BY TIMOTHY EGGERT
Demonstrating the value of livestock and its importance to Illinois consumers and farmers is a top priority for Illinois Farm Bureau in 2022.
IFB this year also plans to collaborate with other industry organizations to educate the general public, elected officials and non-livestock farmers about the role of the state’s livestock industry, especially at the local level.
That strategy was outlined during a presentation by Tasha Bunting, IFB associate director of commodity and livestock programs, at IFB’s 2022 Governmental Affairs and Leadership Conference in Springfield.
“Ultimately the goal is to ensure that consumers have a better understanding that livestock is a safe and sustainable source of food and an economic source for our local communities,” Bunting said.
The push for an informed perspective on Illinois livestock comes as meat prices have risen nationwide amid inflation and as the federal government has launched programs to increase competition within the meat processing industry.
Bunting said spotlighting economic opportunities is especially important for Illinois, where the livestock found on one-third of state farms translate to markets for feed, dairy and processing. Nearly 91,000 jobs across the state are directly linked to livestock farming, Bunting noted.
The average Illinois small processor generates $27.9 million in economic activity and supports 88 local jobs each year, Bunting said.
“We need to make sure our neighbors are hearing and understanding that (livestock production) is something that can contribute at the local level and drive economic growth,” Bunting said.
But IFB members shouldn’t just share the economic benefits of livestock farming.
Producers also get involved in community activities, support local food pantries and create opportunities for transitioning the farm or business to the next generation, Bunting said.
IFB will also help members communicate the efforts and regulations around conservation and stewardship on livestock farms, including sustainable production systems and quality assurance programs.
“We are producing more food with fewer resources, which is something that you all have known for a long time,” Bunting said. “But we have not done a great job at sharing that information with our non-livestock producing farmers as well as our consumers and community members that are not involved on the farm.”
To boost that awareness, IFB will focus on explaining the issues and regulations surrounding livestock production while opposing future state legislation that may make significant changes to the Livestock Management and Facilities Act.
Ultimately, Bunting said IFB encourages livestock members to share their stories through social media or host an elected official through IFB’s Adopt-a-Legislator program.
“A lot of times (elected officials) don’t understand the process, they don’t know what their involvement should be or how they should approach it,” Bunting said. “If our livestock farmers and our county Farm Bureau members can be a source of information, that’s going to be very helpful to discourage some of the anti-livestock rhetoric that sometimes gets brought up in conversations.”
This story was provided by FarmWeekNow.com.