Published on August 12, 2026 11:00 am
Last Updated on August 12, 2026 11:00 am
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Both candidates for Illinois’ open seat in the U.S. Senate pledged their support for agriculture, including some key priorities of Illinois Farm Bureau, during the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable Candidate Forum at the historic Funk Farms in Shirley (McLean County) Aug. 10.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy discussed everything from the farm economy and the farm bill to year-round availability of E15 at the event. The Democratic candidate and current Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton was unable to attend the event due to a prior commitment. IFB President Philip Nelson read a statement from her team to attendees of the forum.
Standing on the historic farm where key crop genetic research took place for generations, Tracy, senior counsel for Brown, Hay and Stephens law firm in Springfield and former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, took aim at current economic challenges in his opening comments.
“We have some of the most productive farms here in Illinois,” said Tracy, who grew up in Mt. Sterling (Brown County) with many ties to the ag community. “What they need from Washington is certainty, access to markets, reasonable rules and protection of their property rights.”
And it should start with a new farm bill, according to Tracy. The GOP-backed Senate farm bill failed in committee earlier this month, which presents a major hurdle in getting legislation passed before the current legislation expires Sept. 30.
“Input costs have gone up significantly the past few years and commodity prices have not kept pace,” Tracy said. “Meanwhile, D.C. has spent years operating under extensions of the farm bill written for a different ag economy.
“I’ll support a farm bill that protects crop insurance, provides a meaningful farm safety net and gives farmers more certainty about making decisions.”
One of Tracy’s other top priorities is expanding markets for ag products both domestically and abroad.
Measures to boost ag markets include increasing global trade and expanding the use of ethanol nationwide, including through permanent, year-round use of E15, according to Tracy.
“Illinois grows corn and America needs energy,” he said. “I don’t understand why Washington turned that into a complicated question. We shouldn’t have to wait for an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) waiver (for E15 use) every summer.”
Other priorities for Tracy include maintaining and improving infrastructure to efficiently transport ag products and looking for ways to help lower fertilizer costs.
Meanwhile, Stratton’s statement to attendees at the forum wasn’t as specific, but pointed to general support of the ag industry.
“Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has been a strong advocate for Illinois’ farms and farmers, having served the entire state for the past seven years and chairing the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council,” the statement noted. “She will continue to be a partner to the agriculture industry in Washington.”
The winner of the Nov. 3 election will replace Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, who will retire at the end of his term Jan. 3, 2027, concluding a 44-year career.
