IFB Fought Unfair Taxes & Regulations in 2011

With New Year's Eve just days away, you can't help but look back at the last 12 months. Wow! What a year it was! Illinois Farm Bureau members united and took a stance against many unfair taxes and over-regulations that would have impacted Illinois family farms.

Here are few of our accomplishments from 2011:

We Kept 6.25% Sales Tax Exemption.
Successfully worked to keep state sales tax exemptions on seed, feed, fertilizer, equipment, and more.

We Prevented 30% Death Tax.
Stopped the auto-renewal of a federal tax of up to 30% on $1 million+ family farm estates.(In three days, more than 2,300 farmers called, warning senators of the hit farm heirs.) We also helped increases the state estate tax exemption from $2 million to $4 million in 2013. (It is waiting for the Governor's signature.)

We Stopped Overzealous Farm Truck Enforcement.
Worked to end attempts to classify all implements of husbandry over 10,000 lbs. - including farm wagons - as commercial vehicles and consider crop-sharing farmers as commercial truckers.   

We Kept "Dust Down" on Ruling.
Testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, working to stop impossible regulations on dust particles on farms.

We Strived to Eliminate Double Pesticide Regulation.
Lobbied Congress to correct a court decision that could force many farmers to get permits for EPA-approved pesticide applications in, near, and over water.

These protective actions weren't easy to achieve, but we did it thanks to the united efforts of Illinois' farming community. You can join the effort, too. When you make a couple of quick phone calls or emails in 2012, who knows what we'll achieve! Learn more about getting involved by contacting your county Farm Bureau or by joining FB ACT.