Farmers Weekly Review

The Governmental Affairs Committee met on Monday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m., with the following members present: Jim Robbins, Rick Johnson, John Kiefner, Henry Meader, Steve Warrick Sr., Gordon McCoy, Mike Robbins, Roger Bettenhausen and Mark Schneidewind, Farm Bureau manager.

Rick had mentioned that several had to work today and was glad to have everyone attending that could. The WCFB annual meeting is this Saturday, Jan. 28, in Peotone. Invites have been sent out, and we have about 190 reservations so far for the event and hoping we will reach 200 yet this week. Awards will be given to Senator Patrick Joyce, who is attending, and Mark Batinick who will not able to attend. County Board members attending to get an award are Don Gould, Tom Weigel and Herb Brooks. Also, Representatives DeLuca, Haas and Avelar, and Senator Ellman will be attending.

The group discussed if anyone attending today had attended any swearing-in ceremonies, and all had to be rescheduled with the Speaker of House delays. The group spent 30 minutes on developing questions and ideas for the Get Acquainted program set for February 23 with the County Board. They held a meeting last week, January 17, with the following legislators to review ag issues that would make it to legislative bills: Representatives Manley, Avelar, chief of Staff from Benton’s office, and Senators Joyce, Holmes, Cappel and Ventura. They covered 7 specific issues and were able to gain support on several as they move forward in the legislative body.

The State Governmental Affairs conference was discussed, and we will have 3 attend. Rules of the Road meeting for us is being online is March 1 at 6 p.m., and people need to register online to receive the link to sign in virtually. They reviewed the new county board list. They have invited new county board members to meet January 31 to meet local farmers, with 4 attending currently. They reviewed Activator, and all was good with the changes made. Adopt a Legislator has seen some of our legislators adopted by other Farm Bureaus, and we have been happy to see this. They are Reps Ozinga, Avelar and Senator Cappel.

The group reviewed midterm elections, and they have received several concerns from members on Waters of the United States. We will need more assistance with the changes that are proposed to come back making a drainage ditch or waterway in the farm field navigable waters of the U.S. They will host legislative barn meetings in 2023. Steve will host one, and they will see if Dave can host again.

Ag areas have been moving forward, and the committee is meeting and reviewing applications. The redistricting map ended up with an 11 to 11 tie for the county board. They reviewed chairs and committee assignments, and they will be attending meetings to discuss what the legislation passed in veto session has done for local ordinances dealing with solar. Also, we have offered our assistance with the need to change the I2 zoning challenges for the A1 zoning, which was talked about in depth at the last County Board meeting held January 19.

The solar ordinance was printed off for everyone, and we will be reviewing to see what needs to be changed based on the legislation passed in the veto session. Basically, local control is being attempted to be taken away, which is a concern. We have a support for policy stating one set of state regulations, but what was taken out is private property rights protections, and we have been working on a trailer bill to address this. We have offered to work with the County of Will as well on this project to correct what was done in the veto session. There have been solar requests new for Beecher, Peotone and the Essex areas. Rick reported on the adventure series, and the committee agreed to do this again for 2023 offering to elected officials opportunities to learn more about local farming. The Farmland Assessment Committee will meet in July, and Mark was a guest speaker last year.

Carbon Marketplace was discussed, and the committee wants to work with the SWCD group on a local education program on projects. Rick will talk directly with Lauren Lurkins this Friday. Rick said he will also talk to Dave and Jeff at the local corn and soybean growers meetings to see if they can assist as well. The farm license work with the Forest Preserve was reviewed and there has been little clean up required, and that is because of the new agreements and contracts in place. We also have a farm person who serves on the advisory board of the Forest Preserve. Patti Nugent has served the past 10 years, and we have to change every 10 years or before if someone wants to step down. The board approved Jeanne Tewes, and they have let Ralph Schultz know.

They will host an elected officials farm and industry tour this summer and will work on ideas over next 3 months. They had discussed NorthPoint activities and the lawsuit, and touch a truck/tractor for this summer. They reviewed a trip to Springfield to review legislation in late March and decided to hold off and meet again locally based on the Capitol being under construction and getting to move around the area would be a challenge. They will do their outreach soon.

They reviewed the Corn and Soybean Annual Dinner February 20, received an update on the County Pipeline methane gas and how payments were progressing along with repairs to the waterways. The County has been working with us and have sent for consideration out for bid a used tire collection. This will take a few months and will come back to the County Board to consider in March or April. We are hoping to have a collection for farm used tires in September. Estate planning is set for February 28, and the FFA auction February 26.

The 4H Foundation dinner and silent auction is set for February 18, and we are doing a pedal pull for the kids that afternoon with a 4:30 registration and pull at 5 p.m. The Tractors for a Cure Cash Bash is set for March 11, and Ag Expo March 13-16 at JJC. The Pesticide Applicators testing is set for March 23 in our auditorium, with testing times 9 a.m. to noon and 1 -4 p.m. Participants have to register through a link provided by the IDOA, and we can send the link to those who want to register. Vegetable gardens program is set for April 2 from 1-3 p.m. at the Farm Bureau building. Spring flowers order blanks are now available, and pickup is set for Saturday, May 6, at the office.

Flag placement at Abraham Lincoln National Veterans cemetery is set for Friday, May 26; Family Fun Night is set for July 13; the Threshermen’s Show is July 20-23; the Young Farmers Golf outing is set for July 28. The Harvest Dinner was reviewed, and we are still looking for a host for this year. The Will County Fair is August 22-27.

The next Governmental Affairs Committee meeting was set for Monday, June 26, at 7 p.m.