Indiana
Corn and Soybean Organizations Sign Management Agreement (8-18-05)
Indiana’s
corn and soybean associations approved a new joint-management agreement
today that will improve the way Indiana markets and promotes the
grains, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) notes. The
decision was made by the leaders of the Indiana Corn Growers Association
(ICGA), Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC), Indiana Soybean Board
(ISB) and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman at the Indiana State Fair.
“As we
move Indiana agriculture forward we must create partnerships that
will increase efficiency, speak in common voices and grow demand
for Indiana farmers,” said Skillman, who also serves as the
state’s secretary of agriculture and rural development. “This
new agreement between Indiana’s corn and soybean organizations
will strengthen Indiana’s ability to develop new markets for
Indiana grain producers. In particular, this is a huge step forward
in making Indiana the global leader in the production and development
of biofuels.”
The ISB will
coordinate the 2005-06 program activities for ICGA and ICMC. The
ICGA and ICMC programs will focus on ethanol promotion; research
and commercialization of new corn uses; and stronger biofuel and
checkoff program legislation. The ISB has a similar agreement with
the Indiana Soybean Growers Association (ISGA).
All four groups
will have a common management team working on behalf of corn and
soybean growers.
We are truly
excited about the future of our organization now that we have access
to the excellent management team that ISB has put together,”
said ICGA President Dennis Whitsitt. “We want to thank our
fellow farmers at ISB and ISGA for giving us this opportunity. With
help from Indiana’s corn farmers, the ICMC is ready to invest
in promotion, but it will take the membership of the Indiana Corn
Growers Association working with our state legislature to truly
make significant strides for Indiana’s corn and ethanol industries.”
ICMC President
Dean Eppley was excited about the decision as well.
“Indiana
is a national leader in agricultural production and should be a
national leader in the production of ethanol and other renewable
fuels,” Eppley said. “Under our new plan, we intend
to work with fuel distributors and retailers to make sure Indiana
consumers can make the clean, renewable choice to run their cars
on fuel grown here at home. To accomplish this goal, we look forward
to working with the leaders and staff of the Indiana Soybean Board
to help us reach this goal.”
Farmers that
want to contribute toward ICMC’s programs can enroll in the
Indiana Corn Checkoff. Forms are available from the Indiana State
Department of Agriculture or on the ICGA’s Web site, www.incorn.org.