The American Farm Bureau Federation [AFBF] has kicked the Illinois Farm Bureau out of the federation in a dispute over member dues.
A letter from AFBF President Zippy Duvall to state farm bureau presidents said the action comes after a failed mediation session on Monday. The move is in retaliation for a decision by the Illinois Farm Bureau’s affiliate, Country Financial, to drop a Farm Bureau membership eligibility requirement for non-farm insurance policy holders in Illinois.
“The membership decision is expected to cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of farm bureau members, to the detriment of Illinois Farmers, Illinois County Farm Bureau organizations, IFB [Illinois Farm Bureau] and the entire Farm Bureau organization,” wrote Duvall, a third-generation dairy farmer from Georgia who has headed the AFBF since 2016.
The decision is effective Dec. 20. It follows weeks of talks, in addition to the mediation, said Duvall.
Country Financial told customers in September it would no longer require Farm Bureau membership for nonfarm policies.
The Illinois Farm Bureau has about 400,000 members. More than 70,000 are farmers, farmland owners, and agriculture industry professionals, according to the IFB website. Its farm membership comprises about 75% of all Illinois farmers.
Membership costs about $20 per year. AFBF receives $5 of those dues.
The expulsion would end Illinois Farm Bureau input into AFBF policymaking and lobbying. The Illinois Farm Bureau does have its own lobbying arm to manage relationships with Illinois congressional representatives.
Country Financial operates in 19 states. It is the largest farm insurer in Illinois. The Illinois Farm Bureau has its roots in the DeKalb County-based Illinois Agricultural Association that formed in 1912 ,and became the Illinois Farm Bureau in 1916, three years before formation of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Country Financial was formed in 1925 as Country Insurance which became Country Companies and then Country Financial.
This story will be updated.
Copyright 2024 WGLT
