In an effort to patch a $1.6 billion shortfall in the state's budget, the Illinois legislature approved and Governor Rauner signed legislation to sweep many state funds, including but not limited to the IDA Pesticide Control Fund, the Fertilizer Control Fund, Weights & Measurers, Feed Control Fund and the Ag Premium (county fair) Fund, for a total of  $14.6 million from IDA programs.  The money collected under the IL Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC) was not subject to fund sweeps since it is held outside of state government, something IFCA worked to assure when lobbying for the creation of NREC in 2012.  This year NREC is funding $2.3 million dollars in research programs with 20 programs underway to address nutrient issues.  While these fund sweeps will make operations difficult at IDA, IFCA recognizes that everyone is going to have to make sacrifices to get the state back on track.  The good news is that the two funds most important to our industry, the Pesticide and Fertilizer Control Funds, will replenish themselves as licenses and product registration fees renew.