Secretary Hails Program's 30th Anniversary, Announces General Signup Period

MILWAUKEE, May 29, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that an additional 800,000 acres of highly environmentally sensitive land may be enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under certain wetland and wildlife initiatives that provide multiple benefits on the same land.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept new offers to participate in CRP under a general signup to be held Dec. 1, 2015, through Feb. 26, 2016. Eligible existing program participants with contracts expiring Sept. 30, 2015, will be granted an option for one-year extensions. Farmers and ranchers interested in removing sensitive land from agricultural production and planting grasses or trees to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and restore wildlife habitat are encouraged to enroll. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement during a speech delivered at the Ducks Unlimited National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

"For 30 years, the Conservation Reserve Program has supported farmers and ranchers as they continue to be good stewards of land and water. This initiative has helped farmers and ranchers prevent more than 8 billion tons of soil from eroding, reduce nitrogen and phosphorous runoff relative to cropland by 95 and 85 percent respectively, and even sequester 43 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, equal to taking 8 million cars off the road," said Vilsack. "This has been one of most successful conservation programs in the history of the country, and today's announcement keeps that momentum moving forward."

The voluntary Conservation Reserve Program allows USDA to contract with agricultural producers so that environmentally sensitive land is conserved. Participants establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years.

"CRP protects water quality and restores significant habitat for ducks, pheasants, turkey, quail, deer and other important wildlife. That spurs economic development like hunting and fishing, outdoor recreation and tourism all over rural America," said Vilsack. "Today we're allowing an additional 800,000 acres for duck nesting habitat and other wetland and wildlife habitat initiatives to be enrolled in the program."

In addition to Ducks Unlimited's partnership with the Conservation Reserve Program, other longtime partners include Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National Association of State Foresters, National Wild Turkey Federation, Audubon Society, National Bobwhite Technical Committee, Quality Deer Management Association, National Rural Water Association, Playa Lakes Joint Venture, Longleaf Alliance, state soil and water conservation districts, and state forestry, agriculture and natural resource agencies.

"I encourage all farmers and ranchers to consider the various CRP continuous sign-up initiatives that may help target specific resource concerns," said Vilsack. "Financial assistance is offered for many practices including conservation buffers and pollinator habitat plantings, and initiatives such as the highly erodible lands, bottomland hardwood tree and longleaf pine, all of which are extremely important."

Farmers and ranchers may visit their FSA county office for additional information. The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the enrollment of grasslands in CRP and information on grasslands enrollment will be available after the regulation is published later this summer.

The Conservation Reserve Program was re-authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing, and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

For more information about CRP, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation, or contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency office. To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (06/06/2015)(readMedia)-- Col. Eric Little of Springfield, Illinois, the United States Property Fiscal Officer for the Illinois National Guard received the Legion of Merit award during a ceremony June 4 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.

Little received the award for his meritorious service as the Chief of Staff for the Illinois National Guard from June 2013 to May 2014.

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today released a statement on the close of the 2015 legislative session. Some of the key accomplishments from the session include :

• Connecting every acre in Iowa with high-speed broadband.
• Record investment in Iowa road and bridge infrastructure - supporting $3.2 billion for roads and bridges over five years.
• Certainty for Iowa families and schools regarding school start date.
• The Iowa Safe at Home Act.

Gov. Branstad offered the following statement upon the close of the legislative session:

"The dawn of the 2015 legislative session offered hope that leaders of both parties would be able to come together to build Iowa for the future. The Battelle 2.0 study offered state leaders a roadmap for ensuring Iowa continues to move forward and is positioned to continue growing, bringing business and jobs to the state and increasing family incomes. As the study simply states, sound infrastructure is a prerequisite for economic development.

"Together, leaders acted to support the investment of $3.2 billion over five years in Iowa's roads and bridges. These key improvements will elevate the state's ability to attract economic development and job creators. Since 2011, our unemployment rate has been slashed by over 33 percent, more Iowans are working than ever before and our jobless rate is the lowest it has been in over seven years. To continue this growth, we needed to not only make strategic investments in our roads and bridges, but also in 21^st century infrastructure.

"Time and again, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I heard from businesses across the state that the lack of high-speed internet is slowing - or worse, preventing - growth of Iowa small businesses. With the passage of this broadband bill, Iowa can begin stretching high-speed fiber across the state to give farmers the technology they need to fully utilize modern agriculture equipment, schools access to abundant resources available online and local small businesses the ability to connect with the global marketplace.

"With progress, however, comes disappointment. On the second day of the legislative session, I presented a budget that funded Iowa's schools for two years. It provided school officials the certainty and predictability they need to budget. It would prevent the seemingly endless cycle of uncertainty for our schools due to legislative gridlock.

"After five months, the Legislature went home without reaching consensus on a two-year education budget that would provide budget certainty to our schools this year and next. Now, the only certainty that the Iowa Legislature provided to schools is that they'll be back next year having the same old, tired fight about school funding - in an election year no less. That action - or lack thereof - is par for the course in Washington, D.C., but it's a disservice to Iowans, our schools and most importantly our children.

"Perhaps more disappointing was the inability of the Legislature to come together to pass a bill that protects our children from bullying in schools. Every child deserves a safe and respectful learning environment. In 2014, both chambers passed an anti-bullying bill. Yet with nearly identical language this year, the bill to protect our children from the relentless bullying kids can face in the classroom and online through social media languished. First Lady Chris Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I will not stop working to end bullying in Iowa.

"Over the next thirty days, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I will carefully review the bills sent to my desk by the Iowa Legislature. We'll review the bills in the same lens as we always do - the budget must balance in the biennium, fit within our five-year budgeting projections, and honor the commitments we've made in the past to the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System and the property tax relief.

"With farm incomes expected to decrease by 32 percent this year, farmland values already down 15 percent and expected to continue to decline this year, commodity prices down 40-50 percent since 2012 and an avian flu virus outbreak affecting nearly 30 million birds across the state, we must adhere to our conservative budgeting principles and resist the desire of using bad budgeting practices that in the past led to reckless across the board cuts."

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced a number of key staff appointments to help him as he works on the Illinois Turnaround. Today's announcements include the new Director of the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program; the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority; the Illinois State Board of Investment; and the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

In addition, Governor Rauner has also extended the contract of state CFO, Donna Arduin. She will continue working with the Governor's Office of Management and Budget on enacting a balanced budget. Her compensation has been reduced by half from her previous contract and will terminate when the final budget is signed or on August 28, whichever comes first.

Name: Joseph Wright
Position: Director, Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program

Governor Bruce Rauner has named Joesph Wright the Director of the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. He is currently Assistant General Counsel in the Office of the Governor.

In the Office of the Governor, Wright has worked extensively with the state agencies involved in the medical cannabis pilot program. He is the liaison with the legal teams within the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Illinois Racing Board. In addition, Wright assisted the Office of the Governor with Freedom of Information Act requests.

Wright has experience at the federal level, working as a Legislative Assistant in the Office of Congressman Jim Matheson. He also was a law clerk for Holland & Knight, the Illinois Attorney General and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Wright is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and earned his law degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He lives in Chicago.

Name: Timothy Rand
Position: Illinois Sports Facilities Authority

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Timothy Rand to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. Rand's experience in the food and beverage industry and in event promotion makes him an excellent addition to the board.

Rand is the founder and owner of Midway Airport Concessionaires that owns a number of food outlets at Midway International Airport. He oversees the sales, management and marketing duties of the operation. In addition, Rand has served as Director of Urban Partnership Bank and is the co-founder of the annual Chicago Football Classic.

Rand is extremely active in the community working with the Chicago Urban League, Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the DuSable Museum and the Council on Chicago Public School Partnerships. Rand also served five years in the U.S. Army National Guard. He graduated from Southern Illinois University and lives in Chicago.

Name: Ezequiel Flores
Position: Illinois State Board of Investment

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Ezequiel Flores to the Illinois State Board of Investment. Flores is a global business leader with extensive experience as an entrepreneur and senior-level executive.

Flores is currently the CEO of Flores Retail Corporation, which is a real estate company that specializes in public-private partnerships, development and financing, and retail brokerage. In addition, he also co-founded Flying Food Concessions, which is responsible for one of the largest specialty retail portfolios at O'Hare International Airport. He is also the CEO of Flying Retail.

Prior to these ventures, Flores was the Strategy and Corporate Development Manager at the Sara Lee Corporation. He also worked as an Assurance and Business Advisory Associate at Arthur Anderson LLP.

Flores graduated from DePaul University with an accounting degree. He is currently earning his master's degree at the Catholic Theological Union. He lives in Chicago.

Name: Steve Kim
Position: Illinois Human Rights Commission

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Steve Kim to the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Kim is a proven advocate for Asian Americans in Illinois and was the first Asian American to run for a statewide office when he was the Republican candidate for Attorney General in 2010.

Kim is currently a managing partner at RKJ Legal, which is an international law firm with offices in seven countries, and Kim serves as General Counsel to several other international companies. Prior to this, Kim was General Counsel for Coils, Inc., directing all legal, regulatory and governmental affairs activities. He has also worked for Time Warner Cable and AT&T.

Kim began his professional career with the State of Illinois, serving in the 1995-1996 Dunn Fellow class, assisting the Governor's Economic and Business Development Adviser. He was also a Special Assistant to Governor Edgar, where he advised the governor on a number of issues, including international trade. In addition, he was the primary contact in the Office of the Governor for the Asian-American community.

Kim earned his bachelor's degree and law degree from Loyola University Chicago. He lives in Northbrook.

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