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 CHICAGO
– Illinois Farm Bureau’s traditional grassroots process was on
full display during the organization’s 2024 Annual Meeting as
331 voting members considered and adopted new policy on topics
such as energy, soil conservation, apiculture, and more.
Members gathered at the Palmer House in Chicago Dec. 7-9 to
celebrate the year’s successes and introduce new policies that
will guide the organization over the next year. In total, voting
members debated and approved 20 policy submittals, including
continued support prohibiting the use of eminent domain for
carbon dioxide pipeline projects.
“We had an excellent delegate session and accomplished a lot. I
am very grateful and proud of the work our organization did and
the discussions that we had,” said IFB President Brian Duncan.
“Our delegates were highly engaged, and we had a lot of great
discussions on pertinent issues in agriculture.”
Other policy highlights include:
Wildlife policy changes focused on nuisance deer management. The
policy encourages creating a different system for tracking deer
populations, year-round usage of Illinois Department of Natural
Resources (IDNR) issued permits and extending late doe/deer
hunting season through February while encouraging harvested meat
to be donated to local food pantries.
Expansion of policy on apiculture. Changes include support for
the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) being the entity
to administer the laws and regulations regarding the care of
apiculture. Support for U.S. EPA being the sole regulator to
ensure continuity of migratory beekeeping across the U.S. And
opposition to state beekeeping inspectors selling live honeybees
and/or queens to local beekeepers.
New language to IFB’s Utilities and Pipelines, including support
for declaring stored carbon dioxide that moves into pore space
located within the property lines of a property without an
agreement for carbon dioxide storage to be considered a
trespass. Support for allowing property owners to access digital
utility maps upon requesting utility line location services, to
ensure transparency and safety during property management
activities. And support for fair and just compensation for
non-consenting landowners for CO2 pipelines and sequestration.
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New policy opposing foreign ownership
of farmland in Illinois by a foreign government, government
officials, political parties and their members, government agencies,
entities representing government interests or corporations and
businesses under foreign government control.
Delegates also adopted a change to IFB’s policy on farmland
ownership in support of encouraging the leasing and renting of U.S.
farm ground to foreign agriculture companies for research rather
than selling. This is to be able to closely monitor the type of
research they are doing.
“It’s neat when you can see the breadth and width of our policy,”
said Kevin Semlow, IFB executive director of Governmental Affairs
and Commodities. “Everything from apiaries to zoning issues, the
deer population, carbon sequestration, foreign ownership of land –
there were so many things that were discussed. The in-depth
discussions during the policy debate shows the strength of the of
the process where everyone’s thoughts on the issues can be vetted.”
Approximately 1,780 IFB members and staff registered to attend the
conference in which members celebrated individual and organizational
achievements in 2024.
Additionally, four new members to serve two-year terms on the IFB
Board of Directors:
Randy Aberle, Ford County, will represent District 6, which includes
Kankakee, Livingston, Iroquois and Ford Counties.
Barry Fisher, of Fulton County, will represent District 8, which
includes Knox, Warren, Henderson, Peoria and Fulton Counties.
Mark Hortin, of Champaign County, will represent District 12, which
includes Vermilion, Champaign, Douglas and Edgar Counties.
Steve Hosselton, of Clay County, will represent District 14, which
includes Montgomery, Fayette, Effingham, Bond, Marion and Clay
Counties.
[Provided by Illinois Farm Bureau]
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