The Chairman of the Illinois Senate Agriculture & Conservation Committee, Senator David Koehler of Peoria (46th District), has a list of priority bills coming to his committee this year that he says are important to Illinois agriculture.
In addition, he tells Brownfield Ag News, that he intends to pursue the passage of SB1666 which would require the labeling of food products containing Genetically Engineered (GE) ingredients. The bill states: “Illinois consumers have the right to know whether the foods they purchase were produced with genetic engineering so they can make informed purchasing decisions. Labeling is necessary to ensure that consumers are fully and reliably informed about the products they purchase and consume.”
Of the bills to be introduced in the Senate Ag Committee this legislative session:
One has to do with allowing animal administrators and control operators to impound stray animals and give them up for adoption or euthanize them if the owners aren’t paying their fees.
Another sets up research on wheat farming and production in Illinois.
A third would allow ag bio-based companies to organize as not-for-profits.
A fourth would make it easier for urban farmers and gardeners to accept off-site compost.
And, Koehler co-sponsors a bill to set up the first Saturday of each month in Illinois as an “Eat Local/Buy Illinois” day.
Koehler says these are, “Not things that are maybe as earth changing as the national Farm Bill but certainly issues that are important to agriculture.”
Brownfield asked the Senator if he agrees with Illinois House Ag Committee Chair Patrick Verschoore that any legislation backed by the Humane Society of the United States that would eliminate farrowing crates should be stopped. He replied, “Yes, I share his concern. I have not heard those rumors yet. If that’s out there I’m sure we’ll be getting briefed on that pretty soon but we’ll work together on that.”
The 98th Illinois General Assembly began January 29, 2014.
Interview with Illinois Senator David Koehler (3:00 mp3)