SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - For 54 years, farmers, students, and supporters have flocked to the Capitol building for Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day. Their goal is to meet with legislators and tell them what bills or initiatives they are hoping to see prioritized that year.
"Agriculture has over a $25 billion annual economic impact," said Jerry Costello, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. "About one in four or one in five jobs in the state are in some way, shape, or form agriculture related ... without a doubt, we can call agriculture the number one industry in the state of Illinois."
Costello said one of the big priorities for legislators last year was improving agriculture education, and programs are already seeing the results of that. Thaddeus Bergschneider, President of the Illinois FFA program said program participation grew by 15% last year.
"Illinois FFA and agriculture collaboration are uniting those differences across all walks of life, for example, in agriculture, the consumer and the crop are cared for together," said Bergschneider. "Farmers in the field feed families near and far away, and nature and nourishment are both national priorities. "
Representative Charles Meier is pushing for estate tax reform for family farms, to ensure younger generations can run the farms their families have owned for generations. He says this is a key way to support younger generations.
State leaders also say mental health for farmers needs to be taken seriously. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton says she's heard from many farmers that financial struggles are causing a physical toll on them.
"They shared a deep love for their land, but also an overwhelming exhaustion from having to navigate the farming industry, and that exhaustion prevents them from achieving new heights," said Stratton. "These are the kinds of issues that we as leaders need to know about so that we can offer effective interventions and strategic support, because to be frank, there is no Illinois without our agriculture professionals."
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