At their meeting last week, the Pike County Farm Bureau Board of Directors voted to oppose the Grain Belt Express Clean Line (GBECL) transmission line slated to run through Pike County. The Farm Bureau does not want GBECL to be granted public utility status or eminent domain authority from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).

 

The company has stated it will seek a 'certificate of necessity' from the ICC. Using the expedited review method significantly contracts regulatory oversight and review and restricts landowner rights to object to route revisions. The company has not yet filed its application with the ICC.

 

The Board of Directors stated that GBECL is not a public utility, it has not shown how the project will benefit the State of Illinois, and that the company has not proposed the most direct route from proposed wind farms in Kansas to other energy markets.

 

The Pike County Farm Bureau will assist its members who oppose the GBECL project, work with groups of land owners opposing the GBECL project, provide the good offices of the Pike County Farm Bureau to achieve desired outcomes, and seek Illinois Farm Bureau's opposition to the GBECL project.

 

Read the related article below regarding SB1727--a bill to change the expedited review process.

 

Schock's departure is a big blow to his constituents in the 18th. First elected to Congress in 2008, Schock has been a strong supporter of agriculture and rural issues. He was a valued spokesman on river issues such as levees, flood control, flood fighting, and river transportation.

 

Among his other honors, Schock was awarded Illinois Farm Bureau's Friend of Agriculture on numerous occasions.

 

We have worked closely with Congressman Schock and his Washington, D.C. and district staff who have always exemplified professionalism and interest in our issues. They have shown subject matter knowledge and appreciation of our interests. They have worked to resolve our concerns and to help advance legislation that we have requested.

 

Governor Bruce Rauner will set a date for a special election to fill the unexpired term of office. The governor will announce an election date by April 5.

 

The Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus wish the best to Congressman Schock and thank him for being there for our members on so many occasions.

The Illinois Senate voted yesterday to confirm Philip Nelson as the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The fourth-generation grain and livestock farmer was appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner in January.

 

"I've been in agriculture my entire life, both as a farmer and a professional working to promote the industry," Nelson said. "I realize that there is a lot of work to do, such as strengthening our transportation infrastructure, increasing exports, and serving our customers in a timely manner. My priority is to listen and work with producers and stakeholders to make sure we are supporting our number one industry and ultimately working to turnaround Illinois' economy." 

 

Nelson previously served as the President of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Additionally, he was president of the companies that make up COUNTRY Financial, Illinois Agricultural Service Company, the IAA Foundation, and served on the Coordinating Committee of GROWMARK, Inc. He operates a farm near Seneca, growing corn, soybeans, and alfalfa and runs a cow-calf operation.

 

Batra's blog, Consumer Reports Does Consumers No Favors, says that the Consumer Reports article needs to be taken with a grain of salt. The Consumer Reports article, for example, attempts to build a case that GMOs have not been proved safe.

 

As Batra wrote, "Academic expert Kevin Folta responds to such allegations on safety by stating that there is no way one can PROVE safety: 'They criticize scientific reports as not demonstrating safety, when there is no scientific way to demonstrate safety. You cannot prove that anything is safe. You can only demonstrate, under your conditions, in one test, that there is evidence of harm. That's it."