SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — There is still time left to plan to attend the Illinois Farm Bureau’s (IFB) annual Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference, Feb 27-28.

Huddle Up! Making Teamwork Part of Your Winning Strategy is the theme of this year’s conference, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield.

IFB Communications Director John Hawkins said there is time for late registration for the conference, and walk-up passes will be available for $50 for Monday, $30 for Tuesday or $70 for a two-day registration.

Two days of general sessions and workshops were designed for the conference to help producers and IFB members learn techniques for teamwork and create action plans for dealing with legislation and regulations at local, state, and national levels.

Hawkins said this year’s opening keynote speaker, University of Illinois agricultural law professor Don Uchtmann, will present an overview of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on eminent domain and its impact on Illinois’ agriculture industry.

“(Uchtmann) will be focusing on the Kelo decision and how it impacts Illinois farmers,” said Hawkins. “He’ll be highlighting legislation that is underway to nip that decision in the bud and recent cases will also be reviewed.”

Conference workshops will focus on a number of issues, including:

•Working with Adopt-a-Legislator
•Farmland assessment for 2006 and beyond
•The Doha Trade Round and U.S. ag policy
•Crop insurance in 2006
•Illinois and national legislative updates

The conference’s Discovery Center will provide a hands-on view of developments and programs designed to help producers prepare for farm emergencies, natural disasters, and even “computer meltdowns.”

Tuesday’s closing session speaker will be Patrick Haggerty, a Washington D.C.-based political pundit and “grassroots motivator” whose humorous orations are both informative and entertaining, Hawkins said.

For details on the conference agenda and registration, contact Liz Hobart at the IFB at 309-557-3929.

This farm news was published in the February 22, 2006 issue of Farm World.