Iowa Corn Growers Association History
The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is the country's oldest and largest state corn grower organization. The ICGA, created from a statewide grassroots effort, was formed in 1967 with the distinct purpose of furthering the interest of Iowa corn producers. Specifically, the association's goal was to promote the domestic utilization of corn, increase corn exports, conduct educational programs, and monitor and influence legislative and regulatory developments of interest to corn producers.

One of the early major accomplishments of the association was the creation of Iowa's corn checkoff program. In 1971, the ICGA began efforts in the Iowa Legislature to pass a corn checkoff authority bill. In 1977, six years after the initial bill was introduced, the corn referendum received a majority of votes and was passed into law.

The passage of the checkoff authority bill resulted in two separate organizations with two very different areas of focus.

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB), funded by checkoff dollars, took over the work of opening markets, conducting educational programs, and funding research. (For more information about the ICPB, see About the Checkoff. For details about ICPB programs, see For Farmers.)

The ICGA, funded by membership dues, focuses its efforts on programs that cannot be funded by checkoff dollars per the Iowa Code, specifically public policy development and other legislative and regulatory efforts. In addition, the ICGA works to build relationships with business and industry.

Current issues on which the ICGA focuses its state and national legislative efforts include passage of a Renewable Fuels Standard, support for Iowa's livestock industry, river and other transportation issues, Farm Bill, trade policy, and risk management/crop insurance, among others.

For more information about the ICGA and its programs, check out ICGA Members. If you're interested in becoming a member of the ICGA and have questions, please Contact Us.