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IL farmers take legislative concerns to Springfield

A range of concerns are on the table as farmers from across Illinois gathered with legislators in Springfield Tuesday.

Illinois Farm Bureau president, Brian Duncan, says the organization is closely watching numerous legislative proposals this spring…

“But we’ve got to watch them because you never know.”  He says, “I mean, whether it’s truck regulations, looks like it may be headed for a battle and some of the bans on pretty valuable crop protection products that I hope don’t see the light of day. But we are reviewing bills. Our team is reviewing bills and they come before the board every week.”

He tells Brownfield a top priority is estate tax relief in the Family Farm Preservation Act…

“Now you are taxed if you go over the 4-million-dollar threshold, the tax goes back and starts at dollar one.”  He says, “With the raise to six million the tax would only be on the dollars over six million and there’s other benefits in there, but very high level it’s modernization. And then tying it to inflation. So we don’t have to have this discussion every year.”

IFB members had the chance to take their concerns directly to lawmakers Tuesday as part of a statewide legislative reception.