It may be difficult for some Illinois citizens-living in the urban areas of our state, where cornfields and farm animals are rare sights-to understand how important agriculture is to the success of the state's economy. Many Illinoisans, outside of central and southern Illinois, don't realize that agriculture is the driving force of the state's economy.
In Illinois, more than 25 percent of all jobs are agriculture related, whether growing crops, raising livestock, conducting agri-research at the University of Illinois, selling commodities at the Chicago Board of Trade or building farm implements at John Deere Corporation in Moline. Altogether the farm industry generates more than $9 billion annually.
Agriculture is vital to the financial security of Illinois, contributing to the success of the state's economy in ways the average citizen would never think of. Consequently, Illinois lawmakers and state officials spend significant time considering ways to improve agriculture safety measures, and ensure Illinois' agricultural products are of the highest quality.
Lawmakers, in conjunction with local and state officials, are constantly reviewing agricultural safety measures, developing new safety regulations and initiating improvements to the current standards. As elected officials it is our responsibility to safeguard the public's wellbeing, as well as protect our farmers' health and financial welfare, and we do this in many ways, on many different levels.
Following the tragic events of September 11, Illinois government stepped up response efforts to assist in the event of a bioterrorist attack. State and local officials were seriously concerned about security risks posed to Illinois agriculture because of the important role agriculture plays in driving the state's economy.
Over the past three years, the state has utilized state and federal funds to upgrade equipment to more effectively respond and assist in the event of a bioterrorist attack in Illinois. Sophisticated mapping software, internet technology upgrades and contaminant detection capabilities, have been introduced to assist in identifying possible toxins and warn at-risk agriculture assets in the event of a terrorist assault.
Biological threats of a non-terrorist nature are also a concern. With the introduction of mad cow disease into the United States, state government and the agriculture community have been working together to prevent the introduction of an animal disease that might threaten the public health, and endanger state livestock producers.
To lessen these possibilities, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) will require a permit for all imported livestock into the state for production or exhibition. The requirement will give state agriculture officials advance notice of farm animals entering Illinois, and the ability to stop the shipment of a diseased animal before it arrives in the state.
Additionally, the IDOA initiated the first step toward a national animal identification system. The Department began the difficult task of identifying every farm, sales barn, feedlot and slaughtering facility in Illinois that has contact with food animals. With this information at their fingerprints authorities will be able to quickly and easily trace the whereabouts of livestock and poultry products.
Recently, funding was designated to finance on-sight surveillance measures intended to identify the signs of Mad Cow Disease. The state will pay bovine producers to submit their cattle for testing, as well as reimburse them for travel to the testing site.
Statewide, inspections of feed mills and sampling of feed products have dramatically increased, and the state has hired ten additional inspectors and three staff veterinarians in the IDOA's Bureau of Meat and Poultry Inspection to further tighten the regulation of Illinois livestock-the goal being to ensure product safety and preserve public confidence in Illinois food products.
Though perhaps currently agriculture's most well-known concerns, mad cow disease and bioterrorist threats are not the only issues confronting the agriculture industry. Legislators have also been concerned with public safety hazards posed by agriculture machinery.
Beginning September 1, 2004, all farm vehicles using public roads for agricultural purposes have been required to use a new, improved "Slow Moving Vehicle" sign that is brighter and longer lasting.
As the harvest season peaks, slow-moving tractors and other farm equipment are often forced onto rural highways. The new signs will serve as a caution to motorists that the vehicle they are bearing down upon is moving at speed significantly slower than their own. Lawmakers anticipate that this measure will decrease fatalities involving crashes between cars and farm machinery.
The success of each of these measures relies on a strong collaboration between the state's government officials, farmers, farm organizations, state animal health officials and agribusinesses. To ensure the success of Illinois' most important industry these entities must continue to work together to advance agricultural safety in Illinois, protect lives and minimize farmers' financial losses.
