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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NEW COVER CROP GUIDE PUBLISHED BY PRECISION CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT

Rosalie Trump

March 7th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

Precision Conservation Management (PCM), a program of IL Corn and the Illinois Soybean Association, released a new cover crop guidebook this month in Prairie Farmer Magazine. PCM has conducted...

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6 Farmers Share Cover Crop Tips

Tara Desmond

March 7th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation

Six Illinois farmers come together to share their insights and experiences on a practice that's not just farming but stewardship of the land, navigating the delicate balance between tradition and...

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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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The Game in Washington that Rivals the Super Bowl

Brooke S. Appleton

February 15th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation

This is the best February since last February. That’s because, like this time last year, my beloved Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. Like millions of Americans, I was glued to the...

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Illinois Ag Groups Support Expanded Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program

American Farmland Trust

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

(Springfield, IL) The IL Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and American Farmland Trust are seeking expanded state investment into a popular program...

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Corn Farmers Key Stakeholders in First SAF Conference

Haley Bickelhaupt

February 14th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – IL Corn is pleased to announce the inaugural Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) conference uniting the state’s stakeholders in the airline, manufacturing, government and...

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GM Corn Ban Updates

February 9th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Biotechnology |  Exports |  Legislation & Regulation

A timeline has formulated as efforts continue to resolve Mexico’s proposed ban on genetically modified (GM) corn for human consumption.    In December 2020, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López...

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Payments Available for 2023 Cover Crops Through Farmers for Soil Health

February 2nd, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

Bloomington, Illinois – Farmers in Illinois can receive incentive payments for cover crops planted in 2023 by enrolling in Farmers for Soil Health by February 28. Farmers for Soil Health is a...

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IL Corn Celebrates Farm Advocate Megan Dwyer's National Recognition in Young Leaders Competition

Tara Desmond

January 29th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach |  Conservation

Megan Dwyer, a valuable member of the IL Corn team, has clinched 4th place nationally in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture competition. Megan's...

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Corn to Capitol: Bunting Serves Second Year as State Rep.

Haley Bickelhaupt

January 23rd, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

An unconventional pathway to Springfield did not falter Jason Bunting’s steadfast support for agriculture as a freshman member of Illinois’s General Assembly. Former IL Corn Grower...

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IL Corn Growers Association Monitoring Fertilizer Tariffs and 2024 Crop Budgets

Lindsay Mitchell

January 19th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Exports |  Legislation & Regulation

Bloomington – Last week, the US Department of Commerce set a tax of 7.41% on imports of phosphate fertilizer from Morocco and Russia, which is a decrease from the previous rate of 19.97%.  The...

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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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Unified Front: Illinois Agricultural Leaders Pursue Common Policy Goals in 2024

Haley Bickelhaupt

January 12th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

The IL Corn Growers Association met today with leaders from agricultural organizations throughout the state to discuss policy goals for 2024.     The Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable...

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Like the Year Before It, 2024 Will Be Filled with Challenges and Opportunities as We Advocate for Corn Grower Priorities

Brooke S. Appleton - National Corn Growers Association

January 11th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

The new year offers many opportunities on the policy front, and my staff and I will spend the year building on the successes of corn grower advocates from 2023.   Last year, we successfully...

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Capturing Generations of Farm Life - Winners Revealed in the 2nd Annual End of the Year Photo Contest

Tara Desmond

January 11th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach

The winners of the 2nd annual end-of-the-year photo contest have been unveiled, showcasing the stories behind the camera. From the fields of Red Bud, IL, to the livestock farms of Morrisonville...

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IL Corn Top 10 Videos

Tara Desmond

December 28th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB

IL Corn utilizes videos to captivate and connect with our audience communicating projects that enhance and position farmers to grow. The power of a narrative arc, inherent in storytelling, is...

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