From 10 Acres to Every Acre: Illinois Farmer Jay Whalen's Cover Crop Story
By Tara Desmond • August 20, 2026
On this episode of IL Corn TV, farmer and Illinois farmer host John Klemm sits down with Jay Whalen, a fifth-generation farmer near Streator and recipient of IL Corn’s Randy Stauffer Conservation Award.
Whalen shares how he gradually adopted no-till and cover crops across his 2,000-acre family farm and why starting small, experimenting and finding what works for your operation can make all the difference. He also discusses soil health, fertility, management strategies and the bottom-line benefits he’s seen from conservation practices, including improved ROI and profitability.
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By Tara Desmond
•
August 19, 2026
The IL Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) has elected a new slate of officers who will help lead the organization’s efforts to invest Illinois corn checkoff dollars in programs that grow demand, create new markets and strengthen understanding of Illinois corn farmers and the industry. Elected by their fellow farmer directors, the new ICMB officers are Matt Raben as Chair, Terry Smith as Vice Chair, Dan Meyer as Treasurer, and John Klemm as Secretary.








