Farmweek july 13, 2015

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

Quick Takes

FarmWeek • Page 2 • Monday, July 13, 2015

APPEALS COURT SIDES WITH EPA — A U.S. appeals court ruled last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can regulate pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. American Farm Bureau Federation and others fought EPA’s 2010 “total maximum daily load” of nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment that could be released into the bay. Opponents argued EPA’s plan intruded with the state’s traditional role of regulating land use.

In their ruling last week, the three-judge panel described water pollution in the Chesapeake Bay as a “complex problem,” affecting at least 17 million people.

“Congress made a judgment in the Clean Water Act that the states and the EPA could, working together, best allocate the benefits and burdens of lowering pollution,” the judges wrote.

FARM TALKS SCHEDULED — Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. will hold three Farm Talk meetings in August. Members can attend to ask questions and share ideas/concerns.

Meetings will be conducted at 5 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Sangamon County Farm Bureau in Springfield, Aug. 24 at Holiday Inn in Mount Vernon and Aug. 26 at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau in Sycamore.

A meal will be provided. For reservations, contact Wanda Evans at wevans@ilfb.org, or your county Farm Bureau two weeks prior to the meeting you plan to attend.

NEW SOYBEAN PROJECTS APPROVED — The latest round of Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) projects center on supply, demand and freedom to operate. ISA, which includes the farmer-funded Illinois soybean checkoff and Illinois Soybean Growers, recently passed a new slate of projects for fiscal year 2016, beginning Sept. 1.

Funded projects include continued focus on animal agriculture, transportation, biodiesel, soybean yield and quality, freedom to operate and legislative affairs.

ISA board members serve on either the ISA Marketing Committee or ISA Production Committee. Each committee evaluates and ranks projects that have been proposed. They then meet in person to discuss which projects will be funded. For more information, visit {ilsoy.org}.

NEW AG LITERACY GAME — Planning to host an upcoming ag literacy event for elementary students? Check out “Farm to Cart,” a new game for preschool and early elementary teachers, families and farmers launched recently by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

The game teaches children the connection between farm and food. Young learners discover how to describe the general process for the production of an agricultural product and how farmers use land to grow crops. Players race to be the first to harvest items from the farm and place them in their grocery carts. To win, a player must have three items that grow on trees, three animal products from the land and three items from the soil. To download the free game, visit {agfoundation.org}.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 43 No. 28 July 13, 2015 Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers.

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Sharon Covert, a Bureau County farmer, visits the new American Enterprise exhibit unveiled recently at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Covert led an effort to include agriculture in the 8,000square-foot exhibit, which traces the country’s business history dating back to the 1770s. (Photo courtesy of United Soybean Board/soy checkoff)

Farmer helps bring ag back to museum

BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek

Bureau County farmer Sharon Covert still remembers her disappointment when she found very little about agriculture displayed inside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

She helped change that.

Covert pushed for agriculture’s story to be told inside the Washington, D.C., museum through American Enterprise, a new exhibit unveiled this month.

She previously helped create Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry ag exhibit.

The 8,000-square-foot exhibit in Washington traces the country’s development through four major eras dating back to the 1770s. More than 600 objects, images, hands-on activities and videos help tell the story of America’s business history — including the role agriculture played.

“Since we’ve always had this abundant food supply, people have had that opportunity to innovate and progress in business here in the U.S.,” Covert said. “They’re free to be creative and innovative. You don’t have to worry all the time about where your food is going to come from.”

Covert became involved in the effort after she sent a letter to museum officials in January 2009. In the letter, she expressed her disappointment that agriculture wasn’t really a part of the newly renovated museum. She

Ambassadors

or break time to interest kids in the livestock industry.”

Ambassadors’ outreach includes other groups and ages.

Miller said she’s been asked to give speeches and discuss the Continued from page 1

American Enterprise exhibit

“It tells the story of what happened when capitalism and democracy met in North America and shaped a nation of people eager for economic opportunity and willing to embrace innovation and change.”

— John Gray

National Museum of American History director

For more information: • Go online: americanenterprise.si.edu or FarmWeek Now.com • Grab the book: “American Enterprise: A History of Business in America,” published by Smithsonian Books • Plan to visit: Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History; 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW; Washington, D.C. 20001 only found a John Deere plow displayed in a kiosk and a model of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin.

Eventually, museum officials invited Covert to meet with them. She and others trekked to the nation’s capital to explain the importance of agriculture.

Museum officials explained their plans to create American Enterprise.

Covert later hosted two curators at her Bureau County farm.

They spent about a week in the Midwest, harvesting beans at the Covert farm and corn at the farm of Jim Rapp.

After riding in a combine with Rapp, the curators went into his machine shed. There, Covert said, they found a no-till sign on the wall from the Bureau County Soil and Water District. It’s now on display at the museum.

The curators also toured

Archer Daniels Midland and Caterpillar facilities in Decatur, visited Phil Bradshaw’s pork farm in Griggsville and stopped at Monsanto’s St. Louis facility.

Pleased with the exhibit, Covert said officials presented controversial topics objectively and allow visitors to form their own opinions.

The exhibit also includes an interactive tractor and eventually will include an “ask a farmer” portion where patrons can ask questions of farmers in the fields.

“We want people to know that out there somewhere is a farmer that grows your food, and we’re happy to explain why we farm the way we do, and the methods we use,” Covert said.

“We find that the methods we use now help us be more sustainable.”

importance of livestock with different organizations.

Information and contacts with the ambassadors may be made on their Facebook page under Illinois State 4-H Livestock Ambassador Team.

Claire and Miller also referred questions to the group’s coordinator, Dan Jennings, University of Illinois Extension animal science educator, at 815-218-4358 or email djjennin@illinois.edu.

RESOLUTIONS:

BY KAY SHIPMAN AND DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek

Illinois Farm Bureau reached down to its policy roots when the Resolutions Committee discussed policy proposals last week.

Much debate centered on policy streamlining and reorganizing recommendations from a new state Policy Review Committee comprised of 2014 Resolution Committee members.

Also of concern: the proposed state Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS), Cuba and Farm Service Agency (FSA) procedures.

Delegates will debate approved resolutions during December’s IFB annual meeting.

“This is a team building exercise,” IFB Vice President David Erickson, Resolutions Committee chairman, told committee members. Erickson noted the committee helps “craft policy that is workable for the organization.”

State/Local Government issues

The State/Local Government Subcommittee discussed some of Illinois’ top challenges.

Making government more efficient underscored a proposed policy to support consolidation of local government units when approved by local referendum.

“We’ve got to make government more efficient somehow,” said Lake County Farm Bureau President Jerry Henningfeld, State/Local Government Subcommittee chairman.

“In some cases, we can make it more efficient because we have duplication of services,” Henningfeld added. “The taxpayers can’t keep supporting all this.”

IFB ‘team building’ process focuses on policy development

Page 3 • Monday, July 13, 2015 • FarmWeek

What’s next: Aug. 3: Look for an indepth policy discussion supplement in FarmWeek Oct. 15: Deadline for counties to submit resolutions Nov. 4-5: Resolutions Committee fall meeting Dec. 5-8: IFB Annual meeting “Guys already doing BMPs would get credit for what they’re doing. When farmers see the advantages, they move to adoption pretty quickly.”

Agricultural production/national issues

Illinois Farm Bureau Vice President and Resolutions Committee Chairman David Erickson, left, talks with three subcommittee chairmen last week at the committee’s policy session. Subcommittee chairmen, from left, include Don Temple of Whiteside County, natural resources; Jerry Henningfeld of Lake County, state and local government; and Brian Duncan of Ogle County, agricultural production and national issues. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

More efficient government dovetails with another policy proposal to support work with state agencies for more efficient issuing of permits for business, economic and natural resource development projects.

“For businesses, some of the red tape they go through seems ridiculous,” Henningfeld said.

“If we want to improve the business climate, we need to streamline and (add) a little common sense.”

Natural Resources issues

Conservation challenges surfaced proposed policy regarding highly erodible land (HEL). The Natural Resources Subcommittee recommended IFB support

local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff working directly with farmers to coordinate repair of harvest damage to HEL fields and consider field condition limitations before assigning penalties for noncompliance.

Committee members discussed the need for “NRCS to grant farmers adequate time to fix problems after harvest,” said Whiteside County Farm Bureau President Don Temple, Natural Resources Subcommittee chairman.

In some cases, farmers haven’t been able to immediately

repair ruts because the ground froze, Temple explained. In addition, farmers focus their manpower on harvest and may not have anyone available to repair fields until after harvest, he added.

Another policy proposal flowed from development of the NLRS. Under the proposal, IFB would support a statewide, voluntary, incentive-based certainty program for farmers to encourage the adoption of best management practices (BMPs).

The final strategy is expected to be released soon.

“This certainty program concept takes the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy from building farmer awareness to encouraging action,” Temple said.

The committee approved two new proposed policy additions and three rewrites of current policy.

One new proposed policy, submitted by Wayne County, supports “more efficient processes, systems and procedures” so farmers don’t have to go to FSA offices as often.

“We had member concerns about how many trips to the FSA office it was taking with this new farm bill,” said Brian Duncan, chairman of the agricultural Production/National Issues Subcommittee.

Under another proposed policy change, submitted by White County, IFB would seek the return of Cuba to “most favored nation status.” Current IFB policy states IFB will “aggressively seek resumption of normal trading relations” with Cuba.

Duncan said the subcommittee spent most of its time reorganizing and formatting current policies on competition and monopolies, renewable fuels, and farm income and structure.

Per-bushel corn, soybean costs post decrease in 2014

Per-bushel corn costs last year proved to be lower than 2013 for all areas of the state, except northern Illinois. That’s the latest findings from University of Illinois ag economists.

Brandy Krapf, Dwight Raab and Bradley Zwilling obtained farm business records kept by farmers enrolled in the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association. The samples included only farms with more than 500 acres of productive and nearly level soils in each area of the state.

None of the farms raise livestock.

The total of all economic costs per bushel in the different sections of the state ranged from $4.34 to $5.10 for corn. Those costs decreased from 2013 due to higher yields and lower costs.

Costs per bushel were 4 cents higher in northern Illinois, 56 cents lower in central Illinois with the higher rated soils, 76 cents lower in central Illinois with the lower rated soils and 55 cents lower in southern Illinois.

Similarly, per-bushel costs for soybeans

in 2014, ranging from $11.23 to $12.21, decreased in all areas of the state compared to 2013. Costs per bushel decreased mainly due to higher yields. Decreases in costs per bushel ranged from 11 cents in northern Illinois to $1.47 in central Illinois with lower rated soils.

The total of all economic costs per acre for growing corn in Illinois averaged $1,045 in the northern section, $1,002 in the central section for farmland with “high” soil ratings, $955 in the central section for farmland with “low” soil ratings, and $895 in the southern section.

Corn costs per acre increased in all geographic regions of Illinois compared to 2013. Many costs increased, including seed, drying, repairs, machinery depreciation and adjusted net rent. Soil fertility decreased in all areas of the state.

Soybean costs per acre were $745, $758, $685 and $664, respectively. Costs were lower in southern Illinois primarily because of lower land costs.

Total soybean costs per acre also increased in all geographic regions compared to 2013. Costs increased $18 per acre in northern Illinois, $43 per acre in central Illinois with the higher rated soils, $12 per

Economists

The vast majority of the corn crop in Minnesota (84 percent) and Iowa (82 percent) last week was rated good to excellent.

“Crop conditions are deteriorating and yield estimates are coming down,” said James Mintert, director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.

“The situation is not as severe in the western Corn Belt compared to Indiana and parts of Illinois and Ohio.

“From what we know about crop conditions today, it appears crop prices are fairly priced,” he said.

Continued from page 1

acre in central Illinois with the lower rated soils and $33 per acre in southern Illinois.

To see the entire breakdown of 2014 corn and soybean production costs, visit {http://bit.ly/1LGBAnz}.

Hurt believes crop issues so far could cut about a half-bushel per acre out of the national soybean yield.

Meanwhile, he believes the corn carry out could dip to 1.4 billion bushels.

Traders in previous months were concerned about the corn carry out increasing to as much as 2 billion bushels.

Farm margins still are expected to remain tighter this year compared to last year, though, due to lower crop prices and record input costs.

“Crop prices fall faster than costs,” Hurt added. “Costs will adjust on the downside, but it will take time.”

Corn diseases pop up; farmers debate whether to spray or let it go FarmWeek • Page 4 • Monday, July 13, 2015

Bradley, plant pathologist who recently moved from Farmers dealing with the University of Illinois to issues related to the persistUniversity of Kentucky. ent pattern of intense rainRuss Higgins, U of I fall in recent weeks can add Extension crop sciences more concerns to their list. educator at the Northern Corn diseases — gray leaf Illinois Agronomy Research Center, discussed disease issues last week prior to a field day.

“We are concerned about it,” Higgins told FarmWeek.

“We encourage growers to start getting in fields. Now is the time to make a decision (whether or not to apply a fungicide).”

Hybrids differ on susceptibility to the diseases, so not all hybrids exhibit symptoms of either disease.

The weather also could play a key role in the possible development of the diseases, or lack thereof, in the weeks ahead.

“If the rainy conditions continue, then a foliar fungicide application sometime between tassel emergence and silking may need to be considered on hybrids that Gray leaf spot exists in some cornfields across the state, prompting dis- are the most susceptible,” cussion of whether to apply fungicide. Profitability will be a key driver in Bradley said.

Profitability also will be making that decision. (Photo courtesy of GROWMARK Inc.)

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

spot and northern leaf blight — are popping up in some fields around the state.

“With the amount of rainfall received in the past few weeks, it is not surprising that these diseases are beginning to appear,” said Carl

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str ug gling to control weeds due to persistently muddy field conditions

a key driver of whether or not farmers opt to apply a fungicide.

U of I field trials between 2008 and 2014 show a yield response to foliar fungicides of 9.5 bushels per acre when disease affected at least 10 percent of the leaf area in untreated controls.

But, in situations with low disease severity (less than 10 percent of leaf area), the average yield response was just 2.8 bushels.

“Obviously, the marketing price of corn, and the fungicide and application costs will deter mine if fungicide applications are profitable,” Bradley said. “The bottom line is that it takes a higher yield response to be profitable when corn marketing prices are lower.”

Some far mers also are

that delayed herbicide applications. Some far mers opted for aerial herbicide applications.

“There was a three-week period we simply couldn’t get in the fields,” Hig gins said. “There’s some big weeds. Some ground rigs finally got back in (last week). I’m sure some herbicide rates are at the high end of the spectr um.”

Topsoil moisture the first of last week was rated 47 percent surplus, 52 percent adequate and 1 percent short, down from 63 percent surplus the previous week.

Crop conditions, after yet another week of sporadic rain showers, can best be described by borrowing the title of the 1966 Clint Eastwood film “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

Nationwide, the portion of the corn crop rated good to excellent last week actually increased 1 percent from the previous week to 69 percent, down 6 percent from a year ago.

The portion of soybeans rated good to excellent remain steady from the previous week at 63 percent, down from 72 percent last year.

“This is a year where fields that drain well, either naturally or with tile, have exceptional crops,” said Russ Higgins, University of Illinois Extension crop sciences educator. “But right across the field can look terrible with 10 to 40 percent of the crop stunted (due to excess moisture and the inability to access nitrogen).”

Crop conditions in Illinois last week rated 61 percent good to excellent, 27 percent fair and 12 percent poor to very poor for corn, while just 52 percent of the bean crop rated good to excellent, with 32 percent fair and 16 percent poor to very poor.

“It’s been one of those years that’s hard to track due to less-than-ideal conditions,” said Tim Scates, a farmer from Carmi (White County) and Illinois Soybean Association board member.

“We’ve had floodwater not go down (on fields situated between the Little Wabash, Wabash and Ohio rivers) that

we haven’t been able to get anything planted yet,” he said.

“Then, some of it in lower areas (of planted fields) we were able to replant, but now it’s got water again.”

Overall, Scates estimates about 800 acres are unplanted on his farm.

He managed to harvest wheat, which was about average, and plant some doublecrop beans on those fields.

Other farmers continue to wait for drier conditions to complete wheat harvest in southern Illinois, while some farmers up north continue to wait for the crop to ripen.

Dave Hankammer, a FarmWeek Cropwatcher from Millstadt (St. Clair County) reported low test weights, high grain damage and vomitoxin issues in wheat around his area.

“Refusal of wheat deliveries has become common at terminals and elevators,” Hankammer said the first week of July.

Overall, 69 percent of the wheat crop was in the bin the first of last week, 11 percent behind the average pace. The second cutting of alfalfa was just 26 percent complete last week, about half the average pace of 51 percent.

Illinois farmers also had 6 percent of the soybean crop left to plant as of last week, 5 percent behind the average pace. Soybean planting as of the first of last week was just 81 percent complete in the southeast and 79 percent complete in the southwest portions of the state. — Daniel Grant

to find more about crop diseases from University of Illinois agronomists.

Crop conditions highly variable; numerous fields unplanted

Livestock feed, bedding pose inspection ‘risk factors’

Page 5 • Monday, July 13, 2015 • FarmWeek

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Livestock farmers need to be aware of potential risks that could trigger or surface during a state environmental inspection, advised Ted Funk, agricultural consultTed Funk ant and engineer.

During Funk’s recent presentation at the Illinois Beef Association Summer Conference,

some cattlemen appeared surprised to hear water that touches clean bedding or feed could be considered a pollutant under certain situations.

“It comes back to risks. What are the kinds of risk factors that cause an inspection? I tell producers to consider risks,” Funk told FarmWeek.

For example, definitions in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) regulations may catch some livestock farmers by surprise. Under the regulation, the definition of “processed wastewater” includes any water that comes

JBS to expand pork business with Cargill acquisition

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Concentration in the pork processing industry will tighten upon approval of a deal between two of the biggest players in that arena.

JBS USA Pork this month entered an agreement to acquire Cargill’s U.S.-based pork business for $1.45 billion.

The deal, which involves two pork packing plants (including the facility in Beardstown), four hog farms and five feed mills, remains subject to regulatory review and approval.

The two companies rank third and fourth in hog processing, behind Smithfield and Tyson.

“This transaction will strengthen our position as a producer and supplier of all major animal proteins around the world, and provide increased opportunities for our producer partners and key customers,” said Martin Dooley, president of JBS USA Pork.

The acquisition continues a growth pattern for JBS, already the world’s largest animal protein company. In recent years, the company became the largest shareholder in Pilgrim’s Pride, the second-largest poultry company in the U.S. JBS entered the U.S. pork market in 2007 with the acquisition of Swift & Company.

The company holds the total daily capacity to process more than 50,000 hogs at facilities in

Iowa, Kentucky and Minnesota.

Industry reports suggest Cargill wasn’t looking to sell its pork business, but rather was overwhelmed by the JBS offer.

“The professional and focused manner in which JBS approached Cargill demonstrated to us that they place a great deal of value on growing this part of their company to better compete in the marketplace and are willing to invest in its future,” said Todd Hall, Cargill senior vice president.

“The strengths of the JBS and Cargill pork businesses are complementary.”

The deal likely will receive close scrutiny from the Department of Justice, according to authors of the CME Group Daily Livestock Report.

“Putting together the third and fourth largest pork packers will increase the industry’s four-firm concentration ration by 8.2 percent to 63 percent by moving Hormel to the number four spot in the rankings,” authors of the Daily Livestock Report noted.

The pork packing sector classifies as “moderately concentrated” and should not move up to “highly concentrated” standards once the acquisition becomes final, according to the Daily Livestock Report.

The merger doesn’t affect concentration in hog production as JBS was not in that business prior to the acquisition.

Avian flu spending may exceed $500 million

Government spending on avian flu may top $500 million, according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. However, the government budgeted $410 million to fight the outbreak and compensate farmers.

Vilsack reported other recent epidemics, such as citrus greening and the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, underscore the need for USDA to increase long-term spending to battle these threats.

The virus killed about 45 million birds, which includes more than 10 percent of the nation’s laying hens. The loss has driven up egg prices, and forced manufacturers to either use substitutes or raise their own product prices.

USDA estimated domestic egg production will fall for the first time since 2008, and replenishing the flock of laying hens could take 18 months to two years.

into contact with manure, litter, feed, milk and bedding, even clean bedding, according to Funk.

Water considered to be “processed wastewater” needs to be contained and applied at agronomic rates, according to Bruce Rodely, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) engineer with the water bureau. Funk added regulators’ definition of a pollutant “gets hairy,” but it could mean “anything but clean rain water.

“Dairy guys can get in trouble with (water touching) clean sand bedding,” Funk continued.

“Keep things covered so you don’t have leachate ... This includes round bales ... You need to keep the place as tidy as you can.”

“Water leaving your production area is considered a discharge,” Rodely said.

Funk advised farmers to check whether “good vegetation” exists between their farm and surface waters, have good

relationships with their neighbors, or consider any other factor that might trigger a visit by an IEPA inspector.

“If you’re a large CAFO, you’re going to have an inspection sometime, so what can you do to keep from having a noncompliance write up?” he asked.

Funk recommended farmers know where waters flow, “keep an eye on any area of concern” and develop a written plan to address those concerns.

WIU sets Allison Organic Farm Field Day Western Illinois University (WIU) will focus on “New Opportunities in Organic Farming” at its Aug. 13 field day on the WIU Allison Organic Research and Demonstration Farm in southwest Warren County.

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. with presentations beginning at 9 a.m. In addition, a complimentary meal, featuring local farm products, will be served at noon.

Andy Ambriole, an innovative young farmer with 1,500 acres of mixed organic and conventional production in Huntington County, Ind., will deliver the keynote address “First Generation Organics on a Multi-Generation Farm” at 11 a.m. on the Dakin Farm, which is located near the Allison Farm. The Dakin Farm is located at 130 20th St., Roseville, Ill., 61473.

Field day topics include: present and future biological seed treatments and biological nutrient

management. WIU organic research results will be discussed.

A walking tour of the Allison Farm’s research and demonstration plots will start at 1:30 p.m. with an equipment demonstration, weather permitting.

The plots feature corn, soybeans, pumpkins and cover crops farmed with different tillage systems, fertility programs, seed treatments and cultivation practices.

The Illinois Organic Growers Association’s summer festival at the Allison Farm will follow the field day. Registration for the Allison Farm Field Day and festival is recommended by Aug. 10.

To register or for more information, contact Andy Clayton at AW-Clayton@wiu.edu or 217-3222639 or the WIU School of Agriculture at 309-2981080. To register for the festival, contact Marnie Record at illinoisorganicgrowers@ gmail.com or 864-704-5783.

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FEELS LIKE HOME ©2014 GROWMARK, Inc. A14242

FarmWeek • Page 6 • Monday, July 13, 2015 Brian Sisson, Belvidere, Boone County: During the first 10 days of July, we avoided the heavy rains that other parts of the state received. Most of this area received only .5 to .75 of an inch of rain. The corn crop continues to look outstanding, and we should move into the start of pollination next week for many fields. The drier stretch of weather has really helped the soybean crop take off. However, white mold is still a concern with the below-average temperatures as the first flowers appear. Wheat harvest should start next week. Our next rain chances come this weekend along with a warmer weather pattern.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: The Fourth of July holiday weekend stayed dry and allowed hay to be baled. Then on Monday (July 6), we received 1.5 inches of rain and some reports up to 3 inches. Tassels have started to appear in some cornfields. Many fields have corn or beans that will never make a crop, while all fields have some wet syndrome issues. Wheat harvest could start next week, but rain is forecast for every day.

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: Monday evening, we saw what is classified as a 100year rain. More than 7 inches was the highest I heard just north of the county line. Many 5-inch-plus totals were reported in the county, which fell over a short period of time. It was a record low daytime temperature on Wednesday of 65 degrees. Good pollination weather for the earliest planted corn and good for the crowds at our county fair.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We only received .6 of an inch of rain last week, but it was still enough to keep the water pond in one of our soybean fields.

That makes standing water for more than six weeks in that field.

The rest of the beans are yellow and a lot shorter than normal. Still, for all the rain the past two months, the crops look pretty good, considering the stress they have been under. The corn is tasseled now and some silks are turning brown.

We are doing some tiling in a hay field in preparation for rotating it to corn next year.

Let’s hope that it will be more normal than this year.

Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: Well, more rain fell. Pond holes are wet again.

The crop has not improved. There is now corn tasseling, and I can look over the top of it from the ground. Last time I saw that was 2012 due to absolutely no rain and the crops were bad then. Oh yeah, and last time I checked, the crops need sunlight.

Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: It was a fairly decent week with only about 1.5 inches of rain. A lot of bean spraying was finished the end of last week and the beginning of this week. We are probably up to date on our bean spraying. We are waiting for more weeds to pop up and the wet spots to dry out. Corn is looking better, but has a long way to go. A lot of very uneven corn. The tassels have started and it’s very uneven. A lot of yellow spots and drowned out spots. Beans are in the same boat. Just need some nice July and August weather. Be safe.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: More heavy rain and flooding occurred last week. We received 3.5 inches of rain, while many areas recorded up to 7 inches in two rain events.

Creeks are out of their banks as water is everywhere. There are many flood horror stories. The Fourth of July weekend allowed us a chance to get the beans sprayed. Some were still applying nitrogen with planes and sprayers equipped with drops. Some hay also got cut and baled. Wheat harvest was under way, but I have been hearing stories of elevators not taking this grain as it contains vomitoxin. The early-planted corn is tasseling and shooting ears. Some looks really good until you drive by in something high, like a semi or tractor.

Mosquitoes are really bad this year, and stores are running out of repellant. Markets have come up some. Many producers and traders look for soybeans to go much higher with many areas not planted and a drowned crop.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: At the beginning of the week, the fields were dry enough to allow us to finish our post-emergence herbicide application on soybeans and start applying a combination of fungicide and insecticide on our R3 soybean fields. A rain of .4 of an inch brought field activities to a halt. That was followed by our largest rain event of the year. Our farms received a range of 3 to 3.7 inches Wednesday night (July 8). The weekly totals ranged from 3.5 to 4.1 inches of rain on our farms. Ponds in fields that were replanted are now full of water again. Crop conditions in some fields started to improve slightly in soybeans, but the soils are saturated again, which is a stressor to both crops. Most local cornfields are either in the VT or R1 growth stage, which is the silking stage. Most soybean fields are between the R1 growth stage and the R3 or beginning pod growth stage. The local closing prices for July 9 were nearby corn, $3.99; new-crop corn, $4.03; nearby soybeans, $10.28; new-crop soybeans, $9.78.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Just when things were starting to look better, another 3- to 5-inch downpour fell, destroying all the replant. Earlyplanted corn is pollinating and aerial fungicides are being applied.

Soybeans are looking a little tougher and top-end yield is now reduced by 5 to 7 percent. Disease remains a concern. Wheat quality and dockage is terrible. Corn, $4.02, fall, $4.08; soybeans, $10.15, fall, $9.83.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: Water, water, everywhere, continued.

Wednesday night’s toad strangler dropped from .55 of an inch of rain to 3.5 inches in the area. Dillsburg, east of Rantoul, had the 3.5 inches.

We did get a few drying days that allowed spraying, side-dressing, baling and mowing. Unfortunately, the forecast has rain chances in four of the next seven days. No huge rains, but a few tenths to keep things wet. For the corn not underwater, pollination conditions have been nearly ideal. Let’s be careful out there!

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: If it rains anymore, I think the weather department may as well rename Illinois the land of 12,000 lakes. There is sure a lot of water standing, ponding, flooding or just plain wet.

There are still soybeans to go in the ground somehow as some have already called the aerial seeders. Some fields to our south are completely water covered. Our gauge recorded 8.23 inches for June, and we got another 3.6 inches the first of this week. A lot of the first hay crop just laid on the ground and rotted.

Corn is at all heights and color. Soybeans are still struggling with hopes of a good crop fading more and more every day. The crop certainly is not in the bin yet. Cheer up and be careful.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: The wet and cool pattern persists across the area stressing crops and slowing development. While we are fortunate enough to have good looking crops compared to many areas, problem spots continue to get bigger. Corn is in pollination stage, and as conditions have warranted, diseases have become easy to find in many fields.

Soybean fields are in the R3 stage and taking the conditions more harshly with stunted yellow spots easy to find and covering significant parts of many fields. It’s hard to tell how much this will affect final yield, but it is worrisome if this weather pattern persists. Wheat harvest has been challenging with most loads getting hit with significant quality discounts. It will be interesting to see how much fungicide gets applied as we are looking at perfect conditions for disease development and tighter crop budgets.

Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: We had another wet week at the end, but there was some activity over the weekend. Some hay was cut and a few beans planted. Some spraying got done and nitrogen got put on in selected areas. We ended up with about 4 inches of rain after the spigot got turned back on. Creeks are flooding again.

Markets are starting to reflect a little bit of the activity that we are seeing in our area.

Weeds are coming right along in some of the fields that haven’t been sprayed. The pollination process is happening in a lot of fields.

Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: Another .5 of an inch of rain fell last week. We managed to get second cutting of hay two weeks ago, which I don’t think I mentioned. Corn is starting to show disease, but won’t affect yield enough to warrant $30 an acre fungicide unless it gets worse. You need three or more spots or lesions on ear leaf or higher to warrant spraying. Soybeans need dry weather to help them grow and to resist problems that this wet weather is causing.

Corn is pollinating quite extensively now. I had a pilot’s wife tell me the jet streams are changing, so maybe a more normal and warmer summer is on its way.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: It has been unseasonably cool here for the start of July, and the rain gauge received a break. It has only caught an inch of rain since the last report. There was a lot of soybean spraying going on from July 4-7 before rains moved in July 8. Some fields were not totally suitable to have sprayers running, but farmers felt maybe it was now or never.

A lot of tracks and ruts were made on some soybean acres. Fields are again totally saturated after the last rain, and it appears as this report is being made late Thursday night, a wall of water is crossing the Mississippi and heading for us. Crop conditions in the area are all over the board.

Corn acres on rolling ground and good, drained ground looks excellent. Low corn ground is poor. Early-planted beans seem to be taking the water fairly well, but low, undrained soybean fields are really going backwards, not growing and turning yellow.

Don’t want it to stop raining but wish for bigger breaks in between showers. Fayette County Fair running this week. Be safe.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: Heavy rains moved through the area Thursday (July 2) leaving various amounts of rain. Some post-emerge chemicals were applied during the weekend until Tuesday. Some wheat was able to be harvested during this same time period.

More heavy rains came again Wednesday. Most of the wheat has been harvested. Beans in some fields were mudded in, in less than ideal conditions. Some beans have been flown on by air. Also some nitrogen has been applied to corn by air. Rain continued Thursday night. Quite a few fields need to be planted and replanted. Corn planted the last half of May looks terrible. It is very uneven, yellow and stunted. More rain is in the forecast.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: I’ve been told by several readers we need to have more positive reports with sunshine, so here we go. Since my last report, we had several consecutive days with sunshine that allowed fieldwork. Nighttime temps dipped down to the upper 50s and daytime highs were in the mid-70s. Very comfortable weather for July. Despite the accumulated 3-plus inches of rain through the week, farmers were wrapping up wheat harvest. Post herbicide applications were made to soybean fields where possible. Additional first-crop soybeans and double-cropped beans were planted. A few farmers have resorted to aerial seeding or broadcasting seed with spreaders in both situations to get done. Prevented planting has become a popular topic as crop reporting deadline is getting closer and several fields remain too wet to plant. Marketing of the new wheat crop is a challenge as many of the elevators are filling up with low quality grain. Local grain bids are corn, $4.07; soybeans, $10.44; wheat, $4.90.

Have a safe week.

Page 7 • Monday, July 13, 2015 • FarmWeek Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: The struggle continues. Still lots of bean acres not planted, and those that are planted continue to fight to keep their heads above water. Beans that have been planted two months and still only 4 inches tall have a long way to go. I totaled up the rainfall the other day and here at my house, I’ve had almost 2 feet since May 1. Yes, that’s 24 inches of rain! Another thing I’m seeing, which may not mean anything, is some of the corn on the higher areas that is tasseling has silks that are very long. I was always told the silks keep elongating until they are pollinated.

Hmmm ... only time will tell.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Another week just like we have been having — lots of rain, humidity and no sunshine. The Wabash River is still above flood stage. By the time it goes down and dries up, it may be too late to replant. I did get my double-crop beans planted this past week.

Conditions were far from perfect, but if it stays as wet as it has been, they might be all right. I just watched our local weather, and it looks as if this weather will continue through the middle of the coming week.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: As I made this report, it was raining outside.

Like June, we have had nothing but rain this month. Early corn is tasseling and the sweet corn is ready.

Some of the corn is yellow. The beans are handling the rain better than the corn. The wheat yields have been good, except the dockage is worst for the damage than for the disease. I still hope we have rain in August because the last two years have been very dry. Take care and stay safe.

June showers bring foliar diseases Well, one word wraps up the month of June — wet.

However, we are thankful that we finally got a break from the rainy weather to get back in the fields to start the month of July. Rainfall Eric West has been very plentiful this year across a wide geography, and unfortun a t e l y, m a n y a r e a s h a v e received more than they welcomed.

The current crop is prog r e s s i n g f o r wa r d t h r o u g h these conditions and many cornfields are pollinating or approaching pollination. We are starting to see good vegetative growth in soybeans. The month of June brought us rain, many cloudy days, high humidity and warm temperatures, which can create the perfect breeding ground for diseases in our crops.

We know the weather in June was ideal for foliar diseases in corn, especially the

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

BY ERIC WEST

two significant ones that we are witnessing in cornfields — gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight. These two diseases are favored by prolonged periods of leaf wetness, which has been the case in many areas this year.

The critical scouting period for corn leaf diseases is two weeks before pollination to two weeks after pollination.

The goal for corn is to protect the ear leaf and leaves above the ear from any diseases. We also need to pay attention to our soybean fields as this wet and stormy weather can lead to fungal infections. Currently, we have observed a few diseases, such as downy mildew, frog eye leaf spot and se ptoria brown spot in soybean fields.

We h ave a l s o h a d a f e w reports of bacterial diseases in soybeans this year such as bacterial blight and/or bacterial pustule. This is no surprise with the amount of rain events

we have experienced this year because these diseases are caused by rains that splash bacteria from the soil and crop residue up onto the soybean foliage.

All in all, these and other foliar diseases in corn and soybeans can significantly reduce the yield potential because they decrease photosynthetic leaf surface area, which is how the plant makes sugar (carbohydrates). Scouting for corn and soybean diseases is imperative to assess the risk for yield reductions and determine if there is a solution to manage the problem. Contact your local FS crop specialist for any assistance in identifying diseases and deter mining if a solution is warranted. Good luck finishing this crop year!

Eric West serves as a GROWMARK Central region senior field sales agronomist. His email address is ewest@growmark.com.

Canola, rapeseed provide protein for livestock

Canola and rapeseed coproducts prove to be an increasing source of protein in livestock diets, but questions remain about nutritional value stemming from grain varietal differences as well as processing methods.

Un iversity of Illinois resea rchers fed canola and rapeseed coproducts to pigs to answer those questions.

“Breeding programs in North America and Europe have focused on selecting varieties of canola and rapeseed with low concentrations of erucic acids and glucosinolates,” said Hans H. Stein, U of I animal sciences professor.

“We wanted to compare the coproducts from the North American and European varieties as well as determine effects of processing on the nutritional value of the coproducts.”

Rapeseed low in erucic acid and glucosinolates is referred to as 00-rapeseed in Europe and canola in North America. Removing the

oil from rapeseed via solvent extraction results in 00-rapeseed (or canola) meal, and removing the oil via expeller extraction results in 00-rapeseed expellers. Stein and his team tested canola meal from North America, 00-rapeseed meal from Europe and 00rapeseed expellers from Europe.

In one experiment, U of I researchers determined the digestibility of amino acids i n t h e t h r e e p r o d u c t s. N o d i f f e r e n c e i n amino acid digestibility occurred between canola meal and 00-rapeseed meal with the exception of valine, cysteine and glutamic acid.

In a second experiment, researchers determined concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy in the three coproducts. As with amino acid digestibility, no difference in energ y concentrations between canola meal and rapeseed meal was observed.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: One word describes the week — WET. Was able to do some post spraying earlier in the week, and baled some hay and didn’t get wet. But the rest of the week was some type of rain either in the morning or late afternoon. I feel like we’re living in a rain forest. Most all the crops are really starting to suffer. The other part is school supplies are back on the shelves and in 60 days some will be looking to start harvest.

Where is the summer going?

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: Well, it has rained six of the last eight days, and we’ve had more than 6.5 inches of rain on our farm. Some parts of the county received even more, so there has been no fieldwork this past week.

Corn seems to be handling the rain better than the soybeans. It’s big enough that it can handle the water. We still need to post spray some of our beans. I don’t know when that is going to happen as it was raining again Thursday evening as I called in this report. Weeds seem to be growing rapidly with all of the rain. Please take time to be safe this upcoming week.

AGRICULTURE FAMILY FUN

Carroll County Farm Bureau Young Leader Chair Jeremy Flikkema, in hat, encourages Family Fun Night visitors to climb aboard a tractor. About 50 urban children and their parents attended the recent Young Leader event at Lake Carroll, a private, residential recreational community. Attendees also saw cattle and talked with Young Leaders about where food comes from, why farmers do what they do and some of the myths surrounding agriculture. Young Leaders provided a taste of locally grown meat. (Photo by Chas Welch, Carroll County Farm Bureau manager)

Buy a tractor, drive out hunger

The purchase of a $60 tractor can help Illinois families become hunger-free. Sound impossible? Not when the proceeds of a collectible New Holland T9.700 go to the Harvest for All program.

Thanks to Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders, proceeds from the sale of the limited edition collectible tractors will go to Harvest for All. The program operated by Feeding America, a network of national food banks and food pantries, receives food and monetary donations throughout the year from Young Leaders.

Only 276 collectible tractors will be available. Each one contains front and rear dual tires, an articulating body, warning arms, movable mirrors, and cab and rear fender lights.

To order, contact your county Farm Bureau for an order form, or call the IFB Young Leader department at 309-557-2536.

ISA hosting nutrient discussion July 23

The Illinois Soybean Association will host a free program to discuss the state Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and best management practices 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 23 at The Maschhoffs LLC, Carlyle. Preregistration is encouraged because seating is limited.

Speakers will discuss nutrient management techniques with a special focus on southwestern Illinois. Topics will include: the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, the Kaskaskia Watershed water quality assessment, manure management, cover crops and best management practices to improve water quality.

A light breakfast and lunch will be served. For more information or to register, visit {ilsoy.org/sustainability/showcasefarm2015}.

FarmWeek • Page 8 • Monday, July 13, 2015

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This is how the world advances. Learn more at cmegroup.com/food.

CME Group is a trademark of CME Group Inc. The Globe logo is a trademark of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © 2015 CME Group. All rights reserved.

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DAMS — Farmland assessment seminar, 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Farm Bureau office. Brenda Matherly, Illinois Farm Bureau assistant director of local government, will discuss the farmland assessment law and recent changes to the formula. For more information, call 2227305.

UREAU — Ag rescue course, 8 a.m. Aug. 1 at Kewanee Fire Department.

Eight-hour course will include a combination of instruction and hands-on incident training.

Course is open to emergency responders. Call 875-6468 to register.

• Washington, D.C., trip preview, 1 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Farm Bureau office. Trip will take place March 30 to April 5, 2016. Tri-State Travel will be present to give trip highlights and detailed information. Call 875-3468 for reservations by Aug. 3.

LAY — Young Leaders host Logan Mize concert, 7 p.m. Saturday at Charley Brown Park. Cost is $10. Proceeds will benefit Young Leaders programs and projects.

• Young Leaders Ranch Rodeo, 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Charley Brown Park. Event will feature local teams and include children’s activities.

Cost is $5. Call 665-3300, for more information.

• Membership picnic and family fun night, 4 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 1 at the Farm Bureau office. Dinner, live entertainment, children’s activities and a silent auction will be included.

OOK — Discounted Home Run Inn Pizza gift cards available. Cost is $20 for a $25 card, and $8 for a $10 card. Call 708-354-3276 to purchase gift cards.

• Free safety gloves and glasses for members; call 708354-3276. Quantities are limited. Safety gear provided through an Illinois Farm Bureau and COUNTRY Financial grant.

• Wisconsin Farm Technology Days tour, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Aug. 25 in Marshall, Wis. Cost is $65. Call 708-354-3276 or email membershipdebbie@ cookcfb.org to register or for more information by Aug. 10.

OUGLAS — Drainage law meeting, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Douglas County Ag Center in Tuscola. Kyle Emkes, Champaign drainage attorney, will speak. Call 253-4442 to register.

• Young Leader electronic recycling day, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Douglas County Ag Center in Tuscola. Must live in Douglas County to participate. Materials from businesses, institutions or schools will not be accepted. Call 253-

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4442 for specific restrictions and costs.

RUNDY — “Growing Grundy: Kids, Crops & Critters” photo contest. Amateur contest is open to the public. For complete list of rules, visit {grundy cfb.com}. Deadline to email entries is Aug. 15.

EFFERSON — Member appreciation lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Farmers’ Market in Times Square Mall in Mount Vernon. Members will receive a discount valid for Friday.

EE — Commemorative plat books available at the Farm Bureau office 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Cost is $35 each or three for $100.

Call 857-3531 for more information.

OULTRIE — Annual meeting; registration 5:30 p.m., dinner 6 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Sullivan.

Matt and Philo will provide music. Nonperishable food items will be collected for local food pantry. Philip Nelson, Illinois Department of Agriculture director, will speak. Call 728-4214 for reservations.

EORIA — Exhibit at Heart of Illinois Fair, 4 to 9 p.m. July 10-18.

OCK ISLAND — Centennial History Committee seeks photos from the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s that reflect Farm Bureau history or Rock Island agriculture. Photos may be delivered to the Farm Bureau office between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Monday through Friday, or mailed to Rock Island County Farm Bureau, 1601 52nd Ave., Suite 3, Moline, IL 61265. Call 736-7432 or email dbloomberg@ricofarmbu reau.org for information.

T. CLAIR — Ice cream social, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday at Scheve Park in Mascoutah. Swimming from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 233-6800 for reservations by Monday.

TARK — Tractor drive, 9:30 a.m. Aug. 1 leaving from the Farm Bureau office.

Route is 21 miles long and includes Toulon Old Settler’s Parade. Proceeds will benefit the Foundation. Cost is $30.

Reservation deadline is July 29.

ERMILION — Member appreciation night with Danville Dans, 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Danville Stadium. Free tickets available at the Farm Bureau office for members and their immediate families.

• On-the-road truck seminar, 9 a.m. July 20 in the Farm Bureau auditorium.

Kevin Rund, IFB senior

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director of local government, will review the latest trucking regulations.

• Taking southern Illinois peach orders. Twenty-pound boxes from Rendleman Orchards, Alto Pass, will be delivered mid- to late-Aug. Visit {vcfb.info} for order form. Deadline to order is Aug. 6.

ASHINGTON — Member ice cream social, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 22 at Pavilion 4 Nashville City Park. Small Town Famous will perform.

• Community Impact grants available. Up to $5,000 will be awarded to eligible community-based projects in the county. Call 3273081 for an application and more information. Deadline to apply is July 31.

AYNE — Young Leader golf scramble, noon July 25 at Wayne County Golf Course in Fairfield. Cost is $50 per person for the four-man scramble.

Visit {waynecfb.com/golf scramble.html} for more information. Reservation deadline is Friday. Proceeds will benefit the Progressive Ag Safety and Young Leader collegiate scholarship.

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Page 9 • Monday, July 13, 2015 • FarmWeek

HITE — Retirement reception for Ruth Ann Weaver, 1 to 3 p.m. July 24 at the Farm Bureau office. Come and recognize Ruth’s 32 years of service.

• Accepting items for Ag in the Classroom silent auction, 11 a.m. Aug. 12 at Floral Hall, White County Fairgrounds, during member appreciation lunch. Call 3828512 to donate.

ILL — Family Fun Night, 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Thursday at the Farm Bureau office. Cost is $10 for adults and children 13 and over, $5 for children 12 and under.

Call 727-4811 for tickets and event details.

• Legislative barn meeting, 6 p.m. July 27, Glenn and Bonnie Ginder’s farm, Peotone, for members and their spouses. Sens. Toi Hutchinson, Donne Trotter, Napoleon Harris III; Reps.

Thaddeus Jones, Elgie Sims Jr., Katherine Cloonen and Al Riley will be present. Call 727-4811 for reservations by July 24.

• Legislative barn meeting, 6 p.m. July 28 at Dave Kestel’s farm, Manhattan, for members and their

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spouses. Sens. Michael Hastings, Christine Radogno, Pat McGuire; Reps. Anthony DeLuca, Margo McDermed, Jim Durkin, Stephanie Kifowit and Lawrence Walsh Jr. will be present.

Call 727-4811 by July 24 to register.

• Legislative barn meeting, 6 p.m. July 30 at Jerry and Lorraine Davidson farm, Minooka. Sens. Linda Holmes, Michael Connelly, Sue Rezin, Jennifer BertinoTarrant; Reps. John Anthony, Ron Sandack, Mark Batinick, Grant Wehrli, Emily McAsey and Natalie Manley will be present. Call 7274811 for reservations by July 24.

OODFORD — On-the-road seminar, 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Farm Bureau auditorium.

Kevin Rund, IFB senior director of local government, will speak. Call 4672347 for reservations by Monday.

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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.

FarmWeek • Page 10 • Monday, July 13, 2015

USDA trims corn estimate

Acreage issue to hang over market

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

It could be weeks or even months before USDA gets a handle on the crop acreage mix.

Estimates of prevent plant acres continue to rise as 3.5 million acres of soybeans remained unplanted as of last week.

Meanwhile, a portion of the crops currently in the ground won’t make it to harvest due to

‘We know we’ve got drowned out areas that won’t be planted or harvested.’

— Chris Hurt Ag economist, Purdue University Extension

severe damage caused by excessive rains.

“The acreage question will be with us for a while,” Chris Hurt, Purdue University Extension economist, said last week at the 48th Annual Top Farmer Conference in West Lafayette, Ind. Hurt believes the acreage

mix will become clearer next month when the Farm Service Agency releases its numbers. to see the latest USDA crop data and analysis.

But it will be harvest before some farmers know what they actually have left in some fields.

“We know we’ve got drowned out areas that won’t be planted or harvested,” Hurt said.

“That will lower harvested acreage. But it will be some time before USDA can pick up (those losses) in its acreage (estimates).”

Hurt conservatively estimates prevent plant acres of about 100,000 for corn and 1.2 million for beans. He pegs the number of acres currently in the ground that won’t be harvestable at about 600,000 for corn and 800,000 for beans, adding up to about 700,000 acres of corn and 2 million acres of beans that won’t produce any bushels.

“I think that (total of lost corn acres) could be over 1 million, easily,” he said. “But beans is where I think we’ve

really got problems (with lost acres possibly as high as 3 million). Beans just don’t tolerate the moisture we have.”

USDA last week lowered its corn production estimate by 100 million bushels and reduced soybean supplies by 40 million bushels due to lower beginning stocks. Total production was pegged at 13.5 billion bushels of corn and 3.88 billion bushels of beans.

“The numbers are not bullish for corn and beans,” Brian Hoops, Midwest Market Solutions, said during a teleconference hosted by the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. “The trade mentality is we’ve had enough crop problems it’s warranted to see yield numbers come down and the balance sheets tighten.”

USDA lowered ending stocks by 172 million bushels of corn to 1.6 billion bushels, and 50 million bushels of beans to 425 million bushels.

The ag department raised its season average price estimates by a quarter per bushel for corn and beans, and 35 cents for wheat.

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Respect limitations, power of ATVs

Thirty years ago, my family purchased a three-wheel, all-terrain cycle (ATC) for the family farm. But admittedly, it was more for recreational purposes. It now sits in my garage. And although it is still fun to get out on occasion, I am fully aware of its limitations. The three-wheel ATC was replaced by a more stable four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle (ATV). While safer, it still has limitations that must be respected.

ATV accidents have increased at a rapid pace the last 20 years, and show no signs of slowing down. Much of this is from the increase of usage, but studies show bad habits from 20 years ago have not improved. Studies also show when safety training is offered, it is rarely accepted.

First, there is a need to understand the physical limitations of the ATV. These machines were designed strictly for off-road purposes. The narrow wheel base and seat position allow for a higher center of gravity, which is great for trails, but not for high speeds in open fields or on roads. The tires are underinflated to accommodate rough terrain, and the bulging tread is designed to “grab” for traction.

On the contrary, automobile tires use a higher tire pressure and a tread design that will “grip and release.” Also, the rear axle on an ATV is solid, so it lacks the rear-wheel differential used in automobiles to allow rear tires to move at different speeds in a turn.

All of these factors make the ATV unsuitable for road use, especially on paved roads. A common misconception is that it is safe to drive at high speeds on a road as long as you’re going straight, and only taking a turn too fast will cause a problem. However, even when going straight, the ATV wheels will suddenly grab the road when there is a slight Kevin Frye change in the road surface, elevation or even when hitting a puddle. ATVs are simply not made for road use.

When used for agriculture, the majority of ATV accidents occur when spraying, checking fields and fences, and herding cattle. When spraying, a tank-full of pesticide is placed on the back of the ATV. The tank is heavy and may exceed the ATV weight rating, and also surges in different directions as it “sloshes” around. These imbalances along with uneven terrain are prone to cause rollovers. Other factors when driving in pasturs or fields are the unexpected holes, dips, bumps and slopes that cause the ATV to suddenly go off balance.

Rollovers are by far the most common cause of ATV accidents. In one study, only a third of the rollover injuries were due to trauma caused by being thrown. Getting crushed under an ATV that weighs a few hundred pounds is more common.

ATVs are very functional machines, and yes, can even be fun. However, the user must always know and respect intended use and limitations. Do not allow children to operate equipment built for adults. Wear helmets. Use at a reasonable speed, and do not carry passengers. Have a safe summer!

BY KEVIN FRYE

Kevin Frye serves as GROWMARK’s safety services manager. His email address is kfrye@growmark.com.

But that quality can only be realized when used in the right application. Contact your local FS Energy Specialist today.

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Tuesday: • FarmWeek: “The Early Word” • Ellen Thompson, National Teach Ag Campaign: Illinois ag teacher shortage • Mike Doherty, Illinois Farm Bureau senior economist and policy analyst: IFB Commodity Conference • Harvey Freese, FreeseNotis Weather Wednesday: • Richard Guebert Jr., IFB president • Philip Nelson, Illinois Department of Agriculture

director: state fair events • Jim Bower, Bower Trading Thursday: • Kristina Rasmussen, Illinois Policy Institute: state budget analysis • Don Schaefer, Mid-West Truckers Association: trucking regulation update Friday: • Christopher Merrett, Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs: economic development in rural communities • Brian Duncan, Ogle County; Jerry Henningfeld, Lake County; Don Temple, Whiteside County Farm Bureaus: county issues • Bob Beck, WinField: crop update

Corn Strategy

Wheat sentiment shifting favorably

The wheat fundamentals stack up in a manner that suggests improved price potential ahead. With feed, food and trade implications considered, wheat can become a leader for all of the grains if prices are to continue moving higher from here.

U.S. wheat growers have been through just about everything again this growing season — from drought and extreme temperature swings this winter taking the top end off yields to excessive rainfall causing quality issues and harvest delays this spring. Producers outside of the U.S. now have greater weather risk to factor in as well.

A heat wave currently threatens wheat in Europe with record temperatures being recorded in parts of the U.K., Germany and France.

Hot, dry weather is also reaching into the Black Sea region where Russia and Ukraine have plenty of acres planted to wheat.

An El Nino in the mix this year has the potential to wreak havoc on crops in the Southern Hemisphere. Planting efforts in Argentina are being thwarted by very dry soil conditions and estimates for production continue to fall as a result. Australia may not have had the same trouble getting wheat planted, but dry weather is already a concern there as well.

Supply side considerations are leaning less bearish than they were just a few months ago, but the outlook for U.S. demand remains tepid. Food use is projected to rise only slightly on the year, feed use is

minimal, and exports are struggling.

Food and feed usage are relatively static year to year; exports are the wild card.

Sales did not make a strong finish to the 2014-15 marketing year and have not started off the new year very well either. Abundant stocks held by our competitors and unfavorable currency terms have been the most significant head winds for U.S. exports.

U.S. exporters will have to rely on global production scenarios shaping up in their favor. As residual supplier to the world, U.S. exporters would benefit from any production hiccups that might occur abroad. Weather worries for the major world exporters currently make those potential production hiccups more likely.

A strong dollar may not be here to stay. Traders have already priced in an imminent U.S. interest rate increase. A Greek debt deal has the potential to take significant pressure off of the euro and would reduce the attractiveness of the dollar as a safe haven play.

Terms of trade for U.S. grain exports will improve if the dollar moves down from here.

USDA analysts look for the world wheat crop to produce 722 million metric tons in 2015, down about 1 percent from output in 2014. Consumption is projected to total 714 million metric tons to leave 220 million in free stocks.

At about 30 percent, the stocks-to-use projection is comfortable, but it is not necessarily burdensome.

Replace the word “wheat” with “corn,” and the spirit still applies in all considerations above. The same fundamentals that may allow wheat prices to move higher relate similarly to corn. Watch wheat for signals on broader market potential.

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ü2014 crop: The $4.39 target for September futures was hit on Friday for a 20 percent sale. Remaining 2013 crop inventories should have been priced at this time. Although we expect another opportunity to price corn this summer, it may not come until the end of August. Manage your risk accordingly. ü2015 crop: A 10 percent sale was triggered on Friday as December futures touched $4.49. vFundamentals: Wet weather issues say harvested acreage will drop from current expectations or yield will.

USDA cut the carryout estimate on Friday from 1.771 to 1.599 billion bushels for 201516. Yield was unchanged from the previous report at 166.8 bushels per acre. World ending stocks came down 5 million metric tons from the June report. A weak pace for newcrop export sales may eventually become a head wind.

USDA’s export projection was cut by 25 million bushels last week. For now, production worries will outweigh sluggish demand to remain the main market driver.

Page 11 • Monday, July 13, 2015 • FarmWeek Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2014 crop: Target $10.75 basis July futures to make a 10 percent sale, boosting your total to 85 percent complete.

Look for prices to correct lower in the near term. ü2015 crop: Leave an order to price 10 percent if November futures hit $10.70. We still prefer to leave the majority of expected new-crop production open to upside price potential. vFundamentals: Weather worries had been the supportive influence and look likely to remain a bullish catalyst for soybeans through July. Acres will go unplanted and the crop in the ground is deteriorating in condition. Production forecasts are dropping quickly.

Traders are not buying USDA’s current yield forecast, which in Friday’s report remained unchanged at 46 bushels per acre. Carry out dropped 50 million bushels to 425 million, but was higher than most trade guesses. Demand is turning tepid, but will stay on the back burner for now. The bullish shift in supply side sentiment

is a driver that can continue propelling prices higher, so better sales opportunities are thought to be ahead.

Wheat Strategy

ü2014 crop: Old-crop wheat sales should be complete.

Make any catch-up sales now. ü2015 crop: Use $6.25 as a target to increase sales by 25 percent. For those selling wheat across the scale, use the recent rally to price a portion of what you are comfortable selling. vFundamentals: Wheat prices are currently buoyed by weather worries abroad. Hot, dry weather in Europe is thought to be taking the top

end off of yield potential.

Heat is an issue in Saskatchewan. Dryness is disrupting planting and production potential in Argentina.

The U.S. winter wheat harvest started off with results that were better than expected, but persistent rains are in the way of further progress. Speculative sentiment has shifted toward wheat’s favor with managed money having fully covered a hefty net-short position that had been held for most of 2015. Even after a strong June rally, there is room for prices to improve, even if futures have a short-term setback in store for them.

FarmWeek • Page 12 • Monday, July 13, 2015

Seeds for locally grown food planted, harvested It is that time of the year when local food, especially locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, are becoming abundant.

Whether it is enjoying the freshly picked produce at one of our 350 farmers’ markets in Illinois, receiving a weekly box or two of goodies from more than 57 Illinois Community Supported Agriculture farms, pulling over at a roadside stand and loading up your canvas bag, shopping at your favorite grocery store or dining at one of your favorite fine-dining establishments — local foods are showing up on plates everywhere.

While there is no standard definition for local food, one can pretty much rely on common sense for a definition.

CYNTHIA HASKINS Local food is produced by using either conventional or organic methods. Production choices are up to the farmer, just as purchasing choices are up to the consumer.

And through which market channels a farmer wishes to sell his or her product is also a choice. Some farmers enjoy selling direct to consumers. They like having the one-on-one conversations with consumers as they tell their own family farm story. Other farmers may want to market to grocery stores, restaurants or even schools or universities. Regardless, the demand is there — for local food and for additional farmers willing to produce it.

Years ago, instead of growing for a farmers’ market, farmers grew enough

for their own families. And anyone with a few tomato plants or cucumber plants knows all too well that there is always enough to share with our neighbors.

Neighbors and relatives who lived in the city were thrilled to receive a freshly picked ripe tomato and looked forward to the gift of labor every year. In many cases, the farmers’ market has replaced this tradition, opening the door for farmers to supplement their income.

In 1994, there were 1,755 farmers’ markets in the U.S. The number of farmers’ markets has been on a steady incline ever since. Since 2006, the number of farmers’ markets has grown by 288 percent. There are now more than 8,300 farmers’ markets throughout the country.

The increase of local food is showing up on restaurant menus and grocery shelves throughout the country. A recently released report from Packaged Facts estimated that local foods generated $12 billion in sales in 2014, accounting for 2 percent of total U.S. retail sales of foods and beverages.

During the next five years, locally produced foods will grow faster than the annual pace of total food and beverage sales to approach $20 billion in 2019. Many grocery retailers are reporting that the interest for local food is growing at a much faster rate than that for organic food.

Farmers interested in selling through traditional, wholesale channels are trying to figure out how to scale up production and develop additional market channels so they can shift from supplementing their income to farming full time.

Seasoned wholesale buyers are quite knowledgeable and skilled in sourcing from seasonal growers from state to state and region to region.

They have been doing it for decades. However, sourcing from smaller farmers, those who do not have the necessary inventory, equipment and coldchain management, can be a challenge — for the buyer and the farmer.

Years ago, farmers had the same problem as some of the emerging and smaller farmers have now. They didn’t have enough product to warrant investing in washing, sorting and grading equipment, and establishing cold-chain management. Therefore, farmers began working side-by-side and packed their produce in a packing facility, a practice that continues.

They even created a label or two to market their product. Those labels, once adhered to produce crates, are now collector items.

Most people aren’t aware that behind that label is a population of smaller farmers signed up with a shipper to do all the washing, sorting and grading for them. Today, similar infrastructures are being referred to as aggregation centers or food hubs.

As Illinois farmers step up to the plate and begin developing an infrastructure so smaller farmers can meet the growing

demand for local, we can learn a lot from history.

Cynthia Haskins, Illinois Farm Bureau manager of business development and compliance, has worked in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry for more than 35 years, assisting farmers and farmer groups with distribution and marketing among grocery stores, restaurants, distributors, schools and direct-to-consumer market channels.

Supreme Court’s raisin ruling affects production controls

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the raisin Marketing Order program that was in place for nearly 80 years. Back in 2003, the government ordered California raisin growers to set aside 47 perJOHN cent of their BLOCK raisin crop.

Marvin Horne said, “No. I’ll keep my raisins and sell them myself.” That began a court battle that went on for 10

years, but it is now settled.

You may wonder — what is this all about?

Turn back to the Great Depression of the 1930s. The federal government took a number of steps to control supply of farm products to strengthen prices.

Many of those government control programs are gone.

We don’t have farmland set aside today.

In 1981, when I stepped in as U.S. secretary of agriculture, the government was paying farmers not to plant as much as 10 percent or 15 percent of their corn acres. In

return, we got price supports.

The set aside program ended when we passed the 1985 farm bill. We really don’t have production controls for corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle or rice anymore.

There are 46 federal marketing orders still in place affecting fruits, vegetables, nuts and specialty crops. They are all a little different. Most of the orders attempt to ensure uniformity of size and grade. With collective action of farmers, they can support price by limiting supply.

The raisin case is bigger than raisins. It will not kill all

marketing order programs.

However, if they survive, they may have to reform. They cannot violate the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, which says private property may not be taken for public use without just compensation.

The government wanted to take Horne’s raisins without just compensation. I agree with Horne. He said, “The marketing order — it’s like all things, it served its time.”

Our farming industry is freer of government control than it has been in 80 years, but we still need to make some

adjustments. I think this court ruling will push us in the right direction. Let the market tell us what to do.

In closing, I want to say how pleased I am that Trade Promotion Authority passed.

Congratulations to President Obama and the Republican leadership in our Congress.

Our divided government came together on a very important issue.

Whatever happened to ‘consent of the governed?’

government are now fused together in such a way that democracy is no longer functioning as intended.

Mr. Rigolizzo and our elected leaders need to understand times have changed; the public expects a new level of access to information. People become suspicious when requests are denied.

If the Trans-Pacific Part-

nership is so good, reveal the content. Otherwise, it should be run through the shredder.

Obamacare was done in secrecy/private. How did that work out from the most transpar-

ent administration ever?

TOM FELTES West Chicago

Editor: Most Americans, including myself, support free trade in principle. It is outrageous that our democratically elected government will not tell us the laws they are passing.

It is insidious and detrimental to constitutional sovereignty. Corporations and

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