<b>By TIM ALEXANDER<br> Illinois Correspondent</b></p><p> By TIM ALEXANDER Illinois Correspondent SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Pork Producers Assoc. (IPPA) and its membership will have an opportunity to present newly approved 2008 policy resolutions to state-elected officials during its annual Legislative Day and Reception on March 12 in Springfield.<br> “This is an opportunity to become better acquainted with our elected officials and educate lawmakers about how we care for our animals, the environment and our communities,” said newly elected IPPA President Phil Borgic, a pork producer from Nokomis. “I would encourage all pork producers to make plans to attend.” Jim Kaitschuk, IPPA executive director, said the organization hosts the event every year along with the Illinois Beef Assoc. because producers face an increasing number of issues that have an impact on their operations.<br> “IPPA continues to be a watchdog for pork producers and champion legislative issues that are beneficial for the pork industry,” he said. “We must provide the pork producers’ perspective to ensure a continued viable pork industry in Illinois.”<br> The day will begin with registration at 10:30 a.m. in the Illinois Room at the Springfield Hilton, located at 700 East Adams Street. Attendees will be briefed on legislative issues facing the Illinois General Assembly.<br> Legislators have been invited to attend a luncheon at the Hilton. Producers will then head to the Capitol building to meet one-on-one with legislators on both sides of the aisle before returning to the Hilton for a 5 p.m. dinner. <br> IPPA officials will no doubt be promoting some of their 2008 policy resolutions to elected officials. The resolutions were approved during IPPA’s annual meeting held in Peoria last month, and included the following:<br> •To seek and support state legislation to raise the exemption level for employers paying unemployment taxes at a minimum in accordance with the percentage increase in the minimum wage<br> •To urge USDA to release non-environmentally sensitive CRP acres into production<br> •To seek viable economical solutions and financial incentives for producers to utilize in closing manure containment structures •For IPPA and the National Pork Board to implement checkoff programming to work towards increasing domestic pork expenditures<br> •For IPPA to seek out additional funding opportunities through both public and private sectors to help in funding an educational campaign and activities<br> Educating the public about Illinois’ pork producing industry is at the top of IPPA’s to-do list for 2008, Borgic said last week.<br> “We must do a better job of explaining what we do on our farms and how it impacts the final pork product that the consumers put on their table,” he said. “We will also be involved as an association in helping producers get through these tough financial times and dealing with the increase in feed prices.”<br> IPPA has adapted the new tagline “Illinois Pork Producers – Generations of Commitment” to help launch its new public education campaign.<br> Pre-registration for IPPA’s Legislative Day and Reception after March 5 is $15. For more information, call the IPPA office at 217-529-3100 or visit www.ilpork.com online. |