Franklin Hospital board members approved the borrowing of funds to reimburse Medicare for overpayments the hospital has been receiving.

Here’s a link in the Benton Evening News.

“Hometown Heroes” is the theme of this year’s Rend Lake Water Festival parade, and the Benton-West City Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for participants. The deadline for entry is May 7.

Here’s the link in the Benton Evening News.

Gay Bowlin, Manager

Congressman Mike Bost set up a meeting this past Tuesday with farmers and Ag Business people to be on his Ga Advisory Council. Marc Lamczyk from the U of I Extension and myself drove to Waterloo to participate in this meeting. Along with the many farmers through the Southern Region of Illinois also in attendance was Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert.

Among some of the issues discussed were the Farm Bill and Conservation Compliance including cover crops. A big issue right now is USDA “Actively Engaged” proposed rule. Because Congress chose not to define what an “actively engaged” farmer was in the 2014 Farm Bill, instead, Congress let USDA decide.

A person must be actively engaged to receive certain farm payments. An individual or entity (partnerships, corporations, etc.) must provide significant contributions to the farming operation. Contributions can consist of capital, land, and/or equipment, as well as active personal labor and/or active personal management. Management must be critical to the profitability of the farming operation and the contributions must be at risk.

I have a booklet in the office if anyone would like a copy please call so that we can have one ready for you to pick up.

When discussing Waters of the United States (WOTUS) it was stated that it is an overreach of epic proportion.

Congressman Bost has signed on to be a cosponsor of H.R. 594 which prohibits the CORPS and EPA from taking further action regarding this rule. He has signed a letter to the House Appropriations Committee asking that they not make any money available for implementation, applying, developing any part of the rule for FY 2016. He indicated that the Secretary of the EPA does expect final ruling on this to come out in May or June.

Another issue is GMO labeling – concern over a patchwork of state labeling laws is causing concern for the ag industry. 90% of scientists agree that genetically engineered traits that we consume are safe. 59% of the general public does not believe genetically modified traits are safe for consumption. The biggest issue is educating consumers.

We have trees available to be picked up to anyone who would like them. I thought that I was getting 20 and instead I receive 200. These are White Oak, Red Oak, Burr Oak and Swamp White Oak tree saplings. Please call the office at 435-3616 or just stop by.

This year we will have our Antique Tractor Drive on May 9th and for the first time we will be in the Rend Lake Water Festival Parade.  The tractors will be near the front of the parade.  We will drive the parade route then continue on to the Barren Township Building on 154 stopping for a fish dinner then continue back over the Rend Lake Dam back to the Rend Lake Plaza in West City.  Entry fee is $20 and this covers the cost of meal and a t-shirt.  For more information call the office at 435-3616.
Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.

MT. VERNON, Ill. – Springtime brings with it warm weather, sunny days, and for local residents, the annual Car Show at the Rend Lake College MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon. This year, the show will begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 9.

Interested patrons can register their vehicles from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for $10 in the east parking lot of the MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon. The first 100 registrants will be given a dash plaque for participating. All of the proceeds from the Car Show’s registration will go toward RLC student scholarships in the Automotive Technology program.

Around 10:30 p.m., judges will begin inspecting every car on the lot for a 2 p.m. trophy presentation. The awards this year include Best of Show, Best Ford, Best GM, Best Mopar, Best Street Rod, Best Truck, Best Rat Rod, Best Paint, Best Interior, Best Motor, Top Five 1995 and Newer, Top 15 1974 through 1994, and Top 25 1974 and Older.

WASHINGTON – Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today questioning this month’s Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) planning resource auction that resulted in significantly higher electricity capacity prices for central and southern Illinois. Congressmen Mike Bost (R, Illinois-12) and Rodney Davis (R, Illinois-13) joined Shimkus on the letter.

The letter notes that capacity prices for MISO Zone 4, which includes the majority of Illinois, unexpectedly skyrocketed “from $16.75 per MW-day in 2014-2015, to $150 per MW-day for 2015-2016.”

“Not only is this a 900 percent increase from last year,” Shimkus said, “but this year’s capacity rate for our region is 40 times the price set for neighboring zones. Illinois ratepayers deserve to know whether all the rules for this auction were properly followed and, if so, what can be done to prevent similar rate spikes moving forward.”

“A rate increase of this magnitude is harmful to working families, small businesses and manufacturers in Southern Illinois, especially since it won’t apply to neighboring jurisdictions,” said Bost. “I look forward to the FERC’s response to this inquiry.”

“Illinois families and businesses have a right to know that this auction was done properly and followed all the rules before being forced to pay higher utility bills,” said Davis. “Given the vast discrepancies from previous auctions, I want to make sure the proper review took place and I look forward to FERC’s response.”

The extent to which the capacity rate increase will affect individual ratepayers is not yet fully known. State officials have also questioned the auction in a separate letter to MISO.

A copy of the Shimkus, Bost and Davis letter can be found HERE.