Bill Northey, USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation, announced $12.8 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure improvements in Jefferson and Wabash counties. (United State Department of Agriculture photo)

In this week’s farm and rural dwellers’ news digest, we have details on the cover crop premium program announced by the IDOA, along with good news on corn prices (gasp!). Also this week, $12.8 million in high-speed rural internet infrastructure is on its way to Illinois; we will tell you where. For these and more items of growing interest, please read on …

 SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced a fall cover crop discount program for acreage in Illinois planted to cover crops in the fall of 2019 that will be planted to an insurable crop in 2020. The program will allow eligible applicants to receive a $5-per-acre premium discount on the following year’s crop insurance invoice for every acre of cover crop enrolled and verified in the program. The program was developed by IDOA and backed by legislative leadership from senators Andy Manar and Scott Bennet. “Cover crops are an important part of preserving agriculture,” Bennet said. “As Senate Agriculture chair, I am encouraged by this program and that it represents another resource to farmers to help ensure the success of Illinois’ agriculture economy.”
The discount program will apply only to cover crop acres not covered by other federal or state incentive programs such as EQIP, CSP and state cost share, according to the IDOA. “Farmers who utilize cover crops are making an investment in the overall quality of our soil, food and water, as well as their own future yields,” said Manar. “This program will help expand the ecological benefits of cover crops while supporting our local farmers’ bottom line. Prioritizing these best practices is why Illinois remains at the forefront of agricultural production and quality.” For more information on the program, contact the IDOA at 217-782-6297.

Corn rally boosts November demand

URBANA — Corn demand showed signs of life in November thanks to ethanol production and export sales, according to Todd Hubbs, agricultural economist with the University of Illinois Department of ACES. Hubbs reported on Dec. 2 that ethanol production increased for the 10th consecutive week, with production levels moving above 1 million per day, during October and November, leading to a mini-rally.

“Expanded placements and higher weights in the livestock sector point toward the potential for an uptrend in feed demand. Corn use appears set to maintain this momentum as we move toward 2020,” Hubbs predicted, in an article he posted to the ACES news site. He added that the continuation of growth in ethanol production points suggests recovery from the weakness seen last summer and potential expansion of ethanol exports.

Ethanol exports for the 2018-19 marketing year totaled around 1.55 billion gallons, down 80 million gallons from the 2017-18 total, noted Hubbs.

Broadband boost for Jefferson, Wayne counties

LOUISVILLE — Jefferson and Wayne counties in southern Illinois will benefit from a $12.8 million investment by the United States Department of Agriculture in high-speed broadband infrastructure. The investment, announced Dec. 4 by USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation Bill Northey, will create or improve e-connectivity for more than 1,650 homes in rural Illinois, a USDA news release trumpeted.

“Broadband is no longer an amenity. It is essential for education, health care and public safety. I’m excited about the tremendous benefits broadband will have for farmers here in Illinois. USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in deploying this critical infrastructure, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives,” Northey said in a statement.

In total, 31 farms are expected to benefit from 298 miles of fiber-optic cable strung through unserved areas within the Wabash Telephone Cooperative district. In addition, 1,684 households, 29 businesses, nine educational facilities and health centers will receive a broadband boost. The money comes from congressional approval in March of 2018 providing $600 million to USDA to expand rural broadband infrastructure and services in rural America.

Farm Families launch new docuseries

BLOOMINGTON — Illinois Farm Families, a group of farmers from a cross-section of Illinois agricultural organizations, has released the initial episode in their new docuseries highlighting farmer sustainability practices. This engaging storytelling video, focused on biofuels made from Illinois corn and soybeans, presents the perspectives of farmer Elliott Uphoff and American Lung Association vice president Angela Tin to help explain the clean air advantages of Illinois-grown biofuels.

Uphoff is a fifth-generation farmer from Shelbyville who views the future of biofuels as an important element of tomorrow’s energy picture. “When I was in middle school, the science teacher would say, ‘Someday, we’re going to run out of fossil fuels.’ We’re still finding new reserves, but that won’t last forever. We’re drilling deeper and finding dirtier oil, which makes refining it more expensive,” he says.

“Farmers want clean air just like everybody else. So if we can grow biofuels that help clean the air and save the environment — and that’s a sustainable energy source for many generations to come — that’s a no-brainer.” The video promoting the future of Illinois biofuels can be viewed at watchusgrow.org/innovation-grows-here. (IFF news)

Leadership transitions in soy, pork groups

BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois Soybean Association welcomed two now district directors to its board of directors last week. Selected to serve the District 4 (Bureau, LaSalle, Grundy, Kendall counties) region was Buck Hill of Grand Ridge, while Mark Read of Putnam was tabbed to serve as District 5 (Knox, Peoria, Marshall, Putnam, Fulton, Tazewell counties) director.

Positions are currently open for the Illinois Pork Producers Association board of directors, the IPPA announced on Dec. 3. Those interested in joining Team Pork should contact deb@illinoispork.com to submit an application, which will be submitted for a vote at the IPPA annual meeting on Feb. 4. Forms are due no later than Dec. 20.

Pork producers also have an opportunity to submit resolutions, which are voted on to determine IPPA policy and direction. Ultimately, resolutions serve as a way producers can help determine and direct the national pork organizations on issues of policy importance in Washington and at state levels. Submitted resolutions, which are also due Dec. 20, will be considered at the IPPA annual meeting in 2020.

Illinois Farm Fact:

The Soybean Summit, sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association and ILSoyAdvisor, will be held March 10 in Springfield. (ISA news)

IDOA cover crop premium available to farmers