Page 36 2026 Spring Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 2026 for international export in New Orleans. The facility in Havana inspects the quality and condition of the corn by testing it for moisture content and foreign materials. This step ensures that the corn meets international trade standards. Data from IL Corn shows that Mexico is the largest recipient of U.S. corn, accounting for 40 percent of U.S. corn exports. Japan is another reliable purchaser of U.S. corn for their livestock feed. Global markets have increased their demand for U.S. corn. Spain has been seeking alternatives to Ukrainian grain amid slowed shipments and continued global demand. Egypt and Morocco have seen a recent uptick in U.S. corn imports due to regional droughts and an increased need for poultry feed. One area of the market where U.S. corn exports have fallen is China. China is still a major purchaser, although it has established alternative markets in Brazil. If Chris isn’t hauling corn to an ADM location, he hauls it to a nearby facility in Decatur, Primient. Primient, formerly known as Tate & Lyle, is a corn wet mill that refines raw corn into sweeteners, including highfructose corn syrup, crystalline fructose, and dextrose. They also produce materials used for making cardboard and wallboard. Like ADM, they produce ingredients used for sodas, preservatives, fabrics, and cosmetics. Another spot that receives corn from Logan County is ALTO/ICP in Pekin, IL. This specific site is a historic landmark for corn processing, as parts of the facility have been processing central Illinois grain for over 100 years. This plant uses dry-mill fermentation to make three types of products. These products include specialty alcohols used in the production of vodka, gin, and other liquors. The plant produces alcohols used in beauty products such as perfumes, lotions, and deodorants, as well as alcohols with pharmaceutical uses, such as ingredients for cough syrups, sanitizers, and disinfectants. Another important product of this location is Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), which is a high-protein feed for cattle, swine, and poultry. Corn gluten, corn oil, and yeast are also important ingredients produced in Pekin. Like the ADM location in Havana, its location on the Illinois River allows the company to ship the products internationally. This summer, when you drive through Logan County’s endless miles of green corn, stop and think of what it might become. It could be fueling your car as you drive down the road, it could be in the bag of chips you snack on during the day, or in the beverage you choose to unwind with. Sometimes we get so used to
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