Maize Matters: Springfield Sparks for Farm Succession

Apr 10, 2024

A farm’s legacy is one of its most important aspects. No matter if you are a seventh-generation farmer or beginning a career in production agriculture, passing on a farm to the next generation is important to the future. In 2023, we highlighted the statistic that 96% of Illinois farms are family owned. Illinois estate tax laws create a burden for many family farms, challenging that statistic annually.

In early February, Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria) and Rep. Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington) introduced the Family Farm Preservation Act, a bill amending the estate tax for farm families.

"Recently, my family’s farm implemented major changes due to the estate tax,” IL Corn Growers Association Vice President and farmer from Waterloo, Garrett Hawkins said. “Anything we can do to make it easier for farmers to pass on their operations to the next generation is good for farmers, rural communities and our state economy.”

The bill makes the current $4 million estate tax threshold an exemption and raises it to $6 million. The legislation changes the law so only dollars over $6 million would be taxed instead of the entire amount.

ICGA is proud to work alongside the Illinois Farm Bureauwho spearheaded this change, to ensure farmers are represented at the Capital and the family farm legacy is protected.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.