BY TAMMY SLOUP
The Illinois Farm Bureau Board of Directors approved the organization’s 2026 federal legislative priorities, including passage of a farm bill, a Proposition 12 fix and expanding biofuel demand.
The priorities lay out the agenda for IFB’s national legislative team, which will coordinate with county Farm Bureaus and IFB’s Governmental Affairs and Commodities Division on these efforts.
Passage of a modern, multi-year farm bill continues to be a topline issue for farmers. The 2018 legislation was extended multiple times, with the legislation now expiring Sept. 30.
While a budget reconciliation bill passed in July included farm bill provisions that strengthen the farm safety net, the legislation did not replace a five-year farm bill. Some farm bill programs could not be included in reconciliation because they are policy, not budgetary, and updates still have to be addressed in what many are dubbing “farm bill 2.0.”
“There is a bit of an adrenaline rush when we kick off a new year with our new priorities and this year is no exception as we work diligently in implementing these goals set by the Illinois Farm Bureau leadership,” said Kevin Semlow, executive director of IFB’s governmental affairs and commodities division. “Our greatest goal is seeing a permanent five-year farm bill approved. The current political climate for reaching this priority is going to be difficult, but by working with other state farm bureaus, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the entire agricultural community, we will work toward that goal.”
House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., recently said the farm bill is a priority this year, according to a Politico article.
IFB’s national legislative priorities also include:
- Support a legislative fix to Proposition 12.
- Expand biofuel demand by removing barriers to year-round E15 and sustainable aviation fuel.
- Explore transparency and competitiveness in agricultural input markets in order to support cost-effective solutions for producers.
- Improve the loan program process for new, young and beginning farmers.
- Support federal investments to modernize the Illinois and Mississippi River waterways.
Content for this story was provided by FarmWeekNow.com.