Farmweek may 12 2014

Check out the latest issues impacting horse owners, and beef and hog producers. page 3

Warm weather conditions significantly boosted corn planting efforts across the state. page 4

IFF Field Moms give two thumbs up to “Farmland,” a new documentary featuring six farmers. page 8

IDOR releases farmland assessment values Monday, May 12, 2014

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Periodicals: Time Valued

Certified farmland values for 2015 changed as expected after last year’s amendment to state farmland assessment law. Farmland owners should consider attending their county’s farmland assessment review committee meeting, according to Brenda Matherly, Illinois Farm Bureau assistant director of local government.

“This meeting, which is open to the public, is a valuable resource for better understanding the farmland assessment practices in your county and on your property,” Matherly said.

On May 1, the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) released the 2015 farmland equalized assessed values for all soil productivity indices (PIs). County assessors use those certified farmland values to calculate assessments for farm parcels. These values will be applied for taxes payable in 2016.

As expected, the certified farmland values for all PIs increased 10 percent of the 2014 certified assessed value of the state’s median soil PI, which is 111. In addition, for the 2015 assessment year only, each value was reduced by $5, Matherly added.

Ten percent of the PI 111 value works out to $20.33 per acre. After subtracting the $5

Two sections Volume 42, No. 19

discount, every certified farmland value increased by about $15.33 per acre, Matherly explained.

Matherly encouraged farmland owners to watch for the published meeting date of their county farmland assessment review committee; many counties conduct these meetings in early June. Meeting dates should appear in local newspapers’ legal notice section.

Under state law, each county should establish a farmland assessment review committee comprised of five members and chaired by the county’s chief assessment officer. Three farmers or farmland owners serve on the committee along with the county board chairman and chief assessment officer.

Matherly explained the committee’s primary job is to advise the county’s chief assessment officer on the interpretation and application of the state-certified farmland values, guidelines and the implementation of legal requirements.

If the committee agrees with the chief assessor’s proposed procedures and certified values from IDOR, the committee must hold a public hearing on that information. If the committee doesn’t object following the hearing, the chief assessment officer proceeds with the farmland assessment process.

But if the committee objects

to the chief assessor’s proposed plan, it may suggest an alternative that must be submitted by Aug. 1 for IDOR’s consideration, Matherly said.

The committee also reviews the county’s certified values from IDOR and may suggest

more appropriate data if committee members believe those values aren’t suitable given the county’s current conditions.

Any alternatives and supporting documentation also must be submitted to IDOR by Aug. 1.

State law establishes a

process by which a county review committee’s proposal would be ruled upon and possibly implemented. The final step would be an appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board that would make a final ruling.

FARMERS’ MARKET SEASON BEGINS

Kari Jones, left, cooks pork samples May 3 at the 2014 season opening Downtown Bloomington Association Farmers’ Market and Artists’ Alley. Jones works for Huelskoetter Pork of Beason. Co-owner Vicki Huelskoetter, in brown jacket, greets customers with her sister, Jan Schacht, in gray sweatshirt. Illinois ranks third in the nation with more than 100 farmers’ markets. With the farmers’ market season in full swing, find a local market at {agr.state.il.us/wherefreshis/}. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

FSA prepared for 2014 farm bill rules

BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek

Illinois Farm Service Agency (FSA) workers remain in a “wait and hold pattern,” unable to implement most of the provisions included in the 2014 farm bill, said Rick Graden, Illinois FSA’s executive officer.

USDA expects to publish rules and regulations later this fall or early winter, Graden said.

Meanwhile, he said, sign-up for livestock disaster assistance remains slow. Enrollment began April 15.

“We’re not seeing a tremendous amount of activity,” Graden said. “Most producers in Illinois are busy planting their crops.”

“We still urge our producers to contact us with any questions they may have with livestock disaster,” he added.

“Always keep in mind we’re paying for losses for 2012 drought grazing and paying for livestock deaths due to adverse weather FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com

conditions going back to Oct. 1, 2011, to today.”

USDA announced last week that as of May 1, it received about 33,000 disaster assistance applications nationwide and made $16.3 million in payments.

Livestock indemnity payments were reinstated with the passage of the farm bill in February.

The bill, formally called the Agricultural Act of 2014, eliminated direct payments and modified the target price program, replacing the Counter Cyclical Payment (CCP) program with Price Loss Coverage. The bill also changed the revenue safety nets, replacing Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) with two Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) options — County ARC and Individual Farm ARC. Graden reminded farmers to certify their crops by July 15.

“Even though we don’t currently have an FSA farm program that we can enroll producers in, it’s important to certify crops,” he said.

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

Quick Takes

STATE

FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, May 12, 2014

VICTORY FOR RFS — Biofuel groups applauded a decision last week by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to reject Monroe Energy’s petition challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The Renewable Fuels Association, Biotechnology Industry Organization and Growth Energy, which intervened in the case, called the ruling “a victory for American consumers, renewable fuel advocates and the RFS program.”

EPA reduced the 2013 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement. Pennsylvania-based Monroe Energy argued that EPA acted arbitrarily and should have reduced the renewable fuel and advanced biofuel volumes as well.

In its 20-page opinion, the court pointed out that the Clean Air Act states that if EPA reduces the cellulosic biofuel requirement, it “may also reduce” the advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel quotas by the same or a lesser volume.

“There is no requirement to reduce these latter quotas, nor does the statute prescribe any factors that EPA must consider in making its decision,” the opinion stated.

CLIMATE IMPACTS AGRICULTURE — Climate changes will increasingly affect crops and livestock negatively in the future, according to a USDA report issued last week.

The report looks similar in many respects to previous climate assessments.

The authors found that climate disruptions to agricultural production have increased in the last 40 years and are projected to increase during the next 25 years.

Many agricultural regions will experience declines in crop and livestock production from increased stress due to weeds, diseases, insect pests and other climate change-induced stresses, the report noted.

Unlike previous assessments, the report also provides details of the effects of climate change on people. The report was conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), which mandates a global change report be submitted to the president and Congress every four years.

The full report can be read at {globalchange.gov}.

REPORT FAILED WHEAT — If you’re a wheat grower with a crop badly damaged by winterkill, report your failed acreage before destroying it.

Contact your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office and file Form CCC-578, Report of Acreage, along with Form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, prior to destroying the wheat.

If you have crop insurance, you must provide documentation from the insurance adjuster verifying the loss.

If you do not have crop insurance, FSA will schedule a field visit to inspect the damaged acreage.

Failed acreage determinations will be made on a case-bycase basis. After the notice of loss has been submitted, it cannot be withdrawn or revised.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 42 No. 19 May 12, 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.

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

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STAFF Editor Chris Anderson (canderson@ilfb.org) Legislative Affairs Editor Kay Shipman (kayship@ilfb.org) Agricultural Affairs Editor Deana Stroisch (dstroisch@ilfb.org) Senior Commodities Editor Daniel Grant (dgrant@ilfb.org) Editorial Assistant Margie Fraley (mfraley@ilfb.org) Business Production Manager Bob Standard (bstandard@ilfb.org) Advertising Sales Manager Richard Verdery (rverdery@ilfb.org) Classified sales coordinator Nan Fannin (nfannin@ilfb.org) Director of News and Communications Michael L. Orso 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

IFB issues move in Statehouse spring session’s countdown

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

With the Illinois Senate’s 52-0 passage of Illinois Farm Bureau-supported SB 3398, the House Vehicles and Safety Transportation Committee now will take up the matter, according to Bill Bodine, IFB associate director of state legislation.

Sen. Toi Hutchinson, DOlympia Fields, and Rep. Elgie Sims Jr., D-Chicago, sponsored the bill, an IFB legislative priority to dovetail state and federal transportation rules.

Specifically, the bill would allow farmers with pickups and dually trucks pulling farm-plated trailers and implements of husbandry to be designated a Covered Farm Vehicle (CFV) and receive the same exemptions granted under federal trucking regulations to the largest farm trucks and currently not allowed in Illinois, Bodine explained.

Under the bill, farmers who want their trucks with B or D license plates identified as a CFV when towing a farm-plated trailer or implement of husbandry would be able to do so when registering their vehicles, he said. A CFV would appear on the vehicle’s registration card and a $10 surcharge would be added.

As typical during the session’s waning weeks, revenue and budget issues grabbed the

spotlight. Discussions continued on the possible extension of the current state income tax rate.

Revamping of the state general state aid formula received increased attention, especially after the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released a preliminary model estimating the financial impact on districts.

Details can be found by visiting {isbe.state.il.us/EFAC/de fault.htm}.

“Illinois owns the worst school funding formula in the nation,” Taylorville Superintendent Greggory Fuerstenau said during a Statehouse press conference.

“We can’t cut our way to a quality education in this state,” added Pana Superintendent David Lett.

Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, sponsored SB 16 that would distribute general state aid based on students’ needs.

Based on the ISBE model, rural school districts overall and those in southern Cook County would receive more general state aid, while the Chicago Public School District, western and northern Cook County and suburban districts would receive less.

“IFB is reviewing the information and discussing its impact,” said Kevin Semlow, IFB director of state legislation. Currently, IFB does not

have a position on SB 16.

The Senate and House passed legislation that addresses confusion about all-terrain vehicle stamps. IFB supports SB 2633, sponsored by Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, and Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley.

The bill would maintain fee exemptions for off-highway vehicles used for agriculture and livestock production, and clarifies that a stamp would be not required for vehicles used on the owner’s and/or family members’ property. Additional exemptions were added for golf carts and off-highway vehicles used for commercial businesses.

In March, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources postponed selling the vehicle usage stamp until resolution could be achieved.

Efforts to increase the state’s minimum wage appear to have cooled since lawmakers returned from spring break, according to Semlow.

“We would like to thank members who communicated to their legislators about our opposition to increasing the minimum wage. Their contacts made a difference,” Semlow said. Some lawmakers have discussed the possibility of putting an advisory question to raise the state’s minimum wage before voters on the November ballot.

Which cover crops are suited for my soils?

Q: How do I determine which cover crops are best suited for my soils and typography?

Dave Bishop, PrairieErth Farm: Talk with farmers who have similar soils. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) serve as a good source of information. Attend workshops and conferences. Check out the Midwest Cover Crop Council website at {mccc.msu.edu}.

Try a variety of cover crops in your own fields — not just what the neighbors are doing.

Pete Fandel, Illinois Central College: If you are going to use cover crops, the first thing you need to decide is what you want the cover crop to do for you: control erosion, uptake leftover nitrogen, fix nitrogen, loosen the soil or build organic matter, for example. Once you decide what you want to achieve by using cover crops, then you can choose which species will best provide those results in your specific soil and area of the state.

Russ Higgins, University of Illinois Extension Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center: I would encourage you to start small, attend cover crop workshops and benefit from the experiences of neighboring farmers who have already implemented cover crops in their operations.

Dean Oswald, Illinois Council on Best Management Practices: I would go to the MCCC website and find the selection tool. Visit {mcccdev.anr.msu.edu/VertIndex.php}. The tool will allow you to select your county in Illi-

nois and up to three attributes that will show you what crops will work for you.

Mike Plumer, Illinois Council on Best Management Practices: Every farm is different based on soil type, soil moisture levels and drainage, soil fertility, soil compaction, soil-type issues, such as clay pans. A varied farming history will also affect which cover crops should be selected.

Talk to a local, experienced seed dealer and get a copy of the SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) publication on cover crops. Visit {sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/ Managing-Cover-Crops-Profitably-3rd-Edition}.

That publication lists tables of all cover crops and suitability for various soils and conditions.

Also use the MCCC selection tool available online.

To view previous questions and answers, visit {farmweeknow.com/customPage.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.

PEDV continues to spread; topic slated for Pork Expo

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

The number of new reported cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) has declined since peaking last winter.

But complications from the outbreak will continue to affect the pork industry for months,

FarmWeekNow.com

Go to FarmWeekNow.com to learn about PEDV issues, which will be a hot topic at the World Pork Expo.

according to Steve Meyer, president of Paragon Economics.

Meyer recently estimated the virus killed about 7 million pigs from April last year through March this year.

LIVESTOCK

Page 3 Monday, May 12, 2014 FarmWeek

“We’ve probably lost a lot more since then,” Meyer told FarmWeek.

The loss of animals will have a dramatic effect on hog slaughter, pork availability and prices at the meat counter through at least September or October.

“I think we’ll have slaughter down double digits by the third quarter,” Meyer said.

The decline in hog and pork supplies could push prices to the mid-$120s (per hundredweight) for hogs this summer and above $4 per pound for pork at the retail level, according to the economist.

If realized, retail pork prices this year could jump 10 percent from last year’s levels.

The number of new PEDV cases reported each week

declined from the peak of 300plus per week last winter to around 200 last week.

“For the time being, we’re through the worst of it. We should see the number of cases going down (into the summer months),” Meyer said. “But we could be back in the same shape next winter unless we have some type of vaccine or something to better deal with this (virus).”

PEDV is deadly to baby pigs, but it’s not a threat to food safety or human health.

The outbreak affected at least one market, though, as France recently announced plans to ban imports of live pigs and swine semen from North America as a precautionary measure.

USDA previously announced plans to unveil a new mandatory PEDV reporting program. The program remains in development with no official start date.

Howard Hill, president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) recently urged USDA to take a “thoughtful and measured approach” developing the PEDV reporting program.

Hog farmers need a program that is “practical, workable and

that can be successful,” Hill said.

Issues related to PEDV will be a hot topic next month as NPPC hosts the annual World Pork Expo. The event, billed as the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, will be held June 4-6 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

For more information about the World Pork Expo, including the daily schedule of events, visit the website {worldpork.org}.

the U.S. cattle herd was confirmed on Dec. 23, 2003.

Numerous countries responded by banning or restricting imports of U.S. beef.

Most markets reopened to U.S. beef in subsequent years, but a few closures and restrictions remain in place. Overall,

the situation cost the U.S. beef industry an estimated $16 billion in export sales, according to USMEF. The changes to Mexico’s import regulations took effect April 30, although shipments of U.S. beef from cattle more than 30 months of age can’t

begin until USDA updates its export verification program, the CBB reported.

That final hurdle should be cleared this month.

Market growth could be limited in the near term, though. The U.S. already claims about 90 percent of

Mexico’s imported beef market, and concerns exist about record beef prices and tight supplies.

But the extra supply of beef now available to the Mexican market should trigger new sales.

Mexico’s domestic beef supply has been shrinking due to prolonged drought.

“We’re experiencing a period of very high beef prices and constraints on supply in what has always been a rather price-sensitive market,” Russell said. “So, we feel that having new supply options available will help us maintain a strong presence in the market and grow our export volume to Mexico.”

U.S. beef/beef variety exports the first two months this year increased 26 percent in volume compared to the same time a year ago.

Baby pigs treat themselves to lunch. About 7 million pigs died during the past year from Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV). The number of new PEDV cases has declined since winter. (FarmWeek file photo)

Mexico removes import restrictions on U.S. beef

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

U.S. beef exports to Mexico could grow in coming months.

The Mexican government recently lifted import restrictions, which limited imports of U.S. beef to cattle less than 30 months of age.

The latest development effectively ends the last of Mexico’s BSE-related restrictions, according to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB).

“This is an issue that USMEF has been working on for a number of years, and resolving it has been a lengthy process,” said Chad Russell, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) regional director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic.

“Though it took some time, these efforts have now paid off.”

The first case of BSE in

BSE confir med in Brazilian cow

World Organization for Animal Health officials last week confirmed a 12-year-old Brazilian cow died of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

The cow experienced problems during transport and fell at a slaughterhouse. No products from the cow entered the food chain. Forty-nine additional animals related to the BSE cow did not show clinical signs of the disease, but were destroyed.

The BSE confirmation comes on the heels of a recently closed USDA comment period on a proposal to allow fresh beef imports from 14 Brazilian states, including Mato Grasso, where

the BSE cow was discovered.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed rule to allow Brazilian beef imports met strong opposition from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Potential risk of foot and mouth disease prompted NCBA members to protest the proposal.

APHIS officials said total U.S. beef imports would increase by less than 1 percent if a projected 40,000 metric tons of Brazilian beef annually entered the country. The agency received more than 800 comments regarding the proposed rule.

No decision has been made on allowing Brazilian fresh beef imports.

Horse abandonment issues still persist in Illinois

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Issues with abandoned horses remain a concern for stable owners in Illinois.

Fortunately, there are laws in place and options available for stable owners to deal with abandoned animals, according to Brenda Matherly, Illinois Brenda Matherly Farm Bureau assistant director of local government.

Matherly recently attended

an equine law meeting at the Peoria County Farm Bureau that drew great interest. “(Horse abandonments) are a big concern right now,” Matherly told FarmWeek.

“The market value of horses isn’t what it used to be, and there are not a lot of end of life options (for horses).”

Illinois in 2007 banned the harvest of horses for human consumption. The ban effectively closed the last U.S. horse harvesting facility located in DeKalb.

The lack of end-of-life alternatives, high hay prices and a downturn in the equine market in recent years

increased the number of abandonments and made it more difficult to place an unwanted horse.

The stable keeper’s lien provides some options for stable owners. If a boarder stops paying board for his or her horse, a stable owner eventually can sell the animal to recoup losses.

“There is some protection if a horse is left on your property,” Matherly said. “But there is a process to sell an abandoned horse.”

A stable owner, for instance, must hold the sale in a public venue and offer at least a 30-day notice prior to

selling an abandoned animal.

For additional protection, Matherly recommended stable owners secure a professionally drafted boarding contract prior to accepting horses in their facilities.

Documentation also provides key liability protection for horse and stable owners.

Every horse owner who holds events or allows trail riding on his or her property should draw up professional liability forms.

“The equine activity liability act protects anybody engaged in equine activities,” Matherly said. “But it’s not a guarantee against a lawsuit. The better

you protect yourself, the better off you are.”

Matherly recommended horse and stable owners invest in proper insurance coverage.

There are liability policies designed specifically for horse owners.

Horse owners who host guests on their property also should post signs about the equine activity liability act, preferably in high traffic areas such as near stable entrances.

The signs, and other information about horse owners’ rights, are available at the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois website {horsemenscouncil. org}.

PRODUCTION

FarmWeek Page 4 Monday, May 12, 2014

Warmer temps boost planting progress, crop development

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

A shot of warm air proved just what the doctor ordered last week for farmers anxious to finish corn planting and for crop development.

The mercury surpassed 80 degrees across much of the state for multiple days last week. It was the warmest air felt at most locations in the

state so far this year.

“This is perfect weather for planting beans,” Zeb Wyant, a farmer from Cooksville (McLean County), said during a phone interview from his tractor last week.

“I believe almost all the corn is in,” he continued. “Most (farmers) switched to beans.”

Illinois farmers started the week with nearly half (43 per-

Keep an eye on Palmer amaranth Palmer amaranth plants can grow to 4 inches in less than 10 days after emergence, according to a growth rate study conducted at the University of Illinois.

Aaron Hager, a U of I weed scientist, noted that foliarapplied herbicides must be applied before Palmer amaranth plants reach 4 inches.

Cody Evans, a U of I weed science graduate student, compared the growth rate of waterhemp and Palmer amaranth in a greenhouse. During the project, both weed species emerged on the same day, and the plants were photographed every other day for a month. Photographs show Palmer amaranth plants reached a 4-inch height less than 10 days after emergence.

“The growth rate comparison illustrated in the photographs was conducted under greenhouse conditions, but experience suggests that a similar growth rate of Palmer amaranth should be expected under field conditions,” Hager explained. “Timely applications of foliar-applied herbicides require vigilant scouting throughout a large portion of the growing season.”

For more recommendations on Palmer amaranth control, visit {uofi.box.com/palmeramaranth2014}.

cent) of the corn crop in the ground after a late start, two points ahead of the five-year average. Many finished planting corn or were nearly done by the end of the week.

Soybean planting the first of last week was just 3 percent complete compared to the five-year average of 7 percent.

“I’d say about 95 percent of corn is planted in our area,” said Bill Long, a farmer from Franklin (Morgan County). “A lot of people started hitting beans seriously (last week). We could be 50 percent done (with bean planting) by the first of (this) week.”

The optimal planting window last week likely put to rest the idea of switching acres from corn to soybeans. It also was beneficial to recently planted corn.

Just 8 percent of the corn crop emerged as of the first of last week compared to the fiveyear average of 21 percent.

“The last rain we received caused some problems with emergence on corn that was planted right ahead of it,” said Doug Uphoff, a FarmWeek CropWatcher from Shelbyville (Shelby County). “At least we had corn planted, though.

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Some in the southern part of the county never got in the field (prior to last week).”

Long also noted issues with corn emergence and development prior to last week.

“Most people are waiting for the weather to level out,” he said.

“The corn is coming up kind of yellow. It just needs heat.”

The temperature last month averaged just 51.1 degrees statewide, nearly one degree below normal. It was the sixth consecutive month of below average temperatures in the state, according to the Illinois

State Water Survey.

Wheat development fell behind last week as just 2 percent of the crop was headed compared to the five-year average of 26 percent. Wheat conditions in the state last week were rated 9 percent poor or very poor, 31 percent fair and 60 percent good to excellent.

Pasture and forage growth also was delayed as of the first of last week. Pasture conditions last week were rated 7 percent poor or very poor, 37 percent fair and 56 percent good to excellent.

Showers could disrupt planting

Farmers might have to play a game of dodge the showers to accomplish fieldwork this week, according to Ryan Martin, Allendale, Inc. chief meteorologist.

Martin last week predicted spotty showers the first half of this week could send planters back to sheds for cover.

“We’ve got good fronts coming through,” Martin said. “After the weekend, it may be dodge the showers to finish planting progress in the U.S.” Showers the first of this week could drop a half inch to an inch of rain in the western Corn Belt and a half inch to threequarters of an inch in the eastern Corn Belt, Martin predicted.

“We may have a day or two after each one to get something done (in the field),” Martin said.

Fieldwork should resume to full steam ahead from the middle of the week on as Martin predicted another dry stretch to finish the week.

Unfortunately, the prospect of showers early this week doesn’t extend to the parched Central Plains/Wheat Belt, according to Martin.

Meanwhile, temperatures this week in Illinois are expected to retreat to highs in the 60s after topping out above 80 degrees last week.

Recent rainfall in Illinois (see graphic) recharged much of the topsoil moisture, although it delayed planting in some areas.

Topsoil moisture in Illinois last week was rated 77 percent adequate, 14 percent surplus and 9 percent short.

Previous planting delays shouldn’t have a big impact on yield potential, particularly since many farmers caught up on corn planting in recent weeks.

Illinois farmers on average lose six-tenths of a bushel of potential yield for every day corn planting delays occur between May 1-10, nine-tenths of a bushel every day planting delays occur May 10-20 and 1.2 bushels for delays from May 20-30, based on University of Illinois research.

“One lesson we certainly take from this is that having planting delayed to early or mid-May does not mean ‘game over’ in terms of yield potential,” said Emerson Nafziger, U of I crop systems specialist.

“Average (growing degree day) accumulations during April range from less than 200 in northern Illinois to about 300 in southern Illinois and amount to less than 10 percent of the seasonal total,” he added. — Daniel Grant

EMERGING ISSUES

Page 5 Monday, May 12, 2014 FarmWeek

Exemption truck rules moving slowly, still coming

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Editor’s note: In a first installment, Kevin Rund, Illinois Farm Bureau director of local government, explains how pending and new truck regulations apply to Illinois farmers.

A law exempting farmers from certain trucking regulations exists, but Illinois farmers face slow, and at times confusing, implementation of those exemptions, according to Kevin Rund, Illinois Farm Bureau director of local government. Occasionally, new

rules are added, further complicating the situation, Rund added.

Leading policy experts from the University of Illinois will provide a nonpartisan overview of the state’s fiscal situation and evaluate the pros and cons of various revenue and spending options in a monthly webinar series. Registration is required.

The U of I Extension Local Government Information and Education Network, in partnership with the U of I Institute of Government Policy and Public Affairs, offers participants an opportunity to interact with policy scholars during the webinars. The series will focus on the Illinois Budget Policy Toolbox, a collection of academic papers that assess policy options related to the budget situation.

Starting at noon, the webinars will be offered monthly on the second Tuesday from May through September.

Each session will be recorded and posted at {web.extension. illinois.edu/lgien/online.cfm}.

Dates and topics include: • Tuesday (May 13) — About the Toolbox Project, an overview of the economic situation, the “do nothing” option and making the 2011 tax increase permanent; • June 10 — Tools to address revenue, About the Toolbox Project, increasing sin taxes, business tax options and sales tax options; • Aug. 12 — About the Toolbox Project, bending the curve, waste and abuse in human affairs spending, health spending and better fiscal planning; and • Sept. 9 — Important questions about redistricting in Illinois.

Registration may be completed at {web.extension.illi nois.edu/fmpt/}.

Registered participants will be provided login information so they may participate in the webinar on a home or office computer.

Illinois landowners may apply for a new conservation easement program that consolidates three previous programs, according to Ivan Dozier, Illinois state conservationist. The application deadline is June 6.

Under the new farm bill, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) now offers the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) that consolidates the former Wetlands Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program, and Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program.

Through easements, NRCS will work with private landowners and partners to protect agricultural uses and conserve eligible land.

Under the agricultural land component, NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the easement’s fair market value. On

sites where NRCS staff determine grasslands with special environmental significance need protection, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the easement’s fair market value.

Under the wetland reserve component, NRCS offers three enrollment options: • Permanent easements for which NRCS will pay 100 percent of the easement value for the easement purchase and between 75 percent to 100 percent of restoration costs.

• Thirty-year easements for which NRCS will pay 50 percent to 75 percent of the easement value for the easement purchase and for 50 percent to 75 percent of restoration costs.

For more information, make an appointment with the local NRCS office or visit {www.il. nrcs.usda.gov} and click on ACEP.

U of I Extension offering monthly fiscal webinars

NRCS taking ACEP applications

In mid-2012, Congress passed transportation legislation that included some farmer exemptions from certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR).

The federal implementation rules were written a few months later, but states have up to three years to implement those rules. In Illinois, legislators are considering legislation to do that in the current spring session.

FMCSR comprises the basis of most truck regulations, including drug and alcohol screening, medical card, hours of service limits, equipment inspections, driver records and commercial driver’s license (CDL) rules, according to Rund.

States generally adopt FMCSR to maintain mostly uniform state and federal regulations.

“In Illinois, we have the Illinois MCSR that are virtually identical to the FMCSR with a few exceptions,” Rund said.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees FMCSR. Visit {fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/ title49/b/5/3} for full MCSR details.

The major parts of the rules farmers usually encounter include: drug and alcohol screening (382); CDL (383); general MCSR and definitions (390); driver qualifications, including medical card (391); driving commercial vehicles (392); parts and accessories (393); hours of service (395); and inspection, repair and maintenance (396).

To better understand transportation rule terms and the regulations, Rund advised farmers to start with the general MCSR and definitions part (390).

Under MCSR, two primary groups of exemptions — farm vehicle driver (FVD) and covered farm vehicle (CVF) — impact most farmers.

November 2013 marked the first time some CFV exemptions took affect in Illi-

nois. Rund described those exemptions as more generous, but also more difficult to meet the qualifications. Most importantly, CFV exemptions have yet to be fully implemented, and pickup trucks and dually trucks are not included yet, Rund added.

Illinois has put three of four CFV exemptions — the medical card, hours of service limitations and equipment inspection requirements — in place. The fourth exemption, which covers CDLs, awaits state legislation pending in the Illinois General Assembly.

State legislators also are considering legislation that would allow small truck-trailer combinations to take advantage of the CFV exemption currently applicable only to farm-plated trucks of 16,000 pounds or heavier.

Illinois farmers should be familiar with the FVD exemptions, which have existed for more than 20 years, Rund said. He will compare FVD and the newer CFV exemptions in a future article.

FarmWeek Page 6 Monday, May 12, 2014 Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: There has been LOTS and LOTS of corn planted since last Saturday (May 3). We did not have any rain last week, but we may have by the time you read this. There have been some repor ts of crusting on the earliest-planted fields. They could use some rain. Some of the wheat fields have been planted to corn and others don’t look the best, but hopefully will be worth keeping.

Soybean planting has also started. It is a very busy time of the year, so remember to stay safe.

Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: Another cool week in Lake County. Temperatures were in the 40s and 50s most of the week. It finally got to the mid-80s Thursday. A lot of planters were moving Thursday, and then rain started Thursday night and it was still drizzling Friday morning. Corn is about 30 percent planted. Oats are up and looking good. A lot of wheat has been ripped out. I saved 20 acres out of 90 and the 20 isn’t that great. I still might rip it out. Rain is forecast six of the next seven days. At least the temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: Only less than .1 of an inch of rain Sunday (May 4) allowed fieldwork to begin Monday (May 5). Planters have run nearly nonstop with a large percentage of the corn in the ground. Sprayers are following as fast as possible. It is amazing how we can go from record cold days to such highs within a few days. Some local, heavy rains occurred Thursday evening in the eastern part of the county, but I’ve had nothing here yet.

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: As I wrote this, rain was hitting the windows pretty hard. Corn was planted at a feverish pace the last few days. Even with a couple technical issues with equipment, random rain downpours from rogue clouds and wild winds, we managed to get a lot done. My estimate is that corn planting is well over half complete. The rain should help some of the earlier-planted corn emerge. The forecast looks wet for the next few days. I know we will be anxiously waiting for it to dry out and return to fieldwork again.

Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: A good week for planting corn. We were able to get back in the fields Monday (May 5). We skirted along the edges of a couple of thunderstorms on Thursday. There was a 50 percent chance of rain forecast, so the odds were not in our favor to work through the weekend. I’m guessing about 40 percent of the crops are in the ground in this area. No corn has emerged yet. The first warm day of spring was just last Wednesday. The 15 acres of waterways we seeded this spring are off to a good start. The oats are up and it looks like a little of the grass is starting to pop through also. No gully washers please!

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We finished planting corn Monday (May 5) and started planting soybeans Tuesday. The early-planted corn is at the two-leaf stage now, but the rest is slowly emerging. We got a shower Thursday afternoon and more was forecast for the weekend. That should help get the rest of the corn up and looking good.

We are about half done with soybean planting. The cattle should get moved to pasture this week. The warm temperatures have helped the pastures and yards start growing.

Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: Everyone is hoping it rains. Corn planting is not quite complete, but pretty close — probably in the 85-90 percent range.

Bean planting has started. Planting conditions are nice, but a nice inch of rain would just disappear. Rain was forecast over the weekend and through Monday. Every once in a while, they have to be right.

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: We missed most all of the rain for the week. Corn planting will be about finished by Mother’s Day. I finished Thursday night. Some started on soybeans early last week. The first round of corn planting is finally coming up.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: Last week was the week to plant corn. Ground conditions were perfect, and it finally warmed up. Early-planted corn is struggling to get out of the ground.

Too cold for too long of a period, but it’s coming. Soybeans will be next as many have started.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: A busy week in the fields was brought to a halt by rain Friday morning. I finished planting a field of corn as the rain started pouring down at 1 a.m. It was supposed to continue raining throughout the day, and we had .35 of an inch so far. A lot of corn and soybean fields were planted over the past week. We need one more day to finish planting corn. A few area farmers have finished planting corn and soybeans, while others still have corn and soybean fields yet to be planted. Corn that was planted near Easter has emerged with the warmer weather over the past few days. The local closing prices for May 8 were nearby corn, $4.89; new-crop corn, $4.78; nearby soybeans, $14.87; new-crop corn, $11.97.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Temps in the upper 80s got all of our corn out of the ground last week. Ninety-five percent of corn is planted and 50 percent of the soybeans. High winds hampered spraying attempts. This might have been our smoothest planting season ever and things are off to a great start despite below normal GDU’s. Now we are hoping for a rain event. Post-spraying fast growing corn is next up. Corn, $4.99, fall, $4.87; soybeans, $14.78, fall, $11.91; wheat, $6.94.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: Planting season perfection continued last week as .15 of an inch of rain fell early Friday morning with more rain on the way. Corn is up and growing, and soybeans planted April 26 are punching through the ground. We had a planting window from April 18-26, then moisture from April 27 through May 5. We were back in the field May 6-8 and rain is now in the forecast for the next five days. Soil temperature at 65 degrees and moisture will pop the beans out of the soil.

Plant-o-meter is at 54 percent corn planted, 3 percent emerged and 8 percent soybeans planted. Those numbers will take a giant leap forward next week as dust was flying everywhere in our area. We have 80 acres of soybeans left to plant. Let’s be careful out there!

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: It was a good week to work in our neck of the woods if you liked to work dry fields and see the dust fly. We had received no rain since last report until Thursday when the gauge showed about .2 of an inch and some small hail. Corn is finally beginning to spike through after being in the ground two weeks or more. Have a safe week.

Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: We started planting beans the beginning of last week and nothing slowed us down until lightning and stormy conditions ran us out of the field Thursday night.

Not much rain to show for all of the bluster so far. Corn is up and greening due to the warm, sunny days.

Those pesky buffalo gnats are out, but luckily, the windy days have kept them from bothering us too badly. Green beans, popcorn and carrots were planted in the garden over the weekend and luckily, 70 percent of the onions seem to have survived the tiller catastrophe.

Tom Ritter, Blue Mound, Macon County: We had five good days of planting in a row, which allowed farmers to finish corn planting and probably over 60 percent of the soybeans have been planted. Rain is forecast, so that will give farmers time to get rested, reorganized and ready for the last wave of planting. At this point, moisture will be welcomed. Surface moisture was beginning to become a concern with the warm temperatures and the winds. Corn emergence has been very good. It is at the two- to four-leaf stage and starting to get some good color due to sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: Beginning Monday (May 5), corn and bean planters went hard at it, along with sprayers and even a nitrogen sidedress applicator was seen in the field already. Corn planting is very close to done in the northern part of the county and over half done on the lighter ground in the southern parts. Cornfields that were planted in the first stretch around Easter are showing welldefined green rows and very good emergence. As we began the second week of May, temperatures finally moved up into the 70s and will hopefully stay there and encourage those little plants to grow. Bean planters got a good start, getting approximately one-fourth of the crop in. Finding moisture is not going to be a problem this year. At this moment, we are reinforcing this spring’s trend of stop-andgo fieldwork, as rain set in late Thursday night and Friday morning and may stick around past the weekend. Once again, we will fix, grease and be ready for the next go around.

Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: It was a tremendous week for planting. A lot of guys finished their corn, and soybeans went in the ground quickly.

The corn has greened up considerably with the warmer weather. It is coming up even and looks great. It seems as though every kernel grew this year.

Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: The last rain we received caused some problems with emergence on corn that was planted right ahead of it.

At least we had corn planted.

Some in the southern part of the county have never gotten in the field. We are planting beans, and it’s still a bit wet where water usually stands. Others are wanting to plant corn. It is so dusty you can hardly see.

Thank goodness for auto steer. Just think how farming has changed in the last 60 years. Great-grandpa had his own auto steer — the horse always knew where the barn was at the end of the day and how to get there if you didn’t! Please be careful out there.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: It was a busy week with a lot of corn planted. I finished corn on Thursday. I’m guessing in the immediate area 85-90 percent of the corn is in the ground. Some farmers are still analyzing corn planted around or right after Easter as it is having a little trouble emerging. Showers moved in on Thursday night and as of this report on Friday morning, it was raining again. I received .75 of an inch so far. Have a good week.

Jeff Guilander, Jerseyville, Jersey County: After another week of drier weather, I think we were all hoping for a rain to jump start the growing season. Corn planted after Easter just looks fair, but a little moisture would make a huge difference. Soybean planting is coming right along, and with a little heat and brisk winds, fields are drying out quickly. Without much rain, some may be wrapping up planting early next week.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: A lot of corn went into the ground last week. Some fields were still too wet to plant Thursday then rains moved in during the night, amounting to about .7 of an inch. There is still quite a bit of corn to plant. The early-planted corn is very slow to emerge. The wheat is looking very good. Rain is in the forecast almost every day for the next several days.

Page 7 Monday, May 12, 2014 FarmWeek Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: Farmers were busy last week planting corn. My guess is we are about 60 percent planted. The newsletter from the crop specialist at the local co-op reported that black cutworm has been found feeding on corn plants, and some early-planted corn had a poor stand due to the cool, wet weather we had a couple weeks ago. Fields nearby seem to be doing well due to the warmer weather. The wheat crop continues to look good. Prior to writing this report, I observed several plants displaying a grain head. Local grain bids are corn, $5.15; soybeans, $14.74; wheat, $7.27. Have a safe week.

Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: Back in the saddle again. That’s where the corn growers have been this week.

Tractors fired up again Monday (May 5) and probably 75 percent of the corn is in the ground. I’ve heard some of the earlier-planted corn has kind of a spotty stand in the low spots where the water stood. A few beans have even been planted by those who are not planting any corn this year. It was 87 degrees Wednesday. Saturday morning (May 3) our furnace ran and Tuesday the air conditioning kicked on. Wheat will probably start heading this week.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: Rain, rain go away, come again some July afternoon. That doesn’t work, but sounds good. We got dry enough that we got back in the field Tuesday afternoon and ran until Thursday.

Probably around 35 to 40 percent on corn and beans in some spots. A little first cutting hay was baled last week, too.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Planting has progressed rapidly the last few days. Scattered rainfall Thursday night and a good chance on Friday could slow planting down for a few days. Several fields of soybeans were planted last week. Wheat is looking good.

The drier, warmer weather is just what it needed.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: It dried out and we were able to get a lot of the corn planted. We got some beans planted also. Some of the earlier corn we planted is up a couple inches. It looks like rain is possible the next few days, so we don’t know how that is going to affect us. The weeds are growing. Hope everyone is having fun with planting.

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: It was raining here in deep southern Illinois as I called in my report Friday morning. I don’t know when we will get back in the fields. Rain was forecast through Monday. It was a good week for fieldwork. Highs were in the 80s with sunshine, and I think everybody was going full speed. The only disadvantage is the winds were pretty strong.

We didn’t get much spraying done, but we did get quite a bit of corn planted. We are probably up to about 65 percent of our corn planted. I know there are some farmers in the area who finished planting corn. A few soybeans were planted last week. Please take time to be safe as we are in this busy season.

Group urges White House to help improve Cuba trade relations

BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek

Members of the Illinois Cuba Working Group (ICWG) wrote to President Barack Obama recently, urging him to improve trade relations with Cuba.

“Illinois ranks sixth nationwide in terms of lost opportunities to its agri-food sector due to the embargo,” the letter states. “Removal of U.S. travel and financial restrictions would increase agricultural exports to Cuba and create Illinois jobs.”

Eighteen businesses and organizations, including Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Old Havana Foods and Crane Law Group signed the onepage letter.

“Illinois farmers have long been motivated to take advantage of the island’s geographic proximity, its demand potential and want to work aggressively

‘Cuban authorities have acknowledged that Illinois farm products are cheaper and probably better quality, but U.S. trade barriers are driving them to purchase from our competitors.’

— Mark Albertson Illinois Soybean Association

toward expanding sales of their products to Cuba,” said Adam Nielsen, IFB’s national legislative director. “The working group’s letter is another attempt to call attention to this effort and to put this issue on the president’s radar screen.”

Mark Albertson of the Illinois Soybean Association said “old U.S. political grudges and outdated U.S. trade policies are preventing Illinois farmers from feeding our hung r y Cuban neighbors.”

“Cuban authorities have

Renewable fuel backers urge Obama to reject EPA proposal

Calling the National Climate Assessment report a “wake-up call,” 10 renewable fuel industry supporters urged President Barack Obama to reject the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to reduce the renewable content of gasoline and diesel fuel.

In a letter to the president, the group said EPA’s proposed rule would “make us more oil dependent, effectively gut the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard, strand billions of dollars in private investment and send emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants sharply higher.”

“It represents a significant step backward in your effort to confront climate change,” the letter states.

Groups signing the letter included Abengoa Bioenergy, Advanced Ethanol Council, DuPont, National Corn Growers Association, Poet and the Renewable Fuels Association.

In November, EPA proposed the renewable fuel mandate in the RFS be lowered from 14.4 billion gallons to 13 billion gallons. The advanced fuel mandate, including biodiesel and E85 fuel, would drop from 3.75 billion gallons to 2.2 billion gallons.

Agricultural groups across the country, including Illinois Farm Bureau, oppose the proposed rule. EPA officials have said they expect a final rule to be released in late June.

acknowledged that Illinois farm products are cheaper and prob-

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

ably better quality, but U.S. trade barriers are driving them to purchase from our competitors,” he said.

ICWG was established last year by the General Assembly.

Its mission is to improve trade relations between Illinois businesses and Cuba.

The group also asked Obama to amend the Trade Sanction and Reform Act to: • Establish an agricultural trade office in Cuba as a show of commitment and to facilitate/assist with communication

and market entry.

• Remove third-countr y banking requirements for Cuban transactions and allow transactions to use credit terms.

• Allow U.S. export promotion and assistance to U.S. ag commodities going to Cuba.

• Allow U.S. food companies to negotiate trade terms with Cuba.

“Only your leadership can unite bipartisan efforts at the national level to bring the U.S.Cuba relationship forward,” the group wrote.

Durbin fights for Illinois rail projects U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, asked a Senate committee last week to increase funding for Illinois rail and multimodal projects, including the Federal Freight Program and the Projects of Regional and National Significant grant program.

“Illinois — as the road, rail and aviation hub of the country — is in dire need of funding to upgrade our aging transportation network,” Durbin

wrote. “The next reauthorization can help make a significant dent in our infrastructure deficit if we increase investments in transportation. “ Durbin also asked the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to stabilize the Highway Trust Fund in its bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. The trust fund is expected to dip below $4 billion this summer.

CORN PLANTING 101

Schuyler County Farm Bureau President Ryan Corrie, left, explains his corn planter to Western Illinois Farm Families Field Moms Jennifer Dedes, center, and Tina Powell during their recent tour of his Rushville farm. Jim and Ryan Corrie hosted five Quincy-area field moms to launch the 2014 program supported by the Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Pike, Schuyler and Scott County Farm Bureaus. (Photo by Sara Fernandez, project coordinator)

DOCUMENTARY

Field Moms review ‘Farmland’ documentary FarmWeek Page 8 Monday, May 12, 2014

In recent years, the media has sensationalized farming to the extent that consumer purchasing is influenced by perspectives that are not representative of America’s farms (of which 90 percent are family farms).

But on May 1, there was a shift in the agricultural conversation when six young farmers shared their stories in the documentary “Farmland.”

The 80-minute film broadcasts the lives of six farmers and ranchers who took over their family businesses. Except Margaret Schlass, an anomaly in the farming industry. Without a family history in farming, she took the giant leap to start a farm, “One Woman Farm.”

“There she is in all her glory,” exclaimed Margaret’s mother, as she proudly presented her daughter to community members who regularly purchase Margaret’s produce. But this was an introduction that echoed across the entirety of the film.

When the film opens, we meet David Loberg and his mother scouring their fields for a sign of sprouting seeds. Each

BY AMINA NEVELS

Amina Nevels of Chicago, left, and her mother, Brenda Douse, talk to Emington pork producers Mike Haag and his daughter, Kacie. (Photo by Mike Orso)

farmer totes personalized messages that their livelihood is contingent upon good stewardship of their farmland.

Beyond the introductions, the film attempts to touch on the major issues surrounding animal cruelty, conventional versus organic farming, GMOs and antibiotics. And while viewers aren’t given finite answers regarding the “right” choice and “direction” for modern farming, they are left with a perspective that farmers have a common goal to leave behind “good” soil for the next generation.

While there is certainly a lot more to be explained about modern farming, the film does a good job of demystifying aspects of the industry by opening the gates and parading viewers through the barns and fields of America. Finally, there’s a valiant attempt to include the farmer’s perspective so that authentic conversations about farm-to-fork can begin!

Amina Nevels of Chicago is an Illinois Farm Families® Field Mom alum, freelance writer and blogger at Momma Mina.

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of agriculture. Farmers, until now, have never had to talk to nonfarmers about what they do and why they do it — at least, not in this way.

They told us that it is frustrating that some consumers believe farmers like them are abusing their animals or that they don’t value their soils and our limited water supply. I was relieved to see their compassion for their animals and pride in their stewardship to their land.

This film evoked my emotions and, yes, there is a part that choked me up a bit. I left the theater feeling good about American agriculture and thankful that those six hardworking young people and their families were willing to put themselves in front of us to share their stories.

If you love to eat and are ready to watch a food documentary that doesn’t leave you fearing your food, I think you will enjoy watching “Farmland.”

Heather Guido of Oak Park is a 2014 Illinois Farm Families Field Mom.

Film sparks discussion

Posing questions to a farmer panel following the Chicago premiere of a new farm documentary, a curious crowd learned more about Illinois farming and food.

Illinois Farm Families (IFF), a coalition of Illinois beef, corn, dairy, pork and soybean organizations and Illinois Farm Bureau, organized a farmer panel for “Farmland” audience members.

The documentary, financed by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) profiles six young farmers and ranchers selected by Oscar-winning filmmaker James Moll.

The first question posed to the farmer panel? “How do you transfer your farm from one generation to another?”

“Farming used to mostly be a labor-intensive business, but now it’s a capital-intensive business,” said Deb Moore, who along with her husband, Ron, farm near Roseville. For example, the Moores cited machinery costs totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars coupled with the cost of land that could easily approach millions.

Ron Moore explained they plan to consult with financial advisers and an attorney to create a succession plan to pass their farm on to their children, as one soon plans to return to farm.

“What about GMOs?” asked another attendee. “Why do you use them? Are there more posiBY MIKE ORSO

Helping you make backyard memories.

www w.greenyard.net

I came away from the new documentary film, “Farmland,” feeling mentally refreshed and relieved. Other food documentaries I’ve seen have left me questioning many aspects of what I thought I knew about our systems of agriculture in this country. They left me doubting the safety of the production methods of the food I buy and questioning whether it is under control. Some of those documentaries and the supporting activism demonize production farming and go to great lengths to dehumanize it.

Every aspect of this film is about the humans who are responsible for raising the food we buy. The six young farmers — Brad, Sutton, David, Leighton, Ryan and Margaret — are real people with families and are important members of their communities. I could relate to them. They were all working through the challenges of farming and starting their own businesses just as you might expect, but they also talked about the new challenge of the consumer’s perception

BY HEATHER GUIDO

tives than negatives?”

“I personally find the GMO controversy much ado about nothing,” said Eldon Gould, a Maple Park farmer, who also participated in the IFF post-premiere panel discussion with his wife, Sandy. Gould pointed out some biotech-enhanced crops have reduced their need to apply some herbicides and pesticides to protect crops.

“How about organic farming compared to conventional farming?” asked another moviegoer. Among the six young farmers Moll followed for a year in “Farmland,” a California farmer grows USDA-certified organic produce. Another profiled from Pennsylvania grows fruits and vegetables, and simply labels her produce “natural” at farmers markets.

“There’s room for everybody,” said Dixon farmer Katie Pratt, who welcomed the audience to the “Farmland” theater and moderated the post-screening panel. “This is not about promoting one type of practice over another type. The idea was to give you a look at farming in America today.”

The theatrical run of “Farmland” in Illinois has concluded, but the movie will be available via digital download to rent or buy later this summer.

Illinois Farm Bureau plans to show the movie July 29 at the Normal Marriott Hotel prior to the 2014 Commodities Conference.

FROM THE COUNTIES

Page 9 Monday, May 12, 2014 FarmWeek

Coles County FB hosts state Rep. Will Davis, family

BY CHRISTINA NOURIE Animals and farm machinery caught the attention of state Rep. Will Davis, DHomewood; his wife, Jaclin; 2year-old daughter, Jana; and 4year-old godson, Stevie, recently when they visited Charleston.

In 2004, the Coles County Farm Bureau and Davis were matched through Illinois Farm Bureau’s Adopt-a-Legislator program. This marked Davis’ third trip to Coles County. He also hosted his farmers for district tours and attended IFB annual meetings in the past.

Davis and his family first stopped at Charleston’s Paradise Equestrian Therapy Center, which provides therapeutic horseback riding as a form of therapy for individuals with physical or mental disabilities or developmental delays.

The representative was impressed with the valuable opportunities this organization provides both children and adults with disabilities ranging from attention deficit disorder, autism, Down Syndrome and spinal cord or neck injuries.

The visit provided a unique opportunity showing how equine agriculture can contribute to the well-being of those with physical and mental challenges. Jana and Stevie were treated to their first horse rides.

Next stop was Marcus and Brandy Wheeler’s livestock farm. The Wheelers raise show cattle and discussed their involvement in cattle judging competitions.

The farmers discussed livestock care and the breeding process, and shared some challenges livestock farmers face when managing a successful

farm. The Wheelers also raise horses and chickens, which delighted the children.

Finally, the visitors arrived at Alan and Becky Metzger’s family farm. Several Coles County Farm Bureau members greeted the Davis family, joined them for a cookout and discussed current legislative issues.

After lunch, Metzger’s brother, Stan, brought some baby goats for the children to see and discussed the goat industry with the representative.

Then Davis and the children rode in a tractor with Alan Metzger. Davis learned more about planting, farm machinery and technology. He was especially impressed with the tractor’s autosteer.

The Davis family is planning to return this fall for harvest and a bonfire. In the meantime, the Coles County Farm Bureau looks forward to

Tuesday: • “FarmWeek: The Early Word” • Freese-Notis Weather • Adam Pollet, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: Economic Development for a Growing Economy program • Greg Millburg, DeKalb County Farm Bureau; Patrick Kirchhofer, Peoria County Farm Bureau: county level issues and planting update • Marla Behrends, Midwest Dairy Association: dairy update Wednesday: • Tim Schweizer, Illinois Department of Natural Resources

• Karen Blatter, 1st Farm Credit; Rod Stoll, Farm Credit: FFA Convention and scholarship information Thursday: • Dave DeVore, Siemer Milling Company: southern Illinois wheat tour • Lauren Lurkins, Illinois Farm Bureau: NREC 2013 annual report • Cyndi Cook, IFB: IFB annual photo contest Friday: • Dan Adcock, WinField: Illinois planting update • U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville: ag issues • “Horse Talk” To find a radio station near you that carries the RFD Radio Network ® , go to FarmWeekNow.com, click on “Radio,” then click on “Affiliates.”

B

UREAU — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor Summer Agricultural Institute II June 16-17 for educators. Call the Farm Bureau office at 8756468 for pricing, registration and more information by May 30.

ARROLL — Farm Bureau will host a tractor drive July 18 leaving from the Carroll County Fairgrounds in Milledgeville. An antique tractor pull will follow. Cost is $25. Call the Farm Bureau office at 244-3001 to register or for more information.

OOK — Farm Bureau will partner with the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners to provide an in-suite resource center at the Farm Bureau office.

Resource center hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Nov. 14. For gardening assistance, call Master Gardener volunteers at 708-354-3276 or email mastergardener@cook cfb.org.

EE — Farm Bureau will host a spring cleaning candle sale Thursday to May 31. Cost will be half off.

Call the Farm Bureau office at 857-3531 or email michelle. leecfb@comcast.net for

C C

Coles County Farm Bureau Director Alan Metzger of Charleston, left, shows planted seeds to state Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood, and Davis’ godson, Stevie, during the representative’s recent visit to his adopted county Farm Bureau. (Photo by Mary Cox, Coles County Farm Bureau manager)

working with the representative this summer to reach out to his urban constituents and help them learn about agriculture.

Christina Nourie serves as the IFB northeast legislative coordinator.

L

M

more information.

ONTGOMERY — Prime Timers will host a luncheon meeting at noon May 21 at the Farm Bureau building. Donna Roach and Don Clausen will perform.

Farm Bureau members 55 and older are invited to attend.

Cost is $9. Call the Farm Bureau office at 532-6171 for reservations by Friday.

ERMILION — Farm Bureau will host a bus trip to a Chicago Cubs/St. Louis Cardinals game at 3:05 p.m. July 26. Trip is open to members and nonmembers at varying prices. Call the Farm Bureau office at 442-8713 for reservations and more information.

ASHINGTON — The Women’s Committee will co-sponsor a blood drive from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday at the Ashley Community Building. Call the Farm Bureau office at 327-3081 for more information.

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W

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

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PROFITABILITY

FarmWeek Page 10 Monday, May 12, 2014

Manage corn, soybean emergence with a watchful eye

Spring has finally sprung!

After a long, hard winter like we just had, it’s so good to see the new life that spring brings.

Another sure sign that spring is here — corn and soybeans are being planted.

This past week was a big one for corn planting progress. We have gone from 32 percent of the Matt Hynes corn planted in Illinois to 43 percent. Technology and larger equipment sure make the planting process go so much faster.

Spring is also a great time to confirm your seed purchasing decisions. As you are going to

BY MATT HYNES

the field, check early emergence and take stand counts.

Did the hybrid emerge as expected? Does it have the early vigor that you wanted? Make sure the hybrid and variety you are using lives up to your expectations.

Half of the yield potential received in the fall is determined by the stand that emerges in the spring. There are many factors that will affect emergence and stand counts, most indirectly related to the seed itself. That’s why it is so important to be in the field watching what’s affecting the crop. The emerging crop is like a newborn baby — it needs lots of attention and since neither can tell you that something is going wrong, you have to be around all the time making observations.

U.S. ethanol exports grow U.S. ethanol exports totaled 84 million gallons in March, a 25 percent increase over February and just slightly below January’s total of 86.2 million gallons.

The Renewable Fuels Association further reported U.S. ethanol imports remained at a trickle with just 5.3 million gallons coming into the country during March.

Thus, the United States remained a net exporter by a wide margin for the seventh straight month. Canada and Brazil were top destinations in March, while the Philippines and Nigeria reentered the market after sitting on the sidelines in February.

March exports of distillers grains set a new monthly record of 1.16 million metric tons, topping the 1 million metric ton mark for just the fourth time in history. China accounted for half of export shipments, while Mexico and South Korea were other leading destinations.

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) $37.50-$59.00 $47.13 40 lbs. (cash) $108.00-$132.00 $126.42 Recipts

This Week 74,111 *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm

Last Week 64,115

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live

(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week Change NA NA NA NA NA NA

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

This week $150.02 $148.00

Prev. week $148.55 $148.00

Change $1.47 $0.00

CME feeder cattle index — 600-800 Lbs. This is a composite price of feeder cattle transactions in 27 states.

(Prices $ per hundredweight) Prev. week Change This week $182.72 $179.56 $3.16

Lamb prices Negotiated, wooled and shorn, 126-169 lbs. for 140-185 $/cwt. (wtd.

7ave. 155.37); 176-217 lbs. for 145-155 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 147.39)

Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 5/1/2014 3.7 19.8 48.8 4/24/2014 9.3 24.2 45.6 Last year 6.4 17.9 6.8 Season total 1523.1 1064.5 1150.8 Previous season total 1252.7 921.0 489.0 USDA projected total 1580 1175 1750 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

Your local FS crop specialist is a great resource to help in making evaluations and observations.

Our crop specialists are continually trained and updated on the latest technologies and products. They are the experts when it comes to understanding how to nurture and take care of your

crops. They can help advise you when selecting the right hybrids and varieties to match your farm, the soil types in each field and the genetics needed to maximize productivity.

A customized recommendation from a local crop specialist who knows your farms and is deeply invested in your over-

all bottom line will help maximize your profitability and provide a prescription for a great partnership. We wish you the best in this year’s growing season.

Matt Hynes serves as GROWMARK’s seed sales and marketing manager. His email address is mhynes@growmark.com.

USDA forecasts big crops, lower prices by fall

crop prices by next fall compared to current levels.

The late start to planting in many areas this The 2014-15 season average price range spring didn’t have much of an impact on profor corn was pegged at $3.85 to $4.55 per duction expectations. bushel, down 65 cents on the low end of the USDA Friday predicted U.S. farmers this year range from 2013-14. The price range for will harvest a record soybean soybeans was estimated at FarmWeekNow.com crop (3.635 billion bushels) and $9.75 to $11.75, down signifia bin buster corn crop (13.9 bilcantly from the average of For more on USDA’s latest crop $13.10 per bushel in 2013-14. lion bushels). report, go to FarmWeekNow.com.

The production expectaDemand was projected to tions were based on national remain strong, though. USDA average yield estimates of 165.3 boosted soy exports 25 million bushels per acre for corn and 45.2 bushels bushels to 1.625 billion bushels, so any hiccups per acre for beans. If realized, average yields this growing season could alter the price forethis year would jump 6.5 bushels per acre for casts. corn and 1.9 bushels for beans compared to “New-crop sales are not accumulating as last year. fast as the last three years. Beans, I can under“We’re going to be buried in beans next fall if stand because they’re relatively high priced we have a good crop,” Peter Georgantones, mar- compared to corn,” Durchholz said. “That ket analyst with Roy E. Abbott Futures, said tells me buyers are being more careful. If during a teleconference hosted by the Minproblems with the crops pop up, that could neapolis Grain Exchange. “But we have a long change.” growing season ahead of us.”

As for wheat production, USDA projected USDA predicted ending stocks will jump sig- U.S. farmers this year will harvest 1.96 billion nificantly in the months ahead due to the large bushels of all wheat, down 8 percent from last harvest estimates. year.

Ending stocks of corn for 2014-15 were The all-wheat yield was pegged at 42.7 pegged at 1.7 billion bushels, up 580 million bushels per acre, down 4.5 bushels from the bushels from 2013-14, while ending stocks of 2013-14 record. Issues with winterkill and beans in 2014-15 were projected to more than drought in the Wheat Belt likely took the top double from 130 million bushels to 330 million end off yields. bushels.

Ending stocks of wheat for 2014-15 subse“Overall, the report was probably neutral to quently declined 43 million bushels to 540 milmaybe a little bearish,” Dale lion bushels.

Durchholz, AgriVisor senior However, wheat prices were projected to slip market analyst, said during an as total U.S. wheat use could decline 11 percent AgriVisor webinar immediatedue to large world supplies. The season average ly after the report. “I think wheat price was pegged at $6.65 to $7.95 per we’ve got a market trying to bushel. put in a near-term top, “We are the most expensive wheat around the depending on the weather and world,” Georgantones said. “We’re going to lose planting (progress) the next out export-wise.” several weeks.”

USDA lowered wheat exports by 235 million Dale Durchholz USDA projected a decline in bushels.

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

IDOA schedules pesticide collection in central IL Residents of eight central Illinois counties may dispose of unwanted agrichemicals for free through the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s (IDOA) Clean Sweep program.

Collections, which rotate around the state, are scheduled in late summer in DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Mason, Menard, Piatt, Sangamon and Tazewell counties.

Eligible participants include farmers, retired farmers, nursery owners, private pesticide applicators, structural pest control applicators and landowners who inherited unwanted ag pesticides with their property.

“If individuals were to properly dispose of agrichemicals on their own, the cost would be expensive,” said Warren Goetsch, IDOA bureau chief of environmental programs.

IDOA provides the service free of charge because it obtained a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant.

Goetsch noted the state, not participants, assumes liability for proper disposal of all collected materials.

Participants must register the products they plan to dispose of by July 14 to give the waste disposal contractor time to prepare for handling anticipated materials.

To obtain registration forms, call IDOA’s pesticide hotline at 800-641-3934 or visit a local sponsor, including the DeWitt, Logan, Macon, Mason, Menard, Piatt, Sangamon or Tazewell County Farm Bureau offices or the Soil and Water Conservation District offices in those counties.

Mail or fax completed forms to IDOA, Clean Sweep Program, State Fairgrounds, Box 19281, Springfield, Ill. 62794-9281. The fax number is 217-524-4882.

Registered participants will receive a reservation card with the date, time and location of their collection.

PROFITABILITY

Page 11 Monday, May 12, 2014 FarmWeek

USDA report has surprises

CASH STRATEGIST

The USDA May supply/demand forecasts are looked forward to more than any other monthly release. They provide the first peek at what the world fundamental landscape may look like in the year ahead.

There are production forecasts from other entities that come sooner, but most don’t attempt to forecast demand and ending stocks. To be sure, there will be changes in the months ahead as both production and economic variables develop, but these provide a good starting point to begin building price scenarios and marketing strategies.

The world corn/coarse grain forecasts were the most surprising. The USDA forecast a 181.7 million metric ton (mmt) new-crop ending stock for corn, and a 210.5 mmt stock for coarse grains.

USDA expects U.S. corn stocks to increase 13 mmt this year. Foreign stocks will decline slightly.

To keep the stocks from growing even more, USDA bumped the foreign demand up 19 mmt from last year, and 68 mmt from two years ago.

Arguably, larger supplies and a more attractive price relative to wheat should lift demand, but that’s a significant increase unless it’s a year after a drought like the current year’s 49 mmt increase.

USDA also found an extra 10 mmt of corn supplies in the current marketing year with upward revisions coming from China, Brazil and Argentina.

It’s also interesting to note that world coarse grain stocks could be larger than wheat again. Just two years ago, they

were smaller than wheat stocks.

The world situation in wheat is mostly one of status quo. Stocks are expected to grow 1 mmt to 187.4 mmt.

Production is only slightly larger than expected demand.

Some might think the world feed wheat number is too large given the huge shift in the price relationship over the last year. But it’s important to note the change in that relationship has primarily been in the U.S. That’s best illustrated by the economic possibility of importing wheat into the U.S. from Europe. Our wheat prices have gone up faster than prices in any other country.

The soybean numbers were probably the least surprising.

Still, the potential for world stocks to grow to 82.2 mmt this year should not be ignored. That lifts the stocks/use to 29 percent. Outside the U.S., stocks were forecast to jump from 63.4 mmt to 73.25 mmt, primarily in Brazil and Argentina. But U.S. inventories are expected to increase, too, from 130 million bushels to 330 million bushels. All of this depends on good crops from these countries.

But it is notable USDA didn’t lower the Chinese import number from 69 mmt for the old crop. Given their economic problems, ongoing problems in their pork industry and export cancellations, there’s still reason to think China’s imports are going to fall short of forecast by 2 to 3 mmt.

In the end, with the exception of maybe wheat, one could argue USDA was a little generous with its demand forecasts. But if production slips from the current forecasts, there will also be room to adjust demand down, still leaving stocks comfortable.

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Corn Strategy

ü2013 crop: Export shipments remain strong, which should be supportive to basis levels into summer. But new sales are accumulating slower than earlier this year. Make sure sales are at recommendations. Hedge-to-arrive contracts for summer delivery may be the best tool. ü2014 crop: It’s important to note new-crop export sales are not as strong as the last three years. With planting coming along at a reasonable pace, there’s not a great amount of perceived production risk. Use strength to get sales to recommendations.

There should be another pricing opportunity this summer. vFundamentals: Not surprisingly, the surprise of the new USDA forecasts was in the newcrop world forecasts. Those could undermine export demand as reasonably good crops are realized this year. Planting is thought to be about 50 percent complete. If it continues to go relatively well, it will undermine short-term buying interest.

Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2013 crop: Ongoing reports of Brazilian soybeans headed to the U.S. appear to have capped old-crop buying interest. As long as the price differential persists, U.S. prices don’t have much upside potential. Price old-crop bushels. ü2014 crop: It’s early, but it is interesting that new-crop export sales are lagging the early buying pace of the last two years. That may be a cautionary note. Chinese demand issues are worrisome as well. Boost your sales to 50 percent now.

At the least, do it if November futures close below $12. vFundamentals: The story in old crop is not demand, but the pace of imports. The latest reports indicate 44 million bushels are headed to the U.S. from Brazil. And additional soybean meal cargoes will be shipped here from Argentina.

And even though Chinese demand issues have probably “bottomed out,” there’s still reason to worry about their demand going forward, given ongoing problems in their pork sector.

Wheat Strategy

ü2013 crop: Old-crop wheat prices have benefited from worries about the condition of our new crop. All sales should be wrapped up. ü2014 crop: Futures have rallied on continued dryness in the Southern Plains and political uncertainties in Ukraine.

We are also seeing spring wheat planting delays in North Dakota and Minnesota. Take advantage of the recent strength in futures and sell an additional 10 percent of newcrop wheat now. Be comfort-

able with being half sold. Consider pricing more if you plan to sell wheat off the combine at harvest. vFundamentals: Friday’s supply and demand report called for 540 million bushels of wheat carryout in 2015, just below this year’s tally. Abundant wheat stocks and expectations for solid production make current prices hard to justify. U.S. wheat is trading at a hefty premium to wheat abroad, even making imports from the European Union look feasible.

PERSPECTIVES

FarmWeek Page 12 Monday, May 12, 2014

Reinventing American agriculture traditions

At the start of every school ers create a future day, students across America say wherein they can continthe Pledge of Allegiance. Before ue to provide food for most sporting events, “The Star the world.

Spangled Banner” is sung. These Each year, the global are American traditions. population grows, and Just like students know they the land suitable for will say the pledge every day, most farming shrinks. This Americans take comfort in the creates a need for fact that there will be dinner on change. Farmers must the table every night. That dinner learn how to utilize less is thanks to the long tradition of land to produce more American agriculture. goods, but they also It is thanks to an industry that must continue to care continuously utilizes research and for the current land to innovative technology to ensure a ensure a viable future. This is the sustainable future and to ensure basis of sustainable farming. that Americans Crop rotation has been used can continue to for decades as a cultural practice have a nutritious that has many benefits. This is dinner on the just one small example of sustaintable every night. ability that is already in practice.

Sustainable As new farming techniques develagriculture is a big op, agriculturists must learn to topic in the news implement new research.

MIKAELA right now.

There is However, there is a wide gap WIELAND a push for farmers between the science lab and the to develop a farmer’s field that is bridged by greater efficiency to feed the many agricultural research comworld with a panies. One of smaller the most imporimpact on the tant “bridges” in environment. the agricultural The word industry is the Mikaela Wieland, Princeville, sustainability agriculture coopwas named winner of the 2014 takes on a erative. different def- GROWMARK essay contest for Going into the Illinois FFA members. This year’s unknown, into inition for each farmer theme was “Promoting Sustainabil- darkness, is scary. because each ity and Conservation of Natural The same princiResources.” utilizes difple applies in Four runners-up also were ferent techfarming. Producnamed.

They and their chapters niques to ers do not want practice sus- are: Leah Carter, Fairfield FFA, to take the risk of Fairfield; Morgan Dodson, tainability. trying out new Nashville FFA, Nashville; Megan To put it techniques Magsamen, Monticello FFA, White because they are simply, it Heath; and Jonah Wilson, Paxton- unsure of the means Buckley-Loda FFA, Paxton. Each results. Their improving runner-up will receive a $125 past tradilivelihoods and award. farm profitability tions to proThis marks the 21st year for the are at stake. mote a profcontest, sponsored by the GROWIn addition, itable and MARK System and FS member new techniques successful cooperatives in conjunction with to implement future. Sussustainable farmtainability is the state FFA. ing often require not a shortnew input costs. According to the term fix, but a lasting implementation. In a country whose tradiDirector-General of the Food tions surround the industry of and Agricultural Organization agriculture, it is critical that farm- (FAO), Jose Graziano da Silva,

GROWMARK names FFA essay winners

Editor’s note: Kay Shipman asked high school students competing in the state Envirothon (a natural resource academic contest) for their opinion on the importance of high school students learning about sustainable agriculture.

“It is important to give back to the environment, keep it clean and the soil healthy.

High school students need to know this if they become farmers.”

Nicholas Tkachuk Altamont High School, junior

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Take time to say thanks treat those people closest

“Cooperatives help small farmers access the global market by making input costs for production more affordable.”

Cooperatives are the hand guiding the farmer in the darkness of the unknown. They provide affordability and a trusting community that the farmer can be part of. The seventh cooperative principle states, “While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.”

That sustainable development is exactly what agriculture cooperatives are doing to bridge the gap and feed the world.

Sometimes traditions are good.

But sometimes, they can be improved upon. They can be reinvented.

America was built on the tradition of farming. But what would happen if we were still farming with Eli Whitney’s cotton gin?

American agriculture has come a long way and has paved the future for global food production. If there is to be a continuation of success in American agriculture, improvements must continue to be made. Sustainability must be implemented and the American agriculture traditions must be reinvented.

Mikaela Wieland is a member of the Princeville FFA Chapter at Princeville High School, Princeville. Her FFA adviser is Douglas Nelson. She will receive a $500 award from GROWMARK at the Illinois FFA State Convention in June. The Princeville FFA chapter also will receive $300.

“We are the future, so if we’re educated about that we can help the environment.”

Dustin Logan West Prairie High School, junior

Editor: Behind every successful farm operation, there is a long list of unsung heroes who devote countless hours of service in order that we, the farmer, can be the most productive producers in the world.

When you take a second and reflect on the people who have an impact on your operation, you will quickly be amazed. These individuals take pride in their abilities to bring service and value to your farming operations. Even though they are compensated for their time, the simple act of saying thanks for a job well done can go a long way to make sure they know how appreciative we are.

As a whole, farmers are very good about giving thanks to those who have an impact on their operations, but we sometimes overlook the ones closest to us — our families. I’m as guilty as anyone for not always thanking my family for all they do and for all they put up with during the busy farming seasons. As fatigue sets in, I’m not always proud of the way I

Limit erosion with waterways

Editor: The picture on the front page of the April 7 issue of FarmWeek is something you see all too often this time of year.

I am not being critical of the farmer in the picture. I do not know the history of the field. I am critical of farmers who do that almost every year and make no attempt to correct the problem.

I realize a few inches of waterway erosion does not mean much, but if it goes on for 20 or 30 years, or even 40 or 50 years, it may reach beyond the point of recovery. At that point, the

“It’s good for high school students to know about sustainable agriculture, so when they go out in the real world they need to know the effects of the decisions they are making.”

Will Montgomery Monticello High School, junior

to me.

It’s also important to not put off a simple “thank you” when you have the opportunity. This point was driven home when a 13year Illini FS employee, Brent Stewart, 42, of Newman was tragically killed as he crossed a railroad crossing and was struck on April 24. He had just finished spreading fertilizer on a field and was ready to head back to the plant.

Brent was one of the individuals I was referring to in doing a top-notch job and bringing value to the many customers he served.

I regret not telling Brent thanks more often when I would see him.

I quickly realized, that in all of the day-to-day problems we encounter, being able to come home to your family at the end of the day is a very good day. So, maybe we should remember to take time to tell our family and all the people who make our farming operations successful thanks for all you do!

CHRIS HAUSMAN District 12 Illinois Farm Bureau Board director Pesotum

field becomes less productive.

We have a practice on our farm that could correct the problem in the picture.

We never till waterways.

Plus, we make sure the channel of the waterway is wide in relation to the amount of runoff.

In addition, we like to sow a cover crop in the waterway after soybean harvest. Wheat works very well for us. The large waterways may still need grass.

Another reason for controlling erosion is the risk of control from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Richard L. Williams Avon “It’s very important because it widens the economy of the town you live in. It decreases pollution.”

Chelsea Schierer Midland High School, junior