2015 A nnuA l Rep oR t

2015 AnnuAl RepoRt

l o n g t o i n c r e a s e d e m a n d

Corn farmers continue to amaze. Coming off back-to-back record years in 2013 and 2014, this innovative, hard-working group in 2015 produced the third-largest crop in history with an average national yield that will be the second-highest on record.

We remember not too long ago the concerns over corn availability. That was a short-term view of the world corn growers knew was changing. Corn farmers were going long by investing in equipment, technology and know-how to lift production to a new plateau to meet and exceed demand. And did farmers ever succeed.

This is why we, as farmers and as a member-driven organization, can never take our eye off the demand-building opportunities that exist today and those that are, for now, mere dreams. We must defend and grow the successful demand-builders like ethanol, exports and livestock as well as the many small opportunities that together make a big difference.

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l o n g t o i n c r e a s e d e m a n d

This requires looking years down the road, to the next generation of family corn farmers and the next generation of consumers who ultimately buy the products farmers produce. What do farmers need to do today to grow corn, build demand and be successful in five, 10 or 15 years?

The Soil Health Partnership, National Agricultural Genotyping Center, a best management practices database and leadership programs are just some of the forward-looking initiatives that take a long-view on corn production. They, and many other programs and partnerships, support everything from growing corn more sustainably to solving production challenges to developing the next generation of leaders who will see these and other projects through to completion.

The demand side of NCGA’s work is equally impressive. Examples include defending the Renewable Fuel Standard, the Prime the Pump initiative, biorenewable chemicals and more.

Plus we promoted exports and pushed for more open markets in places like Cuba, encouraged investments in export infrastructure and drove key policy initiatives like Trade Promotion Authority and crop insurance, all of which support demand growth and farmers’ bottom lines.

Yet in this age of expanding yields and production, it made sense to step back, examine our efforts and go long in creating a new strategic plan that increases the emphasis on measurability and demand building.

This effort led to the creation of a new NCGA Market Development Department and staff realignment to support it. Changes began late in fiscal 2015 and will be fully active in fiscal 2016, and we appreciate the support of NCGA’s outstanding staff in making these transitions.

As an organization, we also need to continue offering value for members and emphasizing the importance of a strong grassroots as we work on

Capitol Hill and elsewhere. Yet we simultaneously need to look to the future and recruit a more diverse membership, including women, young people, beginning farmers and minority farmers.

NCGA is more than 40,000 members strong, members who are active, engaged and understand the future is about going long. We will build great things ahead of us.

Thank you for your continued encouragement and support as NCGA works to enhance the long-term outlook for a healthy corn industry.

Chip Bowling Chris NovakNewburg, Md. Chesterfield, Mo.2015 President Chief Executive Officer

2015 AnnuAl RepoRt

Farming is a technology-driven business. It’s not all that different from other businesses across the country, with the exception that a farm’s “shareholders,” the owners of a vast majority of the farms who raise this nation’s food, are families. Moms, dads, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandparents, children…families of all sorts who live and work together while utilizing cutting-edge technology to transform the way the nation’s biggest crop is sustainably grown and brought to market.

It’s real people making real decisions, and many consumers simply don’t know how innovative and technology-driven family farms are today and, more importantly, why that innovation matters. From the positives of renewable fuels to the benefits of biotechnology to sharing the story of hard-working family farmers, NCGA’s farmer leaders recognized several years ago these messages needed to reach the consumers of today who are raising the consumers of tomorrow. And over the years, NCGA via the partnerships highlighted here, has done just that.

CommonGround Genuine answers to questions matter, and nothing is more genuine than volunteer farm women answering real questions from moms just like them who are curious about how food is produced and why farmers do what they do. CommonGround volunteers do this exceptionally well, and a new website at findourcommonground.com highlights these women doing exactly that in both written stories and video.

One video features women answering questions in a grocery store. When shoppers press a button to talk to a farmer, they are surprised when a CommonGround volunteer walks out to shake hands and have a conversation. This video helps viewers discover that getting an answer from a real farmer is as easy as going to the website and asking a question.

CommonGround volunteers also take their farm stories to people across the country through interviews and meetings with television hosts, radio hosts, print media and bloggers, and also through more than 120 events each year. Now active in 18 states with more than 165 volunteers, the CommonGround grassroots movement has sparked more than 650 million conversations over the past five years, bringing women together to foster understanding and create trust in modern farming and ranching.

Corn Farmers Coalition For seven years, the Corn Farmers Coalition, a joint program between NCGA and its state affiliates, has gone inside the Beltway with fabulous farm family photos and messages to tell the story of innovation and accomplishment represented by the nation’s family corn farmers. This year, the great story told through those ads sparked the attention of the Smithsonian, which invited the Coalition to submit an ad for a new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

More than 2 million people who are expected to view the American Enterprise exhibit annually over the next 20 years will be reminded of farmers’ contributions to the nation’s economy and quality of life. To celebrate the occasion, a dozen farmers conducted a tour and hosted a special Farm-to-Table dinner at the museum. Attendees included a broad array of Washington leadership representing elected officials, agencies, environmental groups, think tanks and the media.

A curator of the Smithsonian said the ad was a natural choice for the exhibit. He noted that the ad is “visually really striking and tells a great story.”

For this year’s regular media campaign, due to policy changes by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority, the campaign could no longer fill Metro stations with farm family photos and messages as it had in previous years. Instead, the campaign moved forward with digital and print ads in the Washington Post, Politico, The Hill and Roll Call, plus television spots within the D.C. metro area resulting in 40 million impressions with Washington, D.C., elites.

o u tr e ac h i n iti ati v e s

Joan Ruskamp, a farmer from Dodge, Nebraska, talks with consumers about GMOs and

other food issues in her role as a CommonGround™ volunteer.

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In victory lane at the Chicago American Ethanol E15 225, Camping World Truck Series winner Joe Hunter

Nemechek is being presented the trophy by Illinois Corn Marketing Board Vice Chairman Tom Mueller.

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Moll’s “Farmland” continued to make its way to screens of all sizes as it became available on DVD, and also for rent, purchase, download and streaming on popular platforms. USFRA, comprised of NCGA and more than 80 other organiza- tions, provided funding for Moll to make the film.

Students at several universities, including Columbia University in New York and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, held screenings and panel discussions to explore issues and further the conversation shared by the six 20-something farmers featured in the documentary. “Farmland” also received PR Week’s prestigious Arts, Entertainment & Media Campaign of the Year award for the consumer campaign surrounding its release. It even beat out a burrito company’s campaign that maligned and misrepresented modern agriculture.

Other USFRA efforts during the year included hosting a breakfast and discussion on “Big Ag, Big Food: How Being Good for the Environment Is Not about Size” at the New York Times Food for Tomorrow conference, producing additional opportunities for conversation via Food Dialogues and debuting four educational “How to” videos hosted by a mom blogger.

American Ethanol NASCAR passed more than 8 million miles of tough, competition racing on E15 American Ethanol this year, the fifth year of the American Ethanol partnership. To mark the occasion, NASCAR star Austin Dillion took over the American Ethanol Twitter account and answered questions from fans. It was a great way to send the powerful message that E15 works and works well in engines while providing environmental benefits.

The partnership has resulted in more than $60 million in earned (non-purchased) media value since the program began in 2011. Add in all the positive messages race fans receive every week and its clear why NASCAR fans are 80 percent more likely than non-fans to support the use of ethanol blends in their own car on the street, compared to 50 percent in 2012.

The NCGA’s partnership with Growth Energy and NASCAR keeps American Ethanol flags waving proudly for every race start and re-start and American Ethanol stickers on every fuel port of every racecar in all three NASCAR racing series. Plus, sponsorship tied to Dillon and Richard Childress Racing resulted in six full paint outs (American Ethanol themed cars) during the year. Each race was viewed by 5 million people on television alone. Additional promotions include race day events for fans and even a pre-race concert in Texas “fueled by American Ethanol.”

2015 AnnuAl RepoRt

e th a n o l com m it te e

The ethanol industry adds more than $50 billion to the national GDP, provides more than 80,000 direct jobs and displaces 515 million barrels of foreign oil annually. Clearly, ethanol is one of the biggest success stories for agriculture and rural America that fueled a significant demand growth for corn over the last decade.

It took a long-term view of the future by NCGA members and farmer-leaders to reach this point. Yet we know more is possible, and that we must stay focused and be persistent to overcome obstacles and continue growing America’s demand for renewable fuels, like corn-based ethanol.

On the regulatory front, the Environmental Protection Agency released proposed Renewable Volume Obligation numbers for 2014, 2015 and 2016. As expected, the proposal cut the RVO for corn ethanol in the Renewable Fuels Standard, despite the fact that there is an ample corn supply and enough capacity to fulfill higher numbers mandated in the statute.

The EPA needed to know how their actions impacted corn growers, and the successful partnership with NCGA’s Grower Services Action Team to drive comments to EPA in 2014 morphed into another successful grassroots campaign in 2015. Ultimately, we believe EPA should abide by the statute – doing so would bolster corn prices, lower gas prices and result in cleaner air.

On the infrastructure front, if ethanol markets are expected to continue growing, consumers need access to higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85. Recognizing this, NCGA joined the Prime the Pump initiative, a program that encourages fuel providers

to install pumps certified to deliver higher ethanol blends. In exchange for the financial incentives, the retailers agree to market E15 for five years.

The initial investment from NCGA and state corn organizations, ethanol producers and industry partners reached about $30 million. The program has been very successful, with some retailers in the Twin Cities selling 20 percent of their volume as E15.

In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership provided $100 million in grants to update fuel dispensers. This offered a tremendous opportunity to increase the number of pumps able to dispense higher ethanol blends. Corn, ethanol and industry groups began working to raise matching funds as part of Prime the Pump, with NCGA increasing its investment by $500,000 to a total commitment of $2.0 million. The goal is to install an additional 5,000 pumps in the coming years, making E15 and higher ethanol blends more readily available in the marketplace thus providing more access to consumers.

“In the past year we saw the Prime the Pump initiative take off, solidifying a national effort to upgrade fuel pumps to offer E15 and E85. Over the long-term, this will increase the use of ethanol because large-volume fuel retailers in the program will offer higher ethanol blends, the cleaner burning fuel consumers are looking for.”

Jeff Sandborn, Portland, Mich.Chair of the Ethanol Committee (2015)

Photo: Mandy Harris/Elizabeth City, NC

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trade policy & biotechnology action team

With trade negotiations going on all over the world that hold the potential to increase demand for American corn, passage of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) was a key victory. TPA allows the President to present trade agreements to Congress, which then votes it up or down with no amendments. It is something NCGA has supported, and as trade talks for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) continued, it became more urgent for negotiators have that confidence at the table.

As for TPP, the United States Trade Representative had promised a high-standard, comprehensive and meaningful agreement. The announcement of a final trade deal late in the year is significant, as the Asia-Pacific region represents 40 percent of the world’s economy. TPP may offer an incredible opportunity for U.S. farmers, and NCGA will carefully examine the language and see how it impacts the corn sector.

T-TIP, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, is a trade agreement between the United States and Europe. While T-TIP may have some time left in the negotiating room, NCGA will continue pushing for open and fair markets. After all, agriculture exports are an important component of the U.S. economy, and better market access means more demand for corn.

Easing restrictions in trade with Cuba were steps in the right direction. To fully open what could be the 12th largest market for U.S. corn, however, Congress will need to make Cuba a full trade partner, lifting financing restrictions and other hurdles. NCGA and the U.S. Grains Council conducted trade missions to Cuba, and both organizations will lead the way in building a stronger relationship between the two countries.

Additional Highlights � The U.S. Biotech Crops Alliance elevated the importance of synchronous regulatory approval systems during meetings with China. The group also established a more formal dialogue between technology companies and grain handlers over productions coming to the U.S. market in the next three years.

� MAIZALL, made up of corn organizations in the U.S., Argentina and Brazil, worked in Europe to maintain functionality of the regulatory system and avoid countries renationalizing biotech policies, which could create a patchwork of regulatory requirements in the trading bloc. In China and Europe, MAIZALL addressed low level presence of biotech products, asynchronous regulatory systems and ways to keep trade flowing.

“Trade Promotion Authority is necessary for our negotiators, as it gives them a stronger position and encourages others to come to the table in good faith. We would like to thank everyone who kept TPA on the front burner and helped move it from the Hill to the President’s desk. Its passage certainly supported successful trade talks this year.”

John Linder, Edison, Ohio Chair of the Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team (2015)

Photo: Casey Herkelman/Shell Rock, IA

2015 AnnuAl RepoRt

NCGA continues to believe that bringing clarity and certainty to the understanding of what are the waters of the U.S. under the Clean Water Act is in the best interests of everyone. Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers’ final rule to define “Waters of the United States” provided neither.

NCGA and many other agriculture organizations believe farmers would face tremendous uncertainty the way the rule is written. While there may be some short-term frustration in dealing with the proposal, NCGA must go long in the view that working for something better is the best choice, even if it means the future involves court dates.

Indeed, NCGA joined more than a dozen other organizations in filing a lawsuit against EPA and the Corps seeking to overturn WOTUS. NCGA appreciated that an appeals court stayed the entire rule nationwide, pending further review by the

court. Certainly clean water is important, and corn farmers remain committed to working with the EPA and other stakeholders to protect America’s water supply. It just needs to be done in a sensible fashion, and in the case of WOTUS, growers are willing to take the long road.

The second year of the Soil Health Partnership saw an expansion of demonstration farms from 20 to 40, with an ultimate goal of reaching 100 farms in 2018. Once announced, growers readily volunteered to join the program. This speaks very well to the conservation mindset of farmers today.

During the year, the first rounds of SHP field days were held. These farmer-to-farmer gatherings turn fields into classrooms and are one of the key elements of the program because they promote discovery and discussion at a local level. Over time, data will accumulate and practices that provide the best results will be better understood in terms of soil health, economics, yield and environmental impact.

PSAT HIGHLIGHTS

�� Just months after a presidential task force on pollinator health was created, NCGA spoke at the task force’s listening session. NCGA also joined the newly-formed Honey Bee Health Coalition, a group composed of more than 30 agricultural organizations, agribusinesses, researchers, beekeepers and conservation groups.

�� NCGA joined the Keystone Monarch Collaborative, a diverse group of committed stakeholders, including scientists, conservationists, farmers and the private sector, committed to find collaborative solutions to strengthen Monarch populations.

�� The National Corn Yield Contest continues to be one of the most successful programs offered by NCGA. This year, 7,464 entries came in for the 51st annual contest. A year ago, for the 50th annual contest, the top yielding entry broke the

p rod u c tion & s te wa r ds h i p ac tion te a m

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“We spent a lot of time with EPA officials covering water quality issues and WOTUS in hopes that EPA would create a fair and workable rule. But in the end, we were quite dissatisfied and had no choice but to join a lawsuit to get the final rule overturned. Farmers strive every year to improve conservation efforts, and we will continue working with agencies at all levels who care about water quality.”

Don Glenn, Hillsboro, Ala.Chair of the Production and Stewardship Action Team (2015)

500 bushel threshold for the first time in history. NCGA also released a video that offered tips to other growers from perennial high-yield contest entrants; look for it online.

�� The Inland Waterways Trust Fund got a boost in funding beginning this year when the barge diesel fuel user fee increased from 20 to 29 cents per gallon. NCGA and many organizations who recognize the importance of river transportation, including the barge companies, pushed for the increase because it will generate funds to help make needed repairs along many of the most important waterways. The river system is critical to the success of farmers, and NCGA remains committed to promoting sound infrastructure investments.

�� The Aflatoxin Mitigation Center of Excellence funded nine research projects with a total funding of about $500,000. Through previous breeding program research, aflatoxin-resistant genetics were shown to yield well and could get to market soon.

�� NCGA continues working on an Agricultural Best Management Practices Database for growers to use when developing a nutrient management plans. The resource will drill down to what worked best in or near a grower’s area or nearby. To keep building the resource, a website will allow researchers to login and add data, which will be reviewed before going live.

�� NCGA worked with America’s Watershed Initiative to develop a report card on the Mississippi River watershed. The report looked at six different goals in relation to the watershed. Overall, the watershed received a D+, with maintenance needs bringing down the average significantly. The report card gives everyone involved a starting point to see where action is most needed.

p rod u c tion & s te wa r ds h i p ac tio n te a m

2015 AnnuAl RepoRt

Corn growers from more than a dozen states traveled to Kansas City, Mo., in May for a public hearing and rally about the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to cut nearly 4 billion gallons of ethanol from the RFS through 2016, representing nearly 1.5 billion bushels in lost corn demand. More than 450 ethanol supporters followed Captain Cornelius from the rally site into EPA hearing rooms where nine members of NCGA’s corn board and numerous grower leaders testified on the importance of ethanol and the RFS.

Another successful rally, organized during July Corn Congress, took the message inside the Beltway. Several members of Congress turned out and growers were heard loud and clear in Washington.

NCGA also continued driving comments to EPA, with more than 180,000 comments on the RFS submitted in the last two years. During NASCAR’s Brickyard 500, racing fans submitted 2,200 comments, using every single comment card on hand. Clearly, NASCAR fans care about the future of ethanol.

NCGA membership remains more than 40,000 strong. Thank you to member states and recruiters for continuing to grow the organization’s grassroots and share our vision for enhancing the long-term outlook for a healthy corn industry.

Entrants submitted more than 400 photos into the Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest. Public voting set the top 10 photos in each of five categories, with a panel of judges selecting the top three plus a grand prize winner. The grand prize winner in 2014-15 was Krista Kappes of Ada, Minn. Many of the photos in this annual report are from the contest, and you can view them all at fields-of-corn.com.

The 30th class of NCGA¹s Leadership at Its Best Program welcomed 16 members and the sixth Advanced Leadership Program included four members. Both programs are co-sponsored by Syngenta and have proven to be an amazingly successful leadership development system.

The second NCGA DuPont New Leaders Program began in January with 32 members. Participants learn how to better tell their ag story and get a deeper education in industry involvement, plus master top social media tools and learn the importance of conversation and dialogue.

NCGA launched a free NCGA Action app for smart-phones and tablets. Find it by searching “NCGA Action” in the App or Play store. Once installed, growers can easily email members of Congress, the EPA or others to make their voice heard. The app also allows growers and others who are interested to be notified of calls to action, plus review key messages, talking points and news from NCGA.

The NCGA-FMC Ag Weather Advisor, prepared by Blue Water Outlook, remains available as a special, free member benefit. It provides valuable insight, analysis and information on the key factors shaping the current weather and future trends.

“We took a long and productive look at membership this year. What is our membership value? Why join? Why stay? What are growers looking for? As a result, we understand membership differently today and can work with our states to create better programs for current and new members. Continuing to grow and maintain an engaging base simply cannot be understated.”

Tom Haag, Eden Valley, Minn.Chair of the Grower Services Action Team (2015)

g row e r s e rv ic e s ac tio n te a m

Captain Cornelius joined corn growers at a rally in front

of the U.S. Capitol building during Corn Congress in

July to draw attention to the importance of ethanol and the

Renewable Fuels Standard.

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The National Agricultural Genotyping Center in Fargo, N.D., drew national interest in June when a deputy secretary from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a member of the Senate stopped by to highlight the public-private partnership and the importance of agricultural business development to maintain a strong U.S. agriculture industry.

Then, in September, the Center opened and held its first open house. It was an exciting day, with representatives from government and industry on hand to tour the new facility and discuss the possibilities it will offer.

The Center, a non-profit initiative founded by NCGA and Los Alamos National Laboratory, will help translate scientific discoveries, such as the information from the maize genome project, into solutions for production agriculture, food safety, functional foods, bioenergy and national security. It puts NCGA and its grower members in the driver’s seat for creating long-term economic opportunities for corn farmers.

The Center has licensed technology from a number of universities, including Tuskegee University, the first technology the school has ever licensed. It will also offer an educational program providing research opportunities to students at Tuskegee, Tennessee State University, Alabama A&M and other schools.

During the year, NCGA became an active member of the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, a center that is in part funded by the National Science Foundation. CBiRC’s overarching goal is to provide a foundation for industrial chemical production to transition from a petroleum-based to renewable-based industry.

NCGA continues working with technology development companies to support “field proofing” new technologies. Field proofing is when a new technology or product is tested in a real production field instead of just a research plot. Many of these technologies are for increased yield and include genetic technologies, biological treatments, RNAI technologies and more. Many of these companies, which include start-ups from all over the world, simply need help finding appropriate locations for field tests but do not have the connections of larger more established businesses.

“It took a tremendous amount of work and vision to get the National Agricultural Genotyping Center up and going. No organization like ours has done this before, and it is certainly something we can be proud of. While the research at the Center and through other projects and investments may not be felt for many years or even a decade from now, it’s critical for NCGA and its members to take the long view and invest for the future.”

Tom Mueller, Taylor Ridge, Ill.

Chair of the Research and Business Development Action Team (2015)

research & business development action team

Photo: Carol Peterson/Northfields, MN

2015 AnnuAl RepoRt

With such a rapid adoption of precision farming methods that generate a lot of useful data, NCGA partnered with agriculture groups and technology providers to ensure farmers own the data from their own farms and have the right to manage who access to it. An agreement over “Big Data” may help

accelerate the development of the next generation of agricultural data technology, including a full range of innovative, technology-driven tools and services that help boost the productivity, efficiency and profitability of farmers.

Additional efforts are underway, including a tool that will help growers compare and contrast data privacy language in technology contracts. Recognizing the importance of this for all members, as well as members a generation from now, NCGA will remain an active participant in discussions about data protocols and protections.

When making capital investments, farmers often found Section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation helpful. Those provisions expired in 2013 and uncertainty reigned in 2014. Late in the year, NCGA joined other agricultural groups in successfully pushing Congress to renew the provisions. In 2015, a tax reform policy study helped NCGA better understand tax policy proposals under consideration on Capitol Hill. It also provided insight into Section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation provisions.

Rollout of the new risk management programs as part of the new farm bill proved successful, with a high participation rate in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) program, a market-based program that provides a payment when there is a revenue shortfall. NCGA worked with many organizations on educational efforts and online tools, including a simulator to test market scenarios, to support growers’ decision-making process. For the great majority of corn growers, ARC proved to be the best choice. Across the country, 92 percent of corn farms, 96 percent of soybean farms and 66 percent of wheat farms elected the ARC-county coverage option accounting for 73 percent of farm acres enrolled in the new commodity programs.

NCGA submitted comments to the departments of Transportation and Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration about proposed rules regarding the commercial usage and privacy best practices of unmanned aerial systems, sometimes referred to as “drones.” NCGA’s position is such systems have potential and will ultimately reduce costs, improve efficiency and make farming operations more sustainable.

“Innovation driven by farm-generated data will help growers be successful in the future. However, NCGA strongly believes farmers should own that data, and that data only be shared with clear consent. This year’s Big Data agreement is a first step in the process but work remains, and NCGA will continue supporting farmers’ interests in this evolving sector.”

Jim Reed, Monticello, Ill.Chair of the Public Policy Action Team (2015)

p u b lic p o licy ac tio n te a m

Photo: Natalina Sents/Ames, IA

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r e v e n u e s & e x p e n s e sFor the Twelve Months Ending September 30, 2015 Unaudited

Revenues Checkoff Revenue $14,540,250 Industry 2,037,011 Corn Yield Contest 1,090,155 Membership 797,175 Commodity Classic 886,718 Grant Revenue 590,008 Interest 7,145 Other 197,129

Total Revenues 20,145,591

Team Program ExpensesTrade Policy & Biotechnology Action Team 585,240Ethanol Committee 2,420,991Grower Services Action Team 1,905,591Production & Stewardship Action Team 2,224,243Public Policy Action Team 420,310Research & Business Development Action Team 959,028NASCAR 2,518,217

Total Team Programs 11,033,621

Association ProgramsCommunications 666,497Corn Board and Funding 631,005Membership/Leadership 762,296NCGA Commodity Classic/Awards Banquet 274,254Resolutions/Policy/Corn Congress 325,26State Relations/Meetings 77,712

Total Association Programs 2,736,990

Human Resources Health Insurance 579,905Payroll Taxes 298,034Professional Development 15,897Retirement 339,064Salaries 4,504,826

Total Human Resources 5,737,724

Property and Equipment Depreciation 94,113Equipment Leases/ Rentals/Purchases 59,920IT Expense 44,575Maintenance 41,826Property Taxes 33,971Rent 301,829

Total Property and Equipment 576,233

Operating Expenses Accounting/Legal/ Professional Fees 236,811Dues/Subscriptions 40,706Electronic Communications 53,000General Liability Insurance 46,255Meetings 93,560Office Expense 106,182Travel 69,420Utilities 68,054

Total Operating Expenses 713,988Total Expenses 20,798,557NET REvENUE (652,965)These are unaudited figures.

Audited numbers will be available later in 2016.

72% 10%5.4%

4.0%4.4%

2.9%.03%1.0%

53%

13%

27%

3% 4%

2015 AnnuAl RepoRt

20 1 6 ac tion te a m & co m m it te e m e m b e r sPRODUCTION & STEWARDSHIP ACTION TEAMBrent Hostetler, ChairmanRonnie Mohr, Vice ChairmanLynn Chrisp, LiaisonJim BurgDennis FreistMorris HeitmanKirby HettverJeff JarboeCarson KlostermanGail LiererCarl SousekJim SugarekRandy WoodruffTheresa Sisung, State StaffGary Hudson, Field to Market*Charles Ring, AMCOE*Max Starbuck, NCGA StaffEthan Mathews, NCGA StaffLinda Kassoff, NCGA Staff

PUBLIC POLICY ACTION TEAMSteve Ebke, ChairmanKen Hartman, Vice ChairmanBruce Rohwer, LiaisonJed BowerRyan BuckSarah DelbecqBrandon HunnicuttKyle Kirby

Randy MelvinTom MuellerDoug NoemBruce PetersonJoe ReedDean TaylorJack Irvin, State StaffSam Willett, NCGA StaffSteve Uram, NCGA Staff

ETHANOL COMMITTEEPaul Jeschke, ChairmanMark Recker, Vice ChairmanKeith Alverson, LiaisonGraham AdsitRussell BraunCal DaltonJerry DemmerJeremiah FreidelDennis GengenbachDavid GottbrathBill LeighDennis McNinchJay SchutteKeith TruckorKen Parrent, State StaffBradley Schad, State StaffJessica Bennett, NCGA StaffBeth Elliott, NCGA StaffMel Gibson, NCGA Staff

RESEARCH & BUSINESS DEvELOPMENT ACTION TEAMLarry Hoffman, ChairmanDennis MapleBob Bowman, LiaisonRandy DeSutterPhillip GordonTom HaagKyle PhillipsQuint PottingerGreg SchneiderScott SperryRoger SyBob TimmonsDaniel WeselyChad WillisMark Sponsler, State StaffDr. Richard Vierling, NCGA StaffSandra Wright, NCGA Staff

GROWER SERvICES ACTION TEAMPatty Mann, ChairwomanTed Mottaz, Vice ChairmanKevin Skunes, LiaisonDebbie BorgJayne DaltonLes ImbodenAaron MartinkaMike MorelandGerald MulderDanny NerudLeah Pottinger

Glenna TaylorRoger ZylstraKatie Glick, State StaffJoe Hodes, NCGA StaffVickie Darland, NCGA Staff

TRADE POLICY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ACTION TEAMJohn Linder, ChairmanDon Duvall, Vice ChairmanKevin Ross, LiaisonMike BeardChris EdgingtonJanna FritzRobert HemesathWayne HumphreysJon MillerDwight MorkJim RabenJay ReinersChad WetzelTim WiersmaPatrick Pfingsten, State StaffTBD, USGC RepresentativeChad Blindauer, APACLeon Corzine, AC-21Bill Hoffman, ATACDarrin Ihnen, AC-21Nathan Fields, NCGA StaffZach Kinne, NCGA StaffMaggie Fogerty, NCGA Staff

FINANCE COMMITTEEAnthony Bush, ChairmanLynn ChrispJeff SandbornWesley SpurlockJim ZimmermanFred Stemme, NCGA Staff

ASSOCIATION RELATIONS COMMITTEEPaul Taylor, ChairmanMartin BarbreJim ReedKevin RossFred Stemme, NCGA Staff

NASCAR Advisory CommitteeJon Holzfaster, ChairmanTricia BraidJim GreifGreg NobleHarold WolleJim ZookAmie Gianino, NCGA StaffSusan Powers, NCGA Staff

NOMINATING COMMITTEEMartin Barbre, ChairmanTroy KnechtDan ColeMike LefeverMark ScottKathy Baker, NCGA Staff

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ncga corn board

Front row from left: Chairman Martin Barbre, President Chip Bowling, First Vice President Wesley Spurlock, Chief Executive Officer Chris Novak

Second row from left: Jim Reed, Keith Alverson, Kevin Ross, Anthony Bush, Lynn Chrisp, Secretary Kathy Baker, Kevin Skunes

Third row from left: Jeff Sandborn, Bob Bowman, Jim Zimmerman, Bruce Rohwer, Jon Holzfaster, Treasurer Fred Stemme, Paul Taylor

20 1 6 ac tion te a m & co m m it te e m e m b e r sFINANCE COMMITTEEAnthony Bush, ChairmanLynn ChrispJeff SandbornWesley SpurlockJim ZimmermanFred Stemme, NCGA Staff

ASSOCIATION RELATIONS COMMITTEEPaul Taylor, ChairmanMartin BarbreJim ReedKevin RossFred Stemme, NCGA Staff

NASCAR Advisory CommitteeJon Holzfaster, ChairmanTricia BraidJim GreifGreg NobleHarold WolleJim ZookAmie Gianino, NCGA StaffSusan Powers, NCGA Staff

NOMINATING COMMITTEEMartin Barbre, ChairmanTroy KnechtDan ColeMike LefeverMark ScottKathy Baker, NCGA Staff

BYLAWS COMMITTEEJeff Sandborn, ChairmanMark BaconDavid DahlgrenKurt HoraDennis VennekotterKathy Baker, NCGA Staff

COMMODITY CLASSIC JOINT vENTURE COMMITTEEWesley Spurlock, Co-ChairmanKevin RossPaul TaylorMartin BarbreFred Stemme, NCGA StaffKen Colombini, NCGA StaffCORN PACGene Baumgardner, PresidentKevin HurstBruce RohwerSteve MasatJon HolzfasterMike BuisRandy MelvinKent KleinschmidtSusie SpurlockJon Doggett, Executive DirectorKendra Keller, Managing Director

Brooke Appleton, Treasurer

20 1 6 le a d e r s h i p

The National Corn Growers Association represents the interests of more than 40,000 dues-paying members from 48 states. NCGA also works on

behalf of 25 state grower associations and more than 300,000 farmers who contribute to corn checkoff programs in 23 states.

National Headquarters 632 Cepi Drive Chesterfield, Mo. 63005 636.733.9004NCGA.com

Washington, D.C. Office 20 F St. NW, Suite 600Washington, D.C. 20001 202.628.7001

©2016 National Corn Growers Association

The National Corn Growers Association, founded in 1957, is the largest and oldest national nonprofit organization representing the interests of U.S. corn farmers. Checkoff investments made by corn growers nationwide and the commitment and dedication of farmer leaders give NCGA the opportunity to redefine the role of corn in the world’s future through research, market development, public policy, production and education.

You can join more than 40,000 corn growers in 48 states involved in NCGA by connecting with one of our affiliated state corn organizations or by contacting NCGA. With your help, we will continue building collaborations across the country and sharing the extraordinary achievements of America’s corn farmers.

Visit NCGA.com for more details and updates on the corn industry.

facebook.com/CornGrowers twitter.com/NationalCorn

State Organizations& Grower Members

Grower Members

Feature photos in this publication were selected from entries in the 2015 NCGA photo contest.

COvER PHOTO: Jacob Grodahl/Lytton, IA