IL Corn Farmers and IL Ethanol Producers Disheartened by Brazilian TRQ Expiration
December 16, 2020

“Even with a significant fuel market in Chicago, Illinois ethanol producers are projected to ship nearly 1 billion gallons of fuel ethanol in 2020 out of our state. This tariff works to destroy the opportunity for additional international sales, which will have impacts on Illinois farmers and rural communities that are supported by a vibrant ethanol industry. Brazil’s decision to impose a 20 percent tariff on all U.S. ethanol imports must not stand,” said Eric Mosbey, ILRFA President from Lincoln Land AgriEnergy in Palestine, IL.

By Lindsay Croke
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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.