Featured Article

Farmers will plant eight percent more corn acres than last year, says today’s Prospective Planting report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn planted for all purposes in 2020 is estimated at 97 million acres, which is an increase of 7.29 million acres from 2019’s plantings. The five-year national average for planted corn acres is 90.15 million acres. This report shows Illinois farmers intend to plant 11.3 million acres of corn, just over the five-year average of 11.2 million acres and eight percent above 2019’s final planted area. In 2019,1.15 million acres of corn prevented from planting in Illinois due to excess moisture. Demand for these corn acres and the resulting crop is considerably down recently. COVID-19 quarantine precautions have American drivers dramatically reducing their fuel and ethanol consumption. Also, the plunge in crude oil prices has made ethanol less competitive. Although export demand has lagged USDA projections, US grain export infrastructure remains fully operational and export markets may take up some of the lost ethanol demand. The market dynamics have changed considerably since surveys were collected for analysis. In a post COVID-19 economy, planting intentions could shift.

After hearing the Trump administration did not seek a re-hearing of a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit regarding small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, Illinois Corn Growers Association President Bill Leigh, a farmer from Minonk, made the following statement: “We have always believed that the EPA overstepped its authority in the granting of so many small refinery exemptions in 2016 and 2017. The tenth circuit agreed with us. And today, knowing that the EPA will abide by the decision and not seek a re-hearing is a tremendous relief during this time of crisis. Allowing the ruling to stand is the right thing to do.” For the 2016-2018 RFS compliance years, EPA issued 85 SREs eroding more than 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel blending requirements.

The economy might be stalled here in the U.S. while many states are on full shut-down to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but international purchases continue. This is good news for Illinois farmers who sell well over half of their corn and corn co-products like ethanol and DDGS to overseas markets. Notably: Port workers were designated essential workforce under Louisiana’s “stay at home” declaration. This applies to port workers in the pacific northwest as well. The Federal Grain Inspection Service will “take all steps necessary” to ensure continuation of inspections for grain exports. Chinese firms have purchased another 250,000 tonnes of US corn, bringing recent purchases to roughly 1 MMT. There are rumors of new Chinese purchases of up to 2.5 MMT of US corn.

If you are looking for things to do with you kids, try out these online lessons produced by Agriculture in the Classroom. Everyday will feature a new age appropriate lesson that will teach your kids something new about agriculture and how their food is grown. The first two lessons feature milk and the water cycle. Share with anyone who you think may benefit from these lessons to help keep their kids occupied and learning!

Board members from the Illinois Corn Growers Association and staff spent most of this week in Washington D.C. meeting with legislators and key industry officials. Some of the people they met with include Representative Bost, Representative Schakowsky, Agri-Pulse correspondent Spencer Chase and political forecaster Charlie Cook. While in D.C. the group discussed new trade opportunities, locks and dams, new sustainability partnerships and a low-carbon fuel standard. Check out our Facebook page to see in depth detailed captions along with additional photos. Fact Sheets Given to Legislators: Support ratification of the USMCA Support a Low-Carbon, High-Octane fuel standard Support construction of our locks and dams

Farmer survey work indicates that most farmers join the Illinois Corn Growers Association because they seek representation in Springfield, IL and Washington, DC with law makers and regulators that can influence the way they farm. Others tell us that joining their local farm organizations is just, "the right thing to do." Representation in Springfield and Washington, DC is valuable for Illinois corn farmers.  ICGA farmer leaders are often in Springfield and Washington, DC, lobbying on whatever issue of the day might help or hinder the farm economy in Illinois or in the U.S. ICGA staff consistently write letters to elected officials, submit comments on regulatory issues, bring awareness to farmers and non-farmers alike about the value of certain policy proposals, and ask farmers to join with us to contact a legislator when needed.