About Missouri Corn Growers Association
The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA), established in 1978, is a grassroots organization of farmer-members dedicated to increasing the profitability of corn production by developing and expanding the following:
- Corn markets
- Collecting and distributing information
- Building coalitions with organizations and industries
- Participating in the governmental process
The Missouri Corn Growers Association also works on key agricultural issues such as increasing the market for ethanol, a clean-burning fuel produced from corn. It fights for pro-agriculture legislation and works to secure funds for needed corn-product research. The association educates both farmers and consumers about the agricultural industry. MCGA works with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to benefit Missouri farmers.
Missouri Corn Growers Association is highly involved in promoting environmental stewardship while protecting the producer’s right to farm profitably. While data shows most corn growers are good stewards, MCGA is working with producers to help them do an even better job of protecting the environment by accelerating the adoption of farming practices that improve water quality while maintaining or improving profitability.
Missouri Corn Merchandising Council
The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) was formed in 1984 after a referendum was passed to establish a one-half cent per bushel corn checkoff. Missouri growers voted in 2008 to increase the checkoff to one cent per bushel, strengthening investments in the development and expansion of corn markets, educating customers and exploring new research opportunities. MCMC is an organization of corn growers dedicated to the profitability of corn production by investing checkoff dollars in the development and expansion of corn markets, facilitating communication with growers and customers, and utilization research.
MCMC contracts with the U.S. Grains Council to expand grain marketing opportunities abroad. State checkoff dollars, agribusiness funding and producer dollars are leveraged to get Federal Foreign Market Development funding to help expand corn markets. MCMC also works with the U.S. Meat Export Federation to develop foreign markets for beef, veal, pork and lamb. Meat export markets boost both feed grain and soybean utilization in the U.S.
A 14 member board of grower-leaders elected by their peers directs both the Missouri Corn Growers Association and the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council.