The Dan Kelley farm in Normal was the scene for the Illinois Farm Bureau’s 2016 Candidate Forum, which was held Aug. 24 and featured appearances by U.S. Senate candidates Sen. Mark Kirk (R), the incumbent, and Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D), the challenger. (T. Alexander photo)

In this week’s farm news roundup, we have post-Illinois Farm Bureau Candidate Forum comments from U.S. Senate challenger Tammy Duckworth on how she would get the nation’s Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) back online with Congressional mandates. We’ll also share detailed results from Premier Cooperative’s annual Crop Tour estimating central Illinois corn yields. For info on  those news items and more news for rural dwellers, please read on…

Duckworth: Restoring RFS a priority

NORMAL, Ill. — Speaking at a news conference immediately following the Aug. 24 Illinois Farm Bureau 2016 Candidate Forum at Kelley Farms in Normal, U.S. Senate challenger Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D) said whether working as a congresswoman or senator, restoring the Renewable Fuels Standard’s (RFS) recommended volume obligations (RVOs) for biofuels to congressionally mandated levels will remain one of her priorities. 

“I think the RFS levels as set by Congress are necessary,” she said. “I think it’s been good for our nation. Biofuels are good not just for America’s economy, and not just for agriculture, but for our nation’s strength. The less we rely on foreign oil, the better for this country. A nation that cannot feed itself or fuel itself is a nation that cannot lead on a global stage. Agriculture is a way towards making sure we maintain our strength.”

Recent investigations have highlighted the lack of effort put forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fulfill the RFS mandate, according to a recent investigation by the EPA Inspector General. The investigation found that the EPA has failed to study the impacts of the RFS despite being required by Congress to submit a findings report every three years, Illinois Corn reported in an August 26 Daily Update to members. The Congress-approved RFS mandate establishes the amount of renewable fuel to be blended with traditional transportation fuel each year. EPA has failed to adhere to the mandate for several years consecutively.

Duckworth said she has authored and joined in letters to the EPA in support of RFS mandates, and has brought scientists from Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Illinois to Capitol Hill to speak to her fellow legislators about the benefits of biofuels and ethanol.

Illinois Farm Fact: The Illinois Waterway supports more than 1.7 million jobs and $102.5 billion in wages. (USDA/Illinois Soybean Association)

Waterways upgrades a topic at candidate forum

NORMAL — Another topic of importance to Illinois producers — waterways infrastructure improvements — was discussed by both Duckworth and her opponent, incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R) during the Aug. 24 IFB Candidate Forum at the Tom Kelley farm. Kirk said he is pressing for funding to dredge the lower Mississippi River to facilitate an increase in commodities shipped to the Gulf for export on new, “Supermax” cargo ships through the widened Panama Canal. Duckworth told farmers at the forum she’s working to free some $12 billion in funding to complete or begin much-needed lock and dam refurbishment projects.

Two recent studies affirm the need for major improvements to nearly all aspects of the nation’s inland waterways system, from infrastructure maintenance to ecosystem restoration. Improving the condition of the Illinois Waterway is “imperative,” according to a new economic impact and cluster analysis of Illinois River lock and dam systems, which indicates the current fix-as-fail strategy has not eliminated the backlog of deferred maintenance projects, adversely affecting agriculture, manufacturing and mining commerce on the river. The report emphasizes that all Illinois residents will benefit from improvements to the waterways system, according to the Illinois Soybean Association (www.ilsoy.org), which issued an Aug. 17 news release describing the report.

In addition, the AWI Report Card and Assessment, issued last December, bemoaned the state of Illinois’ waterways infrastructure and water quality in the upper Mississippi River region, reports Lindsay Mitchell, special projects coordinator for Illinois Corn, who attended the IFB Candidate Forum. “The AWI report card shared the shortcomings of the upper Mississippi River in such a way that it is clear broad-based collaborative action is needed to make the improvements at scale required,” Mitchell noted, in an email update issued two days after the forum. “New, different, creative and alternate approaches will be required to get the results needed.”

Crop tour: Corn will average 224 bu.

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign, Vermilion, Douglas and Piatt county farmers will average around 224 bushels per acre on their corn harvest this fall, according to Premier Cooperative’s annual crop tour results. The projection bests 2014’s record harvest of 221 bu./acre and 2015’s yield of 202 bu./acre.

Premier’s survey was conducted at over 20 locations across the four counties the company serves. The top yield projection of 256 bu./acre came in the Rising area, while the low projection of “just” 194 bu./acre came from plants in the Ellis-Riley region.

Organic growers promote events

CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois Organic Growers Association (IOGA) is hosting its second annual bike-to-farm tour event this fall in Champaign County, featuring a bicycle ride through the country to visit several local farms to meet organic and sustainable food producers. Registration fee includes a farm-fresh luncheon, snacks and water breaks, and a T-shirt. Event registration is due by Sept. 8 for the Saturday, Sept. 10 bike ride.

In addition, the IOGA Illinois Local Grains and Local Markets event will also be held Sept. 10 on the University of Illinois campus and at Janie’s Farm, an organic family farm located in nearby Danforth. The two-part event offers the morning workshop at the U of I and afternoon field day on the farm, with registration required only for the field day.

For more information on the Sept. 10 IOGA events, including registration, visit www.illinoisspecialtygrowers.org.

—R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS: For Illinois Farmers & Rural Dwellers–