April - May Highlights Annual Report

Legislative Ag Day in Springfield
ICGA showed strong visibility at Ag Legislative Day, meeting directly with lawmakers and highlighting priorities like E15 expansion, lock & dam funding, property taxes, and conservation incentives. The event strengthened relationships with both new and veteran legislators.
Megan Dwyer Testifies in Washington, D.C.
Director of Conservation & Nutrient Stewardship for IL Corn (Megan Dwyer) delivered federal testimony to the Senate Agriculture Committee on conservation economics and voluntary, incentive-based programs—sharing real farmer examples and reinforcing ICGA’s credibility in national policy discussions.
On-Farm Legislative Visits
ICGA hosted spring farm visits to give lawmakers a firsthand look at cover crops, strip-till, nitrogen tools, and rural infrastructure needs. These visits remain one of ICGA’s most effective tools for connecting policy to real farm impact.
Ongoing Springfield Engagement
Throughout session, ICGA maintained regular contact with legislators on key issues including ethanol, property taxes, waterway infrastructure, and rural broadband.

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Greg Goodwin Elected President of the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership

By Tara Desmond • March 5, 2026

The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership is a collaborative network of organizations working together to advance sustainable agriculture across the state.

Shadow of a dome-shaped building cast over a cornfield at sunset.

Farm Bill 2.0 Passed Out of House Ag Committee

By Lindsay Croke • March 5, 2026

The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture discussed farm policy at length, debating amendments and working towards a bill that passed out of Committee in the early hours of March 5, 2026.

From Ancestral Genomes to Modern Fields: Researching Corn’s Roots to Improve Nitrogen Efficiency

By Tara Desmond • March 5, 2026

PhD research explores ancestral corn genetics and the maize microbiome to improve nitrogen efficiency and sustainability in modern corn production.

Greg and Janis Thoren to Receive Illinois Leopold Conservation Award

By Sand County Foundation • March 5, 2026

Greg and Janis Thoren are the recipients of the 2026 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award®.

ICGA Statement on Fertilizer Pricing Investigation

By Lyndi Allen • March 5, 2026

Upon reading the Bloomberg report of a potential investigation into fertilizer prices, ICGA President and Illinois farmer Mark Bunselmeyer releases statement.

Illinois Musician Cody Diekhoff Talks Farming Roots

By Tara Desmond • March 5, 2026

Chicago Farmer joins IL Corn TV to discuss farming roots, storytelling, Midwest life and the parallels between agriculture and music.