By Andi Anderson
The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) recently met with Illinois' congressional delegation in Washington D.C. to advocate for key agricultural issues. Led by President Brian Duncan, the IFB focused on three main areas: the farm bill, labor solutions, and biofuels.
- Farm Bill: The IFB prioritizes passing a new farm bill before the current one expires in September. They highlighted the need for a fix within the bill to address California's Proposition 12, which negatively impacts pork producers.
- Labor Solutions: The IFB acknowledged the agricultural sector's labor shortage and urged policymakers to separate immigration issues from labor solutions. They advocated for actions like freezing H-2A worker wage rates to increase farm profitability.
- Biofuels: The IFB expressed concern about the delay in implementing the GREET model for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credits. This model accurately assesses the carbon footprint of biofuels, making them more competitive.
Duncan highlighted the importance of these discussions, stating, "They just kept asking questions and wanted to talk. And I took advantage of the opportunity to tell the stories of our members."
The IFB's visit aimed to build relationships with legislators and raise awareness of critical agricultural issues. They hope their efforts will lead to positive legislative outcomes for Illinois farmers.
Photo Credit: illinois-farm-bureau
Categories: Illinois, Energy