Duncan, Ogle. Sometimes I can’t help but include that introduction before I speak about Illinois Farm Bureau and our grassroots policymaking process. Each time I say it, I’m flooded with years of memories leading the Resolutions Committee as vice president and overseeing development of our policy book.
I’m also reminded of what keeps that process so strong — members engaging at the county level — and how information is essential to their exchange of ideas. An informed membership and informed leaders are cornerstones of Farm Bureau’s success, and I’m committed to continuing that practice during my time as your president.
That’s why I’m excited to launch a new, centralized platform for communicating with you all: the “Duncan Download.” This e-newsletter will replace and build upon the previous “IFB Weekly” e-newsletter. It will be distributed to your inbox the first Tuesday of every month, starting March 5, with “Duncan Download” in the subject line.
I’m hoping the Duncan Download can serve as a kind of communications hub, one that gathers in a single place the different platforms and tools IFB utilizes to amplify a message or a position on a certain policy topic. Steps IFB staff are taking to address a specific issue, takeaways from IFB-sponsored events, priorities of the IFB Board of Directors and messages from Vice President Evan Hultine and me will also be spotlighted here.
One of the platforms I’m most excited about linking in the Duncan Download is a new podcast, “Taking Stalk with Illinois Farm Bureau.” Produced in-house and moderated by Rita Frazer of the RFD Radio Network, this monthly podcast will feature deep-dive discussion between myself, ag experts and academics, and other leaders from Farm Bureau and the state commodity groups. Each episode focuses on a specific topic — Episode 1 unpacks Proposition 12 — and will underpin other communications from me.
Above all, my goal with the podcast, this e-newsletter and other platforms is to share tools that can enhance your advocacy for Illinois agriculture, and to keep open the lines of communication between me, other IFB leaders and most importantly: you, the members. I hope you find value in reading through the Duncan Download. If you have a question, a suggestion or a policy idea to share, I look forward to hearing from you!
IFB finds success at AFBF Annual Convention
Nineteen Illinois Farm Bureau voting delegates, me included, are back on their farms after attending the 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Salt Lake City last month.
Illinois agriculture had a strong showing across the convention. Our four Young Leader competitors found success in their events; the organization and three county Farm Bureaus received awards for excellent programming and member engagement; and a dozen IFB policies were adopted into the AFBF policy book.
IFB policies adopted
IFB delegates always bring strong proposed policy positions to the AFBF Delegate Session, and this year was no exception. All our submittals were approved without much contention, a testament to our grassroots process and the time and effort put into developing policies at the county and state levels. More on these policies can be found in this FarmWeek article or in this video.
Adopted IFB policies covered topics ranging from food access and biofuels to carbon scoring and loan provisions for young farmers. Among them are:
The new food waste policy from Cook County that was approved at the 2023 Annual Meeting. It supports ways to turn non-consumed food into a resource through composting and reducing the regulatory constraints for on-farm materials, urban food scraps and processing facilities.- IFB policies supporting ethanol and fertilizer plants converting carbon dioxide into green methanol products and supporting use of the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model for carbon intensity scoring of agricultural biofuel feedstocks.
- An IFB policy that originated from our Young Leaders related to farm credit policy and federal loan programs. It supports making improvements in all USDA loan programs that include an option to have a six-month pre-approval for a loan and recognizing escalating land and equipment costs when determining the program’s loan cap.
Progress on labor and Prop 12
AFBF delegates established positions on some other key issues, including farm labor, Proposition 12 and artificial intelligence. Details can be found in this FarmWeek article.
On farm labor, delegates voted to adopt policy supportive of two priorities: freezing wage rates for guest workers and rolling back the adverse wage rate methodology that was implemented in March 2023. We also discussed policy language related to visa caps, and broadened that language to allow the AFBF board to be accommodating of some concepts. Because the new policy doesn’t set a number for visa caps, it allows us to have a seat at the table during congressional discussions on potential H-2A and H-2B reform legislation.
I analyzed this issue and the priorities identified by the AFBF board in a previous FarmWeek perspectives piece, which you can read here: Duncan: Agriculture needs a stable workforce in 2024 | Perspectives | farmweeknow.com
Regarding Prop 12, delegates unanimously approved a 700 Resolution from Iowa Farm Bureau that requests AFBF prioritize and develop a legislative solution to the California provision. I’ve explained before how this initiative, Massachusetts Question 3 and measures in other states not only undermine interstate commerce and threaten farm profitability, but also erode consumer protections like food choice and food affordability.
Myself and other Illinois hog producers are especially concerned about our future and the possibility that other states could regulate how we and other producers market our ag products. I’m confident, however, that this resolution will put wind under the sails of AFBF as it seeks and advocates for a solution to Prop 12.
As a Farm Bureau policy geek, seeing the grassroots policy process take its full form at the AFBF convention always reminds me of why I fell in love with this organization: member voices underpin everything we do. The diversity in ideas and perspectives from around the country is hard to measure, and the passion and patience that come with debating them is just tremendous.
A cord of multiple strands truly is hard to break. Although IFB is strong and we have great influence, our influence is exponentially greater when we combine our voices with Farm Bureau members from other states and focus in on key issues. Those principles anchor our policy book, and I’m proud to represent it.
I’m incredibly proud of our Young Leader competitors, Austin Granby of Grundy County; Megan Dwyer of Henry County; and Clay and Alyssa Abbott of Kankakee County for representing their counties, farms and families in their various events. Granby advanced to the Discussion Meet Sweet 16 round, while Dwyer placed fourth in the Excellence in Ag contest and the Abbotts placed fourth in the Achievement Award competition.
As a former Young Leader competitor myself, I know just how much time and sacrifice these young farmers put into preparing for their events. And after watching each of them compete in Salt Lake City, I’m thrilled that IFB has such a talented class of innovative and confident leaders who are passionate about serving Illinois agriculture.
Young Leaders reflect on AFBF experience | | farmweeknow.com
AFBF Board of Directors changes
Speaking of serving Illinois agriculture — recently-retired IFB President Richard Guebert Jr. was honored at the convention, receiving a plaque from AFBF President Zippy Duvall that recognizes his nine years of service on the AFBF Board of Directors.
AFBF delegates also elected me to serve a one-year term on the AFBF Board of Directors. I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent our members and our policy at a national level, while working with other farmer leaders to advocate for grassroots, legislative solutions to ag issues.