IL Corn Announces Legislative Priorities for 2025

Lindsay Croke

On behalf of the 50,000 Illinois farmers that grow more than 11 million acres of corn in Illinois, the IL Corn Growers Association looks forward to pursuing the following priorities. Our mission is to create a future for Illinois farmers to operate freely, responsibly, and successfully through grassroots advocacy.

“We are in a downward cycle of the ag economy and the quickest way to turn that around is to build demand. There are lots of opportunities for our state and federal governments to create environments for corn demand to grow, and it’s the job of the IL Corn Growers Association to help them understand the opportunities and make them a reality,” said ICGA President and Waterloo farmer Garrett Hawkins.

Federal Legislative Priorities

Create ethanol demand: IL Corn will pursue policies that build new domestic ethanol demand, while opposing regulations that limit domestic ethanol demand. Our association continues in a lawsuit against the U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Transportation positing that their de facto electric vehicle mandates are outside of their regulatory authority. These regulations seek to eliminate corn-based ethanol use over time. In a new session of Congress, IL Corn will work with the Illinois congressional delegation and our national association to revise and reintroduce a Next Generation Fuels Act type legislation to standardize higher blends of ethanol for U.S. use.

Increase export demand: IL Corn is a proponent of free trade and will support and encourage trade policy that builds demand for corn and corn co-products like ethanol, red meat, and poultry. We have always endorsed the adoption of new free trade agreements but will also encourage increasing funding for trade promotion programs like the Foreign Market Development and Market Access Programs that build a superior brand for U.S. grains, meats, and fuels.

Positive farm policy reform: On behalf of the farmers we represent, IL Corn will help the House and Senate Ag Committees understand the impacts of their farm policy proposals on Illinois farm families and will pursue regionally equivalent programs. We are focused on protecting the integrity of the crop insurance program and on building farm programs that eliminate the need for disaster assistance.

Fund lock and dam starts: After more than two decades of education, positioning, and gathering partners, IL Corn has made meaningful progress getting locks and dams on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers started. We will continue to pursue a new lock start at LaGrange near Versailles.

State Legislative Priorities

Promote Renewable Fuels in transportation: The production of renewable fuels like ethanol made from locally grown corn is important to the agricultural economy in Illinois. Moreover, blending ethanol in our gasoline helps reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector. With new technologies like Carbon Capture and Sequestration, the ethanol industry can further reduce its carbon footprint and produce fuel with near zero net emissions. The technology advancements will allow the industry to make new products like Sustainable Aviation Fuel and participate more in low carbon fuel markets. IL Corn looks to participate in discussions around clean fuel standards and new markets for renewable fuel to ensure Illinois farm families have the opportunity to participate in these new, cleaner, greener fuel markets. 

Build on conservation efforts: IL Corn will continue to advocate for policies that help farmers adopt conservation practices like cover crops, reduced tillage and nitrogen application management that help improve soil and water quality. IL Corn will continue to educate lawmakers about the costs and impacts that implementing these practices have on the family farm. Robust funding for programs like Fall Covers for Spring Savings are important as we look to meet Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy goals in 2025.

Protect ag funding: Partners like the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center and the soil and water conservation districts receive funding directly from the state budget. IL Corn is committed to assisting our partners and protecting their funding streams so they can continue to provide excellent service to Illinois farm families.

Support livestock initiatives: IL Corn will advocate to continue the regulatory framework for livestock siting and expansions that already exists in Illinois, as well as to support our state livestock partners in their state legislative endeavors.

“In all things, IL Corn represents our members and their desires to support their farm families through a vibrant ag economy and income that comes from the marketplace. We will pursue those opportunities for our families and look forward to an ever-improving climate for ag business in Illinois,” said Hawkins.