FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JULY 26, 2013
CONTACT: Thomas Bowen
312-970-9302
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Local elected officials will join members of the state’s academic and agricultural communities for a press conference on Monday, July 29, to highlight the dangers of extreme weather and climate change on Illinois farmers, their crops, and the economies and industries they help sustain.
Illinois’ state Sens. Dave Koehler and Mike Frerichs will join the mayors of the cities of Bloomington and Normal; state Climatologist Dr. Jim Angel; local farmers and others for the event, which follows President Obama’s historic action on climate change.
The President’s plan includes the nation’s first-ever limits on carbon pollution from power plants, as well as other strategies to prepare America for the effects of climate change.
Agriculture is a major component of Illinois’ economy. Illinois agriculture ranks first nationwide in soybean production, second in corn and fourth in hogs, and also ranks within the top ten states for winter wheat, oats and grain sorghum. More than 1.5 million Illinoisan workers in the food and fiber industry and 75 percent of the state’s land is developed for agriculture, according to data from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
WHAT: Press Conference: Leaders from Champaign and McClean County, Academics, Farmers, and ordinary citizens will speak to the media about the dangers of extreme weather linked to climate change
WHO: Illinois Senator Dave Koehler, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Conservation
Illinois Senator Mike Frerichs, member, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Conservation
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner
Normal Mayor Chris Koos
Victoria F. Harris, McClean County Board Member
Dr. Jim Angel, State Climatologist of Illinois
Dr. Rob Rhykerd, Chairperson and Professor of the Illinois State University Bruce Hannon, farmer and member of the Champaign County Farm Bureau
Eric Thorsland, member of the Champaign County Zoning Board of Appeals, research engineer and farmer
WHEN: MONDAY, JULY 29, 2013
11 a.m. arrival
!1:30 a.m. start
WHERE: Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington – Banquet Room
10 Brickyard Drive
Bloomington, IL 61701
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT IWILLACT.US.
TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT: Matt Butterfield at 312.545.5058 or[email protected].
