IL CORN TV

Follow the immense value of Martin Barbre’s journey from the family farm to the USDA, and learn how his leadership in policy and financial management is vital for the future of agriculture. 

In this interview, Martin opens up about the grit required to survive drought years, the behind-the-scenes push for ethanol in motorsports, and the reality of leading federal programs with a producer’s mindset.

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Introduction
1:44 - Master Farmer and World of Corn Awards
2:20 - Historic Droughts and Farming Challenges
3:25 - Financial Advice for the Next Generation
4:30 - The Growth of Ethanol and the 2005 RFS
5:40 - NASCAR and E15 Market Expansion
6:35 - Leading with a Producer’s Perspective
7:30 - Precision Farming Practices
8:25 Not to be Corny

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

📩 For sponsorships or collaborations: [email protected]

🌽 Watch now to hear Martin’s story and discover how policy shapes the life of the American farmer! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories from @ILCorn.

#AgLeadership #IllinoisCorn #CornGrowers #AgPolicy #FarmManagement #Ethanol #USDA #CropInsurance #ILCornTV

Illinois's inland waterways are a $20 billion economic engine and a model for sustainable growth. Paul Rohde of the Waterways Council joins us to discuss the incredible opportunity to modernize the state's 26 locks and dams, ensuring the reliable, low-cost transport of corn and soybeans for decades to come.

Inside this episode:

0:55 – The Waterways Council's Core Advocacy
1:44 – $20 Billion Economic Lifeline
3:03 – The Key Agricultural Cargoes
4:02 – 88% Past Design Life: The Crisis
5:01 – Tara's Corn Corner
5:43 – Funding Status and the NESP Program
7:56 – Low Water: How Dams Prevent Catastrophe
9:46 – Balancing Commerce and Conservation
10:40 – Collaborating with Environmental Partners
12:36 – What Congress Needs to See on the River
13:42 – The Reality of Towboat Crew Life
15:02 – Council's Top 3 Legislative Goals
16:44 – Not To Be Corny

Learn more about the Waterways Council:
https://waterwayscouncil.org/about/executive-committee

🌽 IL Corn Growers Association – https://www.ilcorn.org

Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert


#WaterwayCrisis #InlandNavigation #LocksandDams #SupplyChainSafety #AgPolicy #RiverTrade #NESP #IllinoisAgriculture

Get to know Kaylee Gerlach, a proud IL Corn Scholarship recipient from a tiny town with a big heart for farming. She talks with Lyndi Allen about her childhood in a town of just 200, the moments that sparked her love for agriculture, and the mentor who shaped her dreams. Kaylee shares eye-opening insights about farm life, money challenges, and the new technologies transforming agriculture today.

In this episode:
00:00 – Meet Kaylee
00:27 – Growing Up in Wagner
01:32 – The Mentor Who Shaped Her Path
03:10 – Kaylee’s Future in Agriculture
04:45 – The Future of Farming
06:18 – Ag Tech Wish List
07:25 – What Consumers Miss About Farming
09:05 – Not to Be Corny…a corny joke you’ll actually enjoy

📧 Follow for updates: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📩 Contact for sponsorships: [email protected]

🌽 Tune in to hear Kaylee’s journey and get a fresh look at what it takes to farm today!

#ILCornTV #ILCornScholar #AgricultureEducation #FarmingLife #AgTech #YoungFarmers #FarmLifeStories #AgScholarships #SustainableAgriculture

From small-town jam sessions to international festival stages, bluegrass musician and multi-instrumentalist Robbie Morris joins host Shane Gray to share the story of the Grasstime Band and the meaning behind their newest single, “Cotton, Corn, and Hay.” Robbie dives into the band’s origin, their creative process, and how bluegrass music continues to celebrate rural life and farming communities.

Episode Highlights:
1:01 – Live performance of “Cotton, Corn and Hay”
2:00 – The story behind the Grasstime Band
3:20 – Growing up around rural community pickers
4:30 – Touring internationally & bluegrass culture
5:25 – Why “Cotton, Corn, and Hay” feels so authentic
6:15 – Multi-generational farm stories reflected in music
7:00 – Bluegrass instruments & what makes the genre
9:00 – Which legend Robbie would choose for his dream lineup
11:00 – How “Bluegrass” got its name
11:50 – Not to Be Corny segment
12:20 – Closing performance

Tune in to hear how bluegrass music preserves stories of the countryside and brings generations together through sound.

Learn more about Grass Time Band:
🌐 https://www.youtube.com/@grasstimebluegrassband

Follow IL Corn TV:
📧 Get notified when new episodes air: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📩 Want to be a guest on IL Corn TV? Contact: [email protected]

Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, rate it, and share it with someone who loves bluegrass, storytelling, and rural culture.

#ILCornTV #BluegrassMusic #GrasstimeBand #CottonCornAndHay #FarmingStories #RuralAmerica #MusicHeritage #AgCulture

In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Lindsay Croke sits down with Kenneth Hartman Jr., former National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President, to explore his decades of leadership and service to Illinois farmers. From shaping the Farm Bill to protecting key crop tools, Kenny shares how grassroots advocacy truly drives change for the next generation of agriculture.

He reflects on major wins—from defending biotechnology in Mexico to doubling MAP/FMD export funding—and explains why organizations like IL Corn and NCGA are essential for markets, risk management, and the future of U.S. corn. Whether you're a young farmer or a long-time grower, this conversation highlights how real impact happens when farmers get involved.

What’s Inside:
0:00 – Introduction with Lindsay Croke
0:30 – Kenny’s decades of service in IL Corn & NCGA
1:10 – From marketing board to national leadership
2:45 – Key wins in Farm Bill & crop insurance policy
4:00 – How grassroots action shapes U.S. agriculture
5:20 – Defending U.S. biotechnology in Mexico (the 301 case)
6:30 – Strengthening trade & global market access
7:40 – Ethanol, E15, and the future of sustainable fuel
8:50 – Why young farmers should get involved
9:55 – Not to be Corny

🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more conversations that connect policy, markets, and the future of farming.

More at:
🌐 National Corn Growers Association – https://ncga.com

🌽 IL Corn Growers Association – https://www.ilcorn.org

Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert

#ILCornTV #NCGA #IllinoisCorn #FarmBill #CornFarmers #AgriculturePolicy #YoungFarmers #CornAdvocacy #GlobalMarkets

The best defense against a tight agricultural economy is a sharp pencil. Join Dr. Laura Gentry and Dr. Gary Schnitkey as they dissect the tough financial forecasts for 2025 and 2026, which are being squeezed by elevated costs for inputs and machinery. Dr. Schnitkey offers three key equipment strategies to manage overhead. Drawing on 10 years of PCM data, they demonstrate how moving to no-till or strip-till is not just a conservation choice, but a proven financial advantage that places fields in the top profitability quartile, even before accounting for government incentives.

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Introduction
1:41 - The Tight Margin Forecast: 2025/2026 Outlook
2:20 - What's Driving the Spike in Input Costs?
4:40 - Equipment Management: Cost-Saving Strategies
6:22 - Decoding PCM Data: Tillage and Farm Economics
8:36 - Conservation's Edge: Top Profitability with Reduced Tillage
9:55 - Using Incentives to Boost Your Conservation ROI
10:30 - Not To Be Corny

🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more conservation stories 

More at:
🌐 Precision Conservation Management - https://www.precisionconservation.org/

🌽 IL Corn Growers Association – https://www.ilcorn.org

Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert

#ILCornTV  #NotToBeCorny #AgEconOutlook #FarmProfitability #MachineryCosts #UofIextension #PCMag #ConservationData #StripTillAdvantage

In this episode of IL Corn TV, host Lindsay Croke talks with John Hinners from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) about how U.S. red meat exports create global opportunities while strengthening the value of Illinois corn. From blending beef liver into nutrient-rich burgers for Peru to growing international demand in South Korea, John shares how U.S. agriculture feeds the world and why that matters for every corn farmer.

What’s Inside:
0:00 – Introduction
0:42 – What the U.S. Meat Export Federation Does
1:16 – The Longstanding Partnership with IL Corn
2:58 – How Meat Exports Add 59¢ per Bushel for Corn Farmers
4:50 – Turning Beef Liver into Global Nutrition Solutions
6:45 – Adding Value to Every Cut of Meat
8:25 – South Korea: A 50-Year Export Success Story
9:50 – Not to be Corny
10:50 – Investing in the Next Generation of Farmers


🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more stories connecting global markets and local farms.

More at:
🌐 U.S. Meat Export Federation – https://www.usmef.org

🌽 IL Corn Growers Association – https://www.ilcorn.org

Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert

#ILCornTV #USMEF #CornAndLivestock #AgExports #BeefExports #PorkExports #IllinoisCorn #Farmers #GlobalMarkets #NotToBeCorny

Tune in to IL Corn TV as Shane Gray sits down with Jenna Herrick, Manager of Conservation, and Fletcher Morgan, Central Illinois Regional Director for Ducks Unlimited (DU), for a great conversation about their work and impact.

What You’ll Learn in This Video:
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – Growth of agricultural engagement within Ducks Unlimited
01:30 – Shane shares his experience at DU events and fundraisers
02:30 – Fletcher on seeing young generations get involved in conservation
3:00 – Jenna explains the Big Rivers Initiative (BRI)
03:50 – Partnering with state departments and local organizations
4:40 – How conservation improves soil, water, and wildlife habitat
05:30 – Recognizing DU’s volunteers and supporters
06:40 – Learn more at ducks.org/Illinois

Follow IL Corn TV for more meaningful conversations.

IL Corn Growers Association – https://www.ilcorn.org

Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert

#DucksUnlimited #DU #ILCornTV #WetlandConservation #BigRiversInitiative #SustainableFarming #WildlifeHabitat #ConservationPartnerships #FarmersForWildlife

In this episode, we dive into a fascinating study revealing how U.S. red meat exports directly impact corn utilization and farmer profitability. A third-party analysis shows that roughly one out of three hogs and 14% of cattle raised in the U.S. are destined for international markets — creating major ripple effects across the ag economy.

Show Notes:
⏱️ 0:00 – Introduction
⏱️ 1:01 – The Ducks Unlimited Mission
⏱️ 2:14 – Partnering with Agricultural Producers and Landowners
⏱️ 2:48 – Ducks Unlimited’s Conservation Work in Illinois
⏱️ 3:28 – Support for the “Fall Covers for Spring Savings” Program
⏱️ 4:20 – Why Cover Crops Matter for Wetland Ecosystems
⏱️ 6:09 – “Farm the Best, Conserve the Rest” Explained
⏱️ 6:23 – Turning Marginal Acres into Productive Conservation
⏱️ 8:22 – Not to be Corny segment

Follow IL Corn TV for more stories from farmers leading the way in sustainability and innovation.

#DucksUnlimited #ILCornTV #Conservation #Wetlands #CoverCrops #SoilHealth #BigRiversInitiative #FarmTheBestConserveTheRest #AgriConservation #FarmlandStewardship

What happens when a farmer rethinks everything he knows about soil, livestock, and sustainability? Dan Sanderson from Pasture Grazed Farm shares how curiosity and care for the land led him toward conservation agriculture, and how that shift reshaped his family farm and his mindset.

Episode Guide:
00:40 – Conservation ag inspiration
01:20 – Building farm community
03:00 – Virtual fencing on the field
05:10 – Small grains & cover crops
06:00 – Simple conservation tips
08:00 – Why oats make great covers
9:10 – Not To Be Corny & Closing Thoughts

Learn more about Pasture Grazed Farm:
Website: https://www.pasture-grazed.com/

Youtube: 
@AmericanFarmland - https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFarmland
@ilsoybean - https://www.youtube.com/@ilsoybean
@AISWCD - https://www.youtube.com/@AISWCD
@TheUSDANRCS - https://www.youtube.com/@TheUSDANRCS
@compeerfinancial8562 - https://www.youtube.com/@compeerfinancial8562
@ilsustainableag - https://www.youtube.com/@ilsustainableag
@FarmCredit - https://www.youtube.com/@FarmCredit

🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more stories from farmers leading the way in sustainability and innovation.

#ILCornTV #ConservationAg #PastureGrazed #SoilHealth #SustainableFarming #FarmBetter #MidwestFarming #InspiredByAg #AgInnovation