PARTNER PERSPECTIVE | Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff Commodities aligned for the benefit of all Illinois producers. Late this past summer following the Farm Progress Show, leaders from your soybean association approached me with the opportunity to share thoughts in this installment of the Partner Perspective column. As the new executive for Illinois Beef Asso- ciation, I was honored to be given the opportunity. At that farm show in Decatur there was a good perspective on partnership – especially among our Illinois farm groups and commodity orga- nizations. Through planning and considerations led by the teams at Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and Illinois Corn, our state commodity organizations had a shared presence, filling an entire exhibit area on the show grounds with the research, promotion and membership information that are shared objectives of our missions – serving and advancing production agriculture across the entire state. The combined efforts of our commodity organizations are am- plified when we can partner, and our advocacy work goes farther in support of farmers when we are able to tap into this shared voice. We saw that at the farm show in Decatur, when elected of- ficials and other VIPs came through to discuss important agricul- ture topics; the unified presence of our organizations showcases the strong work of farmers and reiterates the point that agricul- ture remains a vibrant and leading industry in our state. The individual partnership between ISA and Illinois Beef Association (IBA) remains strong, too, and is growing in 2022. Through the generous support of your organization’s checkoff dollars, Illinois beef producers will gain access to new programs in the coming year, including a leadership academy for beef producers under the age of 40, along with workshops and com- munications materials on critical topics like livestock marketing, federal farm policy and cattle feeding research. By definition, a partnership is simply a cooperation to advance shared interests. I believe the relationships between IBA and ISA exemplify this kind of work, linking our shared interests to advance programs and opportunities for livestock producers and oilseed farmers among our memberships and across the state. The beef industry has had a challenging time in the last 18 months, as the pandemic’s effects on society, the workforce, and the economy rippled through our supply chain. The men and JOSH ST. PETERS | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | ILLINOIS BEEF ASSOCIATION women raising cattle in our state have weathered some extreme conditions because of shifting demand from the major meat packers and less-than-ideal profit margins. Meanwhile, beef prices have rallied in a very strong trend over the same period, with consumers paying higher than usual prices to enjoy beef at restaurants and when purchasing retail. Even consumer demand has remained strong, and that desire for beef has helped buoy the complex market position that our sector is working its way through. This work has included policy and advocacy efforts by the IBA to rally support in our state and federal arenas, and also through partnering efforts among commodity organizations here in Illinois and throughout the midwestern United States. Our livestock producers in Illinois need the continued support and partnership from their row crop farmers and neigh- bors. We are all striving to feed a growing world population, challenged by the changing impacts of the dynamic global marketplace, with social pressures on our production practices and input decision making. There’s always things like the impact of Mother Nature and weather conditions – we have no shortage of hurdles to overcome. Together, through our various activi- ties, programs and promotions that tap into our shared voices, I believe we can rally and succeed at being a strong presence in support of Illinois’ farm industry. We need your farms to be vi- brant, successful, and growing. The commodities you bring to the marketplace are a key component in our rations, and the quality and attributes of Illinois soybeans are superior feedstuffs readily available for our cow-calf producers and cattle feeders in every corner of the state. The members and leaders of IBA support strong biofuels policy and programs that expand markets and demand for your crops, too. It is no surprise given the diversity of Illinois agriculture, that many of our state’s cattle operations are also farms growing soybeans, too; truly, shared interests aligning for the benefit of everyone in the partnership that is our state’s strong agriculture industry. A PUBLICATION OF THE ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION November 2021 27