11-30 NWR New Farm Bill

11-30 NWR New Farm Bill

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
This is your Northwest report for Wednesday, November 30, I'm David Sparks and on the minds of all of the agricultural producers that I know and something that affects them mightily is the Farm Bill. Some farm groups say they want to see a farm bill through Congress before 2018, but a USDA official charged with implementing the 2014 legislation says it might need more time to be fully understood. agri-pulse.com's Spencer Chase reports that some groups feel that producing the bill before 2018 would free it from potential conflicts brought about by the midterm elections. ASA Chairman Wade Cowan says an earlier bill could be beneficial for producers. "We are always for a better farm bill and if that comes in 2017 I think it would be a good thing because we do have major problems in the cotton and dairy sector that we need to take care of. A lot of guys say we need to get this fixed. If we could do it and do it in the baseline that we have now or do it with this attitude, I think there is some attitude in the country right now, let's not go into this Farm Bill thinking how much do we have to cut, let's go into this farm bill thinking how much do we have to do to do the job right."

Elsewhere a company called GSI is introducing new technology for 2017 that can significantly reduce energy costs for grain drying. It involves a new heat reclaim system for tower dryers that can cut energy costs from 9 to 30% depending on the grain type

and ambient temperature. The new technology separates the hot dry air and returns it to the drying process again. At the same time it takes the cold, wet air and debris and discards it.

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