Two Sides of the Same Field: How Illinois Corn Farmers Invest in Their Future

If you ask a lifetime Illinois corn farmer what keeps them up at night, the answers haven’t changed much over the years: markets, margins, weather, and whether the next generation will have the same opportunities they did. What has changed is how farmers work together to protect and grow their livelihoods.

That’s where IL Corn comes in - through two distinct, farmer-led organizations with one shared goal: keeping Illinois corn farmers competitive, independent, and profitable for generations.

For Tim Thompson, Chair of the IL Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) and Franklin, Illinois farmer, that

mission starts with belief in the power of the checkoff.

“I’ve seen what happens when farmers pool resources and think long-term,” Thompson says. “No single farm can open global markets or fund cutting-edge research alone but together, we can.”

Investing in Demand: The Role of the Checkoff

The IL Corn Marketing Board exists because farmers voted for it. Established in 1982, ICMB manages the voluntary checkoff investment that Illinois corn farmers agreed would help grow demand and create new markets for their crop.

Thompson, a lifelong farmer himself, views the checkoff not as a fee but as an investment.

“Every dollar we invest is about creating opportunity,” he says. “Whether that’s export markets, ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel, livestock feed, or telling our story better - the checkoff works to make sure corn has a future beyond the bin.”

ICMB board members are elected by fellow farmers and serve unpaid terms, making decisions grounded in real-world experience. They know firsthand that demand doesn’t happen by accident - it’s built through strategy, research, and relationships.

But markets alone don’t guarantee success.

Defending the Farm: Advocacy Where It Counts

That’s where Mark Bunselmeyer, President of the IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and Decatur, Illinois farmer, comes in.

“As farmers, we don’t have the luxury of sitting out policy decisions,” Mark says. “If we’re not at the table in Springfield or Washington, D.C., someone else is making decisions for us.”

ICGA represents Illinois corn farmers on legislative and regulatory issues that directly affect their ability to farm — from trade and transportation to conservation programs, taxes, and environmental regulations.

For Mark, advocacy is deeply personal.

“I farm because I believe in this way of life,” he says. “ICGA gives our farmer members a unified voice so we can protect our independence and keep farming viable for the next generation.”

Through grassroots advocacy, ICGA ensures lawmakers hear directly from farmers not just lobbyists or headlines. It’s about telling the truth of modern farming and fighting for policies that let farmers operate freely, responsibly, and successfully.

One Organization, Two Essential Roles

While the IL Corn Marketing Board and the IL Corn Growers Association have different responsibilities, together they make up IL Corn.

ICMB focuses on the business of corn - investing checkoff dollars to grow demand, create new markets, and build long-term opportunities for Illinois corn farmers. ICGA focuses on the freedom to farm — advocating in Springfield and Washington, D.C., to ensure farmers have a voice in the policies and regulations that shape their livelihoods.

Two organizations. Two distinct roles. One shared mission.

Together, ICGA and ICMB form IL Corn - a farmer-led organization working to position Illinois corn farmers to create and capture profit opportunities, preserve their independence, and prosper for generations.

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