The Farm Post eNews

Friday eNews from the Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus
 

MARCH 18, 2016
Farmland Assessment Changes
Farmland owners have received a Change of Assessment notice from the county assessor showing changes to their 2015 real estate tax assessments payable in 2016.
 
Many will find assessments are going up at a rate that is either higher or lower than the anticipated 10% change from last year's values.

Assessments on lower soil types will see a higher than 10% increase while better producing soils can expect an increase of less than 10% from the preceding years value. So, how and why did this happen?

The simple explanation is that the Illinois Farmland Assessment law changed. This change is the result of a legislative amendment that passed in 2013. An amendment that was necessary to help protect the intent of the Farmland Assessment law that allows farmland to be assessed based on its productivity rather than on its market value.

It is likely that, for the next several years, the assessed values for all soils will be adjusted by no more than 10% of PI 111's prior year certified value.
AFBF: Senate abandons farmers, consumers
Calling the Senate's failure to move forward with debate on a voluntary GMO labeling bill on Wednesday "inexcusable," AFBF President Zippy Duvall said farmers will continue their fight to secure a law that supports consumers, America's farmers and ranchers and our nation's system of affordable, productive agriculture.

"To say we are angry with those senators who abandoned farmers and ranchers and turned their backs on rural America on this vote is an understatement. Their votes opposing this measure ignored science, threw our nation's food system into disarray and undermined the public's understanding of the many benefits of biotechnology in feeding a growing and hungry population," Duvall said in a statement.

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk voted to allow the bill (S. 2609) to be voted on by the full Senate. Senator Dick Durbin voted against a measure to invoke cloture.
 
FBNews article
My American Farm Outreach
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has launched this year's My American Farm Outreach Grant Program. Middle- and high-school students who are interested in using My American Farm resources to reach out to elementary school students about why agriculture is important in everyone's life are encouraged to participate.

The resources found online at http://myamericanfarm.org/ will provide middle- and high-school students with appropriate tools to share the messages that agriculture is everywhere, there are many careers in agriculture, and farmers feed the world, care for animals and are stewards of the land. Upon completion of outreach events, 10 selected classrooms will receive $1,500 to use for further agricultural literacy efforts. Applications are available online.

AFBF news release
Great Greens!
Do you know where your favorite green foods come? Check out a new list from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture that's perfect for the start of spring! Book recommendations, videos and more are included.

Great Greens list
Bridging the generation gap
Millennials are always on their phones and never pay attention. Baby boomers don't know how to adapt to new technology. Sound familiar? Generational tension and lack of understanding can cause phrases like these to float around the workplace.

A Feed & Grain article by AFBF's Lindsay Calvert explores how to skillfully manage different age groups with widely different expectations and help them recognize the unique set of skills they bring to the table.
Take Big Data Survey
AFBF recently launched an online survey to collect feedback from farmers about farm data. The survey, which is open to all farmers and ranchers, will help gauge progress on big data issues and give some important insight into new issues.

Take the survey.
Farmland Assessment Meeting Thursday in Pittsfield


Brenda Matherly, Illinois Farm Bureau's assistant director of local government and farmland assessment law specialist will be in Pittsfield to discuss changes in the farmland assessments for the 2015 tax year.

The meeting is open to all farmland owners who want to learn about changes in Illinois' tax code and or may have questions about your assessment.

The meeting will be held in the Pike County Farm Bureau auditorium at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 24.
TODAY IN HISTORY
MARCH 18, 1917
U-BOAT SINKS
SS ILLINOIS

On March 18, 1917, the sinking of three American steamships, 
Illinois, City of Memphis and Vigilancia, by Germany caused a 'virtual' state of war with the United States. At the time, the United States was in a state of armed neutrality with warring factions in Europe.

The merchant ships were returning to the United States from Great Britain when they were attacked without warning by German U-boats in the English Channel.

At the time, American ships were armed to defend themselves against U-Boats and German surface raiders.

Following the attacks, some U.S. government officials held that President Wilson had the power to declare 'that a state of war existed' and could proceed with 'aggressive protective measures' without a formal declaration from Congress.

Three weeks later on April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany.

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