Ag Interests Eye Mississippi, Missouri Rivers

BLOOMINGTON – All eyes are upon the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, where drought conditions could lead to the closing of parts of the rivers by the time this newspaper sees publication. As of press time Saturday, Dec. 8, the rivers had not been closed, though ag interests were preparing to deal with disruptions in both commodity exports and fertilizer imports by barge.

According to the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA), if the Mississippi River closes for 60 days, around 410 tows and 10,600 barges and their cargo would be halted. Transporting the same cargo by rail would require the use of 170,000 rail cars or over 742,000 semi trucks, though rail car availability is expected to be tight. In addition, 4,100 towboat jobs would be impacted, five million barrels of domestic crude oil would be replaced by imported crude at the cost of an additional $545 million in imports, 300 million bushels of farm products would be delayed in reaching market, and coal worth $192 million would be among $7 billion worth of cargo to be idled on the river between St. Louis and Cairo.

The Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association is among several Illinois ag groups to urge the Obama Administration to direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release measured, but sufficient, flows from the Missouri River Reservoir dams to maintain a nine-foot navigation channel on the Mississippi. They also ask for a waiver of federal rules to expedite the removal of rock pinnacles from the river near Grand Tower and Thebes, Illinois that threaten barge navigation.

“These are unprecedented times with the river at these critical levels. If navigation on the Mississippi cannot be maintained, navigation on the Illinois River for spring fertilizer supplies and grain exports is also curtailed,” the IFCA wrote in a Legislative Alert to members. (ICGA, IFCA news) 

Asmark Hosts Producer Safety Course

BLOOMINGTON – The newly-christened Asmark Agricenter on Carole Drive in Bloomington will be the location for three, one-day producer education seminars on farm safety hazards, the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA)–which is hosting the events– announced. The January 9, Jan. 18 and February 1 sessions will focus on anhydrous ammonia safety, compliance and enforcement, oil spill prevention and pesticide containment regulations.

“Safety and regulatory compliance will continue to become more prevalent in the agriculture industry. (ICGA) continues to advocate for voluntary training instead of mandatory requirements and we hope that our membership will find these sessions of value,” said Paul Taylor, ICGA president.

The cost to producers is $100, which includes lunch, conference materials and safety gear. To register yourself or an employee for a session, call the ICGA office at (309) 557-3257.

Heyworth FFA Raffling Sixth Tractor

PEORIA – When Haley Myers, a sixteen year-old sophomore in Heyworth High School’s FFA chapter, got involved with restoring a 50 year-old Ford 601 Workmaster series tractor, she learned a lot more than the nuts and bolts of how the machine operates. “I learned that when you put your heart into something you can get things done. With FFA that’s what you learn– leadership skills and qualities. The restoration was basically about teamwork,” said Myers, who was present at the 31st Greater Peoria Farm Show on November 29 to sell raffle tickets for the restored tractor, along with fellow FFA member Erik Halberg, a 14 year-old freshman, and FFA student teacher Kara Watson.

The tractor will be offered for raffle during the next year at the Western Illinois University Farm Show, Gordyville, Pennfield Historic Farm Days and the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, among other venues. Proceeds from the raffle go towards scholarships for Heyworth FFA’s most active members and costs associated with attending the annual National FFA Convention.

Davis Named to House Ag Committee

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois Corn congratulated newly-elected 13th District Congressman Rodney Davis on his appointment to the House Committee on Agriculture last Friday. Davis was one of seven new appointees from the 133th Congress to the ag committee by chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK).

“I am pleased to welcome our new Republican members to the House Agriculture Committee. I look forward to working with all of them in the next Congress as we continue to ensure the health and vitality of production agriculture and rural communities,” Lucas said in a statement.

“Throughout his campaign, Davis worked with ICGA members to become better acquainted with the issues impacting corn farmers in Illinois,” said Tricia Braid, communications director for Illinois Corn, in a notice to members. “Maintaining a seat on the ag committee is important, especially since the new Congress will need to address farm bill issues if the lame duck session does not successfully pass a new five-year bill.”

The House will reconsider its farm bill when the lame duck Congress reconvenes in January, according to Republican Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria.

LeRoy Man Named to Conservation Post

CHAMPAIGN – A LeRoy man who grew up on a family farm in Chatsworth has been named the new Assistant State Conservationist for Financial Assistance Programs by the Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Eric Gerth, whose family still farms in Chatsworth, will assume statewide responsibility for implementing farm bill programs in Illinois such as EQIP, CSP, WHIP and other national watershed and landscape conservation initiatives for farmers and landowners.

“In his new role, I know he’ll help us put more conservation solutions on the ground across the state,” said Ill. NRCS State Conservationist Ivan Dozier. (Ill. NRCS news release)

Illinois Farm Fact:

Clinton County raises more pigs than any other county in Illinois, with 263,000 in that county alone. (Ill. Ag in the Classroom)

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