By Andi Anderson
As federal lawmakers debated a spending bill to keep the government running, Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) leaders were actively advocating for the organization's national legislative priorities on Capitol Hill. The primary focus of their push was economic relief for Illinois farmers.
“Our messaging was that times are very difficult for our members, especially our young farmers, and we’ve seen a large equity drain,” said Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan. “We’ve pressed home that we’re two years behind on a farm bill. If we could have had a farm bill with updated reference prices when we were supposed to two years ago, there would be no doubt some of the economic backstop would be triggered. But as it is, here we sit with the 2018 economic backstop, and now we’re looking at 2025 expenses.”
Duncan was joined by other IFB leaders, including Vice President Evan Hultine, Director of National Legislation Ryan Whitehouse, and Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow. Together, they met with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, pushing for economic relief and discussing several critical priorities, such as expanding trade markets and ensuring the availability of affordable agricultural labor. Duncan also highlighted the need to get the 45Z guidance right and supported efforts to promote year-round E15 fuel sales.
During their meetings, the IFB team conveyed that a farm bill extension should not delay progress on a new farm bill, urging lawmakers to update reference prices and ensure the bill benefits all sectors of agriculture. Duncan also noted that maintaining pressure on the process was essential for achieving these goals.
To rally support, IFB launched an action request urging Congress to include provisions such as a one-year farm bill extension, $10 billion for farmer assistance, and year-round permanent E15 sales in the continuing resolution. In less than a day, over 2,500 emails were sent to Capitol Hill in support of these measures.
Both Senators Durbin and Duckworth expressed their commitment to advocating for Illinois farmers, with Durbin highlighting the importance of preserving the food safety net and Duckworth focusing on expanding biofuel production and agricultural exports.
Photo Credit: illinois-farm-bureau
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy