Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act introduced Today

Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs praised the introduction today of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011, a cross-cutting initiative aimed at helping the next generation of farmers and ranchers enter into agriculture and take advantage of emerging markets.  The bill is sponsored by Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Representative Tim Walz (D-MN). Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and other members of the Senate Agriculture Committee will introduce a companion bill in the Senate when next in session.

"We commend Senator Harkin and the other sponsors for introducing this bill. Their legislation is smart, cost-effective public policy that will create jobs and invest in the future of rural America," said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Director for Rural Policy of the Center for Rural Affairs. "It addresses obstacles that often prevent beginning farmers and ranchers from getting their operation started."

"As the average age of the American farmer continues to increase, it is critical for the well-being of rural America that young people engage in farming and agricultural entrepreneurship. This legislation provides common-sense incentives to young farmers and ranchers, helping overcome the initial challenges facing those who wish to establish their careers in agriculture and raise families on the farm," said Representative Jeff Fortenberry who represents Nebraska's first Congressional district and is a co-sponsor of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act contains several key elements, including:

• Reauthorizing the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, a beginning farmer and rancher training and support initiative. It would increase mandatory funding from $75 million to $125 million over the next 5 years to help meet growing demand for the program, and include a new priority on agricultural rehabilitation and vocational training programs for military veterans.

• $30 million in annual funding for the Value Added Producer Grants Program and will retain the priority for projects benefiting beginning farmers and ranchers as well as a set-aside of program funding for these projects.

• Creating savings and enhancing lending provisions that help beginning farmers and ranchers access credit and establish a pattern of savings.

• Providing conservation incentives to assist beginning farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to establish conservation practices and sustainable systems on their farms and ranches.

"When you compare the numbers from the 2007 and 2002 Census of Agriculture, you see a big drop in the number of younger farmers in agriculture as their primary occupation. The revitalization of rural America depends, in large part, on reversing that trend," explained Bruckner.

"It can be difficult to get started in the world of agriculture," said Garrett Dwyer, a beginning rancher and former Marine infantryman from Bartlett, NE. "Skyrocketing costs of buying or renting land make entry into farming and ranching a daunting task." Dwyer traveled to D.C. in June to participate in a nationwide fly-in called, "Sound Investments to ensure the Next Generation of Beginning Farmers and Ranchers."

According to Dwyer, more beginning farmers and ranchers are needed because without a new generation of beginners, the land will concentrate in large farms. "And that will cause the permanent loss of opportunity for family farms, ranches, and rural communities and squander the chance to shift to a more sustainable system of agriculture," explained Dwyer.

Bruckner explained that the introduction of these bills in both the House and the Senate is a crucial step in focusing more of the public investment in the 2012 farm bill on the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Congressional investment in beginning farmers and ranchers is an investment, by all Americans, in the future of rural America.  

"And it is money well spent," continued Bruckner.

Local technology director to discuss potential cost-savings of IlliniCloud

NORMAL - October 24, 2011. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon's Classrooms First Commission will hold a public hearing at a Central Illinois community college this evening to solicit testimony from parents, taxpayers and educators on how K-12 school districts can improve learning and efficiency.

Among those expected to speak is Bloomington School District 87 Technology Director Jim Peterson. Peterson was invited to present about IlliniCloud, a non-profit cloud computing consortium he developed with other districts and technology leaders throughout the state that provides virtual servers, online storage and software for 150 school districts statewide.

The public hearing at Heartland Community College, which begins at 4:30 p.m., is the second of four such hearings scheduled this fall by the Classrooms First Commission, a statewide group tasked with finding ways to improve learning and efficiency at the more than 870 school districts in Illinois. The commission's report is due to the Governor and General Assembly next summer.

"We are here to listen, discover efficiencies and promote what's best for students," said Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, chair of the Classrooms First Commission and the Governor's point person on education reform. "Our goal is to work with local communities to find savings in backrooms, so that more money can be used to support classrooms."

IlliniCloud was launched two years ago and offers its services to school districts in Illinois for a small annual fee. Use of IlliniCloud could save districts 30 to 60 percent on information technology costs according to Peterson. This is particularly useful for small districts that often lack the resources necessary to develop adequate information technology infrastructure.

"Despite the economic burdens that Illinois school districts face, they still have to provide the same services for millions of students, staff and parents each day," Peterson said. "The IlliniCloud was created by districts for districts to provide and extend those services in a more efficient way."

IlliniCloud hopes to launch a statewide data collection and warehousing system that would allow districts to quickly generate reports to track student performance and analyze other data such as food service and transportation costs.

Dr. Joseph Pacha, an associate professor at the Illinois State University College of Education, is also scheduled to present research he conducted on what factors lead to school closure among elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools. These factors include changes in education funding, school enrollment, per-pupil operating expenditures and equalized assessed valuation.  Pacha's research also found that among elementary schools, higher math scores decrease the likelihood a school will close.

"Most people believe that school closures come about as a result of lack of money and students," Pacha said. "But there are many other factors involved that if communities knew about them and worked to address them, they might have a very positive impact on the future of a school. Being able to identify those factors is what the study was all about."

The Classrooms First Commission members represent various stakeholder groups including teachers, school boards, principals, superintendents, parents and urban, suburban and rural areas. In its first phase of study, the commission will collect public input and review local and national research on educational efficiency and student performance.

"This is an important process for our education systems, and regional superintendents greatly appreciate the opportunity to participate and hear from those who really matter: the local voices," said Larry Pfeiffer, a central Illinois regional superintendent representing the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools on the commission. "Regional superintendents are integral to these discussions and the process schools pursue to reorganize and consolidate. We're committed to ensure everyone is heard and these challenges are debated and resolved in the right way."

Additional public hearings have been scheduled in Moline and Des Plaines.

To view the hearing schedule, watch streaming live video of the hearings, or to fill out an online survey regarding district efficiency, visit www.ltgov.il.gov.

Teen Advisory Group

Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to join the Teen Advisory Group at the Moline Public Library. Help plan programs, give input about what books and materials to add to the collection, make friends, and have fun. We meet the first Thursday of the month, and the next meeting is Thursday, November 3 at 3:30 in the Platinum Room. This program is free and no registration is necessary. For more information call 309-524-2440 or visit us at 3210 - 41st Street, Moline, IL 61265 or online at http://www.molinelibrary.com.

Teen Writers Group

Teen and Young Adult writers are invited to the Moline Public Library on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7:00 p.m. Bring a few short items to share with the group, get feedback, and learn some new tricks. The next meeting will be on Monday, November 14 at 7:00. This program is free and no registration is necessary. For more information call 309-524-2440 or visit us at 3210 - 41st Street, Moline, IL 61265 or online at http://www.molinelibrary.com.

Anime Club

Teen and Young Adult fans of anime, manga, and all things Japanese are invited to the Moline Public Library the third Tuesday of the month at 3:30 for Anime Club. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 15 at 3:30. This program is free and no registration is necessary. For more information call 309-524-2440 or visit us at 3210 - 41st Street, Moline, IL 61265 or online at http://www.molinelibrary.com.

Teen Book Club

The Moline Public Library's Teen Book Club will discuss The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis on Thursday, November 17 at 7:00. Read the book. See the movie. Discuss with friends. This program is free and open to students in grades 6-12. If you are interested in attending please contact Jan LaRoche at 309-524-2478 or jlaroche@molinelibrary.org. For more information call 309-524-2440 or visit us at 3210 - 41st Street, Moline, IL 61265 or online at http://www.molinelibrary.com.

Teen Writers Group

Teen and Young Adult writers are invited to the Moline Public Library on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7:00 p.m. Bring a few short items to share with the group, get feedback, and learn some new tricks. The next meeting will be on Monday, November 28 at 7:00. This program is free and no registration is necessary. For more information call 309-524-2440 or visit us at 3210 - 41st Street, Moline, IL 61265 or online at http://www.molinelibrary.com.