Farmweek june 10 2013

THE “STRESS Management for Dummies” book offers useful tips and ideas for dealing with stress and is recommended by a rural mental health expert. ............3

EXTENSION OF major grant funding offers the Grain Handling Safety Coalition an ideal opportunity to prepare farmers for what could be a perilous fall. ..................5

A WRAPUP OF THE recently concluded legislative session was compiled by Kay Shipman with assistance from members of the Governmental Affairs Division. ...8,9

Senate to wrap farm bill; amendments averted

House approval ‘tough row to hoe?’

Monday, June 10, 2013

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Don’t expect fireworks in the remaining Senate farm bill debate — behind-the-scene negotiations and a key “cloture” vote have blocked a barrage of controversial amendments on crop insurance and biofuels and assured timely passage.

However, House farm bill approval may well prove “a tough row to hoe,” Illinois Farm Bureau National Legislative Director Adam Nielsen advised.

Amid concerns that immigration measures could eclipse ongoing farm bill debate, senators by a vote of 75-22 approved a cloture measure that effectively ends debate on the ag package. Final Senate passage was set for late afternoon Monday (today).

Senate leaders were unable to

Two sections Volume 41, No. 23

arrive at a list of farm bill amendments to consider, and the only new amendment expected prior to passage was a rural broadband measure sponsored by Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.).

IFB had been concerned about prospective amendments to scrap federal premium subsidies for crop insurance harvest price revenue guarantees and eliminate or tighten the federal Renewable Fuel Standard.

“It was important to get the cloture vote so there would be a foreseeable end to the farm bill debate, so it wouldn’t be cut off by immigration,” Nielsen said Thursday.

“We were concerned that if the debate were allowed to drag on, immigration would have gone onto the floor and the farm bill would have been pushed to the side.”

In addressing colleagues over the past two weeks, Senate Ag Committee Chairman Deb Stabenow (D-Mich.) had emphasized the estimated 16 million jobs tied to and continued conservation gains achieved through the farm bill.

But budget issues and dissatisfaction over a proposed $4 billion in long-term food stamp funding spurred lawmakers to approve crop insurance “means testing,” trimming federal premium subsidies for producers with more than $750,000 in annual adjusted gross income.

Nielsen said he is hopeful the House will reject the Senate measure in joint conference committee.

Meanwhile, Nielsen reported senators were “ready to go” this week with an immigration

reform plan that would create a two-tiered ag worker program to address undocumented workers already in the U.S. and provide visas for contractual and general “at-will” seasonal workers.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) filed a motion for cloture to expedite an immigration vote.

The House continues to review proposals for a labor package ostensibly including a new ag guest worker program proposed by former House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

Nielsen sees key challenges in near-term House farm bill approval.

The House Ag Committee’s draft bill, which seeks far deeper food stamp cuts, has generated “angst” among liberal interests, and conservative congressmen continue to eye crop insurance as well as nutrition spending.

“While I’m optimistic, it will not be an easy task to get a farm bill through the House,” Nielsen said. “Lawmakers are getting an earful from groups on the far left and far right, so our members really need to be ready to engage in the debate.”

soybeans were in the ground as of the first of last week, 17 percent behind the average pace.

Corn planting, meanwhile,

Roach Ag Marketing, projected U.S. corn acres will decline by 3.4 million while soybean plantings could grow by 1.1 million acres.

“Our report (if realized) is friendly for corn,” said Brian Roach, president of Roach Ag Marketing.

If the planting projections are realized, ending stocks could decrease from 2 billion to 1.5 billion bushels for corn and increase by 45 million bushels for beans. USDA on June 28 will update its acreage estimates.

“We should expect to shrink the (corn) crop on the acreage side,” Roach said. “The market has got to trade weather as it relates to yields now.”

Dale Durchholz, AgriVisor senior market analyst, said he believes farmers last week closed the gap on unplanted soybean acres.

“There was some planting (last week) that probably will bump bean planting into the low 70s (percent completed nationwide as of today),” Durchholz said during an AgFanatics pod-

cast available online at {AgriVisor.com}. “That’s going to take a lot of weight off the market.”

Farmers had until May 31 in deep Southern Illinois and June 5 in the rest of the state to plant the corn crop to receive 100 percent of their crop insurance guarantee. They have until June 15 in Northern Illinois and June 20 in the rest of the state to plant the bean crop and receive

the full crop insurance guarantee.

Durchholz and Roach said they believe the yield outlook for this year still is good despite the late planting and ponded out portions of fields.

“It (excess moisture) tends to help yields more than hurt them,” Durchholz said. “We’ve banked a lot of moisture that will help (alleviate) any real drought repercussions.”

Last week, Illinois Farm Bureau issued a national legislative “action request” seeking member support for the farm bill cloture vote.

Farmers seek to overcome soy planting delays

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Periodicals: Time Valued

Farmers who finally caught up with corn planting in recent weeks turned their attention to soybeans.

And for good reason.

Soy planting as of the first of last week was just 49 percent complete in Illinois, 20 percent behind the five-year average pace.

Nationwide, 57 percent of

FarmWeekNow.com

Listen to the latest AgFanatics podcast about late soybean planting at FarmWeekNow.com.

neared completion the first of last week as 91 percent of the crop was in the ground nationwide and in Illinois.

“Heavy rains fell across most of the state (in late May), hindering planting progress,” the National Agricultural Statistics Service Illinois field office noted, although that fact will come as little surprise to most farmers.

A planting survey of farmers in the Upper Midwest, including Illinois, last week indicated farmers will plant more beans and fewer acres of corn this season due to the wet spring and multiple fieldwork delays.

The survey, conducted by

FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com

Illinois Farm Bureau®on the web: www.ilfb.org

Quick Takes

EMERGING ISSUES

FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, June 10, 2013

FOOD TRANSPARENCY DIALOGUE — Chicago will be the site for the next food dialogue joining farmers and consumers. This event is on June 19 at the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts. DeKalb County farmer Lynn Martz of Maple Park will participate on an expert panel. Ellie Krieger of the Food Network will serve as moderator.

U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance will host the event.

The focus will be on the responsibility of making information available to consumers.

For more information, go to {fooddialogues.com}.

SANDY AND SOY — Soybean farmers are helping New York rebuild from Hurricane Sandy’s ravages. United Soybean Board (USB) Customer Focus Action Team Chairman Sharon Covert, a Tiskilwa farmer, recently visited New York City’s Battery Park, which was damaged by the storm, to honor the park authority’s selection of soybacked synthetic AstroTurf for sports activities in the field.

Covert also visited an Applebee’s franchise in Harlem, which features a soy-based carpet backing and has received special distinction for its environmentally conscious building/design practices. “As U.S. soybean farmers, we are excited to support many products that bring benefits to New York City residents,” the Bureau County USB director said.

Biodiesel and Bioheat — a heating oil/biodiesel blend — also are gaining popularity in New York, where greenhouse gas reduction is a priority.

‘DRUG’ BILL CLEAN — Last week, the House passed a five-year reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act (AGDUFA) — important measures to ensure continued access to improved veterinary products.

Despite earlier concerns about proposed amendments to impose stringent new antibiotic reporting requirements, the bills, like their Senate counterparts, passed in their original “clean” form.

“The laws will help ensure that pork producers have access to products that keep our pigs healthy and our products safe and wholesome,” National Pork Producers Association President Randy Spronk said.

First enacted in 2003, ADUFA and AGDUFA allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to collect fees from animal health companies for the review and approval of products for farm animals and pets. The fees supplement congressionally approved appropriations and have enabled FDA to dramatically reduce review time for new animal drugs.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 41 No. 23

June 10, 2013

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New swine virus under microscope The National Pork Board (NPB) last week approved $450,000 in checkoff funds for research of a new swine virus that threatens the pork industry.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) as of last week was confirmed in pig herds across the Corn Belt, including Illinois, and as far north as Minnesota and as far south as Oklahoma, according to Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian for the National Pork Producers Council.

PEDV, which is not a new virus outside the U.S., is a production-related disease that is particularly hard on young pigs less than three weeks of age.

It is not a regulatory or reportable disease.

Two men admit $14 million fraud in elevator failure Two men last week admitted to charges connected to a $14 million fraud scheme tied to a failed McLean County elevator, according to the Associated Press.

Robert Printz, a Fairbury farmer, and Timothy Boerma of Lincoln, the former elevator manager, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. In May 2010, the

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

Illinois Department of Agriculture suspended the grain dealer and grain warehouse licenses of Towanda Grain Co. after learning of financial irregularities from the failed cooperative’s board of directors.

The two men were accused of working together to defraud the elevator, Printz’s

ZESTY ROOT

creditors, and others.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 16. Printz faces up to 40 years in prison, and Boerma faces up to 30 years. Both face possible fines of up to $1 million each.

The elevator was purchased and reopened by Bloomington-based Evergreen FS Inc.

Bob Keller of Keller Farms in Collinsville displays a couple of recently harvested horseradish roots. The family farm, which includes his son, Craig, and granddaughter, Lindsey, has 400 acres of horseradish in addition to corn, sweet corn, soybeans, and wheat. An average field will produce 90 100-pound bags of horseradish per acre. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

STAFF Editor Dave McClelland (dmcclelland@ilfb.org) Legislative Affairs Editor Kay Shipman (kayship@ilfb.org) Agricultural Affairs Editor Martin Ross (mross@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 Advertising Sales Representatives Hurst and Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 1-800-397-8908 (advertising inquiries only)

PEDV does not affect pork safety and pork from PEDV-affected animals is safe to eat.

The disease also cannot be transmitted to other animals or humans.

“Since PEDV is widespread in many countries, it is not a trade-restricting disease,” said Paul Sundberg, NPB’s vice president of science and technology.

“Producers who suspect their herd may be infected should work with their herd veterinarian immediately and, as always, maintain strict biosecurity protocols.”

Symptoms for farmers to watch for are vomiting and diarrhea in baby pigs.

Tuesday: • Ag weather with Har vey Freese of Freese-Notis • Dave Van Wy, damage prevention manager at JULIE • Julie Walters, senior farm underwriter of Country Financial • Dan Rutherford, Illinois state treasurer Wednesday: • Tim Schweizer, Illinois

Department of Natural Resources public relations liaison • Rita Frazer, live from the FFA Convention in Springfield Thursday: • Representative from Illinois Beef Association • Frank Butterfield, director of Springfield field office for Landmarks Illinois Friday: • Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse publisher

• Michael Buss, deputy director of the American Legion • “ To w n a n d C o u n t r y Partners” — Explore Dixon, Del Rheas chicken basket giveaway • Stor ytime with Alan Jarand To find a radio station near you that carries the RFD Radio Network, go to FarmWeekNow.com, click on “Radio,” then click on “Affiliates.”

EMERGING ISSUES

Page 3 Monday, June 10, 2013 FarmWeek

Federal aid approved for 24 more counties

The federal government last week approved aid to help local governments in 24 counties recover eligible flood-related expenses, Gov. Pat Quinn announced.

Local governments may apply to be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of eligible flood-related expenses.

The counties are: Adams, Bureau, Clark, Crawford, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McHenry, Mercer, Ogle, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Warren, and Woodford.

On May 31, Quinn also requested federal assistance for local governments in Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Hancock, Lawrence, McDonough, Monroe, Morgan, Peoria, Schuyler, Scott, Tazewell, and Will counties.

The state is awaiting a decision on that request.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin scheduling briefings for local government officials to explain the application process.

“This is more great news for the communities that are recovering and rebuilding from last month’s storms,” U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said in a joint statement. “We will continue to work with the entire Illinois congressional delegation to support any additional requests for federal aid.”

FILLING SPRAYER, CHATTING

Robert Patrick, left, and John Emerick, both of rural Macomb, chat as Emerick fills his sprayer before returning to work in his 100-acre field near Industry in McDonough County. Patrick helped Emerick by having the chemical tank ready when needed. Both men have Angus cattle in addition to corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Patrick recently made his first cutting of alfalfa, which he said was three to four weeks behind schedule. The pair said that as of Thursday only about 15 percent of the soybeans had been planted in the county. Corn planting is finished, they said. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

Weathering stress important for farmers, farm families

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Farmers and their families need to focus on themselves in dealing with stress and other health problems stemming from flooding and inopportune rains, a rural mental health expert advised FarmWeek.

The spring weather challenges are presenting Illinois farmers with a second consecutive year of crop production obstacles, and similar farm health strategies apply during times of too much rain or too little, said Purdue University nursing professor Roberta Schweitzer.

“We need to remind everybody that there are things they can do, but they can’t control the weather,” said

Schweitzer, a rural mental health consultant to Indiana AgrAbility.

“It’s OK to identify and talk about concerns,” she said. Schweitzer suggested farm families call a family meeting to air concerns. Age-appropriate information may be shared with children.

Farmers deal with stress during normal growing seasons, but the anxiety compounds during weather extremes. “A lot of physiological problems come from stress related to heart, muscles, lack of sleep, and loss of appetite,” she explained.

She recommended watching for early warning signs of a farmer who may be having difficulty coping with stress. These include changes in nor-

mal routine and behavior, declining care for the farmstead or livestock, and more frequent illnesses or accidents.

“We have to watch for depression and substance abuse,” Schweitzer said.

Relaxation techniques — some that take as little as 20 to 25 minutes a day — would be handy tools for stressed farmers, according to Schweitzer.

Farm groups, such as county Farm Bureau committees and 4-H clubs, and rural church groups may want to consider a group course in relaxation techniques as a health program, she said. Local clinics and hospitals and community parish nurses may provide instructors or resources.

For the do-it-yourself-types, Schweitzer recommended “Stress Management for Dummies,” which sells for about $20 and offers many useful tips and ideas.

Farmers also might consider working together, just as they do to harvest for an injured or ill neighbor, Schweitzer suggested. They would gain a feeling of community and not feel helpless, she added.

Sometimes getting away from the farm and uncontrollable circumstances may help, according to Schweitzer.

“When you can’t do the things you want to do, you need to be doing other things that make you feel helpful,” she summarized.

Ethanol/gas price gap potential federal policy factor?

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Favorable pump prices could help ethanol weather what may prove a hot summer on Capitol Hill.

The U.S. House Oversight Committee last week fielded oil industry attacks on the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) as bipartisan lawmakers continued to push measures to eliminate or pare back federal biofuels mandates.

That’s as gas prices spiked amid reported oil refinery maintenance issues that Illinois

Corn Growers Association market development director Dave Loos said have arisen “at the beginning of vacation season.”

In Bloomington alone last week, retail standard unleaded gasoline prices were running at or above $4 per gallon vs. less than $3 for E85 — 85 percent ethanol blends used in “flexfuel” vehicles (FFVs). Loos told FarmWeek the current price gap is a strong indicator that “the RFS2 is working, and ethanol definitely is working.”

“If you’re driving an FFV,

start using E85 and save some money,” Loos urged. “We’re starting to see this throughout the state. Ethanol itself is starting to realize a bigger spread because of the increased price for base gasoline. In Springfield, we’re seeing that $1 spread, too.

“I think we’re going to see a nice spread between E85 and gasoline through the summer months. Even going into this fall, if we have a harvest that’s normal, if we get as much corn on the market as we think we could, we could see ethanol

Bills of interest in General Assembly Among the many bills introduced in the General Assembly spring session were several of interest to Illinois Farm Bureau.

• Legislation addressing permanent road closures and weight postings was held in the House Transportation: Regulations,

Roads, and Bridges Committee.

An IFB legislative priority, HB 2367 proposed that highway commissioners cannot permanently close, vacate, or reduce the weight limit on any road or portion of a road without the written approval of themselves,

the county superintendent of highways, and the elected board associated with that road district.

The bill was opposed by highway commissioners, township officials, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the county highway engineers. IFB

prices dropping as much as $1.50 a gallon below gasoline.”

Loos maintained the RFS2 “would work even better for the consumer” if policymakers and the market embraced E15.

Annual U.S. gasoline use has declined from a 142-billion-gallon peak in 2007 to a current roughly 133 billion gallons, reducing the size of the ethanol market under what biofuels interests call the existing 10 percent “blend wall.”

While 15 percent ethanol blends are approved for 2001 and newer-model vehicles,

retail adoption of dedicated E15 pumps (those bearing a specific E15 sticker) has been slow.

Currently, Illinois has one E15 pumping location in Christian County and two more in Pike County. The retail fuel chain Qik-N-EZ was expected to open three new pumps in the Springfield area within the next three weeks.

“As you increase the percentage of ethanol in your gasoline, you’re going to see a reduction in price at the pump,” Loos said.

supported HB 2367.

• Wheat development program legislation passed overwhelmingly and will be sent to the governor for his consideration. HB 2709, an initiative of the Illinois Wheat Association, amended the Wheat Develop-

ment Act. As proposed, the law would state the total assessment levied on wheat may be — rather than shall be — up to 1.5 cents per bushel as established by a temporary program committee. IFB supports HB 2709.

LIVESTOCK

FarmWeek Page 4 Monday, June 10, 2013

Return of profitability in hog market could be short-lived The mood of pork producers was upbeat last week at the 25th annual World Pork Expo in Des Moines as hog prices recently rallied to profitable levels.

Hog prices rallied from the mid-$50s per live hundredweight in March to the low $70s the first of last week.

“We’ve got prices back to a profitable level in the shortrun after a belated seasonal rally,” said Steve Meyer, president of Paragon Economics.

“But the black ink probably isn’t going to last unless we have a very good corn crop, which looks doubtful.”

The economic outlook for hog producers is very much tied to crop production as feed costs account for about 70 percent of the cost to raise a hog.

There were short stretches of profit for hog producers in 2012 and 2013, but they haven’t had a profitable year in two years, due in large part to last year’s drought.

“Last summer, we had some profitable prices until feed prices climbed,” Meyer noted. “If we have a good corn crop (this fall), we could

be set up for a profitable year in 2014.”

Hog producers in the meantime could struggle with high feed prices and corn and soybean availability.

“We’re not going to run out of corn, but there will be places you can’t find corn by August,” Meyer said. “The corn situation between now and August will be very tight.

And we won’t have any corn from early harvest (which occurred last year) because of delayed planting (this spring).”

Chris Hurt, Purdue University Extension economist, recommended hog producers keep any expansion plans on hold until the size of the 2013 crops and subsequent prices become more clear.

“The size of those (corn and soybean) crops should be more transparent in another 60 days, although late planting likely means frost also will be a threat for much of the month of September,” Hurt said.

Hurt predicted the pork industry will be able to survive another year if corn prices generally remain below $6 per bushel. Prices above $6 would push the hog industry outlook back into losses while prices in the low-$5 range would

Changes to the Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus program should benefit consumers as well as pork producers.

PQA Plus, which was introduced in 1989, provides a framework for significant

food safety standards and improved animal well-being.

The voluntary program is updated on a regular basis to increase its effectiveness, incorporate new research, and ensure the program’s validity with customers.

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Dan DeWitt, a Tama County (Iowa) pork producer, and a young helper pull pork ribs off the big grill last week at the 25th annual World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Consumers apparently are enjoying more pork. Total pounds of pork sold at the retail level the first quarter of this year was up 9.9 percent compared to the same stretch last year. (Photo by Daniel Grant)

encourage expansion of the swine herd.

Hog and pork prices in the near-term could increase due in part to Shuanghui International’s acquisition of Smithfield Foods. Shuanghui is the majority shareholder of China’s largest meat pro-

cessing enterprise.

“I think (pork) exports to China (a country of 1.3 billion people) are going to grow regardless, but probably a little faster with this deal,” Meyer said.

Pork also could replace beef at meat counters this year due to short cattle supplies

that triggered record-high beef prices in recent months.

World Pork Expo is presented each year by the National Pork Producers Council. It drew about 20,000 pork producers and industry representatives from 39 countries last week to Des Moines.

“Most pork producers I know care about their animals and the safety of the pork they produce,” Conley Nelson, president of the National Pork Board (NPB) and an Iowa farmer, said last week at the 25th annual World Pork Expo.

“We live within a code of ethics.

“But most consumers today don’t understand how we raise or care for our animals,” he continued. “PQA Plus demonstrates a tangible way to measure animal well-being.”

Enhancements to PQA Plus unveiled at World Pork Expo include the following: Participants must pass a test on good production practices.

• Recertification will be available online at {pork.org/certification} after initial certification.

• Participating farms must submit a corrective action plan for all non-compliant findings revealed during site assessments.

• Trainers and educators for the program will receive more extensive instructions and information. “(The enhancements) will increase accountability of the PQA Plus program based on current research and practices,” Nelson said.

The voluntary program is extra work but producers have embraced it to enhance animal well being and to ensure accountability with customers.

More than 58,000 individuals have achieved PQA Plus status. A total of 16,566 farm sites, which represent about 75 percent of the pig inventory nationwide, have been assessed for the program.

Meanwhile, NPB in recent months increased its domestic marketing efforts to bolster consumer demand.

NPB this spring rolled out new names for traditional cuts of pork to address the lack of consumer understanding of pork cuts and how to prepare them.

“For consumers, high prices at the gas pump and a tight food budget mean they’re searching for bargains,” said Karen Richter, a pork producer from Minnesota. “But they still expect great taste and variety in meals. That’s good news for pork.”

The new names are porterhouse chop, ribeye chop, and New York chop. NPB also is pushing its current consumer campaign “Pork, Be Inspired.”

The efforts seem to be helping. Total pounds of pork sold at retail in the first quar-

ter of this year were up 9.9 percent compared to the same time last year, according to Chris Novak, CEO of NPB. — Daniel Grant

Pork producers focus on quality assurance

Bryce Walters, Tampico, guides his crossbred gilt into its pen during the World Pork Expo Junior National Show last week at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. It was the eighth year Walters had showed pigs at the event. The junior show last week had a record 856 junior exhibitors who showed more than 2,500 pigs. Overall, about 20,000 pork producers and industr y representatives from 39 countries attended the 25th annual World Pork Expo. (Photo by Daniel Grant)

SAFETY

Page 5 Monday, June 10, 2013 FarmWeek

Timing ideal for grain safety grant extension

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Extension of major grant funding offers the Illinois-based Grain Handling Safety Coalition (GHSC) an ideal summer window to prepare farmers for what could be an especially perilous fall.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has approved a three-month funding extension (through September) for GHSC’s community-based safety training.

GHSC, a collection of producer and agribusiness interests and university specialists, was awarded $168,000 in 2011 to develop “train the trainer” efforts aimed at generating a statewide corps of safety educators.

Grant extension “will allow us to reach hundreds more people with grain safety training,” said Illinois Farm Bureau Program Manager Peggy Romba, who serves as a liaison between the coalition and county Farm Bureaus.

Romba acknowledged that to The Grain Handling Safe- date winter weather and spring ty Coalition and county Farm rains have interfered with schedBureaus have scheduled the uling of training sessions and following community safety limited farmer attendance. training sessions: University of Illinois ag safety • June 19 — Sangamon/specialist Robert Aherin told Logan/Menard counties • June 21 — Ford-Iroquois FarmWeek safety specialists are concerned about the ripple counties • June 22 — Christian effects a wet spring can have County going into harvest.

• June 28 — Coles County Grain-related incidents • July 25 — Will County peaked in 2010, when 57 entrapFor times, locations, and ments — and 51 fatalities — registration information, conwere recorded nationwide. tact the respective county That’s according to Purdue UniFarm Bureau. versity’s new 2012 Summary of Grain Entrapments in the United States, which cited 30 entrapments in 2011 and 19 last season.

Aherin credits enhanced safety training in part with reducing bin-related fatalities and injuries. However, he stressed the 2012 drought resulted in less corn — and drier grain — moving in and out of storage.

By contrast, a bumper crop and a late harvest resulted in more high-moisture grain going into the bins in 2010. That caused clumping or “bridging” of grain, driving producers into the bin to release stored supplies.

“When you have less grain in the bins, that decreases exposure,” Aherin told FarmWeek. “And you don’t have caking and bridging when the grain goes in dry.

“The later we get crops in, the later we get to harvest. The later we get into harvest season, the more chance we have of rain and (crop) maturity issues coming into play. That increases the risk of grain being harvested at higher moisture, and that increases potential for storage problems.”

Further, Romba noted an upswing in overall storage since 2010. Commercial “off-farm” storage jumped a whopping 10.1 billion bushels in 2011, including 91 million bushels of new storage in Illinois, and she noted “on-farm storage where we’ve never had storage before.”

“That increases exposure and risk,” Romba warned.

Training sessions

Grain Handling Safety Coalition member Lynn McClure of Western Grain Marketing LLC is lowered into a model grain bin filled with mock “corn” during production of a video on use of lifeline equipment to prevent or extract farmers or elevator workers from a grain engulfment. Grain and Feed Association of Illinois representative John Lee, left, and University of Illinois ag safety specialist Robert Aherin assist McClure, while U of I videographer Jim Knoblauch shoots the scene at Bloomington’s Asmark Institute training center. At photo below left, McClure demonstrates how quickly and easily an individual can become trapped in grain. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is among those expected to use the video. (Photos by Cyndi Cook)

FarmWeek Page 6 Monday, June 10, 2013

CROPWATCHERS Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: Rain on Wednesday and Thursday totaled 0.7 of an inch. Some hay was made early in the week, but most producers got stopped by the rain. Corn is growing well and some fields are canopying the rows. Sprayers have been busy making second pass or post-sprayings. I have seen a few soybean plantings and a little replant to fill in holes and skipped areas.

Small grains look excellent. We have had 574 growing degree units.

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: The last week was full of cloudy days and more rain. Fieldwork was stalled as we waited for soil conditions to improve. Crop growth is limited due to the lack of sunshine and temperatures well below average. It was time for the first cutting of hay, but that was also hampered due to the weather. Wheat is beginning the head stage.

Sprayers will run and sidedressing of nitrogen will begin when the weather improves.

Joe Zumwalt, Warsaw, Hancock County: While the rains have ended, its effects have not.

The ground remains quite wet, and many crops planted in the past two weeks are going to have to be replanted. Ninety-five percent of the corn is planted, but not many soybeans are in.

Most of the corn ranges from 2leaf to V6. Some areas have had better progress, but for the most part, we have a lot of soybeans yet to plant. We have maybe 30 percent planted. This week looks promising. Let’s hope so. We are overdue for drier conditions!

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: Very little planting progress for the week.

Still lots of soybeans to be planted. The corn that remains likely will be switched or go to prevented planting. Corn that is planted is pretty rough looking.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We received 0.7 of an inch of rain on May 31 and June 1 — a total of 7 inches that week. We started planting in very wet soils on Wednesday.

We have finished corn planting and probably won’t replant the drowned areas at this point. The good corn is now tall enough that replanting would cause more damage than it would help the final yield. We expected to get very close to finishing soybean planting over the weekend if the rains held off again. I mowed one field of hay, and it should have been ready to bale over the weekend. Pastures are very lush and green. This year, I don’t have enough cattle to keep up with the grass. Last year was a very different story.

Mark

Kerber,

Chatsworth, Livingston County: Producers are analyzing their replant acres. It was a little wet to do any replanting, but soon the roads will be busy with planters running around. Some are just starting to sidedress nitrogen on the corn. There is a fair amount of soybeans yet to be planted the first time. It also is time to cut hay, waterways, and roadsides. Mowing has been delayed because of soggy ditches. With all of the flooding, one can see how well waterways, ditches, receivers, and tiles worked — or didn’t work. There will be tile blowouts to fix. Don’t forget to carry flags on your four-wheeler. Markets are looking to the future.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Planting, replanting, sidedressing of corn and post-spraying were occurring in drier locations, although most areas could only wait due to saturated soils. Oxygendeprived roots had corn plants looking a sickly yellow color.

Growing degree units are lagging normal by 10 percent. Patience wears thin. Corn, $7.03; new crop, $5.27; soybeans, $15.67; new crop, $12.53; wheat, $6.58.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: After all the rain, we were able to start planting again Thursday. We hoped to finish planting Friday, except for the areas that were still too wet.

Sidedressing nitrogen on corn started late last week in the better-drained cornfields. From May 26 through June 2, we received 5.1 to 5.9 inches of rain. If you add the first two days of June with the month of May, we received from 7.25 to 8.25 inches of rain. There is still surface water standing in some fields and there are still soybean fields that need to be planted. Our planter is the only one I have seen rolling so far. There also will be many acres to replant around the area in corn and soybean fields. Some corn has reached the V6 growth stage. Some soybean fields are at the V2 growth stage. Not many corn or soybean fields look very good due to the soil being saturated with water for an extended period. The local closing bids for June 6 were: nearby corn, $6.93; new-crop corn, $5.28; nearby soybeans, $15.58; new-crop soybeans, $12.84.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: Last weekend’s rains (June 1-2) totaled 1.23 inches, so some farmers were back in the field Wednesday. We started planting beans Thursday into an ideal seedbed. We no-till soybeans, and the fall herbicide treatments have worked well even in this wet spring. Beans are more than half done in the area, and by today (June 10) most farmers will be down to the short rows. The couple of evenings in the 40s slowed corn development, and I heard of some bean emergence issues. A few rotary hoes were brought out of mothballs to break the crust.

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: Believe it or not, we actually went about a week now without much rainfall, after about 2.2 inches was in our gauge last Friday (May 31).

Some began to work the drier spots, while others are doing repairs to tile outlets, etc. Early corn is looking better with the warmer temps. Bean planting has only started and will move along once the corn is completed. Those pesky buffalo gnats are still a nuisance. Have not seen any hay cut nearby, and the lawn grows almost faster than the mower going over it. Have a safe week.

Tom Ritter, Blue Mound, Macon County: It was not a good drying week with moderate temperatures, a fair amount of cloudiness, and not a lot of wind. We were hoping if we got past showers on the night of June 6, we may be able to get back in the field on a limited basis Friday.

There hasn’t really been any major action in the field for almost three weeks. I saw a few sprayers going Thursday, but tillage did not seem to be occurring very often. Needless to say, planting still remains at about 80 percent complete on corn and somewhere around 50 percent on soybeans.

With the heavy rains over a long period, the ground smells like a sour creek. The corn plants are more yellow than they should be because they need oxygen to the roots.

There will be a fair amount of touch-up planting if time permits.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: The struggle to catch up continues after the rain gauge contained 2.5 inches when last weekend (June 12) drew to a close. Fields started drying out to the point that on Wednesday morning the ground was dry enough to drive over, so fieldwork resumed.

Sprayers are running hard to catch up to the very aggressive weeds growing in the fields, and planters and fertilizer applicators are trying to get across what acres they can to get closer to finished. Cornfields planted three weeks ago are approaching the V4 stage, while the handful of fields planted in early April are in the V6 stage. Next door, the soybean fields that have been planted so far are emerging and stands look decent.

At this point, the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to appear. Be safe as we enter the home stretch.

Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: We received 0.6 of an inch of rain last week, so everyone was pretty much just sitting around waiting for it to dry up again. The growing corn and soybeans could really use some sun and warm weather.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: We received 4.2 inches of rain on June 1 and 2.

Virtually no fieldwork occurred this past week. We had as big a splashing rain on Friday night, May 30, into Saturday morning, June 1 as I’ve ever seen. As of Wednesday, some producers were starting to sidedress corn.

Some of the beans that were planted before that big rain are seeing a hoe, but the ground is pretty well running together. There will be a lot of replanted beans because of the rain.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: Last week, we reported a wind and rain storm on Thursday night, May 30. Little did we realize until later in the day the extensive damage around the area. Several buildings, grain bins, and silos were destroyed. Numerous buildings had damage to their roofs and siding. Many limbs and trees were blown down, and some trees were totally uprooted.

In many instances trees blocked roads and damaged houses. A large grain bin at a local elevator was destroyed, blocking a major highway for several hours. Some wheat was blown down also. Rainfall for the Thursday and Friday storms amounted to 4.5 inches or more. A considerable amount corn and beans need to be planted or replanted. More rain was in the area Friday morning. There is more rain in the forecast almost every day this week.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: Since the last report, we received 5-plus inches of rain due to the severe storms that passed through the area at the end of May and the first of June. Temperatures through the week were cooler than a typical month of June, slowing crop development and field drying. Some flooding occurred in the river and creek bottoms, leaving ponded water in the low areas, creating an additional challenge for the growing season.

Herbicide applications slowly resumed about mid-week on the rolling fields.

Soybean plantings in some of the drier fields resumed as the week progressed.

Soil conditions may be less than ideal, but farmers are trying to get as much of the crop planted before the next round of storms. The wheat crop continues to develop with the grain in the milk stage and the color of the plants turning to a yellow green, indicating wheat harvest will be in the next few weeks. Have a dry week.

Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: What a mess!

One of the most destructive rains I’ve seen in my days fell Friday, May 31 — 6-plus inches.

Anything that was planted immediately before the flood is to do over. Lots of corn planted the Wednesday and Thursday preceding the rain will never come up because it is buried under 6 inches of silt.

Very few beans have been planted and some wheat is starting to turn. Those fields ought to be nice and muddy.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: After making my report last week (May 31), we had a couple of days of very rainy weather with 4 to 5 inches falling, so we were drying out all week. A few guys started sidedressing corn again. Most of the corn is pretty well done and beans are getting close for some people. We are losing some crop land to flooding right now. The locks are still down and the river is very high and may be at a record high for some areas. The wheat is looking fairly decent considering all of the rain we’ve had, so we hope it turns out OK. What we need now is a low river for Jackson County and the river bottom area. The rest of Jackson County needs to dry out.

Everybody take care.

Page 7 Monday, June 10, 2013 FarmWeek

CROPWATCHERS Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Heavy rainfall amounts have our planting progress going backward. Creek bottom and low-land flooding will force many acres to be replanted.

Corn has a pale green color to it.

Hopefully, some warmer and drier weather will put it back on the right track. Wheat estimates are beginning to come in with estimates in the 65- to 85-bushel-per-acre range. The wheat also needs warmer and drier weather to move it toward harvest.

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

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County The weekend of June 1, we received around 3.5 inches of rain. Some places got up to 5 and 6 inches. We were able to get back in the field at mid-week sidedressing corn. I don’t see the greatest prospects out there. On a rating of 1 to 10, I put the bottom ground at 4 and the hill ground at 6.5 at best. Stands are fair to good, but there has been way too much water on young corn. Beans are trying to emerge from the heavy rains, and I think stands will be spotty but enough to keep. Have a good week ahead and think safety.

Early identification of Palmer amaranth and an integrated management program are crucial to reducing potential yield losses, according to Aaron Hager, University of Illinois weed science professor.

To help with accurate identification, researchers in the U of I crop sciences department will accept tissue samples from suspected Palmer amaranth plants.

Molecular biolog y will be used to distinguish between Palmer amaranth or another species of Amaranthus.

Information on proper steps to collect and submit tissue samples is FarmWeekNow.com described on a Palmer amaranth identification A video about the Palmer amaranth problem can be viewed form found online at {tinyurl.com/k34z3yf}. at FarmWeekNow.com.

Download the form, provide as much information as possible, and submit it along with the tissue samples to the address on the top of the form, Hager said.

“Proper management of Palmer amaranth populations can help reduce the potential for (weed) seed production that will … perpetuate the population in future growing seasons,” he said.

Palmer amaranth is a summer annual broadleaf weed that is related to other pigweed species (water-

hemp, smooth, and redroot) common in Illinois.

Research has shown Palmer amaranth has a higher growth rate and is more competitive than other pigweed species.

“Growth rates approaching three inches per day and yield losses of 78 percent (in soybeans) and 91 percent (in corn) attributed to Palmer amaranth interference have been reported in the scientific literature,” Hager said.

The seed production capability of Palmer amaranth is similar to that of waterhemp, he added.

He described the cotyledon leaves of Palmer amaranth as being relatively long compared with other Amaranthus species.

The true leaves — those produced after the cotyledon leaves — of Palmer amaranth have a small notch in the tip. Occasionally, a single hair may be found in the leaf notch. The stems and leaves have no or few hairs, and the stems feel smooth.

Leaves are alternate on the stem and generally are lance-shaped or egg-shaped with prominent white veins on the underside.

“As plants become older, they often assume a poinsettia-like appearance and sometimes have a white or purple chevron on the leaves,” Hager said.

“Leaves are attached to the stem by petioles that are usually longer than the leaf blade.”

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: We had a lot of rainfall move through our area the weekend of May 31 — June 1.

I’ve heard of rainfall totals anywhere from 3.5 inches up to 7 inches. We received 4.5 inches on our farm. I think all of the creeks came out and an awful lot of low ground was flooded. I don’t know what those crops look like.

Those areas are still very wet. We managed to get back in the fields on Wednesday to plant soybeans. The other main activities have been sidedressing corn and, of course, spraying. Please take time to be safe.

Early identification of Palmer amaranth key to cut yield losses

Aaron Hager, University of Illinois weed science professor, holds a Palmer amaranth plant during an Agronomy Day presentation. (FarmWeek file photo)

Corn tolerant to soil saturation and immersion Heavy rainfall across part of the FS trade territory has resulted in soil saturation and ponding in many fields.

An inevitable question is: “What effect will ponding or saturated soils have on recently planted or Kevin Black recently emerged corn?” The answer to this question is “It depends!”

When soil is f looded or saturated, there is a limited amount of time before free oxygen is consumed. Under these conditions, corn roots cannot take up water or nutrients.

If water is standing over the leaf tissue, injury to this tissue occurs rapidly. If the corn growing point is submerged or below the soil surface in saturated soils, it may be killed within a few days.

For emerged corn plant, g r ow t h w i l l s t o p w i t h i n a couple days following soil saturation or flooding. As

BY KEVIN BLACK

soils go anaerobic, the corn seedling will begin to decline rapidly. Under warm, flooded conditions, the corn seedling will be irreversibly damaged within two to three days.

Crop injury from flooding or saturated soils occurs more quickly as temperatures rise.

Corn generally can tolerate flooded conditions better when it is cool. In addition, a very young corn plant can easily be injured by ponding or flooding, where an older plant with toughened leaf and stem tissue might last longer under the same conditions.

Water depth is another factor that influences mortality of young corn. Although saturated soils are inhospitable for root growth, corn seedlings can tolerate these conditions longer when the leaf tissue is above water and exposed to the air. If the leaf tissue is under water, plant death can occur in less than 48 hours.

When corn is irreversibly

damaged by wet conditions, the hardest decision will relate to the till or no-till question. Once saturated

DATEBOOK

soils lose oxygen, they can be slow to regain normal aeration.

Tillage can help, but it may

June 13 Illinois Soybean Association Export Transportation Summit, University of St. Francis, Joliet. The agenda will explore ways farmers, transporters and other industry partners can collaboratively overcome transportation infrastructure roadblocks. Free admission.

Visit {summit.ilsoy.org} to register.

June 13 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom golf outing, Elks & Wolf Creek golf courses, Pontiac. Call 309-557-2230 or go to {iaafoundation.org} for more information.

June 13 Illinois State Horticulture Society (ISHS) Summer Field Day in Champaign-Urbana hosted by Curtis Orchard and U of I Research Farm. For more information, Call ISHS at 309828-8929 or go to the Illinois State Horticulture Society page on the Illinois Specialty Growers Association website.

June 15 Prairie Farms 75th anniversary activities, Macon County Fairgrounds (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.),

not be allowed or even practical. Rushing back to replant a saturated field could result in soil compaction or poor stand establishment.

Kevin Black is GROWMARK’s insect and plant disease technical manager. His email addr ess is kblack@growmark.com.

Decatur, and Wilson Park Ball Fields (noon to 3 p.m.), Granite City. For more information, call Rebecca Leinenbach at 314-513-3580.

June 21-22 2013 Northern Illinois Farmland Conference at the Boone County Community Building Complex in Belvidere. For more information, call Gina DelRose at 815-544-5271.

June 22 Prairie Farms 75th anniversary activities, Turley Park (9 a.m. to noon), Carbondale, and O’Fallon City Park (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), O’Fallon.

For more information, call Rebecca Leinenbach at 314-513-3580.

June 23 Prairie Farms 75th anniversary activities, National River Museum and Aquarium Plaza (6 to 9 p.m.), Dubuque, Iowa.

June 26 University of Illinois Weed Science Field Day, U of I Crop Sciences Research and Education

Center, Urbana campus. For more information, call Aaron Hager, Doug Maxwell, Lisa Gonzini, or Brad Stierwalt at 217-333-4424.

FarmWeek Page 8 Monday, June 10, 2013

Lawmakers adjourn sessi

SPECIAL REPORT STORIES BY KAY SHIPMAN

Legislators approve concealed-car Members of the Senate and House compromised to establish a license for carrying of a concealed weapon in the state.

HB 183 will be sent to Gov. Pat Quinn for his consideration. If signed, Illinois would become the 50th state to authorize carrying of concealed firearms.

Negotiations between Senate and House leaders led to amended legislation that would establish a licensing process for firearm owners to carry concealed weapons. It also specifies locations where con-

cealed weapons may not be carried.

The legislation would make the regulation, licensing, possession, registration, and transportation of handguns and ammunition for licensees the exclusive responsibility of the State of Illinois.

Under the bill, existing ordinances that regulate or restrict licensees of handguns and ammunition and are inconsistent with the new legislation would be invalid.

The General Assembly had

faced a po ing on con A federal a had requir pass legisla cealed-carr that has be Illinois ports the c the concea qualified I The legi HB 183 wo outlined in supported

State budget for FY 2014 reflects level funding Legislators p State legislators passed a fiscal year 2014 budget of $35.4 billion. After many budget hearings, lawmakers approved spending levels similar to those in the previous year’s budget. The budget awaits action by Gov. Pat Quinn.

However, the state had to spend more general revenue funds for payments to the public employee pension fund, resulting in some budget reductions to services, including some educational programs.

Education funding

Funding for elementary and secondary education funding was approved at current levels.

The general state aid formula would be prorated at 89 percent, which would mean

an estimated $5,720 per student.

In March, Quinn had proposed an overall cut of $300 million for education funding in his budget. That would have reduced general state aid to 82 percent.

The final education budget included spending reductions to some education categorical programs. Alternative schools would see a $239,000 cut and drivers’ education, a $2.5 million cut. Other categorical reductions total $4.25 million. The line item for agriculture education remained steady at $1.8 million.

Agriculture-related programs

The Illinois Department of Agriculture’s (IDOA) new budget would be very similar to last year’s with nearly flat fund-

ing for most programs.

IDOA would receive $750,000 in additional funding to address tree and landscape material damage from the invasive emerald ash borer.

Funding for several programs would be maintained, including the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center and administration of the Livestock Management Facilities Act. Funding for Soil and Water Conservation District operations would be increased to $3 million from $2.485 million.

Local University of Illinois Extension offices would receive steady levels of state funding that match locally generated Extension revenue.

Quinn calls a special session Gov. Pat Quinn last week called a special session of the General Assembly on June 19. The governor issued his decision after two major credit-rating agencies downgraded the state’s credit rating.

“Illinois taxpayers are paying a price of $17

million a day for the General Assembly’s lack of action on comprehensive pension reform,” Quinn said in a statement.

He said he was calling lawmakers back to Springfield “to finish their job for the people of Illinois.”

Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton) accepts a meal of Illinois products from two FFA members during the annual Agricultural Legislative Day. Hundreds of FFA members from across the state assemble baskets of Illinois foods and products and then deliver the baskets and meals to lawmakers on that day. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

Adjustments to the state’s farmland assessment law, proposed by the Illinois Department of Revenue, passed as part of a massive “omnibus bill.”

The bill was sent to Gov. Pat Quinn for his consideration.

As approved, the value change for all farmland productivity index (PI) soils would be limited to 10 percent of Illinois’ median cropland soil PI. A oneyear $5 discount to the 2015 certified value also was added to the legislation.

As proposed, the 2015 certi-

i

State pension reforms rem

Illinois continues to have the nation’s largest unfunded public employee pension liability — about $94 billion.

Both legislative chambers supported separate but different proposals to reduce the state’s debt and the pension costs over time. The session ended without a compromise.

The unfunded pension liability is the debt owed to cover all long-term expenses for retirees and current employees.

The House passed SB 1, which was viewed as a more aggressive reform that reportedly would save the state more than $180 billion over the life of the changes. However, the Senate defeated SB 1.

The Senate passed SB 2404, a pension reform measure that offered state employees and teachers a choice of benefits. SB 2404 reportedly would have saved the state less money than the House proposal. The House did not vote on SB 2404, which was held in the House Rules Committee.

Illinois Farm Bureau supported SB 1 and had no position on SB 2404.

The House also passed SB 1687 that addressed the state contribution for university employees’ and teachers’ pensions. Currently, the state pays the entire employer contribution.

SB 1687 would have shifted the employer pension costs for employees of state universities and community colleges from the state to the respec-

tive universities The plan’s p would make sys bining pension p bill was defeated SB 1687 did teacher pension The future o uncertain in Illin

State cre

Illinois’ cre two of three m after the Gen without addre pension liabil Fitch Ratin from A to A- a General Asse progress on t problem.

A few days the Illinois cre ing the legisla state from a p The state a est credit rati state to pay h rowed money

Page 9 Monday, June 10, 2013 FarmWeek

ion passing some milestones, but missing others

rry legislation before court’s deadline

otential deadline for actncealed-carry legislation. appellate court decision ed state lawmakers to ation addressing the conry issue by June 9, but een delayed until July 9.

Farm Bureau policy supcreation of a process for aled carry of a firearm by llinois citizens. islation in the amended ould create a process as n IFB policy, and IFB the amended bill.

Quinn gets 30 days to review

The U.S. Appeals Court in Chicago last week granted Gov. Pat Quinn additional time to review newly passed legislation to establish concealed carrying of handguns.

Otherwise, the deadline would have been June 9 for Quinn’s decision on the legislation.

On Dec. 11, the court had set a 180-day deadline for the General Assembly to pass a new law governing carrying of handguns in public.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan had filed a motion with the court seeking an additional 30 days. Under normal circumstances, the governor has 60 days.

The judges gave Quinn until July 9, but noted no further time would be granted for the state to take action.

pass farmland assessment changes

fied cropland values would increase up to 10 percent of the 2014 certified value of 111 PI (the median soil). That 2014 certified value is $203.33 per acre, making a 10 percent change of $20.33.

With the one-year $5 dis-

main elusive

and community college. proponents believed the change stems more accountable by complans with salary negotiations. The d in the Senate. not address the employer costs of s for local school districts. of state pension reform remains nois.

edit rating lowered

dit rating was downgraded by major credit-rating agencies neral Assembly adjourned essing the state’s unfunded lity. ngs dropped the Illinois rating and attributed its action to the embly’s failure to make the public employee pension

s later, Moody’s downgraded edit rating from A2 to A3, citature’s inability to steer the path of “fiscal distress.” already has the nation’s lowing. Lower ratings cause the higher interest rates on bory.

count, a maximum increase of $15.33 would occur for all PI certified values for 2015. The adjustment would impact 2015 assessed values for taxes payable in 2016.

The change was intended to bring farmland assessed values

in line with the original intent of the Farmland Assessment Law and to be more effective in determining the income potential of all farmland. IFB supported changing the Farmland Assessment Act in order to maintain fair and equitable assessment of farmland.

During the 1980s, a 10 percent cap on individual soil PIs was implemented and artificially kept the value on soils with lower PIs from increasing to the actual productivity levels upon which they should be assessed.

Legislators approve hydraulic fracturing rules

Legislators passed SB 1715 that would enact the nation’s most protective regulations for high-volume, horizontal hydraulic fracturing. The legislation was sent to the governor for his consideration.

Illinois Farm Bureau supported the bill, based on IFB policy on hydraulic fracturing.

The legislation would establish rules for well construction and casing standards. It specifies numerous environmental regulations, including setback requirements, water testing requirements, and waste management procedures.

The bill would institute protections for surface landowners sought by IFB. The measure specifies how land would be repaired after a well is drilled and after the well has served its useful life.

It also would establish a severance tax on the oil and

gas extraction. For the first two years, the tax would be assessed at 3 percent on the total value of the oil extracted.

Thereafter, the tax would be between 3 percent and 6 percent based on a sliding scale related to the well’s production. If the monthly production is 14 or fewer barrels, a tax would not be applied.

In addition, a tax credit was created to provide an incentive for hiring Illinois workers who are paid at least the prevailing wage. The measure was agreed to by the oil and gas industry and the unions to encourage the hiring of Illinois workers for hydraulic fracturing jobs.

If the governor signs the bill as he has indicated, energy exploration would occur with appropriate regulations to protect land and water resources in Illinois.

A test oil well is drilled in Wayne County’s New Albany Shale formation near Johnsonville. The Illinois General Assembly this session passed the nation’s most protective regulations for high-volume, horizontal hydraulic fracturing. (FarmWeek file photo)

FOOD

FarmWeek Page 10 Monday, June 10, 2013

INTSOY course focused on sustainable nutrition

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Want healthier developing world diets, stronger citizens, sharper students? Just add water. And soy.

That’s according to Karl Weingartner, director of the the University of Illinois’ National Soybean Research Laboratory (NSRL) International Soybean (INTSOY) Program.

Last week, Weingartner played host to 43 participants from 11 countries in an INTSOY processing “short course.” Many of those countries import U.S. soybeans, but a number of “students” repre-

sented food processing companies that currently do not use soy ingredients, he said.

The course focused on both “wet processing” — combining beans and water to produce soymilk or tofu — and “dry processing” — production of high-protein soy flour for baking or textured soy protein used as a meat substitute or enhancer.

The objective for NSRL is to employ U.S. beans.

The course introduced students to technologies that can allow processors to generate soymilk in larger commercial quantities or small batches suited to school feeding trials.

“While soymilk and maybe a biscuit may not sound like much in terms of overall nutrition for kids, it can represent a significant source of energy — calories — and protein,” Weingartner said.

Haitian INTSOY participant and U of I food sciences student Nadine Aubourg noted her island’s diet is heavy in corn and rice. Addition of dry beans can provide “a balanced protein source,” but many urban Haitians can’t afford them, she said.

Aubourg said she is disturbed by accounts of Haitian children regularly going to school without breakfast: “When you go to school and you’re hungry, you cannot really learn something,” she told FarmWeek. She noted soybeans provide “a very com-

plete protein,” and said soymilk in school programs would help students.

Further, Anne Gilot, a U of I student from Port-au-Prince seeking a master’s degree in agriculture and applied economics, suggests expanded food processing would offer Haiti “economic development that would be more sustainable.”

El Salvador, Central America’s smallest but most densely populated nation, faces dual economic and cultural challenges in providing nutritional security.

University of Salvador food scientist Brenda Gallegos was in Urbana to learn not only about soy processing technologies and their costs but also to gauge the appearance and taste of soy products.

That’s important because Gallegos’ small laboratory is a direct conduit to Salvadoran communities. An estimated 16 percent of the nation’s children suffer from malnutrition.

Unfortunately, soy is not seen by many Salvadorans as “very acceptable for human consumption,” Gallegos said, and she has looked into blending soy protein into corn tortillas or “pupusas” — thick tortillas frequently filled with cheese, meat, or beans.

Another option is to add sweeteners to produce childfriendly soy-based candies.

However, while soymilk is “an attractive product” for middle class consumers and athletes, the majority of the Salvadoran population “is not interested,” Gallegos told FarmWeek.

Increasingly throughout the world, protein is what’s for supper, and anticipated demand is expected to bring U.S. soybean farmers to the table more often.

University of Illinois Food and Agribusiness Management Director Peter Goldsmith and his colleagues have used software developed at the National Soybean Research Laboratory to track demand trends across the globe.

What’s emerged is a crisp portrait of prospective worldwide demand for soybeans over the next few decades, based on projected protein demand, he said. That growth appears particularly promising across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa (see accompanying map).

“It’s not about people eating soy for protein — it’s the derived demand for meat,” Goldsmith told FarmWeek.

“Demand for poultry has been increasing quite rapidly, and as incomes have risen, pork as a preferred meat in southeast Africa and Asia has generated a lot of demand for soy meal.

The “litany of food safety and disease issues” plaguing China over the past year alone has impacted recent Chinese meat demand “much like BST did with beef demand in Europe,” he admitted. He said he nonetheless sees improved food safety systems, best husbandry practices, sound environmental management, traceability, and generally “advanced coordination in the value chain” helping prevent

or more quickly address safety issues and minimize market disruption.

Branded food companies and fast food/franchise chains making inroads into developing countries “insist on the use of good food safety practices,” he said. Goldsmith noted a “fully integrated” new central China poultry mega-operation is linked to branded food retailers throughout the country.

Protein security “is advancing, albeit slowly,” in Africa, despite the cost of putting extensive food safety and supply chain assurances into place, he reported.

A Zambian “quick service” food chain, Hungry Lion, has echoed the success of modern chains serving South Africa’s

consumers, Goldsmith said. He cited proliferation of shopping malls, modern groceries, and reliable refrigeration systems across the continent.

“These processes don’t just occur overnight,” Goldsmith conceded. “But that consumer base is there, that middle class is starting to grow in various pockets of Africa. They’re looking for safe food, for quality, for choice. And at a very basic level, they’re looking for high-quality protein, which is good for soybean and corn farmers.

“An interesting side note is the role of U.S. pork producers in providing global imports.

We’re seen as a safe, high-quality, and price-competitive pork supplier.” — Martin Ross

Protein: Incomes, meat safety driving new demand

National Soybean Research Laboratory soybean production research program coordinator Nicholas Scates, left, demonstrates the Soy Cow for international guests during last week’s INTSOY short course on soybean processing and marketing in Urbana. The Soy Cow, which produces soy milk from cracked beans and water, cranks out roughly 20 liters per batch. The University of Illinois’ larger Agrolactor soymilk processor can produce up to 250 liters of protein-rich product per hour.

(Photo by Martin Ross)

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IAA District

Date

Starting Time

Location

1&2 3 4 5&6 7&8 9 10 11 & 12 13 & 17 14 15 & 16 18

July 29 August 15 August 19 August 14 August 7 July 31 August 14 August 27 August 20 August 6 August 20 August 15

7:00 7:00 7:30 6:30 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 6:30 7:00 7:00

Stephenson County FB, Freeport Henry County FB, Cambridge Mendota Civic Center, Mendota Dwight Village Hall, Dwight Peoria County FB, Peoria Hancock County FB, Carthage Menard County FB, Petersburg Champaign County FB, Champaign Edwards County FB, Albion Montgomery County FB, Hillsboro Madison County FB, Edwardsville Jackson County FB, Murphysboro

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

For more details - www.ilfb.org/youngleaders

YL933T3

According to analysis conducted using Nautilytics, a software program originally developed at the National Soybean Research Laboratory, world protein demand should increase by 40 percent during the 20072030 period. The map above indicates particularly high expectations for Asia and Africa over that period. The analysis factored in trends in pork, poultry, beef, sheep, goat, milk, cheese, butter, fish, and crustacean (shrimp and related) consumption.

FOOD

Page 11 Monday, June 10, 2013 FarmWeek

Scientist: Bean storage key to soy food value

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Milk prices surge nearly $1

The Class III price for milk adjusted to 3.5 percent butterfat for the month of May was $18.52 per hundredweight, 93 cents higher than the previous month.

Good old-fashioned demand is driving this market right now as purchases at home and abroad are keeping sales brisk. Recent rallies in the cheddar cheese market are helping fuel demand during June Dairy Month.

Longtime beef industry leader to retire June 30

Shelf life is one of the key benefits of soy nutrition for the developing world. But when beans go bad, benefits deteriorate rapidly.

Mississippi State University head of food sciences Sam Chang is focusing on ways to extend the storage life of whole soybeans until they can be converted into soymilk, tofu, or other protein-rich products.

Extending soy’s shelf life poses a challenge for communities and small processors in hot, humid tropical regions. But overcoming that challenge could mean greater profit for U.S. growers hoping to capture lucrative global markets.

At last week’s National Soybean Research Laboratory INTSOY soybean marketing/processing course, Chang addressed the impact of soybean storage on the quality — and thus consumer appeal — of soymilk and tofu produced abroad.

Whole beans can be stored for an extended period prior to processing. However, Chang argues post-harvest handling of those beans “is as important as production.”

“Currently, about 30 percent of (world soybean) harvest is lost through poor handing and storage,” Chang said. “We need to keep beans dry so they don’t get exposed to humid conditions. You can preserve beans for a period of time in a dry and

cool place without losing quality. If you can build cool, dry areas, the crop can last for a year.”

For small-scale processors or villages with meager resources, that may mean storing whole beans in an underground “shed.” But even storing beans away from direct sunlight above-ground can extend shelf life for one to three months, Chang said.

He also sees potential to improve soybean shelf life through breeding or biotechnology. Changes in the soybean fat profile can help keep beans from as quickly turning rancid and generating off-flavors.

Post-harvest handling also is key to building U.S. market share in China, Japan, Taiwan, and other major Asian soymilk markets, particularly as Illinois growers rely more on containerized shipping.

Chang emphasized the need to minimize shifts in temperature and humidity as beans move from farm to foreign port. Those variations can cause condensation that promotes mold development and further deterioration in beans, he said.

“Sealing the container better during shipping can prevent humidity changes,” Chang told FarmWeek. “Shipping to Asia can take two to three weeks. If beans are for food uses, it’s important that the container is not exposed to the ship’s engine hull. The hull adjacent to the engine compartment can be as high as 50 to 75 degrees hotter.”

Looking for a Convenient Supply of DEF?

Cimeron Frost, director of industry programs for the Illinois Beef Association (IBA), will retire June 30.

He worked for the Illinois beef industry for 27 years, including the past 19 with IBA. Frost in 1986 served on a committee that created the Illinois Beef Expo. He was hired as vice president of member services for IBA in 1994.

He began his career as a boy working on a neighbor’s Angus cattle farm in Lake County.

Auction Calendar Tues., June 11. 6 p.m.

Benton Co., IN Land Auc. OXFORD, IN. Schrader Real Estate and Auc. Co., Inc. schraderauction.com Thurs., June 13. 10 a.m.

Livingston Co. Land Auc. Remmers Family, CULLOM, IL. Immke and Bradley Auction Service. www.biddersandbuyers.com/immke Tues., June 18. 10 a.m.

Vermilion Co. Land Auc. ROYAL, IL. www.hertz.ag Tues., June 18. 7 p.m.

Bureau and Lee Co.’s Land Auc. Lorena Wallace Est., DEER GROVE, IL. Wallace Land Co. www.wallaceland.com Thurs., June 20. 2 p.m.

Edgar Co. Farmland Auc. Hickman Farm, CHRISMAN, IL. Halderman Real Estate Services. www.halderman.com Fri., June 21. 10 a.m.

Piatt Co. Land Auc. MONTICELLO, IL. Hertz Real Estate Services. www.hertz.ag

Sat., June 22. 10:30 a.m.

Ogle Co., IL Est. Auc. Loren and Elsie Richolson Est., DAVIS JUNCTION, IL. Lenny Bryson and Todd Wills, Auctioneers. www.lennybrysonauctioneer or www.toddwillsauctioneering.com Thurs., June 27. 7 p.m.

Monroe and St. Clair Co. Land Auc. Schlemmer Family Trust, WATERLOO, IL. Schaller Auction Service. www.schallerauctionservice or www.auctionzip.com Fri., June 28. 1 p.m.

Tazewell Co Land Auc. MANITO, IL. Hertz Real Estate Services. www.hertz.ag Tues., July 9. 10 a.m.

McDonough Co. Land Auc. John Nickson Estate, MACOMB, IL. Lowderman Auction & Real Estate. www.lowderman.com Sat., July 13. 9 a.m.

Consignment Auc. TREMONT, IL. Cal Kaufman and Brent Schmidgall, Auctioneers. tremontconsignment-auction@yahoo.com

When it comes to the success of your operation, you can rely on your local FS energy specialists. If your new equipment uses diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), your local FS Co-op and participating FAST STOP® locations have just what you need – convenient supply. From packaged or bulk DEF to even the dispensing equipment, FS has the products and the knowledgeable experts to help you go further.

FS – The people and the products to take you further. Go further with FS.

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Scan the QR code to visit us on the web or go to www.GofurtherwithFS.com

FB IN ACTION

FarmWeek Page 12 Monday, June 10, 2013

‘Adopted’ students spend day on the farm

The Fulton County Farm Bureau hosted its adopted fourth graders from St. Germaine School in Oak Lawn in late May. A total of 34 students, two teachers, and 19 parents participated. They traveled 200 miles via charter bus to visit with their adopted farmers in Fulton County.

The group’s first stop was the Carlberg Dairy Farm near Canton. There, the visitors toured the milking parlor and calf barn and learned about hay, silage, and how cows and calves are fed.

The group headed next to the Fairview ball park, where employees of Fulton FS grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, the Women’s Committee members served homemade cookies and brownies, and the Carlbergs provided ice cream.

After lunch, Fulton County Ag in the Classroom (AITC) Coordinator Tonya Holt and members of the Women’s Committee helped the children with “Milk Explosion,” an experiment from the lesson booklet Milk — from Moo to You. The group then headed to the Sunnyhill Angus Farm of Kent, Wendy, and Emily Schleich. The students, teachers, and parents heard brief discussions on breeding and herd management, how Sunnyhill’s annual sale is conducted, and talk of cattle handling and loading.

Next, the group traveled to the farm of Steve and Cindy Halsey near London Mills.

The Halsey family had assembled a line of tractors and equipment, representing the field operations needed to take seed from planting to harvest.

Steve and Fulton County Farm Bureau volunBY ELAINE STONE

teers were stationed at each piece of equipment to explain what it did and answer questions.

The final stop of the day was at Spoon River Valley Elementary School, where the kids made “Soil Profiles” using different sizes of cereal.

Ag literacy coordinator Holt used the lesson to illustrate the difficult spring farmers have had with flooding issues.

NOT WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE

Elaine Stone is manager of Fulton County Farm Bureau. She can be reached at 309-547-3011.

Students of Mrs. Carole Scannell’s fourth grade class at St. Germaine School in Oak Lawn make “soil profiles” at the end of their day’s visit to Fulton County farms. The lesson uses various sizes of cereals to represent soil particles and structures and how that relates to soil moisture, which was extremely timely given the excess rainfall this spring. (Photo by Julie Mellert, Fulton County Young Leader Committee chairman)

The Massac County Sheriff’s Department is not really arresting farmers out in their fields, but they are forcing farmers to take a rest while out in their fields. The Massac County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, with the help of Sheriff Ted Holder and his deputies, decided to take a new approach to getting farmers to take a break. Without warning and with red and blue lights flashing, sheriff’s deputies pulled into various fields and cautioned farmers to slow down, take a brief break, rehydrate, and eat a snack during this ver y busy planting season. Here, Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel McHaney “arrests” farmer Weston Wilke as he was spraying a field. (Photo courtesy Massac County Farm Bureau)

Animal care panel presented for Farm in the Zoo volunteers

The Cook County Farm Bureau along with the Lincoln Park Zoo hosted an animal care panel recently featuring pork farmer Chris Gould; dairy farmer Ethan Heinzmann; and Janeen Salak-Johnson, associate professor of stress and environmental physiology and wellbeing in the animal sciences department at the University of Illinois.

The panel was provided exclusively for Farm in the Zoo volunteers.

Gould discussed his family’s Kane County hog operation as well as its use of gesta- Chris Gould, right, a hog farmer from Kane County, tional and farrow- discusses animal care issues with Lincoln Park Zoo ing stalls, a topic Farm in the Zoo volunteers after a volunteer enrichSalak-Johnson also ment hosted by the Cook County Farm Bureau. discussed during Gould, along with Ethan Heinzmann, a dair y her presentation. farmer, and Dr. Janeen Salak-Johnson, associate She also provid- professor of stress and environmental physiology ed an overview of and wellbeing at the University of Illinois, presented information and addressed questions from the volunanimal housing, overcrowding, and teers. (Photo courtesy of Cook County Farm Bureau) building ventilation while discussing the importance of an animal’s environment on its growth and production.

Both the professor and Heinzmann discussed the use of antibiotics, including regulations, withdrawal periods, and inspection.

Heinzmann, a dairy farmer from Wauconda, discussed his farm’s efforts to ensure animal health and early detection of illness in order to minimize antibiotic use.

The Farm in the Zoo provides Chicago-area families with an opportunity to experience farming through hands-on, interactive exhibits and interaction with common farm animals. Those include dairy cows, beef cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, and rabbits.

Lincoln Park Zoo is Chicago’s only free zoo.

BY BONA HEINSOHN

Bona J. Heinsohn is director of governmental affairs and public relations for Cook County Farm Bureau. Her email address is bona@cookcfb.org.

FROM THE COUNTIES

Page 13 Monday, June 10, 2013 FarmWeek

C

OOK — Farm Bureau members are eligible to purchase discounted Marcus Theatre tickets. Call the Farm Bureau office at 708-3543276 to purchase tickets or for more information.

• Farm Bureau will offer discounted tickets for the Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers game at 7:10 p.m.

Tuesday, July 23, at U.S. Cellular Field. For tickets go to {whitesox.com/fbn} (service fees will apply); call Ticketmaster at 866-769-4263 and use code “CCFB” (service fees will apply); request by mail at Chicago White Sox Sales Department, Attn: Farm Bureau GSG, 333 W. 35th St., Chicago, Il, 60616; or fax 312674-5140. Additional information is available at {cookcfb.org}. Deadline to purchase tickets is July 12.

• Farm Bureau Commodities and Marketing Team’s 2013 Recipe Collection is now available. For a free copy, call 708-3543276, email member-

shipdebbie@cookcfb.org, or visit {cookcfb.org/buylocal/recipe-collection}.

ANCOCK — Far m Bureau will host a 100th year celebration for members beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at Sullivan and Sons Auction LLC in Carthage. Proceeds from the live and silent auctions will be used toward the purchase of grain rescue tubes for Hancock County fire departments. Call 357-3141 for reser vations or more information.

ASALLE — Farm Bureau Foundation will sponsor a golf outing/benefit at noon Friday, June 28, at Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Course in LaSalle.

Cost is $75. Call the Farm Bureau office at 433-0371 to register or for more information.

• Farm Bureau is selling discounted theme park tickets. Call the Farm Bureau office at 433-0371 for more information.

H

L

County fair season starting; online calendar available

The state’s 2013 county fair season started over the weekend with the Perry County Fair in Pinckneyville and the Macon County Fair in Decatur. The fairs end Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture offers a schedule of all the county and local fairs online at {agr.state.il.us/fair/countyfairssched.php}. Other information, such as state livestock exhibition health requirements, also is available on the webpage.

Travel to Paradise with other Farmers!

Hawaiian Farm Tour 13 Days - 4 Islands from

$1899*

Oahu ✴ Kauai ✴ Maui ✴ Hawaii January 2014 Departures!

This famous Hawaiian Farm Tour has been offered by YMT every year since 1974. Discover the natural wonders and breathtaking scenery as you visit the four main islands. Sightseeing of all the major highlights plus additional, special sightseeing for those in the Ag industry are all included.

Plus you will be accompanied throughout by one of our friendly Polynesian Tour Directors, which adds a unique cultural perspective to your tour experience.

Highlights: Honolulu, world-famous Waikiki Beach, Punchbowl Crater, Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial, Wailua Riverboat Cruise, mystical Fern Grotto, Steel Grass Farm (bamboo, vanilla and cacao), Old Whaling Capital of Lahaina, lao Valley, Maui Gold Pineapple Plantation, Hilo Orchid Nursery, Volcanoes National Park, Giant Ferns, Macadamia Nut Factory, Black Sand Beaches, Kona Coffee Plantation, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, Abalone Farm and much more.

Includes: a flower lei aloha greeting, quality hotels, inter-island flights, baggage handling, tour director, special events & escorted sightseeing. *Price per person/double occupancy. Add $199 tax, service & gov’t fees. Airfare is extra.

For details and itinerary call 7 days a week:

1-800-736-7300

J

ASPER — A benefit for Quinn McClure will be held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at the Newton Knights of Columbus Hall. The evening will include a pork burger dinner and live auction.

McClure, a long-time member of Farm Bureau and the Jasper County Pork Producers, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia earlier this year. Proceeds from the benefit will be applied to McClure’s medical and living expenses. Call the Farm Bureau office at 7832733 for more information.

CDONOUGH — Farm Bureau will sponsor an outlook meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 17, at the SRC Outreach Center.

Steve Johnson will be the speaker. Call 837-3350 or go to {mcdonoughcountyfarmbureau.org} to register.

CLEAN — Farm Bureau will sponsor a golf outing Monday, June 17, at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington to support the McLean County Fair and 4-H Show. Cost is $90. Call Marie at 275-8531 or Shawn

M M

at 242-2635 to register.

• Farm Bureau will offer discounted tickets for Centennial Day at the McLean County Fair on Friday, Aug. 2. Call the Farm Bureau office at 663-6497 by July 15 to purchase tickets.

ACON — Farm Bureau will sponsor a Picture Macon County photo contest this summer. Members are encouraged to participate. Contest details are available at {maconcfb.org}.

ERCER — Farm Bureau will sponsor “Celebrate Agriculture” night with the Quad City River Bandits at 7 p.m. Friday at Modern Woodmen Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Members with a Farm Bureau card will receive a $3 admission discount at the gate. Call the Farm Bureau office at 582-5116 to purchase $7 upper box tickets or for more information.

• Farm Bureau will host a market outlook program at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13, in the Farm Bureau basement.

Dan Zwicker, Consolidated Grain and Barge market

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analyst, will be the speaker.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 582-5116 for more information.

ONTGOMERY — Prime Timers will sponsor a bus trip to Fairmount Park Horse Track in Collinsville. Cost is $32.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 532-6171 by July 1 to register or for more information.

EORIA — Farm Bureau will sponsor a market outlook seminar at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at Farm Bureau Park. Jim Anderson of North and Company in Galva will be the speaker. Cost is $5.

Tickets may be purchased at the Farm Bureau office, from a director, or a Marketing Committee member.

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

PROFITABILITY

FarmWeek Page 14 Monday, June 10, 2013

Climatologist predicts fourth straight year of below-trend corn yields

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Crop supplies could remain tight this year based on the weather outlook presented last week at the World Pork Expo

by Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University climatologist.

Taylor predicted U.S. farmers this year likely will harvest their fourth straight corn crop that averages a below-trend yield.

Late planting and excessive moisture followed by a possible shift in the weather pattern this summer could lead to an average nationwide yield in the high140-bushel range, compared to the recent trend of 160 bushels per acre, according to Taylor.

USDA last month projected yields nationwide this year will average 158 bushels per acre

for corn and 44.5 bushels per acre for beans.

Taylor’s less optimistic yield prediction was based in part on the possibility of La Nina, coolerthan-normal water temperatures, returning to the Pacific Ocean.

Last year, the secondstrongest La Nina on record played a key role in the historic drought in the U.S. and flooding in Canada, he noted.

“There’s a definite possibility we could be heading back to a La Nina,” Taylor told FarmWeek. “If we’re back into a La Nina before June is over, the chance of a below-trend corn yield is about 70 percent.”

If La Nina returns and Mother Nature shuts off the water spigot, Taylor predicted corn yields likely will average about 147 bushels per

acre with an average harvest price of $5.53 per bushel.

“If we have a drought like last year, corn will be over $7 at harvest,” he said. “But, most likely, it will be at $5.53.”

Planting was delayed across much of the Corn Belt due to excessive wetness. Statewide from March to May precipitation averaged 16.71 inches, which was 5.31 inches above the long-term average and the

fifth-wettest spring on record, according to Jim Angel, Illinois state climatologist at the Prairie Research Institute.

Precipitation in May averaged 6.87 inches in Illinois, which was 2.25 inches above the long-term average.

Long-term, Taylor’s study of historic weather trends and tree-ring data suggest the worst drought this century could occur in about 12 years.

“The worst years are about 89 years apart, with the last two occurring in 1847 and 1936,” he noted. “So, if the weather keeps doing what it’s been doing the past 800 years, the worst year of this century will be around 2025.”

The weather pattern so far this year closely resembles 1947, which produced one of the six worst corn yields in history, Taylor added.

Planning for grain system expansion is critical

There is a lot of market activity on grain system expansions and new installations. With today’s larger equipment specifications, i.e. unloading speeds, drying capacity, and storage unit sizes, additional planning is required.

Also, factoring in the timeline on some planning steps is important in managing your own expectations of when facilities need to be operating.

Much analysis with a grain systems salesperson will pay dividends for all parties. Planning for capacities that match your harvest Bob Rasmus speed today and tomorrow and paying particular attention to the traffic patterns being created are just a couple of broad steps.

Once design elements are narrowed down, a first step may be some geotechnical analysis to assess subsurface suitability to building. This often entails a soil boring, or soil borings,

BY BOB RASMUS

depending on the area of the structure, and geotechnical analysis which will yield important information about the performance of your soil type by strata, the ground water presence, and the depth of rock — if found.

This will result in a selection of foundation possibilities for your project.

If a soil is very compressible, for example, the foundation will need to be engineered for this. The goal is to have little settlement straight down or differentially. Either one will stress the structure and can push, pull, or twist the attached equipment.

This is just one planning step that gets added to a project as equipment gets bigger. It does add to your project timeline to have the analysis done and foundations engineered according to the data, and it does cost, but the diligence is worth the investment.

Bob Rasmus is GROWMARK’s grain systems marketing manager. His email address is brasmus@growmark.com.

USDA trims ag export estimate; beef sales to Japan grow

M A R K E T FA C T S Feeder pig prices reported to USDA* Weight 10-12 lbs.

40 lbs.

Range Per Head $25.50-$48.00 $57.20

Weighted Ave. Price $36.08 $57.20

This Week Last Week 94,234 78,526 *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm Receipts

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live

(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week Change $94.30 $90.72 $3.58 $69.78 $67.13 $2.65

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

This week $123.92 NA

Prev. week $124.81 NA

Change -$0.89

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 $133.84 $130.81 $3.03

Lamb prices Slaughter Prices - Negotiated, Live, wooled and shorn 126-149 lbs. for 108-130 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 119.36)

Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 5/30/2013 4.4 16.8 11.7 5/23/2013 3.5 21.2 12.4 Last year 17.2 21.7 28.4 Season total 1267.6 1004.3 540.3 Previous season total 1166.4 1039.7 1223.4 USDA projected total 1350 1025 750 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

USDA this month scaled back its estimate on the value of U.S. ag exports.

Sales of U.S. ag products for fiscal year 2013 were forecast to total $139.5 billion, down $2.5 billion from the February estimate.

The reduction of U.S. ag exports mostly is due to reduced corn and wheat sales as a result of last year’s drought-shortened crops.

The export estimate, if realized, still would be up $3.7 billion (2.7 percent) from 2012.

U.S. beef exports were raised from $5 billion to $5.1 billion as sales to Japan sizzled in recent months. But U.S. pork exports were trimmed by $300 million due to weaker demand in Asia and Mexico as well as trade restrictions in Russia.

Russia this spring halted imports of U.S. pork, beef, and turkey due to the use in the U.S. of ractopamine, a feed additive that promotes leanness.

Japan, however, in February relaxed restrictions of U.S. beef imports and now allows the purchase of beef from U.S. cows that are up to 30 months of age. The previous age limit was 20 months.

U.S. beef sales to Japan subsequently shot up 60 percent since March.

“We are projecting Japan to be the leading growth market

this year,” said Erin Borror, economist with the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

The surge in beef sales to Japan helped boost prices by 40 percent for short ribs and 70 percent for chuck short ribs compared to a year ago.

However, tight beef supplies could limit market growth this year. The number of cattle

on feed in the U.S. last month was down 3 percent.

“The supply situation is somewhat of a constraint,” Borror said.

Overall, USDA projected world economic growth this year could reach 2.5 percent, up from 2.3 percent last year but still short of the 2.9 percent recorded in 2011. — Daniel Grant

USDA

Farm Service Agency

CRP SIGN-UP ENDING — Enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) ends Friday (June 14), according to the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Contracts on 3.3 million acres of CRP nationwide are set to expire Sept. 30. Farmers with expiring contracts or those with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP. CRP protects natural resources through voluntary participation, while providing economic and environmental benefits.

Farmers who are accepted into the program receive an annual rent payment for the length of the contract, which is 10-15 years and may receive cost-share assistance to plant long-term, resource-conserving covers.

For more information, visit a local FSA service center or {fsa.usda.gov}.

ACREAGE CERTIFICATION — After spring planting, farmers should certify their 2013 acreage. Filing an accurate acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented-planting acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits for a variety of programs.

Failed acreage must be reported before disposition of the crop.

Prevented planting must be reported no later than 15 days after the final planting date.

Acreage reports are required for many FSA programs. For spring and summer planted crops, acreage reports are to be certified by July 15.

PROFITABILITY

Page 15 Monday, June 10, 2013 FarmWeek

Corn Strategy

CASH STRATEGIST

Soybean acreage shift ahead

With 91 percent of the corn planted on June 1, the focus will shift to the number of acres that might get shifted into soybeans and the number that might end up being declared prevent plant. There was still about 3.5 million acres of corn to be planted in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

Some likely was done this past week, potentially shifting that to something a little less than 3 million. Part of that may end up being declared prevent plant, but part could end up being planted to soybeans.

The graphic indicates soybean acres have a tendency to rise from the March forecast on years when planting is slow. At worst, when they do go down, it’s generally less than 1.25 million on years when plantings are late. The 5.5 million decline came in 1983, a year when the USDA bought significant acres out of production.

The two years with 1.7-million-acre reductions were 1981 and 1990. Both of those years, acreage gravitated to corn because of the relative price ratios, despite the fact that corn planting was slow.

Even in the 1993 flood year, plantings rose 160,000 acres in the August report, with the final number 790,000 higher than it was in the March forecast.

The prevent-plant option on crop insurance makes the assessment of acreage changes a little more difficult than it has been in past years.

But in 2008 and 2009, both years with slow corn planting, soybean acres actually increased.

We believe that scenario may end up playing out this year.

It comes down to the economics of the decision. Looking at crop insurance relationships, it looks to us as though producers will shift to soybeans if they can plant close to the late-planting date for soybeans.

The prevent-plant option becomes more viable once the calendar gets much beyond the late-planting date for soybeans; we think between 10 to 15 days after that mark. That’s probably more true for producers in the northern locations than those in central/southern Corn Belt areas.

At this time, there’s still reason to think soybean plantings will match USDA’s 77.1 million forecast, with the odds slightly favoring a slight increase. Prevent planting in corn states isn’t yet likely to be much larger than 4 million, with much of that tied to spring wheat in North Dakota.

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ü2012 crop: Weakness of old-crop prices compared to new-crop deters our interest in holding old-crop inventory other than “gambling stocks.”

Both basis and futures have weak underpinnings. ü2013 crop: Last week’s quick decline from $5.73 on December futures was a sign the short-term trend is turning down again. Use rallies on December futures for catchup sales. vFundamentals: Even though there is persistent discussion about the number of acres that ultimately will get planted, the 91 percent planting on June 1 was not much below normal. Corn acres probably will slip, but we see no reason to expect something much less than 95 million.

Even with a subpar yield, that would still push the ending stocks close to 1.5 billion bushels. Old-crop prices continue to struggle with the supply coming into the Southeast from South America, dampening interior cash prices.

Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2011 crop: Both nearby futures and cash prices lose energy at their recent highs.

Even though our supplies may be tight, South America’s aren’t. Use rallies to price everything but your “gambling stocks.” ü2012 crop: Even with the weather and planting anxieties, we still believe it prudent to be 50 percent priced at these levels. Use rallies to make catch-up sales. vFundamentals: Even though weather remains an issue, planting continues to move forward at an acceptable pace. The trade is thinking the June 9 number will be in the low to middle 70 percent level.

That’s not far behind 2008 and 2009, and still ahead of 1993 and 1984. Soybean exports have slowed to the expected pace. With product now available from Brazil and Argentina, soybean meal exports should soon follow the soybean shift. There are reports of soybeans and soybean meal already headed to the U.S. from South America as well.

Wheat Strategy

ü2012 crop: The shortterm uptrend in wheat remains intact. However, with seasonal pressure quickly approaching, make catch-up sales on rallies. ü2013 crop: Use rallies above $7 on Chicago July futures to make catch-up sales.

If you plan to sell wheat off the combine, be more aggressive making additional sales on rallies. Prices will be vulnerable to seasonal pressure into harvest. vFundamentals: The discovery of some unapproved GMO wheat in an Oregon

field appears to be behind us as South Korea was recently scheduled to receive its first cargo of U.S. wheat since the controversy arose. In addition, weekly export sales were a bright spot exceeding expectations coming in at 664,900 metric tons (1 metric ton equals 36.7 bushels of wheat).

The winter wheat crop showed signs of improvement, with 32 percent rated good to excellent, up 1 percent from the previous week.

But problems are still surfacing in parts of the Southern Plains.

PERSPECTIVES

FarmWeek Page 16 Monday, June 10, 2013

Why my hogs are on a health care plan

On our farm, it’s normal for us to have entire groups of pigs that never receive any antibiotics before going to market. I know this is not what you see on the Internet about how farmers use antibiotics.

I’m here to tell you this is a myth.

I like to explain our antibiotic use like this: CHRIS our hogs do not carry CHINN health insurance and all medications are expensive. We cannot afford to use antibiotics unless absolutely necessary to improve the health of our animals. And we always use antibiotics under the guidance of our veterinarian. He decides what medication will be used, when it is necessary, and what dose will be administered.

So how do farmers use antibiotics?

We have a health care plan for our hogs that is designed by our veterinarian. This means when we detect a hog might be sick or isn’t behaving normally, we call in our veterinarian and

follow his advice on how to protect that animal and keep it healthy.

Antibiotics are just one of the tools we have in our toolbox; we don’t rely on them as part of our daily care plan. On our farm, we work hard to prevent problems from occurring, that’s why we are so strict about protecting our hogs’ environment.

We wash and disinfect our barns on a routine basis.

We like working in a clean barn, too.

Our sow barns are washed weekly.

And each sow is bathed before going to the farrowing barn where she will give birth.

Our gilts also are bathed before farrowing. We do this to prevent infection during the birthing process, and it also relaxes the sow or gilt and helps keep them comfortable. We also wash and sanitize our nursery barns and finisher barns before every new group of pigs arrives.

We use very, very few antibiotics

because we prevent problems from occurring. By keeping our hogs indoors in a climate-controlled barn, we eliminate the biggest threats to our hogs’ health and decrease the need for antibiotics.

For example, we prevent fighting between our sows by using independent maternity pens. Fighting results in injuries.

These injuries used to be one of the main reasons we had to use antibiotics on our farm.

We also have decreased the need for antibiotics on our farm by keeping our hogs away from predators and wildlife that spread disease.

We are required to log all antibiotic use on our farm. This means if we use an antibiotic on a pig or a sow, we have to record the date, medication given, dose, and withdrawal length. We are audited by the plant that purchases our hogs, and personnel there inspect these records a

couple times a year.

They also review my feed records to see what we feed our hogs. They want to make sure they are purchasing a healthy hog from me.

But this isn’t the only reason we keep these records. We keep them for our own benefit, as well. My kids and I eat the same pork I sell for other families to serve on their dinner tables.

I love my two kids more than anything in this world. I don’t want to feed them anything that isn’t safe to eat. I am a mom. This is one of the most important jobs I will ever have, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

As you can see, it doesn’t make any sense for me to misuse antibiotics on my farm, nor would I ever choose to. I simply stand to lose too much if I don’t use them correctly.

Chris Chinn, a Missouri family farmer, originally posted this on CNN’s Eatocracy blog (eatocracy.cnn.com). Chinn and Lee County farmer Katie Pratt are two of the Faces of Farming & Ranching for U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). Illinois Farm Bureau is an affiliate of USFRA. You may follow Chinn on Twitter at @chrischinn.

Farmers’ markets win-win-win for farmers, consumers, communities

Summer marks the start of seasonal farmers’ markets, and people are flocking to them.

USDA reports there were 7,864 U.S. farmers’ markets in 2012, an increase of 28 percent in just two years. Of those, 1,864 are winter farmers’ ROBERT GIBLIN markets, guest columnist which

increased 52 percent in just the last year.

(Illinois ranks third in the nation in the number of farmers’ markets, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture.)

Farmers’ markets have grown so popular that in May, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service released a Farmers’ Market Application Programming Interface — a computer program to help developers easily create computer and phone apps to provide accurate, up-to-date information about local markets.

The meteoric growth in the number and popularity of farmers’ markets correlates to numerous consumer food, health, and shopping trends.

Perhaps unspoken is the feeling that farmers’ markets provide the solution to the frustrations that many consumers cite with traditional grocery stores.

Consumers are encouraged to shop for “healthy foods” at the outer circle of supermarkets and to avoid

the “center (of the) store.”

Fresh products — produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, plants, and flowers — are featured in the outer circle.

Processed foods, snacks, canned goods, and carbonated beverages dominate the store’s center.

There is no center store at farmers’ markets; the entire market is the healthy outer circle. The perception of freshness, great taste, and access to local foods is among the top reasons consumers like to shop at farmers’ markets.

With few exceptions, most consumers say grocery shopping is an unpleasant life necessity, but a trip to the farmers’ market is a joyful experience and social event that may be shared with friends and family.

Larger markets can have more than a hundred vendors and live music, games, and events for kids. Consumers will shop for hours at such farmers’ markets.

They also are becoming tourist destinations, with tour writers consistently promoting a Top 10 list of “must-see” markets in all parts of the country. As many as 10 percent of shoppers drive at least 20 miles to visit their nearest farmers’ market; some drive 50 or more miles.

Access to farmers’ markets is a corporate benefit or perk for some employees.

Medium-sized markets set up

for a couple of hours weekly in parking lots of large corporations and office buildings, bringing the experience to busy workers.

Another appeal of farmers’ markets also is, potentially, one of the greatest risks as they become more popular — access (or lack of access) to farmers.

Consumers have questions about where their food comes from, how it is grown, its safety, its quality, and how to prepare it. With few exceptions, workers at grocery stores don’t have the answers. Consumers believe farmers do.

In his Top 10 food predictions for 2012, “Supermarket guru” Phil Lempert said consumers’ interest in knowing where their food comes from and how it is produced would shift the emphasis from celebrity chefs to a different kind of food celebrity — the farmer.

Between two-thirds and three-fourths of markets require vendors to sell only what they grow, but farmers increasingly are hiring other workers to operate their stands.

In his 2013 predictions, Lempert acknowledged the increasing popularity of farmers’ markets but noted shoppers are growing frustrated when they discover the people behind the tables may not always be farmers or able to answer their questions.

It’s clear farmers’ markets are a win for farmers with goods to sell. They’re also an experiential engagement opportunity that more farmers may want to consider taking advantage of, regardless of whether they have goods to sell.

More broadly, farmers’ markets represent a win-winwin for farmers, consumers, and communities. Staying on

that winning path will require farmers to remain knowledgeable about what consumers want, including representing agriculture, farming, and food — in person.

Robert Giblin writes, speaks, and consults about agricultural and food industry issues, policies, and trends.

He produces occasional columns for the American Farm Bureau Federation.