3 minute read
Partnership and New Beginnings
From the time we start seeing the first combines roll in the fall, until the first snow flies, it always feels like two worlds are coming together. The warm growing season transitions to a brisk fall and the brisk fall turns quickly into deep winter. In the legislative arena in Illinois, this is always a sure sign that the Illinois General Assembly is about to get back in session. With the new year brings new legislation and a new need to advocate for Illinois farmers.
The new legislative year always begins with excitement and a flurry of looking at what legislation is being developed, at which groups support or oppose particular bills. It’s a busy season with the end goal of every group in Springfield seeing the passage of positive rules or the stoppage of harmful legislation.
Over the past few decades, there has been one staying power in the Illinois General Assembly. The former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives served a role that managed legislative interests against one another, leading to a slower process to pass broad sweeping legislation. Since the departure of the former Speaker, the General Assembly has taken an active pose, passing many bills out of the Illinois House of Representatives that would have been held in earlier general assemblies.
Each year, ag groups come together around the knowledge that there will be a long list of bills introduced that are aimed at dramatically transforming our landscape. These include removing protections for livestock farmers, banning the use of neonicotinoids, banning the use of common herbicides, and other burdensome regulations that will have an immense impact on how Illinois farmers operate. Other legislation would limit the market potential for biofuels and other ag products here in Illinois.
The government relations team here at ISA has three missions. First is to uphold the ability of Illinois soybean farmers to operate in ways that work for their operations and make sure they have access to modern production tools. The second is to achieve legislative outcomes that support markets and products that are made from soybeans, thus growing demand. The third mission is to represent farmers on key farm and business policy issues that impact the operation of their farms.
To achieve these missions, our team works diligently with other agriculture organizations and also strives to find other traditional and nontraditional partners to achieve positive outcomes. Recognizing the changing political dynamics in Springfield, our team is working with new partners to achieve successes, including the expansion of cover crop programs and increased market support for biodiesel in Illinois.
We are working every day to bring about stronger and better outcomes for Illinois farmers. Finding new partnerships and opportunities to do that adds value to the bench strength of Illinois agriculture. We look forward to the coming session of the Illinois General Assembly because rather than playing defense, our goal is to better educate legislators and engage on key issues that make an impact on agriculture. In the coming issues of Illinois Field & Bean, you will see more details about ISG’s 2024 legislative agenda. To learn more, and renew or become a member, please visit ilsoygrowers.com.
