Delegates Advance Policy Resolutions at Annual Meeting

Farmland ownership, forestry issues, and reduced acreage requirements for agricultural land use and farm credit were key focus points of county Farm Bureau Delegates at Illinois Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting.

Delegates ultimately approved 23 policy submittals from August through November, and approved five policy changes from the floor, highlighting the grassroots legislative process that governs IFB’s policy agenda.

“This is a great opportunity for our organization, all of our members get together, the grassroots process that we go through to set our policy is unique,” said Kevin Semlow, IFB executive director of governmental affairs and commodities. “Our members stood up and they made some pretty big decisions.”

Leaders from the Clinton CFB led discussion on a few key issues during the debate, including language to oppose foreign farmland ownership that was ultimately approved by the Delegate body.  Clinton County also introduced language to amend existing IFB policy on Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), which was narrowly defeated after requiring a standing count of all Delegates in attendance.

Members of the Clinton CFB plan to re-work some of their COOL concerns with IFB staff and reintroduce language during next year’s policy development process.