The Colorado Corn Promotion Council represents our state’s grain corn farmers. Over thirty years ago, farmers established a one-penny-per-bushel assessment to be collected by the first handlers of sales of corn in Colorado. Since then, the Colorado Corn Council board of directors and staff have invested producer dollars in research, market development, issues and engagement, education, and outreach to enhance the viability of the grain corn industry in our state.
At Colorado Corn Council, our efforts leverage your checkoff dollars to fund a variety of initiatives that move the grain corn industry in our state forward. These include:
Building Trust
One of our main goals is to build trust among producers and consumers. With consumers, our efforts are focused on ensuring people understand that corn is a great product. Consumers may not always have positive views when it comes to corn. Our organization works to debunk the fallacies so that consumers can see the benefits of corn. In addition, we work to help consumers understand that corn producers are taking the steps necessary to leave the land in a better place after farming it.
Colorado Corn Council also works to build trust among producers by implementing programs that put their checkoff dollars to good use. One of the primary ways we use checkoff dollars to advance the interests of corn producers is by providing services that help them:
Our research, market development and promotion programs have been instrumental in enabling producers to adopt the latest technology and incorporate the latest pest management, soil fertility, irrigation, tillage and harvest best practices to optimize their conservation of resources and maintain a profitable farm.
Enhancing Markets
Corn is a global commodity, and Colorado corn producers are competing with farmers across the world. Enhancing domestic and international markets for our producers is critical to their ability to maintain profitable prices and manageable grain storage volumes from year to year. Colorado Corn Council leverages checkoff dollars to partner with several national organizations to identify additional markets to export our products to. These organizations include:
Approximately 95% of the consumers are outside of the United States. Through our partnerships with the organizations listed above, we work to build relationships in these international markets to ensure American agricultural products (grain and animal proteins) have access to as many of these markets as possible.
The majority of the corn produced in Colorado is consumed as feed for beef cattle, pigs, and poultry. Our work with the U. S. Meat Export Federation helps expand our international markets for red meat by contributing to projects that have built American beef and pork demand in Japan, Korea and the Caribbean.
Ethanol is another important market for grain corn, and it represents one of the most critical advancements for the industry – both in Colorado and nationwide. The U.S. Grains Council plays a vital role in building the demand around the world for U.S. corn products such as ethanol. Our work with the U.S. Grains Council has helped promote initiatives that expand exports of not only ethanol, but DDGs and grain corn across the globe.
Some of our other efforts to enhance markets for Colorado corn involve promoting newer uses of corn, such as:
Driving Sustainability
Colorado Corn Council also leverages checkoff dollars to partner with the National Corn Growers Association in order to implement initiatives focused on improving economic, ecological and social sustainability. U.S. corn farmers have been ahead of the curve in terms of sustainability initiatives, and we’re helping them to continue leading in this important area by adopting practices that create a more environmentally and economically sustainable world for future generations.
Corn farmers take their role as stewards of the land seriously, and our efforts have helped them take advantage of advances in science, technology and precision equipment to more efficiently use energy, water and the land on which they grow corn.
Colorado Corn Council is helping our growers hit the following NCGA long-term sustainability goals by 2030:
We bring public awareness to initiatives such as ethanol development, livestock feeding, and the exporting of grain and beef to help feed and fuel the world. Our goal is to build demand for corn in a variety of sectors. We carefully explore ways to improve the sales of corn for our Colorado producers. This has included efforts such as promoting ethanol, working with industry partners in the grain corn and animal protein sectors, and exploring new uses.
We have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in collaborative projects with Colorado State University and our other research partners to help farmers grow more food, fuel and fiber with less resources. Our research projects include efforts aimed at herbicide-resistance management, gene-expression variability, crop-disease mitigation, crop-residue management, improved tillage methods, nutrient management, and sustainable agriculture.
We tell the corn industry’s positive story to the public through a variety of platforms, including social media, PR, e-newsletters and in-person events. We’re present around the region at a wide range of events – if it relates at all to corn production in any way, we try to be there to help promote the causes of our farmers. Active attendance at events keeps us top of mind with various constituencies. Participation at out-of-state events brings Colorado perspectives and input to even larger groups.
Our information outreach efforts are key to encouraging a basic knowledge of agriculture, with an emphasis on the versatility of corn and its beneficial attributes. We partner with the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture to send 65,000 copies of the Colorado Reader publication to classrooms across the state, where corn is the main topic in one issue every year. We also send out the “Field Kernels” e-newsletter bi-weekly to about 3,500 subscribers. We also broadcast important educational information about corn to 25 different radio stations statewide.
Our producers are at the heart of what we do. Learn about how our producers are utilizing different tools to increase sustainability and profitability.
Our exclusive Producer First Platform™ ensures you’re getting the most for your efforts and provides you with an opportunity to make a real difference for our industry.
We need the help of corn producers like you to further the Colorado Corn Council’s mission of elevating the industry. Learn how you can get involved – whether it’s by joining the board, participating in outreach initiatives or contributing in any other way you can.
