Rep. Sonya Harper and IL Corn Welcomed the Republic of Congo
Lyndi Allen
May 15, 2025

Representative Sonya Harper, House Agriculture Committee Chair and IL Corn Director Shane Gray welcomed a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of Congolese Governors and agriculture officials this week to Sangamon County. This delegation includes Governor Mukendi Bukasa Crispin, Governor Kambulu Nkonko, and Governor Mbwebwa Kapo and many members of provincial governments of DRC.
This delegation came to learn more about our soil and nutrient management practices along with our logistics systems in American agriculture. Rep. Harper wanted to facilitate meetings and activities to showcase the sector here in our state.
We appreciated the opportunity to promote our products and technology with these leaders!

By Lindsay Croke
•
June 30, 2025
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.