National Corn Growers Association

What National Corn Growers Association does

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is a private, nonprofit trade association founded in 1957 that serves as the primary national advocacy organization for approximately 500,000 U.S. corn farmers, organized through state-level corn grower affiliates across 46 states. Headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri with a federal policy office in Washington, D.C., NCGA operates on a membership and corn checkoff funding model, generating recurring revenue from individual farmer memberships and state association dues. The organization maintains 101-250 employees and delivers a portfolio of member programs including the National Corn Yield Contest (an annual agronomic competition running since 1965 with ~7,000 entries), a Leadership Academy launched in 2019, the Women & Mentors Program, the ACE advocacy training series, the On Deck mentorship initiative for young farmers, and the Consider Corn Challenge innovation competition.

NCGA's core functional mandate is policy advocacy on behalf of corn growers, with current priorities spanning ethanol market expansion (year-round E15, Sustainable Aviation Fuel), trade policy (USMCA enforcement, corn exports), federal tax policy, and Farm Bill provisions. The organization does not develop or sell proprietary technology products; instead, it generates and disseminates agronomic and economic data through resources like the World of Corn data portal, the Cobcast podcast, and the biannual Policy Book. NCGA leads a coalition of approximately 40 agricultural organizations under the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA, has secured a USMCA dispute panel victory against Mexico's biotech corn ban, and partners with John Deere on ethanol-powered farm equipment prototypes. Strategic alliances span the Renewable Fuels Association, American Soybean Association, Clean Fuels Alliance America, American Coalition for Ethanol, and Growth Energy on biofuel policy; and the U.S. Department of Treasury/IRS on the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit regulations.

Name

National Corn Growers Association

Legal name

National Corn Growers Association

Website

https://ncga.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The National Corn Growers Association is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1957 that represents approximately 500,000 U.S. corn farmers through state affiliates, advocating on ethanol, trade, farm bill, and tax policy while operating the National Corn Yield Contest and leadership development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trade Association

NAICS

Corn Farming (111150)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corn (Maize) Farming (AFAGAAAB)

Keywords

• Agricultural trade association
• Corn farmer advocacy
• Farm policy representation
• Agricultural market development
• Farmer membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesterfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NCGA generates revenue through membership fees from corn farmers via state corn grower associations. Individual membership and state-level membership support the organization's operations.
2. Checkoff Programs: NCGA participates in corn checkoff programs that fund research, promotion, and market development activities for U.S. corn producers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The National Corn Growers Association is a membership-based nonprofit trade association that represents U.S. corn farmers through advocacy, market development, research support, and member programs. Its core deliverables include federal and trade policy advocacy (ethanol, trade, farm bill, tax policy), the National Corn Yield Contest, leadership development programs, market development initiatives for corn ethanol and exports, and informational resources such as the World of Corn data tool and Policy Book.

Product overview

The National Corn Growers Association is a membership-based agricultural trade association that offers programs and services centered on advocacy, leadership development, and market development for U.S. corn growers. The core portfolio includes the National Corn Yield Contest (annual competition since 1965), five distinct Leadership Programs (Leadership Academy, Women & Mentors Program, ACE Series, Leadership At Its Best, and On Deck mentorship), the Consider Corn Challenge innovation initiative, and membership with associated advocacy representation. Additional offerings include the World of Corn data resource, The Cobcast podcast, and the biannual Policy Book. NCGA does not offer a technology product or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Corn Yield Contest NCGA's flagship annual competition dating back to 1965 in which corn growers compete for the highest yields across 10 production categories plus a Nitrogen Management class; entrants submit entries for verification and winners receive national and state recognition.
• Leadership Academy Primary advocacy and leadership development program for state and national corn grower leaders, consisting of two sessions held in St. Louis, MO and Washington, DC, with media training and advocacy communications components.
• Women & Mentors Program Program focused on building a diverse, connected network of women in agriculture through an annual retreat that matches mentors and mentees, aligned with the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
• ACE (Advocating for Corn Effectively) Series Virtual three-module program that prepares state association leaders to engage in the political process and advocate effectively for corn growers at the federal level.
• On Deck Mentorship Program NCGA's first mentorship program connecting young and beginning corn growers (under 35 years old or less than 10 years farming experience) with seasoned grower leaders through virtual and in-person programming.
• Consider Corn Challenge Innovation initiative encouraging the development of new uses and markets for corn through competition and prize awards.
• NCGA Membership Program Membership organization offering advocacy representation, grassroots engagement opportunities, policy updates, and member perks for corn growers through state affiliates.
• World of Corn Interactive data resource providing statistics and information covering global corn production, consumption, biotech, ethanol and other corn-related metrics.
• The Cobcast Podcast NCGA's official podcast featuring conversations with corn industry leaders, growers, and stakeholders about the state of the industry and future of agriculture.
• Policy Book Biannual publication of NCGA's federal policy positions and advocacy priorities, updated in February and August each year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% GHG reduction with corn ethanol vs regular gasoline
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• John DeerecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2026NCGA partners with John Deere to explore ethanol as a homegrown fuel source for farm equipment. John Deere developed a prototype 8R tractor running on E98 ethanol fuel, with field testing conducted on farms in Iowa and Illinois. The partnership aims to allow farmers to produce their own ethanol and reduce reliance on diesel.
• Agricultural Coalition for USMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026NCGA leads the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA, a diverse collection of approximately 40 agricultural organizations working together to advocate for renewal and strengthening of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The coalition conducts educational outreach, grassroots advocacy, and economic analysis to ensure the agreement remains in place with improvements that preserve market access for U.S. agriculture.
• Renewable Fuels AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCGA collaborates with the Renewable Fuels Association on biofuel policy advocacy, including Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, EPA blending requirements, and year-round E15 legislation. Joint economic studies on E15's economic impact ($25.8B to GDP, 128,000 jobs) have been released.
• American Soybean AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCGA works with American Soybean Association on shared agricultural priorities including biofuel policies, trade agreements, farm bill advocacy, and fertilizer cost issues. Both organizations jointly advocate for farmers facing economic challenges.
• Clean Fuels Alliance AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCGA partners with Clean Fuels Alliance America on biofuel policy, including advocacy for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit and EPA renewable volume obligations that benefit both corn and soybean farmers.
• American Coalition for EthanolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCGA collaborates with American Coalition for Ethanol on ethanol policy advocacy, 45Z credit regulations, and year-round E15 sales legislation. The partnership focuses on creating new markets for corn through biofuel expansion.
• Growth EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCGA partners with Growth Energy on ethanol market expansion initiatives, including year-round E15 advocacy and sustainable aviation fuel development. Both organizations advocate for policies to increase corn demand.
• Precision Agriculture Organizations (American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, CropLife America)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCGA collaborated with American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, and CropLife America on the report 'The Benefits of Precision Ag in the United States,' documenting how precision agriculture technologies have enabled U.S. farmers to increase productivity while reducing resource use.
• Kearney (Consulting Firm)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNCGA partnered with Kearney consulting firm for data analysis in the precision agriculture benefits study, which found precision ag technologies boosted U.S. crop yields by 5% and generated $118,000 in annual savings per 1,000 acres.
• U.S. Department of Treasury / IRScoreOthersNCGA engages with Treasury and IRS on Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit regulations, providing input on how to structure the credit to benefit corn ethanol producers and farmers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Growth Energy: Trade association promoting ethanol and biofuels. While not a farmer membership org like NCGA, it is a co-advocate on year-round E15 and SAF expansion and competes for policy mind-share in the same space.
• American Farm Bureau Federation: The largest U.S. general farm organization, representing all commodities rather than just corn. Competes with NCGA for federal advocacy influence and member mind-share, but with a broader, less commodity-specific focus.
• Renewable Fuels Association: National trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry that NCGA partners with on biofuel policy. Operates in adjacent demand-side space and is a frequent coalition partner on 45Z and E15 advocacy.

Direct peers

• American Soybean Association: A national commodity trade association representing U.S. soybean farmers through state affiliates. Operates the same dues/checkoff revenue model, runs a yield contest, and partners directly with NCGA on biofuel, trade, fertilizer cost, and Farm Bill advocacy.
• National Association of Wheat Growers: A national trade association representing U.S. wheat farmers on Farm Bill, trade, and sustainability policy. Closely analogous structure and member-funded advocacy model, though for a different commodity.
• USA Rice Federation: National trade association for the U.S. rice industry, running checkoff-funded promotion, research, and government affairs work. Comparable advocacy structure and federal policy engagement patterns as NCGA.
• National Cotton Council: Umbrella trade association for the U.S. cotton industry coordinating advocacy, research, and market development. Operates a similar policy advocacy and member-funded model on Farm Bill and trade issues.
• National Sorghum Producers: National commodity trade association representing U.S. sorghum producers with a similar dues-funded advocacy model on Farm Bill, trade, and crop protection issues. Comparable scale and program approach to NCGA.
• National Pork Producers Council: A national trade association advocating for U.S. pork producers. Operates a comparable checkoff/dues funding model and federal advocacy footprint, including a Washington D.C. presence.

Emerging players

• Corn Refiners Association: Trade association for U.S. corn refining (HFCS, ethanol, starch) companies. Represents downstream corn users rather than farmers, but intersects with NCGA on ethanol policy and corn demand advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NationalCorn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/ncga
• Facebookfacebook.com/corngrowers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-corn-growers-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Corn Growers Association