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Farm bill at forefront of Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting

Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) members are focused on a new five-year farm bill.              

Kevin Semlow, director of governmental affairs and commodities with IFB, says a new farm bill likely won’t happen this year.

“We fully anticipate that there will be an extension of the current farm bill.”  He says, “Once again, Congress is going to kick the can down the road.”

He tells Brownfield the organization’s members need an updated safety net. 

“We’re constantly looking at upgrading the base prices, looking at crop insurance programs, making sure they’re there.”  He says, “I imagine there should be a huge debate over conservation programs.  I think the incoming administration is going to have a different to philosophy on those types of programs.”

Semlow says he expects a one-year extension of the current farm bill, which would give the new Congress time to take up the matter in 2025.

Semlow spoke with Brownfield at the 110^th annual meeting of the Illinois Farm Bureau in downtown Chicago.

AUDIO: Kevin Semlow – IFB