Iowa Beef Industry Council Partners with Livestock Coalition

05-08-2017 in Cattle

WEST DES MOINES, IA – May 8, 2017 – The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) has been named the ninth member organization of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF), a collaborative initiative dedicated to helping farm families raise livestock and poultry responsibly and successfully.

The Coalition, launched in 2004, has provided assistance to nearly 4,000 farm families to help them grow their farms responsibly and successfully. This includes selecting good locations for new farms, implementing environmental safeguards to protect air and water quality, following all rules and regulations and enhancing relations with neighbors.

“Iowa’s cattle farmers are an important part of the state’s agricultural community and have always supported the mission and goals of the Coalition,” says IBIC Chairman Steve Rehder, who raises cattle near Hawarden in Sioux County. “With the $0.50 per head Iowa State Beef Checkoff being recently reinstated, we felt the time was right to become a more active partner in the Coalition’s work to grow Iowa’s livestock industry. We are proud to be a member of the Coalition and look forward to working more closely with the organization to grow our farms for the betterment of our rural communities, economy and quality of life,” Rehder adds.

The IBIC, headquartered in Ames, joins the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Poultry Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and the Midwest Dairy Association as member organizations supporting the non-partisan, not-for-profit Coalition.

CSIF Board President and Iowa Turkey Federation Executive Director Gretta Irwin says the addition of the IBIC to the Coalition’s team demonstrates the shared approach Iowa’s agricultural community has taken to sustain the growth of one of the state’s most vital industries.

“CSIF’s member organizations represent a broad cross section of Iowa agriculture and issues important to rural communities,” Irwin says. “However, we all recognize the fundamental role livestock and poultry farming plays in the overall health and well being of our state, from creating jobs to bringing young people back to the family farm.”

Iowa continues to be a national and global leader in agriculture, ranking No. 1 in production of hogs, corn, eggs and soybeans – while ranking in the top 5 for red meat production, number of farms, cattle on feed, cash receipts and total value of ag exports. Iowa turkey and dairy production also ranks in the top ten. Livestock farming is a significant part of agriculture’s economic contribution. Statewide output attributed to livestock production and further processing is just under $31.6 billion and is responsible for 122,764 jobs according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture.

The non-profit, non-partisan organization provides assistance to farmers at no cost. CSIF does not lobby or develop policy. Farm families wanting a helping hand can contact the Coalition at 1-800-932-2436 or visit www.supportfarmers.com.

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