By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) leaders visited Capitol Hill on Sept. 10 to urge Congress to pass energy policy which would allow for expansion of domestic resource development, along with a $10 million omnibus spending bill to move forward with construction of new locks on the Illinois and upper Mississippi rivers under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

While energy-related production costs for farmers continue to spiral out of control, IFB called on legislators and staff members on Capitol Hill to further explore domestic oil and natural gas development.

Expanded nuclear and renewable energy exploration was also promoted by the IFB contingent, which included 24 farmer-leaders.
“Of course, a priority for agriculture is to pass an energy bill that would address high energy costs.

Not only do high energy costs impact consumers on a daily basis when filling their gas tanks, it also impacts them in many other ways, including food prices,” said Chuck Spencer, IFB director of national legislation and policy development.

“In agriculture, the cost of nitrogen and other key inputs to grow our crops has gotten to the point where we feel passing a comprehensive energy plan that would allow domestic resource development is critical at this point in time to stabilize, if not reduce, the cost of energy that our country relies on. That would certainly help ease the burden that producers will face in 2009.”

The IFB was not able to offer support for a particular energy policy package at the time of their visit, “but our message was clear,” said Spencer. “Congress, you need to take action to expand the domestic development of our energy resources.”

The U.S. House approved the framework of an energy policy shortly after the IFB’s visit, which Spencer said was a step in the right direction.

“Our Farm Bureau policy would be more comprehensive than what the House passed,” he said.

“House legislation supports expanded coast-shelf drilling and domestic resource development for natural gas, but not to the extent of Farm Bureau policy.”

He said he’s encouraged the U.S. Senate is considering the high prices farmers pay for inputs while developing its energy package, and is hopeful an agreement is reached through committees before November’s elections.

IFB is also hoping for action from Congress for special funding for WRDA before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

They visited all 19 Illinois Congressional offices on Capitol Hill to urge legislators to push for immediate, short-term funding to begin reconstructing seven locks and dams in order to better transport agricultural products to world markets.

“The traditional appropriations process has not progressed in normal fashion this year,” said Spencer, citing several projects that have remained in limbo due, in part, to federal emergencies from floods and hurricanes. “Most (appropriations) will roll together in a continuing resolution.

“We’re asking that as part of any economic stimulus package or continuing resolution that would be passed for short-term funding, $10 million should be considered for pre-engineering, design and construction planning (for WRDA).”

Spencer said the funds should be immediately applied to Lock No. 22 near Hannibal, Mo., where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are already on-site. The coalition of farm interests led by the IFB that visited Capitol Hill had originally hoped for $50 million for
WRDA this year, but are now looking forward to pushing for full funding in 2009.

“(WRDA) authorization was just the beginning,” acknowledged Spencer.