Most Recent Talking Points

Note: Illinois Farm Bureau will begin posting its latest talking points within IFB Weekly. The document will include the most recent talking points on two to five issues. For our full comprehensive talking points document, please contact your local county Farm Bureau.

In the News

Illinois Farm Bureau routinely coordinates interviews with local, state, and national media outlets on various issues. The following are recent interviews with IFB staff and farmers on topics such as Thanksgiving costs, inflation, and Mississippi River water levels.

IFB President Richard Guebert Jr. joined WTTW Chicago Tonight for a live interview on Thanksgiving costs and inflation. The interview aired Nov. 15 and can be viewed here.

Tasha Bunting, IFB associate director of livestock and commodities, also spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times about Thanksgiving costs in relation to inflation and avian flu. The interview was published Nov. 15 and can be read here.

IFB President Richard Guebert Jr. recently spoke with the New York Times about low Mississippi River water levels. The reporters used the interview as supporting background information.

Brent Clair, Adams County Farm Bureau president, joined WTTW Chicago Tonight to talk about low Mississippi River water levels and storage issues. The interview aired Nov. 3 and can be viewed here.

Adam Thomas and IFB economist Mike Doherty spoke with the Associated Press National Desk about low Mississippi River water levels in late October. The article can be read here.

Thanksgiving Costs Survey

Headline Messages:

Average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 in Illinois is $65.53 ($6.55/person)
Illinois survey results reflect slightly higher prices than the national average
The national average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $64.05 ($6.41/person), up $10.74 (20%) over the previous year’s average of $53.31 ($6.41/person)
The national average cost for a 16-pound turkey is $28.96
This represents the greatest increase since the survey began and will undoubtedly make it more difficult for some families to afford a big holiday dinner.
Inflation running at 7% to 9% in recent months is robbing consumers (and farmers) of their buying power.
Food price inflation is even higher, and other factors include supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine, with other countries pulling back on exports to protect domestic supplies.
Despite this, consumers have many options when it comes to their meat of choice this holiday season.

General Inflation Talking Points

Headline Messages:

Inflation remains at the top of American’s minds heading into the holiday season
Farmers aren’t alone in facing a tough economy, but many family farms are struggling to hang on in the face of skyrocketing input costs.
Like consumers, farmers are price-takers not price-makers.
General inflation is a long-term problem, which we expect to put pressure on our wallets and create price uncertainty for the next few years.
The ripple effects of the war in Ukraine, and general supply and supply chain issues add to the challenges of ensuring the security of the global food supply.
The impacts of inflation and global disputes on our food supply create added pressure to make sure we get it right when it comes to the 2023 farm bill.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Headline Messages:

HPAI has had a significant impact on the supply of turkey available in the United States in 2022
Fewer turkeys raised combined with strong demand, inflation and growing demands on food systems have led to record high prices for turkey and other poultry products such as table eggs.
While there should be enough turkeys to go around for Thanksgiving, pressure will keep prices high with supplies forecasted lower and demand forecasted higher for 2023.

National & Illinois Statistics (Nov. 15, 2022)

USDA has confirmed 620 flocks have tested positive for HPAI – 264 Commercial and 356 Backyard; affected 50.34 million birds (turkeys, chickens, anything avian)
There are currently 46 states with at least one confirmed infected flock
Illinois Department of Agriculture reported four confirmed cases of HPAI in backyard producers in Illinois
HPAI hasn’t been detected in any commercial flocks in Illinois
HPAI has been detected in 150 birds in Illinois

The Illinois Livestock Industry

The Illinois livestock industry benefits agriculture in our state by creating market opportunities, driving economic growth, strengthening our communities, and protecting the environment.

Headline Messages:

Livestock farms, along with meat and dairy processing, are economic engines for Illinois.
For every $100 of output from livestock farms, an ADDITIONAL $80 is generated in economic activity outside of our industry. That means more dollars to support local needs.
Statewide, livestock farms support 91,000+ jobs and account for $4.7 billion in Illinois household income.
One small meat processor generates $27.9 million in economic activity and supports 88 local community jobs each year.
Illinois is home to more than 71,000 farms, 96% of which are family-owned and a third of which include livestock.
Illinois’ state licensed meat establishments processed more than 31 million pounds of meat to feed families across the state in 2020.
Illinois farm families donated more than 250,000 pounds of food to local food pantries in 2020.

Environmental Talking Points

Headline Messages:

Farmers are at the forefront of climate-smart farming, putting scientific solutions, technology, and innovation to work to protect our land, air and water.
U.S. agriculture contributes around 10% to overall greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector, far less than other major industries.
Thanks to farmers’ dedication to conserve natural resources, that share drops to negative 2% when additional carbon absorbing practices are factored in.
Farmers are promoting healthy soil by planting cover crops and adopting sustainable practices that trap carbon.
Farm Bureau is leading the way in policies that reduce emissions, enrich the soil and protect our water and air, all while producing more food, fiber and renewable fuel than ever before.