Impactful Advocacy. I was in Springfield with IFB staff advocating for the Family Farm Preservation Act and other priority issues. Bill Bodine, IFB director of business and regulatory affairs, shares key points from IFB's comments made to the Illinois Pollution Control Board in opposition to zero emission vehicle mandate proposals. I issued comments on tariffs and trade. We are strongly supporting ag exemptions in the new monarch proposal. I started the month where our members ended it – in Washington advocating for Illinois agriculture. A new bill that we support aims to address our deer nuisance problem. 

Trusted Information. Market volatility might mean “new rules” for 2025 grain marketing. FarmWeek’s Tammy Sloup reported on the potential benefits and pitfalls of tariffs. RFD Radio interviewed U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood. CropWatchers are back on April 14. Meet our newest CropWatchers. 

Meaningful Development. The 2025 Agriculture Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT) class graduated March 20. Since 1979, more than 1,200 ag leaders have graduated ALOT. We hosted Nutrient Stewardship Field Days in Montgomery, Washington and Will counties. (Check here to find a field day coming to you this summer.) Since 2015, IFB has dedicated more than $1.1 million to county Farm Bureaus to complete nutrient stewardship projects. We awarded $105,000 in Rural Development Grants to support local projects around the state. Our Young Leaders and Collegiate Farm Bureaus were recognized for 21,000 volunteer hours – the most in the nation – during Farm Bureau’s annual “Harvest for All” program.