules
was recognized at Commodity Classic. This to travel to North Carolina in August for an intensive three-day
year’s winners included Rita Cook, Hubbard, leadership academy. The NCGA program, co-sponsored by Syngenta,

prepares growers for being more effective spokespersons and leaders

Tim Dolan Iowa; Alex Coughlin, Iroquois, S.D.; Elias at the state and national level.
Winthrop, Minn. Klokkenga, Emden, Ill.; Michael Sukalski,
Chair of the Fairmont, Minn.; and Emily Treu, Berlin, Wis.
Grower Services
Action Team (2009) ffNineteen farmer-leaders attended NCGA’s
Leadership Academy and spent three days
in Washington, for the second phase of the
NCGA’s success is intrinsically linked
program. The group had previously spent a
to its wide-ranging grassroots support
week in Greensboro, N.C., co-sponsored by
and that comes solely from its active,
Syngenta. This program has been on-going
enthusiastic and broad membership.
for two decades and helps NCGA cultivate,
Those who join us do so knowing NCGA
identify and train new leaders who keep the
will work tirelessly on their behalf,
organization strong and on-task.
while providing solid educational and
leadership opportunities. It also gives us
the ability to promote corn, prove that
farmers today are more sustainable than National Corn Growers Association Annual Report 2009
ever and defend farmers’ interests on
Capitol Hill and across the country.
8
research & Business Development
A
t no time in history have corn growers
and researchers known so much about
the corn plant. Yet we are essentially
standing before a blank slate – and
charged with the task of determining what,
exactly, we would like the corn plant to do.
Certainly after so many decades of research
that may seem like an unusual situation, but
the successful decoding of the incredibly
complex corn genome provides researchers
with so many possibilities that they turn to
us and ask: What do you want?
This opportunity became very real over the
last year at meetings involving scientists
from across the country and the National
Corn Growers Association research team.
From greenhouses in San Francisco to
Pam Johnson, chairwoman of NCGA’s Research and Business
Development Action Team, testified before a congressional
subcommittee in April, emphasizing the importance of
funding the National Science Foundation’s Plant Genome
In keeping with a recommendation
from affiliated states to increase
collaboration and reduce research
duplication between states and NCGA, a
special research workshop was held prior
to July Corn Congress. This forum was
tremendously positive and productive.
This effort led to the development of
an online research database that will
facilitate an interconnected approach
to research following its 2010 debut.
In testimony on Capitol Hill,
NCGA explained to members
of Congress why corn is the model
system for studying complex genomic
structure, organization and function, and
issues public and private decision makers
that its high quality genetic map will serve
may need to consider as they address the
as the foundation for studies that will lead to
challenges ahead.
improved biomass and bioenergy resources
from all crops. This is why it is critical that ffThe National Institute of Food and Agricul-
adequate public funding is available ture, created just last year, has improved the
for projects like the National Science visibility of competitive research grants and
Foundation’s Plant Genome Research raised the profile of agriculture research.
Initiative, which NCGA helped create. NIFA is now the primary research arm of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and its
ffNCGA involvement was key in research
formation was supported by NCGA.
used to develop a process to produce ethyl
lactate from ethanol. Ethyl lactate is an all-
purpose solvent and common ingredient in
pharmaceutical preparations, food additives
and fragrances. Currently derived from
petrochemicals, reactive distillation allows
PAM JOHNSON

Research Initiative. Pam Johnson

convention halls in the Midwest, growers
were challenged to come up with clear,
concise priorities. What is your vision for
corn over the next two decades? How
do you want the plant to grow? And for
what uses?
To help answer these questions and create
an organized response, a steering committee
is planning a workshop in 2010 with
the research community that will lay
the groundwork.
9
it to be made inexpensively from ethanol. It’s
renewable, green and competitive, and may
provide non-fuel revenue stream for some
ethanol plants. NCGA continues efforts with
interested parties to license the technology.
ffThe Farm Foundation released its report, “The
30-Year Challenge: Agriculture’s Strategic
Role in Feeding and Fueling a Growing
World,” which was sponsored in part by
NCGA. The report identifies six major areas
of challenges facing agriculture. Within each
area of challenges, the report highlights key
Floyd, Iowa
Chair of the
Research & Business
Development
Action Team (2009)
It’s incredibly satisfying and exciting to face
a future that is wide open, to be asked by
researchers what farmers are looking for in
tomorrow’s corn plant. While we can only
imagine the possibilities in our fields today,
imagination and creativity is what it will take
to outline where we want to go. We pushed
hard for funding the corn genome research
project, and it is the success of this program
and the continued push for public funding
and public-private partnerships that will lead
to innovations that will spark the imagination
of tomorrow’s farmers.

B
y simply looking at planting trends,
the value of biotechnology to farmers
becomes clear. In 2009, biotech hybrids
were planted on 85 percent of all corn
acres, an increase of five points over 2008.
Biotech hybrids mean stronger roots and
stalks, fewer passes through the field
and less tilling of the soil. These benefits
add up. Plants are better able to take on
nutrients, stalks stay healthy to allow for a
prolonged harvest and the plant is able to
produce more grain in periods of stress. It
also means a better overall environmental
performance.
Farmers see all this and more. So do
researchers.
In fact, the National Corn Growers Association
made note of several reports over the
last year that discussed the benefits of
biotechnology.
For example, a report from the International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech
Applications listed several ways in which
biotechnology suppor ts sustainable
development. They included contributing
to food security and affordability, conserving
biodiversit y, reducing agr iculture’s
Rob Korff
Norborne, Mo.
ROB KORFF
environmental footprint, mitigating climate
change and contributing to sustainable
economic benefits. NCGA helped spread
these positive messages and noted that
they fit perfectly into other sustainability
messages that are important to corn farmers.
NCGA, as it does every year, hosted numerous
visitors from the United States and around
the world, helping to explain the science
behind and benefits of biotechnology.
NCGA, in conjunction with the U.S. Grains
Council and other organizations, hosted
visitors from five continents. Visitors from
France, Denmark, Korea, Japan, China,
Egypt, South Africa, Brazil and more had the
opportunity to interact with U.S. farmers and
see corn research, genetic testing and export
facilities in action.
Importantly, NCGA continued its “Respect
the Refuge” campaign during the year,
pushing information to farmers and their
advisors. Insect Resistance Management is
critical to the continued use of biotech crops,
and NCGA encourages farmers to follow all
rules when utilizing biotech hybrids. As new
refuge programs have been approved for
the 2010 growing season, NCGA will roll
out new learning materials to continue to
educate growers.
ffNCGA Biotech Working Group Chairman
Rob Korff had the opportunity to meet with
biotechnology
ffA report by PG Economics confirmed
NCGA’s position that raising biotech crops
contributes to environmental and economic
stability. The report noted that farmers in
25 countries are seeing increased yields,
improved productivity and higher revenues
due to biotechnology. It noted that farmers
also reduced tillage, which was equivalent
to removing 8 billion pounds of carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.
ffNCGA’s “Know Before You Grow” database
continues to be a useful tool for farmers
and corn marketers who need to keep up to
date with the regulatory approval status of
biotech traits. As a result, NCGA continues to
make updates to this database.
Rob Korff, chairman of NCGA’s Biotechnology Working Group,
provided comments regarding food security to United Nations
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, center, at a food security
conference this past June in St. Louis, Mo.

the United Nations Secretary-General Ban

Chair of the
Ki Moon at a food security conference in St.
Biotech
Working Group Louis, Mo. Korff shared the many important
(2009) advances American farmers have made
to produce abundant and affordable
Biotechnology is one of the great food, including how technology has
developments of our time. It is a hi-tech made corn production more efficient and
tool that provides a safe and efficient stabilized yields.
way to produce more grain for feed,
food, fuel and fiber – with less of an
impact on our planet. When discussing
sustainability, biotechnology certainly
is one important component we will
continue to support.
National Corn Growers Association Annual Report 2009

10
ethanol & COPRODUCTS
T
he prospect of allowing up to 15 percent
ethanol to be blended into regular
gasoline, which would create jobs, ease
the ethanol blend wall and provide
lower fuel costs and choices for consumers,
sparked a record number of comments
filed through the National Corn Growers
Association’s electronic comment system.
This tremendous grassroots response
to the ethanol waiver request put forth
by the ethanol industry began during
planting season. Realizing that farmers
would have a difficult time submitting
comments to the Environmental
Protection Agency during this time, NCGA
requested an extension that EPA granted.
By supporting the waiver request, NCGA
NCGA held a conference on land use and carbon impacts of corn
ethanol in August, welcoming scores of interested participants
to hear from more than two dozen scientific and policy experts
(In December, the EPA decided
to delay a final decision to
later in 2010 but also said
initial testing of E15 as a fuel
was positive.)
Additional involvement with EPA
centered around the agency’s
proposed rule to implement
the expanded Renewable Fuel
Standard. NCGA and a number
of state affiliates
expressed concern
about biases against
corn and the lack of transparency in sector is a critical market for corn farmers and
some sections of the proposal. Concerns offers compounding economic benefits to
were also raised about potential new rural communities.
regulatory burdens farmers would face.
ffBecause indirect land use became such an
A major issue with the proposal centered on important subject in regards to ethanol
EPA’s indirect international land use change production, NCGA held a land use change
penalty for corn ethanol. NCGA countered conference to pull together many respected
that EPA’s model was flawed – especially speakers and viewpoints. Their presentations
considering that corn farmers are more and discussions utilizing updated and
than meeting the demand for corn and scientifically-based information helped
EPA significantly underestimates future farmers better understand the issues and
U.S. corn yields. become more prepared to address them.
NCGA commissioned four studies that
support its positions and submitted them to
EPA for consideration.
NCGA also submitted comments to the
STEVE RUH

– scientists, academicians and others who provided a diverse

set of viewpoints.
helped American farmers tell the positive
story of corn ethanol and reminded policy
makers, legislators and the media that corn
ethanol diversifies our fuel supply and serves
as a critical part of domestic energy security.
It gave us an opportunity to explain that
America’s corn growers continuously exceed
market demands for corn and will continue
to meet the demands for food, feed, fuel
and fiber in an economical and
environmentally responsible manner.
11
California Air Resources Board, which was
developing low carbon fuel standards.
NCGA pointed out significant flaws in the
state’s proposal that could severely harm the
domestic biofuels industry and increase our
reliance on foreign oil. Like EPA, California’s
ARB ignored the great growth in corn yields
expected over the next decade.
NCGA will continue to fight for renewable
corn ethanol and promote the tremendous
benefits it brings to this country. The biofuels
Steve Ruh
Sugar Grove, Ill.
Chair of the
Ethanol
Committee (2009)
Farmers are always adopting new
technology and improving management
practices to produce more corn from
the same acre of land. Yet too often
regulatory agencies look backward at
corn and ethanol production data.
One message we emphasize is that
corn production is already meeting and
exceeding ethanol industry demands
– and will certainly do so in the future
thanks to farmer ingenuity backed by
sound technological advances.
 0.2% 0.4%
4.7%
8.3%
9.3%
9.5%
67.6%
REVENUES
Revenues FY Oct. 08 - Sept. 09
n Checkoff Revenue $6,488,258.91
n Industry 915,600.00
n Corn Yield Contest 889,485.00
n Membership 793,185.99
n Commodity Classic 454,295.00
n Interest 20,115.12
n Other 37,023.74
Total Revenues 9,597,963.76
n Team Program Expenses
Biotech Working Group $97,580.71
Ethanol Committee 534,530.09
Grower Services Action Team 50,161.52
Production & Stewardship Action Team 616,837.24
Public Policy Action Team 144,665.15
Research & Business Development Action Team 301,496.99
Joint Trade Team 30,096.29
Total Team Programs 1,775,367.99
n Association Programs Dues and Subscriptions 34,862.46
Communications $442,664.96
Corn Board and Funding 820,902.14
Corn Utilization Tech Conference (CUTC) 0.00
Membership and Leadership 492,029.37
NCGA Commodity Classic and Awards Banquet 308,379.52
Corn Congress 235,342.87
State Relations and Meetings 59,991.85
Total Association Programs 2,359,310.71
revenue & EXpenses
The National Corn Growers Association takes seriously its responsibility to deliver value
and carefully leverage your investment – ensuring that NCGA’s initiatives stimulate
important advancements in a wide array of areas critical to farmers across the country.
Your investment also allows NCGA to step up and defend your efforts to provide feed,
food, fuel and fiber to the world. Our future successes and the future of the corn
industry depend on your continued support of checkoff programs – but know NCGA
understands that our strength comes from being a good steward of your checkoff
investments.
n Human Resources FY Oct. 08 - Sept. 09
Health Insurance $387,582.85
Payroll Taxes 202,924.00
Professional Development 2,375.00
Retirement 250,271.22
Salaries 2,997,561.20
Total Human Resources 3,840,714.27
n Property and Equipment
Building Interest $51,397.05
Depreciation 77,455.36
Equipment Leases, Rentals and Purchases 75,741.02
IT Expense 55,136.44
Maintenance 27,127.09
Property Taxes 36,223.85
Rent 190,227.70
Total Property and Equipment 513,308.51
n Operating Expenses
4.9%
Accounting, Legal and Professional Fees $71,125.69 5.7%
19.9%
Electronic Communications 42,930.33
General Liability Insurance 54,576.95
Meetings 38,141.81
Office Expense 103,119.99 43.0%
Travel 25,553.76
26.4%
Utilities 68,851.05
Total Operating Expenses 439,162.04
Total Expenses 8,927,863.52 TOTAL EXPENSES
Net Revenues 670,100.24
These are unaudited figures.
Audited numbers will be available later in 2010.
National Corn Growers Association Annual Report 2009
12
CEO’S MESSAGE

RICK TOLMAN
ach and every year corn growers across the country have an opportunity to reach out and
make a difference. This year was no different, with growers stepping up and letting their
voice be heard in Washington, and stepping forward to volunteer their time and energy for Rick Tolman
the betterment of their fellow farmer. Chief
Executive
It is humbling to see such grassroots in action, and the success of the National Corn Growers Officer
Association, as is the case with any organization, is attributable to these tremendous efforts.

Together this year, we advanced the cause of the American corn farmer on many fronts – from
regulation to legislation, from environmental issues to sustainability. Yet one of the things I am
most proud of is the way farmers from different states came together to speak with one voice and
raise the profile of today’s contemporary farmer.

Our ability to come together on critical issues serves us well. With the guidance and commitment
of NCGA’s grower leaders, combined with checkoff, membership and industry investments, we are
well prepared for whatever we may face in 2010 and beyond.

2010 Action Team and Committee Members

PRODUCTION & STEWARDSHIP ACTION TEAM Bill Chase RESEARCH & BUSINESS
Steve Ebke, Chairman Curt Friesen DEVELOPMENT ACTION TEAM
Dean Taylor, Vice Chairman Bill Hoffman Larry Hasheider, Chairman
Jamie Jamison, Liaison Steven Kramer Jay Nissen, Vice Chairman
Art Bunting Gary Lamie Dave Nelson, Liaison
Don Glenn Tim Lenz Dean Eppley
Brent Hostetler Jerry Main Julius Schaaf
John Mages Lyle Pugh Paul Herringshaw
Larry Mussack Jim Reed Gary Hudson
Steve Sodeman Tom Lilja, State Staff Deb Keller
Wesley Spurlock Sam Willett, NCGA Staff Ken McNamar
Scott Stirling ETHANOL COMMITTEE Kurt Stiefvater
Roger Zylstra Bob Timmons
Jon Holzfaster, Chairman
Jim Tarmann, State Staff DeVonna Zeug
Keith Alverson, Vice Chairman
Max Starbuck, NCGA Lead Staff Gary Clark, State Staff
Daryl Haack, Liaison
Rob Snyder, NCGA Staff Robyn Stevens, NCGA Staff
Mark Drewes
Melanie Gibson, NCGA Staff DaNita Murray, NCGA Staff
Rob Elliott
Mycotoxin Task Force Sandra Wright, NCGA Staff
Kevin Hurst
Don Glenn, Chairman
Jim Rapp GROWER SERVICES ACTION TEAM
Danny Willingham, Vice Chairman
Jeff Sandborn Tim Dolan, Chairman
Ken Hartman
Dale Tolifson Randy Woodruff, Vice Chairman
Charles Ring
Chad Willis Theresa Schmalshof, Liaison
Wesley Spurlock
Randy Klein, State Staff Bill Berg
PUBLIC POLICY ACTION TEAM Teddi Mueller, State Staff Mark Degler
Anthony Bush, Chairman Jamey Cline, NCGA Lead Staff Larry Jons
Mike Clemens, Vice Chairman Jessica Bennett, NCGA Staff Brandon Hunnicut
Martin Barbre, Liaison Melanie Gibson, NCGA Staff Herb Ringel
Chip Bowling Jim Robbins
Don Rutledge

13
 2010 NCGA Corn Board
2010 LEADERSHIP
T
he National Corn Growers Association
represents the interests of 35,000 dues-paying
members from 47 states. NCGA also works
on behalf of 25 state grower associations and
more than 300,000 farmers who contribute to corn
checkoff programs in 23 states.

Front row, from left: Chairman Bob Dickey, Neb.; First Vice
President Bart Schott, N.D.; President Darrin Ihnen, S.D.;
Chief Executive Officer Rick Tolman. Middle row, from
left: Garry Niemeyer, Ill.; Jamie Jamison, MD; Daryl Haack,
Iowa; Martin Barbre, Ill.; Secretary Kathy Baker; Theresa
Schmalshof, Ill.; Guy Davenport, N.C. Top row, from left:
Dave Nelson, Iowa; Clark Gerstacker, Mich.; Jerry Larson,
Minn.; Mark Schwiebert, Ohio; Mike Geske, Mo.; Pam
Johnson, Iowa; Treasurer Rodger Mansfield.

Gary Small Donna Jeschke BYLAWS COMMITTEE

Billy Thiel George Morton Pam Johnson, Chairwoman
Jimmy Wedel Ron Litterer, Ex-officio-APAC Kent Kleinschmidt
Natalie Lehner, State Staff Jon Doggett, Ex-officio-ATAC Jay Lynch
Tim Brackman, NCGA Lead Staff DaNita Murray, NCGA Staff David Merrell
Vickie Darland, NCGA Staff Tom Nathan
FINANCE COMMITTEE
BIOTECHNOLOGY WORKING GROUP Kathy Baker, NCGA Staff
Jerry Larson, Chairman
Rob Korff, Chairman Pam Johnson 2010 COMMODITY CLASSIC COMMITTEE
Chad Blindauer, Vice Chairman Garry Niemeyer Cal Dalton, 2010 Co-Chairman
Mark Schwiebert, Liaison Dave Nelson Theresa Schmalshof
Bob Bowman Bart Schott Martin Barbre
Eric Kunzeman Rodger Mansfield, NCGA Staff Fred Stemme, NCGA Staff
Dave Mielson Tim Brackman, NCGA Staff
ASSOCIATION RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Steve Ruh
Clark Gerstacker, Chairman CORN PAC
Gary Schmalshof, USGC Representative
Martin Barbre Ken McCauley, President
Jim Thyen
Bob Dickey Mark Degler, Vice President
David Ward
Mike Geske Lyle Pugh, Secretary
Gordon Wassenaar
Fred Stemme, NCGA Staff Dwayne Siekman, Custodian of Records
James Zimmerman
Jared Coppress, State Staff NOMINATING COMMITTEE Guy Davenport
Nathan Fields, NCGA Lead Staff Kevin Ross
Bob Dickey, Chairman
DaNita Murray, NCGA Staff Jeff Scates
Jeff Enger
Elena Claiborne, NCGA Staff Scott Wall
Lynn Chrisp
Tim Recker
JOINT TRADE POLICY A-TEAM Warren Kemper
Jon Holzfaster
Steven Van Voorhis
Steve Yoder, Corn Chairman Jon Doggett, Executive Director
Kathy Baker, NCGA Staff
Garry Niemeyer, Liaison Rodger Mansfield, Treasurer
Walt Bones DaNita Murray, Managing Director
Tim Burrack Jennifer Holdgreve, NCGA Staff

National Corn Growers Association Annual Report 2009

14
STEPPING forward together.
T
he National Corn Growers Association, founded in 1957, is the
largest and oldest national nonprofit organization representing
the interests of U.S. corn farmers. Checkoff investments made by
corn growers nationwide and the commitment and dedication of
farmer leaders gives NCGA the opportunity to redefine the role of corn
in the world’s future through research, market development, public
policy, production and education.

You can join 35,000 corn growers in 47 states involved in NCGA by

connecting with one of our affiliated state corn organizations or by
contacting NCGA. With your help, we will continue the remarkable
achievements of America’s corn industry – and step up to meet the
challenges corn growers face every day.

State Organizations
& Grower Members
Grower Members

Visit NCGA.com for more details and updates on the corn industry.

National Headquarters
632 Cepi Drive
Chesterfield, Mo. 63005
636.733.9004

Washington, D.C. Office

122 C St. NW, #510
Washington, D.C. 20001
202.628.7001

©2009 National Corn Growers Association