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“Ag Day is a really special day for us because we get the
opportunity to interact with people who aren’t living on the
farm and are really interested in learning more about food
production and the economic impact of farming in Illinois,” said
Lindsey Croke, director of Communications with the Illinois Corn
Growers Association.
DeAnn Bloomberg, director of Issues Management at the Illinois
Farm Bureau, said in addition to the farm bill, farm
profitability is an issue that is top of mind for her
organization.
“Most recently I would say the farm income projections that are
out there as the result of declining commodity prices,” said
Bloomberg.
Croke agrees that Illinois farmers are uneasy about the future
of farm income.
“We really are thinking what the University of Illinois predicts
is going to be a long-term profitability decline, so that makes
us nervous about the future of family farmers and being able to
keep family farmers in business,” said Croke.
Several other organizations are expected to participate in Ag
Day, including the Illinois Pork Producers Association, the
Illinois Soybean Association and the Illinois Specialty Growers
Association.
Livestock exhibitors and youth in agriculture participants will
also be on the grounds to celebrate the state’s number one
industry.
Illinois' agricultural output is a major contributor to the
state's economy, generating more than $51 billion annually in
marketing revenue. This includes over $19 billion from
agricultural commodities, and billions more from related
industries.
Illinois is the top soybean producing state in the country, and
the second largest producer of corn.
The Illinois State Fair begins Thursday and runs through Aug.
18.
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