April - May Highlights Annual Report

Tara Desmond
January 6, 2026
  • 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.
drone image don meyer farm tornado amboy il 2023
By Pearl McDade July 8, 2026
Don Meyer's 2023 tornado recovery offers lessons in resilience and optimism after disaster.
ICTV
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2026
E15, E20, E30: What the Research Really Shows
Schultz/Miller Family
By Penny Lauritzen - Illinois Agri-Women July 2, 2026
Illinois Agri-Women names three Legacy Farm Families for GoAg3, honoring generations of women in agriculture at an August 21 celebration.
Matt Boucher
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2026
Meet Matt Boucher of Boucher Family Farms in Dwight, IL — a 4th-gen farmer using cover crops, custom application & more. Read his story.
U.S. Capitol with “FARM BILL” text overlayed on the left
By Lyndi Allen July 2, 2026
Chairman John Boozman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry released a Farm Bill discussion draft on June 23, 2026.
Cover crops
By Lyndi Allen July 2, 2026
USDA's Regenerative Feedstock Rule provides important certainty for farmers as they begin making crop and input decisions. IL Corn has identified what it could mean for corn farmers.
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