Kankakee County Farm Bureau issued the following announcement on Dec. 23.
County Farm Bureau delegates chose to continue existing Illinois Farm Bureau policy related to pesticide application, education and recordkeeping during the IFB Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Delegates debated but voted down proposed policy from Richland County Farm Bureau to support state and federal regulatory agencies involved with registration of crop protection products to minimize adverse effects on sensitive crops and sensitive areas.
Bureau County Farm Bureau President Evan Hultine spoke against the proposal: “As regulatory agencies register individual products they have the authority to minimize damage.”
A couple of delegates questioned whether the policy addition would slow the development of new technology.
Richland County Farm Bureau President Joel Gardner told delegates, “We don’t want to delay or rush (the process).”
“We’re trying to develop language targeting one product. I understand the intent, but we’re painting with too broad of a brush,” added Knox County Farm Bureau President Grant Strom.
Although delegates did not mention dicamba by name during the debate, many understood concerns about the herbicide were behind the proposal. In October, Illinois Agriculture Director John Sullivan announced new 2020 state-specific dicamba restrictions, which include no applications after June 20.
In other policy action:
* Delegates supported Illinois Committee for Agricultural Education efforts to promote and improve agricultural education within the state. They also voted to support continuation of the ag education line item in the state budget at no less than $5 million.
* Delegates voted to expand existing IFB policy on locations for solar energy projects to support their construction on highway rights-of-way, exit ramps, rest areas, welcome centers, embankments and Illinois Department of Natural Resources nontillable properties.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Kankakee County Farm Bureau
Alerts Sign-up