Achievements

Achievements

Throughout the last half century, IL Corn has been working on behalf of Illinois corn farmers through two organizations. Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB). While the groups have different purposes they share the same vision, “Through their farmer-led organizations, Illinois corn farmers are continually positioned to create and capture profit opportunities, preserve their independence, and prosper for generations." There have been major accomplishments by these two groups over the years, many leaving a lasting impact on agriculture and corn farming to this day. 

ICGA ICMB
2023
2022

LOCK 25 ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER RECEIVES DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FUNDS

Funding to complete design and construction for Lock 25 near Winfield, MO on the Mississippi River is included in the Army Corps of Engineers budget presented to Congress today to allocate the funding named in the infrastructure package passed on November 5. Total allocated funds for Lock 25 are $732 million dollars.

“The IL Corn Growers Association and the diverse partners brought together by Waterways Council Inc. have worked on updating our inland waterways infrastructure for more than two decades. The announcement that we have finally seen allocation of funds to begin construction on Lock 25 on the Mississippi River is the culmination of all our efforts. Our hope is that the allocation of these funds will begin a waterfall of work on the infrastructure on the Illinois and Mississippi River,” said Marty Marr, President of the association and New Berlin, IL farmer.

More On This Achivement
2022

Next Generation Fuels Act Introduced in the U.S. Senate

More On This Achivement
2022

ICGA Celebrates 50 Years

2022

Celebrated 50 Years

Illinois Corn Growers Association celebrated 50 years in 2022. Take a look at the past 5 decades of work IL Corn staff and leaders have put in.

More On This Achivement
2021
2020

Lock and Dam Cost Share Change

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020) favorably out of Committee. The bill adjusts the cost-share for construction and major rehabilitation of inland waterways projects. Previously the cost-share was 50 percent from the general fund of the Treasury and 50 percent from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. Now the cost-share moves to 65 percent from the general fund of the Treasury and 35 percent from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.

2020

Next Generation Fuels Act

The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) welcomes legislation introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos in the U.S. House of Representatives that will boost long term corn demand for clean, affordable ethanol. The bill pushes for engines that can use higher blends of ethanol like E20 and E30

2019

Year Long E-15 Sales

Cheers across the corn industry rang out when news of year long E-15 sales finally being approved by the EPA, leading to cleaner air, and more homegrown fuel.

2018

Olmstead

The Olmstead lock and dam was finally complete! After 30 years of construction funding changes needed to happen to finish up this project. Locks and dams throughout the Inland Waterways still need upgrading and it remains a top legislative priority issue to this day.

2017
2016
2015

PCM Begins

Precision Conservation Management begins through a grant. The goal is to increase the usage of cover crops throughout Illinois and spreading the message of the benefits from reduced nutrient runoff, carbon sequestration and cutting down erosion.

2015

Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

The Illinois Nutrient Reduction Strategy came about as a solution to the hypoxia zone that has developed in the Gulf of Mexico due to the excess nitrogen runoff throughout the Midwest. The strategy puts in place measured goals for farmers, along with other industries, to meet targets and remove additional amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus from our water.

2014
2013
2012

Crop Insurance Change

Farmers could now select yield trend endorsements for crop insurance.

2011

Ethanol Tax Credit Expires

The Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit expired

2011

ACRE Program

Farmers could now sign up for the ACRE program which changed the way crop insurance worked, benefiting farmers!

2010

Cornbelters Baseball Team Begins Inaugural Season

The team was created an sponsored by ICMB as a way to promote and encourage conversations about corn and farming while audiences came to watch baseball games during the summer

2009

Corn Farmers Coalition

The Corn Farmers Coalition is formed to increase educational opportunities and promotion in Washington D.C.

2008

IL Corn Goes Social!

Social Media accounts are created! Our organization adopted social media accounts relatively early and today we have around 12k followers on Facebook and Twitter

2008

IRFA Forms

The Illinois Renewable Fuels Association is formed with goals to promote Illinois' ethanol industry

2008

Illinois Farm Families

Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma, Time Magazine’s “The Real Cost of Cheap Food,” and Food Inc. were all released in the 2008-2009 time frame, making farmers concerned that the public didn’t trust or understand them anymore. A farmer-led effort to discern how to talk to non-farmers began.

Initial coalition members were Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association. Since the beginning, all decisions for the group have been made by consensus of staff representatives.

2007

Renewable Fuel Standard II

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) required a certain amount of renewable fuels to be used across the country. This caused a tremendous increase in demand for corn and resulted in higher prices. For consumers, it meant 10% of standard gasoline now comprised of ethanol and cleaner air.

2006
2005
2004
2003
2002

Livestock Groups in Illinois Form

Illinois Livestock Development Group (ILDG) began with goals to promote the livestock industry, which consumes a lot of corn, throughout the state.

2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996

Constructed Current Building

Moved into the current office at 14129 Carole Dr, Bloomington, IL

1995
1994
1993
1992
1991

Farm Progress Show

With the Farm Progress Show being in Ilinois, ethanol billboards in the surrounding Decatur area were purchased.

1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985

USMEF

Illinois Corn Marketing Board begins their funding partnership with the United Stated Meat Export Federation which aims to expand meat consumption across the globe.

1984

State Fair

IL Corn begins exhibiting at the Illinois State Fair! The group still takes part in the festivities in Springfield every year.

1983

Trade Teams Established

The Board decided to sponsor investment into trade teams and sending surveys to farmers to learn more about individual operations throughout the state and how they fit in, in a world-view.

1983

New Office

ICMB decided to have its own office and chose a location at 2415 E Washington St in Bloomington.

1982

ICMB Formed

After trying to pass a check off many times throughout the previous years, voters decided to allow the check off program to begin to promote the usage of corn throughout the state, nation and world. The checkoff program today allows ICMB to produce advertisements, sponsor groups that increase the demand of corn and promote ethanol usage.

1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972

ICGA Formed

Rollie Main from Altona began to gather interest in a group exclusively for corn growers throughout the state. Proper documentation was submitted and the Illinois Corn Growers Association's first office was within the Knox County Farm Bureau building. The group was originally formed under the family of companies at Illinois Agriculture Association (IAA).

1971

The agriculture industry continues to change to meet the needs of consumers. Our organization continues to change along with the agriculture industry while maintaining the same values of capturing profit opportunities and ensuring success for generations to come.

We look forward to the future challenges within the industry and believe we are stronger when our voices work together. Consider becoming more active within your organization by responding to calls to action, volunteering to speak to media and reaching out to our office to receive up to date communication throughout the corn industry.