Agriculture makes its mark on a new business history exhibit at a Smithsonian museum. page 2
Why does IFB’s policy process matter?
Monday, July 13, 2015
David Erickson, Resolutions Committee chairman: “This process sets us apart from many other organizations. It’s also a very predictable process. Members know they’re going to have an opportunity each year to set the agenda for the organization. I think it’s a fulfilling process once they’ve done it. They see how the organization works and they get a greater appreciation for why there’s such pride taken in the policy development process.”
Brian Duncan, Ogle County: “It’s the heartbeat of the organization. Policy development directs everything that we do ... It gives the members a voice, and ultimately that becomes the voice of the organization. It’s crucial. Without it, you don’t have Farm Bureau.”
Jerry Henningfeld, Lake County: “Being a grassroots organization, we are showing our grassroots this way. We are looked upon as one of the better organizations for our policy development.”
Periodicals: Time Valued
Don Temple, Whiteside County: “The policy of Illinois Farm Bureau sets the background for program work and for agriculture legislation in Springfield and Washington, D.C. The fact is, we are a bottom-up organization for legislation. An individual can see his resolution go all the way.” See more coverage, page 3
Purchase a New Holland collectible tractor and help Young Leaders drive out hunger. page 7
Corn diseases started cropping up across Illinois, prompting a need for farmers to scout fields. page 4
4-H ambassadors ready for fairs Two sections Volume 43, No. 28
‘We’re really excited to get this program going and off the ground’
BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
With county fairs in full swing, teen ambassadors for Illinois animal agriculture say they’re ready to promote livestock and answer fairgoers’ questions. “We’re really excited to get this program going and off the ground,” said Olivia Claire of the Illinois State 4-H Livestock Ambassador program. Claire of Watseka serves as the northern reporter for the group of 21 4-H ambassadors from across the state. Illinois 4-H launched the ambassador program last year to help educate people about livestock in the state as well as inform teens about careers in the livestock industry and help them gain leadership and spokesperson skills. “I have a passion for agriculture and livestock. I grew up on a farm and want to teach kids where their food comes from,” said Hannah Miller of Ullin, the ambassador program’s southern reporter. Miller plans to be active at her county fair, especially around the livestock barns and during 4-H evening activities that involve animals. “A lot of kids from town ask about the pig scramble. That’s a perfect opportunity to talk about livestock,” she said. County fairs offer a main venue to interact with people and share information. “Each of us will work booths at as many county fairs as we
4-H Livestock Ambassador Buddy Haas, in green shirt, explains how to play Risk Ranch, a feed cost game, to Marshall-Putnam County Fair attendees last week. From left, Collin Holm, Ty Lenkeitis and Ashley Johnson, all of Putnam County, fill miniature scoops with livestock feed, weigh it and determine if they made money once they sold their pigs. (Photo by Ken Kashian)
can,” said Claire, who plans to talk with visitors at her county fair. One fair feature, an interactive commodity game provides fair visitors, especially younger ones, a chance to learn about the costs and unpredictability of raising livestock. “They’ll either lose, make money or breakeven,” Claire said. “You never know what’s coming at you as a livestock producer.” The ambassadors expect to promote the commodity game and chat with visitors at the Illinois State Fair; however, exact locations hadn’t been determined
yet. They’re also planning to provide information during the Farm Progress Show Sept. 1-3 in Decatur. The teen ambassadors also plan to work with younger 4-H members involved with livestock at a winter retreat next year. Ideas include learning stations with hands-on activities that teach livestock practices along with other topics, such as social media. “We want to connect 4-H livestock exhibitors across the state,” Claire said. “We think (middle school) is the make
Economists expect crop price rebound to continue BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Economists at Purdue University believe crop prices should maintain recent strength rather than backtrack to previous levels. The prediction stems from the fact that a portion of crop production potential was washed away in key parts of the Corn Belt by torrential rain during the past six weeks. “Supply and demand balance sheets changed quite a bit since last month,” Chris Hurt, Purdue ag economist, said last week at the 48th annual Top Farmer Conference in West Lafayette, Ind. “Models estimate we’ve lost 3 bushels (per acre) of (corn) yield, nationally.” The area with the most crop damage so
far this season includes much of the Corn Belt east of the Mississippi River. The portion of the corn crop rated poor to very poor last week reached 21 percent in Indiana, 15 percent in Ohio and 12 percent in Illinois. Corn ratings also plummeted in Missouri last month with 16 percent of the crop rated poor to very poor last week. The markets responded in recent weeks as crop futures and cash prices rallied above $4 per bushel for corn and $10 per bushel for beans.
See Ambassadors, page 2
Hurt advised Midwest farmers at the conference to look for price objectives around $10.60 to $10.70 per bushel for November beans and $4.35 to $4.40 for December corn. Farmers with damaged or destroyed crops who might be wondering why prices aren’t climbing higher can look to the north and west for the answer, according to Hurt. “The northwest part of the Corn Belt has an exceptionally good crop with a struggling crop in the eastern Corn Belt,” Hurt said. “It’s offsetting now to make an average crop. Weather the next two to three weeks will be really important.” See Economists, page 3