RFS Reform Act Threatens Future of Ethanol

BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) lashed out at legislation introduced in Congress last week that would effectively end the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which sets the bar on the amount of corn utilized for ethanol in the U.S. each year. The RFS Reform Act was introduced April 10 by four bipartisan Representatives from states located outside the Corn Belt. The legislation signals what could be a tough year for ethanol and the RFS and is likely influenced by “Big Oil,” according to an official with the ICGA.

“Obviously this is a shell bill for Big Oil that’s going to try to restrict consumer access to higher blends of ethanol that would lead to cheaper prices at the pump,” said Dave Loos, director of business and technology development for the ICGA. “We know that Big Oil advocates spend more than $25 million a year to give ethanol and biofuels a black eye. This is just another tactic to remove ethanol as a competitor in the petroleum based fuel market.”

Loos and the ICGA knows what would happen to corn produced in Illinois if the RFS is repealed: a lot of it would be without a home. Meanwhile, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFS) fired back at the legislation in a news release. “The motivation behind this bill is backwards, silly, circular logic,” said RFS President and CEO Bob Dineen. “The authors insist they’re not anti-biofuels, but the bill guts the only program that has successfully opened the market.” (ICGA Daily Update)

ICGA President: Pass WRDA Now

BLOOMINGTON – In other ICGA news, Illinois Corn President Paul Taylor issued the following op-ed to several general interest newspapers across Illinois last week, regarding optimism for new waterways legislation in front of Congress that would provide funding mechanisms for lock and dam redevelopment and maintenance:

“An opportunity lies before us in the form of the Water Resources Development Act, commonly called WRDA. Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Mark Kirk will soon have a chance to vote ‘yes’ for WRDA. A ‘yes’ vote is vote to Keep America Moving was well as to Get America Working!

The WRDA bill is needed to authorize improvements to our waterways infrastructure. This infrastructure (locks and dams) was built in the 1930s and is in a desperate state of disrepair. The construction effort was nothing short of incredible at the time, putting thousands of Americans to work while building a transportation artery that catapulted the United States to the forefront of world trade.

Now we find ourselves in the position of a third-world nation. What once contributed to America’s greatness now serves as a monument to our inability to find consensus and take action. Our locks and dams have been patched and repaired to the point that not much more can be done. It’s like repairing an old car. Sooner or later, no amount of investment in repairs can return an operable, dependable vehicle.

Upgrades to the locks and dams are what’s needed. What was built 80 years ago was intended to last 50 years. It’s time to retire these systems and put in place locks and dams that will first get America Working and then Keep America Working. Please join Illinois corn farmers in asking Senator Durbin and Senator Kirk to vote yes for WRDA.” (ICGA Daily Update)

ILLINI Brand Soybeans Meet Organic Market Demand 

WILLIAMSFIELD – We had a chance to talk with Doug Baird of Baird/Williamsfield Seed Company in Williamsfield, which is the sole market outlet for the new, non-GMO ILLINI Brand soybean varieties. Baird sees the varieties– of which he still has a limited supply for sale– will remind farmers of a certain age of the days when around 40 soybean breeding programs supplied soybean genetics to seed companies.

“Today there are six major programs owned by multinational companies, (and) we do not have the diversity of genetics being supplied to farmers as we had 35 years ago,” Baird noted, adding that ILLINI Brand varieties help to meet demand for non-GMO soybeans in the organic market. The ILLINI varieties are not the public varieties of the past, but rather new genetics that will yield as well or better than Roundup Ready or Liberty Link varieties, according to Baird.

“We are now seeing weed resistance to Roundup. With the new formulations of herbicides why should the farmer need Roundup Ready? The only thing he is forfeiting is the Roundup Ready rescue which isn’t working,” Baird commented. “I have heard it said that you have to have a premium to make money with non-GMO soybeans. In the past that was a valid point, (but) today with the weed resistance that is not so much the case.”

Conservationist: Trust Cover Crop Mixes

CHAMPAIGN – The state conservationist for the Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says Illinois farmers should consider cover crop mixes over single-species crops to achieve maximum soil enhancement. According to Ivan Dozier, while many find noticeable benefits using single species such as radish, new life can be breathed into soils through increased nutrient cycling and reduced use of supplemental fertility inputs offered by a 50-50 mix of grasses and broadleaves.

“Remember, our true goal is to build soils like those formed under prairie conditions of the past,” said Dozier. “With no till and cover crop mixes, we can try to emulate the ecosystem functions of natural prairies” that formed under a diverse mix of plants, minimal disturbance and nearly year-round living root systems.

Cover crop mixes should include plants that represent four different functions: warm-season grasses and broadleaves and cool-season grasses and broadleaves to be determined by seed availability and cost, the NRCS recommends. To learn more about cover crop mix recommendations, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils/health/. (Ill. NRCS news release)

Illinois Farm Fact:

There are approximately 9.4 million soybean acres in Illinois. Of those acres, it is estimated that seven percent are non-GMO. (Doug Baird/ Williamsfield Seed Co.)

(Tim Alexander is a freelance reporter who writes agriculture, news and feature articles for the News Bulletin, Farm World and many other publications.)