The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICBP) was established in 1977 by a referendum of Iowa farmers, and its members continue to work towards increasing the market for corn growers and producers. ICBP distributes and invests money collected through the checkoff program, which was established by Iowa law in 1976 and in 1977 Iowa corn growers approved a checkoff rate of one-tenth of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Iowa corn growers have approved an increase in the checkoff rate several times since 1977. By law, the checkoff money must be invested in corn market development, education and research. Checkoff money cannot be used for political lobbying (the Iowa Corn Growers Association fulfills lobbying and legislative efforts for Iowa corn producers). The ICPB is based in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Seventeen elected corn growers make up ICPB. Elected members of ICPB manage the checkoff funds and seek to educate the public about the many uses and advantages of corn use, such as a sweetener and fuel (gasohol and ethanol). ICPB promotes corn products through seminars, product promotions, educational information, participation in fairs and local events, media events, and advertising. One of ICPB's first projects was to promote the use of high fructose corn syrup, which at the time was a new product. In 1993, the ICPB drove an all-ethanol fueled bus around the state as part of their 15th anniversary program. Members would demonstrate how ethanol worked and why it was a better choice than gasoline at each stop. ICPB continues to distribute funds and manage activities to promote and encourage the use of corn.

This collection (1977-2006, n.d.) includes newsletters, correspondence, memoranda, articles, press releases, information packets and promotional photographs. Most of the material in this collection is produced by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, but includes some materials by the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

The correspondence is primarily between members of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the memoranda are from the president of the board. The newspaper, journal, and magazine articles contain information about the adaptations of corn for use as a sweetener, fuel, an ingredient in plastic, and a more efficient crop. Included are several publications from the Iowa Corn Promotion Board such as its newsletter, the Iowa Corn Checkoff Quarterly. The newsletter contains information on ICPB's activities and current research and development related to corn. Information and press release packets for the Iowa Corn Promotion Board's 15th, 20th, and 25th anniversary are included and contain brief histories of the ICPB. The photographs are promotional photographs for ethanol fuel use and a photograph of a tour bus that ran solely on ethanol that was part of the ICPB's 15th anniversary festivities.

For related collections, see the Iowa Corn Growers Association Records (MS-473) and the Walter Goeppinger Papers (RS 21/7/34). Goeppinger served as the first president of the National Corn Growers Association for seventeen years.