IL CORN TV

Corn has uses far beyond the food we see on our tables. At the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center (NCERC), researchers are working to find new ways to use corn, improve processes, and bring new technologies closer to the real world.

In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Lindsay Croke talks with Brooke Wagoner, a senior research fellow at NCERC, about her experience working in agricultural research and the projects helping explore new opportunities for corn.

Brooke explains how NCERC works with companies to test new ideas, from early lab work to larger-scale pilot testing. She also shares how a research project involving corn mash grew out of her work at the center, what surprised her most about corn, and why NCERC’s research matters to Illinois farmers.

Episode Highlights
0:00 – Meet Brooke Wagoner and NCERC Hidden Gem
2:06 – Life as an NCERC Research Fellow
4:20 – Finding a Path in Agricultural Science
5:28 – Not to be Corny
6:12 – The Value of Corn Beyond Food
8:27 – Keeping Illinois Farmers Connected to Research
9:33 – Looking Ahead at New Opportunities
10:00 – Wrapping Up

🌐 Learn more about the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center: https://www.siue.edu/ncerc/

📧 Get notified when new episodes air via text: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 For inquiries about IL Corn TV sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, follow, subscribe, and share it with someone interested in corn, ethanol, agricultural research, and the future of agriculture.

#ILCornTV #IllinoisCorn #Ethanol #CornResearch #NCERC #AgResearch #CornToEthanol #CornCheckoff #Agriculture

What does it take to keep a farm profitable for the long run? It's not always about growing the biggest crop. Sometimes, it's about cutting costs, changing how you farm, and making the most of every acre.

In this IL Corn TV compilation, farmers and agricultural leaders share lessons on no-till farming, managing input costs, and adapting to changing weather and market conditions. They also discuss the balance between making a profit, taking care of the land, and supporting the community.

You'll also hear about the potential for ethanol in the maritime fuel market, how agricultural policies can better support producers, and why family farmers still play an important role in America.

Episode Highlights
0:00 – Why Keeping Costs Low Matters
0:38 – Getting More From Every Acre
1:12 – Making the Switch to No-Till
1:15 – Planning for the Unexpected
1:29 – What Sustainability Means for Farmers
2:14 – A New Opportunity for Corn-Based Ethanol
2:43 – Putting Farmers First in Agricultural Policy
3:13– Changing the Way People See Family Farms

📍 Learn more about IL Corn
https://www.ilcorn.org/

📧 Get notified when new episodes air via text: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 For inquiries about IL Corn TV sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone interested in farming, farm profitability, and the future of American agriculture.

#ILCornTV #CornFarming #NoTillFarming #FarmProfitability #SustainableAgriculture #FamilyFarmers #Ethanol #Agriculture #FarmLife

Every second counts in an emergency, and having your medical info ready to go can make all the difference for first responders. In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Shane Gray sits down with Greg Scott and Dana Williamson from Carle Health @CarleHealth to talk about the Vial of Life, a simple, easy tool that puts your medications, allergies, medical history, and emergency contacts right where first responders can find them fast.

Greg and Dana walk through how the Vial of Life works, where to keep it, and why it's such a smart move for farmers and rural families especially. They also dig into how Carle Health is showing up for rural communities through health screenings and education.

Key Takeaways:
00:00 – Introducing Greg Scott and Dana Williamson
2:25 – When Medical Info Becomes a Matter of Minutes
3:54 – Meet the Vial of Life
6:12 – What Belongs Inside Your Vial of Life
7:12 – Keeping Your Info Up to Date
8:18 – Getting Your Own Vial of Life
9:50 – Health Resources You'll Find at Midwest Ag Expo
10:36 – How First Responders Track It Down
11:56 – Out in the Community
12:45 – Not to be Corny Joke
13:20 – Wrapping It Up

Learn more about Carle Health: https://carle.org/
More about Illinois Corn: https://www.ilcorn.org/
📧 Get notified when new episodes air via text: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup
📩 For sponsorships or collaborations: [email protected]
📲 Follow @ilcorn on social media for updates, industry insights, and future episodes.
👍 If this one hit home, give it a like, follow along, and pass it on to someone who cares about farm safety, being prepared, and keeping rural communities healthy.

#ILCornTV #VialOfLife #FarmSafety #FirstResponders #RuralHealth #Agriculture #FarmLife #EmergencyPreparedness #CarleHealth

Sometimes, the biggest obstacles can teach us how capable we really are.

Host Shane Gray sits down with Chris Koch, a Canadian farmer, motivational speaker, and adaptive athlete who was born missing his arms and legs. Chris shares how growing up around farming taught him to find a way forward, whether that meant learning to operate farm equipment, helping during harvest, or taking on challenges most people would never expect.

The conversation explores Chris’s journey from working on farms to becoming a motivational speaker and adaptive athlete, including his experience completing the Chicago Marathon. Chris also shares why he believes failure is one of life’s greatest teachers and why he is more afraid of regret than failure.

Key Takeaways:
0:00 – Meet Chris Koch
1:28 – Growing Up on the Farm
2:45 – The DOT Story
4:23 – Finding His Place in Agriculture
6:05 – What Farming Taught Chris About Obstacles
7:50 –  Not to be Corny
8:40 – The Mindset of “Figure It Out”
10:00 – Chris’s Journey Into Motivational Speaking
11:50 – Why Regret Is Worse Than Failure
13:30 – Final Thoughts

🌱 Learn more about IL Corn:
https://www.ilcorn.org/

📍 Find out more about Chris Koch:
https://www.ifican.ca/about

📧 Get notified when new episodes air:
https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 For sponsorships or collaborations: [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone interested in farming, agriculture, resilience, and overcoming obstacles.

#ILCornTV #Farming #Agriculture #AdaptiveAthlete #MotivationalSpeaker #Farmer #Resilience #OvercomingObstacles #FarmingLife #AgricultureStories

What really drives the price of fertilizer? From global supply chains to trade relationships and limited competition, farmers are dealing with a market where events halfway around the world can quickly affect what they pay.

In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Collin Watters talks with Josh Linville, Vice President of Fertilizer at StoneX, about the forces shaping today’s fertilizer market. They unpack what’s happening with nitrogen, phosphate, and potash, and why producing more fertilizer in the U.S. isn’t always as simple as it sounds.

Josh also shares how market consolidation can affect competition, supplier relationships, and farmers’ ability to speak openly about pricing concerns. The conversation also explores fertilizer innovation and what it could take to build a more reliable and stable supply for farmers.

Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Inside Today’s Fertilizer Market
2:46– Why Fertilizer Prices Keep Moving
3:00 – When Global Events Hit the Farm
4:46 – Why Is U.S. Nitrogen Production So Limited?
9:00 – Where Competition Comes In
10:30 – When Supply Drives the Price
12:10 – Speaking Up in the Fertilizer Market
13:41 - Corny Joke
14:51 – What a More Reliable Supply Could Look Like
19:02 – Can Fertilizer Innovation Change the Game?
21:15– Final Thoughts on the Fertilizer Market

📍 Learn more about StoneX: https://www.stonex.com/en/

📧 Get notified when new episodes air via text: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 For sponsorships or collaborations: [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, follow, and share it with someone interested in fertilizer markets, farming, agriculture, and the future of U.S. fertilizer supply.

#ILCornTV #Fertilizer #FertilizerPrices #Farming #Agriculture #Farmers #Nitrogen #Phosphate #Potash #FertilizerMarket

Telling the story of modern agriculture takes more than facts. It takes communication, shared values, and a willingness to speak up.

In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Shane Gray talks with Michelle Miller, better known as the Farm Babe @thefarmbabe, about her journey from an urban background to farming and her work helping consumers better understand modern agriculture.

Michelle shares how her own misconceptions about farming changed after she became involved in agriculture. They discuss GMOs, pesticides, food labels, social media misinformation, and how farmers can have more productive conversations with consumers. Michelle also shares the story of how speaking up about a Burger King campaign led to a conversation with the company and a new approach to telling the story of farmers and sustainability.

Key Takeaways:  
0:00 – Meet the Farm Babe
1:58 – Trading City Life for Farm Life
4:48  – The Beliefs Farming Changed
5:53 – Why Farmers and Consumers Feel So Far Apart
7:30 – Talking Agriculture Without the Fight
10:03 – The Burger King Conversation
12:50 – Why Speaking Up Matters
14:31 – Not to be Corny
15:18 – Building Trust With Consumers
16:23 – Wrapping Up

Learn more about The Farm Babe: https://thefarmbabe.com/

More about Illinois Corn: https://www.ilcorn.org/

📧 Get notified when new episodes air via text: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 For sponsorships or collaborations: [email protected]

#ILCornTV #FarmBabe #MichelleMiller #Agriculture #ModernAgriculture #AgCommunication #Farmers #GMOs #Pesticides #AgAdvocacy

Sometimes a school project can turn into something much bigger.

In this episode of IL Corn TV, Lyndi Allen talks with Madelyn Davin, an Illinois FFA State Champion and national finalist from Staunton High School, about her specialty crop project, FFA experience, and interest in the future of agriculture.

Madelyn shares how she started growing luffa gourds with just 10 plants and grew the project to around 30 plants. She explains how she grows, cleans, and sells the luffas, turning a school project into a small business. They also discuss her research into agrivoltaics, why solar panels shouldn’t always go on productive farmland, and how agriculture and renewable energy can work together.

Episode Highlights:
000:00 – Meet Madelyn Davin
01:00 – From FFA to the Soccer Field
1:19 – Growing Luffa Gourds
2:19 – Turning Luffas Into a Business
2:52  – A Favorite FFA Memory
3:35 – Agrivoltaics: Solar Panels Meet Farmland
5:12 –  The Spark Behind Madelyn's Research
5:46 – Final Thoughts

📍 Learn more about IL Corn: https://www.ilcorn.org/

📧 Get notified when new episodes air: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 Sponsorships or collaborations: [email protected]

#ILCornTV #FFA #IllinoisFFA #SpecialtyCrops #Agrivoltaics #AgEducation #Agriculture #FutureOfFarming #IllinoisAgriculture #ILCorn

What happens when Dolly Parton meets the world of corn mazes? This fall, farms across the U.S. and Canada are bringing Dolly’s legacy to life while creating new ways for families to experience agriculture.

In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Lindsay Croke talks with Annette Jenkins, Manager at All Seasons Orchard, and Kamille Combs, Marketing Director for The Maize, about the growing world of corn mazes, family farms, and the special Dolly Parton collaboration supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Annette shares what makes All Seasons Orchard a favorite fall destination, while Kamille explains how corn mazes can help small farms diversify their income. They also explore the story behind the Dolly Parton collaboration and how 20 farms are turning corn mazes into memorable family experiences.

Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Welcome to All Seasons Orchard
1:00 – More Than Just a Corn Maze
1:31 – Bringing New Life to the Family Farm
3:04 – How Dolly Parton Came to the Maze
4:40 – What Makes the Maze a Hit
4:58 – A Few Corny Moments
5:30 – Apples, Family & Farm Traditions
6:38 – Behind the Scenes at the Orchard
7:24 – A Big Year for the Corn Maze
8:29 – More Than Just Getting Lost
9:48 – The Memories That Bring Families Back
11:15 – Find a Dolly Maze Near You
11:54 – Wrapping Up the Conversation

📍 Learn more about All Seasons Orchard and The Maize: https://www.allseasonsorchard.com/
https://themaize.com/

📧 Get notified when new episodes air via text: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 For sponsorships or collaborations: [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, follow, and share it with someone interested in Dolly Parton, corn mazes, family farms, agritourism, and Illinois agriculture.

#ILCornTV #DollyParton #CornMaze #Agritourism #FamilyFarms #IllinoisAgriculture #DollysImaginationLibrary #AllSeasonsOrchard

There’s a lot more to farming than planting and harvesting. For Clayton DeYoung, it’s also about spotting problems in the field, trying new technology, and finding creative ways to grow his business.

In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Shane Gray talks with Clayton, a farmer and agricultural entrepreneur from Melvin, Illinois, about crop scouting, photography, and his work with agricultural drones.

Clayton shares what he’s learned from identifying crop diseases, how photography turned into a side business, and where drones can make a real difference in the field. They also talk about spray drones, LiDAR, drone training, and what new technology could mean for the next generation of farmers.

Episode Highlights
0:00 – Introduction: Clayton DeYoung
1:54 – Crop Scouting Insights
4:23 – From Photography to Business
6:53 – Agricultural Drone Operations
8:08– How Spray Drones Improve Productivity
10:12 – Becoming a Certified Drone Operator
11:18 – Inspiring the Next Generation
11:50 – Not to be Corny
12:26 – Closing Thoughts

📧 Get notified when new episodes air via text: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 For inquiries about IL Corn TV sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, follow, and share it with someone interested in farming, ag technology, drones, and the future of agriculture.

#ILCornTV #Agriculture #Farming #AgTechnology #DronesInAgriculture #PrecisionAg #CropScouting #IllinoisFarmers

The future of corn demand may depend on what happens beyond the farm and inside the research facilities working to turn new ideas into real-world fuel solutions.

In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Shane Gray talks with Evan, a visiting research fellow and operator at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, about the research and innovation shaping the future of ethanol and renewable fuels.

Evan gives a look inside NCERC and explains how researchers test new technologies, explore ways to improve ethanol production, and identify opportunities to create more demand for corn. The conversation also explores the potential of sustainable aviation fuel and maritime fuel, along with the financial and production challenges that must be addressed before these markets can grow at scale.

Episode Highlights:
0:00 – Meet Evan and NCERC
2:34 – Inside NCERC
3:30 – New Ways to Create Demand for Corn
3:50 – Not to Be Corny
4:55 – What’s Holding Back Sustainable Aviation Fuel?
5:55 – The Potential of Maritime Fuel
7:06 – How Farming Practices Affect Ethanol
8:08 – How Illinois Corn Growers Support NCERC
9:37 – The Future of Ethanol by 2035
10:30 – Closing Thoughts

📍 Learn more about the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center: https://www.siue.edu/ncerc/

📧 Get notified when new episodes air via text: https://mailchi.mp/ilcorn/sms-signup

📩 For sponsorships or collaborations: [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, follow, and share it with someone interested in ethanol, renewable fuels, corn demand, and the future of agriculture.

#ILCornTV #Ethanol #CornDemand #NCERC #Biofuels #RenewableFuels #SAF #SustainableAviationFuel #AgTech #CornInnovation #IllinoisAgriculture #FutureOfFarming