Crop surveys around the state indicate farmers could have corn coming out their ears this fall. page 3
Morgan County farmer John Werries implements award-winning soil health methods on his land. page 8
FAA regulations authorizing commercial agricultural uses may not be in place until 2016. pages 10-11
No early harvest for most farmers this year Inside: Harvest section
Monday, August 25, 2014
Three sections Volume 42, No. 34
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Farmers anxious to begin harvest and verify whether or not crop yields meet lofty expectations will have to remain patient for now. Decent weather conditions much of the summer continue to extend many of the key growth stages. A lack of growing degree units due to cooler than normal temperatures also slows crop maturity in many fields. “Soybeans and corn both have a ways to go,” Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois Extension agronomist, told FarmWeek. “They’re pretty green out there, still.” The portion of corn dented last week was 22 percent nationwide compared to the average of 27 percent. In Illinois, 34 percent of corn dented last week, which was four points behind average. “We like that this time of year,” the agronomist said. “One of the ‘penalties’ of high yields is the crops mature a little later
IN THEIR WORDS
Corn and soybean crops in southeastern McLean County retain their bright, green color as the result of fewer growing degree units and cooler temperature. Check out the Harvest special section inside for stories about grain harvest, storage and drying issues. (Photo by Ken Kashian)
and use up more of the season.” Illinois farmers as recently as 2012 harvested 12 percent of the corn crop in August. But the five-year average prior to that was 2 percent of corn harvested prior to Labor Day weekend. This year, farmers may have to wait until early to mid-September to roll out their combines. Silage chopping and seed harvest are expected to begin before that as usual.
Nafziger said the accumulation of growing degree units in Illinois since May 1 lagged about 100 points behind average last week. In central Iowa, growing degree units last week were about 180 points behind average. Crops are even further behind in the eastern Corn Belt, Ohio in particular, and to the north in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Organizers of the Farm
Progress Show, billed as the nation’s largest outdoor farm show, recently announced harvest demonstrations could be scaled back at this year’s show. “The corn did not mature in time for a full slate of demonstrations at this year’s show,” said Matt Jungmann, Penton Farm Progress events manager. There’s a chance about 60 of the 100 acres at the show site could be black-layered and har-
vested during the event, according to Jungmann. The Farm Progress Show will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Aug. 26-28) in Boone, Iowa. Find more information about the show online at {Farm ProgressShow. com}. Check out the special harvest section in this issue of FarmWeek for more information and a preview of fall harvest.
Farmers share concerns about ‘waters of the U.S.’ proposal BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek
Periodicals: Time Valued
Farmers across Illinois remain concerned a proposed rule redefining “waters of the U.S.” will expand federal jurisdiction and make farming more
difficult and expensive. And some farmers put their concerns in writing. Below are excerpts from three letters written by Illinois Farm Bureau members and submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Clint Robinson, Sullivan I was born and raised on a small river that feeds the second largest lake in Illinois, and farm nearly 1,300 acres that surround the lake along with small creeks and drainage ditches that feed it. I can assure you local farmers such as myself go to great lengths to make sure our practices don’t have a negative impact on the environment. To claim that areas of land that have water in them for less than a handful of days or hours in any given year (qualify as “waters of the U.S.”) is simply ridiculous, and a huge overreach and abuse of power. Even though I have always taken great care in farming my land, I am tru-
MORE INSIDE
• Additional WOTUS meetings scheduled • County governments weigh resolutions against proposed rule
ly worried that this abuse of power could make most of the highly productive land that I farm a “no farming zone.” Because I live near a large body of water, I fully appreciate the necessity to maintain a quality water system. However, I am supremely confident that we have the intelligence, technology and, most importantly, the desire to meet this great task without any bureaucrat who has never even been on my land or in my water system making rules and regulations to govern how I operate. Furthermore, as a small, local farmer, I fear that this rule could have even greater consequences that have
not been considered. For example, if every farmer is required to have licenses and permits to operate on their land, there will no doubt be costs associated with those licenses and permits. If a farmer fails to comply with those licenses and permits, that farmer will be fined. It seems to me that any small farmer that is forced into these permits, license and fines will have a much harder time paying for them because of the reduced number of acres they operate. While this may seem trivial on the surface, it is quite clear to me that this will reduce the number of small, local farmers across the nation. Drew Carls, Arenzville I’m 54 and a fourth-generation farmer along with my two brothers. I serve as a drainage commissioner and on the county Soil and Water Conservation District Board. Our farm is located in the Illinois River Basin, and See Concerns, page 4
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Quick Takes
FarmWeek • Page 2 • Monday, August 25, 2014
LEGISLATORS SAY MORE INPUT NEEDED — A dozen members of Congress, including Bill Enyart, DBelleville, called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently to hold additional public hearings on proposed regulations for coal-fired power plants. “We demanded that the EPA listen to Americans regarding these proposals,” Enyart said. “But when the hearings were scheduled over three days in July, they were in Washington D.C., Atlanta, Denver and Pittsburgh. That’s hardly accessible to the majority of Americans and certainly not accessible for southern Illinoisans.” In a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the legislators demanded EPA hold additional hearings in states such as Illinois “to hear from hard working Americans who are already struggling to survive on thin margins and will be hardest hit by these burdensome new requirements.” The proposed regulations will require existing power plants to cut production by 30 percent during the next 15 years. The legislators called the mandates “unrealistic,” and said they will result in “significant job losses and be extremely detrimental to economic growth throughout the nation.” RFS RULE GOES TO WHITE HOUSE — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday sent its final proposed volume obligations for the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The move comes nine months after 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 under the proposed rule. Agriculture groups, including Illinois Farm Bureau, oppose the change. “While we have not seen the rule, we hold strong in our belief that EPA and OMB will fulfill President Obama’s commitment to biofuels as a means of greater energy independence, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and wider availability of cost-saving alternative fuels for American consumers,” said Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. KIDS COST $245,340 — Parents need deep pockets to raise a child these days. According to the latest USDA report, a middle-income family with a child born in 2013 can expect to spend about $245,340 for food, housing, childcare/education and other child-rearing expenses up to age 18. While this represents an overall 1.8 percent increase from 2012, the percentages spent on each expenditure category remained the same. In 1960, the first year the report was issued, a middle-income family could have expected to spend $25,230 ($198,560 in 2013 dollars) to raise a child until the age of 18. Housing was the largest child-rearing expense both then and now. The report, issued annually, is based on data from the federal government’s Consumer Expenditure Survey. The full report can be viewed at {cnpp.usda.gov}.
(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 42 No. 34 August 25, 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. “Farm, Family, Food” is used under license of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation.
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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
Acres buzzing and blooming
Ted Gilles of Princeville checks a birdhouse surrounded by wildflowers on a 3-acre habitat. (Photos by Cyndi Cook)
Farmers’ pollinator plants fulfill CRP BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Peoria County farmers Ted and Ron Gilles offer a colorful banquet for bees, butterflies and other pollinators on their Princeville land. Well known for their conservation work and educational efforts, the Gilles brothers successfully embarked on an effort to grow plants specifically for pollinators through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). “Certain bees are thick; I hear them buzzing,” Ted Gilles told FarmWeek. “The prairie is really beautiful. This year we have more butterflies. It’s really working.” The Gilles’ planted about 3 acres of pollinator habitat that meets CRP requirements. To qualify, pollinator habitat must measure a minimum of a half acre, according to Scott Wallace, Peoria County district conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Qualified plant mixes must include a minimum of nine flower species with at least three early-, three mid- and three late-blooming species. “They need to produce a healthy amount of pollen,” Wallace added. Native prairie plants have
bloomed for years on the Gilles’ farm. “I’ve always done my own thing. A lot of the flowers I had fell under the pollinator (category),” Gilles said. “In the old days, we had 20 varieties. Now we have 20 varieties, but they’re different ones.” The Gilles’ adapted different pollinator plant seed mixes to find the right plants for their land. “We’ve got good recipes,” Gilles said. Landowners and farmers may sign up under continuous CRP for pollinator habitat, according to Wallace. He added pollinator habitat may
work well on an odd-shaped parcel of land. “We assume (pollinator habitat) will be available for general CRP signup,” Wallace said. For details on the pollinator program, visit {nrcs.usda.gov/ Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS /nrcs141p2_034382.pdf}. Butterflies and bees flourish in the pollinator habitat, and so do other species. Gilles spotted lots of little pheasants. And humans enjoy it, too. “I go through and watch the birds sometimes at night, and see all the flowers,” Gilles said.
Only a permanent injunction against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will prevent farmers from suffering “ongoing, irreparable harm,” according to a federal court document filed last week by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). “Releasing personal information to the public — as EPA has done, and intends to continue doing — qualifies as irreparable harm in and of itself,” according to the court filing. “Without a permanent injunction, more farmers would be harmed every time
EPA discloses new or updated information, or discloses existing information to new requesters.” Last year, EPA released personal information of more than 80,000 farmers in 29 states — including some in Illinois — to three activist groups that requested the information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The information included names of farmers, home addresses, GPS coordinates, telephone numbers and email addresses. Some of the information included names of
family members. Since releasing the redacted farm information in April 2013, EPA received additional FOIA requests for farmer information in six states: Minnesota, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and Washington. AFBF, joined by the National Pork Producers Council, filed the lawsuit last July to block EPA from responding to the new FOIA requests. EPA agreed not to release further information pending the court’s decision.
A pair of Monarch butterflies inhabits the habitat.
AFBF fights release of farmer data
Pro Farmer tour finds garden spot for corn in Illinois Page 3 • Monday, August 25, 2014 • FarmWeek
per acre, down 11) and South Dakota (152.7 bushels, down 10) as torrential rains this spring Illinois farmers might have corn coming out and summer severely delayed planting and of their ears this harvest based on some private drowned out parts of fields. yield forecasts. The crops also are much further behind in Crop scouts on the Pro Farmer Midwest the north and eastern Corn Belt compared to Crop Tour project corn yields in the “I” states. the central two-thirds of Illinois FarmWeekNow.com “We saw some corn (in Illinois) will average a whopping 196.6 Go to FarmWeekNow.com to see fully dented and well on its way, bushels per acre, up 31.9 percent results and view pictures from the maybe three weeks from harvest,” Illinois segment of the tour. from the tour’s three-year state said Brian Grete, Pro Farmer ediaverage. tor and director of the eastern leg That’s 11-plus bushels more than the next high- of the crop tour. “Then we saw some stuff in est corn yield estimate found on the tour — 185.3 Ohio that’s still two months away. It’s an immature bushels per acre in Indiana — almost 45 bushels crop that needs more time.” above the three-year average in the Hoosier State. Crop scouts found some of the best soybean “I know it’s a good crop. We just don’t know pod counts on the tour in Iowa with an average how good,” said Pat Solon, a Pro Farm tour of 1,711 pods per 3x3 foot square. Pod counts participant who farms near Streator in LaSalle in Illinois range from 730 to 1,560. and Livingston counties. “As we started going Tour participants also found a fair amount of (toward Illinois from the east), the corn and tipback in cornfields, although high population beans look a lot better.” counts could compensate for it, and the start of About 120 Pro Farmer tour participants gathered sudden death syndrome in some beans. 2,600 samples of corn and beans last week from Elsewhere in Illinois, Farm Bureau county seven Midwest States. Other states with bumps in yield surveys released last week project an avercorn yield estimates compared to previous tours are age corn yield of 211.5 bushels per acre in Ohio (182.1 bushels per acre, up 10), Iowa (178.75 Sangamon County (with a range of 183 to 268 bushels, up seven), and Nebraska (163.7 bushels, up bushels) and an average of 171.82 bushels in 17 bushels from the three-year average). Bond County (with a range of 127 to 240 However, Pro Farmer tour yield estimates bushels). The soybean yield average in Bond declined this year in Minnesota (170.76 bushels County was pegged at 55.86 bushels per acre.
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Top: Ryan Longhenr y, left, and Michael Hir tzer, right, both of Chicago, pull soybean plant samples from a field near Hudson (McLean County) during the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour. Right: Brian Grete, Pro Farmer editor and director of the eastern branch of the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour, poses with corn ear samples near a field north of Bloomington-Normal in central Illinois. About 120 participants collected 2,600 corn and bean samples on the tour. (Photos by Daniel Grant)
Wheat growers seek to overcome challenges; early planting unlikely
It appears Illinois wheat growers had a good year as the statewide yield average of 67 bushels per acre tied for the highest on record (2006 and 2013). But farmers this year dealt with low test weights, high levels of deoxynivalenol (DON, otherwise known as vomitoxin) in their grain at some locations and much lower prices that present some challenges. Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois Extension agronomist, discussed the past year and his outlook for wheat last week at the Illinois Wheat Forum in Highland. The Illinois Wheat Association organizes the annual event. “Yield-wise, we were in pretty good shape (this season),” Nafziger said. “One hundred bushel yields were not unheard of in some areas.
“But test weights weren’t very good, in general (with an average just above 53 pounds per bushel),” he continued. “Fusarium head scab was a big issue.” The spread of head scab was fueled by rainfall during wheat flowering. Some farmers in the southeast portion of the state were hit particularly hard with scab outbreaks along with high levels of vomitoxin in their Emerson Nafziger grain. “We think a lot of Fusarium-infested kernels filled out, which increased yields, but might have lowered test weights,” Nafziger said. “The lower test weights and high DON combined to greatly low-
er the realized price per bushel.” Numerous farmers were docked half or more the cash price of wheat at local elevators and mills, while some farmers even reported economic losses on individual loads. Elsewhere, farmers tore up a number of wheat fields in northern Illinois this spring or took a yield hit due to winterkill. The U of I wheat plot in DeKalb suffered a 70 percent loss and was abandoned this season, Nafziger noted. He encouraged farmers this season to choose varieties with scab resistance. Wheat varieties with scab resistance may not necessarily boost yields but can improve grain quality. “There are a lot of good varieties available,” said Nafziger, who noted wheat yields statewide the past two
decades increased about eight-tenths of a bushel annually. “The genetic potential, I think, continues to increase.” Nafziger predicted early harvest delays of corn and soybeans will nix any chance of early wheat planting this fall. But he feels farmers in southern Illinois still can plant wheat on time this fall around the first or second week of October. He recommends farmers consider scaling back the seeding rate slightly this fall to about 1.3 million to 1.5 million seeds per acre due to tighter margins. Overall, Illinois wheat growers planted 750,000 acres last fall compared to 875,000 acres in the fall of 2012, and harvested 690,000 acres this spring. Wheat production in the state this year totaled 46.2 million bushels, down 17 percent from a year ago. — Daniel Grant
Illinois farmers strive for higher wheat yields via new IWA contest
A little more management goes a long way when it comes to boosting wheat yields, according to John Scates, a farmer from Shawneetown (Gallatin County).
Scates, whose family has produced wheat the last 75-plus years, won the first Illinois wheat yield contest this year with a yield of 124 bushels per acre.
The Illinois Wheat Association (IWA) unveiled the inaugural yield contest for this crop year. Farmers submitted 48 entries in the contest statewide. “Our aim is to raise a higher yielding, better quality wheat crop,” said Kyle Brase, a farmer from Edwardsville (Madison County) and IWA president. Scates’ keys to intensive wheat management begin at planting time each fall. “One of the key things we try to do is get the field worked down (after corn or bean harvest) and get the residue worked in,” Scates told FarmWeek at the Illinois Wheat Forum in Highland. He uses seed treatments and then plants his wheat crop with a drill to get good, uniform seed depth. “We come back with a split application of nitrogen,” Scates said. “It seems to be really helping” to boost yields. Scates also focuses on head scab control.
“It’s just a little bit more management,” he said. “We try to get things timed right (with planting and applications of N and pesticides). It really pays off for us.” This year, Scates said his wheat crop yielded well overall, but he wasn’t able to harvest the last John Scates 25 percent in a timely manner due to rainfall. The incidence of vomitoxin subsequently increased in his laterharvested fields. “A lot of guys in our area really got hurt (by vomitoxin and low test weights),” Scates said. “I hope wheat acres aren’t down, but I’ve heard some people say they aren’t going to plant as much (this fall).” Scates hopes lessons learned in the wheat yield contest will help farmers boost yields through better management and
improved seed technology. “We entered the contest to see where we stack up against other wheat growers around the state,” Scates said. “I hope (the contest) brings to light to breeders and companies that produce seed that if we don’t get higher yields, wheat production in our area will continue to decline.” Other top finishers in the IWA wheat contest this year included: South Region (south of Route 16), Danny Rubin, Shobonier, 117 bushels, second place; Dale Wehmeyer, Mascoutah, 112 bushels, third place; and Jeff Scates, Shawneetown, 111 bushels, fourth place. In the North Region Jimmy Ayers, Rochester, produced a top-yielding crop of 87 bushels per acre. John Beatty, Waverly, was second with 77 bushels. The yield contest top finishers receive cash prizes. More information about the contest can be found at IWA’s website {illinois wheat.org}. — Daniel Grant
FarmWeek • Page 4 • Monday, August 25, 2014
Progress reported on Panama Canal BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek
Despite a work stoppage earlier this year, “substantial progress” has been made to expand the Panama Canal, according to Mike Steenhoek, director of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Steenhoek and Pat Knouff, chairman of the Soy Transportation Coalition and Ohio farmer, toured the construction site earlier this month as part of Panama Canal’s 100th anniversary celebration. Steenhoek said he noticed progress has been made on excavation and constructing locks since his last visit to Panama a year ago. He also said half of the gates that will seal the lock chambers have arrived from Italy. With about 80 percent of the Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation project complete, he estimated Coalition, recently toured the construction site of the Panama the project should be finished in Canal expansion as part of the canal’s 100th anniversary celebra- December 2015 and open for customer use in early 2016. tion. (Photo courtesy of Mike Steenhoek)
“It’s a quite impressive construction project — a $5.25 billion project conducted by a very small country,” he said. “Yes, they’ve had some project delays, and there have been some cost escalations in a couple areas, but overall I think they’ve done an admirable job with the work. Frankly, I wish we could do as well as the Panamanians are with our own infrastructure projects. We see a lot of significant cost overruns, project delays, and I think we frankly have a lot that we could learn from them.” The Soy Transportation Coalition and the Panama Canal Authority signed a memorandum of understanding in 2011 to perform joint promotional events and exchange information in an effort to raise awareness of the Panama Canal expansion and its potential impact on U.S. agriculture. Steenhoek noted that soybeans represent the top agricultural commodity passing through
the canal on a yearly basis. “We think agriculture stands to be one of the most significant and immediate beneficiaries of the canal expansion,” Steenhoek said. “We have the capacity at our export terminals in southern Louisiana to load ocean vessels to a 45-foot water depth. We have customers in Asia who have the capacity to receive those ships and the demand for that volume of soybeans. But the weak link, the limiting factor right now, has been the 39 ½ foot (depth) that the current Panama Canal locks can provide. “Essentially what’s happening is you’re loading ships at our export terminals lighter than what we normally could,” he said. “When the Panama Canal expansion is complete, we’ll be able to load ships heavier with an additional 500,000 bushels of soybeans, which is $6 million to $7 million of additional value per vessel just because the canal can accommodate larger ships.“
County governments debate impact of ‘waters of the U.S’ rule BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek
Pike County Board members this week could formally urge federal agencies to withdraw the proposed rule defining “waters of the U.S.” The board was scheduled to vote Monday on a resolution opposing the proposed rule introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers. Illinois Farm Bureau hopes Pike County becomes one of dozens of county governments across the state that vote to oppose the proposed rule. “At each stop of ‘waters of the U.S.’ road show, Farm Bureau members have asked us about engaging potential allies in the fight to ditch the rule,” said Adam Nielsen, IFB director of national legislation and policy development. “County governments and their national association happen to be very big allies. We encourage county Farm Bureaus to approach their county boards and urge them to pass resolutions like the one being considered in Pike County.” Pike County Farm Bureau helped draft the
Concerns
some of the land we own and farm is within two miles of the Illinois River. Most of our farm is irrigated with center pivot systems since it is sandy. Many of the crops grown along the Illinois River are what we refer to as specialty crops. These include seed corn, sweet corn, popcorn, green beans, potatoes and many more. Canneries and other companies have a substantial amount of money invested in these crops each year. Therefore, they need acres that are well drained and irrigated. This, in the end, provides the consumer with a consistent supply of food in the grocery store. For me, as a farmer and steward of the land, maintaining a clean and reliable source of water is very important. This is why we have incorporated several conservation practices on our farm. We have very few fields that are tiled and are not able to be tiled, so we rely on surface drainage by using waterways, shallow ditches and filter strips. Most of continued from page 1
resolution, which was modeled after one approved earlier this month in Hannibal, Mo. “The proposed rule would be an unfunded federal mandate and significantly increase cost to the county and its citizens without any additional compensation,” the resolution reads. It would “give the federal agencies defacto zoning authority and thus override the zoning authority granted to the county by the state of Illinois.” Blake Roderick, executive director of Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus, said the proposed rule wouldn’t just affect farmers, but also property owners, counties and other municipalities that need permits. Having county governments take a stand against the proposed rule would “add weight” to the mounting opposition, Roderick said. “The reality is this is a political issue,” he said. “When you start getting political entities, government entities, to oppose this, the politicians have to start taking note of that.” Brown and Scott County Farm Bureaus are also working with their county boards to get a resolution passed.
the shallow ditches are along roads, less than 3 feet deep and dry 90 percent of the year. It is ridiculous and laughable to consider any of these as navigable waters. My forefathers immigrated to this country to escape oppressive governments. Now we find ourselves in America, the land of the free, being oppressed and overregulated because people in Washington, D.C., think they know everything and can do it better than the private sector. You are wrong!! Voluntary practices work, and they work very well. They were never intended to be turned into regulations. This is an overstepping of the EPA’s legal authority granted under the Clean Water Act and an intrusion of our private property rights. Carson Everett, Albion I have farmed in Edwards County, Illinois, my entire life. I am heavily involved in conservation practices on
Additional meetings planned
Illinois Farm Bureau plans to conduct two additional meetings next month to help farmers better understand the proposed rule redefining “waters of the U.S.” Both sessions will be held Sept. 9 in southern Illinois. Johnson, Massac, PulaskiAlexander and Union County Farm Bureaus will host a meeting at 8 a.m. in the River Room of the Shawnee Community College, 8364 College Road, Ullin. All are welcome, but members interested should RVSP by Aug. 29 to 618-745-9429. Williamson County Farm Bureau will host a meeting at 7 p.m. at John A. Logan Com-
my farm. Without these practices, I would not be able to produce food to feed livestock or the world. I have learned about the conservation projects I use through various seminars and classes. They are voluntary, and were never intended to be regulated. I use them, so I can produce the best crop that I can on the land that I farm. It is ridiculous to consider the water that moves across my fields as “waters of the United States.” This water comes from the Lord above and has the potential to land anywhere in the world. I do not know when, where and how much it will rain, and neither do you. To say that this water is navigable and belongs to the United States is far from the truth. If your proposed new rules go into effect, I will be severely impacted. On the average year, the majority of my ground floods in the spring. I plant my crops as soon as the ground allows me. If I have to get a permit to do my pre-plant work, I will not be able to get
munity College, 700 Logan College Dr., Carterville. Members from neighboring counties can attend. Call 618-9932609 to RSVP. Lauren Lurkins, director of natural and environmental resources, will provide an overview of the proposal and explain how it will affect Illinois farmers. Lurkins and Adam Nielsen, director of national legislation and policy development, traveled the state earlier this month informing farmers about what the rule means to their operations. More than 650 farmers attended meetings. — Deana Stroisch
my crops planted in a timely manner when Mother Nature allows. I also believe 90 percent of my ground will not be able to be farmed because it is too near to conservation projects or ditches that will now fall under your jurisdiction and “no farm zones.”
Your turn
Illinois Farm Bureau encourages members to submit comments to the Environmental Protection Agency before the Oct. 20 deadline. Members who would like help writing comments can send a draft to either Lauren Lurkins llurkins@ ilfb.org or Adam Nielsen anielsen@ ilfb.org. Farmers who have already written and submitted comments can email a copy to Andrew Larson at alarson@ilfb.org.
Keeping up with rootworms: Scientists adapting strategies
Page 5 • Monday, August 25, 2014 • FarmWeek
BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Farmers heard sobering insights about western corn rootworms during the recent University of Illinois Agronomy Day. “My sense is the insects adapt to anything we put out there. If we’re careful, we can manage the resistance,” said Joe Spencer, a researcher with the Illinois Natural History Survey. Spencer described his work to find and confirm western corn rootworm resistance to Bt corn in Illinois. Researchers already confirmed resistance in Henry, LaSalle, McDonough, Mercer, Sangamon and Whiteside counties. Spencer said he’s waiting to confirm possible resistance to Bt corn in Ford, Kankakee and Livingston counties in the next couple of months. He described seeing “severely damaged” Bt fields that had been “rotated religiously.” U of I research trials are testing different rootworm management practices at university research farms in DeKalb, Monmouth, Perry and Urbana, said Nicholas Tinsley, U of I post-doc research associate. He described the rootworm pressure as “significant” this year at Monmouth. Each year, researchers evaluate soil-applied insecticides, Bt hybrids and combinations of both. “Soil insecticides generally reduced damage, but insecticides on top of pyramid hybrids does not pay off,” Tinsley said. Spencer added to Tinsley’s warning: “Don’t use Bt trait (hybrids) and soil insecticides. You will stretch out the time and delay emergence of beetles.” That delay makes it less likely to result in desired nonresistant offspring from the mating of nonresistant beetles with those that are resistant, he explained. “If you have a Bt trait that isn’t working, don’t use that trait,” Spencer said. Spencer and other researchers are studying farmers’ management practices and evaluating options for corn growers. “We need to adopt long-term strategies and put our IPM (integrated pest management) hats on,” Spencer concluded.
Two Illinois farms receive USDA value-added grants Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week two Illinois farms joined 245 businesses sharing $25 million in Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grants. The grants may be used for a wide range of purposes. Farmers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into value-added products, expanding marketing opportunities and developing new uses for existing products. Kilgus Farmstead Inc. of Fairbury will receive $200,000. The money will be
used to expand the farm’s value-added products to include on-farm raised beef, pork and goat meat. The expansion is expected to create two new jobs. Rustic Road Farms LLC of Elburn will receive $141,079. Marc and Luis Bernard, farm owners and operators, will use the money to raise and distribute sustainably grown fruits, vegetables and honey. They also will custom process meat from hogs, chickens and turkeys. The expansion is expected to create four new jobs.
New herbicide handbook available
Need to refresh your knowledge about the latest herbicides? The Weed Science Society of America just released its 10th edition of the Herbicide Handbook. First published more than three decades ago, the handbook offers comprehensive information on more than 230 herbicides currently available in the U.S. It includes physical properties, mode of action, solubility, toxicity to humans and wildlife, binding properties and much more. A glossary includes definitions of technical terms and acronyms, a conversion table for measurements, lists of adjuvants that improve herbicide performance, and an updated genealogy of agrichemical companies that reflects how the industry has changed through the years. The Herbicide Handbook can be ordered at {psfebus.allen press.com/wssa/Products/BookStore.aspx}. The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment.
University of Illinois crop science researcher Ross Bender, center, explains a demonstration fertigation system similar to one recently installed underground on the U of I crop sciences research farm, Urbana. Bender told Agronomy Day participants 32 miles of dripper line and 4 miles of PVC pipe form a new subsurface irrigation system being studied. (Photo by Kay Shipman)
U of I studying subsurface fertigation impacts Delivering the needed amount of nutrients during optimum times for growing corn and soybeans requires thinking out of the box. On the University of Illinois crop research farm in Urbana, that thinking went under the ground. A new subsurface drip irrigation system sprouted on 10 acres, involving 32 miles of dripper line and 4 miles of PVC pipe 16 inches below the surface, said Ross Bender, a crop research assistant. Bender described his research recently during Agronomy Day. “Not all nutrients are accumulated (by crops) at the same rate and the same time, but drip irrigation helps,” Bender said. He highlighted the benefits of a subsurface drip system, which is low flow, low pressure
and high efficiency. About 30 percent less water is needed in that system compared to a pivot irrigation system, according to Bender. Fertigation applies liquid fertilizer in irrigation water. At the U of I, the system delivers filtrated water with prescribed nutrients directly into the root microenvironment during periods of optimum uptake. Bender noted his goal is significant yield increases. Subsurface fertigation offers nutrient management benefits, he pointed out. Nutrients taken up by crops from the root zone minimize losses from fields and movement into surface water. For more information on fertigation or other crop research, visit {cropphysiology.cropsci. illinois.edu}. — Kay Shipman
Researchers assess crops’ nutrient needs Does raising corn and soybean yields require science, a system or a combination of both? Fred Below, University of Illinois plant physiology professor, recently promoted his “high tech package” for improving yields during Agronomy Day on the U of I crop research farm, Urbana. During the last five years, Below’s high tech system averaged 48 bushels more compared with standard corn practices, he reported. During the last two years, his high tech system for soybeans yielded an additional 9.9 bushels in 2012 and 6.3 bushels last year. Higher “corn yields is a system approach you need to plan to carry through,” he said. Below’s recommendations for corn included fertilizer that provides multiple nutrients and improved placement, such as banding under the row at planting or sidedressing; selecting biotech hybrids that show greater response to crop management; higher plant populations along with narrower
rows; and applying a foliar fungicide to control leaf diseases. Having tested his components individually and together in different combinations, Below said the synergy of the five proved the strongest factor. “The (yield) loss from
‘The (yield) loss from omitting one is greater than the gain from including it.’ — Fred Below University of Illinois plant physiology professor
omitting one is greater than the gain from including it,” he added. Below reasoned that growing conditions vary each year, and farmers can’t predict which of the five components would be most valuable so they should include all of them. For
example, last year plant population and narrow rows made the biggest impact, Below said, adding he thought that would prove true again this year. His soybean high tech system included band applications of fertilizer at planting; complete seed treatments including a fungicide, insecticide and nematicide; planting the longest maturity group variety possible for the farmer’s region; spraying fungicide and insecticide for foliar disease and insect protection; and narrow rows. However, Emerson Nafziger, U of I crop science professor, rejected the idea of applying nitrogen to boost soybean yields. That idea has existed for about 50 years and “almost without exception, it doesn’t show increased yields,” Nafziger said. He pointed to his own research trials. Of 22 nitrogen trials in soybeans during the last four years, only one case showed a yield increase and that measured 6 bushels, he said. — Kay Shipman
FarmWeek • Page 6 • Monday, August 25, 2014 Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: After going six weeks with only .6 of an inch of rain, the sky opened, and we ended up with nearly 4 inches. We started out with .5 of an inch on Monday night (Aug. 18), then it started raining again Friday morning. We had a nice steady soaking rain that averaged about 3.5 inches. That will certainly help the corn and beans that were starting to dry up. We sprayed several fields of beans for soybean aphids last week before the rain. Hopefully, this rain will wash the rest of them off. Have a good week. Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: It was a wet week in Lake County. We received 1.5 inches of rain on Monday (Aug. 18) and another 1 inch on Thursday, and .5 of an inch Thursday night. Corn is looking fair to good; beans are looking good. Lawns and pastures look great for mid-August. Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: Scattered thundershowers on Thursday left .5 of an inch of rain at our farm. Too little, too late for many of the sandy soils. Growing degree units now at 2,200, about 350 less than the 10-year average. Corn is in the dough stage with about 15 percent dented. Soybeans have many three-bean pods to fill. I’m seeing a lot of deer damage on leaves in the soybeans and ears being ripped off cornstalks. Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: Vacations are a lot of fun, but it’s nice to be back home. The mountains and trees in the Rockies are breathtaking, but nothing can compare to the endless fields of corn and soybeans waving in the wind. Except for a couple of tenths on Thursday, it has been way too long since we’ve received a good rain. Soybeans seem to be showing the most stress, especially on some of the lighter soils. Insects have been almost nonexistent in soybeans and corn. The biggest problem for corn is the lack of nitrogen on some side hills, and it stayed too wet the first half of the summer. Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: Rain has been lacking for the last month, although I had 3.5 inches of rain down in Henderson County midweek. Corn has been affected, and the county yield will likely be below the state average. There are some aphids around in corn and soybeans. Soybeans have some time yet to take advantage of additional rain. Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: The big cracks in the ground are now closed. We received 4.7 inches of rain last week with 2.75 inches coming in an hour and a half, which was too fast for the ground to soak all of it up. A few days after the rain, sudden death and white mold started to be noticeable in many soybean fields here. I am not sure we will have that record soybean crop everyone is talking about. The corn is all dented now and starting to dry out the husks. The rain will help put some more weight in the kernels. The streams filled up for a few days, but now it looks like we will run out of water soon. The time to bring the cattle home is just around the corner. Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: Scattered showers moved through the area last week bringing close to a tenth or two. That’s the most rain we’ve received in one event the entire month. Some corn might be too far gone, but the soybeans will benefit. Some of the crop is really suffering. Soybeans are dying due to sudden death. The top end left weeks ago. Hopefully, this week we will get some good rain. Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: We are starting to need rain pretty badly. We did get some rain, but it varied quite a bit in the county. Any rain is a help to the corn, but mostly the beans. Many are starting to look at getting their hail fields figured out, which has been interesting. The adjusters mentioned that hail doesn’t usually show up this late in the season, so they are having trouble deciding on a fair settlement for us. There is a little white mold in our beans as well as some sudden death syndrome, and anthracnose in our cornfields. Most people are working on their equipment and getting ready for fall.
Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: After six weeks of no substantial rain, we finally received 2.5 inches last week. We got so used to looking at .1 to .2 of an inch in our gauges that my neighbor said he could tell how much it rained or didn’t rain without even looking at the gauge. Looks like this was a good year to spray fungicides on our corn to keep it healthy as leaf diseases are showing up in some unsprayed fields. Soybeans have been at a standstill, but now have enough moisture to fill pods. This rain was in the nick of time. Elevators are getting empty and gearing up to handle this crop as it will come to them fast. Some producers are hoping for a bump in old-crop prices if anyone has any grain left to sell. Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: Our dry spell ended Friday morning. We received 1.7 inches here at home, and it was still raining as I sent in my report. Corn development ranges from R4, or dough stage, up to R5, or dent stage. The most developed corn has the milk line one third of the way down the kernel. The range in soybean development is between R5, beginning seed, and R6, full seed stage. Corn has begun robbing the stalk to fill the ear in many fields. Soybean fields are having more waterhemp and other weeds popping up above the soybean canopy. The local closing prices for Aug. 21 were nearby corn, $3.51; new-crop corn, $3.31; nearby soybeans, $12.63; new-crop soybeans, $10.04. Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: We received .4 of an inch of rain Friday, besting the last rain of more than .1 of an inch in this area on July 13. Crops still look good. Our local Heartland Bank branch yield tour showed a range of 200 to 267 bushels per acre with an average of 240 bushels per acre using 90,000 for kernels/bushel. Ear size is similar in all fields, and high populations are of great benefit. Soybeans could use a rain to help fill pods. Disease is taking hold. GDU’s remain 130 below average, but solar radiation has helped crop development. Corn, $3.63, new, $3.45; soybeans, $12.93, new, $10.11; wheat, $4.90. Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: Bin-busting yield tours dominated the area ag news last week. Topflight Grain in Piatt County found an average 210 bushels per acre in its territory. Cisco area topped the tour with 243, and Pierson was lowest at 185 bushels per acre. Tour participants found an average of 55 soybean pods per plant compared to last year’s 32. Cisco led the pod count with 68 pods per plant. Premier Co-op of Champaign found an average of 221 bushels per acre with all areas averaging more than 200. Thomasboro was highest at 257 bushels per acre, while Elliott was lowest at 203. Also, Seymour farmer Chris Karr is again Champion Illinois State Fair Hog Caller with his GPS (Good Pig Signal). So, if you need a hog caller, you know who to contact! Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: Greetings to all who stayed home to do the many catch-up jobs this past week, and enjoy the nearly ideal temperatures along with about 2.3 inches of rain. Most fields still look good, although some corn on the lighter soils is starting to fire. The raccoons must have thought the sweet corn was ready to devour as our corn disappeared about one day before we were going to try it. I think soybeans put on an extra growth spurt and may be the surprise of the year, weather permitting. Still some working with hay and general mowing. So, be careful and extra observant of those big yellow buses as the little ones begin yet another school year.
Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: We received 1.9 inches of rain in one day last week, which was a nice change to the heat and humidity we have been having. Weed mowing and string trimming was a bad thing to put off until this week. Sudden death syndrome is showing up in the earliestplanted soybeans. The milk line is halfway down the corn with no black layer yet. Corn is showing some diplodia. Tom Ritter, Blue Mound, Macon County: Since the last report, we had a little more than an inch of rain. For the most part, everyone received some rain, and we are at very adequate moisture levels. The crop is starting to dull down, and we are starting to see some drying in the lower leaves and brown shucks beginning to appear on the corn. Soybeans are still a long way off. Overall, farmers are very optimistic on crop prospects, and it could be one of the best years we’ve ever had. Farmers are busy trying to prepare storage and gearing up equipment. It is probably going to be a long harvest, since it will be a large harvest and could entail some long waits at the elevator. Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: We finally had some heat creep in last week along with .25 to .5 of an inch of rain. Cornstalks are starting to dry up on the lower leaves; some up to the ear. The run to maturity has started, but black layer will be in the first week of next month at best. Soybean fields are still a pretty green, and loving this precipitation and heat. Good bean potential is still in our sights, and the forecast seems to be in our favor. Next week will bring the Farm Bureau/U of I yield tour in Coles County. It will be interesting to see what comes out of it. Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: We had .7 to 3 inches of rain in the area in a couple of different rain events. The Farm Bureau yield tour took place, and the county average was 211.5. Kernel size seems to be smaller than what I expected. The beans are growing, flowering and podding again. They are enjoying the moisture. Harvest is backed up because of the cooler temperatures. The markets don’t seem to be helping us too much; it’s still a roller coaster ride. I hope you have a plan in place and a place to store your crop. Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: It’s finally warming up. It should help with maturity of corn and pod fill. We had about 2.5 inches of rain in August. Beans have a lot of pods; they just need to fill. Some sudden death syndrome is showing up in the beans, and northern leaf blight along with southern rust and gray leaf spot in the corn, but it’s mostly in the lower leaves, which should not affect yield. Harvest looks to be at least three weeks off. Capacity to hold the abundant crop should be interesting. Most elevators are empty and processors are low, too, according to basis. Be safe, and thanks to all who say they enjoy reading our reports. David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: We received 2.5 inches of rain since last report. At this point in the corn crop, I’m not sure what the rain is doing for it, if anything, but maybe slowing up the maturity process, especially in the early corn. Recent rains have definitely put bushels on the soybean crop. They keep growing, and putting more blooms and pods on. The county crop tour is next week, so I will give some projected yields then. In our immediate area, the corn crop is not quite as big as some may think or are expecting. Stay safe. Jeff Guilander, Jerseyville, Jersey County: I hate to say it, but we really needed the heat. Corn is finally starting to show signs of maturing, especially in the early varieties. Soybeans, on the other hand, are just dying. Sudden death is showing up in almost every field. It looks like it will take the top end yields out of some fields, while others look to lose 20 percent plus. The worst looks to be in the mid and early full-season varieties. With all the fees and technology agreements I have to pay and sign to plant beans, it is odd how fast they become my beans when they get sudden
Page 7 • Monday, August 25, 2014 • FarmWeek death. Hopefully, they won’t get much worse. Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: Last week, summer heat returned, pushing temperatures up to the mid-90s along with higher humidity levels. I collected another 1.5 inches of rain. With the forecast of warmer temps, alfalfa growers have been busy cutting their hay fields, confident they will have it dried and baled before the next passing rain. Farmers with beef and dairy cattle are chopping corn silage as ground conditions will allow. The double-cropped soybeans and milo have been adding growth to the plants. The soybean plants are blooming and setting pods, while the milo plants are about to extend seed heads. Local grain bids are corn, $3.73; soybeans, $12.05; wheat, $4.55. Have a good week. Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: Sorry I missed last week, but I was treading water. We ended up with 4.25 inches of rain the weekend of Aug. 17. Some of the small creeks got out of their banks and covered the beans with mud. Don’t think I have ever seen that in August. I’ve never seen it so green in August. With the next few days predicted at 95-plus degrees, in another week, we will be in a drought on this southern Illinois dirt, though.
Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: A general and slow rain moved through the area Saturday afternoon/night (Aug. 16) and Sunday morning, leaving 1.5 inches with isolated areas receiving up to 4 inches. Moderate temperatures have given crops a boost. Farmers have been attending field days, going to fairs, cleaning out grain bins and repairing machinery in preparation for harvest. Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Rainfall amounts of 2.5 to 3 inches have fallen here. Some areas have received more with some fields receiving enough to flood low areas. Edwards County had its yield tour last week, and the county average was 157 bushels per acre. Wabash County’s yield tour is Monday (Aug. 25). The ears I have looked at in my fields look good, but my white corn had some diplodia on the ear tips. Double-cropped beans are growing nicely, but so is the waterhemp.
Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: Well, all the pleasant temps we had this summer — where are you now? The highs last week were in the mid90s with a heat index in the triple digits, but we need the heat units. With the rain early last week, the crop is doing well. North of us received a lot of flash flooding with hundreds of acres of corn and beans under water; up to, and over the ears in some areas. Corn is starting to turn and sudden death syndrome is showing up in early-planted beans. Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: Well, we are back to summer here in southern Illinois with highs in the mid to upper 90s. We received an inch of rain this past week, so moisture is not a problem right now. It appears corn harvest will be later than usual this year. I feel it is probably two to three weeks away. Soybeans continue to show promise, but they still have a long way to go. This last rain sure helped the beans. Please remember to be careful as we start to get into the busy harvest season.
Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy: What’s in a name?
When it comes to nutrient management, the inclusion of a small, four-letter word makes all the difference when it comes to the impression left on the person not involved in agriculture. The inclusion of a fourletter word ch a n g e s t h e Howard Brown m e a n i n g o f the name from reduction in use to improvement in utilization. The word is “loss” and the name referred to is the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. The plan was initiated at the request of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency under the guidance of Mark David, Ph.D., BY HOWARD BROWN
University of Illinois natural resources and environmental sciences professor, and significant input from many other agrelated and environmental organizations. The purpose of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is to provide Illinois farmers with management practices that will help minimize the loss of nutrients from the field into offtarget natural resources, such as water and air. The inclusion of the word “loss” differentiates Illinois’ plan from adjacent states. Although other strategies were also developed to reduce nutrient loading in surface and ground water, it is only the Illinois plan’s title that reflects reducing loss as the purpose. A trivial fact? I think not. The title leaves the impression that Illinois farmers can mini-
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mize nutrient loading through improved utilization, not reducing rate of application. The title leaves the impression that Illinois farmers can strive for higher sustainable crop yields through increased nutrient utilization, not to reduce nutrient use and accept current crop yields. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy will soon be released for final public comment. It is the hope of all involved with bringing the plan together that farmers will take a serious look at how to include the various management tools to improve utilization of nutrients and minimize loss. It is the hope of all invested in this plan that farmers will take a serious look at it and offer comments to make it better. Not all listed management
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Reports received Friday morning. Expanded crop and weather information available at FarmWeekNow.com.
practices will be practical for adoption on every field. Not all listed management plans will make sense to every farmer. The purpose of the plan is to provide a “toolbox” of management practices and their associated impact on nutrient loading. Coupling some of the practices listed with a systemsapproach to nitrogen management will provide an increase in harvest yield while minimizing environmental impact. For more information about creating a nitrogen management system, visit with your local FS crop specialist. In addition, ask about N-WATCH , a new management tool to monitor the dynamics of plant-available nitrogen in the soil. The world has a fast-growing population. It is estimated that ®
current grain production will need to double to meet the demands of the estimated population growth by 2050. The focus needs to be on Minimizing environmental impact to sustain or improve natural resources for the generations to come. The focus need to be on Optimizing harvest yields to feed the world’s growing population and improving farm profitability. The focus needs to be on Maximizing nutrient utilization to reduce the use of unnecessary farm inputs and the risk of off-site nutrient movement. The focus needs to be on M.O.M. What better place to focus our attention. Howard Brown serves as GROWMARK’s director of nutrient management and environmental sustainability. His email address is hbrown@grow mark.com.
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Central Illinois farmers focusing on soil health FarmWeek • Page 8 • Monday, August 25, 2014
National 4R award winner BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Morgan County farmer John Werries focuses on his soil’s health while adapting technology and new ideas for his farm near Chapin. Earlier this year, Werries, who operates Werries Farms LLC with his son, Dean, received a nationwide award for nutrient stewardship. Werries and Chris VonHolten of Walnut were two of five farmers nationwide to win a 4R advocate award from The Fertilizer Institute. The 4R program involves using the right fertilizer source at the right rate and right time with the right placement. “They’re progressive leaders in the field, willing to try things to improve the soil health, to increase productivity in an environmentally sound way,” said Verne “Tinker” Bader of Helena Chemical Co., formerly Bader Agricultural Service, Meredosia. Bader nominated Werries for the award.
The Werries grow 90 percent corn and 10 percent soybeans on 3,800 acres. Their farming system and nutrient management combine to produce consistent yields, Bader noted. Last year, the whole farm averaged a corn yield of 234 bushels per acre. Bader described the Werries as innovators who were early users of no-till and later added strip-till, multiple nutrient applications and cover crops. “It’s fun to be part of farming and people who want to try different things, so we can be on the cutting edge, too,” Bader said. Early farm technology adopters run in the family. Werries noted his father, Leland, had one of the area’s first chisel plows. Today the Werries favor strip-till for erosion control. “We do things to make strip-till corn after corn work,” Werries added. Crop nitrogen needs are handled in five applications. In the fall, dry fertilizer is broadcast after the combine and anhydrous is applied when strips are made. In the spring, pop-up fertilizer with zinc is applied; a pre-emergence
“weed and feed” is sprayed; and nitrogen is side-dressed after the corn emerges. “Corn after corn requires more nitrogen,” Werries said. “We got to the point when we knew we couldn’t apply that much nitrogen in the fall ... too much risk to lose it. That’s why we decided to spread applications over five times.” Cover crops help control erosion and improve soil health on Werries’ farm. He sows annual ryegrass through late September then switches to cereal rye, which will grow in cooler temperatures, on the remaining fields. They continue to adapt their cover crop system. In the fall of 2012, the Werries were able to get everything sowed with their air seeder. Due to the late harvest in 2013, they had 1,100 acres of their last-planted corn aerial seeded in the first week of September, but didn’t get a very good stand on those acres. However, they are going to try some again this fall, but plan to have it flown on by Aug. 25. Keeping an eye out for new technology and information
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keeps Werries busy. “I read a lot; I study; I go to cover crop and no-till meetings,” he said. “There are things coming in prescription planting — very neat things coming.” “John is into far ming and into the environment and trying to do things
right,” Bader said. “Our soil in the Midwest is our biggest asset,” Werries concluded.
FarmWeek will feature Chris VonHolten’s nutrient management system in a future article.
Olivia Telgmann of Strasburg, in blue shirt, shows her Illinois State Fair Junior Supreme Champion. During the closing days of the fair, Telgmann and her Holstein cow nabbed the last junior grand champion honor bestowed. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)
Superior young dairy producers named Five Illinois young dairy producers each received a $1,000 scholarship at the Illinois State Fair. Thirty-one 4H and FFA dairy project members competed for the scholarships. Winners included Logan Kimmel of Bloomington (McLean County), Kaylen Miller of Orangeville (Stephenson County), Jordon Oellerich of Lena (Stephenson County), Ashten Smithson of Farina (Fayette County) and Alex Walden of Mode (Shelby County). The educational contest promotes youth development, career development and personal growth through increased knowledge of the dairy industry. The threephase competition involves a dairy management test, a three-station skill-a-thon and
a judging contest. Archer Daniels Midland of Decatur sponsors the scholarships. The top three individuals in each phase of the competition and the top five overall winners received plaques sponsored by Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association and the Illinois State Fair. This year marked the 19th consecutive competition for the Superior Young Dairy Producer Award Program, which has provided $95,000 in college scholarships to Illinois dairy youth since its inception. Participants must be current 4-H or FFA dairy project members in Illinois. The program is developed and coordinated by Dave Fischer, retired University of Illinois Extension dairy educator.
IFB members named 50 under 50 leaders
Kate Danner of Roseville and Grant Noland of Decatur joined a list of 50 young farm leaders under age 50 recognized by Agri-Pulse. An Aug. 11 FarmWeek story featured Danner, 25, of Roseville. She raises corn and soybeans with her father, and serves as an Illinois Soybean Association Soy Ambassador. The White House recently recognized Danner as a Champion of Change in Agriculture. Noland, 30, represents an eight-generation farmer and serves as a district director on the Illinois Corn Growers Association board. He was recently selected to the 2016 Illinois Agricultural Leadership Class. Noland raises corn and soybeans. He and his wife have a young son and daughter. Agri-Pulse is an online agricultural newsletter.
Adopted lawmaker brings teen group to Clark County Clark County Farm Bureau leaders recently hosted their adopted legislator, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa� Hernandez, DCicero, and high school students from her district for an educational trip. Hernandez made her fourth trip to Clark County since she was adopted in 2007 and sponsored a second youth trip, giving 20 suburban teens a chance to experience farming and farm life. The group first toured Brad Daugherty’s row crop farm, learned about corn and soybean farming and climbed into a tractor and combine. AgriGold seed production specialists discussed crop inputs, different types of corn, and uses for corn and soybeans. The students asked many questions about GMO crops. They learned about
BY CHRISTINA NOURIE
the differences between GMO and nonGMO crops and the benefits of GMO seeds. During lunch, Hernandez and Daugherty talked with the students about legislation recently considered in the General Assembly related to food labels and GMO ingredients. The representative reminded students about the importance of being educated about both sides of an issue, and to take advantage of farm tours and speak directly with farmers so they better understand how food is grown. After lunch, the group saw cows being milked on the McCoy family dairy in nearby Crawford County. Matt McCoy described animal care, including feeding and housing. The group also discussed the issue of tail docking and why some farmers do that to promote cow cleanliness,
Americans remain wary investors, survey reports Despite a rebounding stock market, many Americans remain wary of investing. According to the latest COUNTRY Financial Security Index survey, 51 percent of Americans said they do not invest in the stock or bond markets. For those who do not invest, 56 percent cited not having enough money as the biggest obstacle. Americans also note distrust of the stock and bond markets (12 percent) and not knowing how to get started (11 percent) as prominent barriers. The 45 percent who invest remain focused on the future and regularly check their investments. For example, 88 percent said they invest to improve long-term savings. About 78 percent said they review their portfolios at least quarterly.
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Page 9 • Monday, August 25, 2014 • FarmWeek
Josh Scott of AgriGold, left, discusses corn production with Cicero visitors on Brad Daugherty’s farm. Looking on left to right are Clark County Farm Bureau manager Tony Trimble, state Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, and members of her youth group. Clark County Farm Bureau recently hosted Hernandez and the teens on an educational tour. (Photo by Christina Nourie)
udder health and improve milk quality. The students saw newborn calves, and learned about the breeding process and baby calf care. Ethanol production provided the final destination. While touring the Lincoln-
land Agri-Energy ethanol plant, students learned how ethanol is made and used. The teens also learned dried distillers grain, a byproduct of ethanol production, is fed to livestock as a high protein feed. The students, who
belong to a youth group sponsored by Hernandez, plan to organize a tour of the Cicero area for farmers in December.
Christina Nourie serves as Illinois Farm Bureau northeast legislative coordinator.
Agriculture could be biggest user of UAV technology FarmWeek • Page 10 • Monday, August 25, 2014
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Most farmers 10 to 20 years ago probably never thought they’d own a tractor that drives itself. But, now, auto steer allows farmers to do just that, and the technology seems commonplace in the industry these days. A similar transformation could occur in the ag industry
in the next decade as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could revolutionize the industry, according to Michael Toscano, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Toscano met with participants of the Illinois Farm Bureau Marketers to Washington trip this month to discuss the use of UAVs and possible
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) lands on top of a tractor cab during spring planting. Farmers are finding more and more uses for UAVs. (Photo courtesy of Chad Colby, AgTechTalk)
You Can Help Shape The Future
future applications of the technology in agriculture. “You are the ideal users of this technology,” Toscano told IFB members. “This is just like when farmers went from the horse to a tractor. You can do things in a more effective and efficient way.” Farmers currently use UAVs to view their fields during key points in the growing season and after major weather events. But federal regulations restrict most in the ag industry from using UAVs for commercial purposes. If U.S. skies are opened to UAVs for commercial purposes, Toscano believes key uses of the technology could include crop scouting, crop disease detection and management, and even crop damage assessment for insurance purposes as cameras and sensors on the vehicles can detect the photosynthesis of individual plants. UAVs also could be used by livestock producers to monitor their herds from any location at any time of day or night. “We predict agriculture will be the biggest commercial market (for UAVs),” Toscano said. “This technology is coming on fast and furious. It
Michael Toscano, left, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, discusses the many applications of UAVs for farmers with David Wessel, right, a farmer from Chandlerville (Cass-Morgan counties). Toscano met with participants of the Illinois Farm Bureau Marketers to Washington trip this month at the American Farm Bureau Federation home office. (Photo by Daniel Grant)
has tremendous potential.” Toscano predicts economic benefits of UAVs could average $8 billion annually within the first 10 years of commercial operations. One of the prime uses of UAVs to date involves military applications, such as surveillance and for weapon delivery. “The commercial market will dwarf the military market within 10 years,” Toscano said. He prefers the systems are
referred to as UAVs and not drones. “We don’t call them drones,” Toscano said. “The craft is only 30 percent of the system. More importantly, there’s a human involved,” who operates the craft and gathers information from a separate location. University of Texas researchers recently estimated more than 300 applications of UAVs exist for agriculture. And that number could accelerate in coming years.
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Lack of regs grounds UAVs from many farm uses Page 11 • Monday, August 25, 2014 • FarmWeek
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Farmers and agronomists could take the world of crop scouting to new heights, literally, once the federal government launches new regulations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Unfortunately, it appears the regulatory process could stall the commercial use of UAVs until 2017. Participants of the Illinois Farm Bureau Marketers to Washington trip last week met with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and representatives of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) to discuss the use of UAVs in agriculture. “This technology allows you to do things more efficiently and effectively,” Michael Toscano, president and CEO of AUVSI, told IFB members. “Unfortunately, the technology has outpaced the regulatory side.” Congress in 2012 directed FAA to integrate unmanned aircraft into regulations by 2015. FAA, however, plans to complete a draft rule by the end of the year fol-
‘The FAA is not motivated to allow UAVS. They see it as a risk.’ — Ben Gielow AUVSI general counsel
lowed by a 60- to 90-day public comment period. Once all the comments (estimates suggest there could be about 50,000) are taken into account, it then will take another 16 months or so to finalize a rule. That would put the introduction of new UAV regs on pace for 2017. “The FAA is not motivated to allow UAVs,” said Ben Gielow, senior government relations manager and general counsel of AUVSI. “They see it as a risk.” Jim Williams, manager of FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, confirmed it could be
another couple years before UAV regs are finalized. But he noted one of the speed bumps in the process revolves around the fact Congress classified all UAVs as aircraft. The use of UAVs, therefore, has been limited to hobby/recreational use below 400 feet or by licensed pilots. Ag companies also can apply for a waiver to the rule in order to use UAVs for commercial purposes prior to 2017, or whenever the rules are finalized. In the meantime, farmers can fly UAVs over their fields. But the UAVs must remain in the line of sight and can’t be used for commercial purposes.
Those who use UAVs for commercial purposes without a pilot’s license or FAA waiver could be subject to a $10,000 fine. “The FAA is not going to go out looking for farmers operating UAVs over their fields,” Williams said. “But if someone sets up a business (or deducts the purchase of a UAV on their taxes as a business expense), we’ll go talk to them about that.” FAA plans to ask Congress to bypass regulations for vehicles operated below a certain height, Williams noted. If adopted, that type of language could clear the way for expanded uses of UAVs in agriculture. “We see that as very low risk, high reward,” Williams said of farm uses for UAVs. “It’s one of our priorities.” Some of those not in favor of permitting commercial use of UAVs include some pilot groups, who want all fliers to obtain a pilot’s license, and some ag aviators, who view UAVs as a threat to the aerial application business as well as a potential danger to low-flying crop dusters.
Purdue research: Cover crops make stover more sustainable
Farmers growing cover crops may remove much more corn stover per acre for biofuels or other uses and at the same time potentially increase their income, according to Purdue University research. Research points to cover crops as a way to protect soil and add value. Using cover crops, farmers may sustainably remove 1.8 tons more stover per acre than they otherwise would remove, according to the researchers. “The most important finding is that the added revenue from stover removal likely would be enough to pay the costs of a cover crop, in most cases,” said Wally Tyner, co-director of the Purdue Center for Research on Energy Systems and Policy. Stover has long been a promising source of biofuel, but harvesting too much stover strips the soil of nutrients and health. The research is detailed in a Purdue Extension publication “Synergies Between Cover Crops and Corn Stover Removal,” by Tyner and Michelle Pratt of the agricultural economics department; David J. Muth Jr. of Praxik Inc. of Ames, Iowa; and Eileen J. Kladivko, a Purdue agronomist. The research tested whether revenue from stover sales can pay for cover crop costs. The scientists also analyzed the benefits of different cover crops and cover
crop mixtures for farmers who receive agronomic benefits, and for those who remove and sell corn stover. “If you have a cover crop, it provides some of the same soil retention, organic matter buildup and other benefits as keeping the stover on the ground. In fact, it provides more,” Tyner said. “So, if there were a viable market for corn stover for biofuels, animal feed or anything else, then the added stover that could be sustainably removed could provide enough revenue to pay for the cover crop costs.” As the government encourages a transition to biofuels, stover removal is likely to increase. By 2022, the U.S. Energy Independence Act requires 16 billion gallons of ethanol-like biofuels to come from renewable fuel sources. These could be derived from corn stover. The researchers considered and modeled various benefits for two kinds of farmers: those who harvest corn stover and those who don’t. Cover crops increase net benefits for both — whether in cash or soil health, even compared with a no-till approach. For farmers who remove and sell the stover, the benefits are financial. Instead of increasing agronomic value, such as soil retention and vitality, the cover crop replaces the corn stover as a protector and
preserver of the soil. In turn, more stover may be removed and sold, then turned into biofuel. Considering cost alone, annual ryegrass provided the greatest potential profits in models, but when nitrogen in the soil was accounted for, crimson clover performed better.
Even farmers who don’t remove corn stover may gain agronomic advantages from cover crops. For instance, crimson clover adds $21.28 worth of nutrients to the soil per acre and increases the soil organic matter by a value of $44.72 an acre. It reduces soil compaction
and erosion, too. The full article, which includes comparisons and benefit-cost analyses of six cover crops and two cover crop mixes for agronomic advantage or corn stover removal, is available at {www.the-educationstore.com}. Search for publication RE-7-W.
N-29W
Iowa cycling tour prepares riders for IAITC Bike Ride
FarmWeek • Page 12 • Monday, August 25, 2014
18th IAITC Bike Ride Sept. 13. He’ll be joined by Bruegermann, a COUNTRY Financial representative based in Mount Zion. “I enjoy doing the IAITC ride because you get to meet old friends and acquaintances and get to meet new people, too,� Reed said. “I like the educational value of talking to the children about where their food comes from. We also talk to them about bike safety.� The IAA Foundation hosts the annual fundraiser to support the IAITC program. Riders can participate for one or
BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Calhoun County Farm Bureau President Robert Reed, center, joins fellow Illinois cyclists, Steve Karcher, left, and Craig Bruegermann on the RAGBRAI, The (Des Moines) Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, in July. Reed and Bruegermann used the seven-day ride across Iowa to prepare for the 19th Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom bike ride. (Photo courtesy Robert Reed)
according to Reed. “I enjoyed visiting the small towns and with the farmers who came to town,� Reed said. Several of the farmers also were cyclists, but didn’t participate in the ride, he added. “The people along the
BIKE RIDE Sept. 1, 2, 3
RAGBRAI are exceptionally nice and friendly,� Reed said. Towns along the route welcome cyclists, and most churches sell meals to hungry riders. Bands provide evening entertainment. Reed said he’s looking forward to participating in his
2014
Add 10,000 bicyclists a day to country scenery and friendly small towns and you grow the nation’s oldest and largest bicycle touring ride. RAGBRAI, The (Des Moines) Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, proved to be great preparation for the upcoming Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) Bike Ride, according to Calhoun County Farm Bureau President Robert Reed. Last month, Reed joined his first RAGBRAI with fellow Illinois cyclists and IAITC Bike Ride alums Steve Karcher and Craig Bruegermann. Reed noted the Iowa ride’s terrain was similar to what he’ll encounter in Stephenson, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle and Winnebago counties. “There were a lot of rolling hills,� he said. RAGBRAI participants are limited to 1,500 day riders and 8,500 weeklong riders whose seven-day route averaged 468 miles. This year, the shortest day ride measured 38.5 miles, while most days ranged between 65 to 80 miles,
Raise funds for IAITC & 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
Cycle to Support
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
Grant & Book Pack to school/library of choice
Grant & Book Pack to school/library of choice
two days, and can choose from routes of 40 or 80 miles. Along each bike route, cyclists stop at schools for educational student assemblies. Registrants who raise $1,000 or more earn a free full ride, a grant and a book pack to a school or library of the rider’s choice; raising $500 earns a 50 percent discount on registration and a free book pack; and riders who raise $250 receive a 25 percent discount on registration. More details are available by visiting {iaafoundation.org} or by calling 309-557-2230.
Reading, writing, futures and options
You don’t need to grow crops or raise livestock to learn about the rewards — and risks — of farming. Chicago-based CME Group and the National 4-H Council teamed up this year to expand exhibits at fairs across Illinois to teach youngsters about managing risks. The effort, called “Commodity Carnival,� has already reached thousands at eight Illinois county fairs and the state fair with more to come. “We’re teaching them how to manage their risks, mitigate their losses and lock in their profits,� said Terry Duffy, CME Group executive chairman and president. “That’s what we think is important to show them.� The lesson uses buckets and a “Risk Ranch� plinko board to explain variables in raising a steer, such as feed costs, veterinary bills, transportation and energy expenses to show what can determine the difference between making and losing money. College student interns traveled across Illinois and 10 other states to staff the exhibit. “We’re giving kids from a wide variety of backgrounds a better understanding of the different steps it takes to raise livestock, being able to understand the different costs that go into it, and when you sell an animal at market you never know what you’re really going to get out of it,� said longtime 4-H’er Buddy Haas of Elburn, who worked at the Illinois State Fair exhibit. “Every kid has walked off with a smile and a stress ball steer in their hand.� To further expand the effort’s reach, CME and 4-H also developed a free, “Risk Ranch� mobile app for smartphones. Android and iPhone users can simply type in “Risk Ranch� in the search function of their smartphone application stores and download it at no cost. Youngsters attending the Du Quoin State Fair in southern Illinois can visit the exhibit through Sept. 1. Its final stop will be the Sandwich Fair in northern Illinois Sept. 3-7. BY MIKE ORSO
Highlights & Basics ~ 3Ph >A ! 3Ph aXST ^_cX^]b ~ 2a^bb R^d]cah aXST =^c P aPRT
Four Routes Available
~ B06 bd__^ac PePX[PQ[T) ?WhbXRP[ \TRWP]XRP[ breakdown, first aid, supplies, snacks, beverages
All routes begin & end in Freeport, IL
~ 5d] TeT]X]V PRcXeXcXTb
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 “Rider Packet� with specific ride information including a fundraising toolkit
Short route approx. 40 miles Long route approx. 80 miles
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
Applications due by Nov. 16
2015
HELMETS REQUIRED NO EXCEPTIONS!
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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 Student Rate Full Ride w/Shared Room** Room**.....$200 Student Rate 1-Day Rider***........................... Rider*** ...........................$55
Registration Fees 19th 19th AAnnual nnual
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Page 13 • Monday, August 25, 2014 • FarmWeek
OOK — Farm Bureau and the University of Illinois Extension will co-host a babysitting class for preteens/teens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Farm Bureau building. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Call the Farm Bureau office at 708-354-3276 to register by Oct. 1. 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 Friday. • 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
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the member appreciation picnic. Call the Farm Bureau office at 8493031 for more information. Proceeds will benefit the scholarship program. OUGLAS — Farm Bureau will host “Burn Powder 4Ag” shoot-out at 9 a.m. Sept. 6 at Olde Barn Sporting Clays, Oakland. Cost is $60. Call the Farm Bureau office at 253-4442 to register or email membership@doug lascfb.com for more information by Friday. ULTON — Farm Bureau will host an onthe-road seminar from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday 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
D F
BUSTOS VISITS DAIRY
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, gets a close look at Holstein cows owned by Doug Scheider of Freeport (Stephenson County) last week. Bustos welcomed the opportunity to get a firsthand look at a dairy in her district. Scheider and his family visited with Bustos about several key issues important to the dairy industry, including “waters of the U.S.,” Section 179 small business expensing and tax impacts related to generational farm transfer. The Scheider’s son, Dan, has joined the farm as a full partner and takes an active role in the management and operation of the farm. (Photo by Ryan Whitehouse, Illinois Farm Bureau associate director of national legislation & policy development)
Tu e s d ay : • Fa r m We e k : “ T h e E a r l y Wo r d ” • Jim Angel, Illinois S t a t e Wa t e r S u r vey : w e a t h e r fo r e c a s t • R i t a Fr a z e r, R F D R a d i o N e t w o r k : r e p o r t i n g l i ve f r o m t h e Fa r m P r o g r e s s S h o w a t S y n g e n t a ex h i b i t in Iowa We d n e s d ay : • S h a n n o n Wo o d w o r t h , D u Q u o i n S t a t e Fa i r m a n a g e r : fa i r s c h e d u l e • Secretary of State J e s s e W h i t e , c a n d i d a t e fo r secretary of state T h u r s d ay : • Nathan Johanning, Unive r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s E x t e n -
sion: 2014 Pumpkin Field D ay • J i m L o ve , fa r m bu s i n e s s a d v i s o r : UAV s a n d robotics in agriculture • H a r r y C o o n ey, G ROWMARK Friday: • Sara Wyant, Agr iPulse • R i t a Fr a z e r, R F D R a d i o : r e p o r t i n g l i ve f r o m G R OW M A R K a n n u a l m e e t ing in Chicago • Duane Mar tin, Syngenta: breeding plants to c o n s e r ve w a t e r • “ H o r s e Ta l k ” To f i n d a r a d i o s t a t i o n near you that carr ies RFD Radio Network, go to Fa r m We e k N o w. c o m , c l i c k o n “ R a d i o,” t h e n c l i c k o n “ A f f i l i a t e s .”
exemptions for covered farm vehicles. Call the Farm Bureau office at 547-3011 for reservations. ASALLE — 2014 Commemorative plat books are available at the Farm Bureau office. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers. ACON — 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 8772436 for more information or to place an order by Friday. • Farm Bureau will accept orders for 12” x 15” Farm Bureau signs. Cost is $10. Visit {maconcfb.org} for an order form by Sept. 30. For more information call 877-2436 or email jennifer@macon cfb.org. EORIA — Farm Bureau will sponsor a photo contest for members, spouses and dependents. Categories will be farm activities,
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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 Friday. • The Equine Committee will sponsor an equine workshop from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Heart of Illinois Arena, Peoria. Speakers will cover when to call a vet, proper hoof care, chiropractic care and equine massage therapy. Call the Farm Bureau office at 686-7070 for more information. T. CLAIR — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor the corn growers test plot tour beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday 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. • The Young Leader Committee will sponsor a shred day
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from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 6 at the Farm Bureau office. ERMILION — Agriculture in the Classroom will host an open house for teachers, principals and anyone interested in learning more about the program and its materials from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 3 and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Farm Bureau office. Call the Farm Bureau office at 442-8713 for more information. ILL — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor a corn and soybean yield demonstration field/agronomy day from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Kiefner Farms, Manhattan. Doug Yoder, Illinois Farm Bureau senior director of affiliate and risk management; Matt Montgomery, Burrus Seed; and Bob Lawless, Syngenta, will speak. Dinner will be served from 4:15 to 6:30 p.m. Call the Farm Bureau office at 7274811 for more information.
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“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.
There’s a difference between field experts and experts in the field. At FS, we’re experts in the field. Our crop specialists are driven to maximize every acre and bring the latest agronomic technologies and innovations to your farm. Whether recommending the appropriate opriate hybrid or varietyy,, nutrient management m for optimum growth, or advice on disease and pest management, our crop specialists are always focused on pointing your operations forward. So, the only thing you’ll be asking FS is, what’’s next?
www w.fssystem.com
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©2013 GROWMARK, Inc. A14141
FarmWeek • Page 14 • Monday, August 25, 2014
Take time to review before season’s final exams
Summer is coming to a close and the younger generation is heading back to school. From grade school through college, students are taught important subjects and then tested to see how much they have learned and retained. Before a big exam, most Lance Ruppert students spend some time reviewing their lessons to prepare and increase their probability of success. As summer ends, the agricultural community is preparing for this growing season’s final exam — harvest. But before we send the combines through the fields, let’s take some time to review what might have affected our final grade. What environmental issues affected this growing season in your area? Was planting date or post spraying affected? Did excess rain damage your plant stands, or did you have just the right amount of rain all season? In many areas, the corn crop looks outstanding and the markets think so, too. As you review, take that final walk through your corn fields and ask some questions. Did the crop run out of nitrogen? Was it due to excessive rain and ponding? How could I manage BY LANCE RUPPERT
my nitrogen differently to minimize loss while maximizing uptake and optimizing yield? Was compaction a detriment to root development? Did I have an ideal population? Could I have planted 10 percent more to take advantage of excess fertility and moisture? Was my weed control adequate? Did I miss a post application of herbicides due to wet weather? Would a pre-emergence residual have helped my weed control and subsequent yields? Did I have high disease pressure? Would a fungicide application have helped my crop finish stronger and yield more? Is
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Results of the latest USDA cattle on feed report reflect an ongoing trend in the industry. Cattle inventory numbers steadily decline as producers slowly rebuild the herd. The number of cattle and calves on feed as of Aug. 1 totaled 9.84 million head, down 2 percent from a year ago, USDA reported Friday. Meanwhile, July placements (1.56 million head) and marketings (1.79 million head) slipped 7 percent and 9 percent, respectively, compared to last year. In fact, the marketings number was the lowest since USDA
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-$64.49 $47.61 40 lbs. (cash) $70.00-$101.00 $78.59 This Week 92,612 *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm
— Lance Ruppert GROWMARK agronomy marketing manager
anthracnose or diplodia currently present? Do I need to manage my harvest according to stalk rot and stalk quality? In your soybean fields,
determine if weed control was effective. Did insects and disease have a negative effect on my crop’s yield potential? There are many questions to review as you prepare for
began the data series in 1996. The drop in cattle numbers likely won’t have a big impact on the market, according to Kevin Good, CattleFax senior analyst/fed cattle market specialist. “The (inventory estimates) really are right in line with (trade) expectations, lower compared to a year ago,” Good told FarmWeek. Good believes the cattle market made its high four weeks ago at around $165 per live hundredweight. Prices in recent weeks inched back to the $152 to $155 range. But profitability in the industry should continue. “The fact that we’re keeping heifers back (for possible herd expansion) and harvesting less cows, the supply side should stay friendly (toward prices) all the way into 2015,” Good said.
U.S. cow slaughter from January through August declined about 14 percent, according to the CME Group’s Daily Livestock Report. However, the drop in domestic beef production has been offset to a degree by beef imports. Entries of imported beef in the U.S. through last week were up 15.6 percent compared to last year, based on U.S. Customs Service data, the Daily Livestock Report noted. The surge in U.S. beef imports likely will make it difficult for Canadian producers to rebuild their herds, though. A semi-annual report released by Statistics Canada this month pegged Canadian July 1 cattle inventory at 13.33 million head, down 21 percent from the last inventory peak in 2005. Looking ahead, Good pre-
Lance Ruppert serves as GROWMARK’s agronomy marketing and IMP manager. His email address is lruppert@growmark.com.
Decline of cattle inventory in line with market expectations
M A R K E T FA C T S
Receipts
‘In many areas, the corn crop looks outstanding and the markets think so, too. As you review, take the final walk through your corn fields and ask some questions.’
the final exam. But remember, when the final exam is over, you have no way of going back and reviewing the potential reasons why you earned the grade you received. Engage your local crop specialist to take that final walk with you. Together, you can ask tough questions and start preparing a plan for improving your chances of earning a higher grade on next year’s final exam.
Last Week 67,081
dicts U.S. cattle producers will place more calves on feed due to lower corn values/cheaper feed prices.
LADYBUGS TEACH AG LESSON
Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live
(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week Change $94.22 $102.77 - $8.55 $69.72 $76.05 -$6.33
USDA five-state area slaughter cattle price (Thursday’s price)
Steers Heifers
This week $152.77 $152.00
Prev. week $155.87 $156.00
Change -$3.10 -$4.00
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 $218.18 $222.21 -$4.03
Lamb prices Negotiated, wooled and shorn, 121-155 lbs. for 130-162.50 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 153.01)
Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 8/14/2014 2.1 21.9 38.2 8/07/2014 3.6 20.1 35.7 Last year 5.3 33.9 7.2 Season total 1587.9 190.4 1765.6 Previous season total 1308.4 273.6 666.2 USDA projected total 1600 925 1900 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.
Children visiting Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo learn the difference between good bugs that benefit agriculture and bad bugs from a zoo educator. Nineteen county Farm Bureaus who are members of the Food for Thought Regional Advertising Group sponsor the Ladybug Release at the zoo every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Counties include Bureau, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford-Iroquois, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Mason, McHenry, McLean, Mercer, Will and Winnebago-Boone. About 400,000 ladybugs will be released this summer during 13 weekends. (Photo courtesy of Brookfield Zoo)
Corn Strategy
Competition building in the soy market
This year’s soybean crop will be big; that is known. But maybe the developing story in the complex is going to be about demand. New-crop soybean meal export sales are at record levels. They are nearly 2 1/2 times larger at this time than they were in 2009, the prior record sales pace. And after accumulating at a mediocre pace this spring, newcrop soybean export sales accelerated during the past month. They are now larger than either of the last two years, which also posted records. The export books for soybeans and soybean meal are setting up a competition for soybeans the producer might sell during and after harvest. Both consumers have big commitments to meet. Coming into summer, there wasn’t a big concern with the
industry thinking exports might not get off the market as fast with soybeans still coming out of Brazil and Argentina. But even our oldcrop soybeans are more attractively priced than South America’s. By the time harvest hits “full stride” toward the end of September, weekly consumption, exports and processing could hit 100 million bushels per week with some weeks close to 120 million bushels. Old-crop soybean basis has been hot with buyers covering final needs before they expect to see new-crop supplies. In Decatur, old-crop basis is $2 above new crop. As harvest nears, that premium will start to give up. But unless producers sell big quantities at harvest, new-crop basis should strengthen with users needing supplies to meet demand. Processors may be slower to bid up, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Decatur go from even with futures to 10 to 30 cents over. River basis could have even more strength.
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ü2013 crop: Rallies are still not well sustained, but action continues to suggest the minor trend is trying to turn up. December futures reached our $3.80 target to make sales, but occurred before the trading week effectively started. It may try again, but we are inclined to expect near-term weakness over strength. With inventories you have left, balance making sales with the cost of, and the need to clear, space to store the new crop. ü2014 crop: The large new crop is making the market struggle to sustain rallies, 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: Last week’s Midwest crop tour confirmed a large crop is coming. But the market is starting to shift focus from supply to demand. In particular, the dryness in China is creating some uncertainty over how it will manage a smaller crop.
Page 15 • Monday, August 25, 2014 • FarmWeek Cents per bu.
Soybean Strategy
ü2013 crop: Tight old-crop supplies drove basis and spot bids higher last week. Still, the big premium they have over new crop will dissipate. Use rallies to sell any inventory you may still have. ü2014 crop: Even though old-crop prices move up, newcrop prices have to work to keep from slipping lower. It still looks like November futures will decline further. Expect a test of $10 and possibly a drop to $9.60. If you are comfortable with yield prospects, price another 10 percent if November futures are $10.50 or higher. But on any sale, use a hedge-toarrive contract. ü2015 crop: The first 15 percent of the 2015 crop was priced at $12.07 basis November 2015 futures. vFundamentals: Pod counts on the Midwest crop tour were high, but they were expected to be good. The biggest thing the soybean market has going against it is its relatively high price compared to corn. Having said that, the market may be shifting focus
toward demand, and it’s expected to be very good again.
Wheat Strategy
ü2014 crop: Futures are in the process of putting in a base from which higher prices can be built upon. Catch-up sales should be made now. Producers that 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: Fewer acres may be planted in the next crop year and quality wheat could become scarce by the end of the current crop year.
Better opportunities are likely to be seen for sale. vFundamentals: The situation in Ukraine has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the wheat market. Tensions have not yet disrupted the Black Sea grain trade, if only because steep discounts are being offered to allay the reservations of importers. The latest report from Stats Canada was seen supportive to prices. Total output will fall more than 25 percent this year. Milling wheat has become short in Europe. France will import quality wheat so that export standards can be met.
FarmWeek • Page 16 • Monday, August 25, 2014
Will public research keep up with demands on ag?
Opportunities, challenges and visibility for how agriculture will meet future needs for food, fiber and energy are greater than ever. Yet public funding for ag research may not be keeping up. The abundance, efficiencies of production, safety and quality of food in the U.S. are direct results of agricultural research conducted during the last 150 years. ROBERT GIBLIN The Morrill guest columnist Act of 1862 established land grant universities to educate citizens about agriculture, home economics and other professions. In 1887, the Hatch Act established funding to support land grant universities and promote the advancement of U.S. agriculture. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act created Cooperative Extension. Private industry, and other academic institutions and federal agencies, land grant universities and Extension are all critical partners in ag research. Publicly funded ag research experienced sustained growth from the 1930s until 1980. In 1980, private investment in ag research and development surpassed public funding. Most private research funds are channeled to applied research or commercialization of products with a strong emphasis on crop seeds and biotech, farm machinery, and animal breeding and genetics. Private research on crop protection and chemicals has declined, and there is evidence that animal health research funding may be shrinking. Public research typically is focused on “basic” research or the fundamental sciences as well as food safety, resource conservation, farming practices or oth-
Editor’s note: Participants of the Illinois Farm Bureau Marketers to Washington trip witnessed the USDA crop report lockup in which USDA estimates for record corn and bean crops were released. FarmWeek’s Daniel Grant asked four participants about yield estimates on their farms.
er areas that either serve as the launching pads for applied research or address needs where there are no direct private incentives. Agriculture Department research funding flows through a few key channels, including the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which conducts in-house or intramural research projects within USDA; the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, which funds extramural research at the state level through land grant universities and the State Agricultural Experiment Stations; the Economic Research Service; and the Forest Service. States partner with the federal government to fund research. Universities and veterinary colleges also receive money from state legislatures, private contributors and other federal agencies. However, public spending on agricultural research is stable to declining. From 2000 through 2015 (projected), USDA budget authority for ag research will have declined 4.6 percent with ARS losing nearly 28 percent in 1914 constant dollars. Though actual research dollars increased, USDA research budget authority has been declining from its high in 2003, and fell nearly 16 percent from 1976 to 2015 (projected levels) in 1914 constant dollars. Norman Borlaug often is credited with being the father of the first Green Revolution, which increased agricultural production worldwide from the 1940s to late 1960s, through research, development and technology. Before his death at 95 years of age in 2009, Borlaug called for a second Green Revolution. Citing the need to produce as much food in the next 50 years “The crop looks good. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen. Prices look bad.”
Mitch Ernst Danvers, McLean County
as we produced in the last 10,000 years, Borlaug said the Green Revolution hasn’t been won, and the successes of the first revolution may have led to a false sense of security about our ability to bring worldwide food security. During the first Green Revolution, the United States was a primary beneficiary and emerged as a global agricultural leader with U.S. consumers benefitting. From 1948-2012, U.S. household disposable income spent on food declined from nearly 25 percent to 10 percent. Those in other nations typically spend much more. The need to increase funding for agricultural research is gaining recognition. Numerous organizations are calling for increased research spending in anticipation of meeting the food needs for 9.1 billion people by 2050. Of the total, about 7.5 billion — our current world’s population — will live in urban areas. The number of farmers and land available for farming will decline, while pressure to minimize the environmental footprint of agriculture and meet increasing social pressures will increase. With per capita income increases and a growing middle class worldwide that has an increased appetite for proteins and higher quality food, the amount of food available to meet future needs must be two to three times what it is now. While the needs and demands placed on agriculture are greater than ever, meeting all of those needs will require both new approaches and significant investments in agricultural research.
Robert Giblin consults, writes and speaks about agriculture, and food industry issues and trends.
“If we maintain a corn yield average at or above 200 bushels, I’ll be pleased. I think there’s a shot at it. My previous high was 195 bushels in 2009.” Eric Suits Penfield, Champaign County
Farm mom looks forward to potatoes that cut waste
Every mother knows the feeling. You go to the grocery store, buy a sack of potatoes and come home to get a meal on the table fast — only to discover after peeling and slicing, you don’t have the clear, consistent color you were expecting. Instead, you find internal bruising or black spots you have to cut away. The wasted potatoes go in the garbage, and you think, “What a waste.” Wouldn’t it be nice if technology could prevent all of this hassle and waste? Soon it will. A new potato that is LISA PATTERSON the result of guest columnist some exciting innovative technology is almost ready for market; and it’s developed to reduce black spot bruising and browning when cut. The science is simple. Take the DNA from wild and cultivated potatoes and insert it into the tubers of other potatoes that produce seed. The result is a hardier potato that resists browning and has less bruising, which can come from harvesting, shipping or storing. It also provides a long shelf life without additives. I live in south central Idaho. My husband, Russell, and I own a family farm, which grows a variety of crops, including potatoes. So, not only do I want to feed my own kids and grandkids a delicious and nutritious potato, we also want to produce a potato that is capable of less waste and improved use by the consumer. Yet, no matter how hard we try, we can’t keep them from bruising. Harvesting potatoes, after all, involves digging them out of the ground. Even with the special care we take digging and delivering with the most modern specialized potato equipment available, the potatoes take unpreventable drops throughout the process. It’s these drops that cause the
potato bruising and damage that results in the waste in processing and also the wasted fresh potatoes that end up in our homes. New Innate biotechnology not only benefits farmers, but also consumers. Less waste means more produce to feed a hungry world. How amazing is that? That’s why these new potatoes are so promising. Farmers who have worked with them in test plots say they have seen bruising reduced by half or more. The potatoes don’t taste any different. They are regular potatoes in every way, except they don’t bruise or brown as much. Because of this very innovative development, one estimate says we will save 400 million pounds of potatoes each year. If you realize the significance of growing more food on less ground and the need for increased production of food for a growing population, you will agree with me — this is exactly what we need. Doing more with less, and these potatoes are a giant step in the right direction. These potatoes are now at the end of a rigorous federal review. Food regulators have determined they are safe, grow just like other potatoes and do not pose any environmental risks on human health. In June, USDA wrapped up a second round of public comments. Approval for commercial use could come at any time. Innate technology offers farmers yet another way to innovatively increase the quality and use of the potatoes we produce. It will be beneficial to every person who loves eating potatoes and to every person who wants to do his or her part in sustainable food production.
Lisa Patterson and her husband farm in Heyburn, Idaho, and grow potatoes, sugar beets, barley and corn on their family farm. Patterson joins the Truth About Trade and Technology Global Farmer Network {truthabouttrade. org}.
“The potential looks very good. The question is, will it be better than projected.” rainfall.”
Steve Turner Chandlerville, Cass-Morgan counties
“Things look very good. We’ve had some scattered rain. We’d definitely like to have more uniform
Michael Zecher Aledo, Mercer County