ICGA Recognizes Atkinson for Environmental Work

Bloomington, IL – The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) recognized Todd Atkinson for his legislative work supporting adoption of on-farm conservation practices during their annual meeting on November 26 at the AgriCenter in Bloomington, IL. Atkinson received the Mike Plumer Environmental Award, named after a former University of Illinois Extension Educator and no-till pioneer who passed away in 2017.

Atkinson serves as a policy advisor for U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. His tenure on Capitol Hill includes supporting four U.S. senators from Illinois.

“It is my honor to present this award to Mr. Atkinson for his work building and generating support for policies that empower conservation adoption on Illinois farms,” said Dave Rylander, ICGA President and farmer from Victoria, IL. “He has grown up on an Illinois farm and understands what it means to own a family farm in the Midwest, and he easily translates that early experience into policies that help farmers in the pursuit of protecting soil, safeguarding water, and cleaning air.”

His history of work also includes time in the USDA Farm Service Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency where he served as the EPA representative to Obama’s Biofuels Interagency Working Group. Earlier in his career, he spent time in the Illinois Department of Transportation. Atkinson is a 2012 recipient of the USDA Secretary’s Award and the 2011 FSA Administrator’s Award for reforming the Biomass Crop Assistance Program established in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Atkinson has an MBA from the University of Maryland and an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana. A native of Bethany, IL, Atkinson’s family farms in Shelby County, on land first settled by his great-great-great grandfather in 1843.

###

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.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.

Budget Reconciliation Bill Passes Congress

By Lyndi Allen • July 3, 2025

Illinois corn farmers will be impacted by many provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill that passed in both chambers this week.

Importance of Trade Series: Ethanol

By Lyndi Allen • July 3, 2025

Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only as grain or feed, but also as fuel.

Corn: More American Than Apple Pie

By Lindsay Croke • June 30, 2025

When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.