FarmWeek June 13 2011

SOME SOUTHERN Illinois wheat growers could fire up their combines early this season since the hot weather has hastened wheat maturity. ...4

FLOODING PERSISTS in Southern Illinois long after the rivers have begun to recede and the news media have departed. ...........5

SOME FARMERS may qualify for federal payments resulting from weather-related quality damage to 2009 crops. ......................................8

Monday, June 13, 2011

Two sections Volume 39, No. 24

Vilsack: Cuts should be ‘strategic,’ rurally conscious

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recognized the need for budgetary belt-tightening last week, but warned Congress against choking off crucial rural development resources.

Amid producer concerns about broad House-proposed cuts in fiscal 2012 ag spending, Vilsack helped unveil a new interagency White House Rural Council aimed at promoting ag market development and improved rural conservation, health care access, and education.

He noted “the need to tighten the belt” in the face of a federal deficit, and said the council would explore “creative ways to use our resources” under fiscal constraints.

“At the same time, we want to figure out ways in which we can expand investment and growth in the economy,” Vilsack told FarmWeek. “I think we have to be strategic about reductions. We don’t want to jeopardize our capacity to grow our way out of a deficit in addition to cutting our way out.”

He stressed need for “a strong safety net in production agriculture,” and rejected suggestions that rural development is “pitted against agriculture” in terms of USDA support.

The House ag spending bill would impact both. It trims $338 million from USDA Rural Development programs vs. fiscal 2011 funding. USDA’s telemedicine, distance learning, and broadband programs — potential linchpins in Rural Council goals — also face major cuts under the plan.

At the same time, the bill would cut into farm payments by reducing a current producer eligibility cap of $750,000 in annual on-farm adjusted gross income (AGI) and $500,000 in off-farm income to an annual $250,000 in total AGI. The Rural Council supports biofuels expansion and community-based renewable energy projects, while House proposals block fiscal 2012 Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) funding key to fostering new bioenergy sources.

Two proposed Illinois biomass “project areas” have applied to the Farm Service Agency’s state office for BCAP support in establishing regional bioenergy production-supply chains.

Those projects now will compete with others from across the U.S. for USDA approval and fiscal 2011 funds.

Vilsack noted ethanol’s reported role in shaving an average 89 cents from per-gallon gas prices. The biofuels sector is a “job creator,” offering potential for as many as a million new jobs “as we expand new ways to produce biofuels” from biomass feedstocks, he said.

“We want to look for ways to expand, to encourage, to entice — and I know there are

conversations taking place in the halls of Congress about how to properly incentivize — this industry as it gets itself on its feet,” Vilsack said.

“We also are taking a look at ways in which these additional (biofuels) feedstocks won’t necessarily compete with food or feed needs. That’s one of the reasons why we’re increasing our commitment to research.”

READYING TO PLANT

Gary and Jane Tretter of rural Gorham in Jackson County chat while loading soybeans into a planter as they prepare to plant a 150-acre field near Murphysboro. Good weather last week allowed them to move toward finishing their remaining 600 acres. They’ve had to do no replanting so far. The Tretters’ son, daughter, and daughter-in-law also are involved in the farm. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

South Korean ambassador: Time running out for FTA

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Periodicals: Time Valued

Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs Program Manager Fred Iutzi warns the House spending plan would preclude any further BCAP signups in the near term.

That would generate “a snowball effect in the marketplace and then in the policy arena, as far as (lawmakers) actually seeing the benefits that could happen with the program,” Iutzi told FarmWeek.

Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s ambassador to the United States, last week at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines delivered a short but pointed message to Congress: Time is running out.

He challenged Congress to ratify a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries prior to the August recess or risk losing market share in South Korea.

“The stakes for both countries are high, but time is running out,” Han repeatedly said to an Expo crowd that included U.S. Reps. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) and Tom Latham (R-Iowa).

“If the Korean-U.S. agree-

ment isn’t ratified before the August recess, the chances to ratify it diminish greatly,” said Han. The ambassador noted a Han Duck-soo trade agreement between South Korea and the European Union (EU) will take effect in July. A deal already is in place with Chile.

Meanwhile, South Korea, which has the world’s 15th largest economy, currently is negotiating trade agreements with Australia and Canada that Han predicted could be finalized by the end of this year.

“We need to import food

FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com

For more on the FTAs, see page 3 and farm products” to satisfy demands of a growing population, Han said. South Korea, a mountainous country about the size of Georgia, does not have enough arable land to feed its population of about 48 million people, he noted.

The U.S. previously was South Korea’s largest trading partner until China surpassed it in 2004. Japan and the EU also have surpassed the U.S. in total trade with South Korea.

Yet, the U.S. remains South

Korea’s top supplier of pork, and exports so far this year have increased due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease that decimated South Korea’s swine herd.

But the U.S. could be out of the market in the next decade if the FTA is not ratified, according to Nick Giordano, vice president and counsel of international affairs for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

“This is the most important trade agreement ever for the U.S. pork industry,” Giordano told FarmWeek. “It could generate an additional $687 million in exports annually.”

See FTA, page 3

Illinois Farm Bureau®on the web: www.ilfb.org

FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, June 13, 2011

COMMODITIES

Quick Takes CREDIT IMPERILED — The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is mobilizing biofuels support in advance of a potential vote this week on an amendment aimed at ending the current ethanol blenders tax credit on July 1.

The tax credit already is set to expire at the end of this year. RFA has been working with leaders in Congress to “transition and transform” ethanol tax policy to address budget concerns while providing for the continued growth and evolution of American ethanol production.

The amendment to scrap the credit has been offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), according to RFA, recipient of some $250,000 in oil and gas industry donations since 2005. The measure is intended for inclusion in the Economic Development Revitalization Act now before the Senate.

“This is the same kind of political gamesmanship that nations like Iran and Venezuela are exercising to keep consumer energy prices artificially high and Americans addicted to oil,” RFA CEO Bob Dinneen said.

CARP CADRE WANTED — Illinois officials are seeking scientists to help in the state’s battle against the aggressive Asian carp. Last week, Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon announced she was accepting applications for anyone who wants to serve on what is called a Science Advisory Committee focusing on carp control.

Simon says the committee — made up of volunteers from the scientific community and representatives from notfor-profit organizations and state and federal agencies — also will examine other potential threats to the state’s rivers.

Simon wants volunteers who have advanced degrees in civil engineering, hydrology, aquatic ecology, or a related field who are willing to spend no less than 75 hours a year working on the committee.

Applications must be in before July 15. For information, visit {www.ltgov.illinois.gov}.

LIGHT QUAKE SHAKES S. ILLINOIS –- A light earthquake centered in eastern Missouri last week was felt by people in numerous communities in Southwestern Illinois.

The quake, which was a magnitude 3.9 temblor, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, was reported in Belleville, Caseyville, Granite City, and Red Bud, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported. A few people as far away as Alabama, Kentucky, and Ohio also reported feeling effects of the earthquake.

The quake apparently occurred in the Ozark dome region outside the New Madrid zone.

No damage was reported, but the American Red Cross took the opportunity to remind people to have disaster plans in place.

Illinois emergency responders and officials just last month prepared for a massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault as part of an eight-state disaster drill, FarmWeek previously reported.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 39 No. 24

June 13, 2011

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Crop production revisions add new ‘fire’ to markets reduce planted (corn) acres, more than offsetting likely gains in the western Corn The crop markets could heat up in the Belt and Central Plains,” USDA noted in weeks leading into the June 30 crop its supply/demand report. acreage report as USDA last week revised USDA boosted its season average price crop production numbers and boosted projections by 50 cents per bushel for price projections. corn (to a record-high range USDA in its June crop of $6 to $7), 20 cents per FarmWeekNow.com production and supbushel for wheat (to a record For more on USDA’s crop proply/demand reports lowered $7 to $8.40), and $1 per duction and supply and decorn acres from March bushel for soybeans (to $13 m a n d r e p o r t s , g o t o F a r m - to $15). intentions by 1.5 million WeekNow.com. acres to a total of 90.7 milAg Secretary Tom Vilsack lion acres. last week downplayed the Ending stocks of corn subsequently record-high price projections and tighter were reduced by 205 million bushels to supplies and assured customers there will 695 million bushels, which was projected be enough crops produced this year to to reduce the stocks-to-use ratio from 5.4 meet demand. percent to 5.2 percent.

“Corn production is projected at 13.2 “That will add fire to the markets,” said billion bushels. While down (305 million Charles Soule, market analyst with Country bushels) from last month’s projection, it Hedging, during a teleconference hosted by still would be a record and up 753 million the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. bushels from last year,” Vilsack said.

The reduction in corn plantings was due “I continue to have faith and confito heavy rains, which caused major plantidence that far mers in this country will ng delays in some areas, and flooding that produce sufficient supplies to meet the is expected to take some acres out of pro- various needs we’ve created for our duction for the season. crops.”

Those conditions also are responsible USDA last week lowered soybean for a 290,000 drop in spring wheat acres. exports 20 million bushels to 1.52 billion Ending stocks of wheat were reduced by bushels, due to competition from South 15 million bushels to 687 million bushels.

America, and raised ending stocks of soy“Planting delays in the eastern Corn beans 30 million bushels to 190 million Belt and Northern Plains are expected to bushels.

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Red ink returns to pork sector with hike in production ‘price’ The balance sheet on many estimate of planted corn aged risk and those who did hog operations slipped back acres nationwide by 1.5 milnot,” Meyer said. into red ink last month lion acres. despite record-high pork “With the uncertainty of FarmWeekNow.com prices. the corn crop, I think there is Visit FarmWeekNow.com. to And Steve Meyer of significant upside risk to feed lear n more about the 2011 Paragon Economics believes costs as we go into 2012,” Wo r l d P o r k E x p o i n D e s the trend will continue. He Meyer said.

Moines. predicted farrow-to-finish Many hog producers operations near-term could turned a profit from February average a loss of about $5 per through April this year before Producers earlier this year head. the average balance sheet could have locked in $100“The issue is plus hog prices not the price of and a profit of pigs,” Meyer ‘ With the uncertainty of the corn crop, $25 to $30 per said during a I think there is significant upside risk head using the news conferfutures marto feed costs as we go into 2012 .’ ence last week kets, according at the World to the econoPork Expo in mist.

— Steve Meyer Des Moines.

Paragon Economics “The issue is “Those who the price of took advanproduction.” took a loss in May. However, tage of that will be OK (this Meyer predicted hog prices Meyer estimated producers year),” Meyer said. “Those will average $90 to $94 per only regained about one-quar- who didn’t will be hurting.” hundredweight this summer ter of the $6 billion in equity Meyer said increased risk before falling to the low-to they lost in 2007-08. management and “less rivermid-$80s this fall. But costs, The good news is producboat gambling on the cash in the meantime, are projecters who managed their risk markets” will be the key to ed to reach $90-plus per hun- this year still may fare well the future for producers. He dredweight. despite a recent downturn in predicted the financial And costs could push even hog prices and higher input spread from operation to higher if corn production costs. operation will continue to falls short of expectations.

“There is a big spread right drive consolidation in the USDA last week reduced its now between those who man- industry. — Daniel Grant

Page 3 Monday, June 13, 2011 FarmWeek

GOVERNMENT

Are FTA-related job fears political hogwash?

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

As some in Washington attempt to link free trade with lost jobs, Illinois Pork Producers Association President Mike Haag warns of a true offshore economic shift if Congress fails to pass pending free trade agreements (FTAs).

Last week, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) rejected Republican calls to strip expansion of federal trade adjustment assistance (TAA) from pending FTAs with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama. TAA is designed to help U.S. workers purportedly displaced by expanded trade.

Separating TAA from FTA approvals is a “non-starter,” Baucus insisted. However, Washington trade consultant Paul Drazek said a case can be made that with FTA-related export gains, “we’re not going to need TAA as much.”

The National Pork Producers Council projects U.S. producers would see hog prices rise by $11 a head under the Korea FTA alone. Haag, a Livingston County producer, sees more meat moving into export channels as global incomes

rise, and he wants to see the U.S. share in as much of that new market as possible.

An Iowa State University study indicated the U.S. pork industry could fall entirely out

of Colombian, Panamanian, and South Korean markets in 10 years without FTAs, as those countries move forward on agreements with other nations. That would cost the U.S. thousands of processing, transportation, and other jobs, the study warns.

With currently high import tariffs blocking U.S. access, export revenues would move by default to the runner-up “low-cost producer of pork,” Haag told FarmWeek.

“South Korea has a huge problem: They’ve had to kill

so many pigs because of footand-mouth (FMD),” he said.

“They’ve actually been importing quite a bit of pork this year anyway.

“One of the misconceptions is that if we don’t sell pork to (prospective FTA partners), if they don’t take the tariffs off, they’re just not going to eat it.

“That’s not true: They’re just going to buy it from somewhere else. That pork

will be raised. We have a choice of whether we want to raise it here or whether it’s raised elsewhere.”

Baucus and fellow FTA supporter and Finance Committee ranking Republican Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) have parted company over TAA extension.

Consultant Drazek notes that, “in principle, the Republicans have never opposed TAA — this is just a question of its scope and cost,” and suggested lawmakers ultimately “will find some solution somewhere in the middle.”

In 2009, Congress expanded TAA to provide assistance

House pending snarl could spur retaliation Congressional tinkering with a carefully crafted U.S.-Brazil trade settlement could spur retaliation against U.S. exports and a rift in alreadywobbly global trade talks.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) seeks a House fix for fiscal 2011 ag spending amendments that together would disrupt the “cotton settlement” — a U.S.-Brazilian framework agreement reached after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in Brazil’s favor against U.S. cotton support programs.

The House Appropriations Committee approved Rep. Jeff Flake’s (R-Ariz.) AFBFopposed proposal to fund a $147 million annual settlement payment to Brazil through cuts in direct payments to U.S. cotton producers.

That “award” is designed to help bolster Brazil’s own cotton sector, which had claimed competitive injury resulting from U.S. supports, AFBF trade specialist Dave Salmonsen said.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) then won support for amendments that block use of any ag funds to make Brazilian payments and divert that $147 million in budget “savings” to fund USDA’s Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) foodnutrition programs.

The Appropriations ag subcommittee earlier had cut WIC funding by $832 million, and Salmonsen suggested DeLauro saw a chance to recoup a portion of that funding.

But DeLauro’s amendments likely would violate the agreement with Brazil, which aims to head off retaliatory Brazilian duties on U.S. goods — duties Salmonsen sees as potentially costing more than annual settlement payments.

“Congress can do what it wants,” Washington

trade consultant Paul Drazek told FarmWeek.

“My guess is that if they take away funding for (the Brazilian settlement), USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative are probably going to have to go back to the Brazilians and see if there isn’t some other way to deal with the problem to avoid retaliation.

“This wasn’t the only thing the U.S. had to do, but it was part of the deal. If it’s gone, the U.S. is going to have to talk to the Brazilians and see what they can work out. Or Brazil presumably would be able to retaliate to make up the difference, and that would affect U.S. exports.”

The agreement also directs the U.S. to “fix” the existing cotton program to Brazil’s satisfaction via the 2012 farm bill, Drazek noted.

DeLauro’s amendments could raise doubts about the U.S.’ overall commitment to WTO compliance, and that could contaminate “the atmosphere” surrounding crucial WTO Doha Round talks, he said.

Despite WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy’s renewed efforts to spur multilateral talks, Drazek doubts much real progress toward a Doha agreement can be made until 2012.

However, the Doha Round is focused on developing world growth as well as market access concerns important to the U.S., and he fears issues between the U.S. and developing country leader Brazil could seriously impede further negotiations.

DeLauro, former Appropriations ag subcommittee chair, was instrumental in placing a recent ban on Chinese poultry imports — a ban later lifted but widely blamed with heightening already sensitive Sino-U.S. trade tensions. — Martin Ross

to the service industry as well as U.S. manufacturing workers.

The U.S. could see some rise in South Korean imports and thus “some displacement,” Drazek said. But he anticipates a sharp increase in duty-free U.S. exports under current agreements, “and because of that, jobs would be created,” spurring domestic tax revenues.

“The administration’s been saying these (FTAs) are going to create jobs,” Drazek told FarmWeek. “Show us the data that demonstrates that these agreements are going to cost us jobs and require these (TAA) funding levels.

“Where are the service jobs that are going to be lost because we have a free trade agreement with Panama? My guess is, they (TAA proponents) can’t show that.”

FTA Continued from page 1 Giordano said NPPC is pushing Congress hard to ratify the agreement before its August recess. If that doesn’t happen, the U.S. will be at a competitive disadvantage in the South Korean market, he said.

“The U.S. is the No. 1 pork exporter,” Giordano said.

“We’re the low-cost supplier.

But we can’t compete with zero (tariffs – which other countries would achieve through trade agreements).”

Representative Latham assured Han and the room full of pork producers at the Expo “we (in Congress) want to make this trade agreement happen as soon as possible.”

Producer: Workable visa program key to productivity Hog production is a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Even with widespread domestic unemployment, Livingston County pork producer Mike Haag finds it difficult to find local workers willing to work on his farm.

After nearly a decade of mounting labor challenges and policy frustrations, Haag wants Congress to find some middle ground on immigration issues.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association president notes the growing hardship faced by various ag sectors as a result of an increasingly unworkable H-2A ag worker visa program.

An American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) analysis concludes $5 billon to $9 billion in annual U.S. production is at risk if a current farm labor shortage is not addressed.

“We’ve been getting people through the H2A program for probably 10 years,” Haag told FarmWeek. “Every year, it gets tougher and tougher to get (guest workers) in, and there are more regulations and stipulations put on (visas).”

AFBF favors H-2A reforms that allow employers to pay workers a “market-based” wage; accommodate “the needs of modern agriculture,” including year-round operations; and make the program “more responsive and timely to employers’ and workers’ needs, while diminishing its propensity to be a magnet for costly and unnecessary litigation.”

Producers fear employer liability would only increase under “EVerify” worker verification requirements expected soon from the House Judiciary Committee. AFBF suggests use of the Internet-based system, which compares data from worker employment eligibility verification forms with federal Homeland Security-Social Security records, likely would boost identify theft not detectable by E-Verify.

Immigration debate reignited after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Arizona’s strict 2007 immigration law in May. That law, which mandates employer E-Verify use, “falls well within the confines of the authority Congress chose to leave to the states,” Chief Justice John Roberts ruled.

AFBF regulatory specialist Paul Schlegel told FarmWeek the ruling leaves the door open for states to determine policies that suit their needs. Georgia is requiring E-Verify use by employers with 11 or more workers.

In Florida, “where agriculture is big and labor is big,” lawmakers declined to act on similar crackdown measures, Schlegel noted.

While the Supreme Court decision poses some “tricky” issues for the House Judiciary Committee, he sees the House eventually passing a mandatory E-Verify bill. Schlegel nonetheless stressed Congress’ need to couple any compliance measures with “some provisions to get us legal labor.”

AFBF opposes blanket amnesty for undocumented workers but supports providing an opportunity for some existing temporary ag workers to “adjust to legal status.” Haag argues seasonal farm workers “don’t want to be here illegally.”

“They just want an opportunity, and the opportunity’s here,” the producer said. — Martin Ross

FarmWeek Page 4 Monday, June 13, 2011

PRODUCTION

European outbreak ‘a mess’; U.S. stepping up game

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Technology development, informed communications, and congressional budget support are crucial to ensuring U.S. producers and consumers won’t have to face “what Germany is going through now,” an Illinoisbased scientist argues.

Since late May, possibly more than 2,600 consumers have fallen ill reportedly as a result of exposure to a rare strain of E. coli bacteria. That strain can cause renal/kidney failure, and at least 20 deaths to date have been attributed to the reportedly food-borne outbreak. The problem appears concentrated among individuals who live in or have

visited Germany.

Three U.S. cases have been reported among persons who traveled recently to Germany.

Robert Brackett, director of the Bedford Park-based Institute for Food Safety and Health, calls the situation “a mess.”

“Investigators went from cucumbers to other things to sprouts and then back to cucumbers or sprouts, but the bottom line is, I don’t think they really know,” he told FarmWeek.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is monitoring for U.S. cases as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) watches produce imports. FDA is in the “unenviable position”

of having to act quickly and publicly if the CDC identifies a specific product as a possible E. coli source, Brackett said.

He notes the cost of past outbreaks and related media reports to growers who, in some cases, eventually are cleared of complicity. Consumers should “take with a grain of salt anything they read at this point,” he advises.

Brackett hopes new food safety law will foster pathogen detection and prevention tools.

He nonetheless is concerned about the impact of congressional budget cuts on research and development and subsequent “consumer confidence.”

“Having regulatory agencies appropriately funded so they

Heat speeds wheat maturation

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

A shift in weather patterns in recent weeks, from cool and wet to hot and dry in Southern Illinois in particular, sped up maturation of the wheat crop.

In fact, if crop development continues at its current pace, some Southern Illinois wheat growers could fire up their combines a few days early this season, according to Steve Stallman, president of the Illinois Wheat Association (IWA).

Stallman said farmers in his area typically begin wheat harvest between June 18 and 20.

“The weather is accelerating the ripening process,” Stallman, a wheat grower from Chester in Randolph County, said last week on a 90-plus degree day.

“If the hot weather continues, we could be ahead of schedule and begin (harvest) a few days early here in Southern Illinois.”

The heat wave, which originated in the midsouth and moved into the Midwest about 10 days ago, as of the first of last week already was responsible for more than 1,000 record-highs in various areas since the beginning of the month, according to AccuWeather.com.

Temperatures remained in the 90s in Southern Illinois through much of last week. The temperature the first week of the month averaged 76.1

degrees statewide, 8.1 degrees above normal, the National Agricultural Statistics Service Illinois field office reported.

“The hot weather is not really good for the wheat crop,” Stallman said. “It could affect grain fill.”

On the bright side, the hot and sunny days in recent weeks replaced a wet pattern that had persisted in much of the state. The dry conditions help keep diseases from spreading in wheat, according to the IWA president.

“We did see some scab show up,” said Stallman, who scouted many fields during the recent IWA Southern Illinois Wheat Tour. “But it doesn’t seem to be as bad as we’ve had in other years.”

The wheat tour projected an average yield of 62 bushels per acre compared to the statewide average yield last year of 56 bushels.

“The tiller counts appear to be average to above average,” Stallman said.

Ninety-nine percent of the wheat crop as of the first of last week was headed (compared to the five-year average of 96 percent), 91 percent was filled (compared to the average of 77 percent), and 48 percent had turned yellow (compared to the average of 44 percent).

Overall, the condition of Illinois’ wheat crop last week was rated 56 percent good to excellent, 31 percent fair, and 13 percent poor or very poor.

BALING BARLEY STRAW

can do their job is the other half of this,” he said. “If they can’t do their jobs, it may save a little bit of money in the short term.

But ultimately, society, the food industry, and the agencies themselves are going to pay a big penalty in public health losses and consumer confidence loss.”

Even meat safety is being eyed anew. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) has proposed requiring testing for “all currently unregulated strains of E. coli found in the meat supply” (see accompanying story).

Brackett and company are studying the outbreak to help “re-strengthen” food production/processing safety, with a focus on “preventative controls” such as equipment sanitation between fields or batches and increased sampling and testing.

Produce irradiation and use of chlorinated water to sanitize equipment can reduce risks significantly, though Brackett noted challenges in safeguarding organic produce where those technologies are prohibited or frowned upon.

Bolstering food safety also may require re-examining industry “business models,” he said. Today, a grower may sell to half a dozen buyers who may sell to at least a dozen more, forcing FDA to “very painfully” sort out produce pathways as it works to identify contaminated product.

“The processing and produce industries are looking at new distribution models where it would be much easier to quickly trace back any particular product,” Brackett said. “Technology will help with that.”

Crop-livestock ‘buffers’ key in reducing risks?

Institute for Food Safety and Health Director Robert Brackett suggests actions taken by livestock producers and processors as much as policymakers and regulators hold the key to reducing potential E. coli contamination in produce.

The microbiologist told FarmWeek U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-N.Y.) proposal to test meat for currently unregulated strains of E. coli and other pathogens (see accompanying story) is nothing new. He noted a long-time push for Federal Drug Administration to declare E. coli a general “adulterant” in ground beef, subject to scrutiny.

U.S. processors test for O157:H7, a common E. coli strain linked to nearly all modern U.S. E. coli outbreaks, but there is no specific federal requirement to test for other strains.

The industry has resisted mandates for all-inclusive testing because various strains exhibit varying traits, some harmful and some not. Scientists are uncertain whether those traits transfer between strains, and attempting to identify every strain “really complicates the testing,” Brackett said.

The fact nonetheless remains that more than one strain normally is involved in an outbreak, and cross-contamination between livestock and crop production often is a factor in produce-borne E. coli cases. That contamination traditionally has been linked to contact with waste from ruminants such as cattle or deer or use of raw manure as fertilizer.

“The prevention with, say, raw leafy greens is to do what you can in the field to keep it from being contaminated in the first place,” Brackett said.

“This is why we’re talking about buffer systems for nearby animals or actually walking the field within 24 hours of harvest and looking for signs that animals even have been there.

“Some of these companies do this — if they do see signs, they will cordon off that whole section and plow it under, and not even use (produce harvested from it).” — Martin Ross

Farm Talk meetings slated around state

Jared McCormick, 9, and his grandfather, Paul, both of rural Ellis Grove in Randolph County, take a break from baling barley straw last week. The barley grain is used as feed for the family’s 150 head of Angus cattle. It yielded between 70-75 bushels per acre, according to the elder McCormick. Paul and his son, Jack, planned to double-crop soybeans in the field. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson and IFB Vice President Rich Guebert Jr., accompanied by various IFB staff members, will conduct five regional Farm Talk meetings later this year throughout the state. The dates, times, and locations are: • Tuesday, Aug. 2, 5 p.m., Hamilton’s Hall (the Fireside Room), 110 N. East St., Jacksonville.

• Wednesday, Aug. 3, 5 p.m., Round Barn Banquet Center, 1900 Round Barn Road, Champaign.

• Thursday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m., VFW Post 540, 1560 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon, and 5:30 p.m., Joliet Junior College, Weitendorf Ag Ed Center, 17840 W. Laraway Road, Joliet.

• Thursday, Sept. 1, 5 p.m., DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, Southern Illinois Center Lobby, DuQuoin.

Please register to attend by contacting your county Farm Bureau or the IFB president’s office at 1-800-676-3217.

Page 5 Monday, June 13, 2011 FarmWeek

PRODUCTION

WEATHERING THE SPRING OF 2011 President declares major disaster April storms for Southern Illinois counties cause record claim numbers

President Barack Obama last week announced 14 Southern Illinois counties have been declared a federal disaster area.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said federal disaster aid will be made available to Illinois to supplement the state and local recovery efforts in the area hit by severe storms April 19 and April 22 to May 2 and flooding resulting from those storms beginning on April 19 and continuing.

The action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the following counties: Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Lawrence, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, White, and Williamson.

Assistance could include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Gregory W. Eaton, the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area, said that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Individuals and business

owners who sustained losses in the designated county may begin applying for assistance by registering online at {www.disasterassistance.gov}, by web-enabled mobile device

at {m.fema.gov}, or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-4627585. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Farmers and Country Financial have had a lot in common this spring. The same storms that delayed planting and caused flooding and structural damage on farms resulted in significant losses for Country and its clients.

Typically, about 1,200 tornadoes occur in the United States every year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration counted 1,314 tornadoes already this year, with 875 occurring in April. The previous April record was 267 tornadoes in 1974.

For Country, April set a record for the largest number of storm-related claims for a single month in its 86-year history as storms battered the Midwest and Southeast.

Country expects to pay about $190 million in April storm claims with half of that amount coming from multiple storms that impacted Missouri and Illinois, particularly Southern Illinois and the St. Louis area.

When the tornadoes hit, Country immediately mobilized its storm team and sent additional claims personnel to impacted areas.

“We were able to contact many of our clients within 24 hours after the storms occurred,” said Barb Baurer, Country chief operating officer.

“Within the first week, 70 percent of our claims were inspected. We are very proud of our claims personnel. Clients count on us at times like these to be there quickly for them and help them become whole again.”

While it appears 2011 will be a record year for weatherrelated claims, Country retains its superior financial strength.

“Like farmers, we understand weather volatility and plan for that risk. We maintain a strong surplus and reinsurance programs to ensure we can meet the long-term needs of our clients for their financial security,” said Baurer.

Country is rated A+ (superior) by A.M. Best, the leading independent insurance industry rating company. Country Life and Country Mutual are among 11 life/health and 57 property/casualty companies maintaining an A or higher rating for more than 75 years.

Flooding remains a problem in several areas in the southern part of the state. The sign at left tells what Alexander County Farmers can produce when their ground is not covered with water. The picture was taken by Jim Taflinger, a farmer in the county and a member of the Pulaski-Alexander Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Right, Rt. 3 in Jackson County remains flooded near Gorham and west of Murphysboro. That picture was taken last week by FarmWeek photographer Ken Kashian.

FarmWeek Page 6 Monday, June 13, 2011

CROPWATCHERS Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: We had some very hot temperatures to start the week. Then we got some much-needed rain on Wednesday night. It had been 10 days since our last rain and with temperatures close to 100 degrees, we needed the 1.3 inches that we received this past week. Unfortunately, the rain came with some high winds that blew down several trees, and there were power outages. The corn and beans continue to look good, but we have now had our first experience with corn nematode damage.

Our agronomist sent some soil samples away to confirm that it is, in fact, nematodes chewing on the corn. Thank goodness it is only a few acres, but it will really get your attention when 25 to 30 percent of the stand is affected. Have a safe week.

Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: It was a wet Friday morning in Lake County.

After a hot week in the 90s for four days, it dropped to the low 50s on Thursday and we received 1 inch of rain Thursday morning and another 0.5 of an inch Friday morning and it was still raining at this report. Corn is looking good and is dark green. About 95 percent of the beans are planted.

Beans planted last weekend (June 4-5) came up in five days. Winter wheat is all headed out and looking good. Hay got caught in the winds and is twisted up. Not much hay has been baled in the county.

Spring grains are lagging behind and not looking too good. Normal temperatures are predicted for this week.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: Hot, humid days and nights added corn growth.

We were getting a little dry before the storms hit on Wednesday and Thursday that brought 0.9 of an inch of rain.

High winds pushed corn and caused some tree damage and power outages. More rain fell Friday. Second-pass spraying will be needed on many fields. Hay quality has been good, but with the rain delays, relative feed value will go down as the alfalfa matures.

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: A productive week of applying nitrogen, spraying post herbicides, and replanting the drowned-out areas ended with 4 inches of rain on Thursday night. It was raining Friday morning, and more rain was predicted for the weekend.

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: Plenty of rain has been received and more is coming. There were some high winds and very high rainfall amounts to the north of here. We had a couple of mornings suitable for spraying corn before the wind became too much. Getting all the corn sprayed before it is too tall is going to be a problem again this year – for the fourth year in a row. There is some yellowing of corn from losing nitrogen. Otherwise, corn and soybeans look pretty good.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We received 0.6 of an inch of rain Thursday night. That brought the total to 2.5 inches for the week. We still have two cornfields that need to be sprayed. We will have to wait a little longer with the latest rain. The corn is now about knee-high and will close the rows soon. Yellow corn still is very common in this area because of all of the ponding in the low spots. Most of the soybeans are ready to spray as well. There is a lot of weed pressure right now and, hopefully, we can get some drying to finish spraying. I have not seen any insect pressure in either corn or soybeans.

Some baling of first-crop hay has been done.

Most of it received several rains after it was mowed, so the quality will not be as good.

Pasture conditions are very good.

Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: Drier weather has allowed many to finish planting soybeans. Spraying is well under way; the weeds are growing great. The corn crop is starting to look better, and the earlier-planted soybeans are growing and looking good.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: Last week was a good one to finish planting soybeans the first time. Now it has been raining, and we have worries of receiving too much at one time. There has been a lot of sidedressed nitrogen activity.

Hay and waterways are being cut and baled. June is a busy month compared to years ago, when all herbicides and nitrogen were preapplied. Next dry spell will be time to spray Roundup on corn. It is time for us to trade planters, as we are studying bulk fill and the different delivery systems.

Many different options and colors. Looking at next year’s nitrogen prices: What happened to the time when you paid for inputs after they were inputted? Corn market is jumpy.

Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: We had enough rain Thursday to push creeks out of their banks and fill basements with water. Friday we had more rain and flash flood warnings. Thursday’s total was pushing 3 inches, and what was showing up on the radar Friday morning looked just as daunting. Waterways we built last fall are holding up well, but a few we worked on this spring have some real problems. Even with all the rain we have had, it seems sprayers have been able to keep up with the weeds. Crops in the county as a whole look pretty decent, as long as you don’t stand in front of the drowned-out spots on some of the flatter ground.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: Farmers last week were planting corn and soybeans, replanting corn and soybeans, spraying herbicides, rotary hoeing corn, and sidedressing nitrogen in cornfields. Corn growth in the area ranges from emergence to the V-7 growth stage. At V-6, the growing point moves above ground and the stalk is beginning a period of increased elongation. Corn is taking only four days to emerge with all the heat. The corn crop in this area is at a similar stage of development as it was at this date in 2009. Soybean growth ranges from emergence up to the V-3 growth stage. At V-2, nitrogen fixation is beginning.

Some fields still are not planted at this point.

We had light showers on June 4 and 5 — only 0.1 of an inch but it slowed fieldwork. All fieldwork was brought to a halt on June 9 as we received from 0.7 to 1.25 inches of rain with more rainfall expected Friday. Local closing bids for June 9: nearby corn, $7.84; new-crop corn, $6.81; nearby soybeans, $13.98; newcrop soybeans, $13.54.

Joe Zumwalt, Warsaw, Hancock County: Hot and windy conditions have given way to a much cooler, wetter forecast for Western Illinois. Crops are really taking off now. Corn ranges from V3 to nearly chest high (10 leaf collars showing).

Many are beginning to post spray soybeans. Rains came across the area on Thursday night, but thankfully we didn’t receive as much as Northern Illinois. Overall, crops are looking pretty good around the area, but there are quite a few wet holes and seeps in the hillsides. Good luck to those on the Missouri and southern Mississippi Rivers as it looks like they will be fighting another round of flood waters.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Hot, sunny weather was welcomed by growing plants, and they responded with rapid growth. Growing degree units are now at 711, which is above the 30-year average. Corn is now V2 to V6 and soybeans are VE to V3. Replant concerns in some soybean fields due to crusting were allayed by a nice rain that helped most emerge. Spraying of corn and soybeans is the main concern, as the window of opportunity can close with a big rain event. Compaction still is a big concern.

Flag Day is Tuesday. Why not offer to replace that old, tattered flag with a new one? Corn, $7.80; $6.72 fall; soybeans, $13.93; $13.42 fall; wheat, $6.70.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: The green carpet emergeth from the dark soil! This is a wonderful time of year when crops are emerging and the amazing solar collectors cover the fields and grow vigorously. As of June 6, USDA had our crop reporting district at 99 percent corn planted with 91 percent emerged. Soybeans were 81 percent planted with 42 percent emerged. By today (Monday), I am sure most of the soybeans will be planted as we had an ideal week for fieldwork (OK, I know it was hot) and are now waiting on impending rain. We had a 50 percent chance of rain Friday and cooler temperatures were expected over the weekend. There is a chance of rain again by Wednesday. Corn looks good and ranges from newly emerged to five or six leaf. Let’s be careful out there!

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: It is a partly cloudy Friday morning after some stormy weather passed through again Thursday evening, but right here we received none in the gauge. So for the past week, our gauge only has 0.7 of an inch, which came with some very strong winds early last Sunday morning (June 5). The wind scattered tree limbs, trees, and power line poles in the area. There also was some hail. Corn continues to make progress and most looks good.

Soybean seeding is nearing completion after a few good days of running. A good shower on the later beans would be welcome. Have a safe week.

Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: My husband has been in the field top dressing urea over corn, and there was more of that going on locally last week. We had some storms and rain over the weekend of June 4-5 with 1 inch total. We got nothing the rest of the week, although as I write this, it is looking like we might get a little something. Herbicide application on soybeans was the main objective here last week. The weather was good to us and we finished for now. Corn throughout the county is starting to canopy. There was some soybean replant going on in the area in wet spots in fields. Most soybeans are up and past the second trifoliate. The wheat is starting to turn.

Weeds were going to take half of my garden, but last week’s dry weather let my husband get in to save my popcorn. My radishes are all ready, and the potatoes, onions, and peas are looking really good. Just need to get to work on the tomatoes, beans, and peppers.

Tom Ritter, Blue Mound, Macon County: Rains late last week seemed to be skirting more to the north. Conditions are dry. We are not hurting for moisture, but a rain wouldn’t hurt anything. Crops continue to grow, especially with the heat. The corn has made excellent advances in height and regaining some color. Overall, corn looks very good. Some sidedressing and spraying of corn is occurring. Soybeans also continue to grow. Farmers have touched up drowned-out areas, and planting is virtually complete at this point. Beans are spread out in height but look excellent.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: It was a hot week in Coles County, which kicked crop development into high gear.

A small shower Sunday morning (June 5) that delivered just over 0.1 of an inch of rain barely slowed down sprayers and sidedress applicators, which are all getting very close to completing their duties for the year in the cornfields. Corn plants are in rapid growth mode with many of the early-April-planted fields coming into the V6 stage and the first of the May-planted corn well into the V3 stage. Soybean fields also greened up nicely last week with the majority of the beans planted throughout May around the V-2 stage of development. Balers in the area also had a good week to cut and bale a very healthy first cutting of hay.

Looking back at a year ago shows we are considerably behind on crop development from where we were last June. But this year’s corn crop seems to be off to a much healthier start in these early stages, and hopefully we will get to take that to the grain bin next fall.

Page 7 Monday, June 13, 2011 FarmWeek

CROPWATCHERS Jimmy Ayers, Rochester, Sangamon County: We had rain Sunday (June 5) ranging anywhere from 0.5 of an inch to a little more than 2.5 inches in different areas. Quite a bit of extreme heat later in the week. Some guys were able to get back in the fields midweek or so. The majority of the corn is up and most of it looks pretty good. There are still a few beans being planted. Corn is anywhere from the 6 inches tall to a little more than knee-high. V-2, V-3, and V-4 is pretty much catching most of it at this point. Some of the drilled beans already have canopied. I actually have seen a couple fields of corn that are canopied. The wheat is starting to get a little golden color to it, but it still is a ways off. The Sangamon County Fair starts on Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: We finished spraying corn last week. Beans still are two weeks from spraying. We replanted 15 out of 30 acres of beans damaged by deer. Looks like the wheat is beginning to turn.

I think July 4 weekend will be the weekend the wheat will be ready.

Right now, just trying to get the mowing done and odd jobs around the farm, such as maintaining the equipment. We haven’t had any rain for awhile. It has been hot. We do have a few weeds coming and the first corn we sprayed we probably will have to put on Roundup post-spray. Corn and bean markets have been up.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: It was a very warm week here with temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s. Most farmers are done planting, or real close to wrapping up. Soybeans are emerging in three to four days. There also has been corn planted or replanted since last report and it has come up quickly. The weather was adequate for the hay to be cut and put up last week. The wheat crop is changing rapidly.

Talking to a couple wheat producers and they are saying it’s not going to be a big-bushel commodity. Cash grain prices: Corn, $7.82; soybeans, $13.85; wheat, $7.45.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: It was a very hot, humid week. Sunday (June 5) brought rain that varied from a couple of tenths to 2 inches.

Luckily, the very wet areas received the lesser amounts of rain, so farmers could get back to planting quicker. A lot of corn and beans went into the ground last week, especially in the areas that had excessive rain this spring. There still is corn going into the ground. The wheat is ripening quickly and could be ready for harvest in a week to 10 days.

Activities this week included spraying of post chemicals on corn and sidedressing corn.

Ted Kuebrich, Jerseyville, Jersey County: The weather in Jersey County was hot last week. Temperatures were in the mid- to high 90s all week.

Most of the crops are planted and being post-sprayed. With the high temperatures in the afternoon, corn planted on lighter soils has leaves rolling.

There are spots in some cornfields where there are no plants at all. You can see where water has pooled and where the compaction has caused some stress on the corn plants. The wheat has started to turn. The Illinois River is just 5 feet above flood stage. Prices at Jersey County Grain, Hardin: Cash corn, $7.81; fall corn, $6.80; cash beans, $13.96; fall beans, $13.41; June/July wheat, $7.32; growing degree days, 638.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: Welcome from sunny and warm St. Clair County. Last week we saw temperatures in the high 90s with sunshine and no rain. Fieldwork progressed rapidly with many farmers wrapping up soybean planting. Some farmers who opted to plant and apply their fertilizer under more favorable conditions are sidedressing corn. Cornfields in the county have plants from recently emerged to a height of 18 inches. There is adequate moisture for the crop to develop, but I’ve noticed some heat stress on the young plants at mid-day. The high temperature also is ushering in wheat harvest. The wheat fields started turning to the golden/yellow color the previous week when temperatures went above 90 degrees. The grain is now in the dough stage. Combines will start rolling in about a week to 10 days.

Local grain bids: corn, $7.73; soybeans, $13.92; wheat, $7.33. Stay cool and have a safe week.

Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: Good old Southern Illinois soils.

Ten days ago we were under water, and now we could use a rain. The corn chemicals sure need it and some of the beans just planted could use it also. I think all the corn is planted and replanted. Quite a bit of the corn that was planted before the floods was replanted and more maybe should have been. Some of it is 6 inches tall and twisted. The ground in those fields is like a thick bag of mix concrete. Bean planting has been going strong. I’m sure some of the race horses are about done and us mules are still plodding along.

Reports received Friday morning. Expanded crop and weather information available at {www.farmweeknow.com}.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: A hot, dry week helped us get caught up on planting. I would guess most planting is done, except for the bottom ground. The warm weather really sped up emergence. The wheat is starting to turn, but no guess as to when harvest will start.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: Hot, hot, hot is what the weather was last week in Jackson County.

No rain, so the ground is dried out and everybody was able to get quite a bit of corn and soybeans planted. I think we are probably finished up on the corn. A lot of beans were put in the ground, but it is so dry, I don’t know if a lot of them will come up until we get a rain.

We are drying out and catching up. The river bottom land that I farm along the Mississippi is still flooded. I have about 800 acres still under water. Not until the Mississippi River goes down will I be able to get rid of that water. There are a few guys that have started with wheat harvest.

So far, yields are not too bad and seed quality is not too bad, either. I will know more about that next week. If we get rain, we will be in pretty good shape. Take care.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: Hello from the oven, where the temperatures were 90 to 95 last week. Finally, we wrapped up corn planting on June 4. We finished with regular crop beans on June 7.

Fortunately, most of the planting is done in the county. Have been doing a lot of sidedressing and post-spraying on corn. The soil moisture is starting to run short. We haven’t had a rain in two weeks. Looking to get started cutting wheat Tuesday. Hope all are doing well.

Maybe fall will be better than spring has been for most of us.

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: We had another open week here in Pulaski County.

With highs in the 90s, it really felt like summer. We managed to finish our full-season soybeans.

We continue to sidedress corn.

Wheat is almost ready. I think some people will start harvesting it over the weekend. We probably will get started this week. We are anxious to get into wheat to see what the yields will be after all the damp weather in the spring. We just don’t have a feel for what it will yield. People who farm the river bottoms still are fighting flood waters. There still is a lot of farmland with water on top of it. Please remember to be careful during this busy season.

A collection of notes, observations, comments

BY KEVIN BLACK

Watch out for applications of growth-regulator herbicides in corn during hot weather. Not only are these products more active and potentially injurious to corn during hot weather, but the potential for offtarget movement is much higher.

Surfactants and the solvents in some herbicide products applied in hot weather also may result in unexpected leaf spotting or singeing. Effects are usually temporary and not yield-limiting.

True armyworms continue to Kevin Black be active in wheat, corn, grass hay, and pasture. A second flight of armyworm moths has been noted in Central Illinois. Small

armyworms recently were observed in wheat in Southwestern Illinois, suggesting either a late first flight or part of a second generation of armyworms. Natural controls (pathogens and parasites) are expected to soon be noted in armyworm populations.

The southern half of Illinois and much of Missouri is experiencing brood XIX of the 13year periodical cicada. The daytime “singing” of these insects can be deafening. Normally, after about two to three weeks of male singing, the males will die off, and the females will busy themselves with egg laying.

Female cicadas cut slits in the ends of twigs and branches and lay eggs in those slits. This activity results in appearance of dead leaves on trees. This damage normally is not a major prob-

lem for larger trees, but small trees may be severely injured.

Fall armyworm feeding has been noted in Southern Illinois corn. Since corn planting was late in many areas, there is potential for this insect to cause more damage than usual. Insecticide application may be called for when there is an average of 25 percent of corn plants infested, and worms are present and actively feeding but not yet deeply hidden within the corn whorl.

Note that the fall armyworm has a tendency to develop hot spots within the field and damage often is not as bad as it appears.

Kevin Black is GROWMARK’s insect and plant disease technical manager. His e-mail address is kblack@growmark.com.

FarmWeek Page 8 Monday, June 13, 2011

RISK MANAGEMENT

Quality adjustments could boost SURE payments

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Producers in 33 largely Northern and Western Illinois counties may qualify for federal Supplemental Revenue (SURE) payments

or payment adjustments related to weather-related quality damage in 2009-produced crops.

“Quality adjustment factors” will be applied within the standing disaster pro-

gram to address widespread moisture, disease, or other corn and/or soybean damages that occurred during 2009’s wet, delayed harvest.

July 29 is the deadline for producers to apply for 2009

Making SURE Here are counties, crops, and crop quality factors eligible for 2009 harvest SURE payment adjustments: Adams — Corn, moisture only Boone — Corn, moisture or other quality factors (such as light test weights and damaged kernels); soybeans, moisture or other Bureau — Corn, moisture Carroll — Corn, moisture Champaign — Corn, moisture Coles — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture or other DeKalb — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture or other DuPage — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture or other Fulton — Corn, moisture Grundy — Corn, moisture or other Hancock — Corn, moisture Henderson — Corn, moisture Henry — Corn, moisture or other Jo Daviess — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture Kane — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans,

moisture or other Kankakee — Corn, moisture or other Knox — Corn, moisture or other Lake — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture LaSalle — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture Lee — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture Marshall — Corn, moisture McDonough — Corn, moisture McHenry — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture Mercer — Corn, moisture Peoria — Corn, moisture or other Putnam — Corn, moisture Rock Island — Corn, moisture Sangamon — Corn, moisture or other Stark — Corn, moisture or other Stephenson — Corn, moisture or other; soybeans, moisture Warren — Corn, moisture Whiteside — Corn, moisture Winnebago — Corn, moisture or other

SURE payments at their county Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.

Champaign and Sangamon county producers potentially are eligible for adjustments as well as growers across the state’s northern tier and in a number of counties between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.

County FSA committees requested and the state FSA Committee approved adjustments after each county determined average local on-farm average harvested moisture and elevator moisture contents.

Growers with light test weights, damaged kernels, or related problems also may qualify for an adjustment. In eligible counties (see accompanying list), above-average moisture content and other qualifying factors can be combined for a “total quality adjustment factor.”

“I think the majority of the quality issues came from the fact that the crop was planted so late, and then an early freeze hit that really stopped the dryingdown process in the crops,” FSA Illinois Chief Program Specialist Doug Bailey told FarmWeek.

Producers certified as meeting county quality thresholds potentially are subject to an assessment spot check. In the event of a spot check, a grower would be expected to provide verifiable evidence of

crop moisture or other grading factors.

FSA is developing procedures that would provide for producers who harvested high-moisture corn and dried it down on-farm prior to delivery. Those producers will be expected to document increased electrical/propane use relative to previous seasons, as proof that postharvest drying was necessary.

Producers with operations in multiple counties are eligible for quality adjustments only for the share of their affected crops harvested in an eligible county.

Quality adjustment factors are applied to SURE’s national average market price, lowering the affected grower’s revenue and resulting in higher SURE eligibility.

Illinois Farm Bureau risk management specialist Doug Yoder cited at least one previously ineligible Northern Illinois grower who now qualifies for a SURE payment based on the adjustment.

Producers who already have applied for 2009 SURE payments may reapply for added payments based on quality factors, Bailey said.

“It’s not going to apply to the whole state, but in those counties that are affected, those farmers do need to be aware of this, because it could make a big impact for them,” Yoder said.

IBA to host summer conference June 20-22 The 2011 Illinois Beef Association’s (IBA) summer conference and annual meeting will be June 20 to

FarmWeekNow.com Learn more about the 2011 Illinois Beef Association summer conference at FarmWeekNow.com.

22 on the Western Illinois University campus and at cattle operations in the Macomb area.

The theme for this year’s event is “Producers, Politics and Profitability.” The threeday meeting will feature: • Cattle-handling techniques from cattle-handling expert Thomas Noffsinger.

• Presentations of the IBA Farm Family of the Year, Outstanding Affiliate, Commercial Producer of the Year, and the

Environmental Stewardship award winners.

• Farm tours of Lowderman auction facility (Macomb), Black Gold Cattle Ranch (Astoria), and River Oak Ranch (Macomb).

• A number of industry updates from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), IBA, Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB), and Pfizer.

• Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification opportunity and additional animal health demonstrations.

Registration forms are available at the IBA website {www.illinoisbeef.com}. For more information, call the IBA office at 217-787-4280.

Page 9 Monday, June 13, 2011 FarmWeek

FarmWeek Page10 Monday, June 13, 2011

PRODUCTION OFFERING COMFORT

NPB hopes to inspire new generation of cooks Change in cooking guideline a good start

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Ashley Kauffman, Danvers, comforts her pig after showing it last week in the Junior National Show at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines. Kauffman’s entry placed third in the second class, Poland gilt division. A large crowd, representing 33 countries, turned out for the 23rd annual Expo despite excessive heat early in the week followed by several rounds of severe thunderstorms. (Photo by Daniel Grant)

It took the National Pork Board (NPB) and the pork industry about six years to convince the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) to change its guideline for the internal cooking temperature for pork.

But the real challenge could be ahead as NPB attempts to teach home cooks and consumers how to cook a bettertasting meal and convince them that pinker pork is as safe to consume as well-done cuts.

FSIS last month lowered the recommended cooking temperature for pork from 160 degrees to 145 degrees (followed by a three-minute rest period).

The new cooking temperature recommendation applies to pork whole-muscle cuts such as loins, chops, and roasts.

Ground pork, as with all ground meats, still should be cooked to at least 160 degrees.

“Taste-testing found that as

we lowered the temperature, it gives us a juicier product,” Liz Wagstrom, NPB assistant vice president of science and technology, said last week at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines.

“Consumers prefer that.”

NPB funded research that found no additional risk of eating pork cuts that are 15 degrees cooler. And FSIS sided with the research.

Now NPB will focus on an educational effort (it invested about $500,000 this year) to help the public understand the

change in cooking temperatures.

“There will have to be a generational shift,” Wagstrom said. “We all had a grandmother who told us we had to cook pork until it was like shoe leather (due to concerns about trichinosis). It (trichinosis) is a non-issue in U.S. pork today.”

The educational effort should fit well with NPB’s new ad campaign, “Pork: Be Inspired,” which replaced the decades-old “The Other White Meat” campaign.

NPB hopes consumers who are looking for healthier food choices will be inspired by the fact that most common cuts of pork are 16 percent leaner and contain about 27 percent less saturated fat than 20 years ago.

More information and recipes are available online at {www.PorkBeInspired.com}.

USDA ups ag export projection USDA last month raised its fiscal year 2011 projection for ag exports by $1.5 billion to a record $137 billion.

The current forecast is up from USDA’s February forecast of $135.5 billion and, if realized, 2011 ag exports would total $28.3 billion more than last year.

The new estimate came after American ag exports the past six months reached $75 billion, up 27 percent in value compared to the same time last year.

“Chinese and Indian economies have continued strong growth,” USDA noted in its May ag trade outlook. “World inflation is up and the dollar is down compared to 2010.”

A weak dollar has been credited with helping to make U.S. meat exports more attractive. Beef exports the first three months of 2011 were up 32 percent in volume while pork exports increased 25 percent in volume during the same time, according to Philip Seng, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

“It was a very good start to the year,” Seng said during a recent teleconference prior to the USMEF’s board of directors meeting in Washington, D.C. U.S. meat sales so far this year have been particularly strong in China, South Korea, and more recently Japan, where Seng said demand is returning as the nation recovers from the earthquake/tsunami crisis.

“Higher prices and increased Asian demand support increased pork and beef exports,” USDA noted.

Overall, USDA projected world trade would grow by 6.8 percent in 2011.

“U.S. exports are a positive story,” said Danita Rodibaugh, USMEF vice chairman and a pork producer from Indiana. “Every billion creates about 8,400 jobs, which are vital to the economy.”

However, commodity price inflation eventually could hurt demand, according to USDA. Other threats to U.S. ag exports include the European debt problem, competition from South America and Russia (the latter of which is set to end its grain export ban on July 1), and the national deficit which could reduce investments in export promotion programs.

Seng said limited market access also hurts U.S. meat exports.

“We still feel we’re leaving $1 billion (in beef sales) on the table every year by not having full access to Japan and China,” he added. — Daniel Grant

Page 11 Monday, June 13, 2011 FarmWeek

PRODUCTION

Study: Larger machines boost planting speed

Farmers always will be dependent on the weather to determine the rate at which they can plant their crops each spring. But a University of Illinois study recently concluded that once farmers can get into the field they are able to plant at a quicker pace today than in the past due to improvements in planter technology and the increased size of planters (see photo comparison of a 36-row planter, right, vs. a six-row planter, above). The study found Illinois farmers currently can plant about 15 to 20 percent more corn per suitable day than they could in the 1970s. (Photos courtesy of John Deere).

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

A recent University of Illinois study confirmed the obvious: Farmers today can plant more acres per day than at any time in history.

The study found Illinois farmers can plant 15 to 20 percent more acres of corn per suitable day than they could in the 1970s.

The increase is due in part to improvements in planter technology and increases in the average size of planters.

Russell Koeller Family Farms, a fifth-generation operation in Pike County, reported on its website that it upgraded from a 1978 model, 16-row planter to a 24-row planter in 1996 and then in 2008 upgraded to a 36-row planter.

The 36-row planter, with a 90-foot wingspan, is capable of planting 70 acres of corn per hour, according to the Koellers.

But the rate of planting and final crop yields/production numbers still are connected more closely to weather than any other single factor, according to Darrel Good, U of I economist and co-author of the planting rate study.

“We can plant 15 to 20 percent more acres per day, but that’s not a very fast rate of increase over 40 years,” Good said. “We’re still dependent on how many days are available to plant the crop.”

This season has been a prime example of how the weather can delay planting and how farmers can plant more acres than ever in a short period of time.

Corn planting the first of last week was 94 percent complete nationwide, just 4 percent behind average, after a slow start. Illinois farmers in two weeks last month planted 56 percent of the corn crop.

Soybean planting the first of last week, at 68 percent complete, still was behind the average pace (82 percent) nationwide, but in Illinois soybean planting was 78 percent complete compared to the average 76 percent.

Crop prices early last week tumbled as better weather conditions and improved planting progress eased concern about a short crop.

“Clearly (the market) is less concerned (about potential corn crop production),” Good said. “The question is, should it be less concerned?

“We planted a lot of this year’s crop after the optimal date for maximum yields,” he continued. “And we know we’ve lost some acres to flooding, prevent-plant, and soybeans.”

USDA in March projected U.S. farmers this year will plant 92.2 million corn acres. Last week it lowered that estimate to 90.7 million acres. USDA will update that number on June 30 and some private firms estimated corn acres could be much lower, with projections ranging from 87.2 million to the current 90.7 million acres.

If plantings are significantly lower, the focus on yield potential likely will intensify this season.

“We’re really more dependent than ever on a good summer (to compensate for late planting),” Good added.

FarmWeek Page 12 Monday, June 13, 2011

EDUCATION

Class offers students new perspectives on agriculture

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

A class about agriculture and the environment at Illinois State University (ISU) attracts many students who didn’t grow up on farms and aren’t studying agriculture at ISU. But Agriculture 203 exposes those students to a spectrum of views on such contemporary issues as locally grown food, animal care, and government farm policy.

Students who take the class over the summer also take field trips to Stone Ridge Dairy near Bellflower, ISU’s research farm near Lexington, and the horticulture center in Normal.

The mix of topics and resources proves to be valuable and enlightening for students, according to animal science professor Aaron Moore, who taught a recent summer session.

“By being exposed to different perspectives, they (students) realize there’s a lot more to the story.

“They take a little more

time to check their resources. A lot of people seem to take one source and conclude that is right ... That is a skill everyone could use — to be more skeptical of sources,” Moore said.

Rob Rhykerd, head of ISU’s agriculture department, noted it is important for the university to grant general science credits for a class linked to contemporary agricultural issues.

A diverse group of about 200 upperclassmen takes the class each fall, spring, and summer.

“It’s a really popular class.

It fills up right away,” Rhykerd said.

Aslihan Spaulding, an agribusiness professor who is teaching the summer honors Ag 203 class, said she includes an international component in the class material.

Students select a developing country, study its farming practices and the problems related to those practices, and learn what the government is doing to address those problems, said

Spaulding, a native of Turkey.

“I hope they (students) understand the importance of agriculture to our economy ... the thousands of jobs and the money (from agriculture),” Spaulding said.

Even agriculture students can benefit from the discussions, Rhykerd added.

The class “empowers ag students to find (reasons for) their arguments,” Rhykerd said.

“This class gives them arguments for why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

For Moore, the special moments happen when students understand how the class material relates to them and their lives.

“They see the connection to everything,” Moore said. “I see the light bulbs go off, and they’re so interested.”

Illinois State University (ISU) students learn about cattle research during a tour of the university’s research farm near Lexington. Field trips, offered in an ag and environment class, help non-farm students better understand farming and agriculture. (Photo courtesy ISU agriculture department)

WHAT IS AGRICULTURE?

Illinois Forage Expo July 21 The 2011 Illinois Forage Expo will be held Thursday, July 21, at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Pope County.

It will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Expo will include field demonstrations of forage harvesting equipment and commercial displays of forage-related products and equipment.

In addition, educational sessions will be presented that focus on forage management.

Also, a qality hay and haylage contest will be available for producers to enter 2011 harvested bales and haylage.

Entries in the contest must

be delivered to the site from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

There is no entry fee and NIRS (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy) analysis will be provided free of charge.

Bales weighing more than 100 pounds will need an official weigh scale ticket.

Four hay and one haylage classes will be available and class winners will receive a certificate.

For further information concerning the contest, contact Ron Atherton, Illinois Forage and Grassland Council (IFGC) board member at 815622-2734 or e-mail him at ron.atherton@agriking.com.

The Dixon Springs Agricultural Center is located on Illinois Rt. 145 about 25 miles south of Harrisburg, or about 15 miles east of Vienna, or 25 miles north of Paducah, Ky. Additional information concerning the Expo is available at {www.illinoisforage.org/}.

For information about exhibiting a commercial display, contact Dave Gentry, GROWMARK Inc., P.O. Box 2500, Bloomington, IL 61702-2500, phone 309-5576397.

The Forage Expo is cosponsored by the IFGC and the University of Illinois Extension.

Emmett Sefton of Dalton City takes Warrensburg-Latham fourth graders on a recent tour of his farm. Paul Hoffman’s classroom won a “What is agriculture?” poster contest presented by the Macon County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Committee. The classroom’s winning poster (pictured) included far ming, factories, food stores, and the family dinner. The students won a trip to the Sefton farm for submitting the winning entry. (Photo courtesy of Macon County Farm Bureau)

Page 13 Monday, June 13, 2011 FarmWeek

FROM THE COUNTIES

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ROW N — Farm Bureau and Country Financial will sponsor a “Farm Estate and Transfer” planning seminar at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at the Corner Stone Christian Church, Mt. Sterling. Dinner will follow the presentation. Call the Country Financial office at 217-7733591 or the Farm Bureau office at 217-773-2634 for reservations or more information.

A S S - M O RG A N — Farm Bureau will sponsor an informational meeting for Farm Bureau members only regarding an update on legal issues and legislation impacting the FutureGen project. The meeting will be at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, June 21, at the Morgan County Extension office, Jacksonville. Attendees must show current Farm Bureau membership identification.

O L E S — A Viewpoint meeting will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, at the Triple H Grain Systems Co., Oakland. Mark Gebhards, Illinois Farm Bureau director of governmental affairs and commodities, will be the speaker. Call the Farm Bureau office at 345-3276 for reservations or more information.

D G A R — The kickoff for the farmers’ market will be from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at the north side of the square, Paris. Featured items will include cinnamon pullaparts, rhubarb, vegetables, eggs, chicken, and beef. The market will run through Sept. 17. Space is available for vendors. Call the Farm Bureau office at 217-4658511 for more information.

• The Edgar County Farm Bureau Foundation golf outing will be at 11:45 a.m.

Friday, July 22, at Eagle Ridge Golf Course, Paris.

Proceeds will benefit the Ag in the Classroom program.

Lunch will be served. Call the Farm Bureau office at 217-465-8511 for reservations or more information.

• Seats are available for the bus trip Sunday, July 31, to the Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game in St. Louis. Cost is $90, which includes bus, admission, and gratuities. The bus will leave the former K-Mart parking lot at 8 a.m. Call the Farm Bureau office for reservations or more information.

FFINGHAM — A legislative update and policy development forum will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday,

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June 21, at the Farm Bureau office. Liz Hobart, Illinois Farm Bureau associate director of national legislation and policy development, will be the speaker.

Topics will include the farm bill, transportation issues, and trade concerns. Call the Farm Bureau office at 217342-2103 by Tuesday for reservations or more information.

ANCOCK — A farm estate and transfer planning seminar will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Marine Bank and Trust, Carthage. Dinner will be served. Estate taxes, wills, trusts, and retirement plans will be discussed. Call the Farm Bureau office at 217-357-3141 by Monday (today) for reservations or more information.

E N RY — Henry and Rock Island County Farm Bureaus will sponsor a risk management meeting at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Orion. Steve Johnson, Iowa State University farm and ag business management specialist, will be the speaker. Cost is $18, unless paid for the series.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 309-937-2411 for reservations or more information.

• Farm Bureau members may purchase discount admission tickets to the Henry County Fair June 2126. Quantities are limited.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 309-937-2411 for more information.

• Young Leaders will sponsor the pedal pull at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25, in the midway tent during the county fair. Call the Farm Bureau office for more information.

A N K A K E E — The Local Foods Breakfast and Celebration of Agriculture will be from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 25, at the downtown Kankakee Farmers’ Market. There will be antique tractors, mobile dairy trailer with cow and calf, a petting zoo, and produce and baked goods.

Breakfast tickets are $10 and are available at the market or by calling the University of Illinois Extension office at 815-933-8337.

• Farm Bureau members may participate in a stroke detection screening from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at St. Mark’s Methodist Church, Kankakee. Discounted cost for members is $90. Call 877732-8258 for an appointment.

A S A L L E — The LaSalle County Farm

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Bureau Foundation golf outing and benefit will be at noon Friday, June 24, at Senica Oak Ridge Course, Utica. Cost is $65, which includes golf, cart, T-shirt, and a steak dinner. A $30 ticket can be purchased for the steak dinner, which starts at 5 p.m. Tickets purchased at the door are $70 for golf and $35 for the dinner. A chance to win a Ford truck in a hole-in-one contest is sponsored by Bill Walsh Automotive. All proceeds will benefit the Ag in the Classroom program.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 815-433-0371 for reservations or more information.

E E — Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside County Farm Bureaus, and Sauk Valley Bank will sponsor a “Managing Crop Risks in Volatile Times” at 7 p.m.

Wednesday at the Comfort Inn, Dixon. Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension farm and ag business management specialist, will be the speaker. Call the Farm Bureau office at 8573531 or e-mail leecfb@comcast.net for reservations or more information.

• Farm Bureau will sponsor a legislative breakfast at 8 a.m. Monday, June 27, at the Red Apple, Dixon. State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) and state Rep. Jerry Mitchell (R-Sterling) will attend. Call the Farm Bureau office at 857-3531 or e-mail leecfb@comcast.net by Friday for reservations or more information.

• Lee and Bureau County Farm Bureaus wil sponsor their annual golf outing at 9 a.m. Friday, July 8, at Hunter’s Ridge Golf Course, Princeton. Proceeds will benefit their Agriculture in the Classroom programs. Cost is $35 for Farm Bureau members and $55 for non-members. Registration includes golf, cart, and lunch. Call the Farm Bureau office at 815-8573531 or e-mail leecfb@comcast.net for more information.

C L E A N — Farm Bureau will sponsor a bus trip Thursday to Wrigley Field to see the Chicago Cubs vs. the Milwaukee Brewers game. The bus will leave the Interstate Center in Bloomington at 8 a.m. Cost is $60, which includes bus and ticket.

Lunch is on your own. Call the Farm Bureau office at 309-663-6497 for reservations or more information.

OCK ISLAND — A market outlook meeting “Managing Crop

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Risks in Volatile Times” will be at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Orion. A buffet dinner will be served. Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension farm and ag business management specialist, will be the speaker.

Mike Schaver, Gold Star FS grain merchandiser, will provide an update. Cost is $18, unless paid for the series. Call the Farm Bureau office at 309-736-7432 for reservations or more information.

• Farm Bureau will sponsor a bus trip Friday, Aug. 5, to see the Chicago Cubs vs. the Cincinnati Reds game at Wrigley Field. The bus will leave at 7 a.m. from the Farm Bureau parking lot Cost is $85. Call the Farm Bureau office at 309-7367432 for reservations or more information.

TEPHENSON — Deadline for entries in the “Stephenson Scenes” photo contest is Friday.

Details are available at {www.stephensoncfb.org} or by calling the Farm Bureau office at 815-2323186.

• Application deadline for Stephenson County Farm Bureau Foundation scholarships is Thursday, June 30.

Details and applications are available at {www.stephensoncfb.org} or by calling the Farm Bureau office at 815-2323186.

• Season passes for the Stephenson County Fair are on sale at the Farm Bureau office. Discount price through July 8 is $15, and Farm Bureau members receive a $2 discount for two tickets.

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• Appointments are being taken for the blood drive during the Ag Breakfast from 6:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25 at the Farm Bureau office. All first-time donors that day will receive a free season pass to the Stephenson County Fair, and all donors will be reimbursed for their breakfast, compliments of Farm Bureau.

• Donations for the annual Stephenson County Farm Bureau Foundation silent auction scholarship fundraiser are being accepted until Friday, June 24. Call Jamie at the Farm Bureau office at 815-232-3186 if you wish to donate an item.

OODFORD — Farm Bureau and Proctor Hospital will sponsor a health fair from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, at the Farm Bureau office. Call the hospital at 309-689-8334 for an appointment by Friday, June 24. Call the Farm Bureau office at 467-2347 for a list of screenings.

• A meeting to review the spill prevention, control, and countermeasures ruleswill be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the Farm Bureau office. Don Herring, Evergreen FS, will be the speaker. Call the Farm Bureau office at 467-2347 for reservations or more information.

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“From the counties” items are submitted by county Farm Bureau managers. If you have an event or activity open to all members, contact your county Farm Bureau manager.

FarmWeek Page 14 Monday, June 13, 2011

PROFITABILITY

Planning now can improve fall crop yields

BY JEFF BUNTING

mention the volatile commodity markets, it feels as though we’re playing that childhood game.

It’s amazing to hear about all the products available to a producer that claims to increase yield. You must trust the people that you work with to give unbiased information to help you identify products to make profitable decisions that are the best for you and your operation.

How many times have you wondered if your current pro-

Did you ever play the game Red Light - Green Light?

That’s what this spring reminds me of.

From stop-and-go corn and soybean planting to switching back and forth between running the furnace and the air conditioner at Jeff Bunting home, not to

gram is the best program?

Over the last couple of years, FS companies have adopted the FS Green Plan Solutions model, using local information-based solutions to improve your operation.

It’s planning a nitrogen management system or utilizing pesticides to protect that crop acre. It’s a complete agronomic recommendation tailored to your area.

It won’t be long before sprayers will be seen running across the corn and soybean

fields. It’s important to understand the stresses your crops already have been through and the ones that may occur in the future.

A couple of major questions so far in 2011 are: Is there enough nitrogen out there to finish the corn crop this fall and what disease spectrum will show its ugly side in corn or soybeans?

There has been an enormous increase in fungicide applications, not only at tassel time, but also early in the

corn plant’s growth stage.

Many of the diseases we saw last year could be controlled with early application, allowing the plant to yield more in the fall.

If you don’t have a plan for an early fungicide application, see your local FS crop specialist to develop one specifically for your operation.

Jeff Bunting is GROWMARK’s crop protection marketing manager. His e-mail address is jbunting@growmark.com.

Five Illinois FFA’ers win Farmer co-ops take issues to Washington products exported to these cial trucks hauling anhycountries. national program honor cooperatives drous ammonia.

Right after planting season, Jobs, economic opportunity, Our good safety record nationwide take

BY CHUCK SPENCER

Five Illinois FFA members were selected by the National FFA for its New Century Farmer Program. They were among 50 young people nationwide selected for the exclusive, highly competitive career-development program.

The Illinois members are: Matthew Dehlinger of the Olney FFA Chapter, Matthew DeSutter of the AlWood FFA Chapter, Logan Frye of the Illini Central FFA Chapter, Christopher Richards of the Hamilton County FFA Chapter, and Justin Thomas of the Charleston FFA Chapter.

The 50 members from 23 states will participate in a July 2430 seminar in Johnston, Iowa. Topics will include the global marketplace, farm financing, demographic trends, and risk management.

They will hear about the risks and rewards involved with agriculture production. In addition to classroom learning, students will experience the latest developments in agricultural technology.

The New Century Farmer program is sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business; Rabo AgriFinance; Case IH; and CSX Corp.; with media partner Successful Farming. It is a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

M A R K E T FA C T S Feeder pig prices reported to USDA* Weight 10 lbs.

40 lbs.

50 lbs.

Receipts

Range Per Head $12.00-$46.27 $68.36 n/a This Week 24,421

Weighted Ave. Price $34.31 $68.36 n/a Last Week 27,522

*Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live

(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week $86.51 $86.68 $64.02 $64.14

Change -0.17 -0.13

USDA five-state area slaughter cattle price (Thursday’s price) This week 107.48 105.00

Steers Heifers

Prv. week 104.30 104.00

Change 3.18 1.00

CME feeder cattle index — 600-800 Lbs. This is a composite price of feeder cattle transactions in 27 states.

(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week Change 124.89 124.33 0.56

Lamb prices Slaughter Prices - Negotiated, Live, wooled and shorn 125-140 lbs. for 177.50-210 $/cwt.(wtd. ave. 197.39); dressed, no sales reported.

Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending 6-02-11 5-26-11 Last year Season total Previous season total

Soybeans 3.4 10.8 5.5 1395.8 1345.1

Wheat 22.4 26.2 17.1 8.2 8.6

Corn 34.1 36.1 35.8 1335.4 1381.1

USDA projected total

1580

1275

1950

Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

the opportunity to be a part of the summer congressional schedule by traveling to Washington, D.C. Wednesday through Friday to attend the National Council Farmer coopChuck Spencer eratives take issues to Washington of Farmer Cooperatives Capitol fly in.

Issues of interest to cooperatives mirror those of agriculture as a whole. It is easy to understand when you consider farmers are directors of the cooperatives serving agriculture. Challenges for farmers almost always impact cooperatives, too.

We are fortunate: Agriculture continues to be one of the most bipartisan areas in state or national arenas. Politics tends to be less of a focus, and what is good for farmers usually wins out.

We all want to work with elected leaders who are willing to work with us regardless of their party. Successful work comes from developing and maintaining strong relationships with elected leaders.

Across the nation, cooperatives are interested in many issues. Transportation efficiencies in moving our products are important in the competitive world market.

The highway transportation bill up for reauthorization will provide road project funding across the country and will be the focus of a legislative amendment that would make permanent the hours of service (HOS) exemption for hauling agricultural supplies.

On Oct. 6, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, (FMCSA), approved a two-year waiver to the hours of service provisions for driving commer-

combined with the unique timeframe which agriculture operates are two major reasons the federal agency granted a waiver from the regulations.

It is now up to all of agriculture to pass the permanent HOS fix for hauling all ag supplies. While many feel there is a low level of momentum for moving a transportation bill, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is very motivated.

Passing free trade agreements — Agreements in Columbia, Panama, and South Korea would immediately benefit U.S. agriculture by reducing tariffs on U.S. agricultural

and new agricultural trade are all positive steps to take to grow our market.

We also will work to pass legislation clarifying that pesticide applicators do not need additional permits under the Clean Water Act, and we will discuss the development of the next farm bill.

This is an important time for cooperatives and agriculture to connect with elected leaders Let’s make sure to work together and accomplish our objectives.

Chuck Spencer is GROWMARK’s director of government affairs. His e-mail address is cspencer@growmark.com.

FSA county committee nominations begin June 15 Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee nominations will start June 15 and continue through Aug. 1, FSA State Executive Director Scherrie Giamanco announced last week.

Farmers and landowners are encouraged to nominate farmer candidates to serve on their local FSA county committee. Elected committee members each serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity, and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program issues.

“County committee members are a valuable asset because they are local producers who participate in FSA programs themselves and have a direct connection to farmers and ranchers in the community,” said Giamanco.

Farmers may nominate themselves or others. Groups that represent minority and women farmers and ranchers also may nominate candidates.

Eligible nominees must participate in an FSA-administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election, and live in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate.

To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and more information are available online at {www.fsa.usda.gov/elections}.

County committees are comprised of three to five members elected by local farmers. All newly elected county committee members and alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2012.

Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business Aug. 1.

For more information, contact your local county FSA office or go online to {www.fsa.usda.gov}.

FarmWeek Page 15 Monday, June 13, 2011

PROFITABILITY Corn Strategy

C A S H S T R AT E G I S T

Oilseed supply snug but not tight It’s no secret the demand driver in the oilseed complex is China. Chinese demand for oilseed and products has been the key driver the last 10 to 15 years, widening the gap between production and consumption outside of the three major soybean and soy product exporters (the U.S., Argentina, and Brazil).

Still, the early look at the picture for 2011/2012 indicates the structure is not so tight to warrant higher prices unless something impacts the soybean output of the three primary exporters.

This past year, demand growth in other countries was as important a part of the mix that lifted soybean and other oilseed prices as was China’s.

On the chart you can see consumption outside of the three major soybean producers rose 19 million metric tons (mmt.)

(703 million bushels). Of that, China still accounted for 13 mmt. of the increase, with the other countries accounting for 6 mmt. of the growth.

The production shortfall outside of the three major producers increased nearly 10 mmt. each of the past two years. At present, it is only

expected to increase 4 mmt. this coming year. That is a more manageable change, provided production in the U.S., Argentina, and Brazil meet, or exceeds, current expectations.

It is interesting to note the difference between production and consumption declines at least moderately in the wake of high prices, the last two instances coming in 2003 and 2008.

Chinese oilseed protein meal consumption on a per capita basis has reached Japan’s level, and is closing in on South Korea’s.

More important, there are signs China is having some success slowing the rate of economic growth. That could slow the rate of growth of Chinese protein demand this coming year, while helping bring the total oilseed consumption outside of the three soybean exporters back in line with growth in production.

With oilseed stocks currently projected to be somewhat comfortable, it would weaken soybean export demand from the three major exporters and soybean prices.

And China isn’t alone struggling with economic growth. The U.S., Japan, and some European countries are facing similar difficulties. The longer that persists, the larger the odds demand in general could slow, helping cap soybean demand and prices.

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Cents per bu.

2010 crop: Even though nothing indicates the move up has ended, at these levels an unexpected shock can take prices sharply lower. If you want to carry risk, it’s better to do it in new crop than old.

And given some of the recent basis levels, and possible transportation problems in the West, forward cash sales may be a better alternative than hedgeto-arrive (HTA) contracts.

2011 crop: December futures closed above $7 again, but if that’s not sustained, it would hint buying interest may be waning. If December closes below $7 quickly, get sales up to 50 percent of a conservative yield. If that can be sustained, there’s a chance of seeing higher levels to do so. HTAs for fall/early winter delivery are the best tool for sales.

Fundamentals: USDA surprised the trade by cutting its acreage estimates in the latest supply/demand report.

The coming June 30 reports on grain stocks and acreage will loom large in determining price structure the remainder of the summer.

Soybean Strategy 2010 crop: Soybean prices are following the lead of the corn market. Sagging demand is capping upside potential unless corn prices move sharply higher. The market structure indicates there is little reason to hold old-crop inventories.

2011 crop: Acreage uncertainty may dog this market beyond the June 30 report, but generally good conditions and softening demand may cap prices. November futures need consecutive closes above $14 to indicate significantly higher levels are ahead. Use a close below $13.70 to get sales up to recommended levels. HTA contracts for fall/early winter are preferred.

Fundamentals: Even though planting is accelerating, the acreage uncertainty may be supportive until the June 30 USDA report is released. Still, high insurance guarantees are an incentive to plant soybeans if possible, along with increasing double-crop plantings.

Meanwhile, high prices, and world competition are diminishing demand prospects.

Wheat Strategy 2011 crop: A short-term low could be in the making in the wheat market, but prices are having difficulty establishing upside momentum. If Chicago July futures can clear $7.78, it would open the door for prices to turn upward. Adjust your price target to $8.20 on July futures to increase sales to 65 percent. We prefer HTA contracts, especially for winter delivery, if you have the capability to store wheat.

Fundamentals: The latest USDA supply/demand estimates cast a slightly negative tone on wheat. The biggest surprise was the production report, indicating 2011 winter wheat production was 1.450 billion bushels, higher than both last month and trade expectations.

Early harvest reports from southern Kansas have been mixed; the trade will watch these closely the next couple of weeks, along with the situation in the Northern Plains. However, weather in Europe is improving with Germany and France receiving some beneficial rains.

FarmWeek Page 16 Monday, June 13, 2011

PERSPECTIVES

Horses help make humans healthier Horsemen are familiar with the famous Winston Churchill quote, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

It seems ‘Winny’ had it right in more ways than he imagined at the time. Horses are indeed good for people. Not only do they labor on our behalf, horses stimulate our body and souls.

How does owning a horse make us healthier?

We h ave a l l heard about the fattening of America — SHERYL about a third of KING us is overweight, and we don’t get enough exercise. National guidelines call for 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five days each week.

Riding a horse provides the equivalent calorie expenditure of a moderately brisk walk. Riding a trotting and galloping horse can increase that exercise level to the equivalent of jogging or swimming. Add that more pleasant activity to the effort of catching your horse at pasture, grooming, tacking, and hotwalking — and you have yourself a workout.

Those activity guidelines also include musclestrengthening exercise on two or more days a week that works all major muscle groups. We horse owners are lucky. Horse barns are the equivalent of weight training gyms!

If you care for your own horse, you likely are indulging in weight training as well as aerobic exercise.

Horses produce about 50 pounds of manure a day. Add sodden bedding and you have a regular mini weightlifting session when cleaning stalls.

Lifting, hauling, dumping, raking, and putting down bedding are good for the horse and good for your heart. A typical 5-gallon water bucket weighs about 40 pounds. Schlepping a few of those around each day may not give you arms like Popeye, but you’ll be less likely to have a gut like Wimpy.

Add hauling 50- to 60-pound hay bales and 50pound grain sacks, hammering, digging, and repairing your horse’s mischief, and you have likely met your weekly exercise quota without even counting the riding.

I once had an argument with my daughter’s grade-

school gym teacher. Weekly exercise outside of school was required as part of the class grade. This teacher refused to consider horseback riding a form of exercise.

“The horse does all the work,” she said.

“Spoken like someone who has never ridden a horse,” was my reply.

Anyone who has ridden a horse for the first time — or after a long hiatus from the activity — can testify to the unique muscles stimulated by this activity.

Indeed, horseback riding is a well-documented and widely accepted mode of delivering physical therapy.

Former U.S. press secretary James Brady famously complained about his hippotherapy (equine therapy) rehabilitation. Horses helped him regain some of his function after the head wound he sustained during Ronald Reagan’s attempted assassination.

The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association is a global organization that has revolutionized physical therapy for children and adults with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. In 2005, the Horse Cavalry Detachment at Fort Hood, Texas, became the first Army unit to host a hippotherapy program for wounded veterans.

Riding horses is therapeutic in many ways. Horses help us reconnect with the natural world and get us out

in the fresh air and s u n s h i n e. D i d y o u know that most Americans get too little vitamin D, which is associated with myriad serious health problems?

Yet just 15 minutes outdoors a few times a week (without sunscreen) allows us to make enough vitamin D to protect our health.

H o r s e m e n k n ow the profound effect these marvelous animals can have on our psyche. Most of us can testify to the stress-reducing effect of spending time with a horse. But horses also have proven their value in reaching humans as no other therapy can. Horseassisted psychotherapy has succeeded in helping people with profound mental problems, such as autism, eating disorders, anger management, and other disorders.

Horses connect with us at a most primal level, and although psychic healing is more difficult to scientifically document than physical rehabilitation, it is readily recognized by most of us who have experienced that special relationship with horses.

The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association is an international program devoted to the idea of horses assisting with social, emotional, and mental healing.

At Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, we hosted a similar program. I witnessed the transformative power of the horse on children with autism, attention deficit, and hyperactivity disorder, who suffered unspeakable abuse, and those facing other mental, behavioral, and social challenges.

The next time you break a sweat at the barn or enjoy a companionable moment with your mount, thank your horse for keeping you healthy — body and soul.

Sheryl King is director of the equine science program at Southern Illinois University and president of Horsemen’s Council of Illinois. Her e-mail address is sking@siu.edu.

Nanotechnology, the future (and present) of food Four out of five people who have heard of nanotechnology think of medicine or computers when they hear the term.

That’s what I thought of before I attended a talk given by USDA’s Hongda Chen. The presentation was titled “An overview of nanotechnology and its potential applications in horticultural systems.”

For those who haven’t heard of MARI LOEHRLEIN nanotechnology, you might be interested in knowing USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture website defines it as “the science of studying and producing materials and devices of nanometer size — about the size of a small molecule or individual atom.”

Possibly the most exciting technological development in nanotechnology is a photovoltaic cell that uses photosynthesis to generate electricity.

The first solar photovoltaic chip was made using ground-up spinach tissue by scientist Shuguang Zhang at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was

building on work by a group of researchers who earlier had learned how to harness energy from a plant.

That group was able to extract electrical current using a plant’s photosynthesis for a period of three weeks. Zhang’s chip converted approximately 12 percent of the light energy absorbed to electrical current.

This compares to the 24 percent efficiency of silicon power cells.

In the future, it is hoped that by adding layers of chips, efficiency will be increased to 20 percent. Oh, and the size of this photosynthetic solar chip? Ten to 20 nanometers, or, small enough to fit about a hundred of them in the width of a human hair.

If this technology pans out, think how lightweight our computers and other electronic devices may become, not to mention they will be more environmentally friendly.

There are lots of other applications of nanotechnology in agriculture and horticulture that are being researched or already are developed.

Some examples are polymer coatings for greenhouses that resist mold and fungus growth while pro-

viding thermal insulation, films for food packaging that kill harmful microbes, and color-indicator oxygen sensors that could serve as labels on food packaging, designed to reveal when produce or meat is going bad.

The last example still has some kinks, but expect to see some of these breakthroughs in the coming months and years, along with numerous other applications. A greenhouse film, “Nansulate Greenhouse,” already is on the market.

In the words of Errol Hewett of Massey University in New Zealand, and Pietro Tonuti of Sant’Anna School in Italy: “Nanotechnology is an enabling technology with the potential to revolutionize plant and food systems.”

If the estimated $20 billion nanotech food market for this year is any indication, certainly it is safe to say that the future of food nanotechnology already is here.

Mari Loehrlein is a horticulture professor with Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture. Her e-mail address is MM-Loehrlein@wiu.edu.