This year IFCA initiated SB 2010, which is legislation amending the Illinois Fertilizer Act.  SB 2010 will move the Fertilizer Research & Education Council out of the IL Dept of Ag and into a public-private partnership with the IDA.  This will ensure that IDA continues to provide oversight on the collection of the tonnage fees and the required tonnage reports, but that the funds collected are held in a private foundation, thus protecting these dollars from sweeps or transfers. 

 

Since 2007, $928,700 has been transferred from the Fertilizer Control Fund (where the FREC money is housed) and diverted to the General Revenue Fund to be used for other purposes.  In 2010 we had to cancel all new fertilizer research projects due to the fund sweeps.  SB 2010 has broad support from IFCA, IL Farm Bureau, IL Corn Growers, IL Soybean Assoc, Grain & Feed Assoc, IL Seed Trade Assoc, IL Dept of Ag, Illinois EPA and also the Sierra Club and the Environmental Law Policy Center.  If we are able create a stable and secure funding mechanism for future fertilizer research, education and implementation of best management practices for nutrient use, our industry will be in a leadership position when it comes to proactively addressing nutrient challenges in Illinois with solutions that make sense for farmers and for the fertilizer industry.  The new "Nutrient Research & Education Council" will be made up of voting representatives from the fertilizer industry, commodity organizations, agronomy organization and the Director of the IL Dept of Ag. 

SB 2010 will be voted on by the full Senate, possibly today.  Please contact your state Senator today at their Springfield office and ask them to vote YES on SB 2010.  If you are not sure who your state Senator is, go to the "Legislation" section on the IFCA website.  There is a link on "locate your legislators" where you can enter your 9 digit zip code and see your legislators.  A fact sheet on SB 2010 is also posted on the IFCA website under "Legislation".

 

Thank you for making this important phone call.  If you have questions please contact Jean Payne at 309.827.2774.