AUDIO: Mark Bunselmeyer – Illinois Corn Growers Association
The president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association says continuing to fund upgrades on America’s inland waterway system is vital for agriculture.
Mark Bunselmeyer, who farms in Macon County, says new policy adopted by the National Corn Growers Association calls on Congress to provide a stable funding source for lock improvements.
“The Water Resource Development Act is something that will be most likely passed this year.” He says, “We proposed a resolution, that did pass, that when we use our Inland Waterway Trust Fund, which is paid for by a fuel tax on all of the shippers, that it is used for the navigation part of it.”
He tells Brownfield that most dams along the Mississippi River have other funding sources, but this move would stabilize critical navigation funding.
“We need to improve these locks and dams that are falling apart that have been built 90 plus years ago.” He says, “We need those to help be able to move our grain down the river and fertilizer up the river more efficiently to help with farmers bottom line, help with those margins.”
Bunselmeyer says NCGA’s adoption of the policy now directs lobbyists to work with federal lawmakers to boost support for the proposal.
