Illinois Farm Bureau delegates, after months of consideration by the resolutions committee and much discussion on the delegate floor, passed a change to the organization's by-laws to allow a professional membership for the state's largest farm group.

In the weighted vote on Monday afternoon, just under 51-thousand votes were needed for passage of the by-law change.  Delegates representing some 56-thousand members voted yes, while delegates representing just over 20-thousand members, voted no.

This means that Illinois Farm Bureau will offer 3 different types of memberships—farmer, associate, and now the professional membership which will include those involved in ag-related industries.