Member Exclusive: ICGA Represents Your Farm’s Need for Export Market Demand

February 6, 2025

Lindsay Croke

Talk of tariffs have dominated the news this week, with the current positive result that relationships with Mexico and Canada will hold steady for the next month and China’s retaliatory tariffs don’t yet impact corn exports.

 

Even so, your IL Corn Growers Association and National Corn Growers Association have been engaged in the background – and sometimes in the public – monitoring issues that matter to you and telling the story of the Illinois corn farmer and your reliance on trade markets.

 

Kenny Hartman, President of the National Corn Growers Association and farmer from Waterloo, IL appeared on CBS National News to remind American leaders that the farm economy is in an economic downturn and farmers need export demand.

A man and a woman are driving a vehicle on a dirt road.

Fairfield, IL farmer and ICGA District 13 Director Matt Rush addressed trade markets on the Sunday morning NewsNation report.

A man in a plaid shirt is on a news nation show

Rounding out the robust leadership in southern Illinois, the ICGA President Garrett Hawkins from Waterloo had this to say on Monday morning:

 

"The farm economy is in a really tough spot right now with low commodity prices and high input costs. Export demand for corn products has been about the only positive in the market recently. Mexico, Canada and China are major buyers of our ag products, and any retaliation from these countries on our exports will likely target farmers. I know that President Trump supports farmers and the rural economies they're a part of, so we'll look for a quick resolution that protects our relationships and benefits both farmers and our end customers."

 

To better understand what the trade relationships between U.S. farmers, Mexico, and Canada really mean, check out our recent export data here.

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