Farmweek june 9 2014

World Pork Expo attendees learned about a new, $26 million PEDV eradication program. page 4

Coal-rich Illinois questions impact of EPA carbon cuts Monday, June 9, 2014

posed rules raising energy prices on the farm and the price of ag inputs.

Proposed federal rules to “The carbon regulations, as reduce carbon dioxide emitted proposed, will increase elecby existing power plants raised tricity prices and force power questions last week in Illinois. plant shutdowns, having a negThe U.S. Environmental ative effect on the Illinois Protection Agency (EPA) economy and costing jobs released proposed rules to cut related to that industry,” Payne carbon dioxide emissions from said. power plants N. Duane nationwide by Noland, pres30 percent by ident and 2030. Illinois chief execureceived a goal tive officer of to lower emisthe Illinois sions by 33 Electric percent from Cooperatives, 2012 levels. shared Each state N. Duane Noland Rae Payne Payne’s conselects how to cern.

“We’re trying to keep the meet its goal and develops and electric bill affordable, and at submits a state implementation the same time, supply reliable plan to EPA in 2016. energy to our homes, farms The announcement carried and businesses,” Noland said. special meaning in Illinois.

Cooperatives also are conIn 2012, the state obtained cerned about climate and 41 percent of its power from coal-fired power plants (49 per- environment, and advocate cent came from nuclear sources, for a mix of energy sources, including renewable energy, 6 percent from natural gas and natural gas and clean coal, about 4 percent from wind), Noland added. He noted the according to federal statistics.

Prairie State Generation CamThat same year, the state propus in Washington County duced 47.2 million tons of coal, uses state-of-the-art cleanbased on state information. coal technology.

Rae Payne, Illinois Farm Bureau senior director of business and regulatory affairs, raised concerns about the proBY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Milk’s the “real deal” when it comes to packing a nutritional wallop of protein and calcium. page 12

Learn the difference between FVD and CFV exemptions covered in a pending Illinois law. page 11

Payne raised power reliability as another issue with 20 percent of the nation’s coal plants already slated for future closure because of EPA rules.

“Experts estimate that over half of all U.S. coal-fired power plants could be forced to shut down due to these regulations,” Payne said.

“Some coal plants across the country will be converted to cleaner burning natural gas; however, last winter demonstrated that the U.S. natural gas infrastructure lacks the necessary capacity to handle much increased demand that gas-fueled electric generation would require.”

Flexibility will be the watchword, not only for the state’s energy sources but also for Illinois to address its goal in entirety rather than power plant by power plant, Noland explained. “We’re trying to understand the impact for existing power plants,” he added.

Payne summarized: “There are a lot of details to work out in this proposal as well as the details the Illinois EPA develops in its plan to meet the goal set by U.S. EPA.”

Two sections Volume 42, No. 23

FARMWEEK CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

It’s time to break out birthday cake and candles. Tuesday (June 10) marks FarmWeek’s 40th anniversary. FarmWeek first rolled off the presses at Tazewell Publishing Co. in Morton in 1974. Grace Rist, Illinois Farm Bureau administrative assistant, proofs a page while surrounded by a collection of FarmWeek editions. The first color edition appeared in 1987, far left. While the appearance has changed, FarmWeek’s mission remains to inform, create awareness, share ideas and bolster the collective voice of IFB members. (Photo

by Ken Kashian)

Lawmakers leave unanswered questions on state budget

Periodicals: Time Valued

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

The General Assembly passed a new budget, but provided no answers for looming revenue reductions when the temporary income tax rate phases out next year.

“The budget did not fully take into account the Kevin Semlow lower revenue as a result of the coming income tax rollback,” said Kevin Semlow, Illi-

nois Farm Bureau director of state legislation.

Essentially, the new $35.4 billion budget extends spending levels in the current budget; however, income tax rates will be lowered Jan. 1, halfway through the new fiscal year that starts July 1.

Once Gov. Pat Quinn receives the budget, he may sign or veto the entire budget.

He also may veto specific lines in the budget.

“The governor hasn’t stated what he’s going to do,” Semlow said.

“It’s very clear that what is done with the budget shortfall

FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com

depends on the outcome of the gubernatorial election,” he continued. “The permanency of the current income tax rates may be brought back for consideration depending on who wins the election.”

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) received $98 million, basically a flat appropriation compared to the previous budget.

IDOA faces a challenge to establish a medical marijuana program as required under state law, but the legislature didn’t appropriate any money for the new program.

“This will put pressure on

other areas of the IDOA budget as the department tries to implement a new program with no additional revenue,” Semlow explained.

Ag-related items in the new budget include $1.8 million for agriculture education that provides incentives for top-ranked ag ed programs.

Funding levels are maintained for state-county Extension match funding, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, county fairs, implementation of the Livestock Management Facilities Act and agriculture product inspections.

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

Quick Takes

NATURAL RESOURCES

FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, June 9, 2014

DEADLINES TO REPORT PLANTING NEARING — Deadlines loom to report prevent planted acreage — land that wasn’t planted because of a natural disaster. Farmers have 15 days after the established planting date for each crop to report prevent planted acreage to the Farm Service Agency.

The final planting date varies by county. For most of Illinois, June 5 marks the final planting date for corn. The final planting date for soybeans in the upper third of Illinois is June 15. Counties in the lower two-thirds of Illinois have a June 20 final planting date.

Check with county FSA offices about local prevent planted report deadlines. Contact your crop insurance agent about prevent planted crop insurance deadlines.

U OF I DEVELOPING FARM BILL TOOLS — University of Illinois researchers will take the lead in using $3 million awarded by USDA to develop online farm bill tools for farmers.

U of I, working with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri and the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M, will also train state-based Extension agents, who can in turn help educate farmers.

The U of I, along with FAPRI and AFPC, will develop Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage online tools. U of I researchers will also develop online resources for the dairy Margin Protection Program and Noninsured Assistance Program.

USDA plans to award $3 million to state Cooperative Extension Services for outreach and education on the new farm bill programs. Funds will be used to conduct public education outreach meetings beginning late summer.

YOUNG SOY LEADERS SOUGHT — If you’re a soybean producer interested in gaining leadership skills, consider applying for the 2015 American Soybean Association (ASA) DuPont Young Leader Program.

The program includes a two-part training program with the first part taking place Nov. 18-21 at DuPont Pioneer headquarters in Johnston, Iowa. The second half begins Feb. 24-28, 2015, in Phoenix, Ariz., in conjunction with the 20th Commodity Classic Convention.

Applications must be completed by Aug. 1 at {soygrowers. com/learn/young-leader-program/}. ASA, its 26 state affiliates, Grain Farmers of Ontario and DuPont will select one couple or individual per state to participate.

AG TECH TOOLS FEATURED — Explore the newest, state-of-the-art agricultural tools at 9:30 a.m. June 17 at the Asmark Agricenter in Bloomington.

The Tools of the Future Tour, sponsored by Successful Farming, will feature demonstrations and hands-on exhibitions of unmanned aerial vehicles, wearable technology, crop sensors, compaction-reducing equipment, and data collection and management.

The tour stop costs $35 for four sessions and includes lunch.

Sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:00 p.m. Certified crop advisers can earn up to four continuing education credits. Register online at {agriculture.com/toolsofthe future}.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 42 No. 23 June 9, 2014 Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers.

FarmWeek is produced by the Illinois Farm Bureau.

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

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

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

“Farm, Family, Food” is used under license of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation.

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

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

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

GIVE YOUR SOIL A

HEALTH

EXAM

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

hecking your soil’s health needn’t cost a lot of money, require fancy equipment or take a lot of time.

In fact, a farmer can easily handle an initial exam with only a shovel, according to Ivan Dozier, state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“When it comes to soil health, you can make every soil healthier,” Dozier said.

Start with a visual exam by handling the soil and assessing its structure. “Is it in big chunks or granular?” Dozier asked. When holding clumps of soil, do you see earthworms moving? “If so, that’s a good thing,” he said.

Another visual assessment involves crop residue.

Healthy soil exhibits “a good balance” of residue from different growing seasons, Dozier said. Residue from last year’s crop should be on top, protecting the soil’s surface. However, a farmer doesn’t want the surface residue to include residue from two to three years ago.

“That’s when you need to dig a little deeper,” Dozier recommended.

Healthy soil includes a mix of fresh residue from the previous year’s crop on the surface and decomposing residue from earlier crops

C

Photo by Ken Kashian

beneath the soil surface, he explained.

Dozier suggested digging down 12 inches and examining the tillage zone. Healthy soil nurtures fibrous roots and doesn’t force roots to seek channels through a hard pan.

Don’t stop with a visual assessment; use your nose for a “sniff ” test.

A handful of soil from the top 6 inches should have a “fresh, earthy smell,” Dozier said.

If the quick self-assessment turns up curious results, consider further testing. Dozier recommended contacting the local NRCS staff for more in-depth assessments or even a demonstration of a soil health kit.

Depending on a farmer’s initial assessment, soil might be tested for pH levels, high bulk density, infiltration or cationexchange capacity.

Brief informative videos of soil health assessments may be viewed on YouTube at {nrcs.usda.gov/wps/por tal/nrcs/detailfull/ national/soils/health/?cid=stelprdb1048858}.

USDA announces CRP, TIP sign-up

Farmers and landowners may sign up for the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Under continuous sign-up, eligible land may be enrolled in CRP at any time with contracts of up to 10 to 15 years.

In lieu of a general sign-up this year, USDA will allow farmers with general CRP contracts expiring in September to have the option of a one-year contract extension.

USDA will also implement the 2014 farm bill’s requirement that farmers enrolled through general sign- up for more than five years can exercise the option to opt out of the program if certain other conditions are met.

In addition, the new grassland provisions, which will allow farmers to graze their enrolled land, will enable farmers to do so with more flexibility.

Retiring farmers enrolled in CRP may receive incentives to transfer a portion of their land to beginning, disadvantaged or veteran farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP).

TIP provides two additional years of payments for retired farmers who transition expiring CRP acres to socially disadvantaged, military veterans or beginning farmers who return the land to sustainable grazing or crop production.

TIP sign-up begins today (Monday).

TIP funding was increased

by more than 30 percent in the 2014 farm bill, providing up to $33 million through 2018.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers CRP, will coordinate the various CRP program opportunities.

For more information, visit a local FSA office or go online to {fsa.usda.gov}.

The Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation seeks nominations of community leaders to spotlight each day of the Illinois State Fair as an Illinoisan of the Day. The deadline is June 25. Ten individuals will be selected and honored on a given day during the Illinois State Fair Aug. 7-17.

Nominees should be involved in ser vice activities, educational projects and/or youth programs.

They should be affiliated with state or county fairs in Illinois. Nominees also must have shown Illinois spirit through continued

volunteerism and community ser vice.

Eligible nominees must be state residents at least 25 years of age or older, and perfor med ser vice at a state and/or county fair in Illinois.

To request a nomination form, call the Museum Foundation at 217-725-8047 or download one by visiting {statefairmuseum.org/}.

Winners will be notified in advance and announced July 12 at the Museum Foundation’s annual kickoff on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Illinois Fair Museum seeking nominations of top Illinoisans

GOVERNMENT

Page 3 Monday, June 9, 2014 FarmWeek

Ballot referendums a smorgasbord Senators: Improve safety

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Illinois voters face a variety of binding and nonbinding ballot questions on Nov. 4.

Voters may give their opinions on as many as seven questions; however, a couple of major legal obstacles stand in the way of one.

Recently, the Illinois State Board of Elections determined the Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits submitted sufficient valid signatures to place its proposed amendment on the November ballot. Voters will be asked whether the constitution should be amended to reduce the number of senators from 59 to 41 and to limit General Assembly members’ legislative terms to eight years.

Illinois Farm Bureau opposes the measure because it would reduce the size of the Senate and downstate representation.

However, the board of elections found a large number of invalid signatures on a submitted petition for a second amendment proposal to change the state legislative redistricting process. It

has not made a final decision on the ballot initiative by Yes for Independent Maps, which also faces potential legal challenges.

Two binding ballot questions focus on individuals’ rights. One would add a constitutional provision strengthening the rights of crime victims. A second would outline that no person could be denied registration and voting rights based on race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, language or income.

As reported previously, Illinois voters also will encounter two nonbinding referendums on the ballot. One asks about raising the minimum hourly wage to $10. The other asks about increasing the income tax rate by 3 percent on individuals with incomes greater than $1 million.

Legislators approved a third nonbinding referendum asking if any health insurance plan in Illinois that covers prescription drugs shall also cover prescription birth control.

Seven — or even six — ballot referendums would be the most faced by Illinois voters in one year.

General Assembly concludes spring session

State legislators addressed matters of interest to Illinois Farm Bureau members before the May 31 deadline.

SB 3049 tackles the influx of cougars, black bears and gray wolves into Illinois and allows the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to oversee the legal taking of these animals, said Kevin Semlow, Illinois Farm Bureau director of state legislation.

The bill passed in both chambers and will be sent to the governor.

The legislation legalizes the immediate taking of cougars, black bears and gray wolves posing an immediate threat to people, livestock, domestic pets or property, Semlow said.

The legislation directs IDNR to establish rules for nuisance permit applications if one of those animals presents a threat but not an imminent danger, he added.

Questions about all-terrain vehicle (ATV) stamps were clarified in SB 2633, according to Bill Bodine, associate director of state legislation. Both chambers approved the bill, which will be sent to the governor.

In March, IDNR had postponed selling ATV stamps until lawmakers addressed issues.

The legislation continues to exempt from the required stamp fee off-highway vehicles used for production agricul-

ture and livestock production, Bodine noted. The bill clarifies stamps aren’t required for offhighway vehicles used on property owned by the vehicle owner, his family or both. It added exemptions for golf carts and off-highway vehicles used for commercial business.

Research of industrial hemp may begin in Illinois with the passage of HB 5085, Bodine said. The legislation authorizes industrial hemp research by the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and universities with agricultural programs. The legislation authorizes IDOA to adopt implementation rules for the research. — Kay Shipman

A majority of Americans support the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) current policy for voluntarily labeling foods produced with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), but opposition increased in recent years, according to a recent survey by the International Food and Information Council.

The 16th Consumer Perceptions of Food Technology survey also found that most people are satisfied with current food labels.

Seventy-four percent couldn’t think of any additional information needed on food labels, 8 percent wanted additional nutritional information, 5 percent wanted more ingredient information and 4 percent wanted information about biotechnology.

Michigan-based Market Strategies International conducted the survey between March 28 and April.

About 1,000 adults participated using an online survey. It weighed results based on gender, age, race, education, region, income and marital status to reflect the U.S. population.

Other key findings in the report included: • Seventy-one percent of those surveyed reported some awareness of plant biotechnology, 28 percent were favorable toward it and 28 percent viewed the technology unfavorably — up from 20 percent in 2012.

Forty-three percent of consumers were neutral or said they didn’t know enough to have an opinion.

• Thirty-eight percent of

people between 18 and 34 viewed biotechnology favorably compared with 2 percent of consumers aged 35 to 54 and 25 percent among those 55 and older.

• Seventy-two percent of consumers indicated they would purchase GMO food products to provide more healthful fats, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, while 69 percent say they would purchase GMO foods to reduce the potential for carcinogens or to protect crops from insect damage and require fewer pesticide applications. Sixty-seven percent say they would likely purchase GMO foods to enhance nutritional benefits or eliminate trans-fat content.

• Seventy-four percent of consumers agreed that modern agriculture can be sustainable, produces high-quality foods (72

of nation’s pipeline system

BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek

Three U.S. senators, including Springfield Democrat Dick Durbin, “strongly urged” the head of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to improve federal oversight of the nation’s pipeline system in light of an internal audit that found “multiple weaknesses in state programs.”

The National Transportation Safety Board recommended the Department of Transportation (DOT) audit PHMSA after a 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion. The audit found, among other things, outdated formulas in use Sen. Dick Durbin to determine how many inspectors are needed in each state. In addition, some state inspectors didn’t meet minimum qualifications.

“In one case, an inspector with no formal training was responsible for pipeline inspections,” the senators wrote. ”DOT also found a lack of detail in the guidelines states use for inspections that led to uncoordinated and varying policies across states. Finally, DOT found that PHMSA’s own assessments of state pipeline safety programs have been inaccurate.”

Durbin and two Democratic Senators from Michigan — Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin — called the findings “disturbing” and “unacceptable.”

“These findings suggest that the nation’s 2.5 million miles of pipeline are at risk for an accident,” they wrote. “While we rec‘These findings sugognize that PHMSA gest that the nation’s has responded to some of DOT’s recommen2.5 million miles of dations for improvepipeline are at risk ment, we are asking for an accident.’ that PHMSA provide the additional informa— Sens. Dick Durbin, tion requested by DOT Debbie Stabenow and in a timely manner and implement all measures Carl Levin needed to ensure pipeline safety.”

The senators pointed out that the agency regulates more than 78,000 miles of pipelines carrying hazardous liquids and natural gas through the state of Illinois.

“Over the last 10 years, there have been 22 serious incidents related to these pipelines that resulted in four fatalities, 33 injuries and about $8 million in property damage,” they wrote.

“We urge you to follow recommendations from DOT to ensure the highest level of safety standards is met.”

Survey: Americans satisfied with current food labels percent) and produces nutritious foods (71 percent). Sixtyeight percent indicated that modern agriculture produces safe foods.

American Farm Bureau Federation’s policy on food labeling supports FDA’s sciencebased labeling guidelines that state labels shouldn’t be required to contain information on production practices that

don’t affect the product’s nutrition or safety.

AFBF supports voluntary labeling of “identity-preserved agricultural and food products that is based on a clear and factual certification process.”

Illinois Farm Bureau has a similar stance on FDA’s authority over food labeling and on voluntary labeling. — Deana Stroisch

Invasive Asian carp may increasingly become useful in feeding farm-raised fish. Southern Illinois University (SIU) researchers combined soybean meal with Asian carp fish meal to create a nutritious, easily digested, economical feed for farmraised species like hybrid striped bass and largemouth bass.

“The research may solve sev-

eral challenges for Midwestern fisheries and the aquaculture industry,” said Jesse Trushenski, associate professor at SIU’s Center for Fisheries Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences in Carbondale.

“The fish diets we studied use meal from Asian carp, an invasive fish that is spreading and disrupting ecosystems in the Mississippi River Basin.”

Soybean meal, Asian carp enhance fish diets

WORLD PORK EXPO

FarmWeek Page 4 Monday, June 9, 2014

USDA commits $26 million to fight pig virus

National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) members expressed hope last week that a new USDA program will help farmers control and prevent porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV).

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the $26 million program at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines.

PEDV has affected hog operations in 30 states, killing an estimated 7 million piglets. The disease poses no threat to humans.

“USDA takes this issue very seriously.

We are partnering with producers to better monitor, trace and control the circumstances associated with this virus,” Vilsack said.

The funding commitment accompanied a federal order requiring pork farmers and their veterinarians to notify USDA and state veterinarians of new PEDV infections.

Affected farmers would further be required to work with their veterinarian or a state veterinarian to create a management plan aimed at curbing the disease. Plans would be based on industry best practices, including disease monitoring through testing and biosecurity measures.

“We’re hopeful the USDA plan will work,” said NPPC President Howard Hill, a veterinarian and pork producer from Cambridge, Iowa. “We still need to see the fine details of the program, but

U.S. pork exports gain steam despite issues

Tight supplies of U.S. pork, record prices and the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) haven’t slowed exports.

The U.S. pork industry last year exported more than $6 billion worth of pork, which accounted for 26 percent of production in the nation.

And the momentum continues so far this year. U.S. pork exports to countries such as China, Japan, Mexico and South Korea increased during the first quarter, according to Randy Spronk, past president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

“Even at higher prices, there’s great demand,” Spronk, chairman of NPPC’s trade committee, said last week at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines. “There hasn’t been anybody backing off. Exports increased the first quarter this year.”

Exports add significant value, about $54 per hog, to the

bottom line of producers.

NPPC therefore continues to focus on eliminating trade barriers and opening additional markets to U.S. pork and other ag products.

“The future of our industry depends on expanding exports,” Spronk said.

A major opportunity to boost pork exports exists within the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement with 12 nations.

But Japan, one nation involved in TPP, uprooted negotiations by requesting certain products, including pork, be excluded from tariff elimination.

“There’s a significant amount of frustration with Japan,” said Nick Giordano, NPPC vice president and counsel for international affairs.

“They (the Japanese) are asking for special treatment.”

Leaders of the U.S. pork industry and other American groups believe Japan’s request to exclude certain ag products

Pork producers affected by the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) could see some relief in coming months.

Tom Burkgren, of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, expects the number of new PEDV cases could tail off this summer.

“There is some good news.

The number of new cases going forward seems to be declining,” Burkgren said at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines. “With the data we have, it looks like (the number of new cases) peaked (last winter).”

Burkgren believes warmer summer weather, along with

tightened biosecurity on farms, will slow the spread of PEDV in coming months.

PEDV thus far affected about half the sow population (2.5 million to 2.6 million head) and resulted in the death of an estimated 7 million pigs, according to Howard Hill, president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Baby pigs are particularly susceptible to the virus.

“This virus entered the U.S. a little over a year ago and caused significant losses,” Hill said.

Pork supplies since last year tightened and prices raced to record highs, due in part to animal losses caused by PEDV. But

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

if USDA can focus a lot of the plan on researching and testing this devastating disease and on helping producers enhance their biosecurity that would go a long way to helping us know how to control and to prevent the virus.”

NPPC board members met with Vilsack prior to the announcement. Board members asked that the program include in-depth investigations to discover how PEDV entered the U.S. and heightened border security at U.S. entry points.

“We need a better understanding of the virus and how it came into the country. We will do as good of a job as possible to ensure what comes into this country doesn’t carry with it additional risks or challenges,” Vilsack promised.

The program commits: • $11.1 million in cost-share funding to farmers with infected herds to implement biosecurity practices; • $3.9 million to USDA to support vaccine development; • $2.4 million to states to support management and control activities; • $2.4 million for diagnostic testing; and • $1.5 million to National Animal Health Laboratory Network for genomic testing of newly infected herds.

For full details of the program, visit {aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/secd}.

Rita Frazer, RFD Radio Network® anchor, contributed to this story.

EXPO EXHIBITORS BREAK RECORD

Junior exhibitors — among a record of nearly 900 — show pigs at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines.

An outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus didn’t stop exhibitors from showing about 2,500 of their prized swine at the show. (Photo by Daniel Grant)

from the TPP would cost American farmers billions of dollars and set a bad precedent for future free trade negotiations.

“It’s the lynchpin issue holding up TPP,” Giordano said.

“If the U.S. was to accept the current proposal, not only

would we lose out on billions of dollars of sales but it also would set a terrible precedent.”

Trade agreement negotiations also are ongoing between the U.S. and European Union.

The EU is the second largest pork consumer in the world.

“The EU represents a major

opportunity,” said Spronk, who noted EU pork imports from the U.S. currently account for less than 1 percent of consumption due in part to nonscience-based sanitary barriers.

“We look forward to future success in countries that erected numerous barriers.”

increased biosecurity measures.

“We’ve lost about 7 million pigs, but that doesn’t mean there’s a proportionate loss in pork production,” Hill said.

“We’re going to have pork for domestic consumption and exports. In fact, exports this last quarter are at an all-time record.”

Pork producers still aren’t exactly sure what they’re dealing with when it comes to PEDV. There are two strains of the virus, which originated in China.

It typically takes about six to eight weeks to close a herd after PEDV confirmation. But Burkgren noted that cleaning up herds has become more difficult

since about the first of the year.

“Just when you think the virus is under control on a farm, it pops back up,” Burkgren said.

The keys to slow PEDV include building sow immunity through natural infection and tightened biosecurity on farms.

A vaccine has been used in the field. Initial reports with use of the vaccine indicate moderate success, according to Burkgren.

The National Pork Board (NPB) last week approved an additional $866,000 for PEDV research and outreach efforts, according to Paul Sundberg, NPB vice president. — Daniel Grant

New PEDV cases expected to decline this summer FarmWeekNow.com

Go to FarmWeekNow.com for complete coverage of the World Pork Expo, including an interview with NPPC President Howard Hill.

Hill insists pork supplies remain at adequate levels to service both the domestic and international markets.

A number of pork producers used extra space in facilities to put an additional 10 to 15 pounds on their market pigs.

There also has been a decrease in losses from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), possibly due to

WORLD PORK EXPO

Page 5 Monday, June 9, 2014 FarmWeek

Dialogues with food retailers benefit pork industry A rash of announcements by food retailers the last two years to source pork from farms that don’t use gestation stalls caught the pork industry off guard.

But an industry response to plans by such restaurant chains and retailers as Chipotle, Costco, Denny’s, McDonald’s, Subway and others to oust the productive but controversial stalls generated good results.

Members of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and National Pork Board (NPB) initiated dialogues with customers during the last two years.

Corporate suites that included decision makers for some of the top food retailers in the country became the top target for discussions.

“We recognized there was a real opportunity to reach out to those in the (retail) industry,” said Dallas Hockman, NPPC vice president of industry relations.

“There’s a definite need within (food) companies to better understand where the protein comes from and how it’s produced.”

Jarrod Sutton, NPB assistant vice president for chan-

nel marketing, was struck by the fact that many decision makers at food companies and restaurants lacked key food production knowledge prior to making food sourcing/production decisions.

“The key lesson we learned early on is that a lot of people in the food retail business don’t have the understanding of (farm) production practices we hoped they would,” Sutton said. “It’s imperative we ensure customers understand how pigs become pork.”

The pork leaders also believe the industry must be as transparent as possible with its customers.

“The era of don’t ask, don’t tell is over,” Hockman said. “We need to talk about the commitment our industry has (to producing high quality products and animal care) and why we choose certain production practices.”

Pork industry leaders support the ability of farmers and consumers to choose what type of food they want and how it’s raised. But various styles of farming shouldn’t be used as a marketing tool, Hockman noted.

“We do not believe animal welfare or food safety

should be used as a competitive marketing tool,” he said.

“It should occur all over the board.”

Decisions by some companies to source pork from farms free of gestation stalls thus far haven’t generated much of a ripple through the industry.

Research indicates about 20 percent of the U.S. hog industry is shifting from the use of gestation stalls to open housing or other systems. The current rate of transition is about 2 to 3 percent annually.

Food companies must understand “they’ll have to pay a premium (for gestation stall-free pork),” Hockman said. “No products are showing up in the marketplace so far that show differentiation, such as cage-free eggs.”

The pork industry leaders also believe undercover farm videos have less impact on the food industry now that pork leaders more actively engage retail leaders about production practices.

“There’s no question the (pork) industry is making some progress (closing the information gap),” Hockman added.

For more information visit the website {PorkCares.com}.

Pork producers know the value of oilseed meal as a protein source for pigs. But a recent University of Illinois study shows canola, cottonseed and sunflower meal also boost energy and provide phosphorous.

A team led by Hans H. Stein, a U of I animal sciences professor, evaluated canola seeds, canola meal, cottonseed meal, sunflower seeds and two types of sunflower meal.

The researchers conducted two experiments with growing pigs. In the first, they determined the digestible and

metabolizable energy of each ingredient; in the second, they determined digestibility of phosphorus with and without addition of microbial phytase.

“From these results, we conclude it is possible to include a number of different oilseed products in diets fed to pigs to meet the requirements for digestible phosphorus and energy,” Stein said. “Which ingredients are most economical to include in diets depend on local availability and cost.”

Stein’s team found the concentration of digestible energy in sunflower and canola seeds

exceeded levels found in soybean meal or corn. Canola meal, sunflower meal, dehulled sunflower meal and cottonseed meal contained less digestible energy than soybean meal or corn. Metabolizable energy values followed the same pattern.

With no phytase added to the diets, the standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus ranged from as little as 37.4 percent in sunflower meal to 62 percent in soybean meal.

Phosphorus digestibility in sunflower seeds and canola meal proved no different from soybean meal.

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Kelly Fitch, left, and Herb Paul, pork producers with Murphy Brown LLC in Mount Erie (Wayne County), check out a free access stall during the trade show at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines. A record number of exhibitors (nearly 400) were on hand at the show. Illinois ranks No. 4 in pork production nationwide. (Photo by Daniel Grant)

Pork prices realized yearly highs? Oilseed meal provides pigs more than protein

Pork producers may have seen the highest prices of the year. However, the summer holds continued promise for high prices due to lower slaughter numbers caused by herd losses from porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), according to Steve Meyer of Paragon Economics.

Speaking last week to World Pork Expo attendees in Des Moines, Meyer noted 2014 could represent a record profitability year for most pork producers.

“That doesn’t mean we like this. These guys don’t raise pigs to see them die,” said Meyer. “We like high prices — don’t get us wrong — but you’ve got to deliver a value proposition to your consumer. Right now that value proposition isn’t as good as it normally is because the price is pretty high.”

Meyer added he did not think prices would reach the highs seen in March and April when “a panic situation on the product side” pushed prices to record levels.

“I think we’ll trade these

hogs back up into the low 120s, probably, back down somewhere to $1 a pound, maybe $1.10 in the fall. Right now, I think the December contract’s probably undervalued. You can probably have some pricing opportunities in the July and August contract. I wouldn’t go much far beyond that,” he advised.

Pork shortages could continue into July, August and September, Meyer said. However, the economist expressed high hopes for herd rebuilding, in part, due to lower production costs.

Meyer urged pork producers to respond to the USDA June hogs and pigs report survey. He noted it’s critical for producers to respond to the survey to ensure accurate information for USDA. “USDA can’t come out with any better report on June 27 than the data it gets from producers. It’s really important that we do a good job responding to that survey,” Meyer concluded.

Rita Frazer, RFD Radio Network® anchor, contributed this story.

Universities, Extension announce crop field days

Farmers mark your calendars for field days at university research centers across Illinois.

Speakers will discuss current crop issues as well as results from previous research.

This month, the University of Illinois will host a weed science field day at 8 a.m. June 25 at the U of I Crop Sciences Research and Education Center located immediately south of the Urbana campus.

Western Illinois University will offer a crop field day June 26 starting at noon on the WIU research farm, Macomb.

July field days start at 9 a.m. July 10 at both the U of I Northern Agronomy Research Center, Shabbona, and Southern Illinois University’s

Belleville Research Center, Belleville.

The U of I Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, will offer its field day at 8 a.m. July 15.

The U of I Orr Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Perry, will host its field day July 16 starting at 9 a.m.

Field days continue Aug. 6 at the U of I Brownstown Agronomy Research Center, Brownstown, starting at 8 a.m. The U of I Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, Simpson, will host a field day at 9 a.m. Aug. 7.

U of I Extension will host a field day at 9 a.m. Sept. 11 at the U of I Extension Ewing Demonstration Center, Ewing.

FarmWeek Page 6 Monday, June 9, 2014 Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: We had excellent growing conditions again last week with about .4 of an inch of rain. Temperatures have been in the 70s and 80s. Some of the earlyplanted corn is in the V5 stage and growing fast. Most of the beans have emerged and stands look pretty good. Lots of hay is being put up in between rain showers, and some sidedressing of nitrogen is under way. The wheat is heading out slightly ahead of schedule, and some people are talking about second-crop beans behind wheat even this far north. Have a safe week.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: Rain on four days early last week totaled .75 of an inch and was much heavier in some locations. Hay making is going slow with the rain or a threat of rain. Corn is growing fast, but there are some wheat problems requiring more spray. I have seen cultivators and sidedressing working. Soybeans are emerging without much problem. Potatoes are blossoming, wheat is heading and oats look excellent.

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: We received 1 inch of rain over the last week. Corn is growing quickly and post-emergence spraying of herbicide has begun. Soybean planting is complete in the area.

Most soybeans have emerged and are growing as well. School is out and summer has officially started.

Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: We replanted 140 acres of corn that was originally planted on May 8. Another variety that was planted the same day in a different field was just fine. The corn residue from last year was heavier in the problem fields, but I don’t feel that it was excessive. It turned cold after it was planted, but I also don’t think that was the whole problem. Rainfall this spring has been very light with only .2 of an inch last week. Grass in the yards is starting to dry up.

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: The county received a nice, gentle 1-inch plus rain Tuesday night. Corn is getting into the nitrogen and is looking good. Some soybean stands are a little spotty due to the heavy residue cover this spring. I started getting phone calls Thursday saying, “There’s a pile of corn at your bins.” The gate on the load out had opened and two bins were feeding it. I could shut things down remotely, and luckily both pits were uncovered under the pile. We still have some vacuuming to finish.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We received a much needed 1.6 inches of rain Wednesday. The early-planted corn has now closed the rows and is growing fast since the rain.

Most post-spraying and sidedressing is complete. Soybean post-spraying will start when it dries out. Soybeans are about 4 inches tall. I still haven’t mowed hay yet.

Before the rain, our area was forecast for rain every day. I may have to wait a few more days since we have rain in the forecast for the next week also. The pastures are recovering, but the field tiles have not started running yet.

Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: Rain showers of 1.3 inches finally brought some much needed rain across the area. Both corn and soybeans perked up after the rain.

Most everything is planted and sprayers are running nonstop trying to keep ahead of weeds.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: A rain refreshed everything last week with 1 inch in the southern part of the county and less to the north.

Looks like most of the planting and replanting is done. Nitrogen application is occurring. Rain delayed this job for a while.

Spraying of corn is also taking place. The hay guys are wanting to get their first cutting done along with waterways and roadside baling. Markets are lower each week as crop yield uncertainty diminishes with normal weather.

Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: It was a very nice week with a very much needed 1 inch of rain. Our moisture is still a little low, but it did help things. Farmers are finishing up corn planting and a few are starting to spray beans. Otherwise, they are trying to get caught up and watching the crops grow.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: Field activity was brought to a halt by rain Wednesday morning. We received .55 to .65 of an inch of rain on our farms. We finished up replanting corn. We are ready to start sidedressing nitrogen in our cornfields once the soil is fit for application. In this area, all of the planting and replanting is finished.

Fields of corn were being sidedressed with nitrogen, and corn and soybean fields were having herbicides applied on them before the rain. Corn development ranges anywhere from emergence up to the V7 growth stage with most of the corn being between V5 and V7. At V6, the growing point moves above ground and the stalk is beginning a period of increased elongation. The earliest-planted soybean fields have reached the V4 growth stage, while many fields are at V2. Commodity prices continue to slide downward. The local closing prices for June 5 were nearby corn, $4.28; new-crop corn, $4.13; nearby soybean, $14.85; new-crop soybean, $11.80.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Thankfully, we got our beans sprayed ahead of the rainstorm that dropped .75 to 1.5 inches. Narrow row corn is now canopied and all crops would be rated as excellent. The extended forecast is quite conducive to crop development and the growing season is off to a terrific start with nearly full yield potential. Markets took it on the chin. Corn, $4.38, $4.22 new; soybeans, $14.60, $11.70 new; wheat, $5.63.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: The green carpet emergeth from the dark soil.

This is a great time of the growing season as the corn and beans are growing rapidly and turning the dark soil green. A dark and stormy night last week came at 2 a.m.

Wednesday morning in the form of a tornado warning that luckily did not come to fruition. There were 60 mph winds though, so lots of tree damage and some power outages. We received 1 inch of rain that was about perfect at this stage in the season.

Chris Karr of Seymour reported 10.2 inches of rain over the last two weeks, primarily from the two storms that meandered down Illinois 10.

Corn in our crop reporting district is 99 percent planted and soybeans, 83 percent planted.

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: Well, the good news from last week is we finally got some much needed rain. Our gauge showed about 3.6 inches over the weekend, while others recorded more than 4 and up to 5 inches, and some very strong winds. Numerous small tree branches and other items were relocated, including some machinery. I think we were lucky there were no tornadoes. Most corn looks good despite hail and/or green snap in some fields, while some in the northern parts of county had already been replanted due to emergence problems. Soybeans are generally short, but have a lot of time left on the calendar to catch up. Hay making has started, which will probably be a short crop. Have a safe week.

Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: We received 1.69 inches of rain on Tuesday night along with quite a bit of wind. The rain was welcome — the wind not so much. Wind knocked a lot of corn in the area to about 45 degrees, but Thursday almost all of it was either standing back straight or very close to it. We are growing some rye for seed this year and it got blown down as well, but surprisingly, it stood back up, too. Corn is at V8-V9 stage and a lot is canopied or very close to it. Beans looking good so far.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: After a couple of weeks of warmth and no rain, spotty rain showers came into the area Sunday (June 1) and Monday (June 2), delivering .8 of an inch in central Coles County. More widespread rainfall came into the area bringing us another 1.5 inches.

With the rain coming just as sidedress applications of nitrogen had been completed, cornfields are looking very good and growing fast with the majority of the earlyplanted corn in the V3 growth stage. Soybean fields are greening up very fast as well with many developing into the V1 stage. Between the difficulties we had last year, and the proactive fight against herbicide-resistant weed populations, producers in the area have adapted aggressive herbicide programs that have resulted in some very clean bean fields at this point. It is a good feeling when things look this good between the rows. We have a long way to go, but we definitely have potential out there.

Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: We had 1.6 inches of rain last week, and it was very welcome. We had 1.7 inches for the month of May. That being said, I know some north and south of here are saying, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!” I have one friend by Neoga who still has 400 acres left to plant and is building an ark. We finished spraying our corn for the last time just in time for the rain. Quite a bit of 28 percent was being sidedressed in corn. Beans needed the rain as they appeared to have grown overnight after the rain with three to four trifoliate leaves showing. Last year in May, we had 9 inches of rain, so don’t lose heart. We had pretty good yields then, so there is still hope for those getting the heavy rains. Thank you, veterans, as we observed the anniversary of D-Day Friday. We are forever in your debt.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: We received several light showers since last report, which totaled about .65 an inch of rain in my gauge. There are places not too far away that received more.

Rains have been very spotty. Most producers are done or real close to wrapping up the planting season.

Soybean stands seem to be real good. Emergence has been good and even.

Some spraying and sidedressing of corn is going on in the area along with some crop scouting on beans and corn. Have a good week.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: Off-and-on showers moved through the area during the week, leaving small amounts of precipitation. Most of the corn and bean planting and replanting is complete, leaving only some odds and ends to be finished. A lot of the corn and beans have emerged. The wheat is turning and looking good. It will be a couple of weeks before harvest starts. A lot of sidedressing of corn took place last week.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: I wish I could submit a report that would create concerns over this developing crop to drive this grain market to a higher level, but that would be difficult when the crop looks as good as it does. After a week of scattered showers, the area finally received a widespread rain that gave the growing crop a good soaking.

Daytime highs had been reaching 90 degrees, but cooled down to the 80s after the weather front passed through. The majority of soybeans have emerged and can be seen down the row. Some of the earlierplanted fields have been treated with a postherbicide application to control water hemp.

The corn crop seemed to leap in height as it enjoyed the warm, humid weather. There have been some reports of head scab in wheat as this crop continues to mature.

Local grain bids are corn, $4.53; soybeans, $14.65; and wheat $5.85.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Rain has stopped fieldwork. Most corn and beans are planted, but heavy rain is going to make for some rough looking low areas. Most corn is looking good.

Beans got off to a good start, but excessive rain has seemed to slow them down. Wheat is beginning to show some brown, but I still won’t guess when harvest will start.

Page 7 Monday, June 9, 2014 FarmWeek Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: We took a tour in several different directions in southern Illinois last week, and the crops were definitely not all planted. It was wet, wet, wet. I saw lots of very small corn, some poor stands and some that maybe would have been replanted if it wasn’t so wet and getting late.

Thousands of acres of beans to be planted yet with water standing in the fields, and probably lots to replant that were planted right ahead of the pounding rains. Wheat is changing colors, but probably a couple of weeks from harvest.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: We had an inch or two of rain this week, but showers were scattered.

Because of the rain, we were not able to get much planting done.

Beans are looking pretty good, but the corn is the worst I have seen in the last few years. Wheat is all headed out, and there are a couple of farmers in northern Jackson County sowing beans by airplane in their wheat. Because of the rain, the crops do not look the best, but we are thankful the river is not high and giving us problems.

Take care.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: No fieldwork to report for the week. It rained almost every other day. We had about 3 inches of rain in four or five different rains, but some areas had that much or more midweek with some storms. Chemicals in corn are not working as well as last year, and as each rain comes, the workload keeps growing. Beans to plant, corn to sidedress, hay to cut and wheat to cut, too. All to be done in the next 20 days!

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: We have only had one day suitable to get in the fields since my last report. Corn planting is probably 98 percent complete and soybeans are highly variable depending on where you are in the county. Soybeans are probably about 20 percent planted. Wheat is turning and looking good so far.

There is a continuing concern about what impact the wet weather is going to have on wheat. I heard some reports of armyworms in the area. We haven’t seen any in our area yet.

Please have a safe week.

Coles County CropWatcher Todd Easton’s corn clearly bested the adage, “knee-high by the Fourth of July.” The majority of his early-planted corn has reached the V3 growth stage. (Photo by Todd Easton)

Soil-applied PPO inhibitor can injure soybeans Reports received Friday morning. Expanded crop and weather information available at FarmWeekNow.com.

Once again, spring arrives at the last minute, and we have thousands of acres to cover in a very short time. As a result, many of these acres have been planted without any residual herbicide. AddiBarry Nash t i o n a l l y, i n most cases, we are forced to apply soil-applied PPO inhibitor herbicides just prior to planting.

Currently, many of us are experiencing soybean emergence problems due to a combination of last-minute herbicide applications as well

as ver y cold and wet soils.

Much of the GROWMARK trade area experienced a fiveto 10-day period of nighttime temperatures ranging f r o m 2 8 t o 3 8 d e g r e e s. A brief review of both plant p hy s i o l o g y a n d h e r b i c i d e activity is needed.

Consider the following: Under nor mal g rowing conditions (daytime temperatures in the 60s and nighttime temperatures in the 50s), soybeans will generally emerge in three to five days.

Once nighttime temperatures drop into the low 40s or less, soybean emergence time is greatly extended. This can lead to extended exposure to soil-applied herbicides.

It is critical to recall that

any crop emerging from soil that has been treated with a residual herbicide must successfully metabolize that particular herbicide. As soil and ambient temperatures drop, herbicide metabolism slows dramatically.

The key for successful soybean emergence in a soil treated with a residual herbicide is quick emergence. The longer the emerging seedling is exposed to treated soil, the greater the chance for herbicide injury. This has always been the case with all resid-

ual herbicides (Prowl, Tref lan, Sencor, Dual, etc.)

Unfortunately, this year did not provide growing conditions conducive to quick soybean emergence.

Key injury symptoms include dark browning (and usually lesions) on the “crook” and soybean cotyledon. Also, we have noticed very skinny necks occurring o n t h e e m e r g i n g s oy b e a n seedling. The “necks” tend to be brittle, but are still green on the inside.

This suggests the seedling

S oy b e a n g r owe r s k n ow plants in most Illinois fields produce nodules containing bacteria that use sugars coming from the plant.

T he bacteria then break chemical bonds in atmospheric nitrogen gas and make the ‘fixed’ nitrogen available to the plants.

However, soybeans have a high requirement for nitrogen; the crop takes up nearly 5 pounds of nitrogen per bushel.

University of Illinois Crop Science Researcher Emerson Nafziger explained that nitrogen fixation provides 50 to 60 percent of the nitrogen needed by the soybean crop.

Nitrogen fixation takes a considerable amount of energy in the for m of sugars pro-

duced by photosynthesis in the crop.

“Estimates of the amount of energy this takes range widely, but could be in the vicinity of 10 percent of the energy captured in photosynthesis, at least during part of the season,” Nafziger said. “Because photosynthesis also powers growth and yield, it seems logical the crop might not be able to produce enough sugars to go around, especially at high yield levels, and that either yields will suffer or nitrogen fixation will be reduced.”

Would adding nitrogen fertilizer fix this problem and result in higher yields?

After several years of research, Nafziger said adding nitrogen fertilizer to soybeans

significantly increased yield (by 6 bushels per acre) in only one case. There was no relationship between yield level and response to nitrogen fertilizer.

Nafziger’s research involved application of urea, in some cases with Agrotain ® (urease inhibitor) or as ESN (slowrelease nitrogen) during midseason, usually in July. Yields ranged widely among these studies — from the 30s to nearly 90 bushels per acre.

“These results provide no support for the idea that the higher the yield, the more response to fertilizer nitrogen.

In fact, yields above 70 bushels seemed more likely to show yield decreases from adding nitrogen, though these differences were small and not statis-

tically significant,” he said.

While these results don’t prove that adding nitrogen fertilizer can’t increase soybean yields, Nafziger said it’s clear that it shows an increase cannot be expected.

“It is possible that soils often contain more nitrogen than we realize, especially under good mineralization conditions, which are also good growing conditions. It is also possible that we don’t really understand the photosynthetic capacity of soybeans under field conditions, and that our guessing that yield is limited by photosynthetic rates when the plant is also fixing its own nitrogen is just incorrect,” he said.

The usual signal of nitrogen deficiency in crops — light

BY BARRY NASH

is healthy — just simply trying to survive. A few days of warm weather should resolve the situation. Once the cotyledons open and the unifoliates begin to emerge, the plants will generally survive.

However, the plant could now be susceptible to several soybean diseases — especially if any dark lesions are obser ved on the neck, cotyledons or stem. A V3-V5 application of fungicide should be considered.

For more information on PPO inhibitor herbicides and injury concerns, contact your local crop specialist.

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

Do soybeans need nitrogen fertilizer?

green leaves — rarely happens in soybean plants during the period of pod setting and seed filling, unless the crop is under prolonged drought stress. Late in seed filling, leaves start to mobilize their nitrog en as chlorophyll and photosynthetic proteins break down. Much of this nitrogen moves to pods and into seeds as photosynthesis winds down.

Nafziger said if there was a way to get more nitrogen into the leaves early in this process, it might be possible to maintain photosynthesis long er and move more material into seeds.

“But it is clear that getting this to happen consistently will be difficult, especially under an unpredictable water supply,” he said.

COVER CROPS

FarmWeek Page 8 Monday, June 9, 2014

Control weeds with cover crops

Q: Which cover crops are better for weed control?

Dave Bishop, PrairieErth Farm: Rotating cover crops is an important part of our weed control strategy, using different crops to address different weed issues.

Melanie Epp writes in “4 Key Management Strategies Using Cover Crops” that some cover crops are able to suppress weeds, “likely due to shading, competition and allelopathy, which occurs when one plant produces organic compounds that have negative effects on other plants.”

Pete Fandel, Illinois Central College: No-tilling soybeans into cereal rye at high seeding rates has been shown to control marestail and Palmer amaranth even if they are herbicide resistant.

Russ Higgins, University of Illinois Extension Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center: Cover crops will successfully control weeds by crowding the weeds out with a good stand, preventing weed seed germination, or through allelopathy, the biochemical

inhibition of germination or seedling growth of one plant by another.

The allelopathic inhibition can involve a number of classes of compounds and considerable research is under way to understand or discover if cover crop species produce these compounds. Currently, cereal rye is a cover crop that has been associated with an allelochemical release. If weed control is a farmer’s goal, cover crop seeding rates likely will need to be increased.

Dean Oswald, Illinois Council on Best Management Practices: Oats, cereal rye and triticale with thick stands are the best weed fighters.

Mike Plumer, Illinois Council on Best Management Practices: Good stands of most cover crops will provide weed control.

Cereal rye and hairy vetch have provided excellent weed control.

The cereal rye is great on winter annuals, and in the spring, will suppress most weeds early.

Then it can provide a mulch cover if allowed to grow to enhance weed control into the summer.

Vetch, if allowed to grow until flowering, does a good job as a heavy mulch to suppress most weeds into early summer.

To view previous questions and answers, visit {farmweek now.com/customePage.aspx?p =544}.

Questions may be emailed to kayship@ilfb.org; add “Discover Cover Crops” in the subject line or mail to Discover Cover Crops, Kay Shipman, 1701 Towanda Ave., Bloomington, Ill. 61701.

Cover crop planning set July 2

Farmers will hear about essential planning for cover crops from 9 a.m. to noon July 2 at the Black Hawk College East Campus auditorium, Kewanee. The registration deadline is June 30 for the free program.

Presentations will cover species selection, planting and termination techniques, timing, grazing and government initiatives. Speakers will include Mike Plumer and Dean Oswald of the Illinois

Supplemental revenue assistance payments sign-up — Sign-up for 2012 crop losses under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program began May 5 and ends Aug. 29. The program, established by the 2008 farm bill, provides for one final period of eligibility for farmers suffering crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011, for crops intended for 2012 harvest.

To be eligible for SURE, a farm or ranch must have: • At least a 10 percent production loss on a crop of economic significance caused by a disaster occurring on or before Sept. 30, 2011; and • A crop of economic significance which contributes at least 5 percent of the expected revenue for a farmer’s farm.

In addition, the crop must also meet the following criteria: • The crop must be considered a 2012 crop which means, in general, that the crop was intended for harvest in 2012; • For insured crops, the coverage period must have begun on or before Sept. 30, 2011; • For crops covered by the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program, the coverage period must have begun on or before Sept. 30, 2011; • The final planting date, according to the specific coverage for the crop, must have been on or before Sept. 30, 2011;

Council on Best Management Practices (C-BMP), Pete Fandel of Illinois Central College and staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs).

To register, contact the Henry County Farm Bureau at 309-937-2411.

Sponsors include the county Farm Bureau, Black Hawk College, C-BMP, NRCS and SWCDs.

(Note: A farmer who only plants fall- or spring-seeded crops with a final planting date on Oct. 1, 2011, or later cannot meet the above eligibility criteria and will not be eligible for the 2012 SURE program); • A policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for all economically significant crops; • Been physically located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county by the secretary of agriculture under a secretarial disaster designation. Without a secretarial disaster designation, individual farmers may be eligible if the actual production on the farm is less than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to a natural disaster; and • A farm as defined by SURE means the entirety of all crop acreage in all counties that a farmer planted or intended to plant for harvest for normal commercial sale or on-farm livestock feeding, including native and improved grassland intended for haying.

Farmers considered socially disadvantaged, a beginning farmer or rancher, or a limitedresource farmer may be eligible for SURE without a policy or plan of insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage. Farmers and ranchers interested in signing up must do so before the Aug. 29 deadline.

For more information on the 2012 SURE program, visit any USDA Service Center or {www. fsa.usda.gov/sure}.

Safety demonstration June 21

A forestry workshop with tree felling and chainsaw safety demonstrations will start at 8:30 a.m. June 21 in Green County. Preregistration is required by June 18 and limited to 100 participants.

The Illinois Chapter of Walnut Council and the Illinois Forestry Development Council are hosting the free event that will offer effective woodland management techniques.

To register, call Forest Glen at 217-662-2142 or email your name and the phrase “SAFETY IN FORESTRY” to asteeples@vccd.org.

Lunch will be served only to registrants.

To reach the location, travel on Interstate 72. Take the Winchester exit and continue on old U.S. 36 west of Winchester. Turn left onto the Eldred Hillview Blacktop and travel about 4 miles south of Hillview. Turn left or east onto 1800 North and drive a quarter mile. Look for Tree Farm signs.

AROUND ILLINOIS

Page 9 Monday, June 9, 2014 FarmWeek

Consumer questions answered at food forum

Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau (WHFB) members know how to communicate with consumers. Two years ago, they joined Knox County Farm Bureau members to form an Illinois Farm Families® group to educate moms about where their food comes from.

They recently took the effort to a new level by hosting the first Food Forum in conjunction with WMOI/WRAM Radio in Monmouth. Vanessa Wetterling, WMOI/WRAM manager, airs a monthly radio program sponsored by WHFB, and came up with the Food Forum idea to reach more local consumers.

Wetterling invited listeners to submit questions. A panel formed based on submitted questions and other topics to be discussed.

Panelists included Stan Jenks, president of Security Savings Bank in Monmouth, who hosted the panel; Don Norton, president of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation and owner of Media Call Advertising Agency; Rob Ravel, County Market Store Manager; Jared Kunkle, WHFB president; Amy Thompson, WHFB past president; Rob Elliott, National Corn Growers Association board member; Katie Pratt, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Face of Farming and Ranching; Dean David Timmerman, Monmouth College Food Security Initiative; Brad Sturgeon, Monmouth College associate chemistry professor; Ron Moore, American Soybean Association vice president; Terri Ewing, Ag Loan Officer of Security Savings; Craig Allaman, west central Illinois agronomist;

BY CAROL RICKETTS

and Josh Richey, GROWMARK seed operations director.

Co-hosted by Rita Frazer, RFD Radio Network® anchor, the discussion began with how food information gets presented to consumers. Panel members talked about products labeled and marketed with sometimes confusing buzzwords, such as “organic,” “hormone free” and “free range.”

Panelists further talked about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the fact that such products require more regula-

tions than organic foods.

The Food and Drug Administration carefully studies GMOs before giving its approval. Environmental Protection Agency and USDA also review GMOs. The testing and approval process takes nearly 13 years to complete.

Wetterling plans to create commercials based on the panel discussion and air them so more people can learn facts about food production.

For more information or to get your questions answered, visit {watchusgrow. org} and{fooddialogues.com}.

Carol Ricketts manages WarrenHenderson Farm Bureau.

Josh Richey, GROWMARK seed operations director, speaking at microphone, participates in the first consumer Food Forum in conjunction with Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau and WMOI/WRAM Radio, Monmouth.

Rob Ravel, County Market store manager, left, and Jared Kunkle, Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau president, center, listen to the discussion.

(Photo by Carol Ricketts, Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau manager)

TRAIN LIKE A

100 BUSHEL YIELDER.

Soybean college boosts bottom line

Soybean farmers aiming for top yields this season can attend the Farm Journal 2014 Soybean College sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association.

The July 15 event will take place near Heyworth beginning at 7 a.m. From classroom-style general sessions to in-field breakouts, farmers will hear from industry-leading agronomists and researchers on topics that could have a positive impact on their bottom lines.

Registration costs $100, which includes lunch and a steak dinner. To register, visit {soyyieldchallenge.com/soy beancollege} or call 877-4827203.

Training Training sstarts tarts Tuesday, July 15, near near H Heyworth, eyworth, IILL at 7 AM. Register Register now at soyyiel soyyieldchallenge.com/SoybeanCollege dchallenge.com/SoybeanCollege or ccall all (8 (877) 77) 48 482-7203.

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AROUND ILLINOIS

FarmWeek Page 10 Monday, June 9, 2014

Fulton County FB hosts ‘adopted’ students for farm tours The Fulton County Farm Bureau recently hosted its adopted fourth graders from Oak Lawn’s St. Germaine School. Thirty-three students, two teachers and 17 parents traveled 200 miles via charter bus to visit their Fulton County “adopted farmers.”

First, the group visited Sister Creek Farms near Lewistown where owner Warren Wolf gave them a tour of his cattle operation with assistance from Scott and Bruce Shaeffer. Farm Bureau volunteers explained cattle production, feeding and veterinary care, and answered questions about the farm.

Next, the group headed to the Maples Mills Methodist Church, where Fulton FS employees grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. The Fulton County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members served lunch with homemade cookies. Tonya Holt, Fulton County ag literacy coordinator, presented a milk explosion dairy lesson.

BY ELAINE STONE

Scott Shaeffer, left, an employee of Sister Creek Farms, explains some of the farm machinery used on the Lewistown cattle farm to visitors from St. Germaine School, Oak Lawn. Recently, the Fulton County Farm Bureau hosted its “adopted” fourth graders, their teachers and parents on farm tours. (Photo by Elaine Stone, Fulton County Farm Bureau manager)

The group then traveled to the Carlberg Dairy Farm near Canton. They toured the milking parlor and calf barn, and learned about hay, silage and feeding of the cows and calves from Bill, Ellie and Lars Carlberg. The Carlbergs provided the group with Prairie Farms ice cream.

The group ended the day at the Vohland Farm near Fairview. The Vohland family assembled a line of tractors and equipment, representing the field operations needed to take seeds from planting to harvest. At each piece of equipment, Fulton County Farm Bureau volunteers explained what the machine did and answered questions.

“It’s a wonderful program,” said volunteer Bob Vohland about the Adopt-A-Classroom program. “Some of these kids have never been to a farm. It’s very important we educate them on what modern farming is,” he said, noting there are misconceptions among consumers about farming.

The Fulton County Farm Bureau, with the support of an IAA grant, funded the students’ farm visit.

St. Germaine teacher Carole Scannell added many of the kids don’t leave their own block and have limited knowledge about where their food comes from. According to Scannell, the majority of the children’s parents, who chaperoned the trip, can also bene-

fit from Adopt-A-Classroom.

Throughout the school year, the students learn about agriculture and the workings of a farm before the trip to Fulton County. Scannell said the Fulton and Cook County Farm Bureaus send her information and resources to tie into her social studies and science curriculum.

Elaine Stone serves as manager of the Fulton County Farm Bureau.

Agritourism training offered

Farmers interested in learning more about agritourism may participate in a three-day intensive training June 23-25 at Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery in Champaign.

Sponsored by The Land Connection, the event will include a full-day bus tour of the Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, Ludwig Farmstead Creamery in Fithian and Sleepy Creek Vineyards in Fairmount.

Participants will learn about start-up costs, capital access, pricing, marketing, risks and risk mitigation strategies, and operator experiences.

The training costs $400 for all three days with a single day option for the tour costing $100. Partial scholarships are available. To register and learn more, visit {thelandconnection.org/farmers/farmer-training-intensives/ agritourism}.

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AROUND ILLINOIS

Page 11 Monday, June 9, 2014 FarmWeek

Kane County Farm Bureau receives philanthropic award

Kane County Farm Bureau and its members recently received an award for hunger relief efforts from the West Suburban Philanthropic Network. Northern Illinois Food Bank nominated Farm Bureau for the award.

Last year, during its centenniBY RYAN KLASSY

al year, the Farm Bureau reached a milestone of providing 1 million meals through cumulative hunger relief to local food pantries.

“One million meals, that’s roughly 36,000 weeks’ worth of food,” said Steve Ericson, Northern Illinois Food Bank food procurement director.

Examining differences between FVD and CFV

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Editor’s note: In a second installment, Kevin Rund, Illinois Farm Bureau director of local government, explains how to qualify for newer Covered Farm Vehicle and older Farm Vehicle Driver exemptions.

Farmers need to recognize the differences between the Farm Vehicle Driver (FVD) exemptions and those for the newer Covered Farm Vehicle (CFV), said Kevin Rund, Illinois Farm Bureau director of local government.

Illinois farmers should be familiar with FVD exemptions that have existed since 1992. In comparison, some CFV exemptions first took effect in Illinois last November; legislation expanding applicability of those exemptions recently passed in the General Assembly and awaits Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature.

Rund explained FVD exemptions have excluded many farmers from a requirement to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and be enrolled in a drug and alcohol screening program.

To qualify for the FVD exemption, an individual driver must meet four conditions: • Be a farmer, a farm family member or farm employee; • Haul farm products, equipment or inputs; • Not haul for hire; and • Drive within a 150-mile range as the crow flies.

“The new CFV exemption is actually a set of exemptions,” Rund said.

To qualify for CFV exemptions, the vehicle must meet the first three conditions listed above. The fourth one, allowable range of travel, varies with vehicle size, Rund noted.

Vehicles that weigh 26,001 or fewer pounds may be driven anywhere in the U.S. and remain eligible for CFV designations, according to Rund.

Vehicles weighing 26,002 or more pounds remain eligible

for operation anywhere within Illinois boundaries, he noted.

However, if driven outside the state, that vehicle remains eligible only within a 150-mile range of the farm, its base of operation, Rund added.

Farmers should note the maximum weight referenced is based on either the gross vehicle weight (GVW) or the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), whichever is greater.

If it’s a combination vehicle, use the gross combination weights or the GCWR. Rund pointed out while the pivotal weight for CDL requirements remains 26,000 pounds, the CFV pivotal weight of 26,001 pounds — one pound higher — resulted from a legislative drafting error.

The CFV adds two more conditions not required by the FVD exemptions. They include: • Farm license plates must be on the truck and trailer, except semitrailers; and • The vehicle must not be required to display hazardous material placards.

Of course, the legislation passed this spring, once signed by the governor, will allow pickup trucks and dually trucks

“Kane County Farm Bureau continues to exemplify ‘walking the talk’ in giving back to both suburban and rural neighborhoods.”

Kane County Farm Bureau has taken hunger relief to another level in recent years through Harvest for ALL, a program started in 2009.

Farmer-members dedicate a portion of their harvest proceeds to a food pantry of their choice. Nonfarmers make cash and in-kind donations to likewise feed their neighbors in need.

“As farmers, we are keenly aware of the challenges ahead of us to feed a global population that is expected to exceed 9 billion in a few short decades,” said Joe White, Kane County Farm Bureau president. “But we also recognize that we have neighbors in need, here and now, and that through Harvest for ALL, we can help address that need.”

White thanked the Northern

Chrissie Howorth, president of West Suburban Philanthropic Network, left, presents a Service Club Philanthropic Award to Kane County Farm Bureau President Joe White, center. Steve Ericson, Northern Illinois Food Bank food procurement director, right, nominated Farm Bureau for the award. (Photo by Ryan Klassy, Kane County Farm Bureau information director)

Illinois Food Bank, a major partner in Farm Bureau hunger relief efforts, for its nomination for the award. Twenty Kane County food pantries have also been named as beneficiaries by program participants.

For more information about

Harvest for ALL or to join the effort, visit {kanecfb.com} or call the Farm Bureau office at 630-584-8660.

Ryan Klassy serves as Kane County Farm Bureau information director.

Cool savings during the hottest months.

FarmWeekNow.com

Go to FarmWeekNow.com to view a chart showing the differences between FVD and CFV exemptions.

to qualify without a farm license plate — but a special farm designation will be required on the registration.

“The differences between the FVD and CFV exemption qualifications include some significant points, especially the farm plate and hazardous material placard rules; however, enough similarities exist to make it a bit confusing to distinguish between them,” Rund said.

Rund will discuss next steps in a future article once exemption qualifications are met.

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DAIRY MONTH

FarmWeek Page 12 Monday, June 9, 2014

Dairy Council: Milk still a top pick for nutrition

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Milk faces a lot more competition at grocery and convenient stores around the nation than in the past.

Consumers face a barrage of drink options ranging from lactose-free milk and numerous plant-based milks to sodas and sports drinks.

But it’s still hard to beat cow’s milk when it comes to nutrition, according to Monica Nyman, nutrition educator/registered dietician with the St. Louis District Dairy Council.

Milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products are loaded with calcium, potassium, protein and phosphorous.

The Dairy Council therefore encourages consumers to “keep it real� and purchase cow’s milk when selecting beverages. “The dairy aisle is literally exploding with options,

everything from new milk flavors to lactose-free milks and even alternative beverages disguised as milk,� Nyman said.

Many of the alternative beverages don’t offer the

same nutrient package as milk.

Milk provides an average of 8 grams of high-quality protein per cup. Many imitation dairy beverages have 1 gram or less of protein per

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District & State Discussion Topics:

Additional State Topics:

The farm bill crop insurance provisions offer a safety net for crop lost due to natural disaster and/or price risk. Should a safety net for livestock producers be developed and what provisions might it include?

How would the conditions of government managed public lands change if they were managed privately? What are the pros and cons of government ownership of land versus private ownership?

+RZ VKRXOG RXU QDWLRQ¡V SROLFLHV EDODQFH FRQFHUQV DERXW food insecurity against concerns about the safety or environmental impact of modern agricultural technologies?

What role should farmers have in discussing and debating these issues in our society and with our lawmakers?

Should farmers and ranchers be held liable for possible food borne illnesses when the food item of concern can be traced back to their farms or ranches? Why or why not?

How can young farmers and ranchers work to encourage membership growth and member engagement for the county, state and national Farm Bureau organizations?

Entry Deadline July 23 (to Illinois Farm Bureau) IAA District

Date

Starting Time

Location

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11 & 12 13 & 17 14 15 & 16 18

July 31 August 14 August 25 August 18 August 5 August 19 $XJXVW August 26 August 19 August 4 August 19 August 14

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

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7:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

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6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

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Winnebago-Boone FB, Rockford Wyffels Hybrids Research Center, Geneseo Mendota Civic Center, Mendota Pioneer Seed Facility, Mazon 1st Farm Credit, Morton Adams County FB, Quincy 6DQJDPRQ &RXQW\ )% 6SULQJĂ€HOG Piatt County FB, Monticello Edwards County FB, Albion Montgomery County FB, Hillsboro St. Clair County FB, Belleville Jackson County FB, Murphysboro

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Photo by Ken Kashian

cup, Nyman noted.

Meanwhile, milk naturally contains calcium easily absorbed by human bodies.

Most imitation beverages are fortified to match milk’s calcium content, according to

the nutrition educator.

The St. Louis District Dairy Council recently launched an awareness campaign, “Milk: The Real Deal� to educate consumers about the nutritional value of milk. “It’s important for consumers to know that, when it comes to nutrition, not all dairy aisle drinks are created equal,� Nyman said. “There is no substitute for the high nutrition and economic value that milk offers.�

Milk also could help with a growing problem. About 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 34 million are at risk.

Calcium constantly gets removed from bones for other uses and most can be replaced by drinking at least three servings of milk per day.

For more information about the June Dairy Month awareness campaign, visit the website {stldairycouncil.org}.

County fair promotion offers slice of dairy insight Dairy promoters plan to serve up more than just pizza this month at the Rock Island County Fair.

Free samples of Domino’s Pizza, which will be served at the fair June 17 (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and June 18 (from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), also will provide fairgoers with a slice of knowledge about the dairy industry. “We’re hoping people will come (for the free pizza), stay and watch the dairy show,� said Karen Bohnert, a dairy farmer’s wife from East Moline who also works with Midwest Dairy Association and helped line up the event.

About 25 percent of all cheese produced in the U.S. goes onto pizzas, Bohnert noted.

The “Delivering Dairy Goodness� promotion features kids’ activities and a trivia contest during the dairy show. The dairy promotion recently was added to the fair, which this year starts earlier on the calendar than in previous years. “We thought, why not (take advantage of the early start and) focus on June Dairy Month. We have a great dairy show,� Bohnert said. “We’re going to try to make it fun and engaging.�

The Bohnert family has been heavily involved in the dairy show at the Rock Island County Fair for nearly three decades.

The family’s dairy herd began as a 4-H project. “My husband (Scott) and his brother (Brian) started a 4H project with a handful of cows they milked before and after school,� Karen said. “It just grew and grew and grew.�

The Bohnert family currently milks about 420 registered Jersey cows each day and farms about 1,300 acres. The Bohnert’s operation consistently ranks as one of the top producing Jersey herds in the state.

Scott and Karen Bohnert’s three children currently show dairy cattle at the fair.

They also hope to raise consumers’ awareness about food production, quality of dairy products and animal care. “Delivering Dairy Goodness� is one of many promotions going on around the state as part of June Dairy Month. — Daniel Grant

County fairs start, schedule online

County fair season opens soon in three locations — Saturday in Pinckneyville, Perry County; and June 17 in Cerro Gordo, Piatt County, and East Moline, Rock Island County.

The local fair season will conclude Sept. 14 in Okawville, Washington County.

A statewide schedule may be viewed by visiting {agr.state. il.us/fair/countyfairs sched. php}.

FROM THE COUNTIES

Page 13 Monday, June 9, 2014 FarmWeek

A

DAMS — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor a livestock development informational meeting at 6 p.m. June 16 at Sprout’s Inn, Quincy. Call 2227305 for reservations.

• Young Farmers will host a night at the Quincy Stadium at 6:30 p.m. June 19 to see a Gems baseball game. Must be a farming member under the age of 35 to attend. Free tickets are available at the Farm Bureau office.

OOK — Farm Bureau will sponsor a produce tour at 10 a.m. June 25 at Testa Produce in Chicago. The tour will include the “green” facility and “green” roof. Call 708-354-3276 or email membershipdebbie@ cookcfb.org to register by June 20.

• Farm Bureau will provide children’s activities at the Wagner Farm Dairy Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the historic Wagner Farm, Glenview.

OUGLAS - The Foundation will host a glowin-the-dark golf outing at 6 p.m.

June 27 at Iron Horse Golf Course. Cost is $60. All proceeds will benefit Foundation scholarships. Email member ship@douglascfb.com for reservations by June 20.

ANE — The Foundation will host a pig roast from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 27 at the Farm Bureau office. Cost in advance is $10 per person;

$25 per family (parents with children under age 15). Cost at the door will be $15 per person and $30 per family. Proceeds will benefit the purchase of a grain tube for fire protection districts in northern Kane County. Call the Farm Bureau office at 584-8660 to register.

NOX — Young Farmers will host a rib cook-off from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 29 at Railroad Days in Galesburg.

Cost is $75 to compete. Call 342-2036 to register by June 20.

• Farm Bureau will sponsor a kids farm safety camp at 8:30 a.m. June 21 at the Knox County Fair grounds for children ages 8 to 13. Call the Farm Bureau office at 342-2036 to register by Friday.

ASALLE — Farm Bureau will celebrate its 100th anniversary at 11 a.m.

June 21 at the Farm Bureau office. Members may receive up to four, free tickets per membership. Call the Farm Bureau office at 433-0371 to register by Friday.

ERCER — The Marketing Committee will co-sponsor a market outlook seminar at noon June 24 at the Aledo VFW Hall. Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension, will speak. Cost is $10. Call the Farm Bureau office at 582-5116 or visit {mercer cfb.org} to register by Friday.

Doug Yoder, Illinois Farm Bureau’s senior director of affiliate and risk management, will team with local Farm Service Agency representatives to present six farm bill informational meetings hosted by southeastern Illinois Farm Bureaus.

Topics for the June 23-24 meetings will include Price Loss Coverage, Agricultural Risk Coverage (county and individual), payment limits, eligibility, rules and enrollment timelines.

June 23 meetings will be at

7:30 a.m. at Edwards County Farm Bureau, Albion, preregister by calling 445-2113; noon at Foundation Hall, Frontier Community College, Fairfield, call 842-3342; and 7 p.m. at White County Farm Bureau, Carmi, call 3848512.

June 24 meetings will be at 7:30 a.m. at Hogg Heaven, Mount Carmel, preregister by calling 262-5865; noon at Gallatin County Farm Bureau, Ridgway, call 2723531; and 6:30 p.m. at Monical’s, Olney, call 393-2166.

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Southeastern Farm Bureaus hosting farm bill meetings

Tuesday: • FarmWeek: “The Early Word” • Freese-Notis Weather • Curt Blades, Meredith Agrimedia business development manager: 2014 Successful Farming Tools of the Future tour • Cori Harrison, ISU Collegiate Farm Bureau president; Darren Riskedal, U of I Collegiate Farm Bureau vice-president: importance of involvement • Tom Eickhoff, Monsanto corn systems lead: rootworm manager app Wednesday: • Tim Schweizer, Illinois Department of Natural Resources public relations liason: state parks as

vacation options • Michael Buss, American Legion deputy director: history of Flag Day • “Town & Country Partners” Diane Helgeland, Partners for Progress executive director: horse farm helping disabled children Thursday: • Deborah Lee, Four Winds Farm owner: Herb Fest • Lauren Lurkins, Illinois Farm Bureau director of natural and environmental resources: EPA waters of the U.S. proposed rule Friday: • Don Schaefer, Mid-West Truckers Association executive director: trucking issues • William Lesser, Ph.D., Cornell University: GMO consumer study • “Horse Talk”

• The Marketing Committee will host a market outlook seminar at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Farm Bureau building. Dan Zwicker, Consolidated Grain and Barge, will speak. Call the Farm Bureau office at 582-5116 for more information.

EORIA — The Marketing Committee will cosponsor a market outlook meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 17 at Farm Bureau Park near Kickapoo.

Chuck Doubet, Agland FS, and Herb Meyer, 1st Farm Credit Services, will speak. Cost is $5.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 686-7070 to register by Thursday.

• Farm Bureau will sponsor a honeybee presentation at 6:30 p.m. June 25 in the Farm Bureau auditorium. Janet Hart, Peoria County beekeeper, will speak and bring a live beehive.

ICHLAND — Agriculture in the Classroom will sponsor a National Dairy month themed ag-in-the-library summer session at 2 p.m. June 13 at the Olney Public Library for first to fifth grade children.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 393-4116 to register by Wednesday.

ANGAMON — The Marketing Committee will host a bus trip to the Cater-

P

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pillar Visitor Center and USDA Agriculture Research Laboratory near Peoria from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. Cost is $20 for members and $35 for nonmembers accompanied by a member. Call the Farm Bureau office at 753-5200 by Tuesday.

ARREN-HENDERSON — Farm Bureau’s annual meeting will be at 6 p.m.

June 19 at St. Patrick’s Community Center. Rachel Hawk of Seaton will speak about her trip to South Africa with the Illinois FFA. Cost is $8. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit Agriculture in the Classroom and scholarship programs. Call the Farm Bureau office at 7349401 to register by Tuesday.

AYNE — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor a farm bill seminar at noon June 23 in Foundation Hall, Frontier Community College in Fairfield. Doug Yoder, Illinois Farm Bureau, will speak on price loss and ag risk coverage, payment limits and eligibility.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 842-3342 to register by June 20.

• The Young Leader Committee will host a golf scramble at 1 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Wayne

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County Golf Course in Fairfield. Call the Farm Bureau office at 842-3342 or visit {waynecfb.com} for more information.

HITE — Farm Bureau will co-host a farm bill meeting at 7 p.m. June 23 at the Farm Bureau building.

Doug Yoder, IFB, will speak on loss and ag risk coverage, payment limits and eligibility. Call the Farm Bureau office at 3828512 to register by June 23.

• Farm Bureau will host Life Line Screenings July 22 at the Farm Bureau office. Members will receive a discount. Call 888-653-6441 to schedule an appointment.

INNEBAGOBOONE — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor a farm breakfast from 6:30 to 11 a.m. at Friendly Franseen Acres, Poplar Grove. Activities will include a craft show, horsedrawn wagon rides, children’s games, a petting zoo, farm equipment displays and more.

Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for children age 6 to 10 and free for children 5 and under. Proceeds will benefit the Boone County Foundation. Visit {winnebagoboonefarm bureau. org} for more information.

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PROFITABILITY

FarmWeek Page 14 Monday, June 9, 2014

Prep grain storage and handling equipment now Planting delays this season should make for a very interesting fall.

Uneven crop maturity, late plantings and replant conditions are likely to challenge your grain handling and conditioning equipment.

Now is the time to begin maintenance, repair and preparation tasks necessary to ensure a smooth transition into harvest.

The first priority is safety.

Inspect and make sure every shield is in place and working properly to protect you, your family, your workers and service providers.

Walk through your entire facility, and note every moving part and electrical connection. If you see anything that is not as it should be if

it were brand new, fix it now so it does not cause a catastrophe when you are caught up in the bustle of the busy season.

Inspect empty bins for evidence Randy Holthaus of leaks, corrosion, insects and rodents. Wire brush red rust and recoat with soy zinc primer or aerosol cold galvanizing paint.

Clean out old grain, fines, chaff and dirt from bins.

Clean all equipment, including under false floors, if there is a buildup.

Seal any air and water leaks that are evident. Seal concrete cracks to keep out water, insects and rodents.

Most farmers put the finishing touches on planting and replanting in recent weeks.

Corn planting in Illinois as of the first of last week was 98 percent complete, while 85 percent of soybeans were in the ground.

Emergence of both crops was well ahead of the five-year

average pace. Ninety-one percent of corn and 59 percent of beans emerged statewide as of last week compared to the averages of 82 percent and 44 percent, respectively.

Topsoil moisture as of the first of last week was rated 14 percent short or very short, 77 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.

BY RANDY HOLTHAUS AND BOB RASMUS

Planting winds down

M A R K E T FA C T S Feeder pig prices reported to USDA* Total Composite Weighted Average Receipts and Price (Formula and Cash): Weight Range Per Head Weighted Ave. Price 10-12 lbs. (formula) $38.00-$55.15 $47.49 40 lbs. (cash) $104.00-$116.00 $110.57 Receipts

This Week 77,122 *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm

Last Week 49,025

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live

(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week Change $108.74 $108.13 $0.61 $80.47 $80.02 $0.45

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

Steers Heifers

This week $ 145.00 $146.00

Prev. week $143.95 $142.97

Change $1.05 $3.03

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 $195.61 $191.43 $4.18

Lamb prices Negotiated, wooled and shorn, 113-167 lbs. for 133.70-165.50 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 144.73)

Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 5/29/2014 5.7 18.9 38.4 5/22/2014 3.3 18.7 46.0 Last year 4.5 16.8 11.7 Season total 1547.5 1148.2 1325.3 Previous season total 1267.8 1004.3 540.3 USDA projected total 1600 1185 1900 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

Make sure your drying system and all your receiving and handling equipment is ready to run. Auger flights should have flat edges. Auger flighting with sharp edges needs to be replaced.

Worn flighting can cause excess grain damage, is dangerous to work around, and is subject to failure at any time. Auger tubes, housings, trunking and spouting need to be inspected for wear spots, discoloration, dents and general condition.

Bearings should run free and easy, and accept lubrication readily.

Pulleys, belts, sprockets and chains need to be properly aligned, tensioned

properly and inspected for damage or wear.

Properly lube all joints and gear boxes to manufacturers’ specifications. Aeration fans should run smoothly without vibration.

All electrical and gaspowered equipment should be thoroughly inspected for Bob Rasmus exposed wires, gas leaks, loose connections, rodent damage, open junction boxes and general visual integrity by a trained professional before being tested.

Make sure all safety circuits and components are in place and operating properly.

Test run every piece of equipment to ensure it starts, runs smoothly and operates correctly.

Attention paid to your bins and equipment now will alleviate the stress of things not working when harvest arrives. Do it now for smooth sailing when the pressure is on.

Randy Holthaus serves as GROWMARK’s grain systems operation manager. His email address is rholthaus@growmark. com. Bob Rasmus serves as GROWMARK’s grain systems marketing manager. His email address is brasmus@growmark.com.

Field days to feature beef cattle research

Illinois cattlemen may discuss research with University of Illinois faculty, researchers and Extension educators at four upcoming field days in June, July and September. Reservations are needed for each event.

Grazing management and supplements for cows on pasture will be discussed June 24 at the Dudley Smith Farm near Pana in Christian County. The program will start with registration at 9:30 a.m. and include a tour.

The Southern Illinois Beef Day will start at 8:30 a.m.

July 18 in the Applied Science Center at Rend Lake College, Ina. Topics include antibiotic issues and the

effect on the cattle industry, non-nutritional reasons for cow infertility, and financial and forage production benefits of adaptive high-stock density grazing.

Reproductive, nutritional

and forage research will be discussed starting at 5 p.m.

July 31 at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, Simpson.

Management strategies and research will be discussed starting at 5 p.m. Sept. 3 at the John Wood Community College Ag Center, Perry. After the discussion, participants will be shuttled to Orr Research Center farm for a tour.

Additional information about each event is available by visiting {web.extension.illinois. edu/oardc/} for the Dudley Smith and Orr field days, and {web.extension.illinois.edu/ dsac/} for the Dixon Springs field day and Southern Illinois Beef Day.

Milk prices back off their recent highs

The Class III price for milk adjusted to 3.5 percent butterfat for the month of May was announced at $22.57 per hundredweight.

Prices have slipped about $1.74 from the record-setting prices seen in the previous month’s announcement.

Dairy farmers have seen the highest milk prices in their lifetimes.

This break in prices was certainly not unexpected.

Milk production had been creeping higher as a natural consequence of the spring flush.

This additional amount of milk on the market, coupled with indications that China may begin limiting the amount of imported dairy products, has caused the market to soften.

Enjoy milk often during June Dairy Month!

PROFITABILITY

Page 15 Monday, June 9, 2014 FarmWeek

CASH STRATEGIST

Yields and early crop ratings

As everyone expected, the first condition rating for the new corn crop was very good.

In fact, some were forwarding the argument this year’s corn yield could be as high as 170 bushels per acre if the growing season proves to be as good as the early expectations.

Some of these same analysts had derided USDA’s 165.4 bushel projection first released at their Outlook Forum in February. Much of the skepticism was based on the slow-todevelop spring and lack of significant early planting.

As we have said recently, early planting doesn’t necessarily correlate to good yields.

The same can be said of these early condition ratings.

Some were quick to point out the corn crop started out with the same rating in 2012, but we ended with an extremely poor crop, one matching yield parameters in 1974, 1983 and 1988.

But we could just as quickly point to a year like 1994 that started with a high initial rating and ended with a new record yield.

While this early rating suggests the crop has good potential, it’s far from guaranteed.

As we all know, the most critical parts of the growing season lie ahead — pollination and kernel filling.

We tend not to make too much of the weekly crop condition numbers until middle to late July. Only then do they start to have some meaningful impact. Even then, it’s a correlation that is loose at best because these condition estimates are based on a subjective view of the crop. The summer/fall USDA crop reports are mostly based on hard data collected in the field.

We tend to watch the trend of the condition numbers starting mid-summer; they are more meaningful than the actual levels. On average, from now until the end of July, the condition ratings have a tendency to decline even for good crop years.

We expect the initial rating for soybeans to be good as well. But like corn, the early ratings don’t correlate well with the final yield.

Until mid-summer, there will be a lot of talk about the condition ratings, and they will bring some short-term volatility. But in the end, many times, it’s just useless chatter.

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Corn Strategy

ü2013 crop: New-crop expectations and a slower pace of old-crop export sales kept old-crop prices on the defensive. Even though there’s little fundamentally positive, the price decline has gotten a little overdone. Target a move to $4.75 on July futures to resume selling. Get basis locked up on hedge-to-arrive contracts and other unpriced inventory. ü2014 crop: Like old crop, the new-crop price decline has gotten overdone. Even though the early crop ideas are very good, we’d expect weather concerns to lift prices at some point during the growing season. Wait for December futures to get back to $4.70 before making sales. vFundamentals: To no one’s surprise, the initial crop rating was very good. It sparked some talk the national yield could reach 170 bushels per acre if the remainder of the growing season is reasonably good. The good pace of planting and lack of a major issue anywhere in the world is undermining export interest.

Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2013 crop: This past week, basis levels deteriorated as futures declined. That is a sign the old-crop move up has come to an end, unless something significant comes along to change the picture. With the premium still in spot position, it’s increasingly important to price old-crop bushels. ü2014 crop: Spread unwinding is the primary feature supporting new-crop prices. Production expectations are high, if not rising.

New-crop export sales continue to accumulate at a slower pace than the last two years. If you are comfortable with newcrop potential, use small rallies to get sales 60 percent complete. vFundamentals: The emotions surrounding the good planting pace may have finally caught up with the soybean complex. More in the industry are starting to note the slower pace of new-crop soybean export sales, too. Last week’s 7.1 million bushel April

imports were thought to be a little positive, but most of the imports from Brazil are scheduled for summer.

Wheat Strategy

ü2013 crop: Price remaining bushels if July Chicago reaches $6.50 before new-crop harvest. ü2014 crop: Wheat futures are technically oversold, but the trend is still bearish. Even though the trend is still down, the market is in the window to put in a low. Wait for a move to $6.70 on Chicago July to make sales.

vFundamentals: Private analysts believe USDA’s May projection for 2014-15 wheat production is overly optimistic, but differences in the estimates are negligible. USDA seems pessimistic in its target for new-crop exports. U.S. prices still trade at a premium to world prices. The U.S. will have plenty of export competition in 2014-15 because of world production, but a 20 percent decline from this year’s total looks steep. Watch for dryness in the Black Sea region to provide support for the complex in the near term.

PERSPECTIVES

FarmWeek Page 16 Monday, June 9, 2014

#DitchTheRule

Jim Swartz, Pike County Farm Bureau director, applies a Ditch the Rule sticker to his truck. It’s part of Illinois Farm Bureau’s effort to fight a proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule defining waters of the U.S. You can get one, too. Bumper stickers and window clings are available for 35 cents each. Call Curt Hastings in IFB’s Print Shop at 309-557-2563 for more information. Contact your county Farm Bureau for Ditch the Rule yard signs. To learn more about the “Ditch the Rule” campaign go to {ditchtherule.fb.org}. (Photo submitted by Blake Roderick, Pike and Scott County Farm Bureau executive director)

Cutting regulations to stimulate the economy Billionaires don’t always say the smartest things, but one of them has a smart idea. At the Forbes Reinventing America Summit, billionaire real estate developer Sam Zell said, “If you want to see the economy go wild, just cut all the regulations in half.”

Zell is known for his contrarian views and more often than not has been a successful investor. Cutting regulations is certainly contrary to what generally takes place in Washington. Regulations, especially environmental regulations, just keep piling up.

“We’re in a society where we think all risk can be regulated out,” said Zell. “There STEWART TRUELSEN are just unending interpretations, revisions, legal fees to the sky. When you’re focused on that, you’re not focused on growing and getting new customers.”

Farmers know that feeling all too well.

When they should be focused on growing this season’s crops and tending livestock, their attention is diverted by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) waters of the U.S. proposed rule. The rule broadens federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act and could extend permit requirements to ditches, small ponds and even depressions in fields that are only wet during a heavy rain.

Farms, ranches, businesses and new construction could be affected.

EPA claims the proposed rule is a clarification of which waters fall under its jurisdiction. But in tracing the history of major regulatory acts like the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, the words that stand out on EPA’s own timeline are “expanded,” “increased,” “authorized” and “established.”

The Office of Management and Budget

reviews pending federal regulations, and it comes as no surprise that EPA has the most regulatory activities under review at the present time.

It is only a natural tendency for federal regulatory agencies to extend their reach by adding more and more regulations to the laws that Congress writes. The last president who really tried to stop them and tackle regulatory overkill was Ronald Reagan.

Every administration since Reagan’s, including the Obama administration, has expressed a desire for regulatory reform, but the results have been slow to materialize.

Cost-benefit analysis is done on only a fraction of new regulations. The Competitive Enterprise Institute estimates the annual cost of regulations to be about $1.8 trillion.

On a household basis, regulations cost more than every budget item except housing.

That’s more than health care, food, transportation, etc. Cutting regulations in half, as Zell suggests, would indeed cause the economy to go wild.

There are alternatives to regulations that can get the same or better results. The American Farm Bureau Federation advocates market-based solutions and incentives as preferable to government mandates. Incentives have proved successful with conservation efforts. Regulation can also be accomplished without the government through competition, reputation, contracts, insurance and other means.

Sam Zell probably won’t get his wish, but he is correct about the need to throttle back government regulations. They are stifling innovation and economic growth.

Stewart Truelsen, a food and agriculture freelance writer, regularly contributes to the Focus on Agriculture series.

Getting the buzz about ag

Despite living my entire life in a county comprised of nearly 90 percent farmland and driving past miles of crop fields each day on my drive to work, I know very little about what is growing on the land around me.

As a full-time nurse and mother to three young children, I’ve heard a lot of buzz about GMOs (genetically modified organisms), pesticides and organic versus nonorganic foods. In terms of what’s best for my family, I didn’t want to rely on the opinions of others.

On May 16, I had the privilege of visiting Dan and Pam Kelley’s farm as part of the Field Mom program through Illinois Farm Families®.

The program takes moms like me who are interested in learning more about where their food comes from and gives them a firsthand look at the farming process from spring planting to fall harvest.

On this tour, Mr. Kelley spent three hours talking about their 3,500-acre corn and soybean farm.

He enlisted the help of various specialists, including a seed expert to discuss the process of bringing DEVON FLAMMANG GMO seed to market, an agronomist to talk about the importance guest columnist of quality soil and a farm equipment representative to talk about technology used in farming practices today.

I was looking to the experience for reassurance that the food I was providing to my family was safe and of good quality. The thing that surprised me the most was the extensive process it takes to bring GMO seed to market from start to finish. We learned from GROWMARK Seed Corn Product Manager Matt Free that all new GMO seed varieties require regulatory approval through the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and USDA — an up to 13-year process!

This means there is more regulation in place for GMO crops than organic crops. GMO crops allow farmers the efficiency of providing larger quantities of affordable, sustainable food to meet the demand of our growing global population.

I also learned that farmers have nothing to hide. They are parents and consumers just like us. Seeing their farming practices firsthand gave me the reassurance I needed in order to be confident that the crops being produced on our local farmland is not only safe for my family, but protective of the environment we are leaving for future generations.

I’m grateful to be a part of the Field Mom program and look forward to the next farm tour where we learn about livestock and fall harvest.

Devon Flammang cares for Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) and affiliated company employees as a nurse. She belongs to the first class of IFB and affiliate Field Moms.

Farm Bureau advocacy app available and free Want to keep up on the latest farm issues? Consider downloading the new, free American Farm Bureau Federation FBAct Farm Bureau Advocacy App. Download the app at {itunes.apple.com/us/app/ farm-bureaus-fbact/id8659139 35?ls=1&mt=8} or {play. google.com/store/apps/detail s?id=com.farmbureau.app.an droid.ui}.

The app features the AFBF Take Action Center, talking points on Farm Bureau priority issues, social media sharing tools and live updates from

AFBF’s (@FarmBureau) Twitter feed.

Current priority issues include the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed waters of the U.S. rule. AFBF launched its #DitchTheRule campaign in April, asking members to oppose the proposed EPA water rule, which would impose unworkable regulations on the nation’s farms if implemented.

Follow the social media hashtag #DitchTheRule and visit the Ditch the Rule website at {ditchtherule.fb.org} to learn more.