Megan Dwyer, IL Corn, testifies on Conservation

Megan Dwyer, IL Corn Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship, testified in the Senate Ag Committee hearing Perspectives on the Field, Part 4: Conservation on May 13, 2025. The testimony focused on the need for vital conservation programs and the positive effects that conservation practices have on the environment, soil, and future of farming.

Dwyer advocated on behalf of Illinois farmers for science-based, farmer-friendly policies:

Smarter conservation funding
Flexible, regionally tailored programs
Emphasizing that Illinois is 70% farmland
Protecting our most productive soils is essential for feeding the world

Dwyer broke down this message by using an analogy, baking a chocolate chip cookie. If a group of people were asked to make chocolate chip cookies without a recipe, all would come out differently. That is what farmers are doing, farming without a recipe. Even if the group was given a recipe, all ovens bake differently, and those cookies would not be the same. That is what farmland is like; not all farmland responds the same, even when management practices are similar.

Dwyer’s testimony focused on the most important factors affecting Illinois corn farmers ability and desire to implement conservation practices. She explained that more funding for conservation programs won’t solve the problem. Farmers need flexibility within the programs that allow them to be innovative, as well as access to technical assistance to adopt practices long-term. Farmers want to build relationships with people they can trust, so having people in the area to consult and advise allows farmers to expand their conservation efforts with peace of mind.

IL Corn is at the forefront of this issue to advocate for Illinois corn farmers in Washington D.C. We are ensuring that the voices of real farmers with passion and dedication, like Megan, are front and center in the rooms where policies are shaped.

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