By Andi Anderson
Congressman Eric Sorensen, who represents District 17 in Illinois, recently visited a central Illinois farm to discuss important issues affecting soybean and corn farmers. The visit showed his continued commitment to supporting the agricultural community and understanding the challenges farmers face every day.
Opey Rowell, a corn and soybean farmer from Manito, Illinois, hosted the Congressman on November 10. Rowell is a member of the Illinois Soybean Association’s Environmental Policy Task Force and shared details about the regenerative agriculture practices he uses to improve his soil health and protect the environment.
During the visit, Rowell explained how he plants cover crops, uses strip tillage, and applies liquid fertilizer directly to each row. These techniques help improve efficiency, reduce input waste, and support long-term soil conservation. He also emphasized that conservation practices are not the same for every farm and that flexible approaches are important.
Congressman Sorensen discussed the need for strong conservation funding and spoke about how important it is to listen to farmers before making decisions in Washington. He stated, “Illinois farmers are some of the hardest working people that I know and I’m proud to work just as hard representing on the House Agriculture Committee. What guides my work in Washington is meeting farmers where they are and listening to their stories, experiences, and concerns because they know better than anyone what does and doesn’t work. It’s through collaboration and partnership, that we’re able to deliver effective policy solutions, whether it’s identifying new markets here at home and overseas or bringing down production costs.”
Representatives from the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) also joined the discussion. Rob Shaffer, ISA Government Relations Committee Chairman, thanked the Congressman for his time and attention.
He said, “The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) would like to thank Congressman Sorensen for taking the time to come to Opey’s farm to discuss trade, the ag economy and conservation issues that impact our farmers. We need to continue to work together to keep Illinois farmers competitive in global markets and sustainable here at home.”
Congressman Sorensen’s district covers a wide region across central and northwestern Illinois, making agriculture an important part of his work with local communities.
Photo Credit: illinois-soybean-association
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy