Check-in on the Checkoff: Increasing Demand Through Red-Meat Exports

By: Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts is a farmer from Belmond, Iowa, and serves as the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) President and on the Exports and The Grain Trade Committee. 

As we continue through planting season, one thing that has been on my mind is the importance of growing demand for Iowa corn and corn products, and one large way we can do that is by expanding red-meat exports. Iowa livestock consume nearly 320 million bushels of corn and a significant amount of dry distillers grain solubles (DDGS) annually. When our livestock partners thrive, corn growers thrive. 

That is why the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) continues to prioritize our strategic partnership with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). For every dollar ICPB invested into USMEF’s export programs in 2025, a median net return of $3.87 and $7.42 for the beef and pork industries is generated.   

With 95% of the world’s population living outside our borders, the opportunity for growth is international. Through USMEF, Iowa farmers host trade teams from across the globe, showcasing the high-quality corn and sustainable livestock practices that set our state apart. Whether it’s sharing our sustainable farming practices or highlighting the nutritional profile of corn-fed red meat, these face-to-face interactions build the trust necessary to secure long-term trade agreements. 

Your checkoff investment ensures that global demand for protein continues to rise, and that Iowa corn remains the foundation of that supply chain. We look forward to continuing this partnership to ensure a profitable future for both grain and livestock producers alike.

Thank you, 

Joe Roberts 

Iowa Corn Promotion Board President