Cornfield to Capitol: Farm Bill 2025

Every five years, Congress negotiates the Farm Bill—the most important piece of legislation that shapes farmers’ bottom lines. For corn farmers, the 2025 Farm Bill will determine programs from crop insurance safety nets to market expanding programs for exports.

What’s at stake for corn in the Farm Bill?

Crop Insurance: A key tool for risk management, especially in a low-price market
Conservation Programs: Opportunities for funding farming practices that align with Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) while protecting flexibility for farmers
Trade and Market Development: Market Access Program (MAP)/ Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs that open international trade for corn and ethanol
Research and Innovation: Sustaining U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research that benefits farmers on yields, sustainability, and new uses
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being

What is a “skinny” Farm Bill?

The House Agriculture Committee has been working on a “skinny” Farm Bill drafting process during August, and a markup is currently anticipated in late September or October. The House Agriculture Committee already has an outline for a Farm Bill from the version it voted on last year, but many of the policies will need updating.

As several of the priority items were addressed in the Reconciliation Bill, it is expected that this Farm Bill will have some, but more limited, spending provisions and will focus more on policy changes.

Lawmakers will still need to handle some critical issues in the Farm Bill, including how to address California’s Proposition 12 law, a hemp regulatory loophole created in the 2018 Farm Bill, and pesticide provisions.

Some legislators and experts say the farm bill is unlikely until 2026. The lawmakers have a tight deadline of just 14 legislative days to finalize funding before the end of the fiscal year.

How IL Corn is working to protect farmer priorities

Advocacy in D.C.
IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) leaders meet with lawmakers and staff
Coalition advocacy efforts with other corn-states, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and industry partners
Farmer Voices
Encouraging grassroots involvement through calls, meetings, and testimonials

Your stories matter. Policymakers need to hear how the provisions under the Farm Bill affect your farm. Sign up to be in our Call to Action system to receive alerts when you need to tell your congressman how current legislation affects your farm.

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From the Archives to the Field: A Student's Take on Illinois Corn History

By Tara Desmond • June 11, 2026

How much do you know about the farmers who came before you and the decisions that still shape Illinois agriculture today? That's what University of Illinois student Lyndon Shi set out to explore during his internship with IL Corn . What began as an archival research project became a deeper look at the history of farmer leadership, innovation and advocacy in Illinois. While digging through university archives, Lyndon uncovered an undigitized manuscript from agricultural economist Harold Guither explaining the case for checkoffs. When he mentioned the discovery to IL Corn Director Rod Weinzierl, he got an unexpected response: "Oh yeah, I know him. We worked with him." It was a reminder that agricultural history isn't as distant as it may seem. Lyndon's research connected two eras of the IL Corn Growers Association: the original organization founded in the 1890s and the modern ICGA established in the 1970s. He learned how University of Illinois agriculture dean Eugene Davenport helped organize corn growers and sent professors across the state on "Corn Gospel Trains" to share the latest farming research. One story stood out in particular: the adoption of hybrid corn. Farmers who once judged corn by the appearance of the ear had to shift their focus to yield. Lyndon sees a similar transition today, as farmers increasingly balance yield with profitability amid rising input costs. "Illinois corn farmers are very good at organizing, and they are genuinely very grassroots," Lyndon said. "They've had a much more active role in shaping policy rather than just being on the receiving end." This Summer and Fall, Lyndon will travel to Taiwan on a federal scholarship to study food security. He'll do so with a new appreciation for Illinois agriculture's global connections, including Taiwan's longstanding role as an important trading partner. Watch the full conversation on IL Corn TV to hear Lyndon's research firsthand and discover how Illinois corn's history continues to influence the future.