Ohio Corn Marketing Program Building Demand and Market Opportunities

Our Mission

The Ohio Corn Marketing Program works to create long-term opportunities for growers and increase the value of their corn. Funded through the Ohio Corn Checkoff, the program invests checkoff dollars in market development, research, education, and new uses that can strengthen demand and improve profitability for farmers.

Our Focus

From expanding trade opportunities to supporting research and education, the Ohio Corn Marketing Program focuses on areas that can create lasting value for growers. Priorities include developing domestic and international markets, improving water quality, supporting agricultural education, and increasing demand for ethanol. Partnerships with state and national agricultural organizations help extend these efforts and promote the many uses of corn.

Our Mission

Our Focus

Expanding Markets Through Corn Exports

We know exports are vital for Ohio’s economic development and our farmers’ opportunities.

Ohio is the seventh largest producer of corn in the United States. As a result, the Ohio Corn Checkoff is focused on expanding the demand for Ohio-grown corn. This is done by working with global organizations such as the U.S. Grains Council and the National Corn Growers Association. The story of exports stretches beyond these relationships and takes representative of the Ohio Corn Checkoff on global missions, to build relationships and help promote the superior quality and uses for corn grown in our state.

In addition, we frequently host international guests who are interested in learning about Ohio agriculture and want to see our growing practices for themselves. These efforts have proven to be successful, and have resulted in expanded purchases, contracts, and have built stronger relationships with international buyers.

Improving Water Quality

Clean water is everyone’s business and ensuring that it is safe for all to use is an important priority for Ohio Farmers. We know that the practice of using fertilizers remain the target of frustrations for some because of continued algae growth in Northwest Ohio, particularly connected to Grand Lake St. Mary’s, the Lake Erie region, and in waterways across the state.

For over a decade, the Ohio Corn Checkoff has helped to spearhead efforts to ensure that the voice of the farmer is heard when it comes to water quality issues. We have worked closely with growers across the state to develop better growing practices to mitigate runoff and create a sustainable future.

The Ohio Corn Checkoff challenges farmers to take part in the ongoing and vital water quality discussion — with neighbors, consumers and decision makers by considering these questions:

How are conservation practices a part of your business plan?
How can you use technology to lessen your impact on water quality?
How can you use less phosphorus today than in past years?
How can you change some of your farming practices to improve water quality?
What is the economic penalty to your farm if you are not using fertilizer a sustainable manner?

Research for Ohio Corn Farmers

Research is a crucial part of the Ohio Corn Checkoff because it helps to provide growers with the answers they need to increase yields, improve quality, and increase profitability. That is why your checkoff dollars are being utilized to work with the top researchers to get answers to issues like Vomitoxin.

Corn growers across Ohio are all too familiar with the threat of vomitoxin—also known as VOM or DON—and the devastation it can cause at harvest. That’s why the Ohio Corn Checkoff (OCMP) decided to take action. Through ongoing investments in research at the Ohio State University, we’re working to better understand vomitoxin—how to predict it, how to prevent it, and what to do if it shows up in your crop. Click here to learn more about how to mitigate your risk.

Agricultural Education

Only 1% of the American population is actively farming. That leaves 99% of people who need to be educated about small grains and farming practices. An important focus for the Ohio Corn Checkoff involves creating relevant resources that can be used to tell reporters, students, teachers, consumers, and other farmers about corn production and best practices. Your checkoff investment helps with the creation of these materials, and as a result, are creating a communication link, that is telling the story of modern agriculture to the rest of the world.

Feed the World is an award-winning education initiative of Ohio Corn & Wheat and is making a big impact in classrooms across the state. The program is designed for middle and high school aged students, and provides teachers with quality materials, workshops and resources, based on Ohio’s curriculum standards, to help students understand agriculture and the need for farming.

Growing Demand for Corn Through Ethanol

Did you know that over 95% of all fuel sold in the U.S. today is blended with 10% ethanol? Couple that with the fact that there are more ethanol-blended fuel choices than ever — ranging from 10% to 85% ethanol blend — ethanol is one of the fastest-growing uses for corn. Ohio is home to seven ethanol production plants, which use 217 million bushels of corn to produce nearly 600 million gallons of ethanol each year.

Ethanol offers an abundance of benefits that include:

ethanol burns cooler and cleaner than conventional gasoline
reduces tailpipe emissions
improves air quality

The use of ethanol in fuel helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55.1 million metric tons. That is the equivalent of removing nearly 11.7 million cars from the road for an entire year!

The undeniable truth is that ethanol is the cleanest, most affordable fuel additive on the market today. Using ethanol reduces polluting substances from tailpipe emissions such as: carbon monoxide, exhaust hydrocarbons, benzene, toxics, and fine particulate matter.

Increasing the availability and demand for corn ethanol is one of our top priorities. With your checkoff investment, we will continue to broaden this market.