CCFB News» February 2019

We have openings for a limited number of 3rd grade classrooms to join us at Wagner Farm to explore the world of agriculture in Cook County!

Motor Fuel Tax/State Capital Spending Plan: The Illinois General Assembly is expected to discuss increasing the state motor fuel tax rate as a part of a capital spending plan. The Illinois Farm Bureau is monitoring the actions and progress of these discussions.

Cook County Farm Bureau® submitted the following comments to the Food and Drug Administration regarding the use of dairy labels for plant-based food products: The purpose of this communication is to provide comments on Docket No. FDA- 2018- N- 3522 the use of names of dairy foods in the labeling of plant-based products or beverages.

In conjunction with Will County and the Illinois Farm Bureau®, we’re hosting a two-hour seminar that focuses on trucking laws specifically for farmers.  We’ll introduce you to new rules, remind you of the old ones that still apply, and help you to figure out whether exemptions are available.

No Taste For Waste (FarmWeeknow) - Farmers put great effort into producing their crops knowing they’re feeding a growing population. Unfortunately, a surprising amount of farmers’ harvests never reach their intended source. According to No Taste for Waste, as many as 160 billion pounds of food are left uneaten each year.

Illinois production could still be several months away, pending state agency, legislator review.

Cook County Farm Bureau® leaders from the Board of Directors participated in the 100th  Annual Convention of The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in New Orleans, Louisiana in mid-January.During the event, they attended various conferences, presentations, and seminars, and spoke to many vendors as a part of the trade show to bring back programming ideas, concepts, trends, and potential membership benefits to the Cook County Farm Bureau.

Recipe reprinted with permission from member, Donna Nykaza-Jones, Steger, found in our 2018 Cookfresh Recipe Collection Brochure, available online at www.cookcfb.org/discover-local/recipes.

Tornado season begins in April and lasts through June, but actually tornadoes can and do occur every month of the year.  That’s why it is important to always be prepared.

Every year I’m given the chance to coordinate an opportunity for diverse leaders to learn more and explore their local government.  Through discussions with the County Administrator, County Chairman, agency directors, and special districts leaders, we have discovered how county government functions and how special districts operate separately and in conjunction with county government.  Leaders focused the conversations on partnerships, innovation, and opportunities for community development.

Recently, there has been a steady stream of news about customs and border patrol, although little is known or mentioned when it comes to the importance of that control as it relates to agriculture.

On a recent winter night, my silent kids in the back seat reminded me of the bedtime car rides that rocked me to a light slumber as a child. With my childhood eyes closed, the car’s sounds and motions acted as my GPS between Grandma’s house and our rural abode.

Mother Goose may have never written the children’s rhyme, “Humpty Dumpty”, if all the King’s horses and the King’s men knew about that magical world called YouTubeania.