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"The well-being of our farmers
and rural communities is vitally important to Illinois' economy,"
the governor said. "Despite urban development, about 80 percent of
Illinois' land -- or 28 million acres -- still is devoted to
production agriculture. And our 78,000 farms provide the foundation
for a multibillion-dollar industry that employs nearly one of every
four Illinois workers."
"These jobs are not located
only in rural communities," Blagojevich added. "Illinois ranks among
the top states in the nation with 1,700 food companies, many of
which are located in the Chicago area."
The council's membership
includes representatives of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois
Farmers Union, and the Illinois Beef, Pork Producers and Corn
Growers associations, as well as a past president of the American
Soybean Association, the dean of the University of Illinois' College
of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, an alternative
agriculture market development specialist, and four farmers.
Its objectives are ambitious
and wide-ranging. In the area of economic development, members will
work to spur the growth of new agribusinesses and complete
infrastructure improvements that are essential to deliver farm
commodities to markets. They also aim to improve farm families'
access to technology and health care.
The council's market
development objectives include identifying the tools necessary to
exploit growth opportunities in specific sectors of agriculture and
opening new foreign markets to Illinois agricultural products.
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this article]
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The council also aspires to
raise awareness about the importance of agriculture in order to
preserve farmland and foster community support for an expansion of
the livestock industry. And, it intends to work with government in
an effort to make sure agriculture regulations permit farmers to
keep producing food.
Illinois ranks second
nationally in the production of corn and soybeans and fourth in the
production of pork. Sales of Illinois crops and livestock annually
generate about $8 billion in revenue, including $3 billion from
exports.
A list of the council members
follows:
- Joe Alford, Girard,
Illinois Farmers Union
- Leon Corzine, Assumption,
Illinois Corn Growers Association
- Dr. Bob Easter, Urbana,
University of Illinois, College of ACES
- David Erickson, Altona,
American Soybean Association
- Jim Slama, Chicago,
alternative agriculture market development specialist
- Maralee Johnson,
Springfield, Illinois Beef Association
- Jill Appell, Altona,
Illinois Pork Producers Association
- Mike Campbell,
Edwardsville, farmer
- Paul Schuman, Sullivan,
Illinois Farm Bureau
- LaDonna Redmond, Chicago,
urban farmer
- Steve Scates, Shawneetown,
farmer
- Glen Bauman, Mulkeytown,
farmer
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release]
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