Farm Bureau Leaders Forward Resolutions to State Delegates
Members of the Resolutions Committee forwarded the following resolutions to Illinois Farm Bureau® delegates. The resolutions submitted by Cook County Farm Bureau include:
Disposal of Waste
At this time, there are no federal standards that define or regulate bioplastics, biodegradable, or compostable products. U.S. manufacturers can choose to follow voluntary industry standards developed by the American Standards Testing Materials (ASTM) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), but not all do. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed a voluntary standard certifying the content of biobased products called BioPreferred. Still, manufacturers are not required to verify or disclose the amount of plant-based materials contained in their products.
The lack of federal standards for defining and regulating bioplastics not only encourages greenwashing but also creates significant waste management challenges.
Cook CFB’s resolution provides that Farm Bureau supports research into and the development of federal standards for bioplastics, biodegradable, and compostable materials.
Involvement of Members in Farm Bureau
Younger volunteers and members are critical to the success of Farm Bureau going forward. In 2024, Cook CFB approved “Future Forward” a plan designed to engage younger agricultural enthusiasts like Foundation scholarship recipients, Young Leaders, and new members in volunteer and leadership opportunities within the Farm Bureau. In an effort to encourage other county farm bureaus to create similar paths for engagement, Cook CFB submitted a resolution supporting young member engagement.
The resolution supports county farm bureaus creating a pathway to engage younger members in county activities, volunteer opportunities, and leadership.
Members are encouraged to contact Bona Heinsohn at [email protected] with any questions or comments regarding the resolutions.