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Doug Wilson a 4th generation farmer from Livingston County Illinois is running for President of Illinois Farm Bureau. The former director of the USDA Rural Development office in Illinois says changes need to be made and he believes his background and experience makes him the right choice. “In every organization I’ve been involved with I’ve always looked for what are the measurable results,” said Wilson. “I tend to more of a workhorse than a show pony or more of a doer than a talker, and I’m fairly straight forward, and those types of things I think are things that farmers can relate to and I hope that’s the measure because you want a leader that can be effective.” Wilson is challenging Phil Nelson who has served as President of the Illinois Farm Bureau for the past 6 years. AUDIO: Doug Wilson, Livingston Co. IL (6:20 MP3)

After a series of setbacks in the fight against animal rights activists, the livestock industry finally scored a victory last month with the passage of Issue 2 in Ohio.  And a noted expert on the animal rights movement says it’s a strategy other states should consider. Dr. Wes Jamison, who has studied the growth of the animal rights movement over the past twenty years, says Ohio’s success in establishing a state livestock care standards board was a very smart political move—one that will make it more difficult for the Human Society of the United States to come back with their own initiative. “In many ways, it takes the issue off the table,” Jamison says, “because Ohioans are going to ask themselves, ‘we dealt with this last year—why are we still talking about this?’ So in that aspect, it was very sophisticated.” So should other livestock-producing states try to duplicate Ohio’s success?  Jamison says each state is different, but “In general, it is a very good idea to bring the legislation up yourself and frame it yourself so that your side gets to write and frame the legislation, rather than the other side,” he says. “Always better to be on offense than to play defense—and in Ohio they understood that and succeeded.” Jamison is an associate professor of communication at Palm Beach Atlantic University.  He consults with companies in the U.S. and around the world on issues related to animal welfare, animal rights, agricultural politics and urban-rural agricultural conflicts. AUDIO: Dr. Wes Jamison jamison-wes-Ag classic 091202

The Nebraska Farm Bureau says a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirms that farmers and ranchers will pay more under the health insurance reform bills being considered in Congress.  The CBO found that health care premium costs would be 10 to 13 percent higher for those who purchase insurance directly from insurance companies in 2016, when the bill would be implemented, than if the current system was retained.  Nebraska Farm Bureau president Keith Olsen says that would have a significant impact on the 46 percent of Nebraska farmers and ranchers who currently buy directly from an insurer.  “Here’s another cost that would be put on the back of our producers,” says Olsen, “and we’re really concerned about that.  We know health insurance goes up every year and then to have another 10 to 13 percent increase on top of that would just really make health insurance extremely costly—and maybe even to the point that some people couldn’t afford it.”  Olsen says the uncertainties of the health care proposals in Congress reinforce Farm Bureau’s belief that Congress should simply fix problems with the current health care delivery system instead of making what he calls “extraordinary changes.” AUDIO: Keith Olsen olsen-keith-health insurance 091202

At their annual meeting in Lincoln Wednesday, delegates of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) passed a resolution opposing the use of checkoff funds for any purpose other than research, market development and promotion of corn.  The resolution is in response Nebraska governor Dave Heineman s recent proposal to transfer some corn, wheat and grain sorghum checkoff dollars into the state’s general fund to help address the state’s budget shortfall.   That proposal was killed by the Nebraska legislature, but some corn growers fear it could be an issue again in the future. NeCGA delegates also passed a resolution calling for an increase in the corn checkoff rate from .25 cents per bushel to .40 cents per bushel.  AUDIO:  Brandon Hunnicutt, NeCGA president hunnicutt-brandon-annual meeting 091202

Disappointed and frustrated. That’s how many are reacting to the EPA’s delay on its decision to raise the ethanol blend rate from 10 to 15 percent.  Many groups contend the move is long overdue. The EPA announced Tuesday that it was still conducting tests on E15.  And while the agency hinted that it is leaning towards approving the higher blend, it also indicated a decision would not come until at least June of next year. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) blasted the EPA for postponing the decision. “This delay from EPA threatens to paralyze, essentially, the continued growth of America’s ethanol industry because of its decision to overanalyze this issue,” says RFA spokesman Matt Hartwig. Hartwig says the EPA should have approved an intermediate ethanol blend, such as E12, while it finishes it testing on E15. Also expressing disappointment was Monte Shaw of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. “While they did send some positive signals out there and I don’t want to minimize those, we are disappointed,” Shaw says. “We feel that there’s a mountain of scientific evidence that clearly indicated they could have approved E15 today.” AUDIO: Monte Shaw shaw-monte-E15 091201 Bill Chase, president of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, says he was hoping for a positive decision on E15 or something close to it. “The fact that they’re going to go back and study it some more disappoints us,” says Chase, “but, on the other hand, they didn’t say no.” Adopting a “glass-half-full” attitude about the EPA announcement was Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy.  Buis says he was pleased with “the certainty that we’re going to have a firm decision by the middle of next year” and “EPA’s acknowledgement that the tests thus far are very positive for moving to E15.” Growth Energy was the organization that filed the E15 waiver request with EPA earlier this year.  Buis calls EPA’s announcement “a strong signal” that the raising of the so-called blend wall is imminent.  AUDIO: Growth Energy conference call growth energy conference call-edit 2 Ron Lamberty of the American Coaltion for Ethanol, says although they would have like the E15 waiver approved, the decision is still forward progress. “You know, they were supposed to make a decision and (they)kicked the can down the road a little further—so that’s disappointing,” says Lamberty. “We’re confident that in the long run they’re going to find out what a lot of people who have put this stuff in their own cars have figured out—and that’s E15 and even E20 and E30—I think ultimately they’ll figure out that that’s the way to go.” Also expressing disappointment was Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns.  Johanns says the  continued delays are part of what he calls “a troubling pattern that calls into question this administration s commitment to our nation s growing renewable fuels industry.” Illinois Corn Growers President Rob Elliott isn’t surprised by the EPA putting off their decision on whether to raise the allowable ethanol blend rate in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent.  Elliott says he anticipated that further research would be needed to support a boost in the ethanol blend.  However, he’s disappointed that EPA did not announce a slightly higher blend in the meantime. “There were indications by many that EPA might offer 12 or 13 percent as kind of an interim while they gathered the final information, with 12 or 13 being what they call substantially similar to E-10,” Elliott said from his combine cab during an interview with Brownfield.  “Obviously they chose not to; we’ll wait and find out and see where they go in the next go-around, I guess.” He says allowing a 12 or 13 percent ethanol blend would be an immediate, no-cost stimulus package to the economy.  Elliott is currently in the middle of gathering a late but plentiful corn harvest. “We’ve proven that we can provide enough for food, feed, fuel and the export market, so we welcome the opportunity to add to that E-10 blend and upwards toward E-15,” said Elliott. Disappointment aside, Elliott’s pleased with EPA’s acknowledgement that a full review of science is an important part of their decision making process. Brownfield s Tom Steever and Jody Heemstra-KWAT also contributed to this story.

Agriculture’s use of water has been a hot topic in Nebraska in recent years.  Now, a new survey by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) shows the state’s irrigators used significantly less water in 2008 than they did five years earlier.   Dean Groskurth is the deputy director of NASS’ field office in Nebraska.  “When you look at water use per acre, it declined to 0.8 acre feet in 2008 compared to 1.1 acre feet in 2003,” says Groskurth.  One reason for the decreased water usage is significantly higher rainfall in 2008.  Grand Island, for example, recorded 37 inches of rain in 2008 compared to just over 18 inches in 2003.  Another factor in the decrease could be less dependence on gravity irrigation.  Farms using gravity irrigation declined 28 percent from 2008 to 2003, while farms using sprinkler irrigation systems were up five percent.  The survey also indicates that the average depth to water in the state rose to 72 feet, compared to 80 feet in 2003.  AUDIO: Dean Groskurth groskurth-dean-irrigation survey 091201

Purdue University agricultural economist, Dr. Larry DeBoer received the Frederick L. Hovde award at the recent Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention. Dean of Agriculture, Dr. Jay Akridge says DeBoer was recognized for his work in helping Hoosiers better understand tax and government budgeting issues. “This award is focused on service to the people of rural Indiana and I think by lifting up people, like Larry who have made a career of serving rural residents of our state, it just puts a spotlight on that whole part of our Purdue mission and make sure it’s going to be a focal point for us going forward,” said Dean Akridge. The Hovde Award is named after Purdue’s 7th president, who served from 1946 to 1971, the Purdue Dean of Agriculture says his legacy lives on in the award that bears his name. “And I think one part of that legacy was never forgetting our land grant mission of service to the people of Indiana, and education particularly was a focus of Dr. Hovde in terms of making sure Purdue provided opportunities for educating rural Indiana citizens,” Akridge said. “And I think that’s what this award celebrates.” AUDIO: Dean Jay Akridge, Purdue University (1:30 MP3)