Farmers wanting to diversify their crops will soon find new opportunities to seize. page 3
Protecting what matters gets added emphasis during National Farm Safety and Health Week. page 4
Meet Thomas Titus, one of eight finalists for USFRA’s Faces of Farming and Ranching. page 5
‘Call to action’ noticed on Capitol Hill Monday, September 22, 2014
BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek
Illinois Farm Bureau members made about 900 calls to members of Congress recently, urging them to support a bill temporarily blocking the proposed “waters of the U.S.” rule. And the calls made a difference, according to participants of IFB’s September Leaders to Washington trip. “Every one of them mentioned that their phones were ringing off the hook,” said Chris Otten of St. Clair County. “And that made our message that much more powerful.” About a dozen IFB members went on the annual trip. Their mission: Lobby support for Section 179 small business expense deductions at the $500,000 level and oppose the “waters of the U.S.” rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
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Army Corps of Engineers. Otten said the group of farmers explained how their operations would be affected by the proposed rule. “I think that really sends a message to them when they get to hear from their constituents versus just outside sources,” he said. Stan Crites of Richland County attended the D.C. trip for the second year in a row. “It’s kind of exciting when you’re right there, right before the vote,” he said. “Hopefully, you can make a good impression on them and get them to vote the way we feel it should be. “I think all the calls from Illinois at the same time went perfectly.” While the group was in Washington, D.C., the U.S. House of Representatives voted 262-152 to temporarily block the proposed EPA rule for two years.
Under the bill, the agencies must consult with state and local officials, and draft an agreeable proposal, which must be submitted to Congress within two years. The Senate has no plans to take action on HR 5078. Even if it did pass the Senate, White House senior advisers have said they would recommend President Obama veto the measure. “Passage of HR 5078 allowed a bipartisan majority of ‘the People’s House’ to reassert itself on Clean Water Act regulation and helped send a strong message to the administration,” said Illinois Farm Bureau’s National Legislative Director Adam Nielsen. “Obviously, they don’t like what they see coming out of EPA and would like to send the agency back to square one in the rulemaking process.” Nielsen said he was proud of the way members of the
leaders group held the delegation’s feet to the fire. “I have no doubt our meetings helped push members
into the ‘yes column’ on the waters bill or at the very least caused them to raise questions about it.”
Opposition to a proposed rule defining ‘waters of the U.S.’ continues to grow
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) unanimously called on the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the “waters of the U.S.” rule. The nonprofit association, which represents elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of departments of agriculture, also urged the agencies to initiate “robust, meaningful and collaborative consultations” with other agencies before initiating further rulemaking. “As it stands, this proposed rule dramatically expands EPA’s jurisdiction and creates too much uncertainty for our farmers and ranchers. This rule must be withdrawn,” said Barbara Glenn, NASDA CEO. The association also backed Section 179 tax deduction limits for small business at the 2010-13 levels. “Farmers and ranchers need an expensing limit that allows them to deduct costs on expensive assets like equipment and machinery,” the approved policy reads. “Additionally, NASDA supports the bonus depreciation provision that allows for deductions specifically on new equipment.” — Deana Stroisch
Harvest 2014 activity perks up after slow, rainy start
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Periodicals: Time Valued
Record crop yield estimates remain just that — estimates — for the time being on most farms as rain delayed harvest again early last week. Rainfall the first two weeks of the month ranged from 6-8
inches in western Illinois, 4-6 inches in much of central Illinois and 3-4 inches in the east to 1-3 inches in the northern and southernmost portions of the state. As a result, just 2 percent of corn harvest was complete the first of last week compared to the five-year average of 13 percent in Illinois. Nationwide, just 4 percent of the corn crop was in the bin a week ago, 5 points behind average. Farmers, understandably, got a little more anxious last week as they wait to harvest what could be the largest corn and soybean crops on record. USDA this month projected farmers nationwide could harvest 14.395 billion bushels of corn and 3.913 billion bushels of beans. The highest
See Harvest, page 2
Butch Pickett, left, of Business Communications in Pawnee, helps Dennis Seiz and his son, Andrew, rebuild a grain dryer fan. The Seiz’, who farm near Pawnee, expect above average yields. (Photo by Ken Kashian)
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