In the Know

IBA partners with Illinois farm groups to secure funding for veterinarians, disease preparedness

During the final days of the 2022 spring legislative session, leadership from four Illinois commodity groups and Illinois Farm Bureau worked together to successfully secure an increase in the Illinois State budget of $750,000 to be additional funding toward the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA). These funds will be used to provide additional field veterinarians and proactive foreign animal disease prevention measures necessary to protect Illinois agriculture in the event of looming foreign animal disease outbreaks.

“With the recent announcement by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirming the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a small backyard flock in Mclean County, the need for these funds is immediate,” says Illinois Pork Producer Association’s Executive Director, Jennifer Tirey. “This recent outbreak proves that a foreign animal disease does not discriminate based on the size of a livestock farm. The devastation could impact the smallest backyard hobby farms, farmers that sell their product at a farmers’ market, small meat processors or our larger producers. We’re also concerned about the potential of an African Swine Fever outbreak in Illinois swine herds. The impact of any of these animal disease outbreaks to Illinois agriculture would be detrimental and being underprepared would only worsen the impact.”

Today, IDOA only has one field veterinarian on staff to serve the entire state of Illinois. Adding veterinarians could mean regionally defined service areas, even allowing field staff to support vet work on specific species-related issues.

“We hope the collaborative response from our five groups will empower our request,” says Tirey. “We are incredibly grateful to the legislators who stand for the best interests of Illinois agriculture and Illinois farmers.”

The joint effort of Illinois’ five largest farm groups comes as the latest partnership among agriculture organizations working to secure stronger outcomes for the state’s farmers and ranchers.

“The Department applauds the effort put forth by the beef association, along with other commodity partners and the Illinois Farm Bureau, to secure funds for additional field veterinarians in Illinois,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. “Adding veterinarians to our field staff is crucial to increase our responsiveness to outbreaks and advance our animal disease traceability.”

Josh St. Peters, executive vice president of the Illinois Beef Association, adds, “Earlier this winter IDOA expressed this issue as a concern to our organizations and we are happy to see the funding secured and look forward to working with the department to protect the ag industry from potential foreign animal disease outbreaks.” He says, “Director Costello, IDOA leadership, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patrick Joyce (D-Essex), Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) are greatly appreciated by the Illinois ag community for their partnership.”

Illinois Director of Ag Jerry Costello and IBA Policy Chair Shannon Welsh

Illinois Beef Association seeks qualified producer-applicants for Checkoff Division

The Illinois Beef Association (IBA) is seeking qualified beef producers for five director seats on the organization’s Checkoff Division of the Board of Governors. To be nominated for a three-year term in one of the positions, individuals must be a beef producer for at least the last five years prior to election and must reside within an open district. To be placed on the ballot, an individual must complete the petition application found on IllinoisBeef.com.

Districts seeking candidates on the Checkoff Division include the following county-specific seats:

District 1: Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll and Ogle counties.

District 3: Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Cook, LaSalle, Kendall, Will, Grundy and Kankakee counties.

District 4: Henderson, Warren, Knox, Hancock, McDonough, Fulton, Adams, Rock Island and Mercer counties.

District 5: Logan, Cass, Menard, Pike, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, Christian, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery, Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, Mason, Schuyler and Brown counties.

District 7: Clinton, Washington, Jefferson, Randolph, Perry, Jackson, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Bond, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash and Marion counties.

Petitions must be completed and returned to the IBA office by May 27. Elections will occur at the Illinois Beef Association and Illinois Forage and Grassland Council Summer Conference on June 7, in Macomb. Absentee ballots can be requested by contacting the IBA office at (217) 787-4280.

SATURDAY, MAY 28TH At 10AM 14521 KING RD., MACKINAW, IL 61755 SHOW EQUIPMENT DISPERSAL AUCTION

Equipment

• 2018 EBY Gooseneck 8’x26’ show trailer loaded • 2014 Aluminum WW bumper pull 16’x7’ • Case 1816 C Skid-Steer

Loader (600 hrs) • Two IH M’s Tractors, 1 w/ power steering, both NF • JD X754 Mower, 4-wheel steer, 62” Edge Extra Cut, 198 hrs. Diesel. • Very Large Asst. Riverode items (70 Riverrode gates, posts, show pens, chutes, 19 farmmaster 10 ft panels with 1 bow gate, 60+ 12 ft corral panels, Riverode scale) • Silage Feeders, Pull Type and Others (24’ S&I w/insert, 20’

Work Weld Inc. w/ insert, Variety of Feeders, Bale Mover)

For full ad and photos go to Auction Zip #42961 or #19028 Hoylandauction.com.

Stall and Show Items

Water tanks incl. steel, varios blue & black poly, cattle rubbers, 20 Sullivan Turbo & show barn fans - (2 brand new), 3 butt fans, 48 cow mats 4’x6’, 2 poly calf warmers, 4 grooming chutes, 4 sets chute mats, 2 chute dollies, 50+ halters and neckties, 30 combs and brushes, 12 show sticks, 14 show halters size XS-L, 4 Sullivan neck sweats, 2 sets Sullivan Lakeside chute lights, Weaver florescent chute lights, 10 Sullivan water buckets and feed pans, stall mats, 3 Sullivan aluminum front stall panels, Sullivan fan cages, selection of brackets, Sullivan show box, Andis ProClip Excel Super Duty clippers (new), Cordless Pullsar cordless clippers (new), new and used clippers and blades.

Auction Note: Offering everything/anything needed to show or work w/cattle on your farm or ranch. All items are clean and in EC condition. Many, many items are not listed. Conducted by Jerry Watkins Auction Team (309) 222-1024 Lic.44 Lic.440000458 Hoyland Auction, Inc. (309) 696-0614 Lic.440000419. All Announcements made sale day take precedence over all others. Cash or check on sale day. Not responsible for accidents.