The Importance of Agriculture

Things have changed around here. 

There was a time--in our recent history--when the big three in our local economy were, in this order---oil, manufacturing and agriculture.

That’s just simply not the case anymore.

While there’s plenty of oil beneath our feet, that is where it will likely stay.  Hydraulic fracturing or fracking isn’t in our future.  It has driven the economies of North Dakota and Texas but it isn’t going to happen here. Our Democratic legislature doesn’t want any part of it. They have slapped tons of regulations that make drilling for oil less profitable. So the oil companies, who only a few years ago were leasing land, are nowhere to be found.

 

And the manufacturing thing is pretty obvious. Airtex is no more. All those jobs are now in Mexico and China. Good paying jobs that left and are not likely to return. I hope I am wrong about that.

What remains is agriculture. It is thriving here and we need to recognize that its status has changed and it has become our leading industry.

 

To this end, I want you to know we are making plans to beef up our ag programming on AM 1390 and 103.3 FM. There’s lots of unique farm programming available through the Illinois Farm Bureau and the folks at RFD Illinois. We think it recognizes the new reality of our economy here.

Radio is a great partner to the ag industry.

I look forward to sharing the specific plans with you in the very near future.