The Illinois Farm Bureau has introduced significant updates to its policy, addressing a variety of legislative priorities, including wildlife management and farmland ownership.
Delegates have approved changes to wildlife policies that concentrate on managing nuisance deer populations. These updates advocate for a new system to monitor deer numbers, the year-round use of permits issued by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and an extension of the late doe/deer hunting season through February. The policy also encourages the donation of harvested meat to local food pantries.
Randy Anderson, a delegate from Saline County and a local farmer, voiced his support for the new policy, citing a noticeable increase in damage to his corn and soybean crops from deer in the region.
Additionally, delegates voted to amend the policy to oppose foreign ownership of farmland in Illinois by foreign governments, their officials, political parties, and any entities representing government interests, as well as corporations and businesses under foreign government control.
The next step for the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is for the Board of Directors to incorporate these insights and policy changes into the organization’s legislative priorities at both state and federal levels.
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