By BETH ZUMWALT
The Illinois Farm Bureau is still a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation after a Dec. 20 date was passed with no action
“Dec. 20 was the date to remove Illinois from AFBF,” David Gay, president of the Pike County Farm Bureau, said. “The AFBF removed the deadline pending the court decision. No date has been set for a court hearing.
The conflicted started when the AFBF decided to allow non-Farm Bureau members to purchase County Financial Insurance and Financial Services.
The Illinois Farm Bureau filled the lawsuit, claiming the termination violates a 1990 settlement agreement between the two organizations.
The Illinois Farm Bureau says they have 400,000 members with more than 70,000 of those being farmers, farm-owners and agricultural professionals.
The Farm Bureau feels that without the membership clause included, meaning that to purchase Country Company products, a purchaser must be a member of the Farm Bureau. Without that clause Farm Bureau feels it will lose a substantial portion of its membership, as people will purchase Country Companies Insurance and Financial Service without joining Farm Bureau.
Membership costs about $20 per year and $5 of that goes to the AFBF.
The AFBF set Dec. 20 as the deadline for the Illinois Farm Bureau to comply or be expelled, but, has since lifted the deadline, waiting on a court decision.
Gay said Illinois is the only state affected by the decision because of the way its agreement with the AFBF is structured.
“Country Financial helps fund Illinois State Farm Bureau activities,” Gay said.
In November, Gay said even if the ISFB loses its bid in court, there will still be a farm organization in the state.
“We have our own people in Washington out voice will be heard,” he said. “The structure will still be there. There should be no changes at the state or local level.”
