Farmers have until June 1 to make sure they qualify for crop insurance premium support. page 2
Wheat tour participants estimate an average yield of 60.4 bushels per acre in southern Illinois. page 4
Congress seeks repeal of COOL requirements Monday, May 25, 2015
Need to retrofit a tractor with ROPS? Consider applying for a $500 IFB cash incentive. page 8
SPRING DAY ON THE FARM
Two sections Volume 43, No. 21
BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee last week approved legislation that would repeal mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements for beef, pork and chicken. House Agriculture Committee Where does Chairman Michael Conaway, RTexas, introduced the bill, HR IFB stand? 2393, on the same day the AppelIllinois Farm late Body of the World Trade Bureau policy Organization (WTO) found the “opposes any United States’ labeling law in violation of international trade law for U.S. policy that restricts agriculthe fourth and final time. tural exports.” The ruling could allow Canada and Mexico — two of the United States’ largest trading partners — to apply retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars of U.S. exports. Illinois alone faces retaliatory tariffs on roughly $900 million worth of exports. Possible targets include breads, cereals, pork, corn, soybeans, plastics and corn syrup. Calling it a threat to Illinois agricultural exports, IFB President Richard Guebert Jr. wrote a letter urging members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation to
Trade Promotion Authority advances in Senate
See COOL, page 2
Periodicals: Time Valued
Above, fourth graders from St. Germaine School in Oak Lawn climb aboard a sprayer at Fulton County Farm Bureau Vice President Bob Vohland’s far m near Canton. Twenty-nine students from the “adopted” classroom enjoyed the spring day. Right, Robin Fisher of Ellisville, who farms with her parents, board member Barry and Laura, introduces students and their teacher, Carole Scannell, to members of the family’s sheep flock. Fulton County Farm Bureau Board members, including Vohland and Fisher, corresponded with the students during the school year about farm activities. (Photos by Cyndi Cook)
BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek
Trade Promotion Authority cleared a key hurdle in the U.S. Senate last week. Senators voted 62-38 to end debate on the controversial issue, which would allow President Barack Obama to negotiate trade deals without Congress changing them. At press time, the Senate had yet to take a final vote on the issue. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, voted in favor of ending debate. Sen. Dick Durbin, DSpringfield, voted against it. In a statement, Durbin said trade deals often “end up luring American jobs overseas.”
“The truth is, we can and should expand trade, but we must also expand opportunity in America at the same time,” Durbin said. “The irony of this vote is that it formally ended debate on a bill that would limit the authority of the Senate to debate and amend these trade deals. We owe workers in Illinois and across the country a full, open and honest debate over such critical legislation.” Illinois Farm Bureau supports TPA. Hundreds of FB ACT members contacted Durbin and Kirk, urging them to support the bill. “If you look at history, Trade Promo-
tion Authority has really been good for not only Illinois agriculture but agriculture across the United States,” IFB President Richard Guebert Jr. told the RFD Radio Network®. In the most recent five-year period where statistics are available, USDA says Illinois exported $40 billion in agricultural products. Supporters said the president needs the fast-track authority to make progress on pending trade deals. The bill would still allow Congress to vote up or down on trade agreements, but members could not amend them.