The 2012-2013 Montgomery County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship Application is now available.

Good news!



Crop-share tenant farmers will no longer be considered “for-hire” and implements of husbandry will not be regulated as trucks under the terms of the announcement issued this morning by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA.)



That decision wipes away mountains of uncertainty for farmers faced with serious decisions about motor carrier safety regulations (MCSR) and how their operations could function legally.



Illinois Farm Bureau will be hosting FMCSA administrator Anne Ferro and her staff over the next two days visiting farms and agribusinesses. We will use our time with the group to demonstrate and reinforce that they have made the correct decision. We will also turn our attention to working with the agency to address the non-compliance issues faced by 81 Illinois farmers who “failed” safety audits in February and early March before members called the problem to our attention and a moratorium was imposed on asking the crop-share question.



We consider the decisions on crop-share an implements of husbandry to in-line with what we had requested.



Thanks to county Farm Bureaus and individual farmers for submitting many of the more than 1700 comments on this issue. Watch FarmWeek for additional information.







Kevin Rund & Adam Nielsen

IDOT are now treating farmers who truck their landlord’s share of grain as “for-hire carriers.

An amendment before the House Revenue Committee would end all sales tax exemptions, including those on agricultural inputs, by Dec. 31, 2012.

ACTION MESSAGE



If Congress fails to act on the federal estate tax, it will return in full force in 2011 with a $1 million personal exemption and 55% tax rate.

• Action is needed now!

• Request a vote on the Lincoln/Kyl amendment with the Senator's support.

• (Personalize your message -- how will this impact you if action is not taken?)



CONTACT INFORMATION



• Senator Durbin at 202-224-2152

• Senator Burris at 202-224-2854

Ever wonder why so many bats are killed around wind turbines. Scientists now think they know why. Check the above link to see why.

Need directions to Twin Groves Wind Farm? Follow these directions from the McLean County Extension Office.

Do you want to learn more about wind energy? Be sure and to click the part for "Wind with Miller" in the Benton County Indiania Wind Farm!