Association Focus

Buzz Iliff, Illinois Beef Association President

May is Beef Month, everyone is planting, and spring calving is winding down. There is no better feeling than to see calves running around with their tails in the air on green grass.

I would like to thank the Illinois Beef Expo board and IBA staff for their hard work putting together a great event for our Junior membership in Peoria this spring. They did an outstanding job pulling everything together in these times. It was an event that many, including me, enjoyed attending. The cattle were once again out of this world. Congratulations to all that participated.

We continue to monitor the current issues that our industry faces. One of our most pressing is cattle marketing. There are several federal legislative bills dealing with this topic. There is the Grassley bill and the Fischer Bill. Please read more about these proposals in this issue of the magainzemagazine and give us your opinions. I personally take this issue with great weight. We need to carefully think of the cause and effect that each bill would set into action. Please contact the IBA office in Springfield or get in touch with any board members and let us know your stance.

The threat of foreign animal diseases are very real. To be prepared and to have quick reaction times we need to know where livestock is located. I would urge everyone to get a premises identification and some will have to get multiple numbers for different locations. Premise Identification is invaluable if we do get a foreign animal disease. This will help to quarantine and contain the diseases. A premises identification can be obtained by calling the Illinois Department of Agriculture. If you have questions or problems contact the IBA office for help.

I am excited for the upcoming IBA Summer Conference. Please join us on June 8 and9 in East Peoria for great information, tours, and social events. It is a wonderful chance to pick up some new ideas, network with other producers and make new friends. You can register for the meeting on our website or by calling the office.

Remember May is Beef Month and it is our job as producers to promote our great product locally. Thank your local grocer and see if they need any promotional items. All of these are available by calling the IBA office.

Have a great Spring!

Nicely done, beef.

You only need one ingredient to taste like a hamburger.