Illinois Farm Bureau Members Debate, Adopt New Policy During Annual Meeting 2025

ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU MEMBERS DEBATE, ADOPT
NEW POLICY DURING ANNUAL MEETING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Dec. 11, 2025

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Illinois Farm Bureau's traditional grassroots process was on full display during the organization's 2025 Annual Meeting as 324 voting members considered and adopted new policy on topics such as land use and farmland preservation, development of new uses and new markets, labor and more.

Members gathered at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago Dec. 6-8 to celebrate the year's successes and introduce new policies that will guide the organization over the next year. In total, voting members debated and approved 36 policy submittals.

Policy highlights include:

• New policy language calling for opposition to the development of data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, and similar facilities if they decrease the reliability of the electric grid, increase the cost of electricity to the rural community, or have the potential to deplete aquifers that communities depends on.
• Support for expanding consumer and wholesale market opportunities for Illinois poultry producers to process on the farm at USDA/FSIS limits. Support for retailers to increase the availability of Illinois-grown products and IDOA advertising directly to consumers to purchase Illinois-grown products.
• A new subheading on 'Specialty Crops' calling for expanding the size and scope of specialty crop insurance tools, a permanent structure to deliver emergency economic assistance, expanding and permanent various direct purchase and procurement programs, support for industry research and grant programs that promote new agronomy practices and technologies, partnerships among industry participants, infrastructure development, and the adoption of on-farm value-added activities.
• New policy language supporting H-2A Work Program Administration calling for clarity in H-2A regulations and administration, streamlining the application process to support electronic application filing, employers filing a single application for labor needs, even if needs are staggered throughout the year, removing the "seasonality" requirement to make all agricultural jobs eligible, lengthening the term of stay for workers, a quicker, less intensive application process for hiring H-2A workers if the farm has had no changes from the previous year, farmer and worker sharing the expenses of the guest worker program visas, transportation, housing, and related expenses, and allowing workers with remaining time on their visa to work on other qualified farms.
• New policy language would also oppose the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) being above the state minimum wage and additional state regulations that add application processing delays.
• New policy to support regenerative agriculture practices referring to improving soil health and function, the key principles focusing on keeping soil covered, minimizing soil disturbance, keeping living roots as often as possible, maximizing biodiversity and integrating livestock, within local context.
• Support for incentives being based on a menu of regenerative agriculture practices, rather than a prescriptive list, policy supporting regenerative practices, and education, outreach and technical assistance around the value and implementation of regenerative agriculture practices.

Approximately 2,024 IFB members and staff registered to attend the conference in which members celebrated individual and organizational achievements in 2025.

About Illinois Farm Bureau:

Founded in 1916, Illinois Farm Bureau - originally known as the Illinois Agricultural Association - is a nonprofit, grassroots membership organization. Illinois Farm Bureau and a statewide network of county Farm Bureaus give members an advantage through impactful advocacy, trusted information and meaningful development to support their careers and Illinois farm families.

Learn more about Illinois agriculture at www.ilfb.org. Connect with Illinois Farm Bureau on Facebook: Illinois Farm Bureau | Facebook,Instagram @ilfarmbureau,X @ILFarmBureau, or on TikTok @illinoisfarmbureau.

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Photo for Use:

Illinois Farm Bureau voting members discuss and debate new policy during the organization's Annual Meeting on Dec. 9 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. (Photo by Catrina Rawson, Illinois Farm Bureau)

Illinois Farm Bureau's 324 voting delegates considered new policies during the organization's Annual Meeting on Dec. 9 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. (Photo by Catrina Rawson, Illinois Farm Bureau)