Minimal changes in IDOA budget

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State lawmakers approved a $55.9 billion budget that included current-level funding for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Under the fiscal year 2027 budget:

• No change to IDOA’s Fall Covers for Spring Savings crop insurance rebate program funding.

• County fair rehabilitation budget was increased by $57,700 to nearly $1.422 million.

• Funding for 4-H Extension was increased by $32,800 to $850,700.

• Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ funding remained at $4.5 million.

• The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is budgeted to received $1 million from the General Revenue Fund. However, a funding request by SIUE to expand the center’s research capabilities was not included in the new budget.

Agriculture groups were also keeping a watchful eye on legislation in the closing weeks of the General Assembly session.

Updates were included in the budget for the Farmland Assessment Law. The changes, if approved by Gov. JB Pritzker, would extend the current property tax treatment for vegetative filter strips through Dec. 31, 2031, adjust the formula used to calculate farmland values and make minor technical updates.

Overall, the updates are meant to make the formula more consistent and predictable for both landowners and taxing bodies.

An effort, led by Illinois Farm Bureau on behalf of a coalition of agriculture groups, to include estate tax reform fell short.

The Family Farm Preservation Act, introduced by state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, and state Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, would have raised the estate tax threshold from the current $4 million to $6 million.

Only dollars over the $6 million would be taxes, as opposed to the current law where the entire estate is taxes if the threshold is breached. The $6 million exemption would also be tied to inflation and allows for any unused exemption amounts to be transferred to a surviving spouse.

Wetlands, Broadband

Two bills not included in the final budget that were opposed by IFB and other ag groups that never went to the floor for votes were the Wetlands Protection Act and broadband right-of-way legislation.

The wetlands bill sought to broadly define wetlands as an area exceeding one-tenth of an acre capable of supporting vegetation.

The broadband piece would allow providers receiving state or federal grants to access road right-of-ways on private property simply by providing notice to the landowner, according to IFB.

Weight Ratings

A bill passed by the General Assembly and sent to the governor’s desk amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and changes the definition of “implement husbandry” to allow 44,000 pounds on any two axles or 24,000 pounds on a single axle. The weight rating was previously 36,000 pounds for implements of husbandry.

The bill, introduced by state Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, also provides an opportunity in the future to amend other sections of the Vehicle Code to allow increased weights for floaters and pesticide applicators up to 44,000 pounds, instead of 36,000 pounds.

Missed Opportunity

“It’s a tough budget year, there were different priorities, and so unlimitedly agriculture was not cut, and we avoided those things. We’re very appreciative of that, but I also think it was a missed opportunity to fund things that could help farmers as they’re facing a down economy,” said Brad Stotler, Illinois Corn Growers Association director of government affairs.

“The really big disappointment was that reforms to the estate tax were not included in the bill. That was a high priority for all of the agricultural groups in the state. The Illinois Farm Bureau was the lead advocate for inclusion of that legislation in the budget.

“Obviously, it’s a tough budget year, but I think it got very close and was under consideration, right up to the very end, but was ultimately not included. So, that was a missed opportunity to help farmers in our state, as well.”

Ethanol

ICGA is also supporting other legislative priorities, including funding for renewable fuel infrastructure through the Budget Implementation Act.

Excess money in the Underground Storage Tank Fund could be used for fuel retailers to upgrade their tanks to sell higher blend ethanol. The tank funds are generated through a $0.003 per gallon motor fuel tax and a $0.008 per gallon environmental impact fee.

“The governor has done an amazing job over the last several months promoting the importance of E15 and we had come off the vote in the U.S. House for year-round E15. We haven’t gotten that through the Senate at the federal level,” Stotler said.

“At the state level, we were hoping that they would help promote renewable fuel infrastructure, more higher blends in the marketplace, and that unfortunately was not included either.

“Governor Pritzker has really stepped forward and supported year-round E15 in our marketplace. That obviously lowers prices for consumers. It reduces emissions in our atmosphere. He’s been out front as far as Midwest governors go supporting E15.

“We hope to see that into the future and opportunities to promote more use of these E15 within our state. So, we’re going to continue to work with the legislature and the governor’s office on finding ways to do that.”

Work Continues

“The positives are that there weren’t cuts to the programs that we’re following like Fall Cover for Spring Savings and other programs, but obviously in the down ag economy, we also think that there was an opportunity for the state to help improve domestic markets, help give some regulatory relief to farmers, relieve burdens like estate tax and things of this nature that were not included in the budget,” Stotler said.

“So, we’re going to have to continue to work with lawmakers to do that into the future.”