By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — While the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) remains in the hands of congressional conferees, plans have been made to continue the annual Illinois and Mississippi rivers barge tours that call attention to the waterways’ crumbling and undersized locks and dams.

The Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA), along with the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB), Illinois Soybean Assoc., Iowa Corn Growers Assoc. and Waterways Council, Inc. (formerly MARC 2000), will host the series of barge tours along the Illinois River (Aug. 6) and the Mississippi River (Aug. 8 and 14).

The Illinois River tour will be conducted in the Peoria-Pekin area and will take place from 5-7:30 p.m. Mississippi River tours will originate from Alton, Ill., on Aug. 8 from 5-7:30 p.m. and Bettendorf, Iowa. on Aug. 14 from 9-11:30 a.m.

“On the barge tour, you will experience the mechanics of river transportation, hear local businesses explain how they utilize the river, as well as hear a presentation on watershed management and environmental restoration,” said Leif Wildman of the ICGA.
“It’s a great time to sit back, relax and experience the connection between the river, the economy and you.”

Wildman said all participants must be at least 12 years of age and that boarding a barge could present difficulties for those with disabilities or mobility restrictions.

WRDA will be front and center in issues for discussion at IFB’s Midwest Agricultural Transportation Conference, scheduled for Aug. 8-9 at the Naperville, Ill., Holiday Inn Select.

According to a barge industry representative, congressional approval for new Midwest locks is “necessary for our guys to move forward and do their jobs properly,” the IFB reported, adding that American Waterways Opera-tors’ government affairs specialist Angela Madden has cited “phenomenal” industry interest in WRDA passage.

House and Senate conferees are expected to fine-tune WRDA for final approval soon. Until then, WRDA proponents are making sure the issue remains on Congress’ radar.

Barge tours are free of charge. Optional services for bus transportation are available for purchase upon reserving a seat. To obtain a brochure, register or for more information, call the ICGA at 309-557-3257 or e-mail inquiries to Leif Wildman at lwildman@ilcorn.org

This farm news was published in the July 25, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.