AFBF Terminating Illinois Farm Bureau Membership After Dispute

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has expelled Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) from its membership status following a Nov. 12 vote from the AFBF board of directors. This decision goes into effect Dec. 20. 

AFBF attempted to mediate with IFB leadership on Nov. 11, but negotiations proved unsuccessful. Following these negotiations, an email was sent by AFBF President Zippy Duvall to state farm bureau presidents. Duvall announced the decision and placed blame on IFB leadership for allowing the situation to reach this point. 

Of the 400,000 estimated Illinois Farm Bureau members, only an estimated 78,000 are farmers. The discrepancy between these numbers can be attributed to the IFB’s affiliate business, Country Financial. The insurance company was founded in 1925 and has required all policyholders to sign up for IFB membership to become eligible. In September, Country Financial announced this eligibility requirement would be dropped beginning on Jan. 1, 2025. The IFB and Country Financial have the same board of directors, which includes IFB President Brian Duncan. IFB’s inability to get this policy reinstated was the reason for the conflict between the AFBF and IFB, according to the AFBF.

IFB membership for individuals who do not own or operate a farm costs $20 per year, and AFBF receives $5 of those dues, according to WGLT. Losing an estimated 322,000 non-farmer members would result in $1.61 million less in membership dues from IFB to AFBF.

Bloomington radio station WGLT said Duvall laid out one of the potential consequences of the IFB getting jettisoned. 

“The membership decision is expected to cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of farm bureau members, to the detriment of Illinois farmers, Illinois County Farm Bureau organizations, IFB, and the entire Farm Bureau organization,” Duvall said, per the report.

As a non-member of the AFBF, the IFB would lose its national voting delegates and lose access to influence in nationwide policy lobbying efforts — along with potentially losing the Farm Bureau name altogether.

Neither the AFBF or the IFB have publicly commented on the situation, and neither have provided comment to Successful Farming at the time of publishing. 

This is a breaking news story and it will be updated as more information becomes available.