Indiana Corn Marketing Council

THE INDIANA CORN MARKETING COUNCIL ("ICMC") WORKS TO PROMOTE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO GROW THE VALUE OF CORN IN INDIANA FROM SEED TO CONSUMER. THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF CORN TO THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE, ENACTED THE INDIANA CORN MARKET DEVELOPMENT STATUTE, CURRENTLY CODIFIED IN IND. CODE 15-15-12 ("THE STATUTE") WHICH REQUIRES A CHECKOFF ASSESSMENT ON CERTAIN TYPES OF CORN MARKETED IN THE STATE OF INDIANA. THE ICMC IS A PUBLIC BODY CORPORATE AND POLITIC ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ESTABLISHED TO FACILITATE THE CORN CHECKOFF ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IN INDIANA AND COMMUNICATE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CONDUCT, IMPLEMENTATION, OR RESULTS OF PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES RELATING TO CORN TO APPROPRIATE STAKEHOLDERS. PROCEEDS OF THE CHECKOFF ASSESSMENT MAY NOT BE USED TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION OR GOVERNMENTAL ACTION OR POLICY.

SEE SCHEDULE O.THE OVERALL MISSION OF THE INDIANA CORN MARKETING COUNCIL IS TO PROMOTE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO GROW THE VALUE OF CORN IN INDIANA FROM SEED TO CUSTOMER. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION, IN 2021 THE ICMC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH PROVIDES A GUIDELINE FOR ACTIVITIES THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2024. THE BOARD MODIFIED THIS PLAN IN AUGUST 2023 TO INCLUDE NEW INDIANA BASED EVALUATION METRICS TO BE USED FOR PROJECTS COMMENCING IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. THE FOCUS AREAS OF THE PLAN REMAIN UNCHANGED. THE BASIS OF THIS PLAN WAS DEVELOPED FROM SOURCES WHICH INCLUDED: INPUT FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS, BOARD MEMBERS, FORMER BOARD MEMBERS AND THE EXPERIENCES OF ISA STAFF AND RESULTS FROM THE PRIOR STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS STRATEGIC PLAN HAS FOUR OVERALL STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS THAT GUIDE ICMC'S INVESTMENT OF PRODUCER CHECKOFF DOLLARS. THE FOUR FOCUS AREAS ARE MARKET DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, VALUE CREATION AND PRODUCER ENGAGEMENT. MARKET DEVELOPMENT: MARKET DEVELOPMENT HAS ONE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE MARKET ACCESS AND GROW INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC DEMAND FOR CORN IN ALL FORMS. ICMC ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY INVESTING IN INITIATIVES TO INCREASE EXPORTS TO TARGETED COUNTRIES SUCH AS MEXICO, VIETNAM, INDIA, COLOMBIA, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN AND INCREASING ETHANOL INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES.SUSTAINABILITY: SUSTAINABILITY HAS THREE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES. THE FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ACRES IN INDIANA UTILIZING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PRACTICES BY MEETING TARGETS OF NUTRIENT LOSS REDUCTION GOALS IN INDIANA. THE SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO EXPAND REACH TO STRENGTHEN CONSUMERS' PERCEPTIONS AND INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS REGARDING FARM SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES. THE THIRD OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT REDUCE PRODUCTION AND INPUT COSTS AND IMPROVE ON-FARM PROFITABILITY. THE INITIATIVES UNDER THIS OBJECTIVE ARE IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE ON-FARM PROFITABILITY AND SEEK NON-TRADITIONAL VALUE GENERATION.VALUE CREATION: VALUE CREATION HAS ONE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP NEW VALUE-ADDED MARKETS AND PRODUCTS FROM CORN IN ALL FORMS. THE INITIATIVES IN THIS AREA INCLUDE PROJECTS THAT DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN FOOD, BEVERAGE AND INDUSTRIAL MARKETS AND FACILITATE REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR CORN PRODUCTS. PRODUCER ENGAGEMENT: THE BACKBONE OF THIS OBJECTIVE IS PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE INDIANA PRODUCERS WE SERVE. THE FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHECKOFF PROGRAMS AND THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI) FOR INDIANA CORN FARMERS. THE SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO CREATE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS TO ENGAGE WITH ICMC ASIDE FROM JOINING THE BOARD. IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ABOVE, A SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION MUST INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE (PERSONNEL, MARKETING, AND TECHNOLOGY), ESTABLISH SOUND FISCAL AND FIDUCIARY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AND DEVELOP OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO BE LEADERS WITHIN INDIANA AGRICULTURE AND WITH NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES FIT INTO THIS CATEGORY. ORGANIZATION, BOARD MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL MARKETING: THIS OBJECTIVE CONTAINS EXPENSES FOR BOARD MEETINGS, LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BASE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MARKETING EFFORTS, AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OF THE BOARD.NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION (NCGA): NCGA POOLS RESOURCES FROM CORN PRODUCING STATES TO ADVANCE CHECKOFF PROGRAMS RELATED TO CORN. THEY DO THIS BY SUPPORTING PROGRAMS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY FARMER AND STAFF LED ACTION TEAMS. CHECKOFF DOLLARS GIVEN TO NCGA BY ICMC CANNOT BE USED FOR NCGA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS. ICMC ADMINISTRATION: THIS OBJECTIVE ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH THE INDIANA CORN MARKET DEVELOPMENT LAW AND THE GOVERNANCE OF ICMC. INCLUDED IN THESE ACTIVITIES ARE BOARD ELECTIONS AND INVESTMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR REMITTANCES FROM FIRST PURCHASERS OF CORN IN INDIANA AND THE PERIODIC AUDITING OF THOSE FIRST PURCHASERS.