Illinois Corn Farmers Fuel Global Success with the U.S. Grains Council
Tara Desmond
May 8, 2025
Celebrating 65 Years of Trade, Market Growth, and Farmer Impact
As the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) celebrates its 65th anniversary, it's clear that Illinois corn farmers have played a key role in driving global trade success. Ellen Zimmerman of USGC recently joined us to reflect on the Council’s history, its future opportunities, and why Illinois farmers’ investments truly matter.
A Look Back: 65 Years of Global Impact
- First major success: The USGC flew Iowa hogs to Japan to help rebuild their herd and boost feed demand. Today, Japan remains a top-five corn customer.
- Ethanol in Japan: Illinois corn has been instrumental in advancing ethanol use in Japan from EBT testing to future opportunities like sustainable aviation fuel.
What’s Next: Promising Global Markets
Ellen highlighted several exciting opportunities on the horizon:
- India
- Moving from E10 to E20 ethanol blend.
- Clean cooking ethanol programs that improve safety and affordability.
- Opportunities for corn and DDGS in their livestock market.
- Africa
- First-ever DDGS shipment to Tunisia in 2022.
- Ethanol demand growing in Nigeria.
- Poultry and feed programs opening doors in new markets.
Why Your Investment Matters
- Double the impact: For every checkoff dollar, USGC secures at least one more in federal grant funding.
- High ROI: Market access and foreign development programs return $24 for every $1 spent.
- New funding: The Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) has brought $33 million in additional resources to expand global programs.
A 51-Year Partnership with IL Corn
- Ellen's connection to Illinois Corn goes back to 2015 when she shadowed staff to learn the ropes.
- Longtime friendships and collaboration have fueled international success stories from Argentina to Marrakesh.
- Leaders like Jim Raben and Collin Watters have represented Illinois well on the global stage.
Final Thought
"If you're contributing to the checkoff, you’re making a huge impact,” Ellen says. “You’re part of the story.”

By Lindsay Croke
•
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.