Unified Front: Illinois Agricultural Leaders Pursue Common Policy Goals in 2024

January 12, 2024
A group of people in suits and ties are posing for a picture.

The IL Corn Growers Association met today with leaders from agricultural organizations throughout the state to discuss policy goals for 2024. 

 

The Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable featured speakers from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, United States Trade Representative, and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development.

“It is encouraging to see our agricultural groups band together and work toward a common goal,” said IL Corn Growers Association President and farmer from Victoria, IL Dave Rylander. “It is critical we stay on the same page to best support the farmers in our state.”

 

Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Beef Association, Growmark, Illinois Seed Trade Association, Illinois Farmers Union, Illinois Pork Producers Association, the University of Illinois, Western Illinois University, Kaskaskia Watershed Association, Illinois Milk Producers Association, and other agricultural industry leaders were present at the event.

 

ICGA will continue to be active in Springfield next week as Illinois’s General Assembly spring session begins January 16, 2024.

Mexican CANAMI (National Chamber of Industrialized Corn) members at Illinois farm
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
IL Corn & USGBC hosted Mexican masa millers on southern Illinois farms and river terminals, strengthening ties with our top corn customer.
holding a cover crop
By IDOA & Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
Pre-enrollment opens Nov. 30 for IDOA’s Fall Covers for Spring Savings program, worth up to $5/acre off 2027 crop insurance premiums.
Josh Linville and Collin Watters
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
What’s really driving your fertilizer bill? StoneX’s Josh Linville breaks down global supply, competition, and the long-term fix on IL Corn TV.
thumbnail of Megan and Jared
By Tara Desmond, Megan Dwyer and Brownfield Ag • October 15, 2026
Illinois Corn and U of I built lease addenda to help farmers and landowners build cover crops, soil health and nutrient goals into rental agreements.
headshot of Jenny Webb IFCA president
By Tara Desmond • October 15, 2026
Jenny Webb has spent her career in Illinois agriculture. Now she’s about three months into a new job as president of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), the group that represents the ag retailers, applicators and suppliers who get fertilizer and crop protection products to your farm when you need them. Webb came to IFCA from Illinois Farm Bureau. She’s new to the fertilizer and chemical side of the business, but not to farmers or to the policy and regulatory issues that affect them. IL Corn sat down with her to talk about what she’s learned so far, the issues facing Illinois ag retailers, and why the work happening behind the scenes deserves more credit than it gets.
Andrew Jolly
By Lyndi Allen • October 15, 2026
A sixth-generation farmer from Chenoa, IL, Andrew Jolly is carrying on his family’s farming legacy while learning how to make his voice heard in agricultural policy as a 2026 GROW participant.
Show More