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.
From Springfield to D.C., lawmakers are listening, and Illinois corn farmers are leading the conversations.
Interview with Eric Croft, one of our most active participants in IL Corn's Call to Actions
The Environmental Protection Agency has lost a court case, finding that the agency used faulty methodology to justify a penalty to ethanol-blended fuel and ignored submitted comments.
In 2010, Abby Coers began an internship with IL Corn that ignited her career in ag communications. Discover how early hands-on experience, creativity, and analytics shaped her path from intern to industry leader.
Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only in the form of grain but also through co-products like distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS)
The U.S. Senate released statements on the budget reconciliation legislation proposed surrounding Price Loss Coverage Program and 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credits
Importance of trade series to understand it is one of IL Corn’s top policy priorities through its critical role in driving corn demand and supporting the agricultural economy.
