Who are Illinois corn farmers?

One of our priorities is to help non-farmers understand who you are and what you do. We’ve focused quite a few our efforts in Chicago, knowing from research that consumers in Chicago are particularly disengaged from the agriculture going on downstate and that their votes impact your farms and families.

For a general overview of the outreach that we’re involved in, check out the following programs:

Illinois Farm FamiliesIL Corn provides this program in coalition with IL Beef, IL Milk, IL Pork, IL Soybean Associations, and the IL Farm Bureau to talk with Chicago moms and give them on-farm experiences.

Illinois Runs on HomeGrown Corn: This program gives non-farmers the opportunity to “visit” a farm using the newest technology!  We’re using virtual reality viewers and 360-degree filming technology to produce on-farm videos throughout the growing season.

CornBelters: IL Corn tests messages locally and attempts to change opinions in our own college town of Normal, IL by working with the Normal CornBelters.

U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Association: Through the National Corn Growers Association, IL Corn participates in this national collaborative, bringing factual information about agriculture to anyone who wants to know more.  This partnership also brought you the documentary, Farmland.

Coalition of Business, Labor, Agriculture Groups Unveil Landmark Legislation to Advance Carbon Capture and Storage in Illinois

March 14th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol

IL Corn represents farmer members in discussions to promote ethanol market development and protect landowner rights   A coalition of business, labor and agriculture groups have united behind...

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Policymakers Must Take a Broader Approach to Reducing Tailpipe Emissions

February 23rd, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation |  Additional Research

America is in pursuit of a clean energy future, but to get there, our leaders must prioritize a solution that already exists at gas stations across the country.   Ethanol, made from corn...

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White House to Greenlight Year-Round E15 Availability by 2025: Midwest Governors' Request Answered, Promising Environmental and Economic Benefits

Lindsay Mitchell

February 22nd, 2024  |  ICGA |  Ethanol

The White House announced today that it will answer the April 2022 request of Governor Pritzker and seven other Midwest governors to make E15 available year round starting in 2025. E15 is a 15...

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Put the BRAKES on HB1634

February 22nd, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

This week, Illinois state lawmakers tried hitting the gas to incorporate California’s extreme vehicle emissions standards into the Midwest. HB1634 allows California to govern Illinois Vehicle...

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IL Corn Thanks Lawmakers for Support of GREET

February 15th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol

Seven members of Illinois’s congressional delegation joined a group of 43 lawmakers in a letter to the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Lifecycle Analysis Interagency Working Group voicing their support...

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Bipartisan Victory: Next Generation Fuels Act Gains Traction as a Solution Lowering Carbon Emissions Nationwide

Haley Bickelhaupt

January 17th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol

The IL Corn Growers Association and the ethanol industry have their foot on the petal in full support of the Next Generation Fuels Act in 2024.   The bill, which sets a new clean fuel standard,...

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ICGA Pleased with Acceptance of GREET; Looks to Monitor Changes

December 15th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

The U.S. Department of Treasury announced today that it will allow a modified version of the GREET model as a measurement for determining reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as the agency...

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Q&A: Farmers thoughts on CCS

November 29th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

This fall, IL Corn teamed up with Illinois ethanol plants to host informational sessions highlighting the connection between carbon and corn production.    Lauren Lurkins, an environmental law...

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Illinois Corn Farmers Recognize Illinois Senator Joyce

Lindsay Mitchell

November 21st, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol

Illinois State Senator Patrick Joyce received the ethanol award from the IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) at the group’s annual meeting on November 21, 2023, in Bloomington.   Senator Joyce...

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Airlines Show Support for Ethanol Industry

November 9th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation

Airlines Show Support for Ethanol Industry The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) commends the airline industry for their support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne GREET model...

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ICGA offers NHTSA “Fuel for Thought”

Haley Bickelhaupt

October 24th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation

The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) helped magnify the voice of rural Americans, sharing over 900 comments opposing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s electric vehicle...

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NCERC Hosts Group of Indian Leaders on Trade Mission

NCERC

October 19th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Ethanol |  Exports

National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) hosted a team of 10 executives from India’s automotive, biofuels and automotive sectors. The team, brought here through a U.S. Grains Council Trade...

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Governor J.B Pritzker Talks with Commodity Groups at Farm Progress Show

Haley Bickelhaupt

September 14th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Public Outreach

Cameras, carts and security details created quite a buzz at the commodity tent   IL Corn Growers Association members spoke with Governor Pritzker at Farm Progress Show about policy impacting...

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NHTSA on a "one-way" route towards EV Future

September 7th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation

The IL Corn Growers Association is calling on the agricultural industry to submit comments to the docket regarding a proposal released by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration...

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Corn Grower Leaders Call on Biden Administration to Tie U.S. Tax Decisions on Aviation Biofuels to Government’s Emissions Model

September 7th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol

Asserting that U.S. tax policy should be tied to the best standards the government has to offer, 16 of the nation’s top corn grower leaders sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen...

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Ethanol and Biofuels Drive Conversation at Farm Progress Show

Haley Bickelhaupt

September 7th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

During the Farm Progress Show, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-13) stood alongside farmers and biofuels experts to confirm ethanol’s role in lowering carbon and supporting rural economies....

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ICGA and NCGA Applaud USTR for Requesting USMCA Panel Formation

August 17th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Biotechnology |  Ethanol

The U.S. Trade Representative today requested a panel formation under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement over Mexico’s decision to ban imports of biotech corn used for human consumption.   “Trade...

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Ethanol Industry Wants Answers on Year-Round E15

August 10th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Ethanol |  Legislation & Regulation

This week, the IL Corn Growers Association sent a letter alongside 23 organizations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking the administration to immediately finalize its ruling on the...

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Maize Matters: C2A: EPA “BETS THE FARM” ON EVS

Haley Bickelhaupt

August 7th, 2023  |  ICGA |  Ethanol

This story is a feature article in ICGA's PAC Newsletter: Maize Matters   This June, ICGA asked for your help in a C2A challenging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)on their...

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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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