A lawsuit filed in McLean County finds the Illinois Farm Bureau claiming the American Farm Bureau Federation is out of line in announcing it was kicking the Illinois Farm Bureau out of the organization.  The ouster would be effective December 20, 2024.

The lawsuit follows a decision by the AFBF to expell the Illinois farm group due to a disagreement over a membership change within the State farm bureau.  An official with the IFM says such a termination violates a past settlement agreement. The group believes the AFBF has abandoned more than 70,000 Illinois farmer members because an affiliate insurance company doesn't want to force non-farmers to join.

The dispute stems from an insurance affiliate of the Illinois Farm Bureau decided it would drop requirements for non-farm members to have a Farm Bureau membership. The Illinois Farm Bureau, which has been a member of the Farm Bureau system for 100 years, says not being able to use the Farm Bureau name and the organizations services will severely impact it. The federation advocates for Farm Bureau members nationally.

The Illinois Farm Bureau has nearly 400,000 members. More than 70,000 are farmers or farmland owners.

The American Farm Bureau Federation says if a resolution can be reached it will welcome a reunion with the Illinois Farm Bureau.

94.1 WGFA