Soybean checkoff study finds that United States could lose global competitiveness

ST. LOUIS (Jan. 24, 2012) - Deteriorating condition of the U.S. lock and dam system puts the competiveness of U.S. soybean farmers at risk according to a study funded by the United Soybean Board's (USB's) and the soybean checkoff's Global Opportunities (GO) program. Entitled "America's Locks & Dams: A Ticking Time Bomb for Agriculture," the in-depth examination coordinated by the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) found American farmers and consumers "...will suffer severe economic distress" if catastrophic U.S. lock or dam failures take place.

More than half of the structures that are part of the U.S. inland waterway system for river barge shipping exceed their 50-year usable lifespan, according to the soybean checkoff-funded report. More than one-third surpass 70 years of age, a concern because major rehabilitation is usually necessary to expand the typical lifespan from 50 to 75 years, according to the study.

"The GO committee invested in this study to calculate the impact of the worsening condition of the lock and dam system and what the impact would be on the rail and highway system if those locks failed," says Laura Foell, soybean farmer from Schaller, Iowa, and chair of the GO committee. "It is important for all in the industry and in the public sector to have the information necessary to make informed decisions when it comes to investing in our locks and dams."

Just on the Ohio River alone, the accumulated shipping delays at broken-down locks has more than tripled since 2000, rising from 25,000 hours to 80,000 annually. And that gets expensive. This study shows that a three-month lock closure would increase the cost of transporting 5.5 million tons of oilseeds and grain, the average shipped by barge during that period, by $71.6 million. A failure at any of the locks examined by the study could cost U.S. farmers up to $45 million in lost revenue.

The U.S. inland waterways represent key infrastructure for transporting U.S. soybeans. Up to 89 percent of soybeans exported through the lower Mississippi ports, such as the Port of New Orleans, arrive at those ports in barges that must transit multiple locks for the trip downstream.

The study, conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, examined the condition of locks on the Upper Mississippi River, Illinois River and Ohio River. The study also calculated the economic impact of specific lock failures on districts within states, showing the effect on agricultural commodity prices?and on fertilizer and coal prices, which also depend on upstream river barge shipping.

"It is important that we have a robust transportation system," adds Foell. "Only by using a combination of the lock and dam system, rail system and truck system can we continue to move our products in a manner that will help us feed the world."

The USB GO program and STC, which is made up of USB, the American Soybean Association and 11 state soybean checkoff boards, plan to examine new and different ways to fund lock and dam and other rural transportation infrastructure improvements. USB made public and private investment in transportation infrastructure one of its top two priority issues.

USB is made up of 69 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
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Wallace: "It is time for a new generation of leadership..."

Rock Island, IL...Jonathan Wallace, candidate for State Representative in the 72nd District, will be hosting a meet greet at 5:30pm to 7:00pm Saturday, January 28. The event will be held at City Limits Bar Saloon and Grill, 4514 9th Street, Rock Island, Illinois. Open to the public. Suggested donation is $25.

"It is time for a new generation of leadership," said Wallace. "New people to cope with problems and opportunities, new people not bound by old rivalries or machine politics. These Young Guns have committed to something larger than themselves by running for public office."

Attending the event along with Wallace will be candidates Jim Wozniak for State's Attorney, Marc Ramirez for County Coroner, Tony Holland for County Recorder, Drue Mielke for County Board, Michael Zeitler for County Board, Mark Archibald for County Board, and Kevin Gouveia for County Board.

Wallace continued, "It takes courage to step forward and humility to serve. I expect nothing less from this group of candidates."

Jonathan Wallace is the new person running for State Representative in the 72nd District.

For more information about Wallace visit http://www.jonathanwallace2012.com.

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Twenty-eight
rural organizations sign letter urging President Obama to remember
rural America tomorrow in his State of the Union Address

Lyons, NE -
Today the Center for Rural Affairs urged President Obama, in his State
of the Union address, to speak to the challenges facing America's rural
communities by publicly
committing to work with Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill in a way
that revitalizes the rural communities that form the backbone of our
heartland.

"We
urge the President to remember the nearly 50 million people who live in
Rural America, not just today but throughout the Farm Bill debate.
America's rural communities need a robust Rural Development Title, not
just a return to the failed farm and rural policies of the past," said John Crabtree with the Center for Rural Affairs.

Last
week, a coalition of 28 rural organizations including the Center for
Rural Affairs, sent a letter to the President urging him to address
these issues in the State of the Union (http://files.cfra.org/pdf/Rural-State-of-the-Union.pdf).

The organizations to sign the letter included:
Rural Community Assistance Partnership  
American Public Works Association
Center for Rural Affairs
Coastal Enterprises Maine
Corporation for Economic Development
Forest Guild
HomeCorps
Homestead Affordable Housing
HomeStretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation
Housing Assistance Council
Illinois Rural Partners
League of Rural Voters
National Association of Counties
National Association of Development Organizations
National Association of Towns and Townships
National League of Cities
National Network of Forest Practitioners
National Rural Development Partnership
National Rural Health Association
National Telecommunications Cooperative Association
NeighborWorks Umpqua
PathStone New York
South Delta Regional Housing Authority
Stand Up for Rural America
The Support Center North Carolina
Watershed Research and Training Center
Wyoming Rural Development Council
YouthBuild USA

For a copy of the letter and complete list of signatories visit: http://files.cfra.org/pdf/Rural-State-of-the-Union.pdf

Congressman Loebsack, area residents, others to testify

WASHINGTON, D.C.–On Friday, January 27, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, will convene a field hearing of the Committee to discuss ways to rebuild the middle class.  Congressman Dave Loebsack will join Harkin as part of the hearing.

"For decades, the middle class has been  falling behind," said Harkin.  "Wages have not kept up with costs, and families' savings accounts have dried up along with home values and good jobs. Iowans are justifiably worried about the future.

"It does not have to be this way.  It is time to rise to these challenges and face them head-on, as a nation, by remembering what made our country great. Creating good jobs, investing in education, rebuilding our infrastructure, and preparing our workforce for the 21^st Century will help to ensure that the middle class has a bright future ahead, in Iowa and around the country."

Harkin has held a series of hearings in Washington over the past year examining the causes behind the decline of America's middle class.  Last year, Harkin staff members visited all 99 counties to gather insight into the challenges facing middle class families.  This field hearing will focus on what is working in the Quad Cities to rebuild the backbone of America's economy.

HEARING: "Rebuilding the Middle Class: What Washington can learn from Iowa"

DATE: Friday, January 27, 2012

TIME:

12:15 PM: Tour: Prior to the hearing, Harkin and Loebsack will tour the welding room at the Blong Center, which houses a partnership between John Deere, the local schools, and workers.

1:15 PM: Hearing begins

PLACE: John T. Blong Tech Center?, 8500 Hillandale Road, Davenport

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