By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

JOHNSTON, Iowa — In an effort to keep corn growers informed and engaged in the 2012 presidential campaign, the Iowa Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA) and the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA), in partnership with the Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Nebraska corn growers’ groups, have launched the Corn Caucus Project.

The primary goal of the program is to contact all campaigns to discuss NCGA policies and form a relationship with them, so candidates consider and incorporate corn policy positions into their campaigns.

“We are excited to once again be participating in the Corn Caucus Project,” said Bruce Rohwer, a farmer from Paullina and ICGA’s Political Action Committee chair.

“This program helps all of agriculture have a voice in the policy making process by getting involved in campaigns while they are here in Iowa.”

A secondary goal of the project is to evaluate candidate positions on corn policy issues and publicize these positions to corn associations’ members, other agricultural groups and the media prior to the Iowa Caucus in February 2012.
Activities include a policy survey for candidates, media tracking, communication with campaigns on NCGA positions and priorities and corn grower involvement in campaigns, including volunteering and attending candidate events. The Corn Caucus Project does not provide an endorsement of any candidate.

“In the next couple of months, we will be tracking the candidates on the issues important to corn, and linking individual farmers with candidates. Please join me throughout the next few months as we build relationships to make sure our policy positions and agriculture in general are heard, discussed and carried forward,” Rohwer said to members.

“Like the famous saying by Robert B. Johnson: Decisions are made by those that show up. I encourage you to show up and help carry our policy to Washington D.C.”

For more information, visit www.iowacorn.org/corncaucusproject