Farm bureau and U of I power Illinois ag

By Andi Anderson

Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) and University of Illinois (U of I) leaders recently came together to explore how their partnership could better serve Illinois agriculture.

The meeting, described as energetic and productive, focused on leveraging the strengths of both organizations to drive innovation and address the challenges facing farmers today.

U of I President Timothy Killeen emphasized the importance of their longstanding partnership, noting that both organizations share the same vision for advancing agriculture.

He expressed enthusiasm for strengthening the collaboration, saying that the partnership’s potential should be "turbocharged" to achieve greater impact.

Brian Duncan, President of IFB, highlighted the candid discussions about the challenges in agriculture, including economic and environmental issues.

He stressed the need to use the university’s academic, research, and human resources to find practical solutions for farmers, particularly in areas like the farm bill and environmental concerns.

IFB Vice President Evan Hultine, an alumnus of U of I, suggested expanding the partnership beyond the Urbana-Champaign campus to bridge the rural-urban divide.

He proposed ideas like making agriculture courses mandatory for undergraduates, offering leadership development, and creating short, practical courses for busy farmers. Killeen agreed, stating that these priorities align with the university’s mission to support agriculture in every way possible.

The discussion also touched on economic challenges, with Duncan noting that the current farm bill is based on outdated figures. Other topics included the importance of research into carbon sequestration and new market opportunities like sustainable aviation fuel.

Both IFB and U of I leaders are committed to continuing the conversation and building a stronger future for Illinois agriculture through this vital partnership.

Photo Credit: illinois-farm-bureau