ICGA Uses Grassroots Advocacy to Champion Ethanol and E15 Access

Illinois corn farmers call on Congress to act at a critical moment for ethanol policy

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Ethanol advocacy has reached a critical inflection point, and IL Corn Growers Association is stepping up their grassroots efforts to ensure farmers’ voices are heard in Washington.

Congress is currently considering whether to include the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act in an upcoming funding package. If passed, this legislation would allow for year-round, unrestricted sales of E15 nationwide, expanding consumer fuel choice while strengthening demand for U.S.-grown corn.

Momentum is building, and members of Congress are poised to act.

Staff from the IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) are actively engaging lawmakers—making phone calls, holding meetings, and walking the halls of Congress—to push this policy across the finish line. But farmer involvement is essential to securing success.

“Lawmakers need to hear directly from the people who will be impacted most,” ICGA President and Illinois farmer Mark Bunselmeyer emphasized. “Grassroots advocacy is what turns conversations into action.”

ICGA is urging corn farmers to take immediate action by contacting their members of Congress and encouraging them to support inclusion of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act in the pending funding legislation. A draft letter is available to make participation quick and easy, and growers are encouraged to personalize their message by sharing their 2025 profitability challenges, connections to local ethanol plants, or commitment to their rural communities.

These personal stories help underscore how year-round E15 access supports farm income, strengthens rural economies, and provides consumers with affordable, lower-carbon fuel options.

“This is a moment where every voice matters,” Bunselmeyer said. “Together, we can help fuel the E15 across the finish line.”

Corn growers are encouraged to act now and help hold Congress accountable by making ethanol a priority in the final funding package.

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.