State Bills And Federal Programs Target Agriculture

Several environmental and agriculture-related bills were signed into Illinois law last week. One bill amended the Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961 to create the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council to "enhance the use of fertilizers and protect water quality from nutrient loss".

Another amends the State Wildlife Code to help protect cattle pastures from damage caused by wildlife run amok.  A third amended the Illinois Environmental Protection Act to levy fees on livestock producers so the Illinois Environmental EPA can pay for the federally-mandated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.

Meanwhile in Washington, all seven Chicago Metro counties finally became eligible for federal drought relief through the U.S.D.A.  Over at the SBA, small nonfarm businesses, agricultural cooperatives and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size that were affected by the drought became eligible for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans.  The loans range up to $2 million to help pay loans and operating expenses which could have been met if it had just rained a reasonable amount.