BY TAMMIE SLOUP
Illinois Farm Bureau policy submittals on life cycle assessments, renewable energy and beekeeping are now included in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s policy book.
During AFBF’s delegate session in San Antonio, Texas, 348 delegates from across the country voted on a variety of proposals, which also included an emphasis on voluntary animal identification and stabilizing labor costs. All four of IFB’s proposals were approved.
“We had a proposal about the life cycle assessment on renewable energy components, from solar panels to wind turbine blades — what’s their carbon scoring on a life cycle score? And that was successfully added,” IFB President Brian Duncan told FarmWeek. “We had language around apiaries, beekeeping, that was important to a segment of our members, and we were successful in having that included.”
The reasoning behind support of a life cycle assessment and rating system of energy use and environmental impacts of renewable energy systems is to create a level playing field, as biofuels already have to undergo a life cycle analysis to receive tax credits.
IFB, which had 19 delegates at the meeting, originally submitted policy supporting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the sole regulator to ensure continuity of migratory beekeeping across the U.S., which was amended to include another proposal. Combined, the national policy now reads AFBF supports: EPA as the sole regulator of pesticide products and pesticide use in honeybee colonies, and furthermore, designate honeybees and beekeeping as “minor use crops” for EPA regulatory purposes.
Other IFB policies now in the national book include support of: prioritization of public funding for solar projects with a verified shared agricultural use component, and indemnity provided for land or livestock should it be contaminated because of components in the wastes.
Other key policies that will guide AFBF’s work in 2025 ranged from ag labor to animal identification to trade.
Much conversation during the meeting centered around animal identification, emphasizing the need for traceability as well as voluntary animal identification.
“We reinforced our support of a voluntary animal identification system, and concern about the cost and the effects of a mandatory system,” Duncan said. “We believe our policy gives us, as an organization, flexibility to allow and to help USDA respond if there is an animal disease emergency.”
Recognizing the challenges of maintaining a strong agriculture workforce, delegates also voted to stabilize labor costs to avoid drastic swings that put the economic sustainability of farms at risk. They also recommended the AFBF board study potential alternatives to the current Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology used for the H-2A temporary visa program.
“We put new policy in around the cost of labor, especially migrant labor, from wage rates, to housing requirements, to even assessing job descriptions, and how those align to pay rates,” Duncan said.
On trade, delegates added policy in support of a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement review process to encourage new opportunities while protecting U.S. agriculture from unfair competition. Also under the trade umbrella, policy was added to oppose tariffs and regulations that would limit supply or increase the prices of agricultural production inputs.
“It sends a message to the new administration that trade is very serious,” said IFB executive director of governmental affairs and commodities Kevin Semlow. “It’s been kind of put on the back burner for many years and now we’ve moved that up to the front so we can continue with our exports because a lot of our commodities depend on that.”
Delegates also adopted policy supporting the development and sale of domestically-sourced sustainable aviation fuel, including expanding the list of acceptable conservation practices for feedstock eligibility, and strengthened policy on alternative energy production, including increasing the responsibility of energy companies to manage land used for development, and prioritizing energy production on land not suitable for agriculture.
“There’s a couple things that we really didn’t spend much time on, but reinforced our current positions, and that was farm policy,” Duncan said, with Semlow adding, “We had lots of policies that are major issues — 45Z, farm bill, trade issues — and our policies are mature enough that no tweaks were needed so that we can continue the messaging and the pressure that we’ve got on Congress to make sure they get those things done.”
Young Leaders
Duncan also congratulated the four IFB Young Leaders who competed in AFBF contests, including Sadie Asher of Henry County, who placed in the top 10 in the Excellence in Agriculture competition; Michaela Greathouse of Edwards County, who advanced to the Sweet 16 in Discussion Meet; and Ethan and Katie Brown of Montgomery County, who competed in the Achievement Award contest.
“I couldn’t be prouder of how they represented Illinois,” Duncan said. “Just a great showing by our Young Leaders.”
Content for this story was provided by FarmWeekNow.com.