Illinois Ag Lauds Farm Bill Passage

BLOOMINGTON – Last week’s announcement that a comprehensive, five-year farm bill– known as the Agricultural Act of 2014– had been signed into law by President Obama, brought a wave of relief to those in agriculture, followed by an avalanche of news releases, prepared statements and live media interviews from ag commodity group leaders anxious to praise the bill’s passage.

“Passage of a new, five-year farm bill that provides a safety net for America’s family farmers that includes a continuation of of the much-preferred crop insurance program has been the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s (ICGA) top priority for some time now,” said Kenny Hartman, ICGA vice president. “In our yearly survey of members, 84 percent reported to us that crop insurance is the most important government supported program available to them. Since it’s a public private partnership, meaning farmers have skin in the game, we think it’s a program that considerate of both the budget and the taxpayer’s investment.”

ICGA noted the hard work of Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill) in support of the bill and the crop insurance program. The Illinois Soybean Association was also quick to praise Durbin, along with other Illinois lawmakers and the President. “Illinois soybean farmers are pleased that President Obama quickly signed the Agricultural Act of 2014, after it passed in both the House and the Senate. The bill gives soybean farmers the certainty they need heading into spring planting,” said Mike Marron, ISA vice chairman. (ISA, ICGA news releases)

Farm Bill Streamlines Conservation Programs

CHAMPAIGN – Illinois State Conservationist Ivan Dozier welcomes the consolidation of USDA-NRCS conservation programs from 23 to 13 and supports the requirement calling for farmers to enroll in conservation compliance measures in order to qualify for federal crop insurance programs under conditions of the Agricultural Act of 2014. “We’re excited about the opportunity to streamline some of these programs,” Dozier said during a phone interview. “We think we still have a good slate of programs to help people put conservation on their land and maybe even do it better than before.”

Though funding was reduced from the previous farm bill’s conservation title, farmers can still rely on popular federal conservation subsidies moving forward, according to Dozier. “The top programs– and I’ll use EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program) as our flagship program– are intact. There are cuts across the board but (EQIP) wasn’t hit too severely. Its potential funding level looks pretty reasonable,” Dozier said.

An aspect of the 2014 Farm Bill linked to USDA-NRCS of great importance to farmers has new requirements directing farmers who receive federal crop insurance payments to adhere to conservation measures, a measure never before required. “Wetland and highly erodible land compliance was linked to crop insurance (under the bill),” Dozier said. “Before, those who participated in crop insurance did not have to be subject to conservation compliance provisions. With crop insurance providing a larger safety net, they did link conservation compliance to the federal crop insurance program.”

Signup periods for the streamlined USDA-NRCS conservation programs will be announced soon, according to Dozier.

After Farm Bill Passage, All Eyes on WRRDA

BLOOMINGTON – Now that a comprehensive, five-year farm bill has been signed into law by President Obama, those involved in the political side of agriculture are turning up the heat on Congress to pass a new Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA) after a six-year lapse. The bill (HR 3080 in the House) has been mired in the House-Senate WRRDA conference committee since November. Illinois representatives Cheri Bustos (D) and Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) are members of the conference committee, which has been working to reconcile key differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill including how to further fund the Olmsted Lock and dam refurbishment program, which is some 400 percent over budget and years behind in its completion.

Rodney Weinzierl, executive director of Illinois Corn Marketing Board and Illinois Corn Growers Association, said it makes a big difference to farmers and other river stakeholders which version of the two bills a final WRRDA package would most resemble. Using the undersized and in need of repair LaGrange Lock and Dam on the Illinois River as an example, right now if WRRDA fails to pass it, LaGrange would be on a pace to be updated in the year 2070. If the House bill passes, LaGrange goes to 2029, and if the Senate bill, which completely federalizes future Olmsted spending, passes, it would be 2026. If a separate river users fee is approved, LaGrange potentially goes to 2018. Internally, we want LaGrange moving even before that, but obviously we need to take this in steps,” Weinzierl said.

ISA Announces Yield Challenge Winners

BLOOMINGTON – Winners and other top achievers from the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) 2013 Yield Challenge were recognized at the recent 2014 Soybean Summit in Effingham, and will be acknowledged again prior to a second 2014 Soybean Summit at the Peoria Civic Center scheduled for Friday, March 7. The competition challenges soybean producers in all nine Illinois crop reporting districts (CRDs) to set up side-by-side plots, with traditional growing methods employed on one and the use of new and innovative growing techniques featured on the other. Growers displaying the highest percentage yield increase per district are declared winners. Though cash prizes are awarded, the goal of the Yield Challenge is to develop and share innovative new growing techniques that increase yields and profitability for farmers.

Growers claiming top honors in their CRDs will be recognized at an awards recognition ceremony prior to the Peoria summit. In addition, nine growers who eclipsed the 70 and 80 bushel per acre plateau will be honored. “Innovative crop strategies and technologies tested during the ISA Yield Challenge are making a difference,” said Don Guinnip, ISA production committee chair. “Our goal for 2014 is for growers to reach the 100-bushel mark. It’s well within reach, and we look forward to continuing this exchange of strategies and ideas.”

Information on the 2014 ISA Yield Challenge can be accessed at www.soyyieldchallenge.com. (ISA news release)

Illinois Farm Fact:

All Illinois cattle and calves as of January 1, 2014 totaled 1.13 million head, one percent above 2013. (USDA)

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