Farmweek august 18 2014

IFB Marketers to Washington got the scoop on the latest crop report during a USDA lockup. page 3

Herbicide rotation urged to avoid weed resistance Monday, August 18, 2014

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Farmers need to rotate herbicides or they may face resistant weeds that cause weed scientists “to rewrite the text books,” University of Illinois weed scientist Aaron Hager warned last week.

Hager reported on increased herbicide resistance during the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences’ Agronomy Day on the university’s crop research farm, Urbana.

“Our largest concern is not just (weed) resistance to one class of herbicides, but multiple FarmWeekNow.com classes (of For additional information herbicides). from U of I Agronomy Day, go to FarmWeekNow.com.

That’s where we see this heading,” Hager said.

He pointed to a chart outlining increased cases of resistant weeds and weeds with multiple herbicide resistance. Starting in 1995, resistance has continued spreading. In 2010, Illinois

Soybean aphid resistance and other crop issues received attention at U of I Agronomy Day. page 9

Farmers provide input for WRRDA implementation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. page 8

was home to two waterhemp populations resistant to four classes of herbicides.

This year, Missouri researchers found five types of herbicide resistance in fields in that state, Hager said.

Adding to Hager’s concern is a lack of new herbicide ingredients on the horizon. The last new class of chemistry being used in Illinois was discovered in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s, he added.

Hager encouraged farmers to rotate herbicides based on their site of action. “We need multiple control tactics each year,” he said.

Farmers may find new color-coded information to help them select different herbicides based on site of action.

Visit Take Action Against HerbicideResistant Weeds at {takeactionon weeds.com}.

The information was developed by Extension weed scientists, industry collaborators and the United Soybean Board.

“Weeds are evolving faster than the technology is,” Hager said.

Two sections Volume 42, No. 33

IFB PRIORITY BILL SIGNED

Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert Jr., center, explains the importance of farm truck legislation Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law last week on Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair, Springfield. The legislation, an IFB legislative priority, dovetails state transportation rules with federal ones by allowing farmers with pickups and dually trucks to have their vehicles identified as covered farm vehicles. The rules take effect Jan. 1. See more state fair coverage on pages 4-5. (Photo by Kay Shipman)

More information about farm bill signup expected this fall

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Periodicals: Time Valued

Farmers should get more information to help make decisions on sign-up for key farm bill programs by this fall.

Karis Gutter, deputy undersecretary for USDA’s Farm & Foreign Agricultural Services, discussed the timeline for farm bill implementation last week with participants of Illinois Farm Bureau’s MarKaris Gutter keters to Washington trip.

“I think you’ll have adequate time for sign-up,” Gutter told IFB members. “We’ll make sure to roll out the information to provide enough time so you can educate yourselves (about the new programs).”

Some IFB members expressed frustration with the fact that Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees aren’t able to discuss details yet about safety net options, Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agricultural

Risk Coverage (ARC), offered in the 2014 farm bill.

Gutter said FSA employees should be trained on the details about PLC and ARC next month and should be able to discuss the programs shortly thereafter.

“We can’t start talking about the programs until the rules are published,” Gutter said. “We hope to have (the new safety net program) up and running by the end of the year to cover the 2015 crop year.”

The first phase of farm bill implementation was the launch of livestock disaster assistance, which already dispersed more than $2 billion to livestock farmers.

The next program to be rolled out will be a marketing protection program for dairy producers.

Gutter anticipates a new dairy program will be ready by Oct. 1 to replace the Milk Income Loss Con-

More inside

Additional coverage of the 2014 Illinois Farm Bureau’s Marketers to Washington Trip on page 3

tract program, which expires Sept.

30.

Next year, USDA will focus on changes to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

The new farm bill reduces the maximum number of CRP acres nationwide from 32 million to 24 million.

“We’re excited about what’s in the tool kit,” Gutter said. “The hard part is rolling it out. We’ve got a limited amount of time if we’re going to make the resources available, so we’re pressing hard.”

USDA staff declined by 20 percent since 2009 due to budget cuts.

Quick Takes

FarmWeek • Page 2 • Monday, August 18, 2014

FARMERS TO EPA: ‘DITCH THE RULE’

STILL TIME TO RSVP FOR CONFERENCE — The deadline to save a spot at this month’s grain safety conference has been extended to Aug. 20.

The conference, sponsored by COUNTRY Financial and the Grain Handling Safety Coalition, will be held Aug. 26 and 27.

Farmers can attend either day as the same agenda will be presented both days from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Asmark Agricenter, 14171 Carole Dr., Bloomington.

The event will feature a simulated grain bin rescue, auger entanglement and grain dust explosion demonstration. Attendees can also enter to win a grain bin lifeline system.

Reservations can be made at rsvp@countryfinancial.com or by calling 309-821-4324.

WATERSHED HOSTS OPEN HOUSES — Madison County residents can attend two open houses for the Upper Silver Creek Watershed Plan from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s session will be at Troy City Hall, while Wednesday’s open house will be at the Hamel Community Center.

The open houses will give the public a chance to provide input on goals and strategies for water quality and flooding issues in the watershed, learn more about the overall watershed plan, and assist the planning team in identifying locations of existing flooding problems.

Residents can also complete an online survey to identify community flooding issues and overall watershed goals. Paper copies of the survey will be available at the open houses. The online survey can be completed until Sept. 12 at {surveymon key.com/s/UpperSilverCreek}.

LOW INTEREST LOANS AVAILABLE — Farmers can apply for low interest loans until Sept. 20 at county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. FSA’s direct farm ownership program provides loans to eligible producers up to $300,000.

The loans can be used to buy or enlarge a farm, construct new farm buildings or improve structures, pay closing costs, or promote soil and water conservation. The interest rate on select loans can be as low as 1.5 percent with up to 40 years to repay.

For more information, contact your county FSA office or visit {fsa.usda.gov}.

GROCE RECEIVES LIFETIME AWARD — Larry Groce of Plainville in Adams County recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. Grains Council.

Groce served as market director of the export division of Illinois Agricultural Service Co. and in the division of grain marketing from 1970-79. He also worked with the Illinois Corn Growers Association. He served as U.S. Grains Council chairman in 1994.

He is president and senior adviser for Groce & Associates, an agricultural consulting firm. Groce also works as a senior adviser for The Hale Group Ltd., a Massachusetts-based management consulting firm.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 42 No. 33 August 18, 2014 Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers.

FarmWeek is produced by the Illinois Farm Bureau.

FarmWeek is published each week, except the Mondays following Thanksgiving and Christmas, by the Illinois Agricultural Association, 1701 Towanda Avenue, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61701.

Illinois Agricultural Association assumes no responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products or services advertised in FarmWeek.

FarmWeek is published by the Illinois Agricultural Association for farm operator members. $3 from the individual membership fee of each of those members goes toward the production of FarmWeek.

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Address subscription and advertising questions to FarmWeek, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702-2901. Periodicals postage paid at Bloomington, Illinois, and at an additional mailing office.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices on Form 3579 to FarmWeek, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702-2901. Farm Bureau members should send change of addresses to their local county Farm Bureau. © 2014 Illinois Agricultural Association

STAFF Editor Chris Anderson (canderson@ilfb.org) Legislative Affairs Editor Kay Shipman (kayship@ilfb.org) Agricultural Affairs Editor Deana Stroisch (dstroisch@ilfb.org) Senior Commodities Editor Daniel Grant (dgrant@ilfb.org) Editorial Assistant Margie Fraley (mfraley@ilfb.org) Business Production Manager Bob Standard (bstandard@ilfb.org) Advertising Sales Manager Richard Verdery (rverdery@ilfb.org) Classified sales coordinator Nan Fannin (nfannin@ilfb.org) Director of News and Communications Michael L. Orso (morso@ilfb.org) Advertising Sales Representatives Hurst and Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 1-800-397-8908 (advertising inquiries only) Gary White - Northern Illinois Doug McDaniel - Southern Illinois Editorial phone number: 309-557-2239 Classified advertising: 309-557-3155 Display advertising: 1-800-676-2353

County Farm Bureau leaders join Illinois State Fair visitors on Ag Day to sign post cards opposing the proposed rule for “waters of the U.S.” Illinois Farm Bureau plans to make the post cards available to sign at various upcoming events. The post cards will be sent to the Environmental Protection Agency. Left to right are Madison County Farm Bureau President Steven Koeller, DeWitt County Farm Bureau Director Terry Ferguson, DeWitt County Farm Bureau President Tom Hieronymus and Sangamon County Farm Bureau President Larry Beaty. The post card is pictured on page 16. (Photo by Kay Shipman)

Cover crop field day planned for Sept. 4

PrairiErth Farm, Atlanta, offers speakers on cover crops and related topics from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 4 near the Atlanta farm. To guarantee a meal, participants must preregister by Sept. 1.

Topics will include off-the-grid grazing, controlled drainage systems, balancing soil health and micronutrients, a three-crop system and university research projects.

Speakers include Dave Bishop, PrairiErth

Farm and contributor to FarmWeek’s Discover Cover Crops; Sam Wortman and Cassandra Wilcoxen, both with the University of Illinois; Liz Pegg, Illinois State University; and Bill Becker, crop consultant.

PrairiErth Farm and Illinois Stewardship Alliance are sponsoring the meeting.

To register or for information, call PrairiErth Farm at 217-871-2164 or visit {prairierth farm.com}.

USDA’s crop production estimates break new ground Page 3 • Monday, August 18, 2014 • FarmWeek

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

USDA projects farmers this fall will harvest record corn and soybean crops.

But estimates released last week in the August crop pro-

FarmWeekNow.com

Go to FarmWeekNow.com to hear Joe Camp’s comments on what the August crop report means to prices.

duction report still fell a touch short of some trade expectations, particularly for corn.

USDA pegged U.S. corn production at 14.032 billion bushels, up from the record 13.9 billion bushels harvested last year. Some prereport trade

estimates were as high as 14.4 billion bushels.

The average corn yield estimate currently sits at a record 167.4 bushels per acre. Some prereport trade estimates were 170 bushels or higher.

“The corn estimate certainly is lighter than the trade expected,” said Joe Camp, AgriVisor risk management specialist, who attended the USDA lockup on the Illinois Farm Bureau Marketers to Washington trip. “But it wasn’t a significant surprise. A yield north of 170 bushels would have been overly optimistic.”

John Anderson, American Farm Bureau Federation deputy chief economist,

Large crops, lower prices boost demand prospects

Now that a period of demand rationing has passed, end users look to ratchet up demand around the world in response to larger crop supplies and lower prices in the U.S. USDA estimates corn FarmWeekNow.com exports this year could increase 20 million bushels to 1.725 bil- Visit FarmWeekNow.com to listen to Ken Shultz’s outlook for lion bushels, up 1.5 percent from last month and more than overseas grain demand. double the volume exported a year ago when foreign sales of corn slipped to a 40-year low following the 2012 drought.

Corn use for ethanol also could grow by 45 million bushels, according to USDA. Meanwhile, soybean exports are expected to remain robust this year at 1.675 billion bushels.

“There’s been a pretty strong demand response around the world, particularly in Latin America,” Tom Sleight, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), told FarmWeek.

Kurt Shultz, USGC director of global strategies, told participants of the Illinois Farm Bureau Marketers to Washington trip that U.S. corn exports to Latin America are up a whopping 250 percent.

Tom Sleight “These countries are totally committed to buying U.S. corn,” Shultz said. “The price is right and the supply is there.”

USDA estimates this year’s corn crop will total a record 14.032 billion bushels after farmers produced a record 13.9 billion bushels just a year ago.

Supplies previously were tight due to the 2012 drought, which reduced U.S. corn production that year to just 10.8 billion bushels.

The main concerns now center around drying this year’s corn crop to 14.5 percent moisture, specified by standard export contracts, and logistical issues.

“One of our biggest concerns is our export capabilities, especially in the Gulf (of Mexico),” Shultz said. “Last January and February, we had a bad winter (and ice issues) that resulted in a huge backlog of vessels in the Gulf we hadn’t seen before.

“The industry also is concerned our export facilities are not expanding to keep up with record production we’ve seen two years in a row,” he noted.

Sleight believes Russia’s ban on imports of ag products from the U.S. and European Union will have little impact on U.S. corn exports, although it could boost competition in other markets.

Meanwhile, demand for U.S. meat remains resilient despite extremely tight supplies.

USDA predicted beef exports this year will increase by 102 million pounds, while pork exports could grow by 61 million pounds.

USDA estimates steer prices will increase from an average of $151.19 per hundredweight this year to $155.50 next year, while hog prices could cool slightly from $79.77 per hundredweight in 2014 to $74.75 by 2015. — Daniel Grant

‘The corn estimate certainly is lighter than the trade expected. But it wasn’t a significant surprise.’

— Joe Camp AgriVisor risk management specialist

believes the record corn estimates actually could support prices, which trended significantly lower in recent months.

“Projected corn production of 14.032 billion bushels is still massive, but it is probably about 200 million bushels below what the market had expected,” Anderson said.

Meanwhile, USDA pegged U.S. soybean production at a record 3.82 billion bushels (well above last year’s record 3.29 billion bushels) as farmers could harvest a record 84.1 million acres of beans.

The average soybean yield estimate currently sits at 45.4 bushels per acre, up 2.1 bushels from last year. Some

traders believe the soybean yield could be 46 bushels or more.

“The bean yield is just slightly above last month’s estimate,” Camp said. “But with record acres that could produce a record crop, it’s not a surprise to see that market trading lower as USDA confirmed expectations of a large crop.”

Record yield averages were pegged in eight states for corn, including Illinois with an average of 188 bushels per acre. Record soybean yields were projected in five states, including Illinois with an average of 54 bushels.

The large production estimates pushed ending stocks to 1.808 billion bushels for corn, 663 million bushels for wheat and 430 million bushels for

beans, all of which are up significantly from last year.

USDA estimated seasonaverage prices will slide to $3.55 to $4.25 per bushel for corn (down 12.4 percent from a year ago), $5.80 to $6.80 for wheat (down 8.3 percent) and $9.35 to $11.35 for beans (down 20.4 percent).

Estimates of world production of all three crops also were at record levels.

This month’s crop production report was the first of the season to include about 25,000 farmer surveys and crop measurements gathered by USDA enumerators in about 4,500 fields.

Enumerators found a record average of corn ears per acre, while the ear weight average was the third highest on record.

AFBF economist: Read data agreements before signing

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

U.S. citizens sign various contracts/user agreements, ranging from cellphone contracts to warranties, without paying much attention to the fine print.

But farmers should be more thorough when it comes to signing seemingly harmless terms and conditions agreements with agribusinesses for use of so called “big data” generated on farms.

All terms and conditions agreements are not created equal, according to Matt Erickson, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist.

“Look at the terms and conditions document (before signing),” Erickson told participants of the Illinois Farm Bureau Marketers to Washington trip. “Make sure the data is consistently upheld.”

The field of big data continues to explode as an endless stream of global positioning system instruments and farm vehicle sensors collects more data that can be used to enhance farm efficiencies.

“We never really had a policy on proprietary data until last year (when IFB helped shepherd new Farm Bureau policy at the national level),” Erickson said. “Now we’re looking at the issues with big data.”

AFBF policy on production data supports requiring companies to disclose the intended use of the data; compensation for farmers whose proprietary data is shared with third par-

Gary Speckhart, left, Illinois Farm Bureau District 9 director from Quincy (Adams County), discusses farm issues with Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). The two met during a stop at AFBF headquarters in Washington, D.C., as part of IFB’s Marketers to Washington trip. (Photo by Daniel Grant)

ties that offer products or services that benefit from the data; using all safeguards to ensure the data is not subject to a Freedom of Information Act request; and maintaining the right of farmers who no longer wish to participate in aggregated data sharing to remove his or her data from a company’s database.

“The most important question is, who controls the data,” Erickson said. “And how does a company intend to use your data.”

AFBF made big data a priority issue and meets regularly with major companies, such as John Deere, Climate Corporation, Monsanto and Raven, that

have an interest in the data field.

AFBF also will assemble a principles document on the issue along with educational materials.

Erickson said most companies so far support the idea that farmers own their data. But, while farm data also has value to companies, he believes there’s no easy way to monetize that value.

Therefore, it’s up to each farmer to decide if the value he or she receives from sharing data offsets any concerns about sharing it.

“We’re not lobbying Congress to do anything. We need farm groups to work with (ag) companies on this,” Erickson added. “It’s going to be a long process.”

FarmWeek • Page 4 • Monday, August 18, 2014

Madigan: Scammers ‘preying’ on people with student loans

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Fraud linked to student debt and identity thefts top Illinois consumers’ concerns about fraud, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said last week.

“All the scam artists now are preying on people with student loan debt,” Madigan told FarmWeek during Ag Day festivities at the Illinois State Fair, Springfield.

Nationwide, an estimated 40 million individuals owe $1.2 trillion in student loan debt.

Madigan didn’t know how Lisa Madigan much of that debt is owed in Illinois.

“There are free programs available from the U.S. Department of Education” to provide information about student loan debt, Madigan said.

Only work with websites that have “.ed” or “.gov” in the URL, she advised.

Identity theft ranks second on consumers’ list.

“People think there is nothing they can do.

Not true,” Madigan said.

She recommended individuals take basic precautions to protect their credit and debit cards, including receiving a transaction alert.

Precautions include reviewing bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized charges and getting a credit report.

The attorney general’s office staffs an identity theft hotline at 866-999-5630.

Her staff has helped 35,000 identity theft victims remove $26 million in unauthorized credit charges.

Above, Kalie Jump, 7, and Lexi Lowe, 12, both of Decatur, harvest plastic vegetables in a Farmer’s Little Helpers exhibit at the Illinois State Fair last week.

Illinois Farm Bureau helps sponsor the exhibit.

Right, Norma and Lee Larson of Monticello, right, visit the Illinois Specialty Growers Farmers’ Market for apple cider slush and Tsamma, a watermelon juice recently developed by Frey Farms in Keenes. Volunteers Virginia Fergason, from left, along with Jen and Carmen Dillman of Springfield’s gen H Kids assisted visitors. (Photos by Ken Kashian)

RMA to farmers: Rules coming, be aware of deadlines Mike Alston, associate administrator of the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), advised farmers awaiting farm bill rules to be patient.

Some people wonder what is holding up the information, Alston acknowledged.

“The bill passed in February. There have to be rules and regulations put in place,” Alston told FarmWeek. “Folks are working hard to get the rules in

place ... and to not have revisions.

Computers have to be changed. It takes time.”

Last week during Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair, farmers periodically stopped by to pat him on the back and exchange greetings. Now based in Washington, D.C., Alston enjoyed a perfect summer day in his former stomping grounds where he served as director of RMA’s Springfield Regional Office that oversees crop insurance operations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Although the rules haven’t been released yet, Alston encouraged farmers to be aware of upcoming deadlines and acreage reporting dates. He said USDA is preparing a calendar with important dates for farmers.

Alston pointed to a new conservation compliance requirement that might catch a few farmers off guard.

“We believe the universe of producers who have no (conservation) plan in place is small,” he added.

By Jan. 15, farmers must have a con-

servation plan approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in place on their production acres to qualify for crop insurance, Alston explained.

Over the next several months, RMA will provide farmers, including those who grow winter wheat, with information about new crop insurance options, according to Alston.

“They’ll have to stay aware of acreage reporting dates,” Alston reminded.

Illinois Farm Bureau named Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, a “Friend of Agriculture” last week during Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair.

“The Friend of Agriculture designation places Davis in a group of select members of the House of Representatives who understand the leading role Illinois agriculture plays in the global marketplace and the far-reaching benefits of its products,” according to IFB. “(It) proves he comprehends agriculture’s benefits extend beyond the vital function of feeding Illinois, the nation and the world.”

Davis also received an endorsement by Illinois Agricultural Association ACTIVATOR, IFB’s political involvement fund, which seeks to help elect pro-farm candidates regardless of party affiliation or Rodney Davis office.

Trustees in the 13 th Congressional District noted Davis supports key agricultural issues, including renewable fuels, and opposes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)

proposed expansion of the definition of “waters of the U.S.” “Congressman Davis was the only member of Congress — including all 435 Congressmen and all 100 Senators — to serve on both the farm bill and the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) conference committees,” said Terry Ferguson, DeWitt County farmer and chair of the ACTIVATOR Trustee Committee in the 13 th Congressional District.

“He was personally involved — every step of the way — in getting the first farm bill passed in six years

and the first WRRDA bill passed out of Congress in seven years.”

Ferguson noted that Davis worked to include IFB priorities in the new farm bill, including enhanced crop insurance, choice of commodity programs and streamlined conservation programs.

“On the farm bill, he’s kept an eye on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulatory overreach, inserting new farm bill language requiring ag representation on EPA’s Science Advisory Panel,” Ferguson said.

“Congressman Davis has had our back on Capitol Hill.”

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Congressman Rodney Davis named “Friend of Agriculture”

IAITC receives donation

Page 5 • Monday, August 18, 2014 • FarmWeek

AT&T named a ‘Friend of Agriculture’

AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza, right, presents Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert Jr., left, and IAA Foundation Director Susan Moore with $10,000 for agriculture literacy efforts during Ag Day festivities last week at the Illinois State Fair, Springfield. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

AT&T invested in education and agriculture literacy by presenting Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) $10,000 during Ag Day festivities last week at the Illinois State Fair, Springfield.

“We feel our future workforce is dependent on education and youth,” Paul La Schiazza, AT&T Illinois president, told FarmWeek. “The agriculture community, in general, is important to our economy and to Illinois ... We want everyone to understand the importance of agriculture.”

During the last four years, AT&T has supported leading Illinois agriculture organizations, including IAITC, Illinois 4-H and college agri-

culture program scholarships through charitable giving and support at the Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions. In total, AT&T has contributed nearly $200,000 for ag education, scholarships and anti-texting-while-driving programs.

This year, IAITC and the state agriculture industry named AT&T a Friend of Agriculture and presented the award at the State Fair.

“Through the years, AT&T has shown a true understanding of how supportive partnerships with groups like 4-H, FFA and IAITC benefit not only our youth and rural communities, but our economy as a whole,” said Susan Moore, IAA Foundation director.

El Paso exhibitor nabs 2014 Master Showmanship title Codee Schlipf of El Paso (Woodford County) bested 50 Illinois State Fair exhibitors to win the 2014 Master Showmanship Contest. She is the daughter of Ryan and Sherry Schlipf.

Thomas Crome from Marshall, representing Clark County, earned second-place honors, while Hanna Runner of Sciota in McDonough County won third. Crome’s parents are Aaron and Mary Ann Crome.

Runner is the daughter of Ron and Holly Runner.

Illinois Farm Bureau and RFD Radio Network® coordinated this year’s contest.

IFB President Rich Guebert Jr. presented the awards.

Other winners included Olivia Claire of Watseka, beef division; Taylor Donelson of Clinton, swine division; and Runner, sheep division.

Exhibitors were judged on their handling of each of three species of animals: beef, sheep and swine. They were then quizzed by the judges on their knowledge of animal husbandry and livestock production.

One winner was named for each species and scores for all three species were tallied to determine the overall winner.

More than $8,000 worth of prizes donated by sponsors were given away this year to the winners and all participants of the 15th Master Showmanship Contest.

YOUNG LEADERS EXCEL AT STATE FAIR

Codee Schlipf of El Paso, second from right, displays her Illinois State Fair Master Showmanship award. From left, Hanna Runner of Sciota holds her third-place award presented

by Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert Jr. Thomas Crome of Marshall shows his second-place honor. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders brought special meaning to Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair last week.

Above left, Livingston County dairy producers Matt and Jenna Kilgus, left, receive the IFB Young Leader Achievement Award from Young Leader Chairman Jared Finegan.

Above right, Kimberly and Caleb May of Christian County collect their IFB Young Leader Excellence in Ag Award from Finegan.

Lower right, a trio of Carroll County Farm Bureau members — from left, Ed Livengood, Justin Rahn and Mike Urish — hold their first-place Young Leader Agri-Quiz Bowl award.

(Photos by Ken Kashian)

The Dennis Brown family of Neoga visits the Piglets on Parade Birthing Center at the Illinois State Fair. Sponsored by the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) along with the University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences, the popular exhibit features baby piglets being born.

(Photo by Ken Kashian)

FarmWeek • Page 6 • Monday, August 18, 2014 Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: Not much to write about this week. More of the same as we missed another chance of rain and recorded zero rain this week. A couple small spots in the county received up to .3 of an inch last Monday afternoon (Aug. 11), but that was it. It has been cooler than average during this monthlong dry spell, and that has saved us from burning up completely, but now we have to be concerned about getting the crop mature before any kind of frost. Have a good week.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: It was a very dry week with only .5 of an inch of rain for the first half of August. County fairs in the area have been enjoying the great weather. Top soil moisture is gone. Pasture and hay fields are deteriorating and, of course, corn and soybeans are showing stress on the lighter soils. Corn yield checks average just under 200 bushels per acre. Let’s pray for rain.

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: School has started! Summer is coming to an end. The past week has been dry with scattered showers in the area, but none on our farm. Crops are slowly progressing due to limited heat units from cooler temperatures. We have been getting the combine ready for harvest, which is still a few weeks away.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We did not receive any rain last week. The dry weather is starting to look like it is trimming our yields. The lower leaves in some areas are starting to fire up on the stalk. Some of the early varieties are denting now. The beans don’t look like they are suffering yet. There have been no problems with insects so far. I did hear a report of some white mold in this area, but maybe the recent dry weather has put a stop to it spreading.

Pasture conditions are still very good for August even without any rain.

Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: Dry, cool weather has stayed in place over us. In my opinion, we need warm weather, sunshine and water to have the record crop the government thinks we are going to have.

Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: It was another cool week with lows in the morning of upper 50s and low 60s. It has been pleasant to work in, but the corn needs a little heat. While walking in our cornfields and some of our bean fields lately, I noticed the bean fields have a little more hail damage than originally thought. The hail knocked a lot of pods off in spots during two storms. It’s been about two weeks since it happened. People who are walking cornfields are finding wind damage. Pollination is still occurring in some of those fields. I walked fields Thursday and noticed the damage, and I was quite surprised. Corn that should have been pollinated two weeks ago is still pollinating. Tough to walk in those fields. It’s going to be an interesting fall.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Almost a month has passed since the last significant rain, and corn still looks great. GDU’s are at 1,980 about 130 behind average, but ahead of last year by 40. Soybeans are showing signs of downey mildew, sudden death syndrome and white mold in low areas where water ponded and there was compaction. Those who thought they did not have a waterhemp problem a month ago might want to rethink that notion. Co-op annual meetings are on the docket as are appreciation dinners. Corn, $3.56, $3.45 fall; soybeans, $12.39, $10.22 fall; wheat, $4.81.

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: Nearly ideal conditions continue for crops, livestock and humans. Our rain gauge didn’t get primed last week, but temperatures were very comfortable and crops responded accordingly — only if the prices could have just shown a little support also. There seems to always be plenty of jobs to do and life goes on after the fairs and other events have passed. Have a good week and be careful as we’re all preparing for that really “big” harvest.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: It was another pleasant week with a few rain drops early in the week. Our little corner of the world has corn at 73 percent dough, 16 percent dented, and soy at 85 percent setting pods. Beans and corn are especially tall this year due to timely rains and cool temperatures. Illinois State Fair Hog Calling Champion Chris Karr of Seymour will again return to the fair competition. This year, he developed the portable “Good Pig Signal” complete with flashing lights to attract the piggy. Stay tuned for the results!

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: On Monday (Aug. 11), we received .4 to .6 of an inch of rain on our farms. It is the most rain we have received since July 13. Corn development ranges from R2, or blister stage, up to R5, or dent stage. The range in soybean development in the local area is between R4, full pod, and R5, beginning seed stage. More weeds are popping up above the soybean canopy. Over the last week, the cloudy weather without rainfall was not the weather we wanted to fill soybean pods and corn kernels. We need sunshine and rain. The local closing prices for Aug. 14 were nearby corn, $3.50; new-crop corn, $3.36; nearby soybeans, $12.66; newcrop soybeans, $10.22. Mowing roadsides, attending Agronomy Day at the University of Illinois, and hosting some Brazilian tour groups were activities taking place on our farm.

Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: Well, it was a beautiful week for the state fair, which I got to enjoy on Ag Day! As for crops, corn is starting to dry down slowly. The last rain we got gave the soybeans the extra boost they needed to put on some more growth. Anybody else hoping for 60bushel beans?

Tom Ritter, Blue Mound, Macon County: We continue to receive adequate rain. Nothing real abundant, but we are very pleased with our moisture levels. Corn has started to show some signs of dulling down from its dark green color. A month ago, most farmers were thinking harvest would begin around Labor Day, but most have pushed that back to somewhere around Sept.

10 or Sept. 15, especially with these cooler conditions. Soybeans are also looking very good. Overall, farmers are very optimistic with crop prospects on corn and beans, and are busy getting equipment and storage ready for a large harvest.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: It is almost all good news in the fields where nearly perfect conditions continue to support this above-average crop. Last weekend’s (Aug. 9-10) rains turned out to deliver an inch or more, which was what we needed. Corn has advanced to the R5, dent stage, and plants are still holding a healthy green color across the fields. Soybeans are in the R5 beginning seed stage with a very healthy dark green color. I finally think it’s safe to say the potential for some very good soybean yields is there, but that hinges on more rain. It looks like it will be a long, slow creep toward maturity for the corn, but in the end it will be much better than burning out the crop like we have in the last few years.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: After the last two or three showers, which totaled up to around 2.5 inches, the soybeans have definitely perked up. Some soybeans were beginning to suffer from bad weather. Rains have also helped the later-planted corn, and kept kernel depth and test weight up in the earlier-planted corn.

Some of the April-planted corn ear size has been tipped back. Farmers are getting bins and equipment ready for harvest along with roadside and waterway mowing. New-crop corn, $3.49; new-crop soybeans, $10.35.

Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: Last weekend/early week, we had .8 of an inch of rain around our place and some got up to almost 2 inches.

Quite a few cornfields are firing.

Some that I checked are starting to dent. There is variance in many of the fields. Some may not be as good as what everyone is thinking.

A couple of people tell me they were seeing close to 200 bushels. Some soybeans are continuing to bloom. A lot of pods. This Thursday we will see the Farm Bureau yield estimates for the county. The hay guys caught up the later part of the week as it was really dry. Most of the talk is focusing around storage and what is going to be done with the grain. Be thinking safety as you go through your operations, and see if there is something you can do to help make it safe for your help and the public.

Jeff Guilander, Jerseyville, Jersey County: Good rains, fair amount of sun and some nice temps does not leave much to complain about. Early-planted or short-season corn is starting to turn rapidly with the majority looking like it is a couple weeks behind. Soybeans of any maturity are still holding their color very well, and most got some secondary growth last week. The season is starting to wind down, but it is not in any hurry.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: Showers moved thru the area several days last week leaving most people with about .5 of an inch of rain, and isolated areas receiving a couple of inches. The showers, along with moderate temperatures, took the stress off the crops for now. More rain is needed.

Activities this past week included spraying fungicides, mowing ditches and waterways, cleaning out grain bins, repairing machinery, and going to fairs and field days.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: When I submitted my last report, the rain continued to fall through the night adding another 1.5 inches of rain to the accumulated 2 inches for a total 3.5 inches on Aug. 9. Despite the heavy rainfall, it seems to have been absorbed by the soil with no runoff. The temperatures through the week remained in low 80s during the day and mid 60s during the night. The double-cropped soybeans and milo appeared to leap in height with the new moisture. When ground conditions became favorable for travel, farmers applied a post-herbicide treatment to the double-cropped soybeans since the prospects for this crop improved with the rain. The first-crop soybeans are filling out the pods on the plant adding new growth on top.

I’ve noticed on the earliest-planted corn that some of the ear husks are starting dry down.

Local grain bids are corn, $3.63; soybeans, $12.01; wheat, $4.54. Have a good week.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Rainfall amounts from last week averaged around 1.5 inches. Double-crop beans seemed to grow 8 to 10 inches in height last week. Good soil moisture with warmer days has been good for them. Wabash County and several surrounding counties are starting their yield tours soon. I should have some estimates on corn yields and quality in the coming weeks.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: This week in Jackson County, we received .8 to 2.5 inches of rain. This made all the farmers very happy because it has been dry. Everyone is getting ready for harvest. I think we will be picking corn in a month. Early beans look good as well as the double-crop beans. Once again, coffee shop talk is “where will the prices be this year.”

Come to southern Illinois and enjoy the peaches, apples and wineries. Take care.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: Last week was kind of like being on cruise control.

Mild temps in the low 80s to low 60s with more rain chances this week. The big yellow bus made it back to the driveway Friday, and that is a sign to me that summer is over. Starting to get a few things ready for fall and roadside mowing this week. If you get a chance, come down to the DuQuoin State Fair as it starts at the end of the week.

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

Confusing weeds — is it Palmer amaranth or waterhemp?

Page 7 • Monday, August 18, 2014 • FarmWeek

Palmer amaranth is an Amaranthus species — which includes all of the pigweed species. It is often confused with c o m m o n wa t e r h e m p.

Both plants are dioecious — w h i c h Barry Nash means there are male and female plants. Dioecious plants are well known to have high reproductive capacities and can rapidly overtake fields almost overnight.

While both common waterhemp and Palmer amaranth are n ow c o n s i d e r e d t h e m o s t

BY BARRY NASH

aggressive and most difficult to control weeds in the Midwest, Palmer amaranth is far more competitive than waterhemp.

• Only Palmer amaranth and waterhemp have smooth stems and petioles. All other pigweed species will have small hairs either on the stems or petioles.

• Palmer amaranth has leaf petioles that are longer than the leaf blade, which can be demonstrated by folding the leaf at the base of the blade back over the petiole. This can be observed when the plant is as small as 4 inches in height.

• Waterhemp and most pigweed plants lack the long petioles found on Palmer amaranth.

• Now is the time to identify Palmer amaranth versus waterhemp. Once the seed heads

Projected lower crop returns may prompt rent negotations

With lower projected cropland returns for 2014 and 2015, farmers may want to renegotiate cash rents. That’s the advice of Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois ag economist.

Schnitkey noted renegotiation will be a difficult process for both landowners and farmers. He suggested using variable cash leases or share rental arrangements as an alternative to fixed cash rents. That way, rental payment can vary with farm returns.

Farms requiring downward adjustment Schnitkey noted two factors impacting the need for adjusting rents downward — the farm’s cash rent relative to the average rent for farmland of similar productivity, and how fast cash rents increased in recent years.

Average cash rents for different expected corn yields include: • 140 bushels expected corn yield has an average cash rent of $151 per acre; • 160 bushels, average cash rent of $205 per acre; • 180 bushels, average cash rent of $259 per acre; and • 200 bushels, average cash rent of $313 per acre.

From 2006-13, average cash rents increased in Illinois by an average of 7.7 percent per year. That means the average cash rent was 68 percent higher in 2013 compared to 2006. If the cash rent on a farm has lagged these increases, there may be a reason to keep cash rent high into 2015, Schnitkey noted.

Extent of downward adjustment Cash rents need to be below operator and land returns in order for farmers to have a positive return, Schnitkey said. Visit {farmdoc.illinois.edu/manage/2015_crop_budgets.pdf} to estimate operator and land returns.

Based on current prices on futures markets, the 2015 Illinois Crop Budgets uses a $4.20 per bushel corn price and a $10.50 per bushel soybean price. At those prices, the projected operator and land return for northern Illinois farmland totals $226 per acre.

The budgets use an expected corn yield of 194 bushel per acre. Cash rent for land of this productivity is near $290 per acre. If the cash rent is $290 per acre, the cash rent would have to decrease by $64 per acre to the projected $225 per acre operator and land return for the farmer to have no return. Cash rents would have to decrease more than $64 for the farmer to have a positive projected return.

Get more details of Schnitkey’s report at {farmdocdaily.illi nois.edu/2014/07/renegotiating-cash-rents-down-2015.html}.

emerge, identification becomes much easier. Female Palmer amaranth plants (the seed producers) will develop bracts — or small, sharp thorns that sur-

round the flowers. Grasping a Palmer amaranth seed head will immediately demonstrate this since the flower heads are prickly.

A single waterhemp plant can easily produce 400,000 to 600,000 seeds per plant. Palmer amaranth, on the other hand, has actually been documented producing up to 1.2 million seeds per plant. Thus, seeing a “few” of these weeds this fall

could result in extremely heavy populations in 2015.

Consider the following situation: • Ten female Palmer amaranth plants are left to go to seed this fall.

• Each female plant is allowed to go seed — assume only 600,000 seeds per plant.

• Total potential for seed production is 6 million seeds.

• Assuming 98 percent control in 2015, potential remains for 120,000 Palmer amaranth plants the following year.

• Each of these plants could easily produce another 600,000 seeds in 2015.

• Theoretically, that could mean we would be facing more than 70 billion plants the following year.

Palmer amaranth is a very competitive weed. Although it originated as a desert-dwelling species in the Southwest, it has rapidly adapted to the Midwest due to our longer growing seasons and abundant moisture.

The plant can grow as much as 4 inches per day. Further, the base of a Palmer amaranth plant can easily reach 4 to 8 inches in circumference — not something we want to try and run through our soybean combine head.

Scout fields for any evidence of poor weed control, and be prepared to make a special effort to control escaped weeds that appear to be in the pigweed family.

Make a special effort to control Palmer amaranth now.

Prevention is the key. This will require proper herbicide management in combination with proper integrated pest management practices. For more information on Palmer amaranth identification and control, be sure to contact your local FS Crop Specialist.

Barry Nash serves as GROWMARK’s weed science technical manager. His email address is bnash@growmark.com.

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Help secure community support

Want to help a nonprofit organization in your community boost their efforts? Consider participating in America’s Farmers Grow Communities program supported by Monsanto.

Farmers can help direct $2,500 donations to nonprofit groups in their communities. In its fifth year, the program has provided funding to fire departments, food pantries, community groups, and youth service programs like FFA and 4-H. Since its inception in 2010, Grow Communities has invested more than $16 million in 6,000 nonprofit organizations across rural America. In Illinois alone, Grow Communities has provided $1.2 million to nonprofit organizations.

To enroll or learn more, visit {AmericasFarmers.com} or call toll-free 877-267-3332.

©2012 GROWMARK, Inc. S13269

Public input sought to implement WRRDA FarmWeek • Page 8 • Monday, August 18, 2014

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held its first of four “listening sessions� last week to gather public input about implementation of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014.

The Corps announced recently it will accept public input as it drafts policies and procedures to implement the new law.

Signed into law by President Barack Obama in June, WRRDA authorizes — but doesn’t fund — much-needed improvements to the nation’s waterways system.

The agency will accept written comments until Sept. 30.

People who call into the listening sessions can speak for three minutes.

Representatives from Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association and the Waterways Council joined

BY DEANA STROISCH

dozens of others to make comments last week. The first session covered de-authorizations and backlog prevention along with project development, delivery and planning.

Several spoke in support of the Navigation & Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), a long-term program of navigation improvements and ecological restoration for the Upper Mississippi River System. “Because of Illinois’ proximity to the river system here, we’re heavily reliant on that system for delivery of our products out of the state,� said Kevin Rund, IFB director of local government. “For that reason, we strongly support the NESP program and the work that needs to be done to build up to implement and complete that project over time.�

Gary Niemeyer, an Auburn corn farmer, said he ships his corn down the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. “I think it’s very important that we get moving on this infrastructure,� he said during the call-in session last week.

reads in part: “Like high gas prices? How about cleaning up oil spills? If not, you’re one of the millions of Americans who benefits from cleaner air, lower gas prices and more fuel choices as a result of the RFS. Since 2005, the RFS has opened up the market to new fuel sources, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. “The stakes on this issue are high,� the ad reads. “Weakening the RFS will hurt our environment — and hurt our wallets.�

Fuels America members include National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers and the Renewable Fuels Association.

The campaign comes as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to review comments submitted about its 2014 proposal.

EPA proposed the renewable fuel mandate in the RFS be lowered from 14.4 billion gallons to 13 billion gallons.

The advanced fuel mandate, including biodiesel and E85 fuel, would drop from 3.75 billion gallons to 2.2 billion gallons.

Originally, EPA officials said a final rule would be released in June.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy told reporters last month the final rule should be released “soon.�

She said public comments submitted on the proposed rule generally show two concerns: the proposed fuel volumes and the way EPA proposes to adjust those volumes, and whether that will help get more biofuels into the system. “The administration continues to have a strong commitment to biofuels, and we want to make sure that the final (rule) clearly reflects that interest,� she said. “I appreciate people are looking for signals that are appropriate ... They’ll be seeing the final (rule) as soon as we can get it out, but I guess my goal is to always make sure we get it right.�

‘We strongly support the NESP program and the work that needs to be done to ... implement and complete that project over time.’ — Kevin Rund IFB director of local government

“I became aware of the infrastructure problems in 1995. I thought with two WRRDA bills passing with such unanimous

Groups continue to fight change in RFS

The Fuels America coalition launched a new campaign recently to highlight the negative consequences of lowering the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The digital campaign focuses on the Washington, D.C., area and targets media, such as the Hill, Politico, the New York Times, the New Republic, and mobile ads.

One digital advertisement

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support that we would be building some locks by now.�

He also said he supports the NESP program.

“We want to keep our soil and our nutrients out of the river system. We’re working very hard to do that on our own, but if we are going to continue to grow our economy, we’re going to have to do this,� he said.

WRRDA also includes changes in financing for the Olmsted Lock and Dam project, authorizes a public-private partnership pilot program and authorizes a Mississippi River Basin study.

The law also accelerates the planning process and streamlines environmental review.Â

Click.

Read.

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

Get to know Kay Shipman Legislative Affairs Editor

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U of I researchers seeking aphid-resistant soybeans

Page 9 • Monday, August 18, 2014 • FarmWeek

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Farmers have managed soybean aphid infestations since 2000 when the invasive pests were first identified in the United States. University of Illinois crop science researchers continue to study aphidresistant soybean genes with a goal of developing resistant varieties.

“The most economical and environmentally safe way to protect soybeans from the soybean aphid is through genetic resistance,” said Russell Ward, a U of I crop science research assistant. Ward reported on the latest research last week during the U of I College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences’ Agronomy Day.

Students create dimensional soy Lost a button on your favorite work shirt? You could buy a replacement at the store or online. But one day, you may make one on the farm with a 3D printer — and that button might be made from soy.

Some innovative students at Purdue University developed FilaSoy, a renewable, soy-based filament that earned top honors in Purdue’s annual Student Soybean Product Innovation Contest.

The material looks like fishing line and, according to the inventors, one day may revolutionize 3-D printing the way checkoff-supported, soybeanoil-based inks transformed newspaper printing.

Unlike other 3-D filaments, FilaSoy is 25 percent soy-based, which helps keep the plastic line from becoming brittle, so products won’t crack and break after being printed. It’s the secret ingredient that gives the material an environmental edge.

Soy also is anti-microbial, which makes it great for children’s toys and other products that come in contact with germs.

Past winners of the Purdue competition commercialized products ranging from soybased crayons and candles to industrial products.

Although 3-D printers can be bought at many retailers, and products can be designed using Microsoft software on a home computer, it can take a 3D printer as long as 24 hours to layer and build even the smallest three-dimensional objects.

However, the process likely will get faster and less expensive.

When that happens, soybeans may be available for personal and industrial 3-D printing.

Ward explained scientists discovered four aphid-resistant genes in soybeans. They also found four known biotypes of soybean aphids.

In research trials, each of the four resistant genes was tested as a control for each of the four aphid biotypes. Some genes proved more effective at controlling certain aphid biotypes than others, Ward noted.

“There’s no resistant gene that can control all aphid biotypes. That’s why we have to stack the genes,” he added.

In addition to testing varieties with certain genes for resistance ability, researchers also are studying those varieties for any potential yield drag.

At the U of I, research trials are measuring potential

yield drag in varieties with single resistant genes and with multiple resistant genes.

In 2013, the most effective combination of two aphidresistant genes produced only 1 bushel per acre less compared to a check variety.

However, a variety with a single resistant gene, known as Rag 2, yielded about 3 bushels less per acre.

Researchers speculate the reduced yield likely was due more to other genes linked with Rag 2 rather than that gene itself. They are conducting experiments to determine if the yield drag and that resistant gene can be broken, Ward said.

“We’re currently working on adequate resistance without yield drag,” he said.

Seven-year-old Owen Cole of Danville takes a closer look at soybean aphids with help from his grandfather David Cole, also of Danville, last week during Agronomy Day on the University of Illinois crop research farm, Urbana. U of I researchers reported on efforts to develop soybean varieties resistant to soybean aphids. (Photo by Kay Shipman)

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Livestock focus of small farms, U of I reports

FarmWeek â&#x20AC;˘ Page 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Monday, August 18, 2014

2015 officers

ACTION TEAMs elect leaders Roger Christin

Be on the lookout for new, innovative agriculture programs throughout the state now that Illinois Farm Bureau ACTION TEAMs met, developed programs and elected officers.

Heather Poppy of Henry County and Deanna Keeney of Clark County will serve as ACTION Coordinating Council chair and vice chair, respectively. As vice chair, Keeney will serve on the IAA Resolutions Committee in 2015.

New officers for the four ACTION TEAMs include: â&#x20AC;˘ Quality of Life: Roger Christin, Winnebago-Boone, chair; Tamara Halterman, Grundy, vice chair. â&#x20AC;˘ Public Relations: Leonard Sheaffer, Lee, chair; Heather Henkhaus, Madison, vice chair. â&#x20AC;˘ Membership: Carly Holcomb, McLean,

Carly Holcomb

Leonard Sheaffer

chair; Glen Bowers, Washington, vice chair. â&#x20AC;˘ Education: Keeney, chair; Poppy, vice chair.

ACTION TEAMs members meet twice annually in Bloomington.

Recent projects include pro-agriculture ads on buses in Springfield, startup of Collegiate Farm Bureau at Illinois State University, road safety bumper strips and proag theater advertising in downstate Illinois.

Applications for 2015 ACTION TEAMs members will be accepted until Nov. 24.

Contact county Farm Bureaus for an application/brochure or visit {www.ilfb. org}, then select Get Involved/Grow Committee & Teams/ACTION TEAMs. Interested team members may also call the IFB Member Services and Public Relations Division at 309-557-2922.

BIKE RIDE Sept. 1, 2, 3

2014

Deanna Keeney

Heather Poppy

YOU determine how much it costs to ride!

By collecting money from family, friends and co-workers you are helping the cause and cutting your costs

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom

~ RAISE $1,000 -- FREE Full Ride

The 19th annual Bike Ride will spin through Stephenson, Carroll, JoDaviess, Ogle and Winnebago counties this September.

~ RAISE $500 -- 50% Discount

great state.

~ RAISE $250 -- 25% Discount

The Bike Ride is an Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) fundraiser. Riders make brief stops at schools along the routes to raise awareness and convey the important message of agriculture to Illinois students.

IAITC Bike Ride

1st Farm Credit Services will award seven FFA members with an official blue corduroy FFA jacket though a new program in its service area. The application deadline is Sept. 1.

Through the Big Dreams in Blue Jackets program, deserving FFA members may be nominated by someone else or nominate themselves. An accompanying short essay should explain why the FFA member deserves a jacket.

Eligible students must live in one of the 42 counties in the northern half of the state served by 1st Farm Credit Services. The cooperative operates 16 local offices.

Each jacket will be personalized for the student with his or her name, chapter and state. An FFA tie or scarf will be included.

Applications are available online at {www.1stfarmcredit.com}.

The jackets will be presented in the fall.

Grant & Book Pack to school/library of choice

Grant & Book Pack to school/library of choice

Highlights & Basics ~ 3Ph >A ! 3Ph aXST ^_cX^]b ~ 2a^bb R^d]cah aXST =^c P aPRT

Four Routes Available

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breakdown, first aid, supplies, snacks, beverages

All routes begin & end in Freeport, IL

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Tuesday, September 2

~ 2^\U^acPQ[T W^cT[ PRR^\\^SPcX^]b P]S complimentary breakfast

Short route approx. 40 miles Long route approx. 80 miles

~ ?PacXRX_PcX^] Xb TgXQ[T STbXaTS aXSX]V average speed is 12-15 mph

Wednesday, September 3

~ 0;; aTVXbcTaTS aXSTab fX[[ aTRTXeT P â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rider Packetâ&#x20AC;? with specific ride information including a fundraising toolkit

Short route approx. 40 miles Long route approx. 80 miles

Registration Fees 19th 19th AAnnual nnual

Full Ride w/Single Room* .............................$300 .............................

Full Ride w/Shared Room**..........................

Room** .......................... $225 1-Day Rider*** ................................................$65 ................................................

Student Rate Full Ride w/Single Room* Room*........ $275

Room**.....$200 Student Rate Full Ride w/Shared Room**

Student Rate 1-Day Rider***...........................

Rider*** ...........................$55

HELMETS REQUIRED NO EXCEPTIONS!

X]R[dSTb B06 0bbXbcP]RT c bWXac ! [d]RWTb ! SX]]Tab and 2 nights hotel accommodations X]R[dSTb B06 0bbXbcP]RT c bWXac ! [d]RWTb ! SX]]Tab and 1 night hotel accommodations X]R[dSTb B06 0bbXbcP]RT c bWXac [d]RW P]S bT[TRc .... one included evening meal

Contact the IAA Foundation at (309)557-2230 or find more information and registration at www.iaafoundation.org i238g4

farms with fewer than 50 acres. For Illinoisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; smallest farms â&#x20AC;&#x201D; those occupying fewer than 10 acres â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 53.1 percent are livestock farms.

A â&#x20AC;&#x153;livestockâ&#x20AC;? farm is defined as any from which the majority of farm sales come from the production of beef cattle, feedlots, dairy, hog, poultry, sheep or aquaculture.

Large farms account for the majority of the total value of agricultural production. A significant proportion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 49.8 percent â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of Illinois farms span fewer than 100 acres.

However, all of the farms with fewer than 100 acres produced only 6.6 percent of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $17.2 billion in agricultural products in 2012.

A popular rule of thumb in business, sometimes called the Pareto principle or 80/20 rule, states that roughly 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the causes. For example, in agriculture, it suggests 20 percent of farms produce 80 percent of commodities.

According to the farmdoc analysis, the 2012 Census of Agriculture provides some evidence in support of that notion. In 2012, 20.4 percent of Illinois farms operated more than 500 acres, but they produced 76.2 percent of the total value of production.

1st Farm Credit Services seeks nominees for official FFA jackets

Raise funds for IAITC & Cycle to Support

The majority of Illinoisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; small farms focus on livestock production, according to the latest University of Illinois farmdoc report.

An analysis of 2012 Census of Agriculture data further shows the largest farms account for a significant majority of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural production value.

According to the latest census data, Illinois boasted 75,087 farms in 2012. Average farm size increased by 3.2 percent compared to the 2007 Census of Agriculture.

The Census of Agriculture defines a farm as any place producing or selling $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the reference year. Census data suggests the majority of Illinois farms are small in terms of acreage operated â&#x20AC;&#x201D; less than 260 acres â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and production value.

About 77 percent of Illinois farms could be classified as â&#x20AC;&#x153;cropâ&#x20AC;? farms. However, more than 95 percent of the farms which span 1,000 or more acres are crop farms.

In contrast, livestock farms account for 19.6 percent of all Illinois farms. Less than 5 percent of farms operating more than 1,000 acres are dedicated to livestock production. However, livestock farms account for 34.4 percent of Illinois

Tuesday: â&#x20AC;˘ FarmWeek: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Early Wordâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ Eric Schmidt, EJS Weather â&#x20AC;˘ Dale Luster, Stone Seed â&#x20AC;˘ Cinch Munson, Propane Education & Research Council: outlook on propane availability and price â&#x20AC;˘ Ill. Rep. Tom Morrison, Palatine: Williamson County Farm Bureau Adopt-a-Legislator program Wednesday: â&#x20AC;˘ Steve Sloan, SFP Illinois â&#x20AC;˘ Tim Schweizer, Illinois Department of Natural Resources: fall hunting â&#x20AC;˘ Doug Werling, Bower Trading: market outlook â&#x20AC;˘ Josh Krueger, Integrity Technol -

ogy Solutions: how to keep data safe Thursday: â&#x20AC;˘ Duane Dahlman, Illinois Soybean Association â&#x20AC;˘ Charlyn Fargo, HyVee: back to school nutrition, snacks and easy dinners â&#x20AC;˘ Rich Guebert Jr., Illinois Farm Bureau president Friday: â&#x20AC;˘ WinField Agronomics â&#x20AC;˘ Elizabeth Vancel, Monsanto: Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farmers Grow Communities â&#x20AC;˘ Lauren Lurkins, IFB: â&#x20AC;&#x153;waters of the U.S.â&#x20AC;? and other environmental issues â&#x20AC;˘ Horse Talk To find a radio station near you that carries RFD Radio Network, go to FarmWeekNow.com, click on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Radio,â&#x20AC;? then click on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Affiliates.â&#x20AC;?

Adopted lawmaker Welch, family tour Whiteside County

Page 11 • Monday, August 18, 2014 • FarmWeek

State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Maywood, his wife, ShanTe, and children, Tyler and Marlee, recently marked several firsts in Whiteside County.

Welch made not only his first visit to a farm, but also his first visit to Whiteside County. The Whiteside County Farm Bureau adopted Welch in 2013 and visited his district last summer.

Welch and farmers discussed key legislative issues during lunch to start the day’s activities.

Welch and his family first toured the Pfundstein’s family beef farm and learned about livestock production. The Pfundsteins also operate a composting business, which transforms livestock waste into organic fertilizer. During the tour, Welch learned about liveBY CHRISTINA NOURIE

stock care and how the Livestock Management Facilities Act regulates siting, building and maintaining of livestock facilities.

Next, the group visited Peabudy’s, a locally-owned tractor and implement dealership serving northern Illinois.

Peabudy’s sells and supports several product lines, including New Holland, Versatile, Great Plains, Landoll, Unverferth, Land Pride, Ferris, Grasshopper and Cub Cadet, to name a few.

The representative and his family climbed into a tractor cab and learned about modern technology. The dealership stop offered an opportunity for Welch to better understand the purpose and importance of the sales tax exemption on ag inputs.

U of I researchers to provide latest beef research at field day University of Illinois researchers will be on hand to discuss the most current topics and situations producers face on the farm during the annual Orr Beef Research Center Field Day at 5 p.m. Sept. 3 at John Wood Ag Center.

The event begins with a free meal followed by a 7 p.m. forage demonstration and Orr Center tour. No registration is required.

Paul Peterson, U of I agricultural economist, will provide insight into the cattle market and how cattlemen can take advantage of record prices.

Other topics will include supplementing lush grass, ensiling corn stover for cow feed, heifer and cow feed efficiency, and grazing corn residue and the effects on the soil.

“Although this year has

seen more rainfall and thus fewer production challenges, producers struggle to expand the cow herd and reinvest in high-priced replacements,” said Travis Meteer, U of I Extension educator. “This field day will equip producers with the newest research findings, applicable management strategies and practical knowledge to help increase profits in their cattle operation.

“Speakers will be glad to address any producer questions during the evening.”

More information on the field day is available at {web.extension.illinois.edu/ oardc} or by contacting Meteer at 217-236-4961 or wmeteer2@illinois.edu.

The meeting will be held at the John Wood Ag Center located 18 miles east of Liberty on Illinois 104.

The final stop at Selmi’s Greenhouse and Farm Market, a fifth-generation, family-owned farm, offered speciality crops.

The Selmis grow a little bit of everything, but are especially known for their sweet corn. The legislator and his family enjoyed picking their own sweet corn, tomatoes and green beans. He learned about the growing process and weather challenges farmers face.

Overall, Welch and his family enjoyed their day in Whiteside County. He would like to return in the fall with a group of students for harvest. The Whiteside County Farm Bureau plans to coordinate that activity.

Christina Nourie serves as the Illinois Farm Bureau northeast legislative coordinator.

Whiteside County Farm Bureau Director Cliff Pfundstein, center, discusses his family’s beef farm with state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, DMaywood; his wife, ShanTe; and their children, Tyler and Marlee.

Pfundstein and his father, Dale, far right, recently hosted Welch and his family on a farm tour. (Photo by Christina Nourie)

Dairy classes offered at U of I this fall

The University of Illinois this fall will offer three dairy classes for students and business professionals.

Mike Hutjens, U of I dairy specialist, will teach a one-credit course entitled, “Ration Balancing and Building,” and he will coordinate an advanced dairy management and diagnostics course worth two credits.

Dick Wallace, Extension dairy veterinarian,

will teach an advanced dairy reproduction class worth two credits.

All three classes begin in September. The classes may be used for college credit, continuing education units for veterinarians or dairy professionals, or noncredit for dairy managers or others.

Enrollment and details for the dairy classes are available online at {http://online.ansci.illinois. edu/}.

Cool savings during the hottest months.

Pumpkin field day scheduled

Mark Sept. 4 on your calendar if you want to learn more about pumpkins.

A field day will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. at the University of Illinois Extension Ewing Demonstration Center located about 20 minutes south of Mount Vernon.

Illinois leads the U.S. in pumpkin production with more than 16,000 acres of pumpkins harvested in 2012. Registration begins at 9 a.m.

U of I Extension specialists and educators will discuss variety selection, disease, insect and weed management; cover crops; and no-till transplanting.

A pumpkin variety trial featuring more than 50 cultivars has been established as well as field demonstration plots to accompany each of the presentations.

Speakers will include Kate Kammler, University of Missouri Extension, providing information on pumpkin variety selection, and Wayne Sirles of Rendleman Orchards in Alto Pass, sharing his experiences and perspective on cover crops and no-till transplanted pumpkins.

The free event will include lunch. Registration is required by calling 618-687-1727 or visiting {web.extension.illinois. edu/fjprw/} by Aug. 29.

S Stay tay cool and save save big by by switching switching to to FS Propane Propane this summer summer..

If last winter’s heating bills left you out in the cold, save now by You can lock in prices during the summer switching to FS Propane. You months for the propane you’ll use next winter. We can sign you up for our convenient monthly billing programs too.

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GROWMARK names new agronomy sales managers FarmWeek â&#x20AC;˘ Page 12 â&#x20AC;˘ Monday, August 18, 2014

Three GROWMARK employees joined the Agronomy Services Department as agronomy information services sales managers. Brandon Everett, Brian Henze and Brett Isley will be responsible for growth of FS Advanced Information Services with FS companies.

Everett will serve Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa and northern Illinois. He grew up on a farm near Albion and graduated from Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale (SIU-C) with a

bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in ag business economics.

Since 2005, Everett worked at Southern FS as a technology Brandon Everett management specialist and more recently as information technology manager. While working at Southern FS, he also earned a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in information systems.Â

Henze will serve southern and eastern Illinois. With the FS System for 24 years, Henze worked as a certified crop specialist, location manBrian Henze ager and credit/ag finance specialist. Most recently, he worked for South Central FS in their precision farming department. Henze earned an ag business

Brett Isley

degree from SIU-C. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and a CAP Certified Technical Service Provider with the National Resources Conservation

Service.

Isley will serve west central Illinois and southern Iowa.

Born and raised on a farm near Newton, he received his bache-

lorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in agribusiness economics from SIU-C. Isley began his career at Effingham-Clay Service Company (South Central FS), working as a certified crop specialist.

He then worked as the crops division marketing manager at Schuyler-Brown FS (Prairieland FS) in Rushville. Isley served as a Monsanto retail sales manager, traits and seed representative and a local field adviser. Most recently, he was an account manager for DuPont Pioneer.

Four â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Torch of Leadershipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; award winners announced Four agricultural professionals from Illinois will receive â&#x20AC;&#x153;Torch of Leadershipâ&#x20AC;? awards from the Alumni Association of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation.

The award recognizes members of the agricultural community who have built a legacy of leadership through exceptional personal commitment and uncommon excellence in service to Illinois agriculture. The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Alumni Association (IALA) selects the winners.

Award winners include: â&#x20AC;˘ Becky Doyle, Gillespie. Doyle served as director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture during

Gov. Jim Edgarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two terms in office.

She went on to serve as a division director for the United Nations World Food Programme, and as an associate with The Context Network, an agricultural business management and strategy consulting firm. She graduated from the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program (IALP) in 1984. She farms with her husband and son in Macoupin County. â&#x20AC;˘ Dan Kelley, Normal. Kelley operates a diversified grain and soybean farm near Normal. He retired in 2013 as chairman of the board of GROWMARK. He serves as vice chairman of the CoBank board and as a director of

the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. In addition, he serves as a director of Nationwide Bank, Midwest Grain LLC and Truth About Trade and Technology, a nonprofit company. He graduated from IALP in 1984 and serves as that foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board chairman. â&#x20AC;˘ Gerald â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gerryâ&#x20AC;? Salzman, Mundelein. Salzman retired as senior director of global marketing harvesting at Case IH, where he was responsible for the global marketing and product development of Case IH combines, cotton and sugar cane harvesters. He also served as a board member on the U.S. Grains Council for eight years. He

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growers look to the cloud for more than just rain.

received the Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lifetime Achievement Award. He graduated from IALP in 1992. â&#x20AC;˘ Orion Samuelson, Huntley.

Samuelson, known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Voice of Agriculture,â&#x20AC;? provides daily reports on WGN Radio in Chicago and weekly syndicated television broadcasts on â&#x20AC;&#x153;This Week in Agribusiness.â&#x20AC;? He is a member of the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame, the National 4-H Hall of Fame, the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame. He has served more than 30 years as a board member of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation.

ISA donates childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books

Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) recently donated more than 800 childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books to 70plus Chicago-area libraries.

Each library received three copies of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Auntie Yangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Great Soybean Picnicâ&#x20AC;? and 10 copies of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soybeans: An A-Z Book.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Illinois agriculture provides our children with many occupational opportunities,â&#x20AC;? said Duane Dahlman, a Marengo farmer and ISA director. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are working to make agriculture more visible among children

and viable as a career choice.â&#x20AC;?

ISA teamed up with the Chicago Public Library, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois legislators to present books at Better Boys Foundation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Literacy is critical to creating an economically vibrant Chicago, and by donating these books to Chicago Public Library, the ISA has shown its commitment to supporting the education of Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children,â&#x20AC;? Emanuel said in a statement.

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UREAU — Farm Bureau invites Bureau County Fair visitors to participate in a “Share Your History” video interview. Interviews will be recorded from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, and 4 to 7 p.m. Friday. Interviews will be archived with the Bureau County Historical Society.

No appointments are necessary.

HAMPAIGN — Farm Bureau will cosponsor a nutrient management workshop at 8 a.m.

Aug. 28 at the Farm Bureau office. Three experts will speak. Call the Farm Bureau office at 352-5235 for more information.

HRISTIAN — Farm Bureau and FS will co-sponsor a yield tour at 9 a.m. Aug. 25. The tour will leave from the FS office in Taylorville.

OOK — Farm Bureau will host a family celebration picnic from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at Goebberts Pumpkin Farm, Barrington.

Admission includes activities and lunch. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 3 to 11, and children 2 and under are free. Call the Farm Bureau office at 708-3543276 to purchase tickets.

RAWFORD — Farm Bureau will host a member appreciation picnic from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Shrine Pavilion in Robinson City Park. Call the Farm Bureau office at 544-3792 for more information.

UMBERLAND — Farm Bureau will host a member appreciation picnic from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at Toledo Reservoir. Call the Farm Bureau office at 8493031 for reservations by Aug. 29.

• The Foundation will sponsor a gun raffle. The winner may choose one of four prizes or $300 cash.

Cost is $10 per ticket. Only 100 tickets will be sold. The winner will be announced Sept. 4 at the member appreciation picnic. Call the Farm Bureau office at 849-3031 for more information. Proceeds will benefit the scholarship program.

AYETTE — Farm Bureau will host a crop survey at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Farm Bureau office.

Teams will depart after breakfast for the tour. The dinner and crop survey report will be at 6:30 p.m.

Jim Riddle, Total Grain Marketing, will give a market outlook presentation. Cost is $5 for dinner. Tickets are available at the Farm Bureau office or from Farm Bureau directors. Deadline for reservations is Friday.

C C C C C

F

F

ULTON — Farm Bureau will host an on-the-road seminar from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Farm Bureau building. Illinois State Police Troopers and Kevin Rund, Illinois Farm Bureau senior director of local government, will speak on new and impending farm vehicle operation laws and new exemptions for covered farm vehicles. Call the Farm Bureau office at 547-3011 by Friday for reservations.

RUNDY — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor a succession planning seminar at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Terry and Carol Seggebruch Farm, Morris. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. with the presentation following at 6 p.m. Darren Frye and Ben Metzger, Water Street Solutions will speak. Call the Farm Bureau office at 9426400 or email grundycfb@ sbcglobal.net for reservations.

ANCOCK — Farm Bureau will cosponsor a biodiesel and ethanol promotion from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at West Central FS Fuel 24 in Carthage. Fuel will be sold at a discount during the two-hour event. Free refreshments will be available.

ASALLE — The District 4 Discussion Meet will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at Mendota Civic Center.

Lauren Lurkins, IFB director of natural and environmental resources will speak on “waters of the U.S.” The Young Leader discussion meet will follow. Call the Farm Bureau office at 4330371 for reservations by Wednesday.

EE — Members of Bureau, LaSalle and Lee County Farm Bureaus are invited to attend a District 4 meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at Mendota Civic Center.

Lauren Lurkins, IFB director of natural and environmental resources, will speak. Call the Farm Bureau office at 8573531 for reservations by Tuesday.

• The Foundation is raffling tickets for a Garth Brooks concert at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 4 in Rosemont. Raffle tickets are $5 each or three for $10. Only 300 tickets will be sold. Tickets are available at the Farm Bureau office.

Proceeds will benefit Foundation agriculture education programs. Call the Farm Bureau office at 857-3531 for more information.

• The Foundation will offer two grants for up to $100 each to preschool through high school teachers to fund projects that pro-

G

H L L

Page 13 • Monday, August 18, 2014 • FarmWeek

mote agricultural literacy in the classroom. Applicants must be actively teaching in Lee County. Call the Farm Bureau office at 857-3531 or email leecfb@comcast.net for applications. Deadline to apply is Sept. 15.

ACON — The Public Relations Committee will host a communitywide shred day from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday at the Farm Bureau office. Consumers may bring up to five boxes of materials to shred. Cost will be a donation of five canned goods, which will be donated to an area food pantry. Call the Farm Bureau office at 877-2436 for more information.

• Farm Bureau will offer discounts for fire extinguishers purchased from Midwest Fire Equipment Sales and Service. Cost is $60 for 5 pound, $85 for 10 pound and $170 for 20 pound extinguishers. Recharging is also available. Call the Farm Bureau office at 877-2436 for more information or to place an order by Aug. 29.

ONROE — Farm Bureau will co-spon-

M

M

sor the corn growers test plot program beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday at Matt Schaefer’s Farm, Columbia, with dinner and program following at 7 p.m. Robert Bellm, University of Illinois Extension, will speak. Participating companies include Beck’s Hybrids, Gateway FS, LG Seeds, Pfister, Pioneer, Wehmeyer Seed and Wyffels. Call the Farm Bureau office at 939-6197 for reservations by Monday.

EORIA — Farm Bureau will sponsor a photo contest for members, spouses or dependents. Categories will be farm activities, scenes and machinery; nature, wildlife, farm animals; and barns. Photos must be taken in Peoria County and be in color. For more information call the Farm Bureau office at 686-7070. Deadline to submit a photo is Aug. 29.

ICHLAND — The Young Leader Committee will sponsor a harvest hustle half-marathon and 5K race at 8 a.m. Sept. 13 at Musgrove Park in Olney.

Cost is $50 for halfmarathon and $25 for 5K. Visit {richlandcountyfarm bureau.com} or the Farm

P

R

S

Bureau office to register by Sept. 12.

T. CLAIR — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor the corn growers test plot tour beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 27 at Greg Guenther’s Farm. Dinner and program will follow at 7 p.m. Robert Bellm, University of Illinois Extension, will speak. Participating companies include Beck’s Hybrids, LG Seeds, Pfister, St. Clair County Service Company, Wehmeyer Seed Company and Wyffels.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 233-6800 for reservations

by Friday.

ARREN-HENDERSON — Farm Bureau will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the consolidation of Henderson and Warren County Farm Bureau from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Farm Bureau building, Monmouth. Events are planned for the entire family.

Reservations are not required, but are appreciated.

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.

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©2013 GROWMARK,, Inc. c. A14143

FarmWeek • Page 14 • Monday, August 18, 2014

Four records smashed at Illinois USDA crop report methodology sound

BY JOE CAMP the final yield counts. Judgment calls are used to State Fair Sale of Champions balance the two survey variables, both of which I was fortunate to have been selected as one Illinois State Fair junior livestock exhibitors saw four records shattered last week at the annual Sale of Champions.

Shaelye Varner of Morris received $100,000 for her grand champion steer from buyers AT&T, Monsanto and DeKalb Asgrow. The previous record was set last year at $62,000.

The grand champion wether, exhibited by 15-year-old Brooke Ryner of Alexis, sold for $21,000, eclipsing the previous record of $17,200. Buyers included North American Midway Entertainment, Friends of Brooke Ryner, Channel Seed and Matt Repp Memorial Scholarship.

Grant Kiefer, 15, of Gridley collected $53,000 for his grand champion barrow, almost double the $25,000 former high price. Terry Duffy and CME Group bought the barrow.

Branden Musgrave, 11, of Pittsfield, saw his Land of Lincoln steer fetch $56,300 — $6,200 more than the previous record. Bruce and Diana Rauner bought the steer.

The event raised $260,095 for the junior producers who raised the champion animals as well as the Illinois 4H and FFA programs, which each receive 10 percent of the proceeds.

Tara Hummel of Cabery received $10,000 for her grand champion meat goat. Buyers included Sky Ride, Roland Rosenboom, Tom Paulk, Mike Earles and Friends of Tara Hummel.

Bailey Hunt of Sycamore sold his grand champion poultry trio for $5,900 to McDonald’s of Peoria and McDonald’s of Central Illinois.

Sarah Brown of Jacksonville collected $6,000 for her grand champion rabbit meat pen. Buyers included Agrivest, and Rex and Carolyn Evans.

Mitch Holmes of Mahomet sold his Land of Lincoln grand champion wether for $5,000 to Terry Duffy and CME Group.

The lamb then resold for the same price to Frank Hoffreiter, Beck’s Hybrids, Channel Seed, Hunter Nutrition and Sky Ride.

M A R K E T FA C T S Feeder pig prices reported to USDA* Total Composite Weighted Average Receipts and Price (Formula and Cash): Weight Range Per Head Weighted Ave. Price 10-12 lbs. (formula) $37.50-$58.73 $47.43 40 lbs. (cash) $92.00-$110.00 $103.90 Receipts

This Week 67,081 *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm

Last Week 74,228

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live

(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week Change $102.77 $112.26 - $9.49 $76.05 $83.07 -$7.02

USDA five-state area slaughter cattle price (Thursday’s price)

Steers Heifers

This week $155.87 $156.00

Prev. week $159.64 $160.00

Change -$3.77 -$4.00

of a dozen participants for the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Marketers to Washington trip. Headlining the event was our invitation to the USDA August crop report lockup.

The trip provided me with a valuable perspective that I am confident will aid me in my efforts to become a better analyst and offer improved service to AgriVisor customers.

Authorities at the USDA gave us a look at the methodology involved with putting together their crop production estimates. There were numerous features of the report methodology that are important for market participants to understand.

It is necessary to appreciate the amount of discretion USDA statisticians enjoy. Part of the yield estimate is derived from field counts made

by USDA enumerators. Regional data is aggregated into state estimates, which in turn flow into the national projection. Analysts are authorized to use their own judgment in preparing state estimates. However, analysts at the national level have the option of changing those estimates.

Another part of the yield estimate is derived from producer surveys. USDA statisticians also enjoy discretion in their use of these data points.

The statisticians can adjust producer surveys knowing that they may include certain inherent biases.

A big point of discretion involves the weighing of producer versus enumerator surveys in

also include their own subjectivity.

The partial subjectivity of the estimates raises questions about the integrity of the USDA crop reports. It is true that each stage of the reporting process leaves open various opportunities for analyst judgment, but my interaction with USDA professionals had me leaving with the belief that such discretion is warranted. My background in statistics supports that belief as I can appreciate the need for human analysis within the procedures of data modeling.

It was rewarding to have had the opportunity to visit with such influential members of the Washington agriculture community. Just as rewarding were the interactions with my fellow participants on the trip.

The program was for producers. All had in common their stewardship of agriculture, but each had unique, individual characteristics that made them valuable assets to the program.

The marketers group developed a fellowship that helped support our goal of representing Illinois Farm Bureau and our agricultural contingencies back home. That fellowship became a big part of what was, for me, an invaluable experience.

Joe Camp serves as AgriVisor risk management specialist. He can be reached at JCamp@mid-co.com.

Crops continue to look good in much of state

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Crop conditions always vary each season around Illinois and the rest of the nation.

But, so far this year, it appears there are more haves than have-nots when it comes to timely rains and suitable growing conditions around the state.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Illinois field office last week projected the vast majority of crops (82 percent of corn and 78 percent of beans) were in good to excellent condition.

“We’ll be able to tell for sure when we run the combines, but it looks like a very, very good

crop right now,” David Mueller, a farmer from Taylor Ridge (Rock Island County) said last week during the Illinois Farm Bureau Marketers to Washington trip. “We’ve caught rains at just the right time.”

Statewide precipitation last week averaged 1.45 inches with an average as high as 2.59 inches in the west/southwest portion of Illinois.

The average temperature last week — 72.1 degrees, 1.7 degrees below average — also was conducive to crop development.

However, there are still portions of the state lacking moisture.

Topsoil moisture statewide last week was rated 19 percent

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

(Prices $ per hundredweight) Prev. week Change This week $222.21 $222.33 -$0.12

Lamb prices Negotiated, wooled and shorn, 123-166 lbs. for 137-165 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 151.20)

Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 8/07/2014 3.6 19.4 35.6 7/31/2014 1.4 14.1 44.9 Last year 3.4 24.4 15.6 Season total 1585.9 167.4 1727.3 Previous season total 1303.1 239.7 659.0 USDA projected total 1600 925 1900 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

Mark Schleusener, left, Illinois state statistician, discusses USDA’s methodology for measuring crop yields during IFB’s Marketers to Washington trip. Seated by Schleusener, left to right, are Gary Speckhart, IFB District 9 director from Adams County, and Mitchell Ernst, McLean County. (Photo by Daniel Grant)

short or very short, 76 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.

“The corn crop is not made yet,” said Mark Schleusener, Illinois state statistician. “A lot of acres are still filling grain.”

Crop development and the accumulation of growing degree units have been slowed in many areas by late planting and cooler than normal temperatures.

“Hopefully, (recent) weather conditions will continue,” Schleusener said. “They’ve been almost optimal.”

Big crops will be vital to the bottom line of farmers as they hope to make up for lower prices this year with more bushels.

“To have the income this year, it’s going to take more bushels,” said Mueller, who previously worked as a grain broker specializing in risk management and marketing plans. “It’s going to be hard on guys in (dry) pockets” who take a yield hit this year.

“We need to keep our pencils sharp,” he continued. “It’s much more important to manage risk,” due to expectations of lower returns.

Seventeen percent of corn in Illinois dented as of the first of last week, six points behind the five-year average, while 79 percent of soybeans were setting pods, up from the average of 66 percent, according to NASS.

Corn Strategy

August report clarifies corn potential; soybeans yields still uncertain

Even though USDA forecasts will change as the agency and farmers learn more about the crop, the August corn and soybean forecasts provide a useful starting point, especially for the former.

For corn, because of the physiological state of the crop, one can begin to home in on how the production forecasts might evolve. For soybeans, it is difficult given that they are still blooming and setting pods, leaving USDA and farmers an incomplete set of data to work with.

USDA does provide the trade with enough broad details about the corn crop in the August report that it becomes possible to build ideas on a potential final yield. Without offering specifics, it provides a graphic showing where the August ear population and weight fits with history.

Still, it’s important to remember the ear weight is an “implied” number. USDA never released the weight data it collected in the field, only the stalk/ear population. The ear weight it released on the graphic this past week incorporates the results of yields derived from data collected in the field as well

as those from the farmer survey.

Because there isn’t a long history on details for the 10 states it collects data in each month, we’ve adjusted the “implied” ear weight for the seven-state series that has data available back to the 1980s. The data notes 1994, 2004 and 2009 were the only years with ear weights higher than the level they started at this year.

While some point out big yield increases on the final reports in 1994 and 2004, we’d point out the initial implied ear weights were at a lower level.

Specifically, we are concerned producer expectations may be high to start with this year given the talk about exceptional yields along with the number of double ears. The latter rarely develop into harvestable ears.

In 2010, producer expectations were high. Crop ratings were high, too. But in the end, the crop wasn’t as good as producers initially hoped with the final yield below early expectations.

Still, there’s reason to think the final yield will be higher than the 167.4 bushel yield USDA started with. Looking at past history of the limited details in the August USDA report leads us to think the final yield might be close to 173.

We’ll know more with better details in September. We do expect that yield to be a little higher than the recent one, too.

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ü2013 crop: Last week’s action in the corn market helps build the case the minor trend is finally trying to turn up. Wait for December futures to rebound to $3.80 to $3.90 to make sales. The supply of old crop available to the market may tend to limit upside energy in the cash market. With inventories you have left, balance making sales with the need to clear space to store a large new crop. ü2014 crop: The potentially large new crop does create some head winds that will make the market struggle, but we believe the short-term trend is turning up. Wait for December futures to rally to $3.90 to make sales. If you believe you need to move some corn at harvest, make sure you have the basis locked up. vFundamentals: This week’s news injected some uncertainty back into the market. The USDA yield was less than expected. Farm Service Agency (FSA) acreage numbers suggest plantings will be revised down. And Chinese dryness could change their stance on imports.

Page 15 • Monday, August 18, 2014 • FarmWeek Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2013 crop: Old-crop basis is starting to give up the big premium it has to new-crop prices. That will unwind quickly. Sell any inventory you may still have. ü2014 crop: The break to a new low on November futures positions soybean prices to decline further into harvest.

November futures are set to test $10, and could slide as low as $9.60 during the next month. If you are comfortable with yield prospects, price another 10 percent if November futures are $10.50 or higher. ü2015 crop: The first 15 percent of the 2015 crop was priced at $12.07 basis November 2015 futures. vFundamentals: USDA’s yield was not a lot different than expected, but combined with recent rains, much uncertainty about a potentially large crop has been removed. If anything, analysts were surprised USDA didn’t raise demand forecasts on the supply/ demand report. Even though the FSA acreage data hinted plantings will be revised down,

it won’t be enough to keep supplies from building significantly this year.

Wheat Strategy

ü2014 crop: Even with heavy fundamentals, prices can’t sustain downside energy and spike rapidly when they turn up. Given the fundamentals, prices could be in a base building mode for some time.

Because of that, use rallies to $5.50 on the Chicago September contract to make catch-up sales. Producers who are comfortably priced and able to carry wheat should continue to target a move to $6 on Chicago December futures to make sales.

ü2015 crop: Even though the prospects of higher prices do not look great, it’s too soon to price new crop at levels near the lower end of the “modern” trading range. vFundamentals: USDA surprised the trade, raising its forecast of the Russian crop more than expected.

The 6 million metric (mmt) increase in the Russian crop, along with a couple of other modest increases, is expected to boost ending stocks another 3.4 mmt to a comfortable 193 mmt. Still, milling quality wheat is in short supply.

FarmWeek • Page 16 • Monday, August 18, 2014

Illinois firms take action on China food safety issue

EPA grabs for dry land ‘The proposed rule is designed to allow the federal government to regulate every place water flows when it rains...’

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to expand the scope of “navigable waters” subject to Clean Water Act jurisdiction was drafted, according to the agency, to reduce uncertainty. And that it does.

It’s very clear the proposed rule is designed to allow the federal government to regulate every place DON PARRISH water flows guest columnist when it rains, including small and remote “waters,” and ephemeral drains and ditches.

We all know that water flows downhill and that at some point some of that water eventually finds its way into a creek, stream or river. Yet, based on nothing more than the flow of rainwater along a natural pathway across the land, the EPA wants to call vast areas of otherwise dry land “tributaries” and therefore, “navigable waters.”

With its proposal to regulate land that is dry most of the year and miles from the nearest truly navigable water, EPA is hanging farmers and ranchers out to dry. For example, under the proposal, if a farmer wants to build a fence near a ditch on his property, he’d have to apply for a Clean Water Act permit, which costs money and may not ever be approved.

EPA and other supporters of the proposed rule have made much of the so-called exemption for agriculture, but it offers no protection.

The “normal farming and ranching” exemption only applies to a specific type of Clean Water Act permit for “dredge and fill” materials. There is also no farm or ranch exemption from Clean Water Act permit requirements for what EPA would call “pollutants,” but farmers would refer to as plant nutrients and protection products.

At the same time EPA and the Corps are telling farmers and ranchers they’ve got nothing to worry about because the exemptions put them in the clear, the agency is moving for-

ward with a guidance document that will govern how it interprets “normal farming” exemptions contained in Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This interpretive rule makes fundamental changes in how the exemptions for normal agricultural activities at “established” farms will be applied and enforced. Contrary to assertions by proponents, this rule narrows how the exemptions are applied and increases farmers’ liability. Under the interpretive rule, Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation standards that were previously voluntary are now fully enforceable as part of the Clean Water Act regulatory program.

Like the proposed “waters of the U.S.” rule, the interpretive rule flies in the face of congressional intent. In 1977, Congress amended the Clean Water Act to exempt “normal” farming and ranching from Section 404 “dredge and fill” permit requirements.

In addition, EPA and the Corps’ interpretation of “normal farming and ranching” refers only to farms and ranches that EPA determines to be “established” and “ongoing” — not newer or expanded farms and ranches.

Where does this leave the children and grandchildren of farmers and ranchers who want to work the land but need to grow the operation to support an expanding family?

Farm Bureau has launched a website at {ditchtherule.fb.org} to help farmers, ranchers, landowners and others express the need for EPA to Ditch the Rule. Visit the site, sign up to learn more, comment on the proposed rule and send tweets using the hashtag #DitchTheRule. You should also voice your concerns to your state and local officials, and your U.S. representatives and senators.

Don Parrish serves as senior director of regulatory relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation. This column originally appeared in the August/September 2014 issue of Sugar Producer magazine and is reprinted with permission.

Over the past number of years, I have discussed food safety issues in China several times. The most recent Chinese food scare has a local spin — two Illinois firms are involved, one that produced the questionable products and the other that unknowingly sold them. The two firms, with headquarters 45 miles apart, are working together to solve a problem from halfway around the world.

It has been widely WILLIAM reported that workers at a BAILEY Chinese subsidiary of Aurora-based OSI Group were videotaped packaging out-of-date chicken and beef products, including meat that was picked up from a Shanghai factory floor. The products were then sold, in China, to another Illinois-based firm — McDonald’s, with headquarters in Oak Brook.

And it was through McDonald’s outlets in China that out-of-state products may have entered the food chain. To date, no health problems associated with the contaminated products have been reported.

OSI Group has deep roots in the Chicago area, going back to 1909, according to its website. Since then, it has grown to be a multibillion dollar food company with 20,000 employees located around the world, including Germany, Ukraine, China, Australia, Japan and India.

The scope of its operations is noteworthy. The Wall Street Journal reported that its poultry plants in China alone process 300 million chickens a year. And it has enjoyed a long relationship with McDonald’s, supplying a reported 85 percent of McDonald’s outlets with high quality food products.

As the China scandal emerged, includ-

ing graphic video images shown on Chinese television, the two Illinois companies aggressively moved to minimize fallout from the incident and to rectify the production problems that were shown in the televised stories.

It was reported that McDonald’s restaurants in several Chinese cities stopped selling hamburgers and chicken products. OSI issued several press releases on the situation in which it detailed the considerable number of actions it was taking to both resolve the issue and prevent it from happening again.

Recent food quality scandals in China were not addressed in the professional and businesslike approach taken by OSI and McDonald’s. What is different this time is the approach taken by the companies involved.

OSI — within days — had dispatched an investigation team to China with the commitment that the investigation results would be made public. But the key difference in this contamination problem, compared to previous problems, is the companies involved are taking direct action to change both management and processes to keep such situations from again happening.

They have gone further than simply arresting people and putting them on trial.

They have committed their companies to solving the problem.

Good for these two Illinois companies for working together and leading the way, in China and around the world, on the proper way to assure the highest quality food is provided to their customers.

Recognize good leaders for ag

respect him now. The attacks that he was appointed by Gov. Quinn and is serving with no direct experience are totally without merit.

To insinuate that being a farmer would make one a better ag director ignores the importance of his strong rural roots, his prior leadership roles including mayor of Mount Zion and his dedicated work as a state representative. Bob serves as the director of agriculture with dedication and exceptional competence. He listens to the issues, observes the lay of the land (pun intended), and acts decisively.

Though I retired from the House in October 2013, my involvement in agriculture and observation of the political process remain. Let’s put politics behind us and recognize a good leader of agriculture for his competence, not his political affiliation.

JIM SACIA Pecatonica

William C Bailey is a professor of agricultural economics and supply chain management at Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture, Macomb.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Editor: Bob Flider, our director of agriculture, deserves better.

In the past several weeks, there have been several politically motivated attacks published against Bob. The record needs to be set straight.

First and most important, I am not in Bob’s political party. We both were elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2002, taking office in January 2003.

Throughout Bob’s tenure, we served together on the Conservation and Agriculture Committee as well as many others.

I served as minority spokesman on Conservation and Agriculture, and regularly discussed issues affecting the ag community with Bob. Bob is a thoughtful, dedicated, very hard working public servant. His observations were always clear, concise and thought through. I respected him then, I

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