Illinois AgriNews_021420

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February 14, 2020

www.agrinews-pubs.com

Trade aid to farmers

Opioids a rural epidemic By James Henry

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — The man picked up a hammer and then smashed it down on his hand. The woman unbuckled her seatbelt and then drove her car at full throttle into a dumpster. They hurt themselves with the sole intent of acquiring prescription pain medications. These true stories shared by Matt Niswander at the Young Farmers and Ag Professionals Conference in Noblesville depict just how devastating the opioid epidemic in rural America has become. Niswander is a first-generation cattleman. He and his wife, Colbie, and their three children raise Black Angus cattle at Niswander Farms, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified direct-to-consumer beef cattle farm. He previously worked in emergency medicine and now works full-time in his community as a family nurse practitioner, the owner of Niswander Family Medicine, a hometown, primary care family medical practice in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. See OPIOIDS, Page A4

USDA issues last of MFP payments By Tom C. Doran

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

PROVIDED PHOTO

President Donald Trump, for the third year in a row, addresses farm and ranch families at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 101st annual convention in Austin, Texas.

‘We did it’ Trump celebrates trade pacts at AFBF meeting By Jeannine Otto

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

What are opioids?

Opioid is a term used for the entire family of opiate drugs, including natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic. These drugs are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain, creating a feeling of euphoria. Opioid drugs include: Buprenorphine Codeine Fentanyl Heroin Hydrocodone

Hydromorphone Meperidine Methadone Morphine Oxycodone

SEE SECTION B

INSIDE

Save money with on-farm storage A3 Modest increase in cattle prices seen A6 St. Louis area port system No. 2 in tonnage D1 AgriTrucker D1 Alan Guebert D6 Antiques C7 Auction Calendar B1 Business D4 Calendar C6

Classifieds C3 Farms For Sale C1 Jerry Welch D7 Lifestyle C7 Livestock D2 Markets D7 Opinion D6

Vol. 42 No. 51

CONTACT AGRINEWS: 800-426-9438

AUSTIN, Texas — He might have exited the stage, as he has before, to the strains of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Rolling Stones, but President Donald Trump was able to take a victory lap for some promises kept to U.S. farmers and ranchers. “We did it. We did it,” Trump celebrated with the opening words of his address to members of the American Farm Bureau Federation at its annual meeting in Austin. Trump was able to celebrate not only the completion of Phase 1 of a trade deal with China, but the passage by the House and Senate of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement. “I’ve told everybody you’ve got to buy a lot of land and you’ve got to get bigger tractors now because we did a great deal with China, great for our country. We’re going to

“I’ve told everybody you’ve got to buy a lot of land and you’ve got to get bigger tractors now because we did a great deal with China, great for our country. We’re going to sell them the greatest product you’ve ever seen.” President Donald Trump sell them the greatest product you’ve ever seen,” Trump said. The president would sign the USMCA into law after he spoke to the gathered Farm Bureau members, but he pointed out the benefits for the nation’s ag producers. “It will massively boost exports for farmers, ranchers, growers and agricultural producers from north to south and from sea to shining sea. It also has tremendous im-

pacts on manufacturers and all of the other things good for everybody,” he said. Trump reminded the audience of the trade aid program, the Market Facilitation Program, that has resulted in $28 billion being distributed to farmers and ranchers impacted by tariffs on U.S. agricultural products going into China. He also addressed criticism that the largest farms were the primary recipients of the payments. “We’re getting that money, Sonny, to the small farmers, also. There were some statements, big farmers, no, we get them to the small farmers, we get them to everybody, big farmers, small farmers,” said Trump, referencing Sonny Perdue, U.S. secretary of agriculture, who traveled with Trump and a handful of Republican federal and state lawmakers to the Farm Bureau convention. Trump gained a laugh from the audience when he discussed the MFP payment formula. See TRUMP, Page A4

Promoting ag education Lt. gov. advocates opportunities in rural, urban areas By Jeannine Otto

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Whether you live in rural Illinois or in one of the state’s urban areas, one thing unites all Illinoisans — food. “Food connects us all, whether it’s at the dinner table or at the local market,” said Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, as she spoke to the members of the Illinois Pork Producers Association at the annual Illinois Pork Expo in Springfield. Stratton addressed the members during their annual meeting. Food is a common bond, and those who produce it can help bring together the urban and rural parts of the state, the 48th lieutenant governor told IPPA members. “In so many ways, I consider you all to be such important

with farmers and the state’s farm groups, and she offered a glimpse of what she’s discovered on her travels. “I know that agriculture, outside of being our state’s No. 1 industry and largest industry, agriculture is woven into the very fabric of who we are as Illinoisans,” she said. Stratton said it is important that young people throughout the state have opportunities to have agricultural education and explore the job opportunities in agriculture. “How do we make sure our young people are better educated? When we think about education, we have to think about agricultural education and making sure that young people, not only in our agricultural communities, understand AGRINEWS PHOTO/JEANNINE OTTO and have access to and expoIllinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton sure to agricultural education,” speaks at the Illinois Pork Producers she said. Association’s annual meeting. With the governor’s budget address coming in March, unifiers of our state,” she said. Stratton said she is an advoStratton is the chair of the cate for ag education and for Governor’s Rural A ffairs expanding opportunities. Council and has traveled throughout the state and met See EDUCATION, Page A2

WASHINGTON — The third and final tranche of the 2019 Market Facilitation Program payments are being issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The final payment represents the remaining 25% of the total county per-acre calculation. The first tranche was comprised of the higher of either 50% of a producer’s calculated county per-acre payment or $15 per acre, which may reduce potential Perdue payments to be made in tranche three. The second tranche was 25% of the total payment expected. Of the $16 billion authorized for the program by President Donald Trump, $14.5 billion was aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to trade retaliation by foreign nations. The funding was authorized under the Commodity Credit Corp. Charter Act and administered by the Farm Service Agency. The program’s remaining funding was to implement a $1.4 billion Food Purchase and Distribution Program to purchase surplus commodities affected by trade retaliation. See AID, Page A2

ARC, PLC program sign-up due By Tom C. Doran

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The deadline to sign up for either the Agriculture Risk Coverage or the Price Loss Coverage program nears and farmers are encouraged not to wait until the last minute. “The clock is ticking. March 16 is the last day to make what is likely one of the most important business decisions you will make for your farming operation this year,” said Bill Graff, Illinois Graff Farm Service Agency executive director. “If you have not already visited your local FSA county office to make your election for either the ARC or the PLC program and to sign your annual enrollment contract, you should call and make your appointment now.” As of Feb. 6, 43,000 farms have signed up and 118,000 across the state are yet to enroll. “We’re getting down to the point that it’s literally becoming a math problem. We have to do over 4,500 contracts a day in Illinois through March 16. We did 10,000 contracts so far this week, but we really need to be doing closer to 15,000 contracts a week, and the more the farmers delay the bigger the math problem becomes. You can only do so many contracts an hour; you can only do so many a day,” Graff said. See SIGN-UP, Page A4


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