IL Corn Joins Over 300 Ag Groups in Washington to Advocate for New Farm Bill

Sep 13, 2024

By Haley Bickelhaupt

With Congress back in session, farmers and association leaders advocated for a farm bill, this week, in Washington D.C.

On Monday, over 300 agricultural groups sent a letter to House and Senate leadership requesting new legislation by the end of the year. The current farm bill expires September 30, 2024, and an extension is being negotiated. However, approaching elections have created road blocks, heightening political dynamics and increasing partisan divides.

To raise awareness for a farm bill, IL Corn participated in the National Corn Growers Association September fly-in and met with members of the House Agriculture Committee. The groups highlighted the importance of the bill considering economic struggles farmers are facing in the Midwest.

“It is critical that Congress pass a new farm bill that strengthens the safety net as many producers are facing multiple years of not being profitable and this is causing their overall financial situation to deteriorate,” the letter said.

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Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.