About CMPM

Corn Marketing Program of Michigan

The Official Check-Off Program

The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan (CMPM) is a check-off program established by P.A. 232, 1965 as amended. P.A. 232 allows for the establishment of check-off programs for commodities grown in Michigan and sold. The Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has oversight over the Program. The nine farmer members of the CMPM board of directors are appointed by the Governor for three-year terms. The Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan Corn Growers Association, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Michigan State University are all represented through ex-officio members serving on the board.

The CMPM was enacted in March 1993 after farmers across the state petitioned the director of the MDA. The director appointed a farmer committee to develop the check-off program which was put to a vote of Michigan corn farmers and passed. Since the check-off is mandatory, every five years the program is voted on by the state’s corn farmers. The vote for the program must pass by both popular vote and production. Successful votes have been held in 1998, 2003, 2008 and most recently, 2013.

For every bushel of corn grown in Michigan and sold, one penny comes to the CMPM and is used for research, education, market development and new uses. Most often this penny is sent to the CMPM by an elevator, but if the corn does not go through an elevator or if the elevator is out of state and does not report to the CMPM, it is the farmer ’s responsibility to make sure the penny is paid. If you need to remit payment, a Corn Assessme nt Report Form is available.

The purpose of the CMPM is to enhance the economic position of Michigan corn growers by providing for the growth and expansion of the corn industry in Michigan through foreign and domestic market development, promotion, and research that will stimulate the demand for corn. This shall be accomplished through this program by increasing demand and utilization, disseminating market information, discovering new and more efficient marketing and production methods, and by enhancing markets for Michigan corn.