Farmweek april 27, 2015

Senate and House committees approved Trade Promotion Authority for President Obama. page 3

Cissna Park farmer Art Feller shares experiences from 76 years of farming and selling livestock. page 5

House passes IFB priorities Monday, April 27, 2015

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Periodicals: Time Valued

The Illinois House last week passed two of Illinois Farm Bureau’s state legislative priorities — one on a 116-0 vote.

HB 2580, sponsored by state Rep. Jerry Costello II, DSmithton, deals with permanent road posting.

“Unilaterally reducing weight limits on roadways is unfair to farmers, truckers and all who rely on roads for their living,” Costello told FarmWeek.

“This bill puts a checksand-balances system in place to make Jerry Costello II sure that all road district residents have a voice in deciding on changed or reduced weight limits,” he continued. “Open and accountable accessibility to roads and highways is an important issue for farmers and small business owners, and I will work with the Senate to make sure that these checks and balances are put into place.”

Under the bill, road commissioners must hold a public hearing before making any decision to permanently post a road at a reduced weight limit.

The commissioners then must send the county engineer a memorandum explaining that

decision and answering any concerns raised at the public hearing.

The county engineer may approve the permanent posting by signing the memorandum and filing it with the district road clerk. The legislation also adds any three landowners within the district to those who may appeal a decision to change or vacate a road.

“HB 2580 provides for public input and oversight of road commissioners’ decisions to permanently post a road at a lower weight limit,” said Kevin Semlow, IFB director of state legislation. “This will allow farmers to have additional input into decisions made by road commissioners that may permanently restrict their ability to use the road.

Rep. Costello did a great job shepherding this issue through the House, and we look forward to working to see the bill pass the Senate.”

On a 91-1 vote, the House passed another IFB state legislative priority dealing with agricultural impact mitigation agreements related to commercial development of wind energy. Rep. Adam Brown, DDecatur, sponsored HB 3523.

The bill requires commercial wind energy operators to sign an ag impact mitigation agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture outlining standards and policies designed to preserve the integrity of any agricultural land impacted by construction and deconstruction. The parties must sign the agreement before any county or municipality hearing on project siting.

The bill does not impact counties’ authority to site wind farms.

“We are pleased that HB 3523 passed the House, and greatly appreciate Rep. Brown’s work on the issue. If this bill becomes law, it will provide landowners whose land will be impacted by wind energy projects with important minimum restoration protections for their property,” said Bill Bodine, IFB state legislation associate director.

Base corn planting on soil conditions, not the air temperature, a U of I agronomist suggests. page 8

AGRICULTURE UP CLOSE

Two sections Volume 43, No. 17

Caley Callahan, a University of Illinois agribusiness markets and management major, finds photogenic cattle during her visit to Don Wood’s beef farm, Champaign. Dubbed the First Link program, the predominantly nonfarm students toured two farms, a grain elevator, an implement dealership and ag supply business with assistance from Champaign County Farm Bureau. Learn more about the program on page 4, and watch a video at FarmWeekNow.com. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

Bird flu not human or food safety threat

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Turkey, chicken and egg lovers can continue to enjoy those foods and other poultry products as normal.

The recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) should have no impact on food safety or pose a threat to human health.

“There’s been no indication of any human illness at all related to this strain of the virus,” Mark Ernst, state veterinarian with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, told the RFD Radio Network®.

The National Chicken Council (NCC) reminds consumers that proper handling and cooking of poultry, to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, kills bacteria and viruses.

“Though two different strains of the (HPAI) virus have been detected, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have confirmed there is no immediate public health concern with either of these avian influenza viruses,” the NCC stated. “Both H5N2 and H5N8 viruses have been found in other parts of the world and have not caused any human

infection to date.”

Any flocks that test positive for HPAI go into quarantine. No birds from affected flocks enter the food chain.

“We are coordinating closely with state officials and other federal departments on rigorous surveillance, reporting and control efforts,” said John Clifford, USDA chief veterinary officer. “At the same time, USDA will continue to work with Congress to ensure that we are able to provide a much-needed safety net to the poultry producers who are experiencing some economic hardships as a result of losses due to the disease.”

Affected flocks are humanely euthanized and composted.

But while the outbreak poses no threat to human health or food safety, five countries (China, South Korea, South Africa, Kuwait and Qatar) banned imports of U.S. poultry products, while another 37 countries implemented various forms of regional import bans.

“There’s no link to this avian influenza and the safety of eggs,” said Keith Mussman, an egg and poultry producer and president of the Kankakee County Farm Bureau. “But we’re a See Bird flu, page 3

Quick Takes

IDOA covers gamut from farmer to consumer

FarmWeek • Page 2 • Monday, April 27, 2015

PREVENT SPRING PLANTING ACCIDENTS — Accidents can happen on the farm when farmers get tired and hurry during spring planting.

Eric Vanasdale, COUNTRY Financial senior loss control representative, recommends farmers get plenty of rest and take frequent breaks. Tell family and fellow workers where you will be working, and carry your cellphone at all times, he added.

Inspect equipment lights, reflective tape and slow moving vehicle emblems before hitting the road, Vanasdale noted. For more farm safety tips, visit {countryfinancial. com}.

ISU SEEKS COMMENTS ON UNWANTED HORSES — Illinois State University Agriculture Department researchers want to know what Illinoisans think about the state’s unwanted horse population.

Take a 10-minute, anonymous survey at {http://bit.ly/ 1ynjumA} by May 8. Survey questions pertain to general knowledge of unwanted horses for those who own horses, those who don’t own horses and other equine industry stakeholders.

Some estimates put the value of the Illinois horse industry at $1.2 billion annually with more than 175,000 horses in the state. However, little data exists about horse care and what happens to animals once they may become no longer wanted.

DOWNLOAD FOOD WASTE APP — Want to reduce your family’s food waste? Consider downloading the FoodKeeper app at {http://1.usa.gov/1HCzHnQ}.

An article about the app in the April 13 edition of FarmWeek incorrectly referred to the tool as the FoodTracker, a program consumers can use to monitor food intake and physical activity. For more information about FoodTracker, visit {supertracker.usda.gov/}.

ORGANIC FARM NUMBERS INCREASE — U.S. farmers operate 19,474 certified organic farms, representing a 5 percent increase compared to last year, according to USDA. The agency also reported 27,814 certified organic operations exist around the world.

Since the count began in 2002, the number of domestic organic operations has increased by more than 250 percent. With funding from the 2014 farm bill, USDA plans to develop the Organic Integrity Database, a modernized certified organic operation database that will provide accurate information about all certified operations.

The system, planned to begin in September, will allow anyone to confirm organic certification status using the online tool.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 43 No. 17 April 27, 2015 Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers.

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BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) serves state industries and consumers as a “unique agency that covers the gamut,” a point underscored by its new director.

“It’s a balancing act. You’ve got these regulatory bureaus that do all this monitoring and regulating of a number of programs that touch Philip Nelson farmers and consumers.

But you’ve also got the promotional side that can ramp up demand with expansion of export markets for everything from Illinois food companies to raw commodities,” Illinois Agriculture Director Philip Nelson told FarmWeek.

Nelson, a Seneca farmer and immediate past Illinois Farm Bureau president, acknowledged farmers probably don’t realize all of IDOA’s functions, which include everything from checking gasoline pumps and scales to inspecting meat and poultry to working with livestock facilities and pesticide applicators. His newest bureau will oversee 21 permitted medicinal marijuana cultivation centers, Nelson added.

Given the breadth of IDOA’s services, Nelson selected customer focus as one of his main goals. “We need to be more responsive and proactive in what we do,” he said. Nelson mentioned technology improvements as one tool IDOA can use to improve services “and make sure that is as seamless as possible.”

The agriculture director also wants Illinoisans’ understanding of IDOA to deepen — “for people to understand and appreciate what we do and how we do it and that they can come to us for support on a host of fronts.”

This year, IDOA’s support will be tested with $14.2 million in fund sweeps from the current budget “that will put some strain on what we can do,” Nelson said. Asked if customers would notice impacts from the cuts, the director replied, “We’re hopeful we can manage through it.”

Looking ahead to fiscal year 2016 budget, IDOA is “sharing in the sacrifices,” Nelson said.

Illinois Agriculture Director Philip Nelson, second from left, chats with Pike County Farm Bureau President David Gay, right, during Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day, while Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr., left, and David Miller, retired president of Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization, look on. Nelson’s goals include being more responsive to those who depend on his agency and helping people better understand its roles. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

Nelson’s take on issues Illinois Agriculture Director Philip Nelson discussed diverse topics in a FarmWeek interview.

Improving business climate: Nelson envisioned an online portal where entities wanting to locate in Illinois could find the required permits and actions, and a permitting process time line among state agencies. “The more we can have those interagency agreements and working groups, that’s all positive. It addresses some concerns we hear from people looking at business transactions,” Nelson said.

Chicago footprint: The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) wants to base a staff member in the state’s Thompson Center “to make people more aware of what

“These are going to be difficult times to manage through.”

He pointed to three main areas of concern: the elimination of horse racing funds, a 20 and find out more about future plans for IDOA.

percent cut in University of Illinois Extension funding as part of IDOA’s budget, and cuts to a tree planting program in Cook and Lake counties.

“Like the governor said, ‘This is a turnaround budget,’ and we hope we can see daylight at the end of the tunnel where we can start addressing some of these programs,” Nelson said.

Not surprising for someone

agriculture is all about,” Nelson said. “We need to put some resources into that market and facilitate awareness in Chicago.”

Different partnership model: Given the current budget climate, public-private partnerships may look differently, Nelson said.

“With limited resources, we have to think more creatively in how we address some of the programs we carry out,” Nelson said. “We have to come to the realization we cannot have duplication of effort ... It’s probably not the traditional role we’ve had in the past where everybody does their own thing, but collectively we’ve got to work for the good of the cause.” — Kay Shipman

whose office is located on a fairgrounds, Nelson said he plans to return Illinois state fairs to their mission and market the event differently.

“We want to try to give fairgoers a touch of the latest and greatest happening in agriculture whether that’s witnessing drones on display or showing kids auto-steer technology or reconnecting consumers back to agriculture,” Nelson explained.

Gov. Bruce Rauner understands agriculture’s importance to Illinois and the economy as well as IDOA’s key role, the ag director said. “As we try to grow agriculture whether by food manufacturing or raw commodities, it is part of the turnaround economy and agenda he (Rauner) has in place. It’s a part of it,” Nelson said.

Nelson names new top IDOA staff Illinois Agriculture Director Philip Nelson recently named new top staff members. They include: Warren Goetsch, chief of staff; Craig Sondgeroth, general counsel; Ray Hankes, Ph.D., manager of food safety and animal protection division; and Chuck Cawley, manager of ag

industry regulation division.

Also: Kristi Jones, manager of communications and administrative services division; Karen Fraase, chief of marketing, promotion and grants bureau; Rebecca Clark, public information officer; Laura Sinclair, legislative liaison; and Janet Dobrinsky, assistant state fair manager.

TPA vote on farm radar Bird flu spreads to nearby states;

Page 3 • Monday, April 27, 2015 • FarmWeek

BY JOANIE STIERS FarmWeek

A bill to grant President Barak Obama Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) nears a vote — an action that carries the potential to uphold agriculture’s trend of record exports.

TPA would grant the president authority to negotiate trade agreements while conferring with Congress and trade advisory committees on trade terms. It then allows Congress a “yea” or “nay” vote on the final agreement without amendments.

This negotiating mechanism ranks of significance to trade partners who will reach agreements only if the integrity of those agreements remains intact, said Tamara Nelsen, Illinois Farm Bureau senior director of commodities.

Nelsen expects TPA votes any time before mid-May and expressed confidence in its approval. Congress has granted the authority to every president since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Last week, the Senate Committee on Finance passed a TPA bill on a 20-6 vote, while the House Ways & Means Committee approved its version of the bill 25-13.

“TPA streamlines negotiations and strengthens our position at the bargaining table,” said Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation president. “The U.S. is on the brink of completing its most ambitious trade agenda in years. We stand to lose billions of dollars in future U.S. farm exports if Congress fails to pass these vitally important bills.”

The ability to ratify trade agreements through TPA bodes well for Illinois agriculture. Trade provides 33 percent of Illinois farm income, and the state ranks fourth in agricultural export value, according to Illinois ag trade experts and USDA data.

Nationwide, food and agricultural exports have grown ‘ I encourage my fel- significantly with free trade agreements low farmers in Illi(FTAs). U.S. soy prodnois to contact peo- uct exports alone have ple inside the Beltgrown 63 percent in Colombia, Korea and way to get TPA Panama since 2012 passed and get when FTAs took these trade agreeeffect, according to USDA. ments to progress .’

Nelsen said two ongoing trade negotia— Kevin Miller tions need TPA for them to move forward, Farm Production and Marketing including the TransStrength with Advisory Team Pacific Partnership (TPP) with Asia and Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with Europe.

TPP would form a 12-nation FTA with 40 percent of the world economy. Both TPP and TTIP would establish sciencebased import rules and reduce import tariffs on U.S. agricultural products, all significant points to farmers like Kevin Miller of Teutopolis.

“I encourage my fellow farmers in Illinois to contact people inside the Beltway to get TPA passed and get these trade agreements to progress,” said Miller, who grows corn and soybeans in Effingham County, and serves on IFB’s Farm Production and Marketing Strength with Advisory Team. “If we don’t get in there and develop those markets, the competition will.”

Germans protest trade deal

People across Germany recently protested against the proposed free trade deal between the United States and Europe, believing the agreement would erode food, labor and environmental standards.

According to a poll by YouGov, 43 percent of Germans believe the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) would be bad for their country.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government and Germany’s industrial community didn’t anticipate that opposition because TTIP could add $100 billion in economic output for both countries.

TTIP opponents worry it would allow GMO crops in Germany, and they remain skeptical of America’s surveillance and domination. Protesters in other countries across Europe also marched on April 18, calling it a “global day of action” against free trade, according to Reuters.

Illinois poultry farm on ‘red alert’

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Two strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N2 and H5N8), also known as the bird flu, spread to states bordering Illinois in recent weeks.

Farmers and officials attempted to contain the outbreaks by euthanizing an estimated 200,000 commercial broiler layers on a farm in Jefferson County, Wis., and about 3.2 million laying hens at a farm in Osceola County, Iowa.

This brings losses from the deadly virus to about 6.4 million birds this year.

Most of the previous outbreaks and losses, prior to the cases in Iowa and Wisconsin, were on turkey farms in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Outbreaks also occurred on farms in Arkansas, California, Oregon, Kansas, Misto learn avian flu facts from the National Chicken Council.

souri, Montana and Washington.

“Luckily, we’ve not had anything here yet,” said Keith Mussman, Kankakee County Farm Bureau president, who has about 400,000 layers on his farm in St. Anne. “I’d say we’re beefing up biosecurity to red alert. We’re doing everything the industry recommends (to prevent an outbreak) and more.”

Biosecurity measures for poultry producers include sanitizing equipment, limiting foot traffic in and out of barns, monitoring truck traffic and eliminating contact with birds outside each operation.

Farmers and industry

experts believe migratory birds in the Mississippi flyway are the main carriers of the virus.

Outdoor flocks, therefore, could be at heightened risk of infection. Nearly one-fifth of bird flu cases reported since mid-January were in backyard operations.

“If you have birds, be vigilant, even if you just have a dozen birds laying eggs in the backyard,” said Jim Fraley, Illinois Farm Bureau livestock program director. “If you see any sickness, call a veterinarian immediately.”

Mark Ernst, state veterinarian with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, encourages all poultry producers to be vigilant.

“We’ve Mark Ernst got a lot of backyard flocks in the state and most have access to the outdoors,” Ernst told the RFD Radio Network. “They could have exposure to waterfowl and other wild birds. That’s always a concern.”

Initial signs of avian influenza in poultry flocks include a loss of appetite and lethargic behavior, Fraley noted.

Bird flu

He hopes the area of growth of the state’s poultry industry, southeast Illinois away from the Mississippi flyway, will help insulate poultry flocks from the dreaded virus.

Mussman has concerns, though, now that avian influenza affected commercial flocks housed in barns.

“Up until now, it’s mostly been an issue for outside flocks,” he said.

“One of the other concerns is the pathogen can survive for years. Once migratory birds settle down for the summer, things should calm down for a while. But it could be an ongoing thing and come back in the fall.”

Continued from page 1 little concerned about (consumer) misperceptions. As long as the eggs are refrigerated and cooked, there is no issue.”

U.S. turkey production declined and prices increased last quarter due to bird flu-related losses. HPAI, to this point, had little effect on broiler production and prices.

About 6.4 million birds were destroyed due to HPAI as of last week, the majority of which were turkeys. U.S. broiler slaughter, by comparison, totaled 8.5 billion head in 2014, according to the CME Group’s Daily Livestock Report.

IFB to intervene in transmission line project

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

The Illinois Farm Bureau Board last week voted to intervene in a proposed high-voltage direct current overhead transmission line case before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). In counties along the proposed route, several county Farm Bureau boards oppose the project and requested IFB intervene.

Grain Belt Express Clean Line LLC proposes to build a 780-mile long transmission line that will transport wind energy from western Kansas to utilities and customers in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and states farther east. In Illinois, the project would cover about 206 miles from west to east across Pike, Scott, Greene, Macoupin, Montgomery,

Christian, Shelby, Cumberland and Clark counties. Grain Belt Express also sought an expedited review by ICC. ICC staff requested a 75-day extension, and the ICC is expected to consider and approve that request when it meets this week.

For project details, visit {icc.illinois.gov/docket/Case Details.aspx?no=15-0277}.

Laura Harmon, IFB senior counsel, noted farmers and landowners in impacted counties will receive a prehearing notice via mail from the ICC that will provide a hearing date.

IFB will be a formal participant in the ICC proceedings and will provide updates to county Farm Bureau managers and leaders in impacted counties.

FARM LINK

FarmWeek • Page 4 • Monday, April 27, 2015

U of I pilot program makes farm connection for nonfarm ag students

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Take 20-some University of Illinois nonfarm students studying farm and food policy, creative agricultural economics educators, and helpful farmers and agribusinesses. Immerse for a day-and-a-half. Voila! Out pops the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences’ First Link program.

The pilot program recently elicited rave reviews from student participants and Champaign County farmer hosts, who sought to help students understand the practical applications of what they’ve studied in instructor Jon Scholl’s farm, food and environmental policy course.

“We wanted to give them (students) an idea of the sophisticated thought that goes into owning and operating a farm,” explained Scholl, a farmer and former ag liaison with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

By working with Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken and Illinois Farm Bureau Consumer Communications Manager Linda Olson, Scholl coordinated visits to a

grain farm, a beef operation, a grain elevator, an implement dealership and an ag supply business. “We wanted to demystify that segment of businesses and have them gain an understanding of that aspect of (the first link in) the supply chain,” said Paul Ellinger, head of the U of I agriculture and consumer economics department.

The students already had experienced production agriculture in northern California where an earlier visit focused on such issues as water shortages and hundreds of specialty crops. Their recent, intense tour marked their first immersion into the agricultural production that surrounds the Champaign-Urbana campus.

Those students’ experience may fill a gap which has long concerned Farm Bureau, according to Uken. “Farm Bureau looks at policy issues and says, ‘Hey, they’re setting ag policy and they’ve never been on a farm.’ It’s critical to get these individuals on a farm,” Uken said.

Villa Grove farmer Jerry Watson agreed: “Now, they’ve had exposure to see, at least, what farmers do. It’s got to be

Champaign County cattleman Don Wood, seated right, discusses his beef operation with University of Illinois students studying farm, food and environmental policy in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Dubbed the First Link program, the predominantly nonfarm students toured two farms, a grain elevator and ag supply business with assistance from the Champaign County Farm Bureau. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

a plus ... It’s a two-way street and a learning experience for us (farmers). We get to understand their issues, too.”

Senior Sarah O’Brien, a crop science major from Bement, said seeing that Champaign cattleman Don Wood’s cattle were well cared for and seemed happy “really changed my perspective, for the positive, on beef production.” Previously, O’Brien said she’d only seen images of huge feedlots and heard about “cattle being treated so terrible.”

of half-acre yards.

O’Brien added the cost of The program’s value is farm equipment also sur“having people (students) prised her, especially considappreciate the technology; ering the additional expense and how big the industry is of seed, fertilizer and other for technology, inputs. First that blows me Link “gives away. We still you the sense, ‘ W e w a n t e d t o picture farmers for farmers, everything is g i ve t h e m ( s t u - driving combines — not an expense; dents) an idea of GPS,” Donoit’s a yearthe sophisticated hoe said. “It’s round job,” said O’Brien, thought that goes interesting to how poliwho will into owning and hear cy affects attend graduoperating a farm.’ farmers and ate school in how their voicweed science es are heard.” and wants to — Jon Scholl Wood appredevelop new U of I ACES instructor ciated the herbicide impact an ontraits.

For junior Rory Donohoe, farm visit may make on nonfarm students and encouran ag economics-policy and aged other farmers to considinternational trade major er providing similar opportufrom Naperville, the scale nities. “We have to do it,” and technology of central Wood said. “We have to do Illinois farms made an more of getting our story out impression, especially given to consumers.” his suburban neighborhood

Tee off for Illinois Ag in the Classroom

Grab your clubs and join the 19th Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) Golf Outing June 12 at the Elks Country Club and Wolf Creek Golf Club in Pontiac.

The fundraising event hosted by the IAA Foundation helps make agriculture come alive in classrooms across the state.

Driving ranges open at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. at the Elks and 10:30 a.m. at Wolf Creek.

Golfers will compete for a number of prizes and bragging rights. A social hour, auction and steak dinner sponsored by COUNTRY Financial will round out the evening.

The registration fee costs $130 per golfer or $520 per foursome. Those interested in attending the banquet only can register for $50.

Discounted rates are available for families and agriculture literacy coordinators. Families — defined as a parent with a child age 18 or younger, or a grandparent and grandchild age 18 or younger — can register for $200 per pair. Agriculture literacy coordinators play for free when they’re part of a paid foursome.

To register, visit the IAA Foundation website at {iaafoundation.org} or call 309-557-2230.

NRCS, Rural Development mark water, energy projects on Earth Day

Page 5 • Monday, April 27, 2015 • FarmWeek

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Art Feller of Cissna Park displays a 1936 John Deere tractor at his farm in Iroquois County. The tractor represents the first model he began farming with in 1939. (Photos by Ken Kashian)

Core rural values remain for 94-year-old farmer

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Farmers evolved from driving horses to guiding tractors that steer themselves during the 76 years Art Feller has farmed in Iroquois County.

After graduating from high school in 1939 at the end of the Great Depression, Feller, 94, commenced farming near Cissna Park with a 1936 John Deere tractor. He joined numerous smaller farmers, most of whom raised livestock.

Feller considers what was common among farms and farmers then as one way to retain family farms and revitalize small towns across the state.

Farm sons and daughters returning to their family farms might also find an additional job to supplement the farm income, he suggested.

Feller followed that path himself. From farming, he expanded into livestock sales and auctioneering, starting with Cissna Park Livestock Sales.

The evolution of farms and technology also changed that part of agriculture, Feller added.

“I had a farm sale every day and then somebody else took over the farm in the 1940s,”

Feller remembered. “Now there are not (as frequent) farm sales. As the farms get larger, there is less need for them (sales). There are fewer and bigger sales.”

Computer technology brought other changes to the auctioneering sector. “Now online auctions and Internet (sales) have gotten more popular,” Feller said.

Feller set the trend in the auctioneering world in 1961 with publication of his “The Auctioneer Chant,” a newspaper that promoted auctions and real estate in the Midwest. In 1962, he applied for and received a patent for a sales clerking system that was manufactured in Cissna Park.

However, more farms started focusing on grain farming and livestock herds decreased.

That change led to the closure of livestock sales barns. The Feller family closed its last sale barn in 1992.

To his core, Feller remains optimistic about agriculture, farming and the rural way of life.

His sage advice on economic downturns? “These dips are normal. We’ve had them before. (Farmers have) got to

tighten their belts,” said the child of the Depression.

FFA and agriculture education? “These are our leaders.

FFA gives young people an incentive to want to farm.”

Small towns? “Small town hospitality is still as helpful today. The bulk of the people are really helpful. That’s the draw for small towns. It isn’t the money. The hospitality is the main thing.”

His advice for success? “You need a vision and you need good people to carry it out. My dad said, ‘Honesty’s the best policy.’ Treat people right and be honest.”

Editor’s note: Illinois Farm Bureau celebrates its 100th year in 2016. If you have a centennial farm story to share, contact Chris Anderson at canderson@ilfb.org.

Scant sunshine and a brisk April breeze emphasized Mother Nature’s fickleness when national and state USDA leaders highlighted natural resource, water and energy projects in Illinois last week on Earth Day. “We have a commitment across the board for things that are sustainable, renewable and make the Earth a good place to live,” said Dr. Gregory Parham, USDA assistant secretary for administration with a background in veterinary medicine.

Both the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Rural Development seek to improve water quality and water availability, according to Ivan Dozier, NRCS state conserva-

Illinois State Conservationist Ivan Dozier, left, and Dr. Gregory Parham, USDA’s assistant secretary for administration, mark Earth Day at Champaign’s Prosperity Gardens, an urban farm, educational venture that trains and hires at-risk students. (Photo by Kay Shipman)

Lending Support to Generations of Farm Families

800.444.FARM (3276) Feller holds an auction bill from the first sale he conducted in 1940.

tionist, and Colleen Callahan, Rural Development Illinois director.

Dozier pointed to a project working to keep excess nutrients out of Lake Decatur and drainage management projects to manage nutrients and provide temporary ponds for migrating birds.

Callahan announced $3 million in loans and grants to replace Carrier Mills’ community water system in Saline County and provide safe, clean drinking water.

In addition, Rural Development awarded a $90,000 grant to Jo-Carroll Energy Inc. in Jo Daviess County. The rural cooperative will use the money to provide energy audits to farmers and small businesses.

farmcreditIL.com

FarmWeek • Page 6 • Monday, April 27, 2015 Brian Sisson, Belvidere, Boone County: After a busy weekend in the fields, most of the county was idle waiting for fields to dry up after Sunday night’s (April 19) rain. Most of the area received .4 to .75 of an inch of rain. By the middle of the week, some guys were putting on anhydrous, and a few got started planting corn. It appears that many had the same thought process as us and waited out the overnight freezing temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday before getting back in the fields.

After Saturday’s (April 25) rain chances, I expect to see everyone out planting corn once we dry back out with warmer weather coming this week. Stay safe this spring.

Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: We received .2 of an inch of rain for the week. Not much, but after 3 inches the week before, and the cold, cloudy temperatures, we are still out of the fields. I was able to plant my oats Saturday (April 18) before the showers. Winter wheat and alfalfa look good and are greening up.

Hoping to spread fertilizer Friday and work some ground before the rains they are calling for on Saturday. Rain and temperatures in the 50s for a high are forecast for this week.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: We had a very frosty morning Thursday with temperatures in the mid-20s. Alfalfa fields were white. Rain on Sunday (April 19) and Monday (April 20) totaled .85 of an inch followed by cool days. Fieldwork was limited until Thursday. Many acres of corn have been planted, but the soil temperature is too low for anything to germinate. Our seed is still in the bag. We had to repair a water hydrant leak that was in a location where we had to break up concrete and could only be dug by hand. The leak was 68 inches deep — oh what fun!

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: The weather has turned cold, and it has left me wondering where spring went.

Fields have been slow to dry out since last weekend’s rain. Planters were moving in the area Thursday afternoon, but more rain is in the forecast for Friday night into Saturday. Planting progress is very slow at this point with less than 10 percent of the area planted. Obviously, I haven’t seen any crops emerged.

Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: High winds all week kept the sprayers and fertilizer trucks parked, but the freezing cold didn’t do the same for the planters.

Morning temperatures in the low 30s did little to dampen the earth to get this crop in. The month of April is winding down and it’s getting time to plant corn. It’s hard to tell, but I think this part of the state is at least 10 percent done.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We received .5 of an inch of rain last week. It was enough to stop planting for one day and then most everyone started planting again. We finished corn last Wednesday, and the corn planted on April 11 is just starting to emerge. We are waiting for more rain and warmer temperatures to start planting soybeans. We did move some cattle out to pastures last week to take advantage of the green grass and some downtime before planting soybeans. More rain is forecast for the weekend. We will need more moisture for both grass and crops this year.

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: Planters have been busy all week. Still lots of corn to be planted. The forecast for rain did not materialize. Rain is in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: Planters are rolling again after a short rainout.

Most of the county received a gentle .3 to .8 of an inch of rain. Soil conditions are excellent, except for the temperature. Farmers are planting anyway, banking on warmer temperatures to come this week. A couple of 30-degree nights doesn’t help the corn to sprout. Another rainout event is expected. Many of my neighbors have geared up their planter rigs with guidance and automatic row shutoffs. They sure work great and save on seed as long as one doesn’t break a wire. Technology is great, but it can be frustrating at times.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: Corn planting and other field activities came to a halt Sunday (April 19) just before noon.

Our farms received anywhere from .45 up to .7 of an inch of rain. We were able to get half of our corn acres planted before the rain arrived. We returned to planting corn Thursday. Spraying herbicides and leveling off fields also took place. Some farmers have finished planting corn and others have barely begun or not even started.

Local closing prices for April 23 were nearby corn, $3.52; new-crop corn, $3.57; nearby soybeans, $9.65; new-crop soybeans, $9.24.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Below average temperatures did not stop planters this past week as likely 70 percent of the corn is in the ground.

Corn planted April 15 has sprouted and should emerge by May 1. Soil conditions remain excellent, and beans will be going in soon. Still short on rainfall. We are off to another good start! Corn, $3.62, fall, $3.66; soybeans, $9.63, fall, $9.28; wheat, $4.41.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: A very productive week with planters rolling in numerous fields until last Sunday’s rain (April 19). This one had a very large range from .3 of an inch in Ivesdale and Bondville to .8 of an inch in Dillsburg and Thomasboro. We started our last field of corn Saturday (April 18) and a front planter tire popped about 5:50 p.m., so we should finish corn Friday. Farmers were back in the field this week even with .11 of an inch of rain falling Tuesday night. Looks like .75 to 1 inch predicted for Saturday during the popular Illinois Marathon in Champaign.

Other news has been freeze warnings with 31- to 33-degree temperatures for two nights. Plant-o-meter is pegged at 9 percent for this week in our USDA crop reporting district. Canine influenza was confirmed this week in Champaign from a local dog that had been recently boarded in a kennel in Chicago where there has been 1,000 reported cases. So keep an eye on Fido, and let’s be careful out there!

Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: Planters finally got rolling midweek. Cold weather isn’t helping the ground temperature, but hopefully it will warm up soon. If it doesn’t rain this weekend, next week there will be a lot of corn in the ground.

Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: The week started pretty cold and windy. A little activity started Wednesday and Thursday with the ground drying out. It’s still cold. It was a little warmer Wednesday, so farmers thought they would plant a little corn. Friday will be busy around here.

Three corn kernels planted April 16 in consecutive rows show germination variability a week after planting. CropWatcher Steve Ayers called planting conditions ideal with .3 of an inch of rain three days after planting. Ayers noted the 2-inch, bare soil temperature April 16 hit 69 degrees. On April 22, the soil temperature dropped to 55.8 degrees. With 50 degrees as the minimum temperature for germination, Ayers said many soils in the Champaign County area remain well above the minimum. (Photo by Steve Ayers)

Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: We received rain Sunday (April 19).

Most of the north half of the county was covered with .4 to .6 of an inch. The southern half received heavier rain again with up to 1.25 inches. A lot of planting has been done as the north side is almost finished up. There is still some wet soil. We do have some corn coming up.

Some of the corn got a chilly start to its lifespan since we had some frost Thursday morning. Hope you are getting along great at your place.

Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: We received .9 of an inch of rain SundayMonday (April 19-20). That kept us from planting until Thursday. We were lucky to get a good bit of preemerge spraying done before the rain over the weekend. Corn that was planted last week isn’t up yet, but it is close, and I have seen some corn up in the area.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: Planters have finally gotten a small start on putting the corn seeds in the ground, but only in the northern parts of Coles County. Fields got so close to ready that some of us tried them out last Saturday (April 18) before another .7 of an inch of rain hit the fields Sunday. In the week following, the freshly planted seeds have had to endure unseasonably cold temperatures.

Bare soil temperatures have gotten down into the lower 40s; quite the test for this high-dollar seed corn that has been planted. As of this writing, select fields are getting just dry enough to attempt planting until the next rain comes along with the weekend. I think back to a few years ago when conditions were great, but it was real early according to the calendar, and now this spring it is the complete opposite. No two years are ever alike.

Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: We received .6 of an inch of rain last Sunday, but because of the wind and definitely not the heat, we started planting Thursday. Still wet in spots, and the soil is very cool because of overnight temps in the 30s.

Fortunately, I have a warm cab to sit in unlike Dad and Grandpa. They used to have coveralls for a cab. Retailers are busy now putting dry fertilizer on, hauling NH3 and spraying fields. Saw my first cutworm moth on my tractor windshield, so I guess we better be on the lookout for those. They have trapped moths in both Macon and Fayette counties. They’ll be nesting in fields that are weedy now. Have a safe week.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: The hive is starting to buzz a bit. Over the last day or two, some farmers in our area proceeded to put anhydrous ammonia on along with spreading of fertilizer. There is also a little tillage starting to happen.

Temperatures have been cool with the lows a couple of mornings in the upper 30s. I have not done anything in the field other than some spraying. Hope to get started Friday or over the weekend unless precipitation moves in. Everyone stay safe.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: This past week was a busy one for farmers.

Anhydrous applications increased as fields dried enough to travel. Nurse tank availability was good until most of the area farmers took to the fields.

Fieldwork was delayed for a few days due to .5 of an inch of rain Sunday (April 19). Sprayers were sidelined due to the high winds we experienced for a couple of days. However, they made great progress when the opportunity arose and worked late in the evening. Corn planters began to roll in fields that had dried off later in the week. Alfalfa fields seemed to jump in height as the weather warmed up. Some of those fields were treated to control alfalfa weevils since weather conditions favored their return. Local grain bids are corn, $3.66; soybeans, $9.79; wheat, $4.58. Have a safe week.

Page 7 • Monday, April 27, 2015 • FarmWeek Jeff Guilander, Jerseyville, Jersey County: The pattern continued last week with a wet weekend followed by a week of drying out. By the end of the week, anhydrous, along with a few more planters, started rolling.

Fertilizer application should be nearing the halfway point, but the cool temperatures and another wet weekend are keeping planters cautious. Hope to have more to report next week.

Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: Without global warming, it would have really been cold Thursday morning. The picture was 34 degrees with scattered frost Thursday morning. That’s really good corn growing weather if anything was planted. LOL. Starting to see ammonia tanks going up and down the roads, but with the weather forecast, that may come to a halt. Wheat has a yellow color to it with all of the cold nights.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: It has been wet and cool. Some herbicide application took place Friday and Saturday (April 17-18) until the rains moved in Sunday bringing everything to a halt. Rain is in the forecast for the weekend. There is also a chance of frost some nights.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Rain kept us out of the field for most of the week.

Fieldwork resumed again Thursday, but rain forecast for the weekend may make it a narrow window of opportunity. We had frost advisories for two nights. I don’t know what effect the cold will have on the corn and wheat that is planted. I hope this cold snap is short lived. Hopefully, next week will bring warmer and drier conditions.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: At last I planted some corn, but it is supposed to rain Friday. After the front goes through, I will plant more corn.

I sprayed all the fields and the weeds are dead. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers have been behaving themselves. We have not had any flooding, and the locks are open. A lot of farmers talked about switching corn acres to milo, but time will tell. The winter wheat looks OK. Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: Well, the go button has been pushed, but we’re still stuck at the starting line. No planting here yet, but some stalks were disked and some no-till ground was sprayed. Made a road trip down to the Missouri Bootheel, and it is the same as no corn has been planted down there. They are usually done by this time. Had light frost here Thursday morning. Hope to try to do some more spraying before the next rain hits this weekend.

Meteorologist expects gradual warm-up across state

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Reports received Friday morning. Expanded crop and weather information available at FarmWeekNow.com.

from 24 degrees in Altona to 36 degrees in Sullivan.

Low temperatures could

temperatures recorded last Wednesday and Thursday),” he said. “Once we get past

The cold front that invaded Illinois last week should lift in the days ahead, based on recent weather forecasts.

Accuweather.com late last week predicted high temperatures could move into the mid-to-upper 60s by midweek and possibly into the 70s by the weekend. “ We h a d a f a i r l y w a r m period up until the 18th (of April),” said Dar yl Onton, meteorologist with the National Weather Ser vice ( N W S ) . “ Te m p e r a t u r e s cooled down quite a bit.

We ’ r e r u n n i n g 5 t o 1 0 degrees below normal (last week).”

Temperatures in the NWS Lincoln office coverage area the middle of last week plunged to lows ranging

dip into the mid-to-upper 30s to start this week based on the forecast.

But Onton believes Illinoisans may have seen the last of frost for a while.

“In general, we’re still in a cool pattern (with freezing to b e l o w - f r e e z i n g o ve r n i g h t

(Friday), I do not expect any extra concer n for frost or freezes. Temperatures should remain above freezing for the remainder of the seven-day period.”

The forecast, if realized, would be welcomed by farmers. Cool and wet conditions

Tr a p s i n C h a m p a i g n , Fayette, Logan, Lee, Macon, Macoupin and Madison counties monitored by the Illinois Natural History Survey captured black cutworm moths during the last two weeks.

However, no intense flights — nine or more moths caught during a twoday period — have been reported, according to Uni-

versity of Illinois Extension entomologist Mike Gray.

“This distribution of captures sug gests that black cutwor m moth flights have likely taken place througho u t I l l i n o i s. G r o w e r s a r e encouraged to remain vigilant for early signs of leaf feeding when corn seedlings begin to emerge,” Gray said.

“Strong winds from the south are undoubtedly

b r i n g i n g m a n y b l a ck c u t wor m moths into Illinois, and weedy fields will be prime targets for egg laying by this species.”

Gray noted fields heavily infested with weeds such as c h i c k w e e d , s h e p h e r d ’s purse, peppergrass and yellow rocket attract moths.

Late tillage and planting also tend to increase the susce ptibility of fields to black cutworm infestations.

Fields at greatest risk to cutting and economic damage are in the one- to fourleaf stage of plant development.

Gray urged far mers to contact him if they find significant black cutwor m infestations as corn e m e r g e s. H e ’ l l s h a r e t h e information in The Bulletin, a pest management and crop development newsletter he authors. Gray can be contacted at megray@illinois.edu or 217333-4424. Fo r fa ct sh eets about black cutwor m, visit {http://bit.ly/1DCjUS7}.

‘Once we get past (Friday), I do not expect any extra concern for frost or freezes. Temperatures should remain above freezing for the remainder of the seven-day period.’

— Daryl Onton National Weather Service meteorologist

Keep an eye out for black cutworm feeding

Americans’ views divided on organic, sustainability

Americans remain divided on organic foods. While concern for the environment and sustainability run strong, so does a view that “organic” is primarily a marketing ploy.

A recent Harris Poll surveyed 2,244 adults ages 18 and older for their opinions about the environment and sustainability as well as their perceptions of organic foods. Nearly an equal percentage of respondents said organic labeling is an excuse to charge a premium price (57 percent) and that organic foods are healthier in comparison to similar nonorganic products (56 percent).

Similarly, one-third of Americans indicated they make more of an effort to be environmentally conscious. However, while 45 percent believe such steps are easy, 49 percent reported they have difficulties.

slowed the start of the planting season in many portions of the Midwest.

More rain and thunderstorms were forecast during the past weekend in Illinois.

Topsoil moisture, as of the first of last week, was rated 22 percent surplus, 70 percent adequate and 8 percent short to very short, the National Agricultural Statistics Ser vice Illinois field office reported.

Most of the surplus topsoil moisture last week was located in the southeast (59 percent), east southeast (57 percent) and southwest (43 percent) sectors of the state.

Meanwhile, the top two regions with shor t to ver y short topsoil ratings last week were in the northwest (34 percent) and west (30

percent) portions of the state.

Cor n planting prog ress, subsequently, advanced most in the drier west (39 percent) and central (31 percent) parts of the state, while there was no planting progress recorded in the wetter southeast and southwest sectors as of the first of last week.

T he cool, wet temperatures not only delayed planting but also slowed development of the late-planted winter wheat crop.

Just 1 percent of the wheat crop headed as of last week compared to the average of 10 percent.

The moist pattern helped pasture conditions, though, which last week were rated 12 percent excellent, 57 percent g ood, 28 percent fair and just 3 percent poor.

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Agronomist: Cool down shouldn’t freeze corn planters FarmWeek • Page 8 • Monday, April 27, 2015

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

The arrival of cooler temperatures last week will slow crop emergence and development.

But the cool down shouldn’t freeze corn planters, according to Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois Extension agronomist.

With May Day just four days away, Nafziger said farmers should base their planting decisions on soil conditions and not the temperature gauge.

“As we head into the last week of April, we’d expect the trend to be up with soil temperatures. But it looks like

PLOTTING AN ESCAPE

below-normal temperatures will be with us (into this week),” Nafziger told FarmWeek last week.

“If the soil is in good condition, I’m not sure why you’d wait (to plant corn),” he continued. “I don’t see a lot of danger to having corn in the

Angelica Lebron of Bolingbrook, from left, confers with Renee Tillman of Altamont and Aaron Shull of Red Bud during a Premier 20 team building activity at Escape Bloomington last week. The trio joined 17 other 4-H and FFA members for the leadership conference hosted by Illinois Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Financial, GROWMARK, IAA Credit Union and Prairie Farms Dairy. Participants looked for clues needed to escape from a room in a specified time allotment. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

of last week, which actually was 3 percent ahead of last year, but 4 percent behind the average pace.

There were scattered reports of light frost and even snow flurries last week. But Nafziger said corn and wheat stands should remain intact unless temperatures dive into a hard freeze (below 30 degrees).

“With late planting and cool temperatures in March, we’re not ahead of the game for wheat development,” the agronomist said. “Pushing the heading date back is not something we like.

But I think (the Illinois wheat crop) is in pretty good shape. It made a reasonable come back from late fall planting.”

The National Agricultural Statistics Service Illinois field office last week rated the condition of the wheat crop at 54 percent good to excellent (down 2 percent from the previous week), 36 percent fair and 10 percent poor to very poor (up 2 percent from the previous week).

If farmers wait to plant a crop this spring, it should be soybeans, which typically don’t handle cold soils as well as corn, Nafziger added.

Check anhydrous equipment, spill report requirements

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Farmers and their employees should familiarize themselves with anhydrous ammonia application equipment, especially quick couplers and tool bars, said Jerry Kirbach with the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s (IDOA) bureau of agricultural product inspections.

Kirbach advised farmers and any seasonal employees to know the location of shutoff valves and safety equipment, including eye wash water.

Under federal rules, farmers must report spills of 100 or more pounds of anhydrous. Contact local emergency responders, such as fire and police departments, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the National Response Center (RNC). The IEMA 24-hour response telephone number is 800-782-7860. The reporting number for NRC is 800-424-8802.

Once notified by IEMA of an ag-related spill, IDOA sends inspectors to the spill site. Those inspectors seek to find the cause of the problem. The farmer, IEMA and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency receive copies of the IDOA inspectors’ report.

It’s not just storing grain.

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Small grains program set for June

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ground because it’s cool.”

Farmers typically prefer to plant once the soil temperature warms to at least 50 degrees.

However, after exceeding that mark earlier this month, soil temps last week dipped below 50 degrees in much of the upper two-thirds of the state (with a low of 41.9 degrees in the northwest and a high of just 53.3 in deep southern Illinois on Wednesday).

It takes about 115 growing degree days from planting until emergence. But last week, much of the state accumulated just 4 to 5 growing degree units per day.

Crop emergence and development “is going to be really slow,” Nafziger said. “But it’s better than sitting in the bag, particularly if it turns wet. The worst stand issues typically are caused by heavy rainfall, not cool soils.”

Planters rolled in some areas a week ago. Statewide, 15 percent of the corn crop was in the ground as of the first of last week, well ahead of last year (4 percent), but behind the average pace of 21 percent.

Nationwide, just 9 percent of corn was planted as of the first

TM

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Wheat and other small grains producers across the state can attend the 2015 Northern Illinois Small Grains Program June 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Illinois Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center in Shabbona.

Sponsored by the Illinois Wheat Association and University of Illinois Extension, the small grains program will feature several presentations from Extension and university agronomists, breeders and plant pathologists, including Fred Kolb, U of I professor and small grains breeder, who will discuss oat and wheat variety development for northern Illinois.

Emerson Nafziger, U of I Extension agronomist, will discuss wheat crop prospects and management practices, including a look at the commercial variety trial.

To register, contact the Illinois Wheat Association office at 309-557-3619 or email Charlene Blary at cblary@ilfb.org. Registration is free, and the evening meal will be sponsored by the Illinois Wheat Association.

For additional information and directions to the Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center, please contact Charlene Blary or visit the Illinois Wheat Association website at {illinoiswheat.org}.

Study explores Corn Belt’s farm economic diversity

Page 9 • Monday, April 27, 2015 • FarmWeek

The Corn Belt’s farm economy remains particularly vulnerable to economic cycles due to increased commodity specialization. True or false?

According to a University of Illinois study, the region’s farm economy remains as diverse as it was in 1930.

Todd Kuethe, U of I assistant professor of land economics, found that, in real terms, the animal sector

Check status of conservation certification form

Farmers who do not have a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form (AD1026) on file with their local USDA office need to do so by June 1. The form allows farmers to become or remain eligible for crop insurance premium support during the 2016 reinsurance year, which begins July 1, 2015.

Most farmers already have a certification form on file since it’s required for participation in most USDA programs. However, some farmers, such as specialty crop growers who receive federal crop insurance premium support but may not participate in other USDA programs, also must now file a certification form.

Farmers can also talk with their crop insurance agent before June 1 to ask questions, get additional information or learn more about conservation compliance procedures.

The Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form is available at local USDA offices or online at {www.fsa.usda.gov/AD1026fo rm}.

Health perceptions drive younger consumers to seafood, vegetables

Health perceptions entice younger consumers to eat seafood, vegetarian and vegan foods, which may cause more foodservice innovations.

Generally, consumers perceive seafood, vegetarian and vegan entrees as more healthy than beef, pork and poultry options, according to a Technomic Inc. report.

More than six in 10 consumers reported eating a meal with no beef, pork, chicken or turkey at least once a week.

Among those who consume vegetarian and vegan foods, younger consumers were the most likely to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Technomic, a research firm, identified a need for more menu items in these types of foods across foodservice channels, predicting changes among fast-casual restaurants.

accounted for roughly 76.3 percent of the value of agricultural production in the Corn Belt in 1930, but by 2013, this share declined to just 37.3 percent. The Corn Belt includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Ohio.

At the national level, the animal sector’s share of production value has remained relatively stable, declining slightly from 57.4 percent in 1930 to 45.5 percent in 2013.

Before the 1970s, the animal sector accounted for a greater share of the Corn Belt farm economy than it did for the nation as a whole. Kuethe noted many interpret this shift away from livestock production as evidence of decreasing diversity in agricultural production across the region. In addition, he noted this trend

has been criticized for a number of reasons, including adverse environmental impacts and increased vulnerability to crop price cycles.

However, Kuethe found evidence that the economic diversity of commodities produced in the Corn Belt has changed very little since the 1930s. He examined an empirical measure of the diversity of the economy provided by Shannon’s Diversity Index, developed as a measure of biodiversity of a landscape. It tracks the abundance of various species in a given location. Its minimum (of zero) occurs when a population contains only a single species. The index increases as the number of species increases or the proportional distribution of species becomes more equitable. Therefore, the meas-

ure increases when animals are spread more evenly across species.

USDA’s Economic Research Service classifies agricultural cash receipts using four categories of livestock and related products (meat animals, milk and dairy products, poultry and eggs, and miscellaneous livestock) and eight categories of crops (food grains, feed crops, cotton, tobacco, oil crops, vegetables and melons, fruits and vegetables, and all other crops). A Shannon’s Diversity Index of cash receipts, therefore, measures the degree to which the agricultural economy is comprised of one or many commodities and the relative share of total cash receipts by commodity.

The diversity index suggests the farm economy of the

nation and the Corn Belt region has remained relatively stable since the 1930s. The Corn Belt farm economy grew gradually less diverse from 1930 through 1970, but increased at a similar rate through the early 2000s and again declined after 2004. A slight uptick in 2013 showed that, in that year, Shannon’s Diversity Index for cash receipts by commodity type was the same as it was in 1930.

Kuethe concluded while the Corn Belt is understandably less economically diverse than the nation as a whole, this difference has remained consistent, suggesting the region’s agricultural production remains as economically diverse as it was more than 80 years ago.

Study shows more options for nitrogen application

FarmWeek • Page 10 • Monday, April 27, 2015

As Illinois corn growers implement their spring nitrogen programs, they can rest assured no single nitrogen form and treatment may stand out as being consistently better or worse than another.

University of Illinois crop scientist Emerson Nafziger found research results from 2014 show the list of “acceptable” ways of applying nitrogen might turn out to be a little longer than originally thought.

“In recent years, there has been a trend toward more applications per crop, and it’s not unusual today to have nitrogen applied three or four times on the same field,” said Nafziger.

Watch for marestail to kick up its heels Will a smaller marestail population in 2014 translate into the same outcome this year? Aaron Hager, University of Illinois Extension weed scientist, cautioned farmers that may not be the case.

Fall herbicide applications coupled with a harsh winter that caused a high degree of mortality to winter annual weed species most likely contributed to a reduced population of marestail last spring, Hager noted.

“It’s not too early to apply herbicides to control emerged marestail in fields that will be planted to soybeans,” Hager said.

“The small marestail plants we have currently will be much easier to control than the larger plants that will be encountered in several weeks.

“Consider an early herbicide application targeted for marestail control and application of soil residual herbicides for summer annual weeds closer to soybean planting,” he added.

Hager also recommends farmers check the latest suggestions for marestail control with burndown herbicides from Mark Loux, an Ohio State University Extension weed scientist. Visit {http://bit.ly/1DQBHtg}.

Last year’s study, funded by the Illinois fertilizer checkoff program and administered by the Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC), compared yields from different nitrogen programs. It included a comparison of 15 ways to apply the same rate of nitrogen (150 pounds per acre) in the spring at three U of I research centers.

June rainfall at the three sites ranged from 8 to 10 inches — more than twice the normal amounts.

“This might have meant above-normal nitrogen loss potential, though we did not have water standing on these plots,” Nafziger said. “Even so, most of the nitrogen forms and application times we compared produced similar yields when averaged across sites.”

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The highest-yielding treatment (urea plus Agrotain broadcast at planting) yielded statistically more than the five other treatments, but the second-best treatment (all of the nitrogen as UAN sidedressed at V5) yielded more than only the two lowest-yielding treatments.

“While we need to be cautious about any predictions, this also hints that some of the treatments we reason should produce higher nitrogen use efficiency — such as sidedress or split nitrogen applications — might not always do so consistently,” he said. “What we saw do well in 2014 can’t be considered the ‘best new’ way to apply nitrogen.”

Nafziger said most growers can take comfort in the fact that just about any method they choose for putting nitrogen on the corn crop should work reasonably well, though no method is entirely safe from unusual weather or crop conditions.

“A sound nitrogen management program should take costs into account, and not just the costs of trips across the fields and of the fertilizer material, but also the indirect costs that include such things as the chance for yield loss or of more expensive forms or application methods we might need to use if we can’t get nitrogen on when we expected to,” Nafziger said.

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Fruit trees, pumpkins, mums, sweet corn, asparagus, cider making and beekeeping.

Those topics and more will be discussed from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 11 at the Summer Horticulture Field Day at Boggio’s Orchard and Produce near Granville. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Attendees will not only learn about the orchard owned by Keith and Denise Boggio, but they will also get the latest information from University of Illinois Extension specialists and educators on new varieties, fruit thinning and integrated pest management practices.

The event allows growers to connect with other fruit and vegetable farmers in Illinois and neighboring states.

Denise Boggio will lead a concurrent session covering agritourism and marketing.

Sponsored by the Illinois State Horticultural Society, U of I and Illinois Specialty Growers Association, advance registration costs $25 and includes lunch.

To register, email Rachel at ilsthortsoc@ gmail.com or call 217-853-6048.

New voice announced at RFD Radio Network

Page 11 • Monday, April 27, 2015 • FarmWeek

IDOA schedules ag pesticide container recycling

Farmers and agrichemical facilities may participate in agrichemical container recycling coordinated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA).

Starting in late July and continuing through August, 30, single-day collections will occur at locations around the state. In addition, three permanent sites offer container recycling.

Metal and household pesticide containers are not eligible. Collection sites will accept only highdensity polyethylene, No. 2 plastic, agrichemical containers that are clean and dry. Participants must rinse containers and remove all caps, labels, booklets and foil seals.

The containers will be recycled into materials for

shipping pallets, fence posts, drainage tubing, plastic lumber and other useful items.

“This program offers far mers and agrichemical facilities a convenient opportunity to dispose of empty pesticide containers and demonstrate their environmental stewardship,” said Agriculture Director Philip Nelson.

The program is a cooperative venture between IDOA, Illinois Far m Bureau, Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK Inc., Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Container Ser vices Network and University of Illinois Extension.

To receive a free brochure about the program, call the IDOA toll free at 1-800-641-3934.

For the date, time and location of the one-day location nearest you, visit {agri.state. il.us} and click

on “Illinois Department of Agriculture to offer free recycling program.”

Permanent collection sites and contact information include: Illinois Valley Supply, Carrollton, Greene County, 217-942-6991; Klein Flying Service, Lawrenceville, Lawrence County, 618-8841040; and Randolph Ag Service, Heyworth, McLean County, 309-473-3256.

Growers interested in grafting nut trees and landowners interested in improving their water quality may participate in a May 9 nut tree grafting workshop and field day in Palmer. Registration is free, but requested for the event.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Palmer Community Center. A light meal will be served.

Participants will visit Keith Etheridge’s riparian buffer site near Palmer for a field grafting demonstration on pecan trees and learn about Etheridge’s efforts to improve water quality using trees and prairie plantings along a creek.

Trees Forever and University of Illinois Extension are hosting the event as part of the Illinois Buffer Partnership.

Sponsors include Syngenta Crop Protection, the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices and GROWMARK Inc. “This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in agroforestry, nut production and water quality improvement,” said Barb Grabner-Kerns, Trees Forever field coordinator. “Participants will learn the reasons we graft to achieve superior varieties of nuts, the difference between field grafting and bench grafting, and specific grafting techniques.”

To register, visit {treesforever.org/grafting} or call Grabner-Kerns at 217-561-1062.

7:30 am - 8:45 am Check in & Race Day registration 8:30 am - Cock-a-Doodle Dash

Nut tree grafting workshop, field day set

Organization and as a farm broadcaster with the Brownfield and Kansas Agriculture Networks.

WMBD/WIRL now broadcasts RFDRN’s Illinoisfocused farm and rural issues programming.

Frazer will oversee all RFDRN operations, including programming and affiliate relations for the network and FarmWeekNow.com/ RFDRN digital platforms that include its mobile app, daily email newsletter and website. Frazer joined the

Tuesday: • FarmWeek: “The Early Word” • Annemarie Kuhns, USDA: drought impact on commodity prices • Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey: weather Wednesday: • Colleen Callahan, USDA Rural Develop-

Saturday, May 9, 2015

network full time in 2011 after serving as farm director for WSMI-AM/FM in Litchfield.

Jarand, a farm broadcaster for three decades, helped build RFDRN from a handful of affiliates and programs to more than 80 stations. He continues to help produce and serve as lead host of the network’s hour-long “RFD Today” talk show, and provides content for other network programs and digital platforms.

ment: local food opportunity • Dr. Mark Ernst, Illinois Department of Agriculture: avian flu Thursday: • Mike Steenhoek, Soy Transportation Coalition: lock and dam update Friday: • Julian Reif, University of Illinois: pros and cons of gas tax • Mike Doherty, Illinois Farm Bureau senior economist: economic update

5th Annual

Online Registration @ www.iaafoundation.org

T

he IAA Foundation announces its annual 5K Grow & Go to celebrate Illinois farm families and the important role they play in putting food on your table.

Proceeds from this race benefit Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, a program providing free resources to teachers in an effort to help students make the connection between food, fiber, fuel & farming. Bring your family & friends - the Grow & Go has something for everyone!

Registration Form (One registration form per participant) Race Participating in (check one): 5K Run __ Mile Walk __ Cock-a-Doodle Dash __

(Please Circle One) Adult T-Shirt Size: S M L XL XXL Children’s T-Shirt Sizes: XS (2-4) S (6-8) M (10-12) L (14-16)

Not in the Run/Walk?

Open House & Breakfast only __ Name ____________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________

9:00 am - Race Start (5K & 1 Mile Walk)

City _____________________________________________________

1701 Towanda Ave., Bloomington

State ________ ZIP ________________________________________

9:15 - Hot Breakfast & Open House

Phone ___________________________________________________

5K Grow & Go (Runners/Walkers)

Email ____________________________________________________

Thank you for participating in our fundraiser, all proceeds benefit Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom.

Age ______ Birthdate _____ / ______ / _________

$20 Entry Fee if registered by May 1st

(please circle)

T-Shirt, water stop, hot breakfast, open house

Male

Female

S I am a COUNTRY/GROWMARK/IFB Employee

$25 Entry Fee day of race Water stop, hot breakfast, open house

$5 Entry Fee Cock-a-Doodle Dash

Amount Enclosed: $___________ (Checks payable to: IAA Foundation)

Includes T-Shirt, award, open house, ag learning stations, hot breakfast

Waiver: Upon accepting my application and in consideration of allowing me to enter this event, which I agree is at my own risk and entirely of my own free will I hereby for myself and on behalf of my heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, waive, release, and discharge Illinois Farm Bureau, IAA Foundation, Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, IFB Family of Companies, Lake Run Club, race organizers, race volunteers, sponsors, and promoters from any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any losses, injury, or other damage sustained in any activities during or surrounding the event. I also give permission for the free use of my name and picture in the any broadcast, telecast, or print media account of this event or subsequent similar future events.

Not in the Run/Walk?... No Worries! $7 Fee Friends, family open house & breakfast Includes hot breakfast, open house, ag learning stations

Registration Form & Event Details online at:

Signature ________________________________________________________________ *Parent signature if under 18

iaafoundation.org

Date _________________________________________________

Send registration form(s) with payment to: IAAF451-T5

The RFD Radio Network crew includes Rita Frazer, RFD Radio Network director of network and audio services; DeLoss Jahnke, standing, network anchor and editor; and Alan Jarand, seated, transitioning toward retirement. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

Rita Frazer has been named RFD Radio Network (RFDRN) director of network and audio services. She succeeds Alan Jarand, who will continue serving Bloomingtonbased RFDRN part time as he transitions to retirement.

DeLoss Jahnke joins RFDRN as network anchor and editor. Jahnke’s served as agribusiness director with WMBD-AM/FM and WIRL-AM/FM in Peoria, communications specialist with the National FFA

IAA Foundation 1701 Towanda Ave., Bloomington, IL 61701 More info: 309.557.2230 or www.iaafoundation.org Registration fees are non-refundable

Honeybee winter survival improves despite cold weather

FarmWeek • Page 12 • Monday, April 27, 2015

Honeybees appear to have survived winter in better shape than a year ago, but they still face several significant threats, according to a Purdue University honeybee specialist.

After the brutally cold, wet winter of 2013-14 in much of the U.S., observers reported one of the largest bee die-offs ever recorded with a mortality rate of about 65 percent for Indiana, said Greg Hunt, entomology professor. Hunt estimated this winter’s honeybee losses at 29 percent based on his primary investigation and discussions

with beekeepers.

“It seems much better than the year before, even though it was another cold winter,” Hunt said.

USDA pegs honeybee pollination worth about $15 billion

annually in crop production.

However, the honeybee population has declined for years with the U.S. losing about a third of its hives annually, according to Hunt.

A number of factors likely

Got milk on your farm? Consider serving as a director on the Illinois Milk Promotion Board (IMPB).

Active dairymen in District 2 or District 4 may complete a petition by July 1. District 2 includes Adams, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Cass, Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cook, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Ford, Fulton, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Marshall, Mason, McHenry,

McDonough, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion, Warren, Will and Woodford.

District 4 consists of Alexander, Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Shelby, St. Clair, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White and Williamson.

IMPB dairy farmer directors

oversee investment of the 10cent checkoff that stays in Illinois. This amounts to nearly $2 million each year. IMPB invests these funds with qualified organizations that conduct research, promotion and advertising, and nutrition education programs within the state of Illinois.

Interested producers should contact Jim Fraley, IMPB Manager, at jfraley@ilfb.org or 309557-3109. The election will be conducted by a mailed-in ballot during the first two weeks of August.

‘The earlier an infestation is identified, the better chance you have of saving the colony.’

— Greg Hunt Purdue University honeybee specialist

Milk promotion board directors sought

contribute to the bees’ decline, including the baffling colony collapse disorder that results in adult worker bees’ disappearance for no apparent reason.

Although colony collapse disorder has generated a lot of attention, symptoms haven’t been seen in Indiana or in other states in the past two years, Hunt said.

A parasite known as a Varroa mite poses a significant threat.

The tiny reddish-brown mites feed on bee larva and transmit viruses. If not addressed, they can destroy an entire colony.

Beekeepers who notice too many mites in their hive should use a commercially available pesticide designed specifically to control Varroa mites, Hunt said.

“The earlier an infestation is

identified, the better chance you have of saving the colony,” he said.

Replacing a hive that has been lost or damaged by Varroa mites or other causes can be expensive and time-consuming, Hunt said.

“Normally, the bees are ready to pollinate in mid-May,” he said. “If a beekeeper has to replace a colony, pollination could be delayed until midJune.”

Entomologists also identified neonicotinoids, a common seed treatment, as a threat to bees.

Scientists theorize the neonicotinoids are absorbed by the talc used in planting, and spread to surrounding plants and soil when the talc dust is released from planting equipment.

Soy CCA Envoys ready to share soy management information

To improve Illinois soybean production and profitability, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has partnered with the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Program to launch the Soy CCA Envoys.

A network of nine Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) in Illinois, the Soy CCA Envoys will share management information and recommendations on {ILSoyAdvisor.com}. The CCAs work directly with producers and will share high-yield management strategies and technologies to help growers discover the true profit potential of soybeans.

“CCAs are on the front line in agriculture, sharing information with growers around the state and staying on top of industry trends through their certification,” explained Lisa Martin, program coordinator of the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Program.

“We work in an ever-changing environment,” said Tom Kelley, chairman of the Illinois CCA Program. “It can be challenging to keep up with the latest technology, trends and management practices. The Soy Envoys will share news with growers, helping them stay on the leading edge of soybean production.”

Soy CCA Envoys represent the nine, Illinois crop reporting districts: • Lynda Anderson, Bayer CropScience; • Jeff Keifer, Elburn Coop; • Lance Tarochione, Monsanto; • Wade Meteer, Syngenta; • Bill Orr, Pioneer; • Carl Masters, Brandt Consolidated; • Randy Stephens, Helena Chemical Company; • John Niemeyer, Agrium; and • Mike Wilson, Wabash Valley FS. “Illinois is unique because it’s a long state, and it has many different environments. The Soy CCA Envoys will be a great asset to Illinois farmers because they can find updates on disease pressure, weed recommendations and other timely advice tailored to their area,” said Linda Kull, Ph.D., ISA director of strategic research programs. “They can even direct questions to their local Soy CCA Envoy for personalized advice.”

The Soy CCA Envoys program receives funding, in part, from the Illinois soybean checkoff and includes ISA’s efforts with CCAs to continually improve soybean production in Illinois.

B

UREAU — Bureau County Ag Award. Call 875-6468 to obtain a nomination form by May 15. The award honors individuals who have given exemplary leadership and service to ag and farmers in Bureau County and beyond.

• Summer Agriculture Institute for teachers, 8 a.m. June 15-19 at the Farm Bureau

office. Cost is $80. Call 8756468 for reservations by Friday.

• Foundation Tractor Trek, 8 a.m. June 20, starting from the Farm Bureau office. Cost is $50. Call 875-6468 to register. Proceeds will benefit the Ag in the Classroom (AITC) program.

OOK — Basic beginning beekeeping work-

C

STATEHOUSE DISCUSSIONS

shop, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Farm Bureau office. For course fees and more information, call 708-354-3276 or email membershipdebbie@ cookcfb.org.

FFINGHAM — Prime Timers will tour Eckert’s Farm and Our Lady of the Snows Shrine, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. May 13 beginning in Belleville. Members 55 and older are invited to attend.

Cost is $45. Call 342-2103 to register by May 6.

RUNDY — Container gardening workshop 10 a.m. Saturday in the Farm Bureau meeting room. Nancy Kuhajda, Grundy-KankakeeWill program coordinator for Master Gardeners, will instruct. Cost is $15 for members and guests. Call 942-6400 for reservations by Tuesday.

Space is limited to 25 attendees.

EE — Seeking sponsors for the AITC Golf Outing, June 26 at Chapel Hill Golf Course in Princeton.

The tournament will be a shotgun start, four-person scramble. Proceeds will benefit the Bureau and Lee County AITC programs. Call 8573531 to register as a sponsor

by Friday.

E

G L

State Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, far right, chats with Jefferson County Farm Bureau leaders during their recent visit to the Capitol. Joined by leaders from Hamilton County Farm Bureau, this marked the county Farm Bureaus’ first visit during the legislative session where they discussed legislative priorities and the state budget with their legislators and “adopted” legislators.

State Rep. Christian Mitchell, left, D-Chicago, talks with leaders from Hamilton and Jefferson County Farm Bureaus during their recent visit to the Capitol. Mitchell and Hamilton County Farm Bureau are matched through the Adopt-a-Legislator® program. (Photos by Christina Nourie)

Nominees sought for Illinois State Fair honorees

The Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation is seeking individuals to honor as Illinoisan of the Day during the 2015 Illinois State Fair. The nomination deadline is June 26.

Nominees must be state residents and at least 25 years old.

They should be involved in service activities, educational projects, and/or youth programs, and be affiliated with state and/or county fairs in Illinois.

Selected honorees will be recognized on a special day during the Illinois State Fair Aug. 13-23.

Nomination forms may be requested by calling the Museum Foundation at 217-725-8047 or visiting {statefairmuseum.org} and downloading a form.

Winners will be contacted by phone and announced July 11 at the Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation’s annual event in the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield.

M

Page 13 • Monday, April 27, 2015 • FarmWeek

ONROE — Foundation scholarships available for current college students studying ag-related fields.

Call 939-6197 or email mcfarm@htc.net for an application. Application deadline is Friday.

ONTGOMERY — Grain Belt Express Clean Line informational meeting for member landowners, 6:30 p.m. May 13 at Knights of Columbus Hall in Farmersville. Christopher W. Byron and Brian Kalb, Byron Carlson Petri and Kalb LLC, will speak on the transmission line approval process with the Illinois Commerce Commission, routing, easements and what to expect when approached by land agents.

EORIA — Hasselberg Ag Museum open house, 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe.

• Equine spring roundtable, 7 p.m. May 4 at the Farm Bureau building. Doug Bogart, Rock Island professional horseman, will speak on “Understanding the new horse show event — ranch riding.”

Call 686-7070 for more information.

M

P

S

CHUYLER — Ag Day on the Square, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Rushville Town Square. Events will include demonstrations, a petting zoo, farm implements and refreshments.

ABASH — 4-H grant applications are available at the Farm Bureau and Extension offices. Grants may be used to purchase 4-H project materials. Applicants must be a Wabash County 4-H member age 8 to 14. Call 2625865 or email wabashfb@ frontier.com for more information. Application deadline is May 15.

INNEBAGOBOONE — Debris pickup help available for farmers in Boone County impacted

by April 9 tornados. The Boone County Emergency Management office will provide registered volunteers to assist in cleanup efforts. Call Brad Bartell, Boone County Emergency Management coordinator, at 815-509-3004.

W W

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

FarmWeek • Page 14 • Monday, April 27, 2015

Seasonal patterns provide energy market road map

The energy markets typically follow seasonal patterns which offer a nice road map on where prices may be heading in the future. However, these seasonal patterns certainly do not always hold true to form, and prices can Bridget Chinowth diverge to outside fundamental influences.

BY BRIDGET CHINOWTH

The most often studied seasonal patterns are the five-year, 15-year and 30-year seasonals.

While these three studies show some divergence, they all suggest a low in the heating oil market forms between mid-November and mid-February. After this seasonal low is established, the market gains upside momentum before experiencing a mild setback in the early summer months.

This year, a low in the heating oil market was put in place the week of Jan. 26 with a price of $1.63. After the bottom was

established, the market gained upside momentum and then setback again to $1.71 the week of March 30. But since that point, prices have gained steady upside momentum.

Several fundamental factors have contributed to extremely low energy market prices experienced this past winter. First and foremost, the U.S. has an ample supply of crude oil as the latest report pegged U.S. inventory levels at 482 million barrels versus last year at this time when we had 384 million

Rise in cattle numbers, weights appears bearish

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

It appears cattle prices peaked in recent weeks and could experience a choppy ride the rest of spring into summer.

USDA, in its monthly cattle on feed report Friday, estimates the number of cattle on feed (10.79 million head) and placements in feedlots (1.81 million) both increased slightly compared to a year ago.

“I’d construe the report as a little bearish down the road,” Kevin Good, CattleFax market analyst, told FarmWeek.

The placement estimate was above the average trade guess. And Good looks for larger placements next month as well.

Meanwhile, the size of cattle continues to rise as farmers take advantage of larger feed supplies that are less expensive. Winter grazing numbers increased this year.

“We’re continuing to place heavier cattle. There was a big increase (16 percent) in the 800-pound and up category (see graphic),” the analyst said.

“We think that trend will continue,” he noted. “Seasonally, we’re walking into bigger supplies here into summer.”

USDA’s recent cold storage report pegged the amount of boneless beef in storage at 438.8 million pounds, up 20 percent compared to a year ago.

Good believes the buildup of beef in storage resulted in part from the backlog of export shipments from the West Coast caused by the now resolved labor strike.

Beef imports from Australia, New Zealand and other locations also contributed to the increase of beef in storage, according to authors of CME Group’s Daily Livestock Report.

The amount of pork (668.6 million pounds) and chicken (751.9 million pounds) in cold storage also is up considerably from a year ago due to production increases.

The bump in the availability of beef and competing meats likely will pressure cattle prices into the summer.

“We put in the spring high (for the fed cattle market) three weeks ago,” Good said. “We’ve since lost $9. I expect the fed market will tail away from us as we go through the summer.”

Report: Smaller portions, sustainability may boost meat consumption Foodservice operators may tailor their offerings to overcome the obstacles of increasing meat prices and consumers’ health focus when dining out.

According to a new Technomic consumer report on beef and pork eating habits, 91 percent of beef eaters and 66 percent of pork eaters said their meat serves as the center-of-theplate option at least once weekly. One-fifth of all beef eaters report price increases either are keeping them at home more often than before, or leading them to order fewer beef entrees.

Restaurants and prepared-food counters may tempt consumers by offering smaller portions and less expensive cuts of meat that feature different and enticing seasonings, sauces and spices.

At the same time, openly addressing health and nutrition issues, even by promoting lean offerings, could encourage sales, especially among younger shoppers who are more health conscious.

According to the report, nearly two-thirds or 65 percent of consumers surveyed perceive items called “natural” as better and another 44 percent find such meat to be tastier. Social responsibility ranks as important to many consumers as well with 42 percent placing high importance on humane animal treatment and 40 percent on country-of-origin labeling.

barrels. The industry has 98 million more barrels of crude oil on hand this year. The surge certainly can be linked to aggressive shale drilling in the Bakken formation.

Another big driving factor for the lower prices was from the decisions of the OPEC nations not to cut their production despite the lower crude oil values.

They are currently producing 30 million barrels a day, and they will not be meeting again until June 5 to discuss any possible reductions in output. In addition, Saudi Arabia raised its crude output to 10.3 million barrels a day in March, which exceeds its previous record of 10.2 million barrels a day in August 2013.

However, at this point, large U.S. stockpiles and aggressive

OPEC output have been priced into the current market value.

This tends to suggest the market could start to focus on speculation U.S. output could now start to setback slightly as rig counts continue to come off.

As a result, the market could experience some upside momentum followed by a slight setback as the seasonal patterns would suggests in the early summer months.

As mentioned before, the seasonal patterns are not an exact science, but they are a valuable tool in helping to predict the possible direction of the markets in a very unpredictable environment.

Bridget Chinowth serves as GROWMARK energy analyst. She can be contacted at bchinowth@ growmark.com.

Corn Strategy

ü2014 crop: Old-crop concerns are still having a disproportionate influence on grain prices. New-crop contracts can soon begin to take the lead and allow better opportunities for catching up on the 2014 crop. ü2015 crop: The long-term outlook calls for higher prices in part for the simple reason that lower yields will be harvested on fewer acres. vFundamentals: Big 2014 crop inventories still weigh on the market. Consumption is having slight troubles making pace with USDA’s current usage estimates, and analysts are looking for future additions to carryout. Row crop planting season is here, so weather is stealing some of the focus. Corn planting is off to a fairly decent start, and the forecast for the rest of April calls for generally favorable conditions. Wet conditions in the South and cool soil temperatures across the Corn Belt are cause for some slight concern. The National Weather Service’s 90-day forecast does not currently call for any anomalies that would lead to temperature or precipitation extremes.

Page 15 • Monday, April 27, 2015 • FarmWeek Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

Soybeans to meet USDA export target

Barring any cancellations on the Thursday sales report, U.S. exporters will match USDA’s export target this week. Shipments have remained strong and are left still with 18 weeks in the current marketing year to catch

up with the record sales achievement.

Corn sales are pacing well despite the head wind of a stronger dollar. Last week’s 34 million bushels worth of new sales commitments were more than double the average needed to match USDA’s current estimate for exports in 2014-15.

Wheat runs on a different marketing year calendar that ends in just five weeks. The U.S. has been out-priced by cheap supplies abroad, so sales have been sluggish.

AgriVisor endorses crop insurance by

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ü2014 crop: Soybean prices are holding up well against the bearish news of big South American crops. Strong demand is being sustained, and support from the cash market this spring looks likely. ü2015 crop: Even better demand is expected for the next crop and will help to offset expected supply gains. vFundamentals: Despite producers in South America harvesting record soybean crops, there is a lack of pressure on U.S. prices. Renewed chatter about truckers striking in Brazil provides some support to the market, although the export pipeline there is stocked with enough inventories to weather any related disruptions for a while. U.S. exports are performing seasonally well with total sales very close to USDA’s current target for the marketing year. U.S. processors are coming off a seasonal crush record in March and look to continue satisfying strong domestic demand. Ending stocks estimates for 2014-15 should continue to shrink, taking a bite out

of the high early predictions for 2015-16 supply.

Wheat Strategy

ü2014 crop: Catch-up sales are put on hold in anticipation of premium returning to the futures market. ü2015 crop: World inventories are likely to shrink during the course of the next marketing year. Tighter stocks-to-use ratios would support higher prices. vFundamentals: Traders will dissect this week’s crop progress data carefully after the previous report did not indicate any condition improvements for hard red wheat in the Plains.

The forecast is generally favor-

able for growing wheat, but much more moisture is needed to relieve drought in Kansas, Oklahoma and parts of Texas.

There are indications some producers out West will graze out their wheat crops and forego harvest this year. That idea adds bullishness to the developing story line of spring wheat acres likely coming in fewer than previously expected. Export demand is the next most important guide for near-term price direction. Last week’s sales report beat expectations handedly and gives U.S. exporters a slightly better shot at meeting the government’s current target.

FarmWeek • Page 16 • Monday, April 27, 2015

Local food production provides opportunities

As you head to the fields for spring planting 2015, you’re likely thinking about all of your considerations to produce this year’s crop — soil temperature, planter calibration, soil tilth, fertilizer application, weed pressure, spraying conditions ... just to name a few.

Then, after the crops are planted, you can go back to lamenting that consumers “just don’t know where their food comes from!” And as you bemoan, please know that USDA has your back, and has, since the inception of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative.

As Secretary of AgriCOLLEEN culture Tom Vilsack has CALLAHAN said, “You know your doctor. You know your lawyer.

You should know your farmer!”

And that sentiment has transcended into the local food movement. But Secretary Vilsack didn’t create the path; he built on the USDA Local Food Legacy. This graphic is part of a special collection at USDA. I found it one day when I was leaving the small history museum at the USDA Whitten Building in Washington. It made me think about how far we’ve come, or rather, how long it’s taken us to circle back to our own “roots.”

According to the Illinois Food Farms & Jobs Council, Illinois produces less than 5 percent of the food its residents consume.

And USDA research indicates Illinois is a $50 billion market for food sales. Fred Kirschenmann of Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture says our previous model was fast, convenient and cheap. Now, we’re transitioning to memory, romance and trust. He says, “Our biggest challenge now is not to create a market, but keeping up with the market.”

So, this local food phenomenon is not a fad; it’s an opportunity! The average age of a traditional farmer today is 58.3 years. The average age of a value-based producer is in the 40’s and getting younger.

This is a chance for children who have left the farm to return, taking advantage of their youth and their more labor-intensive capabilities, and devoting a small acreage from row crop to personal produce. Even a recent issue of John Deere’s The Furrow magazine featured a cover that said, “From soil science to food hubs ... it’s all about The Long View.” Articles included features entitled “Food hubs help strengthen rural communities;” “Local markets give growers

a new life;” “Rural kids are moving back ...

The rural brain gain.” It makes me think Abraham Lincoln would be proud as it was he who said, “... the most valuable of all arts will be the art of deriving a comfortable subsistence from the smallest area of soil.”

The potential economic impact of local food production and distribution is bolstered through the use of USDA programs. From our Rural Development Value Added Producer Grant to our Business & Industry Loan Guarantee, our Rural Development Community Facility Programs and our Rural Energy for America Program, Rural Development is prepared to be your partner.

Working together, this local food opportunity can lead to creating jobs and stimulating rural economies.

Colleen Callahan serves as Illinois director for USDA Rural Development. Listen to an interview with her Wednesday on the “RFD Today” radio program.

Get to know the business of NASS

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is mostly known for quarterly acreage and grain stocks reports as well as monthly yield and crop production reports. The mission statement for NASS is simple — we will provide timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. By reporting the facts on American agriculture, NASS provides facts needed by many people working in and depending upon U.S. agriculture.

We do our job as openly and transparently as possible, and we can’t do it without the involvement of every MARK producSCHLEUSENER er who guest columnist receives a survey. NASS provides objective and unbiased statistics on a preannounced schedule that is fair and impartial to all market participants. We collect the information for those crop and livestock reports directly from our farmers by survey. The more complete and accurate the information we receive, the more accurate the information you and others in the industry use to make decisions will be.

We at NASS use the saying, “Agriculture counts.” It’s a play on words, but very true in all ways. We count agriculture so that everyone knows agriculture counts.

People and organizations use

NASS survey results so they can provide advice and guidance to farmers and ranchers around the country. For example, a recent economic study was published that relied heavily on NASS publications to show the full economic impact of agriculture in Illinois. University economists use NASS statistics as inputs to the economic models they use to forecast prices, then share that information with producers.

NASS comprises a fairly small part of USDA — about 1,000 employees around the country. Nearly half are in our Washington, D.C., headquarters, and the rest are stationed in regional and state offices.

NASS has 12 regional offices.

The Heartland Regional office is located in St. Louis and it serves the states of Illinois and Missouri. The state office in Springfield has just two people, including me.

We conduct hundreds of surveys every year and prepare reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture, thanks to our farmers. Production and supplies of food and fiber, prices paid and received by farmers, farm labor and wages, farm finances, chemical use and changes in the demographics of U.S. producers are only a few examples.

Our schedule of reports stays fairly consistent from year to year. But every five years, NASS conducts the Census of Agriculture. The ag census is a complete

accounting of America’s farms and ranches, and the people that operate them. It is the only source of consistent, comparable and detailed agricultural data for every county in America.

NASS is like the umpire at a baseball game. The umpire doesn’t tell the teams when to bunt, steal or bring in a relief pitcher. The umpire just calls balls and strikes, fair or foul, safe or out. In that same manner, NASS just publishes the facts of agriculture. We have no regulatory or enforcement responsibilities.

All that information NASS gathers is treated carefully and guarded safely. The first thing every new NASS employee learns is our confidentiality pledge. Because we are a statistical organization, the law provides safeguards for all the data we collect as well as identifying information about producers and agribusinesses.

After data collection, NASS processes the data independent of names and addresses. Any original paper questionnaires are then destroyed as prescribed by law. Names, addresses, phone numbers and other personal identifiers are held securely by NASS. None of the personal information is subject to the federal Freedom of Information Act or used for any regulatory purposes.

Every year, all NASS employees sign a confidentiality pledge that states we under-

stand the rules of confidentiality and the severe penalties for breaking those rules. Individual participants in a NASS survey can rest assured that summary data will not be published in a way that would identify them or their operation. For instance, if only one farm in a county produced a particular crop, then NASS would combine the data for that crop with reports from other counties to publish only combined totals.

In November 2013, I was fortunate to begin a new part of my career in public service.

At that time, I took on the job of Illinois state statistician for NASS. That job is primarily communication and outreach to producers and producer groups. In addition to external communications, I am the liaison between NASS and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

In my 30-plus years of working for NASS, I have worked in six locations. At each of those places, I have been fortunate to work with a group of dedicated and motivated public servants that provides a valuable service to agricultural producers, agribusinesses, and everyone that relies on a safe and abundant food supply in the United States.

If you have questions about NASS surveys or need help finding some data, please contact me at mark.schleusener@ nass.usda.gov or 217-524-9606.

Letter to the editor

Personal food rule view

Editor: U.S. farms are as diverse as the food we find in our grocery stores. So, too, are our attitudes toward food. In a March 30 FarmWeek letter to the editor, Mary White shared her personal rules about food. As a fellow farmer’s daughter and mom to two farm kids, I thought I’d also share my thoughts, which are often guided by personal choice and facts from reputable sources.

I do not seek out organic foods, understanding that front of the package labeling, like the label ‘organic,’ is referring to the how of food (as in production method) and not the health of food. The nutrition label guides many of my in-aisle grocery purchases. My grandmother’s mantra, “Eat your fruits and vegetables,” guides my produce purchases.

In the same vein, I avoid the non-GMO label. It is one more label that doesn’t say much about what’s in the package. For example, non-GMO popcorn is just popcorn. There are no genetically modified popcorn hybrids on the market today. In addition, a bag of non-GMO potato chips is no different nutritionally than a bag not labeled as such. A potato chip is a potato chip. A label does not make a food healthy.

Similarly, an occupation does not cause one to die. Mary asserts that a farmer’s exposure to chemicals results in death.

Safety on our farm is our No. 1 priority. When my husband is applying fertilizers and pesticides (for which he is annually certified by the state department of agriculture), he follows all safety procedures including the use of gloves and safety glasses.

Is there risk? Yes. Do we mitigate that? Yes. Why? Because it is common sense.

Temper information shared via Internet “experts” with a chat with a farmer.

KATIE PRATT Dixon

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