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Applications Accepted Starting December 15 with New Opportunity for Pre-Enrollment Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is implementing its fifth year of the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program. New this year, users will be able to enter their information into the application and validate it during a pre-enrollment period starting at 8:00 A.M. CST on December 4, 2023. Applications can be submitted once the program opens at 8:00 A.M. on December 15, 2023. Applications can be saved and edited at any time, prior to submittal. Pre-Enrollment Period 8:00 A.M. CST, December 4, 2023 Program Submittal Period 8:00 A.M. CST, December 15, 2023 Program Closes 11:59 P.M. CST, January 15, 2024 A total of 140,000 acres are available for the 2024 program. In the 2023 program, this acreage allotment was met in under 24 hours and a total of over 182,688 acres were requested by the time the application period ended. Funding of eligible acreage is on a first come, first serve basis. “The ‘Fall Covers for Spring Savings’ program provides a ‘jump start’ to initiate what may be a new practice for some producers,” said Jerry Costello II, Illinois Director of Agriculture . “The proven versatility of cover crops to improve soil health, reduce erosion, increase moisture availability during drought, and reduce pests, weeds and diseases are just some of the benefits of making this investment.” “Illinois’ participation in the U.S. Gulf Hypoxia Task Force made it possible for the state to enroll an additional 40,000 acres in 2023,” said John Kim, Director of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency . “ We are thrilled to offer the additional acreage once again in 2024 to continually increase the number of producers implementing cover crops on their farms.” The program is applicable for acreage in Illinois seeded to cover crops in the fall of 2023 that will be planted to an insurable crop in 2024. Eligible applicants will receive a premium discount up to $5 per acre on the following year's crop insurance, depending on individual crop insurance policies, for every cover crop acre enrolled and verified in the program. Applicants will be required to certify that their cover crops are approved through their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office before applying. Applicants will also need their current FSA-578 and federal crop insurance policy number(s) for the application. The discount program was designed to promote additional acres of cover crops that are not covered by other state or federal incentives. IDOA will use a combination of tools to verify that acres applied for through this program are planted in cover crops. The program is only applicable for those with coverage through the United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (USDA-RMA) crop insurance program. Confirmed applications will be forwarded to the USDA-RMA for processing and for application of premium discounts to 2024 crop insurance invoices. Pre-enrollment and applications are available at: IDOA | Cover Crop Application (illinois.gov) Applications will be available until 11:59 P.M. CST on January 15, 2024. Further information can be obtained by contacting the IDOA at (217) 782-6297.

This fall, IL Corn teamed up with Illinois ethanol plants to host informational sessions highlighting the connection between carbon and corn production. Lauren Lurkins, an environmental law attorney and the founder of Lurkins Strategies, LLC, traveled to six locations and shared the current state of the corn industry, threats it is facing, and opportunities for expansion through the series “The Crossroads of Carbon and Corn”. Farmers came to the meetings prepared with thought-out questions on the safety, profitability, and future of carbon and agriculture.

The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) thanks Rich Clemmons for over four decades of work representing agriculture in Illinois policy. Clemmons announced his retirement after supporting ICGA as a lobbyist since 2008. “Rich Clemmons is a great advocate for agriculture and helped pass milestone bills impacting Illinois farmers throughout his career,” said ICGA President Matt Rush. “We are thankful for Rich’s time with ICGA and wish him the best of luck in his retirement.” Clemmons began his career with the Illinois Agricultural Association, now the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) as a janitor in college. Following graduation, Clemmons held several roles at IFB including the Mason County Farm Bureau Executive Secretary and a position in local government for the IFB Governmental Affairs and Commodity Division. He made the switch to lobbyist in 1979 and worked for the organization 36 total years. After retirement, Clemmons joined and later acquired GovPlus Capitol Consulting where he continued his policy affairs with ICGA and the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association. During his career, Clemmons helped pass the Illinois Farmland Assessment Law. The legislation allowed agricultural land in Illinois to be taxed on its productivity and soil type instead of its price. He also worked to establish the Illinois Corn Marketing Act, which created the Illinois corn checkoff program. Clemmons portfolio included work on Illinois’s original E10 tax incentive. His lobbying in the biofuels industry allowed him to represent corn farmers alongside ICGA before his employment with the organization. “You can’t find better people in the world than farmers,” said Clemmons. “They are there to produce. They are concerned about their communities. I can’t say enough good things about agriculture.” In addition to his professional career, Clemmons served as the president of the 4-H Foundation Board and the President of the Illinois State University Alumni Association. Clemmons and his wife Gretchen have been active members of First Baptist Church in Bloomington since 1977.

The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) recognized Ralph Upton, Jr “Junior” for his commitment to on-farm conservation during their annual meeting on November 21 at the Asmark AgriCenter in Bloomington, IL. Upton was honored to receive the Mike Plumer Environmental Award, having known and worked with Mike Plumer for many years. Upton is locally known as a conservation expert in his area of the state in Hamilton County. He is committed to stewardship of soil and water, is a veteran no-tiller, and a long-time advocate of soil building techniques. Importantly, Upton uses his extensive first-hand knowledge and experiences to help other farmers understand conservation practices and determine what could work on their own farms.

Dave Rylander, a farmer from Victoria, IL, has been elected president of the IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) for 2023-2024 at their re-organizational meeting, which was held today immediately following the organization’s annual meeting. Rylander has served on the ICGA board since November 2016, most recently as vice president. He will continue his role as At Large Director for the duration of his term as president, representing all corn farmer members in Illinois.

Dr. Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois Professor in Agricultural and Consumer Economics, authored his one-thousandth article on FarmDoc Daily last month, a website created by the University of Illinois in 2011 to share farm financial analysis spreadsheets, crop insurance tools, and evaluation of market advisory services. IL Corn recognized Dr. Schnitkey for this accomplishment following the IL Corn Growers Association annual meeting on November 21, 2023.

The IL Corn Growers Association’s 2023 Excellence in Media Award was given to Kay Shipman, formerly a writer for Illinois Farm Bureau’s FarmWeek, at the ICGA Annual Meeting today in Bloomington. The award is given each year to an individual who promotes Illinois agriculture and, specifically, Illinois corn and corn farmers, through their coverage in traditional media or through their engagement on social media.