IL Corn Pictures Advancements in Farm Policy

As Maddie Toman sat down in the Longworth Capitol building for her last Congressional visit of the day, a photo in the nearby display case caught her eye.

The picture featured the Representative, whose office she sat in, standing outside the Capitol with students in corduroy blue jackets. She smiled as the photo made her feel quite at home and comfortable speaking up about her FFA and agricultural experiences on Capitol Hill.

A senior at Midland High School, Toman was one of 28 Illinois FFA major officers and section presidents to represent farmers alongside IL Corn in Washington D.C. this July. The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and FFA leaders met with 18 Congressional offices and attended the National Corn Growers Association’s annual Corn Congress.

 “It was really neat, seeing her with us in the photo,” Toman said. “It helped me understand we do have support and they know what we do. It was kind of a full circle moment.”

During a hot week in D.C. IL Corn directors, staff, and FFA leaders brought the association's 2024 policy priorities before congressional staff. ICGA articulated a well-written farm bill including crop insurance provisions for corn farmers is of utmost importance to its membership. Additionally, support for trade through increased funding for the Foreign Market Development and Market Access Programs are also non-negotiables for IL Corn.

Ethanol and the preservation of the internal combustion engine were key areas of concern for the association. ICGA requested Congressmen sign on to the Next Generation Fuels Act, and join the fight for cleaner, less expensive transportation. The bipartisan piece of legislation gives renewable fuels the opportunity to decarbonize travel and preserve ethanol demand.

Lastly, ICGA points to the energy bill as a way to combat the Environmental Protection Agency’s multipollutant emissions standards. The EPA rule, electrifying American’s vehicle fleet, is currently being challenged in court by ICGA, a large coalition of oil representatives.

ICGA President Dave Rylander said corn farmers throughout the country continue to have a voice in legislative and legal circles. “Our coalition against the EPA’s emission standards puts front and center the concerns of real Americans. We are pushing back against a one-way solution and highlight biofuel’s role in supporting our rural economies and a lower carbon future.”

Timing is critical in politics and IL Corn was well positioned to request support for lock and dam improvements during the fly-in. Prior to the association’s meetings in D.C., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the Waterway Resources Development Act (WRDA). ICGA supports two funding requests included in the Senate’s bill. 

The association requests WRDA 2024 remain at 100% funding for waterways projects included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The federal support covers continued updates to Lock and Dam 25 on the Mississippi River. Additionally, corn farmers encourage the House to pass a 75/25 cost share for future projects. The improvements would directly impact the Illinois lock and dam system and the agriculture industry as a whole. The House’s WRDA bill was voted on this week and did not include the funding measures. However, ICGA continues to work with lawmakers to ensure the provisions are included in the final law.

The final day of the fly-in was busy on Capitol Hill, but lighter than the packed schedule of agency visits the previous day. The young adults met with leaders in the United States Department of Agriculture, the EPA, the U.S. Grains Council and John Deere's Governmental Affairs office.

“(Our trip) kind of felt like a mini-internship. It was really cool to be treated as an adult with important views,” Toman said. “Being in D.C. helped me view more options, especially in careers. It reaffirmed we don't have just one area of agriculture. Going into my senior year, it was like, okay there’s a lot more opportunities out there than what we may think, and I'm very grateful for that.”