Eighty-degree December weather is not ideal for grain storage on Steve Fourez’s farm in Fairmont, Illinois. Although hot weather and humidity poses challenges for grain sitting in bins, the IL Corn Marketing Board Director (ICMB) said it is a reality for feedlot and feed mill owners in Mexico. In early December, Fourez attended a U.S. Grains Council (USGC) mission, alongside ICMB Chairman Jon Rosenstiel. The group focused on the quality of grain storage and strengthening relationships with importers in Mexico. The director’s experience magnified the impact a long-term railway shutdown, similar to last week’s closure on the southern border, could have on the country’s limited grain supply. “They really are dependent on a constant stream of good quality U.S. corn in order to continue what they're doing,” said Fourez. “They just don't have the capability or the climate and conditions to be able to sit on large quantities of corn.”
1. Meet John Klemm - Farmer in Waynesville, IL
The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) prides itself in representing it's membership's priorites at the highest levels in Springfield and Washington, D.C. As a new year approaches, ICGA will focus on farmer concerns through these policies. State Priorities Pass Carbon Capture and Sequestration Legislation In the last two years, carbon capture and storage (CCS) made headlines throughout the world as nations race to lower their carbon emissions. ICGA is active in CCS negotiations in Springfield and will continue to represent the priorities and concerns of our farmers regarding the use of eminent domain, CO2 safety, and the market opportunity for Illinois agriculture. Hear the top CCS questions from farmers across the state! Secure fundings for retailers converting to higher ethanol blends This legislative session ICGA looks to secure funding for fuel retailers to provide higher blends of ethanol. A saturated ethanol market would provide consumers lower prices at the fuel pump and decrease carbon emissions. Continued funding for NCERC ICGA crafted the idea of the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) in 1996 and have supported the facility since its creation in 2003. ICGA priorities continued funding for NCERC in FY24. Clean Fuel Standard Discussions Last summer, ICGA began working with elected officials and industry leaders representing corn farmers in Illinois’s clean fuel standard discussions. IL Corn has a seat at Clean Transportation Fuel Standard conversations and will advocate for a lower carbon future that includes the extensive benefits agriculture brings to the table. Strengthen AIMA Agriculture Impact Mitigation Agreements (AIMA) are guided by the Bureau of Land and Water Resources and create consensus between utility companies and agricultural landowners. The accord was created to help property owners alleviate the impacts of wind, oil/natural gas, and other utility projects. ICGA is working to strengthen the agreements to better support the agricultural industry. Increase funds for Fall Covers for Spring Savings ICGA continues to support farmers and conservation practices through the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program . The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Cover Crop Premium Discount Program promotes additional acres of cover crops not covered by state and federal incentives. Currently applicants can receive up to $5 per acre on the following year’s crop insurance. The program is funded at $600 thousand per year. ICGA is investigating ways to expand this program and encourage farmer conservation practices. Federal Priorities Next Generation Fuels Act ICGA looks to pass the Next Generation Fuels Act as an avenue for consumers vehicle choice that invigorates the lifespan of the internal combustion engine. The legislation provides automakers the flexibility to create cars desired by consumers while meeting lower-carbon, climate goals. The bill was introduced in the House and Senate last spring and has over 30 co-sponsors. ICGA will continue advocacy for the legislation, a bill that would boost ethanol demand. Lock and Dam funding ICGA supports passing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The legislation reinforces lock and dam funding critical to the state’s extensive grain export market. In November 2021, the Biden administration signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The legislation funds updates to Illinois’ locks and dams. However, since the bill’s passage, cost increases have created a barrier to the projects progress. ICGA requests the IIJA be amended in the upcoming Water Resources Development Act 2024 (WRDA24) negotiations to fully fund all IIJA projects to completion as intended by congress. Farm Bill ICGA continues to advocate for a five-year farm bill after multiple extensions to the 2018 legislation. Our members top priorities include maintaining a robust crop insurance program, increasing funds for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), and creating more flexibility in the United States Department of Agriculture’s conservation programs. EPA Proposal ICGA will monitor the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final Multipollutant Emissions Standard and request congressional intervention if the language is unfavorable to agriculture. In 2023, ICGA worked alongside the automotive industry to rally Congress and shared the negative impact the proposal would have on Americans. As a result, the House of Representatives passed a bill to defund the EPA’s rule. The administration will release their final mandate spring 2024. NHTSA Proposal ICGA will monitor the release of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) final electric vehicle rule and request congressional intervention if the language is unfavorable to agriculture. ICGA submitted over 900 comments to the mandate requiring an industry fleet-wide average of approximately 58 miles per gallon for cars and light duty trucks by model year 2032. The proposal mirrors the multipollutant rule released by the Environmental Protection Agency. The administration will release their final mandate spring 2024.
From the latest trends in clean energy initiatives to the challenges posed by ambitious fuel efficiency standards, check out our compilation of the top 20 most-read stories in IL Corn News in 2023. Gifts for Illinois Farmers Ways to Stengthen Illinois' Clean Energy Future Family Farmers and Free Trade Agreements are Behind the Wheel Extremely Ambitious CAFE Standards Knowing Your Fuel Options Can Save Your Budget and the Environment A Government Shutdown Could Impact Farmers Saving Private Farmers IL Corn Scholarship Period Open 20 Movies You May Not Know Have Illinois Corn in Them Best & Worst Decisions Illinois Farmers Made IL Corn Announces Scholarship Winners IL Corn Celebrates Rich Clemmons 5 Interesting Stories from Farmers During Harvest Legislative Team Strengthens Voice for Farmers T-Shirt Contest Winners 2023 Stewart Recognized for Conservation Award New Interns Join Team Grab a Casey's Pizza in October SAF - A Takeoff Market Whiskey Competition Winners Announced
Today, the IL Corn Growers Association reacted to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) closing of international rail crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas. The rail crossings have been closed since 8 am on December 18, effectively implementing an embargo of American grain into Mexico. Mexico is the top export destination for U.S. corn farmers and much of that U.S. corn is grown in Illinois. In 2023, about 64 percent of all corn shipments to Mexico were by rail. Of that total, shipments originating in Illinois represent 41 percent of all rail movements of corn to Mexico. Any delay or increase in transportation costs will negatively impact Illinois farmers immediately through lower cash bids and reduced demand from exporters.
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 allocates tax credits for sustainable aviation fuels under the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act. The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is pleased the Department of Treasury has accepted the GREET model created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. Over the last three decades, ICGA has supported GREET’s annual updates and will monitor closely the improved carbon reduction scores for corn and corn ethanol. “We are confident in the scientific data backing the GREET model and look forward to the confirmation the administration finds as they analyze it's data,” said ICGA President Dave Rylander. “The GREET model accurately depicts agriculture’s environmental role and opens a world of new opportunities for sustainable aviation fuel.”' The decision by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been eagerly anticipated since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed in 2022. The law allocates tax credits for biofuels that can demonstrate that they cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% or more. GREET, which stands for the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation, was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy to measure greenhouse emissions from the field to the car or plane. “We thank Illinois’s delegation for their support in guiding the finalization of the IRA tax credit qualifications,” said Rylander. “As farmers, we look forward to continue playing a role in the decarbonization of our sector. The updated GREET model will be released by the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Lifecycle Analysis Interagency Working Group on March 1. ### About the IL Corn Growers Association IL Corn Growers Association is a state-based organization that represents the interests of corn farmers in Illinois, maintaining a high profile on issues in Washington, DC, and Springfield, IL. Through grassroots advocacy, ICGA creates a future for Illinois farmers in which they can operate freely, responsibly, and successfully. In order to fulfill this mission, the organization conducts governmental affairs activities at all levels, market development projects, and educational and member service programs. For further information regarding their work and involvement, visit their website www.ilcorn.org.
The We Are the 96% campaign brought to you by Illinois Farm Families will resume paid advertising opportunities in January and February 2024, concluding with a SuperBowl commercial for Illinois audiences on February 11, 2024. SuperBowl 2024 will mark exactly one year since the campaign began.
How is it possible that we’re approaching the end of 2023? The year has flown by. But a lot has happened over the year, and it’s important to take time to reflect on the changes we’ve seen in the nation’s capital city during that time. And that leads us to our annual Ins & Outs list, our fun but also serious end-of-the-year list of what is en vogue and what’s passé. With no further ado, here is the list… INs The House of Thin Margins – As I write this column, the House has 221 Republicans and 213 Democrats. One vacancy was recently created when former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was ousted after an ignominious and short tenure in the lower chamber. The small margins have pitted the agendas of more moderate Republicans against those of members of the conservative Freedom Caucus. The intensity of the fractured House reached fever pitch in October when then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted, leading to the speakership of Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.). (The former speaker has since announced that he will retire from Congress in January.) While Speaker Johnson is enjoying somewhat of a grace period, Speaker Johnson is certain to face the same challenges and threats as his predecessor as he navigates a divided caucus with little room for error. The Laddered Approach to Government Funding (AKA the Step-Stool Approach) – Congress has long struggled to pass the 12 bills that fund the federal government by the October 1 deadline. Lately, Congress has been wrapping these bills into one omnibus package that is typically passed by Christmas time. But a new speaker brings a new approach. This year, Speaker Johnson successfully convinced Congress to punt the vote on budget funding to the new year under a bifurcated process in which some funding bills will expire in January and others in February. Whether or not this is a sensible approach is still up for discussion, but at least it keeps the government open and federal employees can make travel plans for the holidays. Farm Bill Extension – NCGA supported Congress’ decision to extend reauthorization of the farm bill for one year, but we are nonetheless urging the legislation’s quick passage. While we’re putting this in the “in” column, it hasn’t exactly been “out.” 2002 was the last time a farm bill was enacted before it’s end of the fiscal year deadline. In the meantime, NCGA is taking advantage of the extra time to ensure the priorities of corn growers are included in the legislation. OUTs Precedented Times – We keep thinking we’ve seen it all, but this year brought new twists and turns to Capitol Hill as the House of Representatives went without a speaker for 21 days, a stressful time for our democracy. Mere weeks later, the House of Representatives expelled one of its own members for only the sixth time in history, and only the third since the Civil War. The 2024 presidential election is sure to bring some fascinating dynamics, but for now, we’re calling it: precedented times are behind us. Timelines – Passing legislation on time appears to now be a relic of the past. We are already months behind in fiscal year 2024 government funding, the national defense authorization bill is behind schedule, and the farm bill reauthorization could be delayed by up to a year. Yet, NCGA continues to work to turn lemons into lemonade by using the extended time wisely and by working to advance some of our key priorities. The good news is that agricultural issues and corn grower related priorities still tend to bring the two parties together and remain an area of focus among Republicans and Democrats from the Midwest and other areas. We will continue to leverage this goodwill to get things done for growers. The Old Guard – The fall of Rep. McCarthy’s speakership marks the end of the so-called Young-Guns era, a trifecta of young Republicans who showed great promise during the years former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) ruled the House. This distinguished group included former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and former Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) along with McCarthy. On the Democratic side, Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi’s departure from leadership along with Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has hastened a new era of Democratic leadership. This all comes as the country experiences deep political, demographic and cultural shifts and as the mores of Congress continue to change. The long-term outcome is anyone’s guess. Stay tuned knowing that we work in a bipartisan way to advance your interests. It has certainly been an interesting year that promises many twists and turns over the months and years ahead. We look forward to remaining the constant presence advocating for corn growers. I hope you and yours have a happy holiday season. Until next year… Appleton is the vice president of public policy for the National Corn Growers Association.
