FIELD TALK
News from Whiteside County Farm Bureau
UCR Registration Now Open
The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) fees for 2020 have been released and registration opened, February 13, 2020. The fees, normally due January 1 of each year, have been delayed until the fees are formally established.
The UCR board recommends that States delay enforcement until June 1, 2020. Registration can be completed online with the Illinois Commerce Commission or at the UCR Plan’s website.
Registration fees have been reduced by 14.45% from the fees paid for the 2019 registration year:
Number of Vehicles
- 1-2: $59
- 3-5: $176
- 6-20: $351
- 21-100: $1,224
- 101-1,000: $5,835
- 1,001 or more: $56,977
Illinois County Farm Bureaus Receive iPads to Aid 2020 Census Campaign
To help mobilize the agricultural community, the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is equipping each of its county Farm Bureaus with technology to aid the public in completing the 2020 census. Each county Farm Bureau has received an iPad to be used in coordination with IFB’s efforts to assist both members and non-members in getting access to the internet to complete their 2020 Census survey. This is the first time the U.S. Census Bureau is asking household residents to complete the survey online.
“The U.S. Census is directly related to Illinois’ representation in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr. “With Illinois losing population over the last several years, the state could lose one, maybe two, seats in the U.S. House. That makes this survey extremely important for the state to have widespread participation and accurate responses from its citizens.”
Reapportioning occurs after each U.S. Census, starting with the number of seats given to each state in the U.S. House of Representatives. From there, boundaries will be redrawn for those seats as well as for the General Assembly and county boards.
“Illinois Farm Bureau is aware that not everyone has equal access to the internet, so we are providing county Farm Bureau offices throughout the state with an iPad to serve as a ‘Census Access Center’ for members or non-members to help them complete this important survey,” said Guebert. “Survey responses will absolutely affect individuals at county levels and district levels through voter representation. Illinois Farm Bureau is trying to do its part to make sure everyone is counted.”
Federal funding heavily relies on Census results. U.S. Census data determines how $675 billion dollars is distributed, impacting education, fire and emergency response services, transportation, employment, housing, health care and public policy.
Illinois Farm Bureau offers the following timeline for the 2020 Census:
- In mid-March, the U.S. Census Bureau will send an “Invitation to Respond” to every citizen. Residents may fill out their census online or call the listed contact number to either fill the census out via phone or to request a hard copy via U.S. Postal Service.
- April 1, 2020 is Census Day. IFB members and non-members are encouraged to make this date their goal for census completion and to consider what their household will look like on that date when answering questions.
- After Census Day, U.S. Census Bureau representatives will make home visits to assist citizens in filling out the survey in person. Completing a survey is required for every U.S. citizen.
Locally, Whiteside County Farm Bureau will have hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. between Monday to Thursday
Whiteside CFB Foundation Scholarships Offered
The Whiteside County Farm Bureau® Foundation is pleased to announce the 2020 scholarship program for area students majoring in a field of agriculture. The Foundation is offering the following scholarships:
- Up to three $2,500 scholarships to high school graduates planning to study agriculture at a four-year college/university. (Whiteside CFB membership required)
- Up to two $2,500 scholarships to a current college student majoring in agriculture at a four-year college/university. (Whiteside CFB membership required)
- One $1,000 scholarship to a high school or college students planning to attend or currently attending a two-year college/technical school that is studying in a field of agriculture. (Whiteside CFB membership required)
- The Young Leaders are offering up to three $1,000 for students planning to study agriculture at a two-year or four-year college/university or technical school. No Farm Bureau membership is required.
For details about the scholarship program, including eligibility requirements, visit the Foundation’s website at www.wcfbfoundation.org under the Scholarships tab. Students can complete the application at https://form.jotform.com/82604098889978. The application deadline is February 28, 2020.
Interested persons can contact Matt Lillpop, Executive Director of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau® Foundation, at (815) 772-2165 or matt.wcfb@gmail.com for more information.
Nursing Scholarship Application Available
Applications are now available for nurse practitioner scholarships through the Illinois Farm Bureau® Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Program. There will be 10 scholarships, worth $4,000 each, granted this year
The scholarship program, now in its twenty eighth year, helps encourage and develop the pool of rural health practitioners to help meet primary health care needs in rural Illinois. Students who receive scholarships agree to practice for two years in an approved rural area in Illinois.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be Illinois residents and be a Registered Nurse accepted or enrolled in an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program. Funding is provided by the Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program.
Applications are available at county Farm Bureaus® throughout the state, on the Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program website at RIMSAP.com, or by writing Donna Gallivan, Program Manager, Illinois Farm Bureau, PO Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702-2901. Applications are due May 1.
For additional information, contact Donna Gallivan at 309-557-2350, or via e-mail at dgallivan@ilfb.org.
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About Us
Email: whitesidecountyfarmbureau@gmail.com
Website: www.whitesidecfb.org
Location: 100 East Knox Street, Morrison, IL, USA
Phone: (815) 772-2165
Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitesidecountyfarmbureau