USING THIS MASCOT, the Illinois Soybean Association kicked off its “This Bridge Needs Support” campaign last fall, and bridge repairs are in the news again. ........5
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT heard arguments last week in a biotech “seed saving” case that could result in a landmark decision, but the court may not rule until fall. ..............9
ILLINOIS AGRICULTURE in the Classroom has received $240,000 through the sale of agriculture specialty license plates. ..........................11
‘Farmers deserve certainty’
Promising farm bill ‘prognosis’ despite looming concerns
Monday, February 25, 2013
BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek
Amid a whirlwind of congressional activity and anxiety, an Illinois congressional freshman sees high-ranking hopes for a five-year farm bill in 2013. The House Ag Committee reportedly plans to assemble its farm bill in April. East Moline Democrat and committee member Cheri Bustos reported ranking committee Democrat Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) “feels better about the prognosis for a five-year farm bill moving forward.” Peterson has huddled with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to ensure “that not only we get something out of the Ag Committee, but that it be brought to a vote by the
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full House,” said Bustos. She said she was hopeful committee freshmen including herself, Taylorville Republican Rodney Davis, and Belleville Democrat Bill Enyart would re-energize the push for a five-year bill. Bustos chided the last Congress for merely extending 2008 farm bill provisions “at a time when farmers were living through the worst drought in a generation.” “The farmers deserve certainty,” she told FarmWeek last week in Peoria. However, despite Bustos’ hopeful outlook on the farm bill, other major concerns remain. Without agreement on a budget/deficit alternative this week, Congress faces
having to approve acrossthe-board “sequestration” cuts that could curtail key USDA services and pare the budget baseline for future ag program spending. The Senate Ag Committee reportedly plans to take up farm bill legislation in
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March, despite a Senate Democrat budget plan that proposes to divert $27.5 billion in direct payment funding to long-term deficit reduction. Illinois Farm Bureau seeks farm bill approval by Congress’ August recess. Ag groups fear the budget proposal would signifi-
cantly reduce funds available for new House-Senate safety net programs and crop insurance. The Senate farm measure proposed roughly $25 billion in cuts not only in commodity programs, but also in conservation and nutrition spending. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) last week released its proposed ag baseline designed to guide 2013 farm bill development. At a projected $950 billion in available spending over 10 years, the new baseline poses a $30 billion reduction over CBO’s 2012 “score,” but the proposed budget hit was “not to the magnitude we’d expected,”
IFB President Philip Nelson noted. “We have myriad items that are all coming about at once,” he nonetheless said. “We’re very concerned when you put all these issues to the timeframe we’re looking at today to begin deliberations on a farm bill. “At the same time, we’re looking at potential acrossthe-board cuts in the Department of Agriculture as we write this farm bill.” Nelson believes the CBO baseline provides a “workable” farm bill foundation, though IFB National Legislative Director Adam Nielsen warns “the budget ax is only to get sharper” if Congress delays action.
Reis. His district encompasses the Southeastern Illinois area that has seen much commercial interest in hydraulic fracturing. As currently proposed, the regulations would apply only to high-volume, horizontal wells and would not impact traditional hydraulic fracturing on vertical wells. Before construction could begin, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would have to issue a permit. Well operators would be required to have pollution insurance, submit a bond, and submit detailed plans about their fracking operations. The state would establish setback requirements from water sources and specified structures, such as schools and churches. The proposed regulations also provide protection for surface landowners. Those include specific requirements detailing how land is to be restored to predrilling conditions after the drilling and hydraulic fracturing process is completed.
Operators would be required to disclose to DNR all chemicals used pre- and postfracking. That information would be posted on DNR’s website. Companies would be allowed to request trade-secret protection; however, they would have to submit a detailed justification for that action. Health professionals and others would be able to obtain trade-secret information to treat patients and respond to emergencies. Operators would be required to conduct all phases of the process in a way that would not endanger public health, life, property, and wildlife. They would be required to conduct mechanical integrity testing before starting the process and continuously monitor and record pressures and the injection rate during hydraulic fracturing operations. Other proposed requirements would govern fluid and waste handling, air pollution control, water testing, and public information.
IFB supports proposed regulations for horizontal fracking BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
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Legislation proposing a regulatory process for high-volume hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells in Illinois was introduced by state Reps. John Bradley (D-Marion) and David Reis (R-Willow Hill) last week. Both sponsors called HB 2615 “historic.” It would establish regulations for specific uses of hydraulic fracturing
IFB lobbyists have been involved in lengthy negotiations to establish regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing that complies with IFB policy.
also known as fracking. “It’s a very good framework that protects farmers’ rights,” Reis told FarmWeek. “It is a delicate balance and the most comprehensive set of rules in the United States.” Bradley added: “We wanted to make sure we came up with a way to protect groundwater, communities, and farms in Southern Illinois and also a way for an industry to develop responsibly.” Bill Bodine, Illinois Farm Bureau associate director of state legislation, said, “Farm Bureau policy supports regulations for hydraulic fracturing that protect land and water resources while allowing for the commercial development of this resource. We feel the proposed regulatory structure strikes that balance.”
Last week, IFB representatives attended a bipartisan press conference with Reis, Bradley, and House leadership from both parties. Reis described the bill negotiations as “very contentious and very intense.” Among those involved were lawmakers and representatives of state agencies, the attorney general’s staff, agriculture, the oil and gas industry, and environmental groups. “We were able to bring together a coalition to support reasonable regulations,” Bradley said. “Everybody feels good about the process and how it worked.” For the last 1.5 years, potential hydraulic fracturing has been on hold and talk of a possible moratorium chilled further development, according to
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