Water quality and nutrient loss reduction continue to be priority issues for the Illinois Corn Growers Association (IL Corn). The recent release of Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Biennial Report highlights both the challenges and accomplishments we have observed over the last two years. IL Corn has committed 9 staff and over $3 million dollars over the past two years in effort to increase conservation agriculture research and the number of on-farm programs. In 2020 alone, the Precision Conservation Management Program (PCM) was able to help farmers realize a reduction of over 615,000 pounds of nitrogen and over 90,000 pounds of phosphorus. This recent NLRS report includes the 2019 season which speaks to one of the challenges we face when trying to create a plan for success given normal conditions. 2019 was far from normal. In fact, it was in the top four wettest springs of the state’s history and had 6 consecutive months of above average rainfall. As our new normal includes more intense and frequent rainfall events we need to also continue to adapt our strategy and practices to best address nutrient loss.
ACSA announced the medalists of the 2021 Heartland Whiskey Competition. Competitors were required to incorporate corn in their list of grains used to make their mash. Submissions were welcome from all 50 states, with all entries competing in their select whiskey sub-categories, but whiskeys from the 17 “Heartland” states competed for the prestigious Best of Show and Best in State awards. The Best in State award for Illinois went to JK Williams Distilling, of Peoria, for their JK Williams Gold Zephyr Bourbon. Best of Show was captured by Weldon Mills Distillery from Weldon, North Carolina, for its Rockfish Whiskey.
Farm Progress Show 2021 in Decatur, IL was a great time for the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to connect with farmer members and elected officials, says Randy DeSutter, President. “So many of our members come through our tent here at Farm Progress Show. This is our opportunity to connect with them and help them understand how we’re working on their behalf,” he said. The association saw Governor J.B. Pritzker, Congressman Rodney Davis, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Congressman Darin LaHood, and other local officials walk through the tent at the Decatur show site over the three days.
Paul Taylor of Esmond and Kenneth Hartman of Waterloo are former and current IL Corn farmer leaders being named 2021 Master Farmers this week at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL. IL Corn congratulates them on the honor. Kenneth Hartman represented farmers in southern Illinois on the IL Corn Marketing Board from 1997 to 2006 and later on the IL Corn Growers Association Board of Directors from 2008 to 2017. Hartman currently sits on the National Corn Growers Association Board of Directors and has served in that role since 2017.
