Republican candidate for House District 76 Jerry Long recently expressed his support of the traditional family farms of Illinois.
"Farming is not a job; it’s a way of life," Long said. "Many of the farms in the 76th district have been family run for generations. They have seen good harvests and experienced tough years. We should be proud of our family farms in the Illinois Valley and protect the future of agriculture in this area."
Illinois' farmers are leading producers of soybeans, corn and swine, plus a variety of other crops, commodities and livestock. Agriculture brings more than $19 billion every year into the state, with corn making up approximately 54 percent of the total. Family farms still dominate Illinois agriculture.
Long spoke of the issues that face family farms, including the aging population of farmers. In general, Illinois farmers are more than 50 years old. He is concerned about the burden of the Illinois death tax, which is one of the highest in the country. He believes it harms the family farms.
"Springfield needs to understand the farms in the 76th district help feed our entire state, and they should not be taken for granted," Long said. "As your representative, I will establish an Agriculture Advisory Council and bring your voices down to Springfield."
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