Hot Issues Putting Farm Bill on Back Burner

BLOOMINGTON – There is already speculation that the 113th Congress will extend the 2008 Farm Bill’s temporary authorization past its September 30 expiration, according to sources quoted by Illinois Corn. The reason: hot-button issues like a four-year debt ceiling package, immigration and gun control may consume lawmakers’ agendas in the coming weeks and months.

“(Congress) will likely keep the current bill but with lower spending formulas, particularly for SNAP (food assistance) and the commodity titles. If the Congress and White House can come to a debt ceiling/fiscal spending cut (agreement), Congress could get back to regular order, but few are optimistic about a four year debt ceiling/entitlement cut deal,” according to “insiders in the Washington, D.C. beltway” in communication with Illinois Corn. “Congressional staffers are really on hold except for expected legislation on immigration and gun control to be pushed by the Administration. Both issues are considered highly difficult to resolve. it is easy to see how a debt ceiling/spending fight and the top two legislative goals of the Obama Administration could bog the 113th Congress down in the same way Congress was bogged down in the last session.” (Ill. Corn Daily Update)

Reduced Barge Payloads Help Keep Prices High

ANKENY, IA. – While barge traffic on the Mississippi River below St. Louis is continuing, lighter barge payloads forced by drought conditions on the river could inevitably result in a price bump at the supermarket for soybean-related products, according to an agricultural transportation expert. “It’s been a real concern,” said Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC), during an exclusive interview on ag transportation issues. “We’re pleased there have been some positive developments over the last couple of weeks, including the Army Corps of Engineers’ expediting the process by which they award contracts for excavating and dredging. They have also released water from reservoirs on the Kaskaskia River that has added about six inches of depth. And we’ve had some precipitation, which is the ultimate elixir to this problem. The result has moderated the severity of this issue.”

Steenhoek continued: “But there have been grain handlers that have had to load barges lighter. Every foot of reduced depth for a barge equates to ten percent of capacity. A typical barge will be loaded with about 55,000 bushels of soybeans to a nine-foot draft. Not a whole lot of industries can simply absorb that (loss from reduced barge capacities), and certainly not agriculture in its cooperative environment.”

Steenhoek added that the continuing drought affecting the river couldn’t have come at a worse time for the soybean industry, whose exports run in a six-month, September-to-February cycle as opposed to corn exports, which tend to be staggered throughout the year. “It’s like a supply chain disruption for retailers right before Christmas,” he said.

LaHood: Lawmakers Should Learn From Farmers

PEORIA – “Lawmakers could learn a lesson or two from any Illinois farmer about how to run a business, carefully manage resources and know when to scale back operations,” said State Senator Darin LaHood (R-37th) on January 17, as he addressed a group of farmers at the Bureau County Farm Bureau’s annual dinner in Princeton.

LaHood later wrote about the experience in his weekly e-newsletter, saying “It was good to speak with area farmers and get a better idea of the issues affecting the agri-business community. One of the most pleasant parts about being a legislator is interacting with constituents and I particularly enjoy being around local farmers. Agriculture is Illinois largest industry– by far, and in the public policy arena lawmakers must be sensitive to farmers’ concerns. Especially after last year’s record-breaking drought, producers are struggling because grain, meat and other commodity markets are always fluctuating with little predictability.”

Soybean Profitability Topic of Summit

BLOOMINGTON – The second annual Illinois Soybean Profitability Summit will be held at Illinois State University’s Bone Student Center, March 4, in Normal, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) announced. The one-day conference, funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff, offers farmers new techniques and practices designed to boost yields and maximize profits. “It’s a great opportunity for farmers, consultants and agronomists to learn and network with a special emphasis on yield improvement and profitability,” said Bill Wykes, ISA board chairman.

John Baize, an international trade and policy expert, leads the field of featured speakers for the event that includes field agronomist Ken Ferrie and Steve Johnson, an Iowa State University Extension farm management specialist, Darin Newsom, DTN market analyst and Marion Calmer, president of Calmer Research Center and Calmer Corn Heads. In addition, four breakout sessions will be offered.

The 2013 Illinois Soybean Profitability Summit is free to Illinois farmers, though registration is limited to the first 350 to sign up. To reserve a seat, call 888-826-4011 or visit www.soyyieldchallenge.com. (ISA news release)

Conservation Innovation Grants Available

CHAMPAIGN – A new EQIP option available to farmers allows them to install conservation practices such as greenhouse gas and nitrogen application programs available through the Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Illinois NRCS announced on January 15 that Illinois farmers have until February 15 to submit applications to receive financial assistance to implement the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant’s Greenhouse Gas (CIG-GHG) Program.

According to Illinois NRCS, the focus for the project is to evaluate and study cover crops, nutrient management and no-till/strip till management. More details will be posted on the Illinois NRCS website at www.il.nrcs.usda.gov. (NRCS news release)

Illinois Farm Fact:

All farmers and ranchers should have received a 2012 Census of Agriculture form in the mail by early January. Completed forms are due by February 4, 2013, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack reminded producers last week. (USDA press release)

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