Marr new ICGA president

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Martin Marr was elected president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association at the reorganization meeting Nov. 23.

Marr, of New Berlin, has served on the ICGA board for eight years, most recently as vice president. He will continue his role as District 10 director for the duration of his term as president, serving members in Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon and Scott counties.

Joining Marr in leadership roles are Vice President Terry Smith, Clayton; Treasurer Mark Bunselmeyer, Maroa; and Secretary Joe Murphy, Harrisburg.

The Exports Committee will be led by Chairman Kate Danner of Aledo and Vice Chairman Don Guinnip of Marshall.

Elected to the Industrial Committee were Chairman Matt Rush, Fairfield, and Vice Chairman Garrett Hawkins, Waterloo.

Grassroots Committee leadership for the coming year includes Chairman Dave Rylander of Victoria and Vice Chairman Jason Bunting of Emington.

Four farmers reelected and will continue in their positions as directors are Sarah Hastings of Sidney, Smith, Guinnip and Murphy. Re-elected at-large directors include Danner and Rylander.

The newly elected District 3 director serving Henderson, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island and Warren counties is Brett Swanson of Oneida.

MDM Farms

Marr operates MDM Farms in Sangamon County with his wife, Sheila, their sons, Martin Jr. and Evan, and his brother, David.

“We have mainly a grain operation, corn and soybeans, a little bit of hay, a small cattle operation and we also do some trucking, too,” Marr said.

Looking ahead during his term at the top post, Marr said there’s a lot on the docket with the development of a new farm bill taking front and center moving toward 2023.

“Another hot-button issue is fertilizing pricing and availability. Everybody really wants to be able to get their planting intentions put together and that might be altering a few plans for a few people as we go forward into next year,” he said.

Marr is also looking forward to improvements to the antiquated river transportation system. ICGA and other ag groups have been long-time advocates for the modernization of the locks and dams.

The recently passed $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $55 billion in additional spending for water infrastructure and an additional $17 billion for port infrastructure.

“It’s taken us a long time. Lock and dams are one of the great successes for everybody here in the state that’s put forth any effort in that area. It’s a real success story, but it took decades to get that done,” Marr said.

“The best part of it is, one being it’s done, but it’s also going to put a lot of people to work putting those projects together. I think probably the best part going forward is it’s going to help out generations to come and it just makes us more efficient as an ag economy and as a nation.

“The commerce that goes up and down those rivers, it just isn’t corn and soybeans and ag products, there’s a lot of commerce, so everyone benefits in that area.

“We’re really looking forward to getting that started. I can’t wait to go over the LaGrange Locks that’s closest to me. I saw a lot of the work when the rehab work first began. It was great to see all of that happen. The Army Corps of Engineers did a great job coordinating all of that, getting that project going, and I was impressed with the laborers there doing all of the work. I’ve never seen so much machinery in one spot. They were really doing a stellar job getting that work done.

“Illinois Corn Growers have really put their fingerprint on a lot of that work, working to get that across the finish line. All of the other ag groups deserve the credit also.”

Bridging Gap

Agriculture groups are working to close the rural/urban gap and the public’s perception of farming. Marr will continue to advocate for agriculture in his new leadership role.

“Programs like the Chicago Moms where they come down and meet livestock producers and grain farmers is something we love doing. I love it when people come to our farms from our state and from around the country. It’s something we need to keep doing to show people that it just doesn’t come off the shelf and show them the process of how it really happens, and it’s an exciting talk sometimes,” he said.

“A lot of them are so surprised with how it’s really done and how much stewardship goes into to what we do to try to produce a good, wholesome, safe product for the public.

“You can see that curious look in their eye and once they get it they’re a lot more understanding and they’re more of a partner that way as we go forward producing.

“We want everybody to be proud of agriculture in our country. It’s one of the greatest success stories here. Illinois ag is the No. 1 industry in the state and we should do all we can to make everybody feel a part of that and be proud of it, too.”