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Congresswoman Cheri Bustos introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act (H.R. 5089) this week, a piece of legislation that paves the way for corn-based ethanol to be an important part of our nation’s renewable energy future. Immediately following, Illinois Corn Growers Association President Randy DeSutter, a farmer from Woodhull, made the following statement: “Today, corn farmers in Illinois celebrate the introduction of the Next Generation Fuels Act. The high-octane fuel standard this bill will establish allows corn-based ethanol to contribute to a new clean fuel economy. “One of the biggest concerns in rural Illinois is that our current energy policy chooses which renewable energies will win and which will lose. A policy like the Next Generation Fuels Act levels the playing field and allows fuels that can meet the standard to compete. The Next Generation Fuels Act provides clean energy and energy efficiency, while benefiting rural economies and Americans wanting cost-effective vehicles and fuels. This policy benefits all.

Mark Wilson, a corn farmer from Toulon, IL and a director on the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, is named the next Corn Sector Representative on the U.S. Grains Council Board of Directors today during the organization’s summer meeting in Des Moines, IA. Other Illinois leadership of the Council are immediate past chairman Jim Raben from Ridgway, IL and At Large Director Don Duvall from Carmi, IL. “My goal has always been to consider how we [the corn industry] might stay in front of the issues and not always be playing defense. We must lead rather than follow,” Wilson said. Wilson understands that leading the way on global corn trade issues can involve risk, but he knows that farmers understand risk and are up for the challenge.

NASA, the US government agency responsible for science and technology related to air and space, recognized corn farmers today on their website for implementing practices that can improve soil health and make food production more climate friendly and resilient. Paul Jeschke, a corn farmer from Mazon, IL and an IL Corn leader, talked to NASA about the changes he’s making on his own farm, including planting cover crops to rebuild the soil. “This is a radically different farming system, and it takes an adventurous mindset to risk growing a crop in such a manner,” Jeschke said in the article. NASA is using their satellites to study the Corn Belt and provide important views of the region’s soil. They are pinpointing soil loss over time and helping farmers understand how to adopt and manage conservation techniques to benefit the soil.

Precision Conservation Management (PCM) released their 2021 data and recommendations last month, but there's still time to better understand what the data is telling us and change your management practices before this fall! If you need some help interpretting the data and recommendations or simply want a deeper dive, checkout this recorded webinar featuring Dr. Gary Schnitkey, Dr. Laura Gentry and Dr. Sarah Sellers. They review 2020 PCM data, in combination with the data from 2016 -2019, and help farmers understand how they can maximize conservation practices AND economic returns.

Randy DeSutter, farmer from Woodhull, IL and Illinois Corn Growers Association President, was elected to serve a three-year term on the National Corn Growers Association board of directors by a delegation of his farmer peers today at the NCGA Corn Congress meeting in New Orleans, LA. Kenneth Hartman, Jr from Waterloo, IL also serves on the NCGA Board, after his re-election to another three-year term in 2020.

Connecting with elected officials is more difficult with Washington, D.C. closed, but your association has worked to build connections while elected officials are in their districts. Over the summer, IL Corn Growers Association has met with Illinois legislators to discuss pressing issues like the farm bill, trade, ethanol, infrastructure packages and the potential to rework tax structure. In June, ICGA President Randy DeSutter hosted Congresswoman Cheri Bustos to his farm in Woodhull. ICGA members were able to ask questions about future goals of Congresswoman Bustos and her opinion on when a bipartisan farm bill would go into effect. Members also discussed crop reports, concerns with stepped-up basis and issues that future generational farmers will face regarding capital income.