Over 50% of IL corn is exported out of state.

Improving the Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio River system has been an Illinois Corn Growers Association priority for almost 30 years. Waterways infrastructure gives Illinois farmers and other Illinois industries a competitive advantage over other states in transportation of grain and other agricultural products. However, in the last 50 years, these locks and dams have become dilapidated and outdated. The crumbling lock and dam system costs Illinois corn farmers every day in lost efficiency getting their product to global marketplaces. 

 

Improving our lock and dam system NOW is critical not only for Illinois farmers but also for all Illinois citizens, for our country, and for our world.

 

Illinois' Inland Waterways: A Crucial Economic Engine

March 12th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Locks and Dams

Illinois proudly hosts 1,100 miles of navigable inland waterways, facilitating the movement of over 70 million tons of freight valued at $17.9 billion annually. The pivotal commodities transported...

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Maize Matters: Wins for Corn this Spring

August 7th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams |  Ethanol

This story is a feature article in ICGA's PAC Newsletter: Maize Matters   State Boost for Ethanol The Illinois General Assembly’s spring session wassuccessful for ICGA as the state legislature...

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IL Reps. Support Funding for Waterways

Haley Bickelhaupt

June 28th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams

IL Corn celebrates Illinois’s bipartisan effort as three of the organization’s four targeted districts requested that funding for river infrastructure be included in the FY2024 House Energy and...

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Weinzierl Wins Award

Tara Desmond

June 15th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Locks and Dams |  Exports |  Public Outreach

The 2023 Rail & Maritime Summit, a prominent event that unites distinguished professionals from the rail and maritime sectors, has proudly presented the esteemed Diolkos Award to Rod Weinzierl,...

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IL Corn Celebrates Lock 25 Groundbreaking

Lindsay Mitchell

May 18th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams

After decades of advocacy, education, diligence and tenacity, the IL Corn Growers Association celebrates the groundbreaking of a brand-new 1,200-foot Lock 25 near Winfield, MO today, May 18,...

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WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT (WRDA) 2022 PASSES IN SENATE INLAND WATERWAYS 65%/35% COST-SHARE NOW PERMANENT

Waterways Council, Inc.

December 16th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams

Washington, DC -- Last night, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 passed in the Senate by a vote of 83-11. It was included as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act...

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HOUSE PASSES FISCAL YEAR 2023 MINIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL ENERGY & WATER DEVELOPMENT BILL INCLUDED

Waterways Council, Inc.

July 21st, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Locks and Dams

Today, the House passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 minibus appropriations package by a vote of 220 yeas to 207 nays. The package included six appropriations bills: Agriculture,...

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Illinois Senators Champion Cost-Share Change Enabling Lock Modernization

Lindsay Mitchell

May 5th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Locks and Dams |  Legislation & Regulation

Yesterday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously passed its Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022. The bill includes a cost-share shift offered by Senators Tammy...

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Inland Waterways, Critical to Illinois and the Nation, Get Their Due

Rodney Weinzierl

May 3rd, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Locks and Dams |  Exports

If you drive over LaSalle’s Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge that spans the Illinois Waterway, you may look down to see barges being pushed by towboats, but probably don’t know exactly what is...

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IL Corn Celebrates the Passage of FY 22 Omnibus Appropriations Bill with Funding for Locks and Dams

Lindsay Mitchell

March 10th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Locks and Dams

  Late in the evening on March 9, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus appropriations bill. The funding for the Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works – the line item from which lock and...

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LOCK 25 ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER RECEIVES DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FUNDS

Lindsay Mitchell

January 19th, 2022  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Locks and Dams

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...

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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 Statement on the November 5 Passage of Infrastructure Bill

Lindsay Mitchell

November 8th, 2021  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams

Illinois Corn Growers Association President Randy DeSutter, a farmer from Woodhull, made the following statement while reflecting on Friday’s passage of an infrastructure bill:   “After several...

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Waterways Campaign Highlights Environmental & Economic Impacts

Lindsay Mitchell

October 26th, 2021  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Locks and Dams |  Public Outreach

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board is proud to partner with the Waterways Council Inc, Illinois Soybean Association, and others to help audiences understand the importance of inland waterways and...

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Bipartisan Senate Infrastructure Bill Includes Funding for Upgraded Locks and Dams

Lindsay Mitchell

August 10th, 2021  |  Today's News |  Locks and Dams |  Legislation & Regulation

Today’s Senate passage of a bipartisan infrastructure package included $2.5 billion of full federal funding to upgrade and modernize the inland waterways system, with specific projects to be...

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Lock and Dam Upgrades Receive $22.5 Million

Lindsay Mitchell

August 2nd, 2021  |  Today's News |  Locks and Dams

Lock and Dam Upgrades Receive $22.5 Million   The locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers are one step closer to the renovation and rebuilding that they desperately need after the...

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Waterways Included in the American Jobs Plan

Katie Smith

March 31st, 2021  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams

Waterways Included in The American Jobs Plan   President Biden announced The American Jobs Plan to rebuild the economy and invest in rural communities. One of the aspects of this plan that ICGA...

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ICGA Urges the Importance of NESP

Dan Obert

January 13th, 2021  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams |  Legislation & Regulation

ICGA Urges the Start of NESP   New construction on locks and dams on the inland waterways system is critical to agriculture and other industries throughout the state, Midwest and...

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ICGA Statement on Water Resources Development Act 2020 Passage

Lindsay Mitchell

December 22nd, 2020  |  Today's News |  Locks and Dams

ICGA Statement on Water Resources Development Act 2020 Passage   Following the House and Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, Illinois Corn Growers Association President...

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WRDA 2020 Alive in Lame Duck Session

Dan Obert

December 3rd, 2020  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Locks and Dams

WRDA 2020 Alive in Lame Duck Session   The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2020 remains in play as debate continues in Congress during the lame duck session. The latest is WRDA 2020 may...

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