Live.Work.Grow. - Central Illinois Ag Dealer Magazine Volume 2, Issue 2

Live.Work.Grow.

Volume 2 Issue 2

CENTRAL ILLINOIS AG

ATLANTA 路 CLINTON 路 FARMER CITY 路 MASON CITY www.centralilag.com 路 Volume 2, Issue 2

1

Live.Work.Grow.

3 Harvest Photos

Inside the Pages

5

Fuel Trailers Save Big Time

Grand Re-Opening

30 Blue Loyalty 31 Tak in CAT Country 33 Who’s Who - Technicians

27

7 Nitrogen Management - 360 Yield Center 9 HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes 12 A Dairy Farm Tour with Illinois Farm Families 13 Born & Raised RED 17 Teaming up with FFA

19

10 Things to Inspect on Your Precision Planting Planter

21 Farmers Helping Farmers 24 Central Illinois Ag Adds Flying Ag To It’s Product Lines 25 State Soybean Checkoff Creates Profit Opportunities for Illinois Farmers

Have an article suggestion or would like to advertise in our Central Illinois Ag Live.Work.Grow dealer magazine?

Contact Abby at (217) 648-2307 or acoers@centralilag.com

ON THE COVER

Nathan Hieronymus of Hieronymus Farms in Farmer City, IL harvesting soybeans on September 24, 2015. *View more of our Harvest photos and videos online. www.YouTube.com/LiveWorkGrowCIA www.Facebook.com/CentralIllinoisAg www.Twitter.com/LiveWorkGrowCIA

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Steve Schmidt Atlanta, IL (217) 737-7445

Sales Team Ryan Curry Lincoln, IL (217) 671-5296

Michael Schmidt Lincoln, IL (217) 737-8669

Brian Reeser Clinton, IL (217) 519-4341

Dallas Kaufman Danvers, IL (309) 613-0556

Mike O’Neil Arrowsmith, IL (309) 275-8158

Clay Witham Stanford, IL (217) 519-4346

Mike Barringer Decatur, IL (217) 519-2918

Brandon Hendel Glasford, IL (309) 212-1656

Andrew Elder Taylorville, IL (217) 306-4621

John Coers New Holland, IL (217) 737-5674

Doug Franzen Farmer City, IL (309) 275-8556

Gordon Watkins Petersburg, IL (217) 652-2650

Jim Spicer Farmer City, IL (309) 275-8545

*Numbers listed are cell phone numbers

Locations Atlanta 200 Sharon St. Atlanta, IL 61723 (800) 762-2325 Clinton 1000 State Route 10 East Clinton, IL 61727 (800) 362-3866 Farmer City 792 U.S. Hwy 150 East Farmer City, IL 61842 (800) 334-8942 Mason City 130 Tonica St. Mason City, IL 62664 (217) 482-9760

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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Harvest 2015

View our videos at: youtube.com/liveworkgrowcia LISTEN

READ

CLICK

The most people, on the ground, in Illinois, covering Illinois agriculture for you.

Central Illinois AG

Richard Verdery

Bob Standard

Nan Fannin

Gary White

Doug McDaniel

Mobile/App Advertising on FarmWeekNow.com

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3 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com www.centralilag.com · Winter ‘14-’15 · 3FW467T5

BE READY.

PRECISION PLANTING PARTNERSHIP. PUSH THE LIMITS OF YOUR YIELD POTENTIAL.

To maximize your yield potential, you need equipment that responds to your unique conditions. That’s why Case IH and Precision Planting® teamed up to provide advanced technology features to fit your specific needs. Precision Planting components customize the Early Riser® row units to perform like individual planters that rapidly respond to field conditions row by row. Additional, optional technology offers clear, intuitive controls, rapid update rates and hardware/software solutions. And since Case IH dealers install and maintain the Precision Planting components for your Early Riser planter, you can easily adopt at your own pace. Visit your Case IH dealer for one-stop support on the latest planting technology or visit caseih.com for more information.

SEE US TODAY.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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Grand Re-Opening After a fire left our Atlanta dealership without a building in June 2013, we were fortunate to open our new doors with a Grand Re-Opening weekend celebration in August 2015.

T

hank you to our customers, friends, and the (Above): Gov. Bruce Rauner and Case IH Regional agriculture industry! Central Illinois Ag has been Sales Manager, Rick Rank talk on Friday evening and continues to be, a family owned business for over 115 years.

Richard Schmidt, third generation owner (formerly of Schmidt-Marcotte Implement) was able to return to On July 31st and August 1st we hosted a Grand Re- Illinois for the re-opening. “It’s eye-opening to see Opening to share our appreciation of all the support we where the business has come in the past 40 years, it is were given during the re-building process and continue moving in the right direction,” said Schmidt. to receive as we grow our business in the new dealership in Atlanta, IL. Governor Rauner addressed the crowd on Friday evening showing high respect for the farmers and Friday, July 31st we hosted over 400 individuals speaking about the importance of the farmer. including Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, Former Director of Agriculture Philip Nelson, the Illinois State (Photo below to the left): Chad Colby and Max Armstrong FFA Officers, Ag Broadcaster Max Armstrong, Chad entertained the crowd Friday evening.

Colby, key leaders at Case IH, and many more industry (Photo below to the right): Illinois FFA State Officers were professionals. recognized on stage by Michael Schmidt and Abby Coers.

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On Saturday afternoon we opened our doors to the dealership for individuals to view our facility and the technology integrated within the building.

The dealership was built looking into the future with expansion and the ever-increasing world of technology in mind. Owner Michael Schmidt understands the importance of providing his employees with a working environment based on their needs.

“We asked the employees what they would want in a perfect dealership and we took those suggestions and made it to their needs,” Michael said.

(Above photo): The lead singer of Brushville, Brett, putting on a show Saturday.

(Left photo): An aerial view of the crowd at the Brushville concert Saturday night.

Leading in to the evening hours, the country band, Brushville, put on a concert that rounded out the weekend.

The weekend as a whole was a great way to display what Central Illinois Ag is focused on and a way to meet the key players in the agriculture industry.

IMITATED, BUT NEVER DUPLICATED. It's been ten years since we introduced the FlexDraper® to the market and our patented platform has yet to be matched. Featuring MacDon FLEX-FLOAT TechnologyTM , our FD75 FlexDraper ® continues to advance harvesting innovation. The FLEX advantage comes from a fixed reel to cutter bar relationship which maintains a small CRITICAL GAP between the reel fingers and cutter bar... while our FLOAT system allows for instant lateral and vertical float response over rolling and uneven terrain. The result of our FLEX-FLOAT TechnologyTM is smooth, consistent, heads-first feeding that significantly boosts combine productivity. Performance like this is the reason why more top producers and custom harvesters trust MacDon with their harvest.

Fits Most Current Model Combines.

Trademarks of products are the marks of their respective manufacturers and/or distributors.

See the MacDon FD75 FlexDraper® in action at MacDon.com/videos

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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MANAGE NITROGEN WITH A BASE-PLUS APPROACH. Margins are tight. That means you need to make inputs work harder so you can maximize profit. How you manage nitrogen can make a big difference in your bottom line and your yields. 360 Yield Center gives you the tools so you can make the most of inputs by applying N when it’s needed most, instead of putting it out early when it’s vulnerable to loss from rain and the environment.

100%

Corn uses almost 75% of its needed nitrogen after V101. That’s why it’s time to start rethinking a one-anddone approach and instead build a strong foundation with a base rate in the fall or spring, but saving inputs for mid-season application.

Make the most of your ammonia application with 360 EQUI-FLOW ™. By managing pressure, it keeps NH3 liquid all the way to the injectors, so every row is treated equally. There are far fewer losses and decreased crop damage.

100%

CUMULATIVE PERCENTAGE OF N USED

100%

75%

OF N USED AFTER V10 1

25%

5% V6

Know, don’t guess, how much nitrogen is available to your plants throughout the season. With 360 SOILSCAN™, you can easily monitor nitrogen levels in your fields in real time. And, with the Corn N Need Calculator, you can build N application plans on the spot and right before you apply mid-season N.

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V10

MATURITY

360 Y-DROP ™ lets you apply nitrogen anytime, even up to VT, when corn needs it most, and 360 Y-DROP puts N right at the stalk base, making it most accessible to the roots.

360YIELDCENTER.COM

2015 TRIAL RESULTS REVEAL:

NITROGEN MANAGED. COSTS LOWERED. YIELD RAISED.

NITROGEN TIMING AND PLACEMENT TRIAL

This trial, done in southern Illinois, compared eight different application plans with a total of 16 passes in the field.

It compared the yield impact of late-season nitrogen application with a one-and-done approach.

Split nitrogen application in this trial improved yield as compared to the control (200 lb. of N applied preplant). The trial also showed that the addition of 360 Y-DROP ™ N application increased yield by an average of 29.5 bu/A. In low ground areas where heavy rain had a large impact through ponding, 360 Y-DROP boosted yield by 35 bu/A .

OVERVIEW OF SELECT PASSES

+29.5 bu/A Advantage with

360-Y-Drop

360 Y-DROP LATE-SEASON NITROGEN VS. COULTER TRIAL

This side-by-side central Illinois trial compared N timing and placement with 360 Y-DROP versus a coulter. The coulter application was done at V6 (early June) and the 360 Y-DROP application at V16 (early July). Both sidedress applications were 150 lb. of N after 100 lb. of N was applied as a base on the whole field, including 30 lb. with the planter (2x2) and 70 lb. of weed and feed worked in with a vertical tillage tool just prior to planting. This yield map shows actual harvest data and yield results.

YIELD MAP WITH ACTUAL YIELDS

Visit www.360YieldCenter.com to learn more and hear how precision nitrogen management helped farmers lower costs and raise yields last season.

360YIELDCENTER.COM 1 Data on file.

All trademarks are the property of 360 Yield Center, its affiliates and/or its licensors. ©2015 360 Yield Center. All rights reserved. YCD15015

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2 18 8 www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue

H

HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes

OOAH (Healing Outside of a Hospital) Deer “They realize that they are capable,” Gaither said.

Hunt for Heroes is an organization with a focus to assist wounded warriors to focus on their abilities while Heroes on the hunt have lost an arm, both legs, and have networking with fellow veterans. even been paralyzed. It doesn’t matter what the casualty is, we are here to help them.

Tom Huffington and Matt Graden started HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes in 2013 hosting six soldiers recently HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes takes place in the fall injured in combat from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The with a pheasant and deer hunt. Soldiers are awarded week-long event has grown over the past two years to throughout the week, along with being recognized by over ten soldiers, and a list of heroes who would like to several individuals and businesses. attend.

Soldiers and the public are invited to attend a golf outing in the Spring to help fundraise for the deer hunt.

The soldiers are able to enjoy the week at no-cost from fundraising and donations.

To learn more, or to be involved with HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes, visit their website at: www.HOOAHDeerHuntForHeroes.com & Like their page on Facebook!

Joe Gaither, volunteer, says the heroes are chosen based on their needs. All soldiers whether physically or emotionally challenged are able to apply for the hunt.

The hunt isn’t about killing, it’s about networking and being in an environment they enjoy. Gaither has seen attitude changes from day 1 of the trip to day 5. Soldiers begin to believe in themselves and their ‘disabilities’ turn into ‘abilities.’

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Or

Lease

®

Loan?

You Decide.

1st Farm Credit Express Can help either way.

Congratulations on the Grand Opening of your Atlanta dealership!

1st Farm Credit Express is proud to partner with Central Illinois Ag to

provide the following world-class services:

 Industry Leading Loan Products  Innovative Lease Products  Refinances to Manage Interest-Free Waivers Call your CIA salesman for more information on competitive finance options on your next equipment purchase.

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A Dairy Tour with Illinois Farm Families®

Read the moms’ blogs about their tour experiences by going to: http://www.watchusgrow.org/illinois-farm-families-blog.

We know moms have questions about their milk, meat, animal care, GMOs, pesticides and chemicals, the environment, antibiotics, and hormones. That’s why Illinois Farm Families® invite City Moms from Chicago to go with us to talk directly to farmers and see the farms for themselves. In 2015, they visited four farms and a grocery store. Take a look at the September dairy tour, hosted by Dale and Linda Drendel of Hampshire, Illinois.

Lunch comes first. And who doesn’t like a home-made meal on the farm?

Linda Drendel talking to the moms in the calf barn.

Moms learning about animal health and nutrition from veterinarian Dr. Brian Gerloff .

In the cattle barn with Dale Drendel.

Dale welcomes the moms into the milking parlor.

A City Mom making friends with a Lindale Holstein.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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Born & Raised RED

Kevin Lascelles and Sidney on their farm in Kilbourne, IL.

K

evin Lascelles of Oakford, IL is a fourth-generation Case IH farmer on his family farm following his great-grandfather, Frank Lascelles, grandfather, Homer Lascelles, and father and uncle, Mervin and Marvin Lascelles respectively.

The century farm is important to Kevin. It’s important for him to take care of the ground for the future generations in the Lascelles family and that is why he continues to farm with Case IH.

Farming 1,500 of his own acreage and an additional When Kevin was eight years 400 acres of custom harvesting, Lascelles has had old, he learned to drive his very minimal issues with his red equipment and says fathers International 856. there is no competition with the durability of Case IH Kevin smiled and said, “I equipment. felt like I was king of the world!” Little did he know that feeling would lead him into his passion and career.

(L to R): Mervin, Marvin, Mervin and Homer moving an irrigation system from a Donny, and Neil Lascelles 160 acre field to another 160 acre field. They had one of with their dog, Pal. the first irrigation systems in Mason County.

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Simplicity is important to Kevin. He says that Case IH has always had a way with making their equipment user-friendly and easy to work with.

“With technology always changing, a guy like me struggles to keep up but Case IH makes it simple to learn,” said Kevin.

Keeping his Case IH 8120 combine up-to-date has led to many productive harvests for him. Kevin says the machine runs great and handles the cornhead and draper extremely well.

Kevin’s first tractor he purchased in 1997, a Case 4490.

Another powerful machine Kevin runs is the Steiger Central Illinois Ag has worked closely with Kevin 350 (pictured on page 13). This tractor drives smoothly Lascelles and his family to ensure they have the best through the field during all seasons. equipment and are running during the busy seasons.

When he is away from the field, Kevin can be found in his Farmall DX 35 doing chores. The comfortablility of this tractor makes it easy to clean the driveway, move manure, and dig ditches.

“Central Illinois Ag does a great job keeping my equipment up-to-date, and when I need something John (Coers) is just a phone call away.”

-Kevin Lascelles

Kevin recently purchased an antique International 1466 that portrays the model his grandfather owned. He did “I started farming with my family at a young age and I all the restoration to this tractor and has taken it to a still love it,” Kevin said with passion. couple tractor pulls.

The fifth-generation of the farm will be taken over by “Case IH has been in the Lascelles family since the late his daughter and son-in-law, Irene and Zachary Knous.

1800’s and there is a reason for that,” Kevin said.

Zach and Irene’s Case IH wedding cake.

Everything from the ride out of the church, the wedding bouquet, table decorations, and mints were Case IH. Irene and Zach’s wedding represents the passion they both share for the family farm, and the importance of it to them.

Zachary and Irene Knous walking out of the church after their wedding on October 17, 2015.

“Tractors and farming represent who I am, where I come from and my lifestyle,” Irene said.

Kevin’’s daughter and fifth generation to the family farm, Irene, married Zachary Knous on October 17th, 2015 to a Case IH themed wedding.

“Ever since I was little I had dreamed of a farm style wedding, which is what I had,” Irene said.

Kevin Lascelles, Zachary & Irene Knous, and Teresa

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2 Lascelles.

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Bigger Lawn, Bigger Mower Russ and Stacey Hicks of Clinton, IL recently purchased a new home with a much larger yard than prior. You know what that means? A new mower was in store for them!

After pricing competitor products and recommendations for Toro, it was without a doubt they would make the decision to get a Toro mower from Central Illinois Ag. “Toro is top-of-the-line and the zero-turn with a higher power mower will fit our needs with a larger yard,” Stacey said.

The couples new SS5000 mower will also master the hills on their property.

“There are so many features to this mower that I am excited for summer to mow the lawn,” said Russ.

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The Illinois State FFA Officers with the 1948 Farmall Cub.

Teaming up with FFA

T

he Illinois FFA Association has teamed up with Central Illinois Ag to raise funds for Illinois FFA Chapters. In 2014, Central Illinois Ag received a 1953 International Super M and a 1948 Farmall Cub on tradein. As a business who believes in the future of agriculture, it seemed appropriate to use this as an opportunity to support the FFA chapters in furthering their agriculture programs.

these are the individuals who will be leading the industry.

Central Illinois Ag Marketing Coordinator, Abby Coers, says that several schools have opted to participate and are using their donations to reduce the cost for students to attend national and state convention as well as giving additional students opportunities otherwise not available.

The two antique tractors were sent to the Parkland Diesel Program at Parkland College in Champaign, IL. Students, including two Central Illinois Ag student-technicians, restored the tractors before sending them to a local painter in McLean, IL. Mindy Bunselmeyer, Illinois FFA Executive Director, has given every Illinois FFA Chapter an opportunity to participate in selling raffle tickets as a fundraiser. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $5 each or 5 tickets for $20.

Central Illinois Ag is donating 100% of the raffle ticket sales back to the selling chapter.

Michael Schmidt, owner of Central Illinois Ag, says he enjoys helping the FFA Chapters because moving forward

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We were honored to host the 2015-2016 Illinois State FFA officers at the Central Illinois Ag Re-Grand Opening event on July 31, 2015. These five highly respected leaders unveiled the project and have worked closely with Central Illinois Ag in the fundraising efforts.

“The additional financial assistance from ticket sales will greatly benefit the individual FFA Chapters in Illinois.”

-Kade Hill, 2015-2016 Illinois FFA State President

An opportunity to support your local FFA Chapter will be made available until early May 2016 and the tractors will be raffled off at the 2016 Illinois FFA State Convention in Springfield, IL. Contact your local Illinois FFA Chapter Advisor or Central Illinois Ag salesman to purchase tickets.

2015-2016 Illinois FFA State Officer Team Kade Hill, President - Paxton, IL Connor Carmody, Vice President - Hardin, IL Kolton Kimpling, Reporter - Streator, IL Susie Thompson, Secretary - Maple Park, IL Jordan Johns, Treasurer - Pontiac, IL Mindy Bunselmeyer, Executive Director

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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10 Things to Inspect on Your Precision Planting® Planter Before #Plant16

We all know that the planter pass is the most important pass of the year. It is absolutely crucial to ensure that everything on your planter is in good working order. Here is a list of ten things to check before planting season 2016. Ensure success by planting with Precision Planting®.

1. Test row unit ride.

Worn bushings increase row unit bounce, increasing seed bounce. Make sure bushings are tight for a good ride in the field.

5. Create a proper seed trench “V”.

V is for “victory” in the seed trench, and you’ll need it for uniform emergence across the field. Inspect your disc openers.

Measure them. Make sure they are not worn past replacement.

2.Check your meter drive system.

#3. Level the planter.

Check every chain and hex shaft.

Kinked chains cause shock and vibration in the meter. Start with fresh, lubricated chains and check them daily. Ensure your hex shafts are aligned properly.

Check hitch height. Make sure the planter’s toolbar is level (vertically) or running slightly up hill. Your planter toolbar should be 22’’ off the ground.

6. Plan for successful seed delivery.

Inspect your seed tubes for wear at the bottom and replace them if you needed. to.

7. Ensure seed to soil contact.

8. Test gauge wheels.

Uniform germination adds an average of six bushels an acre - use Keeton Seed Firmers to improve depth control and seed to soil contact.

As soon as gauge wheels stop wiping the opening disc cleanly, they should be adjusted or replaced.

4. Test your meters.

Take your meters to Central IL Ag to have them run on a MeterMax test stand. You should be getting 98% or better accuracy from your meters, but typical meters run at only 92 97%. Why settle?

10. Prepare for spring conditions.

9. Analyze closing wheel alignment.

With your planter setting on concrete, pull ahead about five feet.

The mark left should run right down the centerline between the closing wheels - if it’s too close to the mark, adjust them.

Any planter can benefit from welladjusted row cleaners.

Make sure row cleaners gently whisk away residue - you don’t want to move any soil, just residue.

Tips provided by Rush Olson, Central Illinois Ag Precision Planting® Specialist rolson@centralilag.com

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Tomorrow’s Planter, Today vDrive + DeltaForce ®

®

Down force is a serious issue that too often goes ignored and can make a huge impact on yield.

Get your population right with vDrive, control down force row by row with DeltaForce, and you’ve got a planter of the future worth writing home about.

Case IH®

John Deere®

KINZE®

WHITE®

Available for These Planters

Independent Row Response

Independent Row Control with Turn Compensation

Hydraulic Controlled Down and Lift

No Chain & Cable Maintenance

Sub-Second Response to Changing Conditions

Combines Planter Drive & Swath Control

Add any Precision Planting product to build your planter of the future.

www.planterofthefuture.com

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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Case IH® is a registered trademark of CNH Industrial N.V. John Deere® is a registered trademark of Deere & Company. KINZE® is a registered trademark of KINZE Manufacturing Inc. WHITE® is a registered trademark of AGCO Corporation. DeltaForce®, vDrive® and Precision Planting® are registered trademarks of Precision Planting LLC ©2014 Precision Planting LLC.

Farmers Helping Farmers L

LFT, Inc.

FT, a business located in Lake Fork, IL, has is a top of the line truck bed. Eventually, Carl took over served many farmers within Central Illinois and the business from Ed. surrounding areas to ensure their straight trucks are safe and reliable.

Another mentor, Richard Kirby of Williamsville, taught him how to do framework and lengthen the truck bed.

Carl Oglesby, a farmer himself, began his career hauling seed corn for DeKalb 6-8 months out of the year and helped his father, Ed Oglesby, farm during harvest time. Ed would be in the field, and Carl would haul the corn and beans. His time spent in the truck led him to understand the importance of an efficient truck and truck bed.

In 1977, Carl bought his first straight truck from Graue Chevrolet in Lincoln, IL. to haul seed. He began buying additional trucks, which led to the development of LFT. After marrying his wife Julie, she became a valuable asset to the business.

Carl’s mentor, Ed Musselman from Buffalo, IL was a dealer for Tafco Equipment. Tafco Equipment manufactures Scott steel and aluminum bodies, which

(Top) Carl’s first straight truck, a black 1977 Chevy, used to haul corn for DeKalb.

(Bottom) Carl with a straight line truck he used for hauling DeKalb seed.

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Alan Voelker, joined LFT in 1978, delivering seed and Carl stopped by Central Illinois Ag in 2010 to inquire hauling grain part-time. In 1985 he became a fulltime about red equipment and he has been a loyal customer employee helping Carl with both the farming and ever since. trucking businesses, from installation to welding, Alan is a vital part of LFT, Inc. “Brian (Reeser) has always been honest, friendly, and fun to work with.” -Carl Oglesby

Alan Voelker welding a truck bed.

LFT also hauls Channel seed corn, grain for two elevators, and rock, lime, and fertilizer. Additionally, Carl hauls his own grain from the field.

The family owned and operated business has succeeded over the years because Carl and Alan prepare the truck for hauling as if it was their own. Carl believes in the “Golden Rule” and values each individual he meets.

Even though some farmers have switched to semis, straight line trucks allow for a more simple approach to transporting. These 19,500 pound trucks can haul up to 550-580 bushels of #2 corn. When dumping the corn or beans, the bed is able to be dumped at 45 degrees from the center of hinge and will lift 30 ton of material.

“The best aspect of my business is that I get to communicate with other farmers, know their needs, their wants, and try to provide that in a truck for their farming operation,” Carl said.

Alongside the trucking business Carl has continued his passion for farming. He understands his customer because he is using the same trucking equipment for similar reasons.

During planting and harvest, Carl can be found farming around his hometown in Central Illinois with his Case IH equipment.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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High Speed Residue Management

...The Company Who Knows You Best The High Speed Landoll (HSL) can easily handle today’s high levels of residue with features that leave the competition behind. The HSL is able to cut and size residue, bury a specific amount of residue, be tough and robust to work through rocky and stony conditions without fail and leave the finished field level and smooth enough to plant into all while operating at speeds around 10 MPH. Available in sizes from 13’ through 40’, the HSL features aggressive individually mounted disc blades, overlapping gangs, a floating wing design and heavyduty floatation tires.

7800 Series High Speed Landoll (HSL)

Expect a Perfect Seedbed

Engineered Simplicity

2410/2430 Series Weatherproofer (WP1)

Time is more important in farming today than it’s ever been, and it plays a major role in how good the crop yield will be. The 8530 Finisholl will help producers meet their timeline during the crucial spring and fall planting seasons.

Outstanding quality is designed and manufactured into every part and this keeps it performing without costly delays season-after-season.

Available in seven working widths from 19’ to 48’, the 8530 will increase your return on investment by creating the perfect seedbed and eliminating costly downtime.

Manage residue and compaction in a single pass with the Weatherproofer 1 from Landoll.

Available in 6 through 13 shank models, the WP1 features disc gangs on 10 1/2” spacing that quickly resize and mix the toughest residue.

Auto-reset shanks on 24” centers provide much better soil fracture than traditional 30” spacing. This allows you to run at shallower depths at higher speeds, saving on both fuel and labor while leaving an impressively level field.

The WP1 is a true “set it and forget it” type of tool as the entire machine is set with a single adjustment.

8530 Finisholl

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®

Marysville, KS 66508 785.738.6613

Central Illinois Ag Adds Flying AG To Its Product Lines

C

entral Illinois Ag has partnered with Flying AG, a leading-edge agricultural imagery business founded by four farmers from Illinois, Indiana and California. The founders of Flying AG have been utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in their own operations and have joined forces to offer innovative new solutions to the agricultural marketplace

The imagery UAVs we offer are flown using the latest technology and include the ability to produce 4K video and 16 megapixel images which are available on a mobile device instantly.

Jay Westervelt, a grower from Mason City, has owned a UAV for two years. “It will be convenient for Central Illinois Ag to team up with Flying AG. The ability to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a term that has have a local dealer will allow me to stay up to date with been used frequently within the agriculture industry. the latest upgrades and technology,” Westervelt said.

UAVs are the most cost-effective and time-sensitive tool when growers want to produce quality images of their “Central Illinois Ag has become more than an equipment property. dealership; we’ve grown to also become a technology based company to best help the farmer,” said Michael Central Illinois Ag has two UAVs available for purchase: Schmidt, fifth-generation owner of Central Illinois Ag. DJI Phantom 3 Vision quadcopter, and a DJI Inspire 1 quadcopter. When purchased from Central Illinois Ag, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows these imagery UAVs will be ready to fly and come fully individuals to fly UAV’s for personal and recreational equipped with additional batteries and storage; all units use. To learn more about the FAA guidelines, visit: include a hands-on training session. www.KnowBeforeYouFly.org.

Ask about advanced imagery using Drone Deploy with our Flying Ag Inspire & Phantom 3 Kits!

Corey Jacobs Ligonier, Indiana

Flying AG Phantom 3 Pro Kit

Flying AG Inspire 1 Kit

Jason Schmidt Lincoln, Illinois

Martin Hein Visalia, California Randy Aberle Gibson City, Illinois

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2 24

A SOYBEAN DISCUSSION IS HAPPENING

ACROSS

ILLINOIS. JOIN THE CONVERSATION NOW. At ILSoyAdvisor.com, you’ll find management and production tips, the latest research, market information, weather forecasts and more. It’s always relevant and from local experts—and it’s all within a click of a button. Visit ILSoyAdvisor.com today for the tools to help increase your yields.

m ISASOY0315490

25 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

State Soybean Checkoff Creates Profit Opportunities for Illinois Farmers

I

llinois has led the nation in soybean production since 2013. This recurring achievement highlights Illinois soybean farmers’ success as they continue to improve production practices, while reducing environmental impact. Funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) works on behalf of our state’s soybean farmers to protect markets, open new ones and increase demand for Illinois soybeans.

This is part of ISA’s mission to help Illinois farmers be the most knowledgeable and profitable soybean producers in the world.

Protecting markets ISA invests soybean checkoff dollars on behalf of Illinois farmers to protect markets and the freedom to operate. This year, ISA was actively involved with the Illinois Department of Ag, Illinois EPA and other agriculture organizations in developing the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, which calls for voluntary action to improve Illinois water quality. Checkoff dollars also support projects to ensure efficient soybean transport. ISA was contacted by officials in Beardstown, Ill., after the 2014 harvest, when a bridge load-posting restricted ag transport. ISA served as a trusted thirdparty mediator, working with transportation officials to find the best solution for farmers.

farmers’ soybeans. ISA recently helped a Chinese buyer secure an initial purchase contract for Illinois soybeans by bridging the gap between the buyer and sellers. ISA also is actively raising awareness and preference for Illinois soybeans among soy buyers in Taiwan, and is continually working to strengthen relationships with current and prospective customers overseas.

Improving yields and profitability The Illinois soybean checkoff prioritizes research and projects that directly help improve Illinois soybean yields and profits. ILSoyAdvisor.com, the checkofffunded soybean management blog, offers blog posts, webinars and podcasts with tips and techniques to increase yields, improve management practices and stay informed year-round. ISA also hosts regional events throughout the year, including Soybean Summits and ILSoyAdvisor Field Days, to create faceto-face interaction with farmers and agronomy experts, sharing best practices for high-yielding soybeans and a stronger bottom line.

The Illinois Soybean Association represents more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois through the state soybean checkoff. Checkoff-funded research, events and programs are designed to boost farmers’ profit opportunities and ensure Illinois soy is the highest Opening markets and building soybean demand quality, most dependable, sustainable and competitive ISA also invests checkoff dollars on behalf of farmers in the global marketplace. Learn more about the Illinois to open new markets and build demand for Illinois soybean checkoff at ILSoy.org.

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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fuel trailer saves big Time.

A Thunder Creek Fuel and Service Trailer delivers more than just fuel for this Central Illinois Ag customer.

Last year, RD Waddington from Assumption, IL purchased a tractor that required diesel exhaust fluid. At that time, he made the decision to also purchase a Thunder Creek fuel trailer with a DEF system on it.

“Before we had just an old, homemade trailer that were using. My dad built it way back in the 70’s,” he says. “It was just a small trailer with a 300 gallon diesel tank on it.”

One of the best things he likes about his trailer is the capacity. His trailer holds 750 gallons of diesel and 100 gallons of DEF. He finds that with this setup he is able to reduce the his fuel trips to every other day.

“

He’ll take the trailer to the field in the morning and fill the combine for the day. That night, he’ll fill again for so he’s good to go for the next day.

The capacity also serves him well when he’s running both a combine and a tractor with a chisel.

“We’d have to make two trips previously with our smaller tank,” he explains. “I guess that’s one of the biggest benefits: it saves us time.”

We asked RD, who raises hogs in addition to farming 2100 acres, if he feels like he has saved money in the long term as a result of the time he has saved with the trailer.

“Yeah.” he confirms. “[Raising hogs] keeps us busy in the morning with chores. We can load our trailer the night before and when we’re done with chores we can take right off and go to the field.”

“

ONE OF THE BIGGEST BENEFITS: IT SAVES US TIME.

I JUST FEEL LIKE IT’S A SUPERIOR PRODUCT. WE LOOKED AT A COUPLE OTHER TRAILERS, DECIDED TO GO WITH THIS, AND HAVE NO REGRETS SINCE DOING SO. -RD WADDINGTON

m 27 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

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www.centralilag.com 路 Volume 2, Issue 2

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BULK-FILL PLANTING?

WATCH YOUR WEIGHT.

KINZE 3600 PIVOT FOLD WITH HYDRAULIC WEIGHT TRANSFER Reduced fill time. Reduced soil compaction. Consistent depth control. That’s what you get with the 3600’s bulk fill and hydraulic weight transfer. Exclusive air seed delivery system minimizes the chance of bridging or plugging. Balanced split-row design. Optional hydraulic variable drive increases precision and versatility of seed population. Narrow in-line transport for easier maneuverability.

Contact your authorized Kinze dealer or visit Kinze.com/3600.

3600 PIVOT FOLD w/split row option 12 Row 30" / 23 or 24 Row 15" • 12 Row 36" / 23 Row 18" 12 Row 38" / 23 Row 19" • 16 Row 30" / 31 or 32 Row 15" • 16 Twin Row 30"

m 29 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

www.kinze.com

K

Loyalty BLUE

inse planters are a must for Todd Stewart of Stew & Stew Farms in Nokomis, IL. Fourteen years ago, Todd Stewart, his father Dave Stewart, and his uncle Dennis Stewart decided to purchase a Kinze 3600 split row planter, leading to a Kinze 3700, and a Kinze 4900 and another Kinze 3600.

Stew & Stew Farms once again visited Kinze Manufacturing for a field day to demo a machine and speak with engineers on a new product. When given business cards and told to call anytime with questions, they certainly felt comfortable with the products being offered.

“Farmers come first,” Stewart said, “Kinze listens to the Stewart visited Kinze Manufacturing in Iowa while he was customer and they stand behind their product.” in college and later for a trip with his seed representative.

Since the first visit to the plant, he was aware that Kinze When a problem occurred on Stewarts’ planter, Kinze valued their customers. didn’t deny the issue; instead, they explained what could be done and over-nighted parts to the farm.

Stewart said his Kinze 3600 is used to plant beans and his Kinze 4900 is used to plant corn. He reported being very happy with the spacing, even stands, and emergence.

Stewart noted that he attends clinics offered by Kinze and Central Illinois Ag to stay up-to-date on the technology.

This has also helped with productivity when it comes to being in-season. Taking one day and learning the technology could save several days figuring it out later.

Stew & Stew Farms recommends all three Kinze models they have used. The user friendly planter is simple to work while in the field.

www.centralilag.com ··Volume 2,2,Issue 21 · 30 www.centralilag.com Volume Issue www.centralilag.com · Winter ‘14-’15

Tak in CAT Country Dave Carlson, is a business man from Peoria, IL who knows his compact equipment. Mention Takeuchi to him and you”ll immediately see a twinkle in his eye. Carlson, owner of CEX, Inc has been in the business of excavating for the last 16 years.

Carlson grew up on a farm just outside of Peoria. He majored in AG Business at Illinois State University and worked several years after that managing agricultural properties for a Peoria bank. He then worked in sales for a couple of years as a technical marketing rep for Advanced Drainage Systems. Tired of being on the road, Carlson started his business with a single Bobcat 642B wheeled skid loader moving dirt and building decks for various home builders. From that point, his business has been built around a fleet of Takeuchi equipment that has helped him complete jobs including sitework, storm and sanitary sewer installations, demolition, concrete work, specialized retaining walls and snow removal. Included in his fleet of track loaders are a TL8, TL10 and a TL150 while his fleet of excavators includes a TB016, TB260 and a TB175.

But, time and time again it’s a Takeuchi that ends up in his yard. Selling points that have won Carlson over are ease and smoothness of machine operation, durability, visibility, resale and the ability to put raw power to the tracks and buckets. Carlson has been extremely impressed with his last 3 machine purchases within the last year which include TL8 and TL10 track loaders and a TB260 excavator. Carlson states, “I traded in older versions of these machines and I was really impressed with the upgrades Takeuchi has made. These machines are horses in their class and, definitely blow the competition away.”

“Ryan Curry has been very accommodating and his communication is excellent. Ryan and Jim Spicer have gone out of their way to take care of my business.”

- Dave Carlson

As Carlson gives a ton of credit to Takeuchi for growing his business he is as quick to give the same amount of credit to Central Illinois Ag and their personnel. Jim Spicer from the Farmer City location was his first contact.

Carlson states, “Jim knows these machines in and out. He His first Takeucki machine purchased was a TL126 is literally an encyclopedia on Takeuchi machines”. back in 2003. It didn’t take long after that purchase that Carlson knew Takeuchi would play a key role in growing As Carlson relates that he was loading his TL10 one his business. In making his purchasing decisions Carlson Saturday evening getting ready for snow removal and a continues to objectively evaluate and compare competitors warning light came on. models side by side with similar Takeuchi machines.

m 31 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 1

31

kind of guy that will quickly step up to the plate and go to bat for you should there be an issue. Ryan is eager to learn more about the machines and presents an enthusiasm for Takeuchi and Central Illinois Ag.

Pouring rocks to build a wall against the lake front.

“It was 7:00 p.m. and starting to snow so I was kind of in a panic. I picked up the phone and called Jim. He walked me through the fix. I don’t know of any other rep that would have cared at that point or taken the time on a Saturday evening. Carlson also remembers that when Jim first came to Peoria to call on him he was amazed at all the hills and rough terrain as, Jim’s world was flat and full of cornfields.

As a final credit to Central Illinois Ag Carlson would like to thank owner Steve Schmidt and his staff for their support and caring attitude. Carlson says “I had never met Steve before. One day while in Atlanta he approached me and introduced himself. He wanted to make sure I was being taken care of and that I was happy with Central Illinois Ag on all levels. How many times does that happen? Steve is definitely an out in the field one- on-one type of guy who doesn’t sit behind a desk and call the shots.” Carlson has been impressed with the service and quick turn-around time on repairs.

“They carry a ton of parts and if they don’t have it they’ll have it drop shipped to their shop or my home in a couple days”.

(Continued on pg. 33) Setting 2400 pound retaining wall blocks with the TB260.

Carlson says “ I’d have Jim meet me at locations where I was working so he could see what these machines can really do. I was going up and down hills that Jim couldn’t hardly even walk on. I think at those times he was fully impressed with their performance”. Carlson states “I literally trust my life to Takeuchi machines and wouldn’t be comfortable with any others in some of the difficult conditions in which I work”.

After a point of growth Central Illinois Ag added Ryan Curry on as an additional Takeuchi support and sales person. Ryan works out of the Atlanta location and took over Carlson’s territory from Jim. Carlson states how impressed he was with Ryan in his first meeting.

“I could tell Ryan really cared and was ready to do whatever it takes to make sure I have the support I need,” Carlson said.

It didn’t take Carlson long before he knew he was right, after all, Carlson had been a rep and in sales himself.

Carlson states “our communication has been great and Ryan has been there to bring me parts and pick up a machine for repairs if I’m too busy. Ryan is also the

www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2

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Carlson looks forward to maintaining and growing his business with Takeuchi and Central Illinois Ag in the future. His work continues to be very diverse and sometimes challenging.

He has completed projects for and, in conjuction with Mini Max Storage, Junction City Ventures, Zerla Properties, Aldi’s and Huck’s to name a few. He primarily works in the Peoria area but is more than willing to travel out of town.

Projects can range in a cost from $250 to $500,000 and, as Carlson states “I don’t turn down the small jobs as some of them have turned into pretty large ones. I think sometimes people will use you on a small job purposely to get that feel for you. Just like Central Illinois Ag when they became the Takeuchi dealer...I didn’t jump in head first all at once but, now I’m all in!”

(Above Photo): Carlson used his TB016 to create this drainage path.

“You don't need a large machine to make money just the right one.”

(Side Photo): Driving 10’’ I beams for pilings with the TB260.

(Below Photo): Dave Carlson, CEX Inc., with four of his Takeuchi machines on a job site in Peoria, IL.

m 33 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com

WHO’S WHO?

Technicians

Luke Litwiller

Atlanta, IL • Platforms and Tractors Years at CIA: 5 I stay up-to-date on machinery through frequent Case IH and MacDon trainings.

Everyday is different in the shop and I enjoy

that work environment.

Outside of work I enjoy

hunting, fishing, and playing my guitar.

Justin Hadler

Farmer City, IL • Tractors and Construction Equip Years at CIA: 6 My training includes attending Takeuchi, Steiger, and Magnum School Staying up-to-date on the ever changing

technology makes my

job job fun and interesting.

Outside of work I enjoy

hunting and fishing.

Floyd Lovins

Clinton, IL •Tractors and Construction Equipment Years at CIA: 2 I’ve been to training at the Takeuchi headquarters in Georgia.

Our shop environment is relaxing and allows me to work at my highest potential.

Outside of work I like to ride my motorcycle and spend time with my children (3 years old & 5 years old). www.centralilag.com · Volume 2, Issue 2 34

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m 35 · Central Illinois Ag · www.centralilag.com