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Rep. Kelly Hosts ‘Barn Hall’ Conversation with Farmers and Food Security Advocates
Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) Wednesday (August 10, 2022 visited Rick and Corey Johnson’s Farm in Monee, IL and held a ‘Barn Hall’ with farmers, growers and food security advocates from the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association, Greater Chicago Food Depository and the USDA Office of Rural Development.
Rep. Kelly and the farmers discussed pandemic impacts on Illinois farmers, food insecurity and opportunities for partnership, and for their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill.
Additionally, farmers discussed methods of conservation farming, USDA cover crop programs and the benefits of technology in allowing farming to be more precise and safer for the environment.
“There are more than 1,200 farms throughout Illinois’ Second Congressional District. Many of these farmers and producers have felt the squeeze of the pandemic’s economic impacts and supply chain challenges,” said Congresswoman Kelly.
“Our farmers are vital to Illinois’s economy, and during my visit, I heard more about the measures our farmers want us to take in Congress to support them. I am also pleased to hear that Illinois farmers are utilizing farming techniques like cover crops, reduced till and other conservation methods to protect the environment.”
“Farm Bureau leaders always appreciate an opportunity to visit with Rep. Kelly and discuss our association’s priority issues,” said Illinois Farm Bureau’s national legislative director Adam Nielsen.
“Right now, we’re focused on preparing for the next Farm Bill debate and will be asking Rep. Kelly to join efforts to preserve farmers’ safety net of crop insurance and commodity programs during the period of rising agricultural input prices.”
“Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is creating a stronger food supply chain that benefits American producers, meat and poultry processors, and consumers,” USDA Rural Development Illinois State Director Betsy Dirksen Londrigan said.
“USDA is focused on building new, fairer, and more resilient markets for farmers, ranchers, and producers. In the last five years, stresses and disruptions caused by concentration in livestock and poultry markets have impacted not only producers, but consumers as well. Most recently, USDA made $200 million available to provide grants to nonprofit lenders that will establish a revolving loan fund to finance the start-up or expansion of meat and poultry processors. This is just one of several funding opportunities made available in 2022 alone that partners with local organizations on the ground to ensure that funding reaches the people and businesses who call rural America home.”
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