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Farm bill focus of Illinois commodity groups

Illinois commodity groups are focused on the farm bill.               

Brian Duncan, president of the Illinois Farm Bureau, says the need for a new five-year farm bill has never been greater.

“The need for a genuine economic backstop for agriculture.”  He says, “A need to get a farm bill done that has updated reference prices that reflect the inflationary pressures that agriculture has been under.”

Cheryl Walsh, president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association, tells Brownfield their producers need an answer to California’s Proposition 12.

“So that we don’t have a patchwork.”  She says, “As a producer, it’s very hard for me to raise a pig 50 different ways if states were to make all their own rules.”

Ron Kindred, chair of the Illinois Soybean Association, says confidence is waning.

“It doesn’t seem to be gaining much traction right now, and I’m afraid they’re looking at if it’s going to pass, it’s going to have pass in lame duck and I’m not, you know, real optimistic about that happening.”  He says, “But you never know.”

The current farm bill extension expires at the end of September.

AUDIO: Ron Kindred – Illinois Soybean Association