Bridge payment a ‘bandage,’ Illinois farmers say

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – An Illinois corn grower says the $12 billion taxpayer funded bridge payment the Trump administration announced will do some good, but more needs to be done.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the public dollars for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program are meant to provide producers with a bridge until the benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are available.

“These bridge payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act,” the department said on the FBA Program website, noting it is a one-time payment.

Illinois Corn Growers Association President Mark Bunselmeyer said that will help.

“Most farms have been operating in the red the last few years and anticipate that again this upcoming year, too. So it is a relief, but it is a small bandage,” said Bunselmeyer, who farms in Maroa, Illinois.

Bunselmeyer said farmers need to find more demand for their commodities and more certainty about the cost of their inputs they get from other countries, like fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.

“Their active ingredients are things that are coming in from China and other foreign countries,” he said. “And the uncertainty there has also added in some tariff costs to that, have increased the cost of those inputs for farmers.”

Bridge payments are expected to be released to farmers who reported eligible crops at the end of next month. Bunselmeyer said that will help, but Congress could do something now.

“The first thing that the federal government could do that would be simple and wouldn’t cost the taxpayers a single thing is approved year round E15 gasoline,” Bunselmeyer said.

E15 gasoline is a fuel derived from corn.

Bunselmeyer said on a state level, the estate tax must be addressed.

“And it’s not been based on inflation,” he said of Illinois inheritance tax. “It is separate itself from the federal government’s estate tax. And it just makes planning for that next generation of farmers tougher.”

Illinois’ estate tax imposes a levy on estates valued at more than $4 million. The federal estate tax will be nearly $14 million for 2025.

The Illinois Senate returns to the state capitol Tuesday. The House will be in for three scheduled days next week.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker last year said he was open to the idea of modifying the state’s estate tax. But, the governor said any proposal to increase the amount the tax kicks in should include a plan to offset the possible lost tax revenue to the state from the change.

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