--- title: "Why Illinois Corn Growers Are Working With NASA" id: "47177" type: "post" slug: "why-illinois-corn-growers-are-working-with-nasa" published_at: "2019-07-03T15:52:36+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T01:36:53+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/07/03/why-illinois-corn-growers-are-working-with-nasa/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/07/03/why-illinois-corn-growers-are-working-with-nasa.md" excerpt: "NASA will be supplying the data for an effort launched by the Illinois Corn Growers Association that aims to improve farm management throughout the Midwest." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "farming" - "local agriculture" - "NASA" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Why Illinois Corn Growers Are Working With NASA The Illinois Corn Growers Association has a new collaboration in the works—and it has a NASA pedigree. The Farmer Data Cooperative, which teams ICGA and its members with researchers at the University of Illinois, will use NASA datasets to help solve agricultural management inefficiencies, help uncover new areas to farm, and improve overall management of farms. The approach will use high-tech data but will be structured like a traditional co-op, [ICGA explained in a news release (opens in a new tab)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illinois-corn-farmers-partner-with-nasa-and-university-of-illinois-to-address-food-security-300876486.html) . However, there will be some differences. For example, farmers will offer their data into the cooperative and will receive cash compensation for doing so, and they’ll get other benefits such as access to technology enabled by the data. In the release, ICGA Director of Water Quality Research Dr. Laura Gentry described the initiative as “an unprecedented opportunity for farmers to take the lead in shaping the future of agriculture by creating exactly the tools we need to better address critical issues such as land use efficiency, nutrient management and exploring new market opportunities.” [In a blog post (opens in a new tab)](https://nasaharvest.org/project/using-satellite-data-help-farmers-improve-field-scale-nutrient-management) describing the project, University of Illinois researcher Kaiyu Guan, who will lead the research endeavor, noted that the goal of the project will be to enroll 100 farmers throughout the state—30 from Northern Illinois, 40 from Central Illinois, and 30 from Southern Illinois. He added that he hopes the initiative will bring actionable lessons to farmers throughout the region. “We aim to develop this project as an example to be scaled up to the whole U.S. Midwest and beyond of effectively using NASA satellite data for improving farming practices and US agricultural prosperity,” he said. The initial crop of farmers for the endeavor will be pulled from an existing ICGA program, [Precision Conservation Management (opens in a new tab)](https://www.precisionconservation.org/) , which uses technology to improve conservation efforts in farming. (stevanovicigor/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#farming](https://associationsnow.com/tag/farming/) [#local agriculture](https://associationsnow.com/tag/local-agriculture/) [#NASA](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nasa/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F07%2F03%2Fwhy-illinois-corn-growers-are-working-with-nasa%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !