Farm policy impacts our members, their farms, and their families

Our overarching goal is to promote policy that drives corn demand, as demand will ultimately help family farmer profitability.

Our specific priorities are:

  1. Ethanol policies like clearing up the Renewable Volume Obligation issue and maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard will ensure the health of the ethanol market.

  2. Trade policies like new free trade agreements and new investment in international markets will provide new avenues to sell Illinois corn.

  3. Secure funding for the Navigational Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) which will enable new and upgraded locks and dams along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.  This relates to our second priority, as adequate infrastructure is needed to ship more corn overseas.

  4. Preserve a robust and sustainable crop insurance for U.S. farmers to help them manage weather risk.  Our members tell us that crop insurance is working to keep them in business.

IL Corn Top Priority Discussed in D.C.

Haley Bickelhaupt

May 11th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Exports |  Farm Policy

Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-1) questioned witnesses about funding the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program during a House Agriculture Subcommittee...

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Corn Growers Are Heard Through Congressional Hearings

Tom Haag

May 10th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

Spring is proving to be a busy time between corn planting and grower leaders taking full advantage of every opportunity to talk about our priorities for the farm bill.   The farm bill, which...

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IL Corn Advocates Ethanol Incentive Before State Senate Revenue Committee

April 26th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

IL Corn Director of Public Policy Brad Stotler testified last week in Springfield before the Senate Revenue Committee on SB 1869, legislation sponsored by Sen. Pat Joyce to incentivize fuels with...

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Rep. Mary Miller Cosponsors Bill Supporting Trade Funding in Upcoming Farm Bill

Lindsay Mitchell

April 24th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

Representative Mary Miller cosponsored the “Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2023” (H.R.648) this week, a bill that is a top priority for the IL Corn Growers Association. The bill supports...

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IL Corn Supports Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act

Tara Desmond

March 8th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act was introduced today, cosponsored by Illinois Congressman Mike Bost, to protect Americans’ freedom of choice when purchasing...

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Legislative Team Strengthens Voice for Farmers

Haley Bickelhaupt

February 1st, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Public Outreach |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

With fewer lawmakers representing rural America in Congress and in the state legislature, it is more important than ever for farmers to be well represented in Washington D.C. and at our state...

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New Year Brings Continued Negotiations with Mexico Over Biotech Corn Imports

Brooke S. Appleton

December 28th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

As we enter 2023, we are reminded that we are now one-year out from the effective date of the decree banning most corn imports from the U.S. into Mexico.   The National Corn Growers Association,...

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IL Corn Joins Farmer Leaders from Across the Country in Calling on Biden to Set Quick, Firm Timeline While Pressing Case on Biotech Corn with Mexico

Lindsay Mitchell

December 14th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

Bloomington, IL – The presidents of 23 state corn grower groups, joined by the president of the National Corn Growers Association, sent a letter to President Biden today calling for him to take...

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The 2022 Mid-Term Elections Promises More of the Same in Washington – and That’s Not All Bad.

Brooke Appleton

November 15th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

This year’s election results are still trickling in as of this writing, but there is one thing that is certain: while there will be some changes in Washington, for the most part, we’re going to...

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ICGA Submits Public Comments Supporting Continued Access to Atrazine

Lindsay Mitchell

October 13th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

IL Corn is focused on helping farmers use conservation practices to improve soil health, reduce erosion, sequester carbon, and build a sustainable future for generations of future farmers. "Each...

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IL CORN: VALUED PARTNER IN TWO USDA FUNDED CLIMATE-SMART PROPOSALS

Lindsay Mitchell

September 14th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Today, IL Corn celebrates being named as a valued partner in multiple projects funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Partnerships for Climate-Smart...

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To Successfully Shape 2023 Farm Bill, Corn Growers Encouraged to Build Bridges with Groups Outside of the Ag Community

Brooke Appleton

July 27th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

After Abraham Lincoln became president in 1861, he appointed to his cabinet the very opponents he had vanquished in the bitter and hard-fought battle for the Republican nomination the year before....

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Senate Introduces Transformational Bill to Improve the Environment while Reducing Fuel Costs: Next Generation Fuels Act (NGFA)

Tara Desmond

July 26th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

In a step forward for energy security, the environment and the nation’s consumers, Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), with the support of Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and...

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Statement: International Trade Commission Will Not Impose Nitrogen Fertilizer Tariffs

Lindsay Mitchell

July 18th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

Upon hearing news at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled today against imposing tariffs on nitrogen fertilizers imported from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago, IL Corn Growers...

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Duckworth Speaks with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association

Senator Duckworth's Office

July 15th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week met with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association members to discuss how she can continue to support our nation’s...

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EPA RESURRECTS RADICAL ATRAZINE PROPOSAL, THREATENS KEY SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS

Triazine Network News Release

July 11th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach |  Conservation |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

In an unprecedented move, EPA today announced it is reopening the finalized reregistration of atrazine, putting this key crop protection tool and today’s carbon-smart farming practices at risk....

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Illinois Legislation Allows More Aggressive Development of IL Industrial Biotech Industry

Lindsay Mitchell

April 13th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

Last week, the Illinois General Assembly sent a signal that Illinois is ready to designate itself as the premiere location for industrial biotechnology companies and innovation.   SB 1693, the...

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USDA Announces PACE program for Illinois Farmers

IL Corn

January 6th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation |  Farm Policy

  WHAT Post Application Coverage Endorsement – An insurance product to cover the risk of not getting farmers in-season nitrogen applied.   WHY Our internal data indicates the number...

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RSVP for next week listening sessions

Tara Desmond

December 8th, 2021  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams |  Ethanol |  Exports |  Public Outreach |  Conservation |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy |  Precision Conservation Management

  The Illinois Corn Growers Association will hold in-person listening sessions throughout the state to help prepare for the 2023 Farm Bill.  As a grassroots organization, we value farmer input...

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ICGA Evaluates Fertilizer Challenge on Behalf of Illinois Farmers

Lindsay Mitchell

November 1st, 2021  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Public Outreach |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

Last week, the IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) contacted Illinois representatives on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Agriculture Committee to alert them of the concern we have...

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