Illinois Waterways: The Quiet Infrastructure Powering Our Economy
By Tara Desmond • December 30, 2025
Illinois ranks among the top states in the nation for inland waterways, supporting thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity. On Illinois Corn TV, Paul Rohde of the Waterways Council, Inc. breaks down why nearly 90% of Illinois’ lock locations have exceeded their 50-year design life and what that means for agriculture, exports, and infrastructure reliability. The conversation also explores how modernizing locks improves efficiency, reduces supply chain disruptions, and supports major ecosystem restoration efforts through partnerships with conservation organizations.
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By Tara Desmond
•
May 14, 2026
The Illinois Livestock Development Group (ILDG) recently welcomed Annie Hadden as its new Director of Livestock Development. As one of several commodity partners supporting ILDG alongside the Illinois Beef Association , Illinois Farm Bureau , Illinois Milk Producers Association , Illinois Pork Producers Association and Illinois Soybean Association , IL Corn has a vested interest in seeing livestock production thrive across the state. A strong livestock industry means a stronger market for Illinois corn, and a stronger Illinois agriculture overall. Get to Know Annie: Where It All Began For Hadden, the livestock industry isn't a career she stumbled into but one she was born into. Growing up in Southeastern Indiana, she spent every Sunday on her grandfather's farm, where her love for agriculture first took root. "My passion for the livestock industry started at a young age, right there on my grandpa's farm every Sunday afternoon," Hadden said. "Though at a small scale comparatively, there is livestock on both sides of my family lineage tracing back as far as the eye can see." When her family eventually moved to the farm after her grandfather's passing, Hadden threw herself into 4-H, showing dairy feeder steers, beef steers, and eventually sheep adding fuel to a fire that still burns brightly today. "My passion for the livestock industry grew and developed over time, and today, it burns as bright as ever," she said.










