Minnesota corn check-off dollars, self-funded by corn farmers themselves, are funding a wide range of research projects that directly affect local business and families, including the development of value-added products, the management of corn inputs, issues related to ethanol use, the evaluation of genetic traits, and the relationship between agricultural management practices and water quality.

Ethanol Investments

Corn farmers have dedicated $18 million to ethanol, corn co-products over last seven years. (I believe our website has updated statistics that say, “Since 2008, MCGA invested approximately $27 million in biofuels—a vital market for Minnesota corn farmers.

From the farm to the fuel pump, Minnesota’s ethanol industry produces 1.3 billion gallons annually which supports nearly 19,000 full time jobs, generates more than 1.5 billion in income for Minnesota households and accounts for more than 2.3 billion in state GDP.

E15 Progress

The MCGA Farm Team also played a key role in helping a broad coalition of farm and biofuels groups bring E15 to the Twin Cities. In fact, Minnesota E15 sales have grown from just 5.6 million gallons in 2016 to over 78,5 million gallons sold in 2019 driven, in part, by infrastructure investments and outreach efforts by the state’s corn farmers. Furthermore, stations providing E15 fuel have increased from just 14 stations in 2013 to now over 370 stations, demonstrating growing consumer adoption of this higher octane, lower cost, clean burning fuel.

Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council

In 1990, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association worked to pass a statewide producer referendum that created the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council. This law provided for 1/2 cent per bushel at the first point of sale, to be collected and used for the promotion, communication and research of Minnesota corn. In 2009, Minnesota corn producers passed a referendum conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to increase the state corn checkoff rate from 1/2 cent to 1 cent per bushel. This effort is targeted at creating opportunities for increased profitability for Minnesota corn.