Farm Bill

Though summer quickly came to an end, the Illinois FFA Major State Officer Team has continued to put its leadership abilities to the test. At the annual Illinois State Fair in Springfield, the state officers carried on the tradition of working the FFA Barnyard.

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth spoke of her legislative record and platform going forward if elected during the recent Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable candidate forum.

Questions relating to several high-priority legislative issues were posed to U.S. senatorial candidates at a recent candidate forum. The Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable forum featured incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Republican challenger Kathy Salvi.

Educating state and national legislators about important issues for farmers is one of several goals for the Illinois Soybean Association. “One of the biggest things with the new farm bill coming up is keeping the crop insurance,” said Steve Pitstick.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it is awarding $197 million for 41 locally led conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Crop insurance protection, market access and nutrition programs were among the top priorities expressed in a farm bill listening session held during the Illinois State Fair’s Agriculture Day.

If American farmers and ranchers really want to live the oft-repeated boast that they are “the first environmentalists,” then, by golly, Joe Manchin and his Democratic Senate colleagues have the legislative vehicle to prove it.

Although he has not found tar spot in his cornfields yet, Steve Pitstick will spray a fungicide for prevention of the disease. “We’ve had tar spot since 2018,” said Pitstick who farms about 5,000 acres of corn and soybeans near Maple Park in northern Illinois.

The 435 members of Congress will head home soon, and then just a week later, the Senate will join in the August recess. This tradition of leaving D.C. at the end of the summer to spend extra time meeting with constituents back home began more than 50 years ago.

If the political polls are to be believed, November’s midterm election will sweep today’s Democrats out of power in the U.S. House of Representatives and put Republicans back in charge.

One piece of legislation has had as profound an impact on America as thousands of other bills combined, yet very few people are familiar with it.

African swine fever, a highly contagious swine disease, is in the Dominican Republic. The disease does not infect people, but it can wipe out pork production in a region.

It’s important to complete the 2023 farm bill in a timely manner, with input from the state level, said Bruce Kettler, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and second vice president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Over the past few years, Jonny Griffis has invested millions of dollars in his legal marijuana farm in northern Michigan, which produces extracts to be used in things like gummy bears and vape oils.

Crafting a farm bill is a marathon, not a sprint. “We’re in this for the long haul, for the long distance,” said Indiana Farm Bureau Vice President Kendell Culp at the Fort Wayne Farm Show.