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Trade

Exports

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Watch IL Corn TV

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IL Corn

Current News

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2025 ICGA

Annual Report

Positioning Farmers to Grow Through:

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Exports

Illinois exports nearly 50% of corn grown out of state. That's why it's a priority for us.

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Locks and Dams

For over 50 years we have been advocating for more efficient locks and dams. Why? To save the Illinois farmer 8 cents a bushel.

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Conservation

Providing resources and protecing policies surrounding conservation that ensure long-term agricultural productivity.

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Ethanol

Ethanol production in Illinois uses over 657 million bushels of corn each year—that’s why it’s a top priority for us.

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What is IL Corn?

IL Corn is made up of two farmer-led organizations that serve corn farmers in Illinois: IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and IL Corn Marketing Board (ICMB). ICGA represents the interests of IL Corn farmers in Washington, DC and Springfield, IL, while ICMB is focused on growing demand, creating new markets, and fostering understanding of corn farmers and the corn industry. Through these two organizations, IL Corn seeks to position corn farmers to create and capture profit opportunities, preserve their independence, and prosper for generations.

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Follow the We are 96 Consumer Campaign

A coalition of Illinois farm associations joined together to make 2023 the Year of the Farmer with a statewide campaign that launched during Super Bowl.  The message? Ninety-six percent of Illinois farms are family owned and operated. Research tells us that non-farmers would put this number closer to 50 percent. In fact, others in Illinois think that about 47 percent of farms are family owned, with 53 percent being corporately controlled. That’s a statistic that – though untrue – concerns a lot of our neighbors because they aren’t sure they trust the decisions a corporation would make for Illinois’s exceedingly fertile resources.

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Phone to Action Sign Up

ICGA works to closely monitor what is happening in Springfield and Washington D.C. and will send alerts to members when they need to contact their legislators to let their voices be heard beyond the ballot box.

Today's News

kate baker
By Rosie Trump & Tara Desmond January 6, 2026
Precision Conservation Management expands into southeastern Illinois with conservation specialist Kate Baker, offering free, data-driven insights for farmers.
By Tara Desmond January 6, 2026
The IL Corn Growers Association recently honored longtime colleague and friend Dave Loos in a way that reflected what mattered most to him: education, curiosity, and investing in the next generation. Dave dedicated decades of his career to advancing Illinois agriculture and the ethanol industry, first with the State of Illinois and later through more than 17 years at IL Corn. He was widely respected for his deep knowledge of biofuels, his passion for learning, and his ability to build lasting relationships across the agriculture and energy sectors. To honor Dave’s legacy, the IL Corn Board of Directors established education scholarship funds for his grandsons. Partners and friends from across the ethanol industry, state and national corn organizations, and policy circles in Illinois and Washington, D.C., came together to contribute. During IL Corn’s annual meeting, Dave’s family was invited to the stage and surprised with the presentation of multiple scholarship checks. Speakers shared personal stories highlighting Dave’s commitment to learning, leadership, and service. Dave’s family expressed heartfelt gratitude, noting that while he would have been deeply appreciative, he also would have been characteristically humble about the recognition. These scholarships serve as a lasting tribute to Dave Loos—honoring his lifelong dedication to education and ensuring his legacy continues through the next generation.
By Tara Desmond January 6, 2026
State-Level Advocacy: Tariff Hearing & Executive Order Signing House Agriculture Chair Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) held a subject matter hearing on the impact of tariffs on Illinois’ farm economy, where IL Corn’s Director of Exports and Logistics, Collin Watters, testified alongside other commodity leaders and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. ICGA also attended Governor Pritzker’s signing of Executive Order 2025-07 on a Taylorville farm—an acknowledgment of the multi-year economic strain caused by trade disruptions, falling demand, and high input costs. National Recognition as Expert Voices This fall, ICGA staff and farmer leaders were featured speakers across major national and regional conferences, underscoring ICGA’s role as a leading voice on sustainability, biofuels, and farmer economics. ICGA participated in panels elevating Illinois corn farmers in national policy and climate-smart agriculture discussions. Organizational Momentum at the ICGA Annual Meeting New officers and directors were elected for 2025–2026, and ICGA honored leaders through the World of Corn Award and Media Award—reinforcing the organization’s strength, credibility, and member-driven leadership. 
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Megan Dwyer testifying in DC
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Mission: Through grassroots advocacy, create a future for Illinois farmers in which they can operate freely, responsibly, and successfully.