FAQs

IL Corn is made up of two farmer-led organizations that serve corn farmers in Illinois: IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and IL Corn Marketing Board (ICMB). ICGA represents the interests of Illinois corn farmers in Washington, DC and Springfield, IL, while ICMB is focused on growing demand, creating new markets, and fostering understand of corn farmers and the corn industry. Through these two organizations, IL Corn seeks to position corn farmers to create and capture profit opportunities, preserve their independence, and prosper for generations.

In 2023, Illinois farmers produced 2.27 Billion bushels of corn, slightly up from the previous year, with an average yield of 206 bushels per acre, a drop from the record 214 set in 2022. 

Illinois ranks number two in the nation for corn grown, second to Iowa.

ICGA farmer leaders and staff work hard to make sure farmers are at the top of mind with Washington D.C. and Springfield.  IL Corn partners with IL FFA with a long-term goal of helping place Illinois student leaders into congressional offices. Your membership creates positive change for our soil, water and air. The membership dues also go towards increasing the value of corn through the livestock industry. Finally you can save money on seed through dealer coupons and will receive our weekly e-newsletter to stay updated on all things corn. Join today!

When you become a member of the IL Corn Growers Association, you are not required to attend any meetings, however you are welcome to attend our annual meeting and board meetings as they're all open to the public.

Of all the field corn grown in Illinois, 48% is exported out of the state, 22% is used for ethanol, 20.4% is used for industrial uses, 4.7% is fed to livestock within the state, 4.2% is residual and 5.4% is carry-out.

Ethanol is an alcohol made from renewable resources such as corn and other cereal grains, food and other beverage wastes and forestry by-products. Ethanol-blended fuel substantially reduces carbon monoxide and volatile organic compound emissions, which are precursors to ozone. The corn-based substance is added to gasoline to reduce oil imports, reduce emissions, increase performance and reduce overall costs of transportation fuels.

You'll need to start here and fill out a purchase inquiry:

https://grains.org/markets-tools-data/resources-for-importers/ethanol-purchase-inquiry/

Every farmer that sells a bushel of corn in Illinois pays 7/8 of a cent per bushel to the corn checkoff program.  The corn checkoff uses that money to promote corn and help corn farmers.  Money is spent on research, marketing, and education.

The corn checkoff was created by Illinois law in 1982.

There are many opportunities for farmers to get involved in IL Corn!  As a member of the IL Corn Growers Association, you are invited to participate in the annual meeting (on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving), to participate in the annual policy development session in November, or to run for a seat on the ICGA board for a three-year term.

We also would love to have more farmers responding to policy surveys that we send out, participating in the legislative process by responding to action requests, contributing to PAC fundraisers, and recruiting more members.

As a checkoff contributor, we would welcome your help developing relationships with grain elevators and local ethanol plants, educating farmers on voluntary water quality management opportunities, and hosting international visitors to your farm.

No matter your interest, we have a place to help you get connected to IL Corn.  Call us at 309-557-3257 to find out more.

Members of the IL Corn Growers Association receive a coupon with their three-year membership renewal.  That coupon is good for $50 off one bag of seed from our participating partners (on a minimum order of three bags of seed).  Some of the partners redeem the coupon with a free bag of seed.  Others offer the $50 discount.  You will have to contact your seed corn dealer to find out how the partner you work with will treat the coupon.

There is currently no electronic way to request a refund.  Please call 309-827-0912 and ask Dana or Mike for more information.

If you're looking to purchase feed then you'll need to go here and fill out this form: https://grains.org/markets-tools-data/resources-for-importers/purchase-inquiry/

If you're looking to purchase ethanol than  you'll need to go here and fill out this form:

https://grains.org/markets-tools-data/resources-for-importers/ethanol-purchase-inquiry/

Thanks for your interest in Illinois corn.  Illinois exports almost 50% of it's corn.  If you're looking to purchase feed you'll need to start here:

https://grains.org/markets-tools-data/resources-for-importers/purchase-inquiry/

If you're looking to purchase ethanol go here:

https://grains.org/markets-tools-data/resources-for-importers/ethanol-purchase-inquiry/