IL Corn Growers Applaud Bipartisan Effort to Expand Year-Round E15 Sales

February 13, 2025

Lyndi Allen

IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) applauds Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senator Deb Ficher for leading the Senate in a bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025. ICGA also applauds Representative Adrian Smith and Representative Angie Craig for leading the House in a bipartisan bill named the same. 

 

The Illinois Congressional delegation showed up for corn farmers; thank you to the cosponsors on these bills—Senator Dick Durbin, Representative Nikki Budzinski, Representative Mike Bost, Representative Mary Miller, Representative Darin LaHood, Representative Eric Sorensen, and Representative Robin Kelly. 

 

This is a bipartisan bill that would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) volatility waiver that will allow year-round, nationwide sale of E15. This is a reintroduced concept after the measure nearly passed during the lame duck session last year.

 

“This is a step forward in the right direction and we want to thank our Illinois delegation members for their leadership in encouraging legislation in favor of our farmers,” said IL Corn Growers Association’s President, Garrett Hawkins. “At the same time, we are disappointed that E15 was not passed in the Continuing Resolution (CR) at the end of 2024. An expansion of the ethanol market is needed for our Illinois farmers to provide them stability and economic support.” 

 

“It is important to corn farmers to have stronger demands on ethanol as more demand will raise corn prices. These developments will grow the market and economy that will provide stability for corn farmers,” said Hawkins. 

Mexican CANAMI (National Chamber of Industrialized Corn) members at Illinois farm
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
IL Corn & USGBC hosted Mexican masa millers on southern Illinois farms and river terminals, strengthening ties with our top corn customer.
holding a cover crop
By IDOA & Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
Pre-enrollment opens Nov. 30 for IDOA’s Fall Covers for Spring Savings program, worth up to $5/acre off 2027 crop insurance premiums.
Josh Linville and Collin Watters
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
What’s really driving your fertilizer bill? StoneX’s Josh Linville breaks down global supply, competition, and the long-term fix on IL Corn TV.
thumbnail of Megan and Jared
By Tara Desmond, Megan Dwyer and Brownfield Ag • October 15, 2026
Illinois Corn and U of I built lease addenda to help farmers and landowners build cover crops, soil health and nutrient goals into rental agreements.
headshot of Jenny Webb IFCA president
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
Jenny Webb has spent her career in Illinois agriculture. Now she’s about three months into a new job as president of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), the group that represents the ag retailers, applicators and suppliers who get fertilizer and crop protection products to your farm when you need them. Webb came to IFCA from Illinois Farm Bureau. She’s new to the fertilizer and chemical side of the business, but not to farmers or to the policy and regulatory issues that affect them. IL Corn sat down with her to talk about what she’s learned so far, the issues facing Illinois ag retailers, and why the work happening behind the scenes deserves more credit than it gets.
Andrew Jolly
By Lyndi Allen • October 15, 2026
A sixth-generation farmer from Chenoa, IL, Andrew Jolly is carrying on his family’s farming legacy while learning how to make his voice heard in agricultural policy as a 2026 GROW participant.
Show More