♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE."

I'M H. WAYNE WILSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AS ALWAYS.

ILLINOIS IS THE NUMBER SIX STATE WHEN IT COMES TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN SALES.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR FARMERS, THERE ARE 75 MILLION ACRES OF FARMLAND IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

SOMEWHERE AROUND THREE-QUARTERS OF THE COVERAGE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS UNDER FARMLAND.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE OUR TWO GUESTS ON THIS PROGRAM, SO WE CAN DISCUSS AGRICULTURAL ISSUES.

FIRST LET ME INTRODUCE TO YOU THE PRESIDENT OF THE ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU, RICHARD AGAINERT, JUNIOR.

>> MY APPRECIATE, H. >> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

MARK AGAIN HEART -- AGAIN HEART.

>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S START -- I MENTIONED A FEW NUMBERS.

HOW BIG IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, SCRATCH THE ECONOMIC -- HOW BIG IS THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE OF NILE?

>> -- ILLINOIS?

>> IT'S OFTEN BEEN TOUTED AS ILLINOIS'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

AGRICULTURE GOES ACROSS THE BREADTH OF DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS AND INDUSTRIES, FROM PUTTING SEED IN THE GROUND TO MANUFACTURING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, YOU NAME IT, IT'S INVOLVED.

FOOD, ANYTHING TO DEAL WITH FOOD, AGRICULTURE IS INVOLVED WITH.

>> THAT'S A BIG PICTURE.

THAT'S THE ROSY PICTURE.

I WANT TO TALK SPECIFIC ISSUES, BUT MARK IN -- MARK, IN GENERAL, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE A THUMBNAIL SKETCH?

>> I THINK WHAT'S A CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW FOR OUR FARMERS IS SOME OF THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE GLOBAL PICTURE.

WE CERTAINLY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CHINA REMAINING OUR BIGGEST EXPORT CUSTOMER.

SO YOU HAVE SOME OF THAT UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR CHINA AND THAT EXPORT MARKET.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT A LOT OF OUR FARMERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT REALLY IS THE REGULATORY SIDE OF THE EQUATION AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY NEED, TO THE PRODUCTS AND THE INPUT THAT IS THEY NEED, THE FARM CHEMICALS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT AS A PART OF OUR PRODUCTION CYCLE.

SO WHAT WE TRY TO DOS IS AN ORGANIZATION IS DEAL WITH A LOT OF THOSE KINDS -- TO DO AS AN ORGANIZATION IS DEAL WITH THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES AS WELL.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE TARIFFS.

THE 2008 WE REMEMBER -- 2018, WE REMEMBERED THE TRADE WARS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID TO FARMERS AT THAT TIME, WE'VE GOT ABOUT $12 BILLION TO DISTRIBUTE TO HELP FIX THE DAMAGE CAUSED.

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT WAS VERY TEMPORARY.

THE TRADE WAR STILL GOES ON.

IT WASN'T JUST CHINA BUT THAT'S THE PRIMARY MARKET.

WHERE ARE WE WITH REGARD TO TARIFFS?

>> WELL, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT CHINA AND THE TARIFFS, SO THE TARIFFS STILL EXIST.

AND THAT CEENTD OF TAKES US BACK TO THIS UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD.

WITH CHINA, THERE WAS WHAT WAS REMPED TO AS THE PHASE 1 AGREEMENT FROM.

THE AGRICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE OF THAT AGREEMENT, THERE WERE TO BE 60 BURDENS -- BODIES WORTH OF -- BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF AG GOODS.

THAT EXPIRED LAST YEAR.

THEY PURCHASED ABOUT 40 BILLION INSTEAD OF 60 BILLION.

AS WE DIALOGUE WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, THAT STILL REMAINS AS AN ISSUE AND THE ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, AND SECRETARY VILSACK, HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WANT TO GET THAT FULFILLMENT OF THAT PHASE 1 AGREEMENT.

BUT THEN IT'S GOING FORWARD.

DO YOU DO PHASE 2 AND IF SO, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH TARIFFS?

TARIFFS ARE OUT THERE NOT JUST FROM AN AGRICULTURAL STANDPOINT BUT THE STEEL INDUSTRY IS STILL DEALING WITH THE TARIFFS.

SO ALL OF THAT TRADE POLICY, CHINA AND THE E.U., THE U.K., WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT'S STILL PENDING COMPLETION WITH THE U.K. THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE FOR OUR FARMERS.

>> SO HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE U.S. AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY LONG TERM?

>> WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE.

AND I THINK CURRENTLY, DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, WE'RE VERY COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD MARKET.

HOWEVER, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BRAZIL IS UNDER THEIR HARVEST IN ARGENTINA.

SO THEY'RE PROBABLY A BIT MORE COMPETITIVE TODAY.

BUT WE WERE VERY COMPETITIVE LAST FALL AS WE CAME INTO OUR HARVEST.

AND WE EXPORT A LOT OF CORN AND SOYBEANS DOWN THE RIVER.

WE EXPORT A LOT OF BEEF, PORK, POULTRY INTO THE WORLD MARKET AS WELL.

SO TODAY WE'RE VERY COMPETITIVE, BUT ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE MIGHT NOT BE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION OR BARGE FREIGHT OR OCEAN FREIGHT, DEPENDING ON THE DAY.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE'RE VERY COMPETITIVE IN THIS WORLD MARKET.

>> YOU MENTIONED RIVER, TRANSPORTATION.

LET'S GO THERE.

>> SURE.

>> JUST RECENTLY, CONGRESS COUNCILWOMAN SHERRY BOOZES TO, DICK DURBIN, HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE DOWN AT THE LOCK AND DAM BY PECKON.

AND MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOTTED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 1200-FOOT DAM AT BLOCK NUMBER 25, NORTH OF ST. LOUIS.

>> CORRECT.

>> BUT THE ILLINOIS RIVER STILL AT ALL LOCATIONS.

WHAT IS THE PROSPECT FOR OPENING THE 1200-FOOT SO THAT A TOW CAN GO THROUGH AND ITS EN -- IN ITS ENTIRETY?

>> IT ALL DEPENDS ON CONGRESS AND THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.

WE HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN AN ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU LEADERSHIP, TO AVO KATE FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF OUR LOCKS AND DAMS SO WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE ON THE WORLD MARKET.

THROUGH THE WATER BILL, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES, THERE WAS APPROPRIATIONS MADE FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

1200-FOOT LOCKS ON THE ILLINOIS AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVERS.

BUT WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WAS PASSED, $892 MILLION CAME SPECIFICALLY FOR 1200-FOOT LOCK AT LOCK 25.

AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT LOCK 22.

IF YOU RECALL, JUST THE LAST COUPLE SUMMERS, THEY'VE DONE IMPROVEMENTS AT LA GRANGE ON THE ILLINOIS RIVER AND OTHER LOCKS ON THE ILLINOIS RIVER.

BUT IT -- CONSCIOUS HAS TO APPROPRIATE -- CONGRESS HAS TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS AND WE CONTINUALLY WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO GET THOSE DOLLARS FLOWING TO THIS RIVER SYSTEM, IT'S SLIGHTLY IMPORTANT FOR PROGRESS.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE BENEFIT TO FEARNLS IF WE WERE TO PUT IN 1200-FOOT LOCKS?

>> IT GOES BACK TO THE COMPETITIVENESS.

OF ILLINOIS AGRICULTURE AND TO BE ABLE TO MOVE OUR PRODUCTS IN AN EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL MANNER THAT KEEPS THEM COMPETITIVE, BECAUSE YOU ARE COMPETING AS.GEEBER ALLUDED TO, WHETHER IT'S WITH BRAZIL OR OTHER PRODUCTION REGIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, YOU'RE COMPETING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN COMPLIE YOUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WITH THE PRODUCTS THEY WANT.

SO THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON OUR RIVERS, AND, BOTH OF US HAVE SPENT OUR ENTIRE CAREERS WORKING IN AGRICULTURE AND WORKING IN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS TO TRY AND GET THESE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL THAT THEY ARE COMING NOW.

AND I THINK JUST MY OPINION, I THINK THIS KIND OF OPENS THE DOOR AS WE DISCUSSED AROUND THE ILLINOIS RIVER, CAN WE GET SOME ADDITIONAL UPGRADES, CAN WE GET SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND I THINK WE ARE NOW HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO DO THAT.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WAS PASSED CERTAINLY ALLOWED THIS AS WELL AS SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I KNOW YOU WANT TO VISIT ABOUT, SUCH AS BROADBAND TO BE AVAILABLE AND CERTAINLY IS IMPORTANT TO OUR FOLKS.

>> I WANT TO MOVE ON TO BROPPED BAND -- BROADBAND IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT GOVERNMENT INFLUENCE, IF I MAY USE THAT TERM.

THE GOVERNMENT, WE ALL KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT OFFERS SUBSIDIES FOR YIELD, FOR REVENUES, ET CETERA.

AND THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS WHO SAY, A LITTLE TOO MUCH FOR THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.

WHERE DO WE STAND WITH SUBSIDIES, WHY DO WE NEED -- AND I BELIEVE 40% OF FARMERS RECEIVE SOME SORT OF A GOVERNMENTAL SINCE DI RIGHT NOW.

>> WHERE -- SUB DI RIGHT NOW.

>> -- SUBSIDY RIGHT NOW.

>> THE FARM PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT YOU REFERENCE IS THE FARM BILL.

IT'S R-8 COMPIEDZ OF SEVEN TIGHT -- IT'S REALLY COMPRISED OF SEVEN TITLES, WHICH UNCOMPASSES THOSE PROGRAMS SUCH AS CROP INSURANCE AND OTHER THINGS THAT FARMERS PAY PART OF THOSE PREMIUMS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SUBSIDIZED.

SO THERE IS A COST SHARE IF YOU WILL THERE WITH OUR PRODUCERS AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE.

THE OTHER MAJOR PART OF THAT FARM BILL IS THE NUTRITION PORTION, WHICH IS REFERRED TO AS SNAP OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDES THE DOLLARS FOR THOUGH, THAT ARE IN NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ADEQUATE FOOD.

SO THAT BILL IS AN ENORMOUS BILL.

IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST BILLS THAT CONGRESS DEALS REQUEST ON A FIVE-YEAR ROTATION.

2022, WE WILL -- 2023, WE WILL DO ANOTHER FARM BILL, WHICH MAKES ME TO YOUR QUESTION OF HOW BIG IS TOO BIG.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DISCUSSION AS WE ENTER INTO HOW MUCH MONEY GOES INTO THAT FARM BILL, WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO OUR FOLKS THROUGH THE FARM PROGRAMS, CONSERVATION DOLLARS IS ANOTHER EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT BILL.

SO THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GET TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT.

>> CONNECT ILLINOIS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT BROADBAND.

BROADBAND WITH A BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW FOR RURAL AREAS.

CONNECT ILLINOIS HAS ABOUT 400 MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S NOT JUST FOR RURAL AREAS.

IT'S ALSO FOR POOR NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT FOR FARMERS?

>> IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.

AS WE -- WE USE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY ON OUR FARM.

WE COLLECT A LOT OF DATA THROUGH THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE OPERATE.

WE UTILIZE THAT DATA AS WE APPLY CROP NUTRIENTS OR CROP PROTECTANTS.

A LOT GOES THROUGH A COMPUTER, WITH PROGRAMS THAT ARE SET UP TO DISTRIBUTE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CROP NUTRIENT AND THE RIGHT -- IN THE RIGHT PLACE THROUGH THE GRID SAMPLING THAT WE TAKE OFF OF OUR SOILS KNOWING WHAT THE CROP IS GOING TO PRODUCE, HOW MUCH NUTRIENTS IT'S GOING TO USE.

WE NEED TO PUT THOSE KIND OF NUTRIENTS IN THE RIGHT PLACES IN A SPECIFIC FIELD.

AND TO TRANSFER THAT DATA FROM OUR EQUIPMENT TO OUR COMPUTERS BACK HOME OR TO THE UNIVERSITY OR TO OUR CROP SPECIALISTS, THAT ADVISES US ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO, IT TAKES A LOT OF BAND WIDTH AND SPEED TO DELIVER AND TO RECEIVE THE DATA THAT WE COLLECT AND WANT.

>> AND THAT TECHNOLOGY HELPS MAKE YOU MORE EFFICIENT IN THE FIELD WITH THAT -- SOFTWARE ON THAT EQUIPMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT MAKES US MOSH PRODUCTIVE AND -- MORE PRODUCTIVE AND WE UTILIZE IN IT THE RIGHT PLACES AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

OUR FARMERS REALLY WANT TO BE -- WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN, FOR CENTURIES, STEWARDS OF THE LAND AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX THAT WE CAN UTILIZE GOING FORWARD.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT NUTRIENTS AND PHOSPHORUS, NITROGEN, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THERE'S THE ILLINOIS NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY AND THAT'S TO REDUCE EXCESS NITROGEN, EXCESS PHOSPHORUS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GULF OF MEXICO SITUATION.

WHAT KIND OF SUCCESS ARE WE HAVING IN GENERAL WITH THAT STRATEGY?

>> I THINK WE'RE HAVING A REALLY GOOD SUCCESS GOING FORWARD.

WE'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN -- INS FROM FROM US RUNOFF AS WELL AS NITROGEN.

OUR FARMERS ARE UTILIZING DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATION RATES AND PROCESSES AS THEY PUT NUTRIENTS ON TO FEED THE CROP, YOU MIGHT SAY.

WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A NUTRIENT RESEARCH PROGRAM AL ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WHERE A DPLAR FROM EVERY -- A DOLLAR FROM EVERY TON OF YOP NUTRIENTS -- OF CROP NUTRIENTS, A DOLLAR GOES INTO THE FUND COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HERE IN ILLINOIS AND THEN DISTRIBUTED TO DO RESEARCH PROJECTS WITH THE FOUR UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER ENTITIES TO TELL US WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.

AND THOSE FUNDS OVER THE YEARS HAS AMOUNTS TO ABOUT AN $8 MILLION OPPORTUNITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

SO OUR FARMERS HAVE BEEN VERY PRO-ACTIVE IN THIS AREA, FINDING WAYS THAT WORKS, WHETHER IT'S COVER CROPS, STRUCTURS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO SLOW WATER DOWN, AND PITING NUTRIENTS -- PUTTING NUTRIENTS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE ACROSS THEIR FARMLAND.

>> BUT MARK, THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT IS VOLUNTARY.

>> SO HOW -- DO YOU HAVE ANY FEEL FOR HOW MANY FARMERS ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THIS TO HEART?

>> WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU A ONE QUICK EXAMPLE.

WE WERE MEETING WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE YESTERDAY AND DIRECTOR COSTELLO, THEY HAVE A COVERED CROP PROGRAM THAT THEY PROVIDE TO PRODUCERS, AGAIN, THAT -- IT HELPS WITH THE COSTS OF THESE COVER CROP SEEDS AND THEY MAKE THAT AVAILABLE.

THAT PROGRAM SOLD OUT $100,000 IN ONE HOUR WAS GONE.

SO THAT MANY FARMERS SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SO I THINK WE ARE MAKING TREMENDOUS PROGRESS, EVEN WITH THE VOLUNTARY APPROACH.

AND THE ONE THING THAT.GIEBERT SAID THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THE FIELD APPLICATION OF THIS.

OUR FOLKS WANT TO SEE AGAIN IN THE FIELD WITH THESE STRUCTURES, WITH COVER CROPS, WITH THE WATERWAYS, THE VARIOUS PRACTICES, WHAT REALLY WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE HYPOXIA ZONE.

WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME VARIATION IN THAT ZONE.

WE ALSO KNOW THROUGH THE DATA THAT WAS REVERENCED EARLIER -- REFERENCED EARLIER AND THE NEED FOR BLOT BAND AND WE'RE -- BROADBAND AND WE'RE ABLE TO TRACK THIS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DATA TO SHOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

SO I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT.

THE NUTRIENT RESEARCH EDUCATION COUNCIL OR FUNDS THAT PRESIDENT GIEBERT ALAUDED TO -- ALAUDED TO ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT.

>> NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FROST TRUST AND NITROGEN GOING INTO THE WASHWAYS AND THE -- WATERWAYS AND -- FILTER STRIPS, ET CETERA.

DO YOU HAVE A WAY TO MEASURE HOW MUCH PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK ON THE ILLINOIS RIVER, ESPECIALLY PEORIA, RIGHT NORTH OF THE MURRAY BAKER BRIDGE, THERE'S A HUGE DELTA THAT COMES OUT.

ARE WE SEEING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS?

>> DEPENDS ON THE TIME OF THE YEAR THAT THOSE SAMPLES ARE TAKEN.

AND YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT WHETHER EVENTS AND CLIMATE AND CHANGE -- WEATHER EVENTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE -- WE'RE SEEING SOME EVENTS THAT ARE MORE INTENSE, MORE -- A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

AND IF THEY COME AT THE WRONG TIME OF THE YEAR, PARTICULARLY RIGHT AFTER AN APPLICATION OF ONE OF THE CROP NUTRIENTS, THE CHALLENGES IS GREATER TO HAVE MORE RUNOFF OR MORE CONCENTRATED RUNOFF.

BUT OUR FARMERS ARE LEARNING TO ADAPT A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS, NOT PUTTING IT ALL ON AT ONCE.

WHETHER IT'S NITROGEN ON THEIR CORN CROP OR PHOSPHORUS OR WHATEVER.

AND WE'RE APPLYING JUST WHAT THE CROB NEEDS AT A SPECIFIC -- CROP NEEDS AT A SPECIFIC TIME IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

SO I THINK WE CAN MEASURE AND WE'VE SEEN -- EVERY OTHER YEAR, THERE'S A BIANALL REPORT THAT -- BINNUAL REPORT THAT'S DONE ON WHERE WE STAND ON THE NUTRIENT LOSS REDUCTION STRATEGY.

AND WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE YEARS.

HOWEVER, THIS PAST YEAR IT WAS NOT THE CASE.

WE SAW A LITTLE BUMP.

WE DIDN'T GET THE RESULTS OSH WE DIDN'T -- OR WE DIDN'T MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS WE THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE MADE AND IT COMES FROM DIFFERENT WEATHER EVENTS AND MEASURING.

IF WE GET HARD RAINS IN THE SPRING WHEN A LOT OF THEM ARE PUT ON, IT'S DIFFICULT TO REALLY MAKE THE -- TO HAVE THE ADVANCEMENT OF WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE.

>> YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO GET A CROP IN THE WAY -- CHANGES IN CLIMATE HAVE BEEN OCCURRING.

>> WEATHER EXTREMES PRESENT A CHALLENGE.

AGRICULTURE IS AT THE MERCY OF MOTHER NATURE EACH AND EVERY SEASON AND EVERY YEAR, WHETHER IT'S PLANTING OR HARVEST OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

SO AGRICULTURE, I THINK, HAS -- YOU KNOW, FOR A LONG TIME A LOT OF FOR YOU FOLKS -- OUR FOLKS DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN THIS SHIFT TO SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE NOT BUYING EVERYTHING THAT'S SAID OUT HERE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSIONS, BUT WITH DO SEE THE WEATHER VARIATIONS.

WE SEE THE EXTREMES.

AND AS WE TALK ABOUT CARBON SEQUESTRATION, VARIOUS CONSERVATION PRACTICES, I THINK OUR FOLKS RECOGNIZE THERE IS A BENEFIT THERE.

THERE'S A BENEFIT NOT ONLY TO THE ENVIRONMENT BUT -- AS YOU THINK ABOUT OUR FARMS, IF WE LOSE OUR SOIL, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH OUT OF BUSINESS.

AND SO THEY ARE CERTAINLY A NEED TO CONSERVE THAT SOIL AS WELL AS DEAL WITH THE CROP NUTRIENTS THAT WE PUT ON IT.

>> I KNOW THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM CALIFORNIA OR ARIZONA, ET CETERA.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WITH VISAS, THE VISA PROGRAM THAT HELPS OTHERS COME IN AND HARVEST THOSE TO KEEP THE PRICES DOWN.

AND THERE HAS BEEN CONCERN OVER THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ASPECT OF THIS.

THERE'S BEN AN INCREASE NATIONALLY IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHEN IT COMES TO THE LABOR FOR AGRICULTURE.

HOW WELL DO YOU MONITOR THAT?

HOW SEIZURES A CONCERN IS THERE -- SERIOUS A CONCERN IS THERE?

>> THERE IS A CONCERN FOR OUR MEMBERS TO HAVE GOOD, STAGE LABOR -- STABLE LABOR WORKFORCE TO HELP HARVEST PLANT A CROP, FEED OR CARE FOR THE LIVESTOCK.

AND WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE OF FINDING OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE A STABLE WORKFORCE OR AN A2H PROGRAM THAT FOLKS CAN COME.

THE CHALLENGES FROM TIME TO TIME, IN ORDER TO QUALIFY AND BE A PART OF THE H2A PROGRAM THAT HAS TO BE A RERETURN PROCESS FOR THE WORKERS.

THEY HAVE TO TOUCH BACK AT THEIR HOME IN THE FOREIGN COUNTRY.

AND TO TRY TO GET THAT DONE.

IT'S HARD FOR FOLKS TO LEAVE A FARM IF -- LET'S SAY THEY WORK ON A DAIRY FARMER.

-- FARM.

COWS STILL NEED TO BE MILKED TWICE OR THREE TIMES A DAY.

HOGS HAVE TO BE FED TWO TIMES A DAY.& BUT SOME ARE COMING FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND THEY COME IN THE SPRING AND THEY STAY THROUGH APRIL, MAY, ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER, AND TO HELP WITH FALL HARVEST, AND THEN THEY GO BACK HOME.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY -- LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS DON'T HAVE THAT.

WE NEED FULL-TIME LABOR FORCE YEAR ROUND.

AND WE TRY TO MAKE IT WORK AND TO HAVE -- FOLKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK HOME, VISIT THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEN -- BUT WE WANT THEM TO COME BACK INTO THE COUNTRY.

AND A LOT OF THE FOLKS HERE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS THAT HIRE H2A WORKERS HAVE THE SAME WORKERS COME BACK TO THE FARM YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THEY'VE BUILT A RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE PROGRAMS.

>> IT'S A VISA PROGRAM FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR.

SO WHAT KIND OF CHANGES MIGHT WE SEE IN THAT PROGRAM, THEN?

>> WELL, I THINKES UNFORTUNATELY, THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST POLITICIZED AND PROBABLY POLAR OPPOSITES IN TERMS OF CONGRESS AND SO WE'RE -- WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS WITH THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE.

SO IF YOU TAKE THAT AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, WE KNOW WE HAVE A GRIDLOCK HERE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE POLITICAL ROADBLOCK.

HOW DO WE THEN GET TO THE POINT THAT YOU'RE MAKING, WHICH IS HOW DO WE GET TO THAT ADEQUATE LABOR FORCE IN A LEGAL WAY.

AND IT'S REALLY THE AGRICULTURAL GUEST WORKER PROVISIONS THAT CAN AND ARE A PART OF H2A, SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR IS IF WE CAN'T GET THE WHOLE THING SOLVED, LET'S TRY TO COME UP WITH WHAT THE SOLUTION IS AROUND THE GUEST WORKER VISA PROGRAM FOR AGRICULTURE, BECAUSE AS YOUCATED, WE HAVE -- YOU INDICATED, WE HAVE PROOF THAT IT CAN WORK, THAT IT IS WORKING.

THAT THERE IS A STABLE WORKFORCE THAT WANTS TO BE A PART OF THAT YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH IT, IS TO SAY, LET'S JUST TAKE THAT AG GUEST WORKER PROVISION AND MAKE IT WORK AGAIN IN A LEGAL WAY.

>> I SUPPOSE WE CAN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT AGRICULTURE UNLESS WE TALK ABOUT THE COST OF FARMLAND.

AND THAT'S BEEN INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE POINT WHERE IF I HAD A COUPLE OF SONS THAT WANTED TO COME IN TO MY BUSINESS AS A FARMER, I MIGHT LOOK AT THEM AND SAY, WELL, YOU NEED TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT, SO THERE'S A 40 NEXT DOOR THAT'S FOR SALE.

HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST PER ACRE?

>> DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE BUT ANYWHERE 15 TO $18,000 AN ACRE.

DEPENDS HOW BAD TWO PEOPLE WANT IT.

>> IF YOU WANTED TO BUY THE ADJACENT 40 AT 18 OR $15,000, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MATH MAY NOT WORK FINANCIALLY.

>> CORRECT.

CORRECT.

>> SO IS THAT HARMING THE POSSIBILITY -- BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS TOUT, FAMILY-OWNED FARMS IN ILLINOIS, FAMILY-OWNED FARMS.

BUT CORPORATIONS ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE -- THAT HAVE THE CAPITAL TO INVEST.

CONCERN FOR YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY OF CONCERN.

AND MY SON AND I TALK ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR NEIGHBOR'S FARM COMES UP FOR STALE OR INDIVIDUAL RETIRES.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD A LAND WAIST THAT -- BASE THAT HE CAN CONTINUE THE GIEBERT LEGACY, YOU MIGHT SAY, OF FARMING.

AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FATHERS, GRANDFATHERS, UNCLES, HELP THEIR SONS OR THEIR NEPHEWS AND NIECES AND NEPHEWS TO MAKE THAT PURCHASE OR WORK WITH THEM TO GET -- BUILD A LAND BASE SO THEY CAN COME BACK AND FARM.

IT IS BIG MONEY, IT'S BIG BUSINESS AND WE TREAT IT AS A BUSINESS AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR LENDERS TO FIND A PATHWAY FORWARD THAT YOUNG FOLKS CAN COME BACK TO THE FARM AND PARTICIPATE AND CARRY ON THE LEGACY.

>> YOU HAVE A FAMILY FARM IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

>> YOISH.

>> RAISING?

>> CORN, WHEAT, AND BOY SCENES.

HAVE A SON INVOLVEMENT.

>> AND YOUR BACKGROUND?

>> GREW OUT A FAMILY FARM NEAR SPRINGFIELD, CROPS AND LIVESTOCK.

WE STILL HAVE SOME INVOLVEMENT IN THAT FARMING OPERATION.

IT'S EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

BUT I CERTAINLY COME FROM AN AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND, A FAMILY THAT WAS INVOLVED YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

>> RICH, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU 60 SECONDS TO PAINT THE FUTURE, JUST 60 SECONDS.

>> I THINK AGRICULTURE AS HAULS BEEN A U -- HAS ALWAYS BEEN A UNIQUE OCCUPATION.

IT'S A HERITAGE FOR US AND THOSE -- WE LIVE TO FARM.

NOT EVERYONE CAN BE A FARMER BUT WE TAKE PRIDE IN BEING A FARMER.

SOMETIMES TOO MUCH PRIDE.

BUT I THINK AGRICULTURE HAS GOT A BRIGHT FUTURE.

WE HAVE A SEGMENT OF YOUNG FARMERS THAT REALLY ARE INTERESTED, THEY'RE ACTIVE, AND THEY TREAT IT AS A BUSINESS.

AND THEY -- LIKE IT'S THEIR FAMILY AND THEY WANT TO GROW THE BUSINESS.

>> ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT FARMS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES IN ORDER TO BE A GOOD FARMER.

>> YOU DO.

>> AND WITH THAT, OUR HALF-HOUR IS UP.

WE HOPE YOU CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AT HOME.

LET ME SAY THANK YOU THE PRESIDENT OF THE ILLINOIS FARMER BUREAU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, H. >> AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AT THE ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME WITH ANOTHER DISCUSSION, THIS TIME DO YOU KNOW THE NAME OF DAVE KINDRED?

SPORTSWRITER FOR MANY, MANY LARGE ORGANIZATIONS.

WELL, HE'S GONE TO IN THE STUDIO -- GOING TO BE IN THE STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT COVERING GIRLS BASKETBALL IN MORTON, ILLINOIS?

ON THE NEXT "AT ISSUE."

MIEWCTS ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪