“Farm Only” Farm Bill Before Committee

BLOOMINGTON – As some farmers celebrated the House’s recent passage of a “farm only” 2013 Farm Bill– one without a Nutrition Title containing food stamp provisions and funding– Lindsay Mitchell of Illinois Corn posted a few reasons why those farmers might want to reconsider their initial support of such legislation. At the top of the list is the concern that passage by the full Congress of a farm-only farm bill could set a precedent for forthcoming farm bills, which are considered every four years. “In fact, such a drastic change in 2013 from previous farm bill negotiations might signal the end of farm bills,” according to Mitchell. “Period.”

Illinois Corn feels strongly that decoupling the food stamp program from the farm bill would make it much easier for future farm-only legislation to fail in Congress. “In five years, when likely fewer than 60 members of the House of Representatives represent rural areas or farmers, will we be able to pass a farm only farm bill?” Mitchell wonders.

Also among the concerns are the likelihood of the demise of funding for things like agricultural conservation programs, market access programs and foreign market development, although crop insurance would likely survive the bloodletting. “Why would an elected official worry about the needs of rural America when he/she doesn’t need your vote to get reelected?” wrote Mitchell.

“Some farmers are happy about the split as they have never understood why food stamps were included in a farm bill. Some are excited at the idea of a final farm bill heading to conference committee with the Senate and some stability for their farm next year. But don’t be so encouraged at your short term gain that you forget to consider the long term damage that might have been done during the farm bill vote.” (Illinois Corn Daily Update)

Hours of Service Waiver for Ag Granted

SPRINGFIELD – The Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s recent decision to grant livestock and poultry truckers a 90-day waiver from a rest break provision included in new rules was greeted warmly by many in agriculture, including the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA). The rest break provision, contained within the new federal transportation bill (MAP-21, which expanded existing hours of service, or HOS, exemptions for truckers hauling ag commodities) requires drivers to park their vehicles for a 30-minute break every eight-hours of road time.

IPPA Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk said that pigs being transported within, to or from Illinois need to be trucked to destinations as quickly as possible, especially during hot summer months when pig mortality rates increase during transit. “Livestock is a completely different story than most transporting most goods. The eight (on) and a half hour (off) issue can have a significant animal welfare impact on pigs,” he said. “We’re very happy they’ve given us the 90-day waiver. Obviously, we’re looking for full suspension and waiver.”

IPPA District Director Pam Janssen, who operates a farrow-to-finish hog operation and raises around 200 feeder calves outside Minonk, said her cattle business could be impacted by the HOS rule limiting transportation time. “(The feeder calves) go out to Nebraska, so it’s a big deal. Any time you have animals on transport you don’t want to have to be sitting somewhere– the animals are in hot, confined quarters,” Janssen said. “On the pig side, we are blessed to be close to (hog) packing plants here in central Illinois, but a lot of other producers in other states don’t have that luxury.”

Kaitschuk and Janssen pointed out that those trucking pigs into and out of Illinois could definitely be negatively impacted by the hours of service rule requiring truckers to rest during an eight-hour shift.

Agrichemical Container Recycling Dates Announced

SPRINGFIELD – Randolph Ag Service of Heyworth and Maple City Area Recycling of Monmouth will serve as two permanent collection sites in central Illinois for the disposal of used agrichemical containers, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has announced. The McLean and Warren county businesses, respectively, are two of just four permanent locations approved by the state for 2013.

In addition, single-day collection sites were also announced. Woodford County farmers will have an opportunity to dispose of their used containers on the afternoon of August 12 at Hintzsche Ag of Minonk. Ag-Land FS of Hanna City will offer disposals on the morning of August 13, while the Ag-Land FS of Green Valley will provide the service that same afternoon in Tazewell County. On the following morning, August 14, Tazewell County farmers will again have a chance to lawfully dispose of their containers at DCM Crop Care in Deer Creek.

The IDOA hosts the annual event in conjunction with GROWMARK, the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, the Illinois Farm Bureau and others. More information is available by calling the IDOA at (800) 641-3934.

FSA Acreage Reporting Extended

WASHINGTON, D.C. – News for all farmers: the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the acreage reporting deadline for farmers through the department’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). The extension allows farmers and landowners an additional 18 calendar days, or until Friday, August 2, to submit their annual acreage reports to their local agency office. Could the extension be related to the extreme weather events that have once again encroached on the planting season, most notably record precipitation and scattered flooding in many parts of the Corn Belt and the continuing drought and accompanying wildfires in western states?

“We want to ensure our producers maintain their program benefits by filing their reports accurately and in a timely manner for all crops and land uses, including prevented and failed acreage,” stated FSA Administrator Juan M. Garcia.

Acreage reports are necessary for USDA to determine and maintain eligibility for both conservation programs and crop insurance provided by the government. Producers should contact their county FSA offices if they are uncertain about the reporting deadline. (USDA press release)

Illinois Farm Fact:

In central Illinois, 39 percent of the corn has silked, 37 percent of soybeans are blooming and six percent of soybeans are setting pods. (July 15 USDA-NASS Illinois Crop Report)

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