Partner perspective

Partner perspective IL Corn's, Rodney Weinzierl, tells us why corn and soy are more than just a great crop rotation

RODNEY WEINZIERL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IL CORN

I feel confident in my guess that every farmer flipping through this issue of Illinois Field and Bean not only has a couple acres of soybeans, but also a couple of acres of corn.

The two crops make for a mutually beneficial rotation that adds diversity to farms, improves the soil, and helps farmers manage risk. Often, you can’t have one without the other. In the same way, Illinois Soybean Association and IL Corn can work together to benefit the farmers of Illinois in meaningful ways.

As an example, almost any Illinois policy proposal that would impact an Illinois corn farmer would have the same impact on an Illinois soybean farmer. Yes, the policy might be specific to corn or to soybean management, but because most farmers grow both, the impact to members of our associations is the same.

We’re building on that commonality and partnership in big ways and yielding big benefits for Illinois farmers, and following are some examples.

ISA and IL Corn work together to support meat exports through funding to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and the U.S.A. Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC). Each organization funds specific projects in targeted countries, but together we increase overall demand for meat and poultry around the world.

One out of every four hogs raised in Illinois is exported out of our state. This type of work builds demand for corn and soybean farmers, and for our livestock farmer neighbors.

Both of our associations work to benefit our livestock farmer customers and neighbors via other projects as well. It was an honor to stand with the Illinois Soybean Association this spring at the aid of the Illinois Pork Producers Association as they considered depopulation related to COVID-19 shutdowns. We are also in partnership via the Illinois Livestock Development Group where we invest to increase livestock numbers in Illinois.

We both watch for coalition work outside of the agriculture community, helping non-farmers understand more about agriculture. Both ISA and IL Corn fund Illinois Ag in the Classroom to bring agriculture to every student in Illinois. Both are also significant voices in the Illinois Farm Families coalition, providing content targeted to millennial parents in Chicago that helps them connect with Illinois farmers and Illinois agriculture.

Often the messages relating to sustainability, renewable fuels, basing farm management in sound science, and providing a safe and affordable food supply are common messages between both organizations. Partnering on consumer outreach projects adds value for Illinois farmers and allows your voice to be heard even further from the farm gate.

Where there is momentum for change, you’ll find IL Corn and ISA working together there, too. Leaders of both organizations see opportunities for farmers in the sustainability arena and proposed carbon market; we’re both investing money to make sure farmers are represented well with accurate data and analysis. We also see momentum for new locks and dams on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers and we are committed to investing farmer dollars to their best benefit to increase transportation efficiencies.

Next summer, at Farm Progress Show 2021, you will be able to visit us in the same location! We are excited to announce a partnership on our Farm Progress Show presence. Many of you are members of both associations; finding us in one place just makes sense.

As IL Corn and ISA work together to provide maximum value to our Illinois farmer members, it is our hope that farmers will yield the benefits. Just like a crop rotation maximizes your corn and soybean yield, our partnership can maximize opportunities for Illinois farmers to create and capture profit opportunities, preserve farm independence, and prosper for generations.