Most Recent Talking Points as of 6/22/23

Note: For IFB’s full comprehensive talking points, please contact your local county Farm Bureau or visit the Leaders’ Portal.

4^th of July Cookout Survey & General Inflation

Headline Messages:

A 4th of July cookout will cost significantly more than two years ago, although prices have fallen slightly from record highs in 2022.
A cookout for ten people will cost $67.73. That’s down three percent from 2022, but still 14% higher than prices were just two years ago.
In Illinois, the average price of a cookout for 10 people is $66.93, slightly below the national average.
The AFBF marketbasket survey shows year-to-year increases in hamburger buns, potatoes and beef. The price of chicken, eggs and lemons have fallen.
Although high, the cost of the cookout breaks down to less than $7 per person. Americans spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than any other country.
We have an abundant food supply thanks to the hard work of farmers, supported by strong farm bill programs that help to manage risk and advance innovation.
It’s important for Congress to consider the contributions of farmers and the farm bill to our security and independence – a country that can’t feed its people isn’t free. We urge passage of a 2023 farm bill to help ensure a reliable food supply.

Supporting Messages:

Volunteer shoppers across the country, including Farm Bureau members and others, collected data from 240 different stores in every state and Puerto Rico.
The federal government’s broader Consumer Price Index report for food at home shows an overall increase of 5.8% compared to a year ago.
Farm Bureau’s informal marketbasket survey examines only those foods commonly associated with summer cookouts.
Retail price for a package of eight hamburger buns increased 17% to $2.26. General inflation is driving up the price of processed foods.
The price for two pounds of potatoes rose 26% to 1.84. Poor weather led to a drop in potato production.
The cost of two pounds of ground beef is up 4% to $11.54, a record high. Drought conditions have increased the cost of feed and reduced the number of available cattle for the summer grilling season.
Chicken breasts and eggs are both less expensive this year compared to last year. The number of avian influenza cases has fallen, which has allowed chicken populations to recover.
Lemonade is 16% less expensive, at $3.73, due to a drop in the cost of lemons.
Don’t assume farmers come out as winners from higher prices at the grocery store. They’re price takers, not price makers.
Farmers share of the retail food dollar is just 14 percent. Farmers have to pay for fuel, fertilizer and other expenses, which have all gone up in cost.

If Asked:

Is this a scientific study?

Volunteer shoppers from all 50 states and Puerto Rico gather prices from stores in their area and send the data to us.
Our informal survey is intended to be a snapshot of prices families may see when they go to the grocery store.

Rabobank just came out that shows a cookout for 10 will cost $97 compared to your survey that puts the amount at $67.71. Why the discrepancy?

We limit our survey to the same food items year-to-year to provide a clear picture of price trends.
Other surveys often include different foods and/or alcoholic beverages, which certainly impacts the overall cost.
No matter which survey you review, the bottom line is that Americans spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than in any other country.
Last year, the average American household spent 11.4% of their income on food. In some countries, that percentage exceeds 40% and even 50%.

General Inflation Talking Points

Headline Messages:

Farmers aren’t alone in facing a tough economy, but many family farms are struggling to hang on in the face of skyrocketing input costs.
Like consumers, farmers are price-takers not price-makers.
While some commodity prices are rising, farmers are being hit by circumstances beyond their control – supply and labor cost increases and drought to name a few.

Supporting Messages:

General inflation is a long-term problem, which we expect to put pressure on our wallets and create price uncertainty for the next few years.
The ripple effects of the war in Ukraine, and general supply and supply chain issues add to the challenges of ensuring the security of the global food supply.
The impacts of inflation and global disputes on our food supply create added pressure to make sure we get it right when it comes to the 2023 farm bill.

EPA Tail Pipe Emissions

Background: The Biden Administration is making its position on renewable fuels clear. In April, President Biden set a goal of having 50% of all vehicle sales be electric by 2030. With their actions Biden and his EPA are telling us they want to pull back from clean burning renewable fuels like corn-based ethanol and soy-based biodiesel while corn-based ethanol blends and low carbon fuels provide GHG emission reductions. The EPA’s proposal is essentially forcing 67% of all cars and almost 50% of all pickup truck sales to be electric by 2032, in less than 10 years.

Headline messages:

Tell the EPA not to allow this administration to break its commitment to America’s farmers and domestically produced, clean-burning renewable fuels.
There is just one lithium mine in the U.S., but there are nearly 11 million acres of corn grown each year in places like Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
American farmers produce the corn – one out of every three bushels -- that goes into clean-burning ethanol. America’s farms are a sustainable solution -- not a finite supply of rare earth metals -- for our nation’s motorists and economy.
The proposal will also tie the hands of American automakers flexibility to develop and implement innovative strategies for decarbonizing vehicles.
Of additional concern is the infrastructure for electric vehicles does not yet exist in rural America. This is further discrimination against rural communities, family farms and agribusiness as they do not have the ability to efficiently utilize BEVs.

Weather & Drought Monitoring

Headline Messages:

Drought conditions persist across Illinois. Recent rains have certainly helped a few areas, but we’re not out of the woods yet. We’re a long way from the bin.
Every situation is different. How the drought affects farmers can depend on what they produce and where they are located, among several other variables.
At the end of the day, farmers want to produce a good crop. Drought is very discouraging for farmers.
Farmers are able to purchase crop insurance, which helps them remain afloat during times such as drought. However, it will never fully replace the loss of a good crop.
Drought is a complex physical and social phenomenon, usually with no clear beginning or end. It is often the result of many complex factors acting on and interacting with the environment.
Farmers are at the forefront of climate-smart farming, putting scientific solutions, technology, and innovation to work to protect our land, air, and water.

SCOTUS Ruling in Sackett v. EPA & WOTUS

Statement from IFB President Richard Guebert, Jr.:

“Illinois Farm Bureau celebrates today’s unanimous decision by the Supreme Court regarding Sackett v. EPA, which confirms EPA overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act by restricting private property owners from developing their land.”

“Additionally, this ruling is the law of the land and directs the Biden administration to revisit WOTUS and issue a clear rule that doesn’t require farmers to hire a team of attorneys to care for their land.”

WOTUS Talking Points:

Illinois farmers aren’t optimistic about their ability to easily implement conservation practices if the federal government returns to a previous definition of WOTUS.
Farmers would like to see a final rule with clear terms that are easy to interpret and apply, with an eye toward flexibility to conduct innovative and environmentally beneficial projects.
The SCOTUS decision in Sackett v. EPA directs the Biden administration to revisit WOTUS and issue a rule that doesn’t require farmers to hire a team of attorneys to care for their land.

California’s Prop 12 Law & SCOTUS Ruling

Talking Points:

Illinois Farm Bureau is frustrated by the recent SCOTUS decision regarding California’s Proposition 12 law, which ultimately creates a concerning precedent.
At the heart of this argument is whether one state can set the rules for the entire country. The arbitrary standards take away flexibility to ensure hogs are raised in a safe environment.
Prop 12 will cause further consolidation in agriculture nationwide and lead to higher pork prices at the grocery store for America’s families. This law will ultimately harm consumers, farmers and animals.
Illinois Farm Bureau continues to work with AFBF on possible solutions to address California’s Proposition 12 law.
California has an estimated 40 million pork consumers, representing 15% of the U.S. market.
Less than 1% of pork consumed in California is produced in-state.

Renewable Energy and Utility Projects & Landowner Protections

Headline Messages:

Illinois Farm Bureau routinely hosts landowner meetings for members potentially impacted by carbon capture and storage pipeline projects, as well as other renewable energy and utility projects proposed across the state.
These educational meetings for our members help them understand basic details about proposed projects, how to work through the approval process, and the easement negotiation process.
It is our mission to provide our members with quality information and resources. We continue to provide educational outreach as additional project details emerge.
Also, we often participate in the regulatory approval process to ensure they follow legal requirements and to protect landowner rights.
Always remember to take the time to have all documents reviewed by and seek advice from an attorney.

2023 Farm Bill Update and Talking Points

Farm Bill Update:

Illinois Farm Bureau recently participated in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s advocacy fly-in.
Through discussions with lawmakers, representatives on both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees stated that they are committed to getting a farm bill done by Sept. 30.
It’s still going to be a challenge to get the farm bill finished and voted on by the September deadline, but we are optimistic that we could see it completed by the end of the calendar year. That is not unusual in respect to previous farm bills.

Headline Messages:

Managing risk on the farm is critical to keeping food on our tables. We all depend on the success of American agriculture, so it’s important for America’s farmers to be supported by strong farm programs as they face weather disasters, high supply costs and inflationary pressures.
America’s public investment in agriculture through farm bill programs helps secure our food supply and keep our country strong with sustainable food, fiber and renewable fuel.
The farm bill impact extends beyond the farm by protecting our nation’s food supply, providing access to nutrition for families facing hunger, advancing conservation efforts and spurring innovation through agricultural research.

IFB Priorities:

Illinois Farm Bureau members believe the farm bill must be WTO-compliant, provide price and revenue protection for farmers, and link nutrition and commodity programs.
Maintaining the current crop insurance program remains IFB’s top priority in the upcoming farm bill debate.
Farm Bureau supports maintaining both SNAP and TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) in the farm bill in their current form.
In 2013, USDA calculated that roughly eight cents of every dollar spent on food purchases (including purchases made by SNAP recipients) returns to the farmgate.

I-55 Dust Storm

Headline Messages:

Mother Nature is unpredictable. Unfortunately, the high winds on May 1 hit as many farmers are in various stages of planting season.
Planting naturally disturbs topsoil, but farmers use many best management practices to prevent soil loss and erosion, such as reduced tillage, no-till and cover crops. Farmers also look for places along farm fields for fence rows and tree plantings.
For this time of year, cover crops would have already been eliminated from the field to prep for spring planting.
Certain areas of Illinois are experiencing drier than normal conditions.
These periods of sustained winds typically happen in Central Illinois at least once a year.
This combination of dry weather and high winds contribute to hazardous conditions and low visibility on roads.
No field activity was occurring in the field at the time of the dust storm and accident. There is no indication of when the fields along I-55 were prepped for planting.
Farmer involvement in state and federal conservation programs are currently at an all-time high