AG OPTIONS

Farmers, take heed: big changes are coming under the federal Farm Bill.

The changes will affect how farmers insure their crops, adding some new choices to the already complex system. At a seminar held in Springfi eld on Feb. 4 by the Illinois Farm Bureau and Bloomington-based Country Financial Insurance, dozens of local farmers gathered for a walk-through on new forms of insurance coverage, yield assumptions, “base acreage” and other concepts that only the truly dedicated would take the time to understand. Doug Yoder Sr., director of Affi liate and Risk Management for the Illinois Farm Bureau, says demand by farmers for help with the new Farm Bill is extremely high. He has spoken at more than 60 such seminars, and he anticipates doing about 30 more. He says two deadlines are approaching on Feb. 27 and March 31 for land owners and producers to make important decisions about their farms under the new bill. For more information, visit the Illinois Farm Bureau at www.ilfb.org or the University of Illinois Extension at www.farmdoc.illinois.edu.