Podcast: Corn Board budget focuses on business plan priorities

In this podcast, Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, discusses the board's budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year – the first budget based on a checkoff rate of a half-cent per bushel, thanks to the legislature who voted to support an increase in the checkoff rate earlier this year.

Previous to the budget meeting, board members developed a business plan that provided a road map. Priorities included research, a commitment to defending and expanding opportunities for the livestock industry, developing a strategic plan to expand the marketing of higher ethanol blends, and building partnerships with other progressive organizations through a positive agriculture communications plan.

"Agriculture organizations have to work together today and not be single minded in their vision," Hutchens said. "There are many opportunities to add value to our commodities, promote the high quality of our products and to substantiate a positive image of farmers and livestock producers, so to dispel myths out there in the public."

In the end, he said, the Nebraska Corn Board put their corn farmer’s money right where the business plan focused. For details, have a listen.

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