Yesterday, Illinois' major statewide candidates discussed agricultural policy at a forum hosted by the Illinois Farm Bureau. U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, whose website boasts that he "will fight for Illinois farmers and expand opportunities for our state’s agriculture industry," advocated for several policies that could end up hurting small farmers in the long-run.

For starters, Kirk reiterated his support for a budget-busting estate tax repeal, which he said could lower taxes on some family farms. Like the GOP's gubernatorial candidate, Kirk is greatly exaggerating the impact of the estate tax on farmers. The Tax Policy Center found that just .003 percent of all estates both qualify for the tax and have significant small business or farm assets. The average farmer in Illinois won't have to pay more taxes if it's repealed ... except those needed to help pay down the debt the tax cut will cause.

Kirk also criticized the U.S. House climate bill that he helped pass last year, but has since dismissed as too costly. The legislation as written, however, was extremely forgiving to farmers. Not only was agriculture exempt from the cap-and-trade system but farmers were promised subsides to adjust to energy cost increases. On top of that, the bill would have provided a needed boost to wind and solar industries from which farmers could benefit while protecting Illinois crops from the worst effects of climate change.