Illinois General Assembly:

May is the last month of the spring that the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to be in session in Springfield. Most of the attention has been focused on the budget, pension reform, and some other big ticket items. The following are a couple of quick local food and farm updates and a link to an updated version of our 2012 bill tracker:

• Senate Bill 3456, sponsored by Senator Frerichs, which would create a new permit that, would make it easier for Illinois winemakers and Illinois craft beer makers to sell their local wine or local beer at farmers markets and other community events was passed by the Illinois Senate with a vote of 55-0. Representative Lou Lang is the chief sponsor in the House. Unfortunately, SB 3456 has been languishing in the House Rules committee since passing the Senate at the end of March.
• HB 5893, originally sponsored by Representative Kosel in the House would amend state economic development laws to encourage convention center boards to support farmers markets by opening their doors free of charge or at reduced rates for farmers markets on inclement weather days, was passed by the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote of 105-1. Senator Dave Koehler is the sponsor in the Senate. HB 5893 is moving along fairly quickly, the Senate Agriculture and Conservation Committee unanimously recommended HB 5893 to the full Senate. HB 5894 is currently on 3^rd reading waiting to come up for a final vote, which barring some unforeseen roadblock it will pass and be sent to the Governor’s desk for his approval.
• To read ISA’s full bill tracker click here.

2012 Farm Bill:

While the Illinois General Assembly is entering the final stretch of the spring session in Washington D.C. work around the 2012 Farm Bill is really beginning to heat up! On April 26^th The Senate Agriculture Committee voted the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act — the proposed name for the 2012 Farm Bill — out of Committee on by a vote of 16-5, sending it to the Senate floor for full consideration. 

The committee bill includes historic reforms to commodity subsidies.  In addition to replacing automatic direct payments with a shallow loss revenue-based payment, the bill limits payments to not more than one farm manager per farm operation.  Beyond these historic changes, in regards to local food and sustainable agriculture the bill is a mixed bag. The following links will take you to a series of in-depth analyses on the content of the bill written by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition organized by topic area:

• Local Food Systems and Rural Development
• Commodities and Crop Insurance
• Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
• Organic Agriculture
• Research, Education and Extension
• Conservation Stewardship Program
• Conservation Compliance
• Other Conservation Programs
• Energy
• Overall Funding Levels

While, The Senate Agriculture committee has passed a new farm bill with the hopes of having floor time in the full Senate sometime in June, the process in the House Agriculture Committee is lagging behind that in the Senate. However, they are moving forward and are hopeful that the House Agriculture Committee will have finished its work on a bill by the end of June. There are a lot of factors at play complicating the possible path forward, election year politics and partisan bickering, but the good news is that things are moving forward and there seems to be a real desire to get a new farm bill done this year.

Farmers from across the Midwest and beyond gathered in Galesburg, IL on Friday, March 23 to attend one of four field hearings held by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Chairman Frank Lucas and four others from the Committee listened to ten producers give their thoughts on what is working and what is not working in the current farm bill and what changes they would like to see in the next farm bill. Congressman Bobby Schilling, who represents the 17th Congressional District that includes Galesburg, serves on the Agriculture Committee. Congressman Randy Hultgren from Winfield, Illinois was in attendance as well as Congressmen Leonard Boswell (IA) and K. Michael Conaway (TX).

Farmers providing their testimony ranged from corn & soybean producers to specialty crop producers (vegetables and fruits). Their testimony can be found by clicking on their names below.

Panel 1

Mr. David C. Erickson, corn and soybean producer, Altona, Illinois

Mrs. Deborah L. Moore, corn, soybean, and beef producer, Roseville, Illinois

Mr. John Mages, corn and soybean producer, Belgrade, Minnesota

Mr. Blake Gerard, rice, soybean, wheat, and corn producer, McClure, Illinois

Mr. Craig Adams, corn, soybean, wheat, hay, and beef producer, Leesburg, Ohio

Mr. John Williams, sorghum, corn, wheat, and soybean producer, McLeansboro, Illinois

Mr. Gary Asay, pork, corn, and soybean producer, Osco, Illinois

Mr. Terry Davis, corn and soybean producer, Roseville, Illinois

Mr. David W. Howell, corn, soybean, pumpkin, and tomato producer, Middletown, Indiana

Ms. Jane A. Weber, specialty crop producer, Bettendorf, Iowa

Call to Action for ISA Members and Friends

It is not too late to provide your own testimony to the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Your comments have to be submitted online at: http://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill.  Deadline for submitting comments is May 20, 2012. 

Some key points you can use to guide your comments:

• First and foremost: Pass a Farm Bill in 2012; don't wait!
• Local and regional food systems help create jobs and spur economic growth in rural and urban communities. Please support investment in this growing sector by including the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act in the next farm bill.
• The future of family farming and ranching in America depends upon ensuring that would-be new farmers have access to land, capital, and markets. Please support beginning farmers and ranchers by including Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act in the next farm bill.
• Farmers depend on quality, cutting-edge research to stay successful – please make sure the next farm bill invests in this crucial work.
• Working lands conservation programs help farmers maintain productivity while protecting our air, water, and soil, protect these programs from unfair funding cuts! Substantial cuts have already been made to farm conservation programs; hold the line on any further reductions to working lands conservation.
• Funding and strengthening working lands conservation programs will help producers protect and rebuild soil, improve water and air quality, and reverse habitat loss while maintaining productive farms and ranches.
• Ensuring that producers avoid environmentally harmful practices when they receive crop insurance subsidies will modernize the farm safety net and protect the productivity of agricultural lands.
• Maintain level funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
• Make improvements to CSP ranking, payment, planning, and renewal provisions.

For the Agriculture Committee to incorporate your comments into the record, it must be submitted online by the May 20 deadline. We recommend that you also send a copy of your comments to the ISA office and to the Illinois Members of the Agriculture Committee.

Congressman Bobby Schilling
3000 41st Street, Suite 2
Moline, IL 61265

Congressman Randy Hultgren
1797 State Street, Ste. A
Geneva, IL 60134

Congressman Tim Johnson
202 N. Prospect Rd, Ste. 203
Bloomington, IL 61704

Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council Summit

Friday, March 16

Join FamilyFarmed.org, Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Council, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council for the seventh annual Chicago Food Policy Summit. A wide group of stakeholders, from public and private organizations to community based activists, will provide a comprehensive examination of the local food system and discuss strategies to further the development of responsible food and agriculture policy recommendations.

Join ISA at our Farm Bill Workshop and experience the movement that’s transforming the way we eat.

http://goodfoodfestivals.com/chicago/

Good Food Festival and Conference
March 15-17 at UIC Forum

The FamilyFarmed EXPO is now the Good Food Festival and Conference. Join us and celebrate the joys of food at our family-friendly Festival and be inspired at our industry-driven conference, which includes the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council Summit, where a wide group of stakeholders will discuss strategies to further the development of responsible food and agriculture policy recommendations.

All across Illinois and the U.S. lawmakers are beginning to take notice of the growing demand for local food systems.  Illinois lawmakers are beginning to pay attention and the 2009 passage of the IL Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act, last spring’s Cottage Food Law and this year’s Senate Resolution urging congress to adopt a farm bill that supports local food systems show just that.

However this is not something that happened on its own. The great success of the local food movement is the result of Illinois farmers and citizens speaking up and letting their voices be heard!

One  way you can help  build legislative support for local food and promote positive policy changes is to meet with your legislators and tell them what issues are important to you.. Sound interesting?

Illinois Stewardship Alliance has the perfect opportunity for you to join us in advocating for environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially just local food systems.  Join us for our 3^rd Annual Local Food Awareness Day at the Capitol!

On March 28^th, local food advocates, farmers, and citizens from across the state will come together in Springfield for Local Food Awareness Day to encourage their legislators to support local food and farms. We will also meet with Illinois’ Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon for a roundtable discussion on local food issues.

When: March 28^th, 2012, from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (check-in starts @ 10 a.m.)

Where: The Illinois State Capitol Complex and the Illinois State Library Room 403/404 

               (300 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62701)

Registration: Register online here

Local Food Awareness Day will consist of a legislative update, orientation, lobbying training, and lunch. Following lunch we will descend upon the capitol to meet with legislators and educate them about the importance of local food systems and advocate for positive policy solutions that support local food and farms.

* Legislative Meet & Greet: In the evening following local food day, participants are invited to join ISA and the Illinois Environmental Council for a legislative meet and greet located at Charlie’s Club in the basement of Adiamo, 206 South 6th Street Springfield, IL 62701. This is a great way to meet other activists and legislators in a fun social atmosphere. ISA is a member of the Illinois Environmental Council. The IEC will be having their annual environmental lobby day on March 29^th.

On April 6th, local foodies, farmers, and citizens from across the state will come together in Springfield to encourage their legislators to support local food and farms. Illinois Stewardship Alliance invites you to join us for our 2nd annual local food and farm lobby day in Springfield on April 6th, from 10a.m. - 3p.m. at the Pasfield House and IL State Capitol Complex in Springfield.

Local Food Awareness Day will consist of a legislative update, orientation, lobbying 101 training, and lunch at the Pasfield House. Following lunch we will descend upon the capitol to educate legislators about the importance of local food systems and advocate for positive policy solutions that promote and support local food systems in Illinois.

Cost: $15 (FREE for members) - includes lobbying training, orientation and lunch at the Pasfield House 

*Additionally you may become a member now for $25 (1 year membership) which will allow you to attend lobby day for free.

Registration: To register for the 2011 Local Food Awareness Day @ the Captiol click here. Registration deadline is March 30th.

Payment can be made by sending a check to Illinois Stewrdship Alliance, 401 W. Jackson Parkway, Springfield IL, 62704 (Please make sure you register at the link above before sending a check) or by calling the ISA office at 217-528-1563 (ask for Dee). Or use paypal online by clicking here.

For more information contact ISA's Policy coordinator, Wes King at wes@ilstewards.org

Are you interested and concerned about how state and federal policy affects the burgeoning local food movement in Illinois? Are you interested in becoming a voice for the local food movement and helping to shape the future of local food related public policy?  If so please join us for the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s (ISA) inaugural annual state policy meeting. 

On December 13^th, ISA’s Grassroots Policy Committee will be holding its inaugural annual state policy meeting to bring local farm and food stakeholders together to gather input on and discuss those issues facing Illinois’ small farmers and local food system stakeholders.

More information click here.