Water Testing Strips to be Mailed
February 25, 2021
Nutrient Manager Megan Dwyer introduced the second annual water testing strip program in honor of National FFA Week.
The program sends two water testing strips to every ICGA member and asks them to voluntarily sample water on their farm, whether from a creek, ditch or small stream, and anonymously reports the results. When farmers submit their results they will be asked to designate an Illinois FFA chapter to donate $5 on their behalf.
Last year the program raised $635 and aims to have an even higher response rate. Members should keep an eye out for the testing strips in the mail in the coming weeks.
Watch Megan Dwyer break down the purpose of this program even more in this one-minute video.

By Lindsay Croke
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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.