FarmWeek May 20 2013

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Extension no longer will allow auctions of youth 4-H livestock to be sponsored by a local Extension office. ...................................................3

24 ILLINOIS FARM Bureau Young Leaders have been selected for the two-year Prairie Farmer Cultivating Master Farmers program. ...............................................11

Five-year-old Joseph Charles, who has been diagnosed with cancer, wanted to be a farmer for a day. He got his wish — and much more. ..............................................12

Crop insurance key IFB focus in Senate debate Monday, May 20, 2013

BY MARTIN ROSS Farmweek

Periodicals: Time Valued

With Senate farm bill debate anticipated this week, Farm Bureau is girding up to protect crop insurance and other key programs in what could shape up as a heated floor fight.

After months of delay and 2008 farm bill expiration and subsequent reactivation, Senate and House ag committees last week approved new provisions proposing to replace existing farm programs with a twotiered revenue/price safety net for most commodities and aimed at bolstering crop insurance.

The Senate plan would reduce the federal deficit by $23 billion over a 10-year period largely by eliminating direct payments.

It proposes $17 billion in commodity program spending reductions, $4 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or “food stamp” savings, and $4 billion in conservation cuts.

The House Ag Committee proposes $39.7 billion in savings, including $20 billion in SNAP cuts, $4.8 billion in conservation savings, and $18.6 billion in long-term commodity/crop insurance “savings.”

Illinois’ three House Ag

Two sections Volume 41, No. 20

Committee members — Taylorville Republican Rodney Davis, East Moline Democrat Cheri Bustos, and Belleville Democrat Bill Enyart — voted

FarmWeekNow.com

Visit FarmWeekNow.com to view details of the latest farm bill proposals.

for the House proposal.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson applauded committee action and, in particular, cited “enhanced” crop insurance provisions in the Senate version.

The Senate plan would boost long-term crop insurance spending by $5 billion.

“Crop insurance is essential for effective risk management,” Nelson said.

“That was borne out during the 2012 drought. There are no federal farm disaster programs in place.

“Purchasing crop insurance will enable many farmers who lost crops in the drought to farm for another year.”

As debate moves to the Senate floor, IFB National Legislative Director Adam Nielsen said Farm Bureau would watch for “harmful amendments” —

especially “any attempt to change crop insurance” such as eligibility means testing.

Farm Bureau and other ag, conservation, and crop insurance groups recently reached agreement on a plan that would link conservation compliance to crop insurance coverage, in exchange for conservation interests staying out of any debate over farm program payment limitations or means testing.

Conservation compliance was included in the Senate plan but not in the House plan.

American Farm Bureau Federation senior economist Bob

Young told FarmWeek the Senate plan offers a “forwardlooking” approach to bringing policyholders into compliance where necessary vs. a punitive approach that threatens existing coverage.

Budget constraints and philosophy largely dictated the differences between Senate and House proposals.

Young nonetheless suggested “I could probably talk a lot more about similarities than about differences.”

“Both provide producers with a choice between a target

although none was reported in Illinois as of the first of last week, compared to the average of 24 percent.

“The ground is working very well,” Hopkins said. “But it’s a little harder than I thought it would be.”

Most farmers have not deviated from their previous planting intentions.

“We’re getting everything in we wanted to plant,” Hopkins said.

In McLean County, Mark Hines of Downs was about 20 percent done with corn planting early last week and made

significant progress the remainder of the week.

“I haven’t really made any major (variety or rotation) changes yet,” Hines said during an Illinois Farm Bureau video interview. “And I don’t expect to (make cropping changes) as long as I get my corn planted by the end of May.” Hines said fieldwork in his area as of last week was about two to three weeks behind schedule due to the cold, wet spring.

“Right now, we’re getting to a critical time period where we start to lose possible yield (for

each day planting is delayed),” he said.

Topsoil moisture in Illinois last week was rated 53 percent surplus and 47 percent adequate.

The eastern Corn Belt, including all of Illinois, was drought-free last week. But nearly 50 percent of the nation remained in moderate or worse drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The worst of the drought last week included Texas, Oklahoma, southeast Colorado, eastern New Mexico, western Kansas, and Nebraska.

Finally! Significant planting progress

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Most farmers in Illinois last week finally were able to work fields for multiple days.

Temperatures warmed into the 80s and even low 90s at some locations last week and rains were less frequent across much of the state compared to previous weeks this spring.

“There are a lot of tractors out,” Jim Hopkins, a farmer from Kendall County, told FarmWeek last Tuesday.

“We’re just about done (planting) corn and will be starting with beans the end of (last) week if the weather holds.”

The weather forecast as of Friday called for chances of showers over the weekend and early this week in some parts of the state.

Farmers as of the first of last week had planted just 17 percent of the corn crop in the state compared to the five-year average of 64 percent. That figure no doubt will be much higher when the planting figure is released today (Monday).

Nationwide, 28 percent of the corn crop was planted as of the first of last week compared to the average of 65 percent.

U.S. farmers also planted 6 percent of the soybean crop,

See Insurance, page 3

Todd Bruegger of rural Ridott in Stephenson County wraps up a long day of planting after finishing a 75-acre cornfield near Freeport. Bruegger, who farms with his wife, Rose, and sons, Stanley and Neil, also grows soybeans and raises beef cattle. Farmers throughout the state enjoyed virtually an open week for fieldwork last week for the first time this spring and put in many long hours. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com

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

Quick Takes

FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, May 20, 2013

ROLLOVER TECH — University of Missouri researchers have developed a smartphone application that uses GPS systems to locate farmers who have rolled their tractors.

The app, called VRPETERS (Vehicle Rollover Prevention Education Training Emergency Reporting System), uses sensors and GPS capability built into smartphones to detect rollovers.

Once the app detects a rollover, it sends an automatic emergency email and phone message with the coordinates of the accident location to family members or emergency responders.

The app also could be used on construction vehicles, trucks, snowmobiles, military vehicles, riding lawnmowers, and all-terrain vehicles. The developers have tested the app on a standard tractor and are looking for an industry partner to help market it.

FIELD MOMS’ FARM TOUR II — Twenty-four Illinois Farm Families (IFF) field moms, including a 2012 field mom, were scheduled to tour Paul and Donna Jeschke’s farm near Mazon in Grundy County last Saturday. The Jeschkes farm 3,500 acres of corn and soybeans with Donna’s brother and sister-in-law.

Donna also is hosting the field moms’ acres this year, growing an acre of soybeans and another of corn that will be monitored during the growing season at {WatchUsGrow.org}.

In February, the moms toured Steve Ward’s wean-tofinish hog farm near Sycamore in DeKalb County.

IFF is a coalition of commodity groups for beef, corn, soybeans, pork, and the Illinois Farm Bureau.

PULLING FOR BIODIESEL — The partnership between U.S. soybean farmers and the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) has reached another milestone: NTPA will allow 100 percent biodiesel use in all diesel pulling classes this season.

This is the seventh season the soy checkoff has partnered with the NTPA to promote the use of biodiesel to pulling fans, including many farmers, truck drivers, and other diesel users.

A study funded by the state soy checkoff board in Minnesota and conducted by United Pullers of Minnesota found using biodiesel in pulling competition can provide a 4 percent increase in torque and horsepower.

“Performance results like these are an added bonus to the environmental and economic benefits of using biodiesel,” said Larry Marek, soy checkoff farmer-leader and a soybean farmer from Riverside, Iowa. “If NTPA pullers can get these kinds of results on the track, we can certainly get great results using B100 (pure biodiesel) on the farm.”

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 41 No. 20

May 20, 2013

Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers.

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GOVERNMENT

Quinn seeking federal aid for 16 additional counties

FEMA urges registration in 11 approved counties

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Gov. Pat Quinn Friday asked the federal government to add 16 additional counties to a disaster declaration due to widespread flooding.

Those counties are: Bureau, Crawford, Henderson, Knox, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford. Government officials reported more than 800 homes were damaged by flooding in those counties.

President Barack Obama already approved federal disaster assistance for Cook,

DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, and Will counties. Residents in those counties may call or go online to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to state and federal officials.

As more damage assessments are completed, the governor will seek assistance for other counties.

Residents of the 11 counties may apply for assistance by calling 800-621-3362 or going online to {disasterassistance.gov} or via webenabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

The toll-free telephone number will operate from 6

a.m. to 9 p.m. central time, seven days a week.

In most cases, a FEMA inspector will make an appointment within a few days to arrange a visit to the damaged home or apartment.

A FEMA inspector will always have an official badge visible during the inspection.

Residents who qualify for FEMA assistance will receive a federal government check or the funds will be directly deposited into a designated bank account. A separate letter also will be sent explaining how the money may be used.

Direct questions about FEMA assistance to 1-800621-3362.

Disabled farmer play now postponed A one-act play about a disabled far mer will not be perfor med June 24 at Chicago’s Greenhouse Theater’s festival.

The disabled actor who was to portray the far mer will not be available for the perfor mance, according to Chicago play-

wright Wendy Whiteside.

The next performance of “Farm Hands” will be sometime in 2014. Whiteside interviewed and incorporated comments from Christian County farmer R.D. Elder for her play about a disabled farmer named “Mike.”

RACING FOR AG LITERACY

STAFF Editor Dave McClelland (dmcclelland@ilfb.org) Legislative Affairs Editor Kay Shipman (kayship@ilfb.org) Agricultural Affairs Editor Martin Ross (mross@ilfb.org) Senior Commodities Editor Daniel Grant (dgrant@ilfb.org) Editorial Assistant Margie Fraley (mfraley@ilfb.org) Business Production Manager Bob Standard (bstandard@ilfb.org) Advertising Sales Manager Richard Verdery (rverdery@ilfb.org) Classified sales coordinator Nan Fannin (nfannin@ilfb.org) Director of News and Communications Michael L. Orso Advertising Sales Representatives Hurst and Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 1-800-397-8908 (advertising inquiries only) 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

Runners jockey for position at the start of the IAA Foundation’s third annual 5K Grow and & Go May 11 on the grounds of the Illinois Farm Bureau family of companies’ building in Bloomington. More than 360 adult and child runners, walkers, their families, and volunteers gathered to cheer participants and learn about the role of agriculture and family farms. After several events and learning activities for kids, the morning culminated with awards for first and second places in five age categories. The IAA Foundation is on track to raise $15,000 from the event from donations of sponsors and participants. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

STATE

Page 3 Monday, May 20, 2013 FarmWeek

Contentious issues loom in General Assembly

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Several contentious, unresolved issues loom in the General Assembly.

Three of those are pension reform, high-volume horizontal fracturing, and concealed carry weapons.

Both the House and the Senate have their own proposals on how to address the unfunded state pension system.

Illinois Farm Bureau supports SB 1, which passed in the House and is sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), according to Kevin Semlow, IFB director of state legislation.

IFB has no position on SB 2404, which passed in the Senate and is sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago). Both bills are awaiting votes in the opposite chamber.

Madigan’s proposal would make across-the-board changes in cost of living adjustments (COLA), retirement ages, and employee contributions.

Cullerton’s proposal would give employees two options — accept a COLA reduction or keep the 3 percent compounded COLA in return for other concessions.

Hydraulic fracturing movement Apparently, hydraulic fracturing stakeholders reached an agreement on a regulatory and tax structure for high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing wells, said Bill Bodine, IFB associate director of state legislation.

All issues have been addressed, and it appears SB 1715 can begin to move forward after an amendment (amendment 1) containing the agreements was filed last week. “We are hopeful the bill soon will be called for a vote in the House,” Bodine said.

“Throughout negotiations on this significant legislation, Illinois Farm

Bureau consistently has maintained the legislation should include the points outlined in IFB grassroots policy established on hydraulic fracturing,” Bodine said.

He explained that among the final agreements reached was the creation of a tax credit that would reduce a proposed severance tax for workinginterest owners by 0.25 of a percent only for wells at which Illinois workers work more than half of the total hours on the well site and are paid at least the prevailing wage. The measure was seen as an avenue to encourage hiring of Illinois workers for hydraulic fracturing jobs.

During negotiations, environmentalist also had raised concerns about technical points in previously proposed regulations. The environmentalists and the oil and gas industry compromised on proposed

language to define high-volume horizontal fracturing last week.

IFB supports the agree-upon language contained in Amendment 1 to SB 1715.

Concealed carry weapons The Senate Executive Committee last week passed HB 183 that would create a concealed-carry process to be managed by the Illinois State Police, according to Semlow.

There would be several steps for individuals to take to qualify to carry a concealed weapon, and there would be a list of numerous places in which concealed weapons would be prohibited. The bill also would allow homerule local governments to adopt further restrictions for the first six months after law’s enactment.

“IFB supports the creation of a process for the concealed carry of firearms, but HB 183 has several areas that need clarification and would create a confusing patchwork of regulations across the state,” Semlow said. IFB opposes HB 183.

U of I Extension implementing changes for youth livestock auction sponsors

Starting this fair season, the University of Illinois Extension no longer will allow auctions of youth 4-H livestock to be sponsored by a local Extension office.

Extension focuses on education and outreach, but a separate “fiduciary organization or agent” must sponsor or be responsible for a youth live-

Insurance

stock auction, Denise Legvold, 4-H assistant dean and director of the state 4-H office, told FarmWeek.

“It must be apparent that the auction is sponsored by a separate organization” from Extension, Legvold said. Fiduciary responsibilities were cited as a contributing factor for the new rule.

County fairs, 4-H fairs, and their respective sales of prizewinning livestock and projects vary across the state. Some county/4-H fairs offer auctions for young people, others don’t.

Of 20 some counties where Extension was involved with a youth livestock auction, about half reported they have found another sponsoring entity, such as a foundation, a building association, or a county Farm

Continued from page 1 price option or a revenue product,” he said.“On the Senate side, with its shallow loss (revenue) program, producers can choose to cover either an individual loss or a county loss, as opposed to the House plan, where they’re only allowed to pick an area loss trig ger.

“They both have SCOs (added Supplemental Coverage Options that build on crop insurance). There are some different coverage and subsidy rates. The House does have higher ‘reference’ (target) prices than the Senate. But the mix of products is more or less the same.”

Efforts to garner support from southern states were apparent in committee proposals.

While House target or “reference” prices fall close to current levels for corn and soybeans, rice producers would see a roughly 30 percent increase.

Nutrition spending could prove a stumbling block in Senate debate — the House

Bureau, Legvold said. She anticipated an update from the remaining counties by the end of May. “I want to convey our appreciation to partners that help 4-H be a strong youth organization,” Legvold said.

Those partners include adults who serve as mentors, agribusinesses that provide supplies and/or support youth livestock auctions, and 4-H families and supporters.

Asked about a grace period for the first fair season under the new rules, Legvold said one would be extended, “As long as (they) are making movement” toward having a non-Extension entity take responsibility for the youth livestock auction.

Over the past several

Ag Committee rejected 27-17 a proposal to restore SNAP funding following a flurry of biblical quotations from members concerned about food and nutrition cuts.

Young questioned the impact a $20-billion “nick” in an $800-billion-plus 10-year nutrition budget would have on truly needy recipients. Re-evaluation of federal “categorical qualifications” — broad, automatic SNAP eligibility for those who receive various low-income benefits and/or a crackdown on individuals or states “gaming the system” could help officials achieve key savings, he said.

House Ag Chairman Frank Lucas (ROkla.) said his plan would attempt to control SNAP growth and focus benefits more on people living at 130 percent of the federal poverty level or below.

House language would end categorical eligibility, limiting eligibility to people who receive cash benefits from federal welfare or state assistance programs.

months, a couple of commonly asked questions have surfaced.

For example: Can a local Extension office serve as the location where young people may pick up their auction checks? Yes; however, the check must clearly denote the sponsoring entity that issued the payment and that it was not the Extension Service, Legvold explained.

May a livestock auction notice appear in a local fair book? Yes, such a notice can be in a local fair book, but the information must clearly state that a non-Extension entity is responsible for the auction, she said. The same rule of thumb applies to auction advertisements.

As for use of the 4-H clover and name in auction

promotions, a county Extension director may authorize the clover’s use for a single county unit. However, Cook County remains the only single county unit in the state.

In all the other multi-county units, state 4-H office authorization is required for the use of the clover and name in connection with youth livestock auctions, Legvold said.

The goal is not to prevent use of the clover or 4-H name, but for the state staff to know how the clover and name will be used, she said.

Any county Farm Bureau leader or manager with questions about county Farm Bureau sponsorship of youth livestock auctions should contact Ryan Gammelgard, an Illinois Farm Bureau attorney.

— Kay Shipman

U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart, a Belleville Democrat, second row left, reviews materials during last week’s House Ag Committee farm bill debate. The committee, led by Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), top center, and Ranking Democrat Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) to Lucas’ right, voted to approve a $940-billion, five-year farm bill a day after the Senate passed its version. (Photo courtesy of Ken Root, Iowa Agribusiness Network)

BIOTECHNOLOGY

FarmWeek Page 4 Monday, May 20, 2013

USDA assessments could delay new weed weapons USDA is moving “backward” in its decision to delay new biotech weapons in the war against weeds, a Northern Illinois grower argues.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plans to conduct full environmental impact statements on soybean, corn, and cotton varieties designed to tolerate 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and dicamba herbicides.

That could delay U.S. commercialization of new herbicide tolerance traits for at least 15 months, potentially offering competitive inroads for Brazil or Argentina, Illinois Farm Bureau Senior Commodities Director Tamara Nelsen warned.

USDA’s decision impacts Monsanto’s Roundup Ready 2 Xtend for soybeans and Bollgard II XtendFlex for cotton and Dow’s Enlist corn and soybean weed control system.

Monsanto had planned a 2014 roll-out for its soybean product.

“Anytime they delay these kinds of approvals with chemicals that really are needed, we’re going back-

ward,” Yorkville-area grower and Illinois Soybean Association Chairman Bill Wykes told Farm-Week.

“These are chemicals that have been tested and proven. To be able to use this new science, a soybean that’s tolerant to these chemicals, is something we really need.”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman argued USDA has not provided “scientific justification” for its decision.

The move appears “activist-driven,” with USDA seemingly succumbing to a flood of “cut-andpasted” comments from groups such as the Save Our Crops Coalition which allege new biotech crops would spur expanded use of the two popular, decades-old herbicides, Nelsen said.

Herbicide tolerance traits are designed to address concerns about weed resistance to existing chemicals and an expanding range of weed species pressures and a resulting call for multiple chemical modes of action.

Wykes cited area pressure from mare’s tail and giant ragweed and concerns about water hemp moving north.

Multiple options are

important “especially in a year like this.” Wet conditions forced Wykes to shift some acres from corn to beans without time to apply protections prior to planting.

New tolerance traits would provide greater postemergence treatment options, he said.

Nelsen has toured a halfdozen dicamba-tolerant soybean plots. She stressed that along with trait development, 2,4-D and dicamba products have been reformulated to reduce drift, noting “the offtarget movement I saw was very minimal.”

She said she recognizes USDA “wants to be really careful,” particularly in light of court challenges following approval for Roundup Ready alfalfa.

But given existing reams of “robust data” on 2,4D and dicamba tolerance traits, she questioned why officials would impede “the one industry that’s provided a very competitive trade balance for the U.S.” “That’s not a predictable regulatory system for agriculture — it’s not a predictable regulatory system for anything,” Nelsen argued. “Could you imagine if this were a cancer drug?”

Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant last week hailed a U.S. Supreme Court decision he deemed crucial to protecting billions in annual biotech investment and continued advances for farmers.

In the case of Bowman v.

Monsanto, the high court ruled unanimously that farmers could not save and replant seeds from Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soybeans without paying the company a technology fee (see accompanying details).

Indiana farmer Vernon

Hugh Bowman, who had signed a Monsanto tech agreement for his initial Roundup Ready soybean crop, Hugh Grant subsequently bought and replanted seeds in a mixed lot from a grain elevator in the hope that many of them would include Monsanto’s patented herbicide-resistance trait.

FarmWeekNow.com

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Monsanto plans further tests of products during USDA review

Executives of St. Louis-based Monsanto said they intend to use a federal hitch in approval for dicamba-tolerant crops to further prepare for their anticipated commercialization.

Monsanto stated it would cooperate with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in developing an environmental impact statement on its Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean and Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton traits (see accompanying story) in an effort “to complete this action as soon as possible.”

As APHIS drafts its statement, Monsanto U.S. Row Crops Lead Lisa Safarian reported “we’ll use this time to continue to advance the development of these next-generation products.”

Xtend is a key focus for Monsanto’s “Ground Breakers” program in 2013 and 2014. Ground Breakers is a sort of limited pre-market producer “beta test” used to evaluate the onthe-ground performance of various products and strategies.

Monsanto reported roughly 100 growers in 16 states will evaluate Xtend in 2013. At the same time, Safarian said, the company will attempt to “broaden” development of higheryielding Xtend varieties prior to commercial release and continue ongoing product stewardship education.

At last week’s Monsanto Media Days in St. Louis, Monsanto President Brett Begemann argued that while Roundup remains “a foundational treatment,” continued weed control is “about multiple molecules in the field at the same time,” as well as sound management practices.

Begemann defended industry decisions to develop traits around 2,4-D and dicamba — a product that Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant said “has gotten yield results.” Grant cited a yield advantage of nearly five bushels per acre in previous Brazilian Xtend soybean trials.

Begemann said he was “highly confident” no significant drift issues would arise as a result of dicamba-tolerant varieties.

“We’ve already made substantial improvements in formulations,” he stressed. Grant reported “we’re looking at new modes of action, as well,” possibly through expanded industry collaboration. — Martin Ross

Supreme Court ruling seen as intellectual property win For details of Bowman v. Monsanto and the high court’s decision, visit FarmWeekNow.com

Grant told FarmWeek the Supreme Court’s 9-0 decision helps cement U.S. intellectual property rights. “It removes any ambiguity that was there,” he said.

Justice Elena Kagan stressed the court’s ruling was limited, “addressing the situation before us, rather than every one involving a self-

Bowman v. Monsanto: Beans and the bench In Bowman v. Monsanto, Hoosier Vernon Hugh Bowman attempted a “patent exhaustion” defense, arguing Monsanto couldn’t control his use of Roundup Ready soybeans because they came from “seed” previously sold by farmers to a local grain elevator.

The patent exhaustion principle states that the first sale of a patented item “exhausts” the patent holder’s control over that particular item.

However, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan argued the exhaustion doctrine did not allow Bowman to make what amounted to additional patented soybeans without Monsanto’s permission, “either express or implied.”

Justice Stephen Breyer said Bowman infringed on patent protections when he generated the seeds’ third generation. “There are certain things that the law prohibits,” Breyer said.

“What it prohibits here is making a copy of the patented invention. And that is what he did.”

American Farm Bureau Federation biotech specialist Tyler Wegmeyer told FarmWeek the court’s opinion “has reaffirmed important intellectual property rights of significance to the entire agricultural biotechnology industry.”

“This ruling makes clear that patent exhaustion does not apply to second-generation seeds, even if grown from ‘commodity seed,’” Wegmeyer maintained. “This is an important affirmation and protection of intellectual property rights which are essential to the biotechnology industry continuing efforts to bring valuable products to the American farmer.”

Bowman also argued soybeans naturally “self-replicate or ‘sprout’ unless stored in a controlled manner,” and thus the planted soybeans actually created replicas of Monsanto’s patented beans. According to Kagan, “we think the blame-the-bean defense is tough to credit.” –Martin Ross

replicating product.”

Grant nonetheless suggested the ruling’s impact “is much broader than agricul-

“Having the knowledge or the security or the comfort that intellectual property’s going to be respected doesn’t

‘Having the knowledge or the security or the comfort that intellectual property’s going to be respected doesn’t guarantee that investment, but at least it makes the odds fairer.’

— Hugh Grant CEO, Monsanto

ture,” offering a precedent for pharmaceutical and other sectors that rely on technology protections.

Kagan warned “patents on seeds would retain little value” if Bowman were granted an exception to seed-saving restrictions.

“We’re investing $1.25 billion — to $1.5 billion a year (in product research and development) every year,” Grant noted. “If we decided this afternoon what that new product was going to be, it’s 10 years before we’d have it on the market — seven years for a hybrid, 10 years for a new biotech trait.

guarantee that investment, but at least it makes the odds fairer.”

Grant suggested the high court ruling could influence the global environment for biotech development, as well.

He sees “significant improvement” in international respect for intellectual property rights over the past 15 years, noting Indian farmers with as little as 1.5 acres “are buying little sachets of seed and paying for the technology.”

Grant noted Monsanto’s case was supported by briefs “from a whole range of industries.” — Martin Ross

SUSTAINABILITY

Page 5 Monday, May 20, 2013 FarmWeek

Monsanto execs stress globalization, ‘ecosystems’

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

In public circles, Monsanto is perceived as synonymous with biotechnology. But from employing the smallest plant microbes to using “big data” to optimize global productivity, the St. Louis biotech company today is looking at a far bigger picture.

Biotechnology, conventional breeding, information technology, and “biologicals” — research into organisms that share the crop environment — all are part of Monsanto’s formula for boosting per-acre yields necessary to feed a potential 8.5 billion people

worldwide by 2030, according to Kerry Preete, Monsanto executive vice president for global strategy.

“We’ve evolved our thinking a lot,” Chief Technology Officer Robb Fraley related during Monsanto Media Days last week. “It’s truly an ecosystem we’re trying to optimize.”

A prime example of that integrated approach is Monsanto’s Ground Breakers program — a sort of pre-market farmer “beta test” used to evaluate on-the-ground performance of products and strategies. “It’s become, for us, a standard way of commercializing,” Fraley said.

International alliance seeks improved ag understanding, acceptance

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Farmers around the world are under constant pressure to produce more with less.

And that challenge will intensify in the future as the population expands and more land is developed for uses other than producing food.

Farm organizations from the U.S. and South America in response plan to educate consumers about the challenges of food production and some of the possible solutions, such as biotechnology, via a newly formed alliance.

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), National Corn Growers Association, and corn grower associations from Argentina and Brazil last week agreed to create The International Maize Alliance, which otherwise will be known as MAIZALL. “The world population is expected to increase more than 30 percent in the next 40 years, and economies continue to grow,” said Don Fast, chairman of USGC. “The increase in population and buying power has led to an ever-growing demand for maize (corn) and other food and feed ingredients.”

The primary focus of the new alliance is to emphasize the need for better consumer understanding of production ag, including the benefits of biotechnology and advancing the global acceptance on the capacity to grow corn for feed, food, and fuel.

“Farmers in exporting countries are challenged to grow more with less while improving stewardship and sustainability,” said Alberto Morelli, chairman of the Argentine corn producers association.

“Biotechnology is a critical component of the larger bioeconomy that is necessary to sustainably provide for the needs of the growing global population and mitigate the impacts of climate change.”

Fast, a farmer from Montana, said advancements in biotechnology and farming practices allowed farmers to produce more crops in different areas of the U.S. “The tools we have are unbelievable,” Fast said. “Because of genetics, the Corn Belt is expanding.”

Biotechnology boosts yields and grain quality, reduces the intensity of chemical and fertilizer applications, and conserves soil and water, according to Morelli.

Last year was the worst drought in 80 years, yet U.S. farmers still produced the fifth-largest corn crop (10.8 billion bushels) on record.

This year USDA projected U.S. farmers will produce the largest corn crop on record, 14.1 billion bushels (up 3.4 billion bushels from last year) and 3.39 billion bushels of beans (up 375 million bushels from a year ago).

Monsanto is using Ground Breakers this season to assess its Xtend dicamba-resistant soybean trait (see page 4) and FieldScripts integrated farming systems research platform.

Globally, Monsanto has recruited Brazilian Ground Breakers to evaluate its new Intact soybean insect protection trait.

More than 150 Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota farmers are testing the FieldScripts system, which combines producer field and Monsanto hybrid data to generate variable-rate planting prescriptions for individual plots.

The program employs 60some technical parameters and enables Monsanto to test seed in “every imaginable soil environment,” Preete said.

FieldScripts results have indicated both under-planting and over-planting “in the worst parts of the field,” Fraley said. “Even though it looks like a 100-acre field, there easily are 20 to 30 yield zones in that field,” Preete emphasized.

Using “big data,” Preete hopes someday that climatic shifts and long-term weather trends can be incorporated into “the fine-tuning of the (FieldScripts) prescription.”

At the same time, Fraley

reported Monsanto is working to identify “microbial associations” that drive crop productivity and, possibly, identify new crop protection traits from bacteria or other microorganisms.

“We are more bacteria and more microorganism than we are human cells,” Fraley told FarmWeek.

“It’s the same thing with the corn or soybean plant. That root system, the nodulation system, the coating of the leaves — there are a lot of microorganisms there. It’s about understanding the good ones and how to promote them.”

Howard Buffett, an Illinois farmer whose Howard G. Buffett Foundation helps guide global ag development, stresses the need to significantly boost worldwide productivity in a sustainable way.

“There are a lot of people who think that those two activities cannot be compatible,” Buffett noted last week in St. Howard Buffett Louis. He disagrees, but warns continued soil losses threaten those dual endeavors.

Buffett said he seeks “a larger vision of stewardship,” not only in the U.S. but in developing countries where malnourished populations feel they have other priorities. The U.S. can lead the way in global sustainability, he said: “We have the knowledge, the technology, and the abundant resources.”

Buffett nonetheless is concerned some have become complacent about soil loss amid U.S. technological and agronomic gains and argues “we’re missing what’s going on under our feet.” He maintained the U.S. requires “better policies and better practices to protect our most valuable asset — soil.”

The U.S. has lost an average of 600 square miles of “productive agricultural land” a year since 1950, he said.

“In 2007, in Iowa on average every acre of cropland lost 5.7 tons of soil, and most farmers produced on average the same amount in corn,” Buffett related. “Soil has to regenerate over many, many years; the corn is gone

to the processor like that.

That’s not a very sustainable approach.

“I think this should scare farmers; it should scare consumers, politicians, and government agencies. But it doesn’t, for a very simple reason: We don’t suffer the consequences. We pay our seed bill, we pay our fertilizer bills now, as we farm. It’s going to be another generation that pays Mother Nature.”

Buffett endorsed the soil conservation value of cover crops, which in his view “pay from an economic standpoint.” Biotechnology offers key sustainable production benefits, and, “in the long term, it’s foolish not to use it,” he said.

On a global level, soil loss contributes to “hunger, malnutrition, and actions that further degrade our environment,” Buffett said.

Lack of policy foresight compounds those concerns: He cited Ethiopia as a prime example of “short-term thinking” in terms of weighing foreign land investment against domestic farmer/resources needs.

“There are so many government policies (in the African country) that prevent you from making the kind of investments you need to —

to have the right kind of Extension services, the right kind of research services,” Buffett told FarmWeek. — Martin Ross

Buffett emphasizes urgency in protecting soil ‘asset’

SOIL AND THE PLANET Last week, Howard G. Buffett, a Pana-area farmer and global ag philanthropist, crunched the numbers in assessing the worldwide importance of soil conservation:

23 million acres According to Buffett, cumulative U.S. soil loss over the past 60 years.

That’s “an area the size of Indiana,” he pointed out.

100 million acres Currently, the amount of highly erodible land across the U.S.

$37 billion The estimated annual cost of U.S. soil loss.

$400 billion The estimated cost of soil loss worldwide. “I would say that’s grossly underestimated,” Buffett said.

FarmWeek Page 6 Monday, May 20, 2013

CROPWATCHERS Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: I have lots of planting progress to report. Some of the fields dried out enough to get started again on Monday, May 13, and we went strong all week. Most of the corn is planted now, except for the wettest fields.

Several farmers are well along with their soybean planting. The warm temperatures and ample moisture have brought the corn up fairly fast. There still is lots of work to catch up on, such as spraying herbicides because the weeds are growing very fast, also. One neighbor cut some hay last week because he was short on feed. He said the hay dried quickly.

Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: It was a great week for planting in Lake County.

Corn is about 80 percent planted, but no beans have been planted. I had about 20 acres of corn to finish Friday morning. Winter wheat looks good, but some late-planted wheat saw goose damage. Hay is growing fast. Rain is in the forecast for four of the next seven days.

Remember — slow down and be careful.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: No rain for the week.

After two mornings of light frost, temperatures went as high as 92 degrees. The soils dried and most corn has gone into the fields.

Soybean planting is progressing.

Chopping of rye and then planting it to corn is under way for some dairy producers. A little hay has been made for double-cropping to corn.

Sprayers are keeping up with the planters.

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: It was a very productive week on the farm. The fields dried out and planting resumed Monday morning (May 13). Corn planting is 80 percent complete. The earliest-planted corn is emerging from the soil.

Soybean planting also has begun.

Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: Except for some cold mornings at the beginning of the week, it was perfect weather to plant and get crops growing.

Most everything is planted now, so if I could put an order in, it would be for a nice shower to get crops off to a good start. Earlyplanted corn is up, stands look good, and now with the warm temperatures, it’s a nice, dark color. Basis has remained strong, while futures are struggling. Some ethanol plants are bidding 50 cents above on corn, and soybean bids are pushing a dollar above for old crop.

Joe Zumwalt, Warsaw, Hancock County: What a difference a week can make. The corn crop seems to be going in at almost a record pace. Many producers started one week ago and are nearing completion while others are just beginning. Earlier-planted corn is up and stands look good. Several area producers were planting soybeans as well. While some of the crop has been planted in perfect conditions, many acres were planted in lessthan-ideal soil conditions. Weighing the risk between planting date and soil conditions is always difficult, especially when so much is invested in every acre. Good luck to everyone with their planting progress.

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: We had a few drops of rain just about every day.

Most everyone was trying to run

by Tuesday. The dust and mud were flying. Conditions were not favorable. A neighbor, who is a volunteer fireman, used a fire truck to cleanup his 24-row after an adventure in the mud. If the rain held off during the weekend, more than half the corn should be in.

Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: What a difference a week can make. I will venture to guess that by the time you read this, many farmers will be done with corn and working on getting soybeans in the ground IF the rain holds off.

Some of the early-planted corn has emerged.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We received 0.3 of an inch of rain last week that made it wet enough to delay planting for a few days.

We started again late Monday, May 13. Every field has a wet spot in it now. It is late enough to plant corn under less-thanideal conditions. We should finish corn in a few days if the rain forecast for the weekend holds off. I would estimate about 50 percent of the corn is planted in this area now. A few people have planted some soybeans, and we will start as soon as corn is finished. Hay will be ready to mow this week and pastures are now growing very fast with the warm weather.

Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: A lot of corn was planted last week. Friday morning, rain was in the forecast. This area is probably 50 to 60 percent done planting corn with a few beans planted, too. Conditions were marginal at the beginning of last week but were a little better by Friday. Corn is going in fast. There is some talk about replanting crops that were planted a week ago in marginal conditions. Have a safe week.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: It was a good week to get corn planted.

No rainouts in our area, but there was some spotty showers elsewhere. Soybeans are being planted at a rapid rate as the seed is larger this year.

Many of our black boxes are 40 units instead of 50. It started to get a little dry. You could see clouds of dust where tractors were running. We are still getting this crop planted in a timely fashion for maximum yields. Markets are not doing much.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: A few tractors returned to the field on Saturday, May 11, and a lot of field activity started on Sunday, May 12, and continued through Friday. We had a shower pop up on Wednesday that slowed down activity for a short time as we waited to let the moisture soak in. Corn planted the week before has emerged. Some cornfields are at the V1 growth stage. Many soybean fields were planted over the last few days. We are now on our second half of planting. It has been a mad rush for sprayers to try to keep up with all the fields being planted in the area. Fields that have not been planted are starting to show a green tone, as the weeds have been growing rapidly with the warmer weather. The local closing bids for Thursday: nearby corn, $6.69; new-crop corn, $5.08; nearby soybeans, $15.07; new-crop soybeans, $11.88.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Corn planting is wrapping up, and soybeans are going in the ground at a furious pace. Five consecutive days of good weather have us on track for a possible weekly planting progress record. Corn planted May 2 and May 7 has emerged with good stands and populations. There is nothing like the sight of a newly emerged cornfield at dawn. Corn, $6.74, fall, $5.08; soybeans, $15.21, fall, $11.96; wheat, $6.47.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: Finally, fields dried and planters started rolling last week in nearly ideal conditions. Impressive progress was made. We have come a long way on planting technology since Squanto and the Pilgrims used dead fish and a pointed stick. We are now 40 percent done with our corn planting; a pleasant surprise considering the forecast last week. We carried a 50 percent shower chance into the weekend and today. There is potential for thunderstor ms and heavy rain today into Tuesday. Bug of the week is the alfalfa weevil popping up in some fields, but not enough to warrant treatment yet. Let’s be careful out there!

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: A lot of planters were rolling Friday and most fields were drying out after a pretty, rain-free week in our neck of the woods. Anhydrous nurse tanks have been moving at a good pace. Rain was predicted about every day after Wednesday, but the gauge was still empty on Friday. Are we going to have a repeat of last year’s drought? Only time will tell.

Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: After being rained out for more than a week, it was nice to see tillage equipment, spray coupes, and planters running last week. A large amount of work was accomplished in the area, with the forecast for inclement weather and the lateness of the season being the driving forces.

Tom Ritter, Blue Mound, Macon County: Farmers got in a few good days of work. Some were able to start on Monday, May 13, and the others on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how much rain they received. A lot of corn planters were going. There were isolated showers on Wednesday night that made some modify their plans. If the showers were avoided, there should have been a major push to get more than 50 percent of the corn planted.

A few soybeans were planted in isolated areas. Weed control has been a problem on some fields that have turned green or were not sprayed early enough, causing some extra tillage trips. Corn planted a couple of weeks ago is up and at the two or three leaf stage and looking good. It is starting to get some good color with the 80-degree temperatures.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: I am declaring this my first in-field edition of Cropwatchers as I sit here fueling up my Deere friend. Farmers across Coles County have been burning the candle at both ends and in the middle, too, since the beginning of last week in a major attempt to catch up. Monday morning, May 13, fields were dry enough for sprayers to start battling the tall weed infestations. The next day, cultivators and planters started into less-than-ideal conditions. The long hours moved the area from almost none to 50 percent of the corn seed in the ground with more going in rapidly. A handful of soybean planters have been out. Man and machine will keep going until Mother Nature stops us again, which could be any time between Friday and the beginning of this week. With the record hours that I and my neighbors are putting in, remember safety first because it’s all for nothing if we don’t make it back to the house safely.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: We had a warm, dry week — finally. You name it, things were happening: spraying, spreading of fertilizer, anhydrous application, tillage, and planters rolling. Fungicide also was being aerial-applied on wheat. The ground seems to be pulling pretty hard this year, I guess due to the later heavy rains. I’m hoping the weather holds here so we can continue to make progress on getting the crop in the ground, although showers are in the forecast for the next few days. Maybe we’ll get lucky and miss a rain or two. Everyone stay safe.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: The one advantage of following high school baseball is having an excuse to travel to other parts of the region and observe farm fields beyond township or county lines. During the past week, I saw mostly wet, shiny fields with little to no activity occurring. We received some wind and gradually increasing warm temperatures, allowing some fields to dry off. Some fieldwork occurred with manure applications and forage harvest for some of the livestock farmers. As the week progressed, field activity increased to include tillage, fertilizer and herbicide applications, and corn plantings. These activities are still limited by field conditions. A few rain showers moved through the area toward the end of the week with rainfall amounts ranging from a couple of tenths to 1.5 inches. Local grain bids: corn, $6.46; soybeans, $15.23; wheat, $6.90. Have a safe week.

Page 7 Monday, May 20, 2013 FarmWeek

CROPWATCHERS Jeff Guilander, Jerseyville, Jersey County: Last week began with a few people scratching around, but by Wednesday it was finally off to the races. With the upgrades farmers have made to equipment the last few years it was a pretty impressive week. I imagine that corn progress will be well above half complete and I would not be surprised if some beans weren’t planted, although at a lot slower pace for now. I think we can officially welcome in the 2013 crop year.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: The Embarras River was out of its banks during the weekend of May 11-12. A limited amount of planting was done Wednesday and Thursday. Most of the field activity consisted of preparation for planting — mostly applying preplant anhydrous, spreading dry fertilizer, and spraying Burndown. Most farmers were shy about planting corn with all the showers in the forecast for the this week. Wheat is heading out.

Most people are having a hard time keeping up with the lawn mowing.

Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: I never thought that on Friday, May 10, with water standing in the field that by Monday, May 13, we would be in the field — but we were. We had a couple of days of running and then Thursday morning it poured again. I had 0.8 of an inch of rain, but some places around had none and, of course, other places had more.

Took a drive Friday morning and a little corn has been planted, but still acres and acres to go. With the forecast, the panic button may have to be pushed. We had frost Monday morning, May 13. The wheat fields were white. Some of the early varieties that were headed may have been hurt. Only time will tell.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Fieldwork was very hectic last week. Many acres of corn and soybeans went in the ground. There are a lot of acres in the river bottoms that are too wet to farm. The wheat looks good. Most fungicide has been applied, so now we will just have to see how Mother Nature treats the wheat crop from now until harvest.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: It was a good week for planting. Getting close to 50 percent done here. The main problem is the little wet pockets in the fields and springs. I heard some reports of replanting corn that was planted three weeks ago.

Dealers say the seed for replant is very, very short. The wheat crop is looking very good considering all the moisture it has had. The other main event last week and next is my nephew and my son graduating out of junior high. Now we will have two high schoolers in the family. The next four years are going to bring some real changes to the farm. The hours might be long, but please take the time to take a break because there is someone looking for you to make it back home safely!

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: We finally had an open week here in deep Southern Illinois. There was a lot of corn planted over the last week. I think everyone is running as hard as possible. We managed to plant a little more than half of our corn. It sure is a lot better than we were a week ago. Please take time to be safe in this busy season.

Nitrogen monitoring, post-planting applications key trends

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

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Illinois farmers and fertilizer retailers are managing nitrogen fertilizer differently this spring, according to Jean Payne, president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA).

“We’re looking at nitrogen like we’ve always looked at P (phosphorous) and K (potassium). We’ve always soil tested for phosphorous and potassium, but never really did for

nitrogen because we always assumed we’d have to start over every year,” Payne said recently in a FarmWeek/RFD Radio Network interview.

Throughout last fall, soil nitrogen levels were monitored as part of an indust r y - U n i ve r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s project dubbed “N Watch.”

The test results of soil nitrogen levels that r e m a i n e d a f t e r h a r ve s t o f last year’s drought-stricken crop raised awareness

SCOUTING THE FIELD

among far me r s, a c c o r d ing to Payne.

“Nitrogen is an expensive input, and far mers want to know what happens to it w hen they Jean Payne apply it or how much they need to apply,” she said.

One significant signal that farmers’ approach has changed

Gerald Schultz of rural Lanark in Carroll County last week scouted a 90-acre field he planted to corn on May 7 to judge when he would have it sprayed. Schultz decided to have herbicide applied Thursday. He and his brother, Ron, have 75 acres of alfalfa, and they have a 100-head dairy herd. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

is the different application equipment. Many retailers have invested in post-application nitrogen equipment — “Something we didn’t see in Illinois even five years ago,” Payne noted.

“We have really seen farmers look at nitrogen as a system now and not just, ‘I need to get my nitrogen down and be done with it,’” she said. “When you see retailers make significant investment in the equipment, that means the farmers

want it.”

Although farmers may not save input costs with multiple fer tilizer applications, increased yield benefits outweigh the input cost or “farmers wouldn’t be interested,” Payne said.

“Conser vation happens when far mers have the resources to help provide it.

When you have profitability, that’s when farmers want to make the investments,” she summarized.

U of I Weed Science Field Day set for June 26 The University of Illinois Weed Science Field Day will be Wednesday, June 26, at the U of I Crop Sciences Research and Education Center, located immediately south of the Urbana campus.

Coffee and refreshments will be available, starting at 8 a.m. The tour will end about noon with a catered barbeque lunch at the Seed House.

Similar to past years, a car pool will take participants to the fields for a guided, informal tour.

“The tour will provide ample opportunity to look at research plots and interact with weed science faculty, staff, and graduate students,” said Aaron Hager, associate professor of weed science.

Participants may compare their corn

and soybean herbicide programs to other commercial programs and get an early look at some new herbicide active ingredients, he said.

The cost is $10, which includes the field tour book, refreshments, and lunch.

The department will continue its field research at the DeKalb, Perry, and Brownstown research centers, but it will not have formal weed science tours at those locations, Hager said.

However most of the weed science plots will have signs displayed during the Ag ronomy Day field tours at those centers.

For more information on the Weed Science Field Day, call Hager, Doug Maxwell, Lisa Gonzini, or Brad Stierwalt at 217-333-4424.

Tuesday: • Ag weather with Chesapeake Meteorology • Monty Whipple, president of the LaSalle County Farm Bureau • Richard Verdery, Fellowship of Christian Farmers Wednesday: • Kim Hamilton, international marketing representative for the National Restaurant Show • Marsha Salzwedel, agricultural youth safety specialist, National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety • Lisa Lunz, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance board member

• Karen Scanlon, Conservation Technology Information Thursday: • Representative from Illinois Corn Growers Association.

• Mark DePue, director of oral history for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Friday: • Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse publisher • “Town and Country Partners” • Philip Nelson, president Illinois Farm Bureau To find a radio station near you that carries the RFD Radio Network, go to FarmWeeknow.com, click on “Radio,” then click on “Affiliates.”

TRANSPORTATION

FarmWeek Page 8 Monday, May 20, 2013

Senate OKs WRDA, weather/partnership proposals

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

The Senate last week delivered a long-awaited Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) package that proposes new measures to fund river infrastructure and better protect future waterways transportation.

Scott Sigman, Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) transportation and export infrastructure lead, said he was hopeful the House might act on WRDA prior to the August recess. He hailed the Senate package as an example of “the bicameral, bipartisan way that gets things done in Washington.”

Sens. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, and Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, have joined Taylorville Republican Rep. Rodney Davis and Democrat Reps. Cheri Bustos of East Moline and Bill Enyart of Belleville to sponsor provisions that address lock funding concerns and weatherrelated issues on the Upper

Mississippi.

Sigman said he was particularly encouraged by an Illinoissponsored proposal to authorize Sen. Dick Durbin pilot publicprivate partnerships in navigation infrastructure investment.

“The Soybean Association has been in dialogue with the (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), both in Washington and in Rock Island, to help nurture the opportunities that might spring from that kind of authorization,” he told FarmWeek.

Those include possible use of bond-based financing to encourage private investment.

He cited “some initial receptivity” to bond investment especially among “the very biggest shippers.”

Illinois senators also secured proposals to improve “extreme weather” response

on the rivers.

Durbin stressed need for more accurate river forecasting capabilities “after coming so close to economic Sen. Mark Kirk catastrophe earlier this year” because of low river levels.

The Senate bill authorizes a study of how the entire Mississippi River Basin functions and can be managed as an overall system. It proposes using modern technology to monitor river levels, “as opposed to the old way of looking at painted lines on a bridge,” Sigman said.

The bill proposes to free up money within the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) — a repository used to fund the private share of lock projects — by removing Olmsted Lock and Dam construction from the fund. Sigman argued the Ohio River project has become “a con-

sumer of all resources on the river” amid congressional funding delays and resulting cost overruns “that belong more on the (federal) general revenue side.”

The Senate WRDA package does not include an industry-supported proposal

to increase barge fuel taxes that feed the trust fund. Sigman said such budget-related measures are outside the Senate’s scope, but he anticipates Senate support for a House “fee” increase when WRDA reaches joint conference negotiations.

ISA seeks grassroots showing for Joliet transportation summit

Farmers are invited — indeed, encouraged — to attend the Illinois Soybean Association’s (ISA) second annual Export Transportation Summit June 13 at the University of St. Francis in Joliet.

The free event is funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff and will address current ISA infrastructure improvement issues. The summit will explore ways farmers, shippers, and other industry partners can collaboratively overcome transportation roadblocks and improve Illinois soy competitiveness.

“We’re really encouraging farmers to come — we want to see at least 50 percent of the audience be from the agricultural community,” ISA transportation consultant Scott Sigman told FarmWeek.

“This is not just a transportation forum — its one where agribusiness is represented at a grassroots level.”

Summit speakers will include Scott Fredericksen, president of transportation with Archer Daniels Midland Co.; Informa Economics CEO Bruce Scherr and senior vice president and analyst Ken Eriksen; and William Dunavant III, CEO of logistics firm Dunavant Enterprises.

Jeff Blais, financial manager of the U.S. Department of Transportation Fed‘This is not just a eral Highway Administration’s transportation forum Illinois Division, — its one where will address the agribusiness is rep“infrastructure funding imbalance.” resented at a grassMike Steenhoek, roots level .’ executive director of the Soy Transportation Coali— Scott Sigman tion, will discuss Illinois Soybean Association transportation consultant waterway and port needs, while Clarkson Grain President Lynn Clarkson will address efforts to preser ve commodity value in transit.

The program will conclude with observations on public private partnerships from Eric Gilbert, senior vice president for infrastructure and logistics with CenterPoint Properties.

Gilbert’s company “has been very successful in establishing rail logistics facilities and is turning its eye toward the inland waterways” in Will County and other areas, Sigman said.

To register or for information about the summit, visit ISA at {www.summit.ilsoy.org}. — Martin Ross

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Page 9 Monday, May 20, 2013 FarmWeek

CEOs: State offers advantages, but could grow wind industry State home to wind energy firms, suppliers

Illinois’ advantages attracted one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers to join other industry leaders and locate its North American headquarters in Chicago. But the state isn’t living up to its full economic potential for wind energy, according to two corporate leaders.

Goldwind USA not only based its North American headquarters in Chicago in 2010, but the Chinese firm made Lee County’s Shady Oaks Timothy Wind Farm a Rosenzweig demonstration model for its new turbine technology. “We are proving a new busi-

ness model ‌ . We are investing in America’s renewable energy future,� Timothy Rosenzweig, Goldwind USA chief executive officer, told FarmWeek during the recent WindPower 2013.

Goldwind established itself in the U.S. market at Shady Oaks, which was finished in

April 2012, and then sold the wind farm to Algonquin Power Co. last December. The blades and towers used at Shady Oaks were made in the U.S., Rosenzweig noted.

Rosenzweig and Gabriel Alonso, new American Wind Energy Association chairman, agreed that Illinois offers tan-

talizing development incentives with a strong renewable portfolio standard (RPS) but fails to deliver without longterm power agreements.

Under the Illinois RPS, state utilities must produce 25 percent of their power from renewable resources by 2025. “Illinois has a great goal in

mind (with its RPS) but because (wind energy suppliers) can’t get long-term contracts ‌ the RPS is not working properly,� Alonso said.

Alonso, Gabriel Alonso chief executive officer of EDP Renewables North America LLC, knows Illinois’ wind energy industry from his experience developing three wind farms in the state.

Asked how wind energy can economically compete with cheap natural gas, Rosenzweig responded that wind energy suppliers are “selling a longterm product� with 20- to 25year contracts. Those longterm contracts offer price stability that other energy sources do not, he added.

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford is sponsoring a new photog raphy contest for Illinois photog raphers ages 8 to 18.

The submission dead-

line is July 12.

The photo may depict any image related to agriculture and/or farms, including crops, livestock, animals, equipment, farm buildings, or farm scenes.

People should not be included in the photos.

Participants must be Illinois residents and amateur photographers.

The photo must have been taken in the state and no earlier than May 15.

Contestants will compete in three age categories: 8 to 10, 11 to 14, and 15 to 18. Each

contestant is limited to two photo entries.

Photo entries must be in JPG format, 300 dpi, and no larger than 5MB. To find more contest rules and to submit photos, go to the treasurer’s office website {treasurer.il.gov}. Click on the Cream of the Crop Photo Contest link and follow upload

instructions or read the rules.

Winners and runners-up will be notified by phone call and email. Other contestants will receive an email. Winning entries will be published online and in print.

For information, go online to {treasurer.il.gov}, call 217558-6217 or email aginvest @treasurer.state.il.us.

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Illinois, especially the Chicago area, has emerged as a hub of the U.S. wind energy industry.

The headquarters of at least 31 global or American major wind energy corporations are located in the Chicago area, according to “Illinois: Windy City, Prairie Power� by the Center for Renewable Energy at Illinois State University.

Those corporations include Goldwind USA, Invenergy LLC, Suzlon, and Acciona Energy.

The state also is home to companies that supply parts for wind energy installations

and/or provide services related to wind energy development. About 170 Illinois companies provide goods and services to the wind energy industry, according to the Renewable Energy Center and the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

In direct impacts, wind energy farm operations annually added $16.52 million to local economies, while project construction added another $217 million, according to a 2012 study by the Center for Renewable Energy.

In local property taxes, wind farms generate about $28.5 million annually, the Center for Renewable Energy reported. — Kay Shipman

State treasurer to sponsor youth ag photography contest Illinois FFA’ers report food drive totals

FFA chapters around Illinois collected 48,256 pounds of nonperishable food items and $13,159 in cash and contributed 1,628 hours of service for the Illinois Farm Bureau Harvest for All program. The chapters surpassed last year’s totals in all three categories.

The food, money, and community service were applied to local efforts in the state.

During the state FFA convention in June, the West Central FFA will be recognized for the largest donation. Other top chapters listed in order are: Williamsville, Orion, Cissna Park, and Newark.

DATEBOOK

June 8 Illinois Junior Preview Sheep Show, Woodford County Fairgrounds, Eureka. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. with shows at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, email royerfarm@aol.com, call Bill Royer at 309-472-3231, email croelf@mtco.com, or call Cheryl at 815-795-5030.

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

June 26 University of Illinois Weed Science Field Day, U of I Crop Sciences Research and Education Center, Urbana campus. For more information, call Aaron Hager, Doug Maxwell, Lisa Gonzini, or Brad Stierwalt at 217-3334424.

July 30-31 The National Grain and Feed Association and the Soy Transportation Coalition, “A Modern Infrastructure for Modern Agriculture� conference, Westin O’Hare near Chicago. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will cosponsor the summit. {www.soytransportation.org} or {www.ngfa.org/meetings.cfm} to register.

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FarmWeek Page 10 Monday, May 20, 2013

Large cattle placements could be bearish near-term

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

The trend of fewer cattle on feed in the U.S. continued last month.

USDA in its monthly cattle on feed report Friday estimated cattle and calves on feed for

FarmWeekNow.com

Full details of the latest cattleon-feed report are available at FarmWeekNow.com.

the slaughter market as of May 1 totaled 10.73 million head, down 3 percent from a year ago.

It’s the ninth consecutive month cattle numbers were below year-ago levels, according to the CME Group’s Daily Livestock Report.

However, USDA for the second consecutive month reported a significant, albeit expected, jump in the number of cattle placed in feedlots.

USDA estimated April placements totaled 1.75 million head, up 15 percent from the same time last year. This followed a 6 percent increase in March placements.

“Overall, the report will

have a bearish impact (on the market),” Derrell Peel, ag economist at Oklahoma State University, told FarmWeek.

“That’s two months in a row of large (feedlot) placements.”

Peel said he believes placements jumped in March due to effects of the drought in Oklahoma and Texas.

The increase last month could be related more to unseasonably cold spring temperatures that limited pasture

and forage development. Some of the largest increases in placements in April were in Iowa and Nebraska.

“The long, cold winter exhausted a lot of the feed resources,” Peel said.

The jump in placements also should be taken with a grain of salt as it’s compared to an unusually low number a year ago, Peel noted. There also was an extra business day in April this year, which produced a higher placement number, the economist said.

Meanwhile, the boost in placements doesn’t change the fact that the overall supply of cattle is down 3 percent from a year ago.

“It (the increase in placements) changes the timing, but the supply of feeder cattle hasn’t changed,” Peel said. “The fact that we’re placing more now means we could see tighter supplies later.”

Peel predicted the markets may react bearishly to the report near-term.

However, he predicted an improved profitability outlook for cattle feeders in the second half of this year.

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

Cows relax as the temperature recently warmed up. But the long, cold winter exhausted a lot of feed resources, according to Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University ag economist. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

“Even with planting delays (USDA) still expects a good (corn) crop, which should lead to significantly lower feed

prices,” Peel said.

Marketings of fed cattle in April totaled 1.86 million head, up 2 percent from a year ago.

Poison hemlock presents challenge to livestock owners in Midwest

Livestock owners should be on the lookout for poison hemlock in pastures, according to Purdue Extension specialists.

Often the toxic plant grows along roadsides, edges of cultivated fields, stream banks, and pasture fencerows. It can be identified by purple spots or blotches on the stem. If eaten, all parts of the plant can be fatally toxic to cattle, horses, swine, sheep, and goats.

Typically animals won’t eat poison hemlock unless they have no other forage; however, farmers need to be especially cautious when cutting hay in fields with poison hemlock to avoid mixing it with the forage, said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist.

Poison hemlock has a two-year life cycle, and herbicides work best when applied early in the first year of growth, when plants are newly emerged, according to Travis Legleiter, Purdue Extension weed scientist.

The most common herbicides used to control the weed in pastures are growth regulators such as 2,4-D, dicamba, or a combination of 2,4-D and tryclopyr, said Bill Johnson, Purdue Extension weed scientist. While those pesticides will damage legumes, most times the legumes need to be sacrificed to control poison hemlock, he said.

“Then come back and reseed the legumes,” Johnson added.

Animals that eat poison hemlock will begin showing symptoms within an hour. Those symptoms start with nervousness and may progress to respiratory paralysis within two to three hours. Treatment is available, but it requires a veterinarian and must be administered immediately.

Poison hemlock also is found in crop fields, but there it simply is more of a nuisance, according to Johnson.

For more information, download a free Purdue Extension publication “Poison Hemlock — The Toxic Parsnip.” The location is {btny.purdue.edu/weedscience/2003/articles/PHemlock03.pdf}.

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

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

Poison hemlock is toxic when eaten by livestock. Livestock owners should monitor pastures and kill the weeds as early as possible. (Photo courtesy Purdue Agriculture)

IFB IN ACTION

Page 11 Monday, May 20, 2013 FarmWeek

MOBILE BARN VISITORS

New class of Cultivating Master Farmers

Young Leader to share an urban farming view

for Hopkins.

“I’ve actually been stuck in rush hour traffic in a comJim Hopkins, 30, said he is bine,” said Hopkins, who noted excited to gain valuable new he had to slow the combine insights into farming through the Cultivating Master Farmers down because it was going faster than the pace of traffic. program.

It also is quite common for He is one of 24 Illinois Hopkins to receive phone calls Farm Bureau Young Leaders from his neighbors any time a (YL) recently field is sprayed with chemicals. selected to “We get quite a few phone participate in calls from people wondering the two-year what we’re spraying,” he said. program, “The disconnect from modern which links young farmers agriculture is very present in my area.” with Prairie That’s part of the reason Farmer MasJim Hopkins Hopkins got involved in Young ter Farmers.

Leaders and the Cultivating “One of my buddies was in Master Farmers program. it (the program) this year and He wants to be more proache told me the insights he’s tive as a leader in ag and be received have been very useful,” said Hopkins of Yorkville, able to better connect with consumers. who serves on the YL State Other Young Leaders Committee. selected for the new class are But Hopkins will be able to Adam and do more than just listen to Denise AlbMaster Farmsmeyer (Adams ers share their ‘I can give a per- County), Brock experiences and Natalie Boespective of what lens and advice.

(Henry), He also will city people think Scott and provide a Tiffany Brown of farmers.’ unique per(LaSalle), Maria spective to Cox (Greene), program par— Jim Hopkins Matthew and ticipants based Hannah Yorkville farmer on the chalGarlisch lenges of his (Mason), Brian farm’s location.

Gordon (Champaign), Brett Hopkins, a fifth generation Haas (McLean), Brandon and farmer, grows corn and soySarah Hastings (Champaign), beans with his father, Dave, in Andrew and Katie Pratt (Lee), highly urban Kendall County.

Kraig and Jodie Soltwedel “We’re considered a suburb (Effingham), Jay and Kristen of Chicago,” Hopkins said. “I Springer (Woodford), Monica can give a perspective of what Stevens (Knox), Wes and city people think of farmers.”

Jamie Strode (Fulton), and So what’s different about Elliott Uphoff (Shelby). farming in the suburbs comMaster Farmers have yet to pared to the rural areas of Illibe selected for the new class. nois?

The program is sponsored Imagine looking across the by 1st Farm Credit Services, farm and seeing a golf course Farm Credit Services of Illior guiding a tractor through nois, GROWMARK, Illinois traffic and 17 stoplights to get Farm Bureau, Monsanto, and to a field. That’s a typical day Prairie Farmer.

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Sangamon County Farm Bureau volunteers used the county Farm Bureau’s mobile barn while visiting eight elementary schools and approximately 2,000 students earlier this month. The barn is filled with farm animals, and volunteers go from class to class giving a 10-minute lesson before the students walk through the barn. Through use of the barn, kids learn about animals via sight, sound, smell, and touch. The program not only impacts the students, but the teachers walk away with a better understanding of the origin of their food, as well. A fall tour is planned for September. (Photo by Ashley Etherton-Beutke, assistant county Farm Bureau manager and communications specialist)

FB IN ACTION

FarmWeek Page 12 Monday, May 20, 2013

Community helps make a child’s wish come true Will you do it? Yes! That’s what residents of Monroe County said when presented with the opportunity to make a dream come true for a young boy from Kansas City, Mo. —

BY KAREN SCHRADER

a young boy no one had ever heard of until then.

Five-year-old Joseph Charles was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 2 and has gone through months of radiation, chemotherapy, and

blood and platelet transfusions, as well as multiple surgeries. Joseph’s cancer is now in remission.

When asked by the Make-AWish Foundation what his dream would be, he didn’t say

It appeared that virtually the entire town of Waterloo with its nearly 10,000 souls turned out recently to greet young Joseph Charles and his twin brother, Patrick, as they took to the streets in a stagecoach driven by Kevin Hirsh. Actually, the parade route was past the Waterloo schools and more than 2,000 students cheered on the pair. “Jo-Jo” of Kansas City, Mo., who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 2, wished through the Make A Wish Foundation that he could be a farmer and a cowboy for a day. The Monroe County community went all out in making certain the wish was granted.

Disney World or a theme park.

“Jo-Jo” responded that he wanted to be a farmer and a cowboy.

Monroe County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Linda Mathews made contacts throughout the county, putting together what one of the Make-A-Wish Foundation representatives called the best “wish” she had ever experienced.

With the help of the Waterloo Walmart and other businesses, the Waterloo School District, and several local farmers, it was indeed a day to remember.

Joseph, his twin brother, Patrick, and their parents, Tom and Angela Charles, started the day with a limousine ride courtesy of farmer George Obernagel and rode around town on a hook and ladder truck courtesy of the Columbia Fire Department.

Next came the fulfillment of the actual wish, when they arrived at the Don and Karen Schrader farm outside of Waterloo. There they petted baby ducks, a rabbit, and turtles; gathered eggs from the chicken house; saw cows and calves and sheep and lambs; and held newborn pigs.

They then experienced “real farming” by riding in a Terragator and helping field cultivate and plant in a big John Deere tractor. Finally, they went fishing, where Jo-Jo and Patrick each caught a big catfish.

In Waterloo they hopped on

a real stagecoach driven by a real cowboy, Kevin Hirsch, and were paraded past the Waterloo schools where more than 2,000 kids and the junior high band greeted them with cheers and signs and pink and purple balloons (Jo-Jo’s favorite colors).

Then they were off to the Monroe County Fairgrounds, where another farmer, Ron Niebruegge, had rounded up the local saddle club to put on

a horse show just for the boys.

Both Joseph and Patrick received ribbons and championship belt buckles, as well as trophies for “Farmer of the Year” and “Cowboy of the Year.” Jo-Jo also was given custom-made Western chinks and a blue corduroy FFA jacket with his name embroidered on the front.

Now, you may think that the best part of this great day were the memories Joseph and his family took home with them when they left Monroe County.

But what they left behind was even greater — the love, warmth, and joy in the hearts of hundreds of Monroe County residents who had a part in making a little boy’s dream come true.

Karen Schrader is chairman of the Monroe County Women’s Committee. Don Schrader is secretary of the Gateway FS Board of Directors.

Five-year-old Joseph (Jo-Jo) Charles was uncertain he wanted to pet a rabbit held by his farmer host, Don Schrader. “Jo-Jo,” whose cancer is in remission, was granted his wish to be a farmer for a day. He actually received much more. (Photos by Cassie Becker, publications and media relations specialist for GROWMARK)

FROM THE COUNTIES

Page 13 Monday, May 20, 2013 FarmWeek

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HAMPAIGN — The Farm Bureau Foundation will sponsor the Countryside 10K and two-mile walk at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at Witt Park in Sidney.

OLES — Farm Bureau will sponsor an informational meeting regarding the creation of a women’s group at 5 p.m.

Thursday, June 27, at the UHotel in Charleston. The women’s group will offer educational, networking, social, and community-service opportunities. Call 3543276 to register or for more information. Reservation deadline is June 24. • Women Caring for the Land will host a conservation discussion and field tour from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, June 26, at the Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education in Mattoon. Women who own or manage farmland in Coles or Douglas counties are invited to participate. Call Teresa Bullock at 815-753-6365 or email tbullock@niu.edu to register or for more information. Deadline to register is June 14. • Farm Bureau Foundation will sponsor a ball drop fundraiser at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23 at Morton Park. Call the Farm Bureau office or a foundation director to purchase tickets. Proceeds will benefit the foundation scholarship/education fund. • Illinois Farm Bureau and the Grain Handling Safety Coalition will co-sponsor a farm safety training from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, June 28, at the Lumpkin Health Center in Mattoon. Call the Farm Bureau office at 345-3276 to register. Registration deadline is June 24.

IVINGSTON — Farm Bureau will host an informational meeting for members affected by the proposed Line 78 Enbridge pipeline project at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 4, at the Dwight Emmanuel Lutheran

Church. Rae Payne, Illinois Farm Bureau senior director of business and regulatory affairs; Ryan Gammelgard, attorney with the Illinois Farm Bureau Office of the General Counsel; and Terry Savko, Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Land and Water Resources, will speak. Call 842-1103 or email livcfbmgr@yahoo.com for reservations.

ANKAKEE — Farm Bureau will host an informational meeting for members affected by the proposed Line 78 Enbridge pipeline project at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 4, at the Dwight Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Rae Payne, Illinois Farm Bureau senior director of business and regulatory affairs; Ryan Gammelgard, attorney with the Illinois Farm Bureau Office of the General Counsel; and Terry Savko, Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Land and Water Resources, will speak. Call the Farm Bureau office at 932-7471 for reservations.

EORIA — Farm Bureau will sponsor a Stroke Detection Plus health screening from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, in the Farm Bureau auditorium.

Cost is $100 for members and $135 for non-members.

Call 877-732-8258 for reservations. • Farm Bureau will host a Believing in New Great Opportunities (BINGO) meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, June 6, for women 25 to 45. Call DeAnna Thomas at 241-5604 or email deannathomas@jmpradio.com for reservations or more information. Reservation deadline is May 31.

TARK — Farm Bureau will sponsor a tractor drive from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1, beginning at the Farm Bureau office. Proceeds from the drive will benefit the Foundation. Cost is $30. Registra-

Auction Calendar

Sat., June 1. 9:30 a.m. Farm machinery. Muhs Sales and Service, ELDORADO, IL. Jamie Scherrer Auction Co. www.jamiescherrerauction.com Tues., June 11. 6 p.m. Benton Co., IN Land Auc. OXFORD, IN. Schrader Real Estate and Auc. Co., Inc. schraderauction.com Tues., June 18. 10 a.m. Vermilion Co. Land Auc. ROYAL, IL. www.hertz.ag Tues., June 18. 7 p.m. Bureau and Lee Co.’s Land Auc. Lorena Wallace Est., DEER GROVE, IL. Wallace Land Co. www.wallaceland.com Sat., June 22. 10:30 a.m. Ogle Co., IL Est. Auc. Loren and Elsie Richolson Est., DAVIS JUNCTION, IL. Lenny Bryson and Todd Wills, Auctioneers. www.lennybrysonauctioneer or www.toddwillsauctioneering.com

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Mon., May 20. 10 a.m.

McDonough Co. Farmland Auc. Lowderman Auction & Real Estate. www.lowderman.com Sat., May 25. 10 a.m. Real Estate Auc. Loren “Hank� Best Est., ALHAMBRA, IL. Ahrens and Niemeier Auction Service. www.a-nauctions.com Fri., May 31. 10 a.m. LaSalle Co. Land Auc. Robert Anderson, UTICA, IL. Marty McConville, Dick McConville and Joe McConville, Auctioneers. mcconvillerealty.com Fri., May 31. 10 a.m. Piatt Co. Land Auc. FARMER CITY, IL. Hertz Real Estate Services. www.hertz.ag Sat., June 1. 9 a.m. Farm Eq. Estate of Wendell Smith, CISNE, IL. Barnard Auctions. www.auctionzip.com id #2008

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tion forms are available at the Farm Bureau office. Call the Farm Bureau office at 286-7481 for more information. • Prime Timers will host a picnic from noon to 2 p.m.

Wednesday, May 29, at the Farm Bureau office. Upcoming trip information will be available at the picnic. Call the Farm Bureau office at 286-7481 to register. Registration deadline is May 27.

TEPHENSON — Farm Bureau will sponsor a “Stephenson Scenes� photo contest. Submission deadline is June 7.

Contest details are available at {stephensoncfb.org}. • Farm Bureau will sponsor a blood drive and ag breakfast from 6:30 to 11

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a.m. Saturday, June 22, at the fairgrounds. All donors will receive a free breakfast, and first-time donors will receive a free season pass to the Stephenson County Fair. • Farm Bureau will sponsor a bus trip to Michigan and Ontario Aug. 12 to 18.

Deadline to register is June 1. Complete details are available at {stephensoncfb.org}. • Farm Bureau Foundation college scholarships are available. Application forms are available at {stephensoncfb.org}. Application deadline is May 31.

HITE — The Young Leader Committee is seeking sponsors for the Young Leader Pistol Shoot Saturday, July 13, at the Carmi Rifle Club. Pistol

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shoot information is available at {whitecfb.com/pistolshoot.html}. • Farm Bureau has extended the deadline to submit White County photo contest entries to June 7. The winning photograph will be used on the cover of the 2014 county plat book. Contest rules are available at {whitecfb.com/press/photocontest.html}.

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

THANK YOU The IAA Foundation held its 3rd annual 5K Grow & Go on Saturday, May 11, 2013. This family friendly event not only raises funds for Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, but also raises awareness with consumers about the important role of agriculture and the family farms that put food on our table.

Above and Beyond Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors

More than 360 runners, walkers, kids dashers, families and volunteers gathered at the Illinois Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Financial, and GROWMARK headquarters in Bloomington, IL, for a great day of fun and fellowship.

After the kids Cock-a-Doodle Dash, the 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk, participants gathered for an open house that included a hot breakfast and learning activities for the kids.

The morning culminated with presentations of the coveted tractor awards, given for 1st and 2nd place in 13 age categories.

Because of our generous sponsors and event participants, the IAA Foundation is on track to raise $15,000 from this year’s event.

VIP Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors Roger Tornow 5K Race Grow & Go Committee Chairman

0REMIER 0RINT 'ROUP s (ERITAGE &3 s 3T ,OUIS $ISTRICT $AIRY #OUNCIL s #ARGILL )NC Copper Sponsors Mitch Murch’s Maintenance Management

Participants were reminded of the farm families who grow their food with care, thanks to the breakfast sponsored by Illinois Farmers!

A special thanks to our breakfast sponsors: Prairie Farms Dairy Illinois Soybean Association Illinois Pork Producers Illinois Dept. of Agriculture & the American Egg Board Midwest Dairy Association Illinois Specialty Growers

PROFITABILITY

Propane use expands across the farm

FarmWeek Page 14 Monday, May 20, 2013

Nearly 900,000 farms in the United States use propane, according to the Propane Education Resource Council — and with good reason. Propane is a clean-burning, reliable, and efficient energy source.

Farmers can depend on propane to effectively and responsibly run their operations both in and out of the field.

Activity has been increasing with propane engines throughout the country. This is because companies are starting to do a better job of designing equipment, properly training potential users, and spreading the propane message.

Propane-fueled engines that power irrigation systems, vehicles, generators, and lawn mowers are becoming the “newfangled” way to help farmers get the job done.

Propane has been about 40 percent cheaper than gasoline for the past 20 years, and that gap has widened with the increase in natural gas production in the United States.

We read and hear so much about natural gas, but what most people don’t realize is propane that is produced in association with natural gas in the United States has now reached about 70 percent. It used to be split about 50-50 between oil and natural gas.

BY SCOTT LONG

Approximately 84 percent of the propane consumed in the U.S. was produced with North American resources.

Natural gas liquids production from shale gas is expected to increase by more than 6.9 billion gallons per year between 2010 and 2015, which in turn would create 1.8 billion gallons of new propane supply. This

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

U.S. pork exports so far this year haven’t maintained the robust pace of a year ago.

But beef exports through the first quarter are on pace to set a new record for value this year.

Beef exports the first three months this year were down 4 percent in volume but 5 percent ahead of last year’s record pace in value of $1.3 billion.

“Beef exports are a lot more upbeat,” Dan Halstrom, senior vice president of marketing and communications for the U.S. Meat Export Federation, told FarmWeek.

“Demand in Asia has been good.”

Japan in February eased import restrictions on U.S. beef to products from cattle up to 30 months of age compared to 20 months.

The change qualifies beef

Feeder pig prices reported to USDA* Range Per Head $29.20-48.00 NA

Weighted Ave. Price $36.33 NA

This Week Last Week 81,123 103,264 *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm Receipts

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live

(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week Change $90.31 $89.28 $1.03 $66.83 $66.07 $0.76

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

This week $125.00 $124.94

Prev. week $126.00 $126.00

technology in their fleets.

They have “gone green” not only for the environment but also for the green in their bank account.

Most companies that switch from gasoline or diesel fuel to propane for their school buses, irrigation equipment, and/or vehicles see a noteworthy payback period

within two years or less.

Propane is an excellent alternative fuel that is domestically produced, environmentally friendly, and can result in significant cost savings.

Scott Long is GROWMARK’s propane marketing and business development manager. His email address is slong@growmark.com.

U.S. pork exports slip; beef sales on record pace

M A R K E T FA C T S Weight 10-12 lbs.

40 lbs.

could benefit agriculture greatly by having a cheaper source of energy for operations such as corn drying and irrigation.

During the coming months and years we expect to see activity continue to rise for propane engines and auto gas.

There are a number of school districts and municipalities transitioning to the newer propane

Change -$1.00 -$1.06

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 $135.40 $134.35 $1.05

Lamb prices Slaughter Prices - Negotiated, Live, wooled and shorn 121-163 lbs. for 107.06-137 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 119.45); 171-192 lbs. for 112-117 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 114.73)

Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 5/13/2013 3.4 24.0 12.7 5/06/2013 6.4 17.9 6.8 Last year 20.6 28.1 27.7 Season total 1255.8 945.0 501.7 Previous season total 1123.3 972.3 1137.8 USDA projected total 1350 1025 750 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

from 90 percent of cattle in the U.S. for sale to Japan compared to 20 percent of cattle that were eligible under the tighter restrictions. U.S. beef exports to Japan subsequently increased 30 percent in the first quarter.

“We should see more support for the cattle market through exports, especially when we get to the summer months,” Halstrom said.

U.S. pork exports, on the other hand, declined 12 percent in volume and 11 percent in value during the first quarter compared to the same time last year.

“We’re coming off a record year (for pork exports in 2012) that totaled $6.3 billion in sales which contributed about $56 per head,” Halstrom said.

“That’s a tall marker to go up against.”

U.S. pork and beef exports also have been challenged in recent months by a ban of U.S. meat products in Russia due to the use of ractopamine, a feed additive, in the U.S. Pork exports to Russia, which ceased in February, were down nearly two-thirds in the first quarter of this year com-

pared to the same time a year ago. (See graph) “The (export) numbers are really skewed by Russia,” Halstrom said. “That was a very strong market, so this really is an unfortunate curveball.

We’re optimistic we’ll get some type of government resolution to the issue.”

Elsewhere, South Korea has rebuilt its hog herd following an outbreak of foot-andmouth disease, and it currently has an oversupply of pork, Halstrom noted.

U.S. pork and beef exports also have been pressured by a stronger value of the U.S. dollar and competition from other protein sources, poultry in particular.

“I still think there is good demand (for pork) in other markets (such as Japan and Hong Kong),” Halstrom added. “I think there will be opportunities for improved sales.”

PROFITABILITY

Page 15 Monday, May 20, 2013 FarmWeek

CASH STRATEGIST

USDA world grain demand high?

The feature that caught our eye in the recent USDA supply and demand reports was the world grain estimates. On first look, the production estimates caught our attention, but as we kept sifting through the data, the consumption estimates looked even more interesting.

After the report, there was a lot of discussion about the world production estimates.

The universal feeling seemed to be USDA was a little overaggressive in projecting large crops outside of the U.S. given some of the weather issues in many countries.

It has not been a great spring in a number of areas. Hence a feeling that while stocks and production likely would grow, they might not grow as much as USDA projected.

But USDA world demand estimates on this first forecast for the 2013/2014 marketing year may have been even more optimistic than the production forecasts.

The projected use of coarse grains and wheat are unusually large relative to trend for both, especially for the former.

Data show growth in coarse grain consumption outside of the U.S. has been relatively linear. Wheat has been a little more volatile, but with the exception of the bulge in 2011/2012, it has been relatively linear as well. The sharp increase in 2011/2012 was because wheat became cheap relative to corn, lifting wheat feeding sharply.

The implication of these large early demand forecasts: If production declines from these initial high estimates, there’s room for demand estimates to decline, too. That still leaves potential for good growth in stocks even if production isn’t as robust as the initial estimate.

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Corn Strategy

ü2012 crop: Interior basis remains at a premium to futures, but the flat price doesn’t have a lot of upside enthusiasm.

Even as corn futures broke last week, basis sagged in some locations. Sell inventory other than “gambling stocks” you want to carry into summer. ü2013 crop: Unless weather becomes an extreme problem, and that doesn’t look likely, newcrop prices look destined to move lower into early July. Use rallies above $5.25 on December futures for catch-up sales. vFundamentals: This past week’s weather soothed a lot of nerves about the slow planting progress. Talk circulating in the trade suggests planting today could be more than 60 percent complete, and maybe 75 percent

by May 26. While that’s still behind, it gets the bulk of the crop in the ground in reasonable time, especially in some of the northern production areas.

Demand concern continues to be a drag, as well as slow, steady imports from South America.

Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2012 crop: Cash prices remain at a huge premium to futures, but the product value lost ground to soybean prices this past week, casting doubt on the summer crush pace.

Exports already have shifted away from the U.S. Sell any remaining bushels other than “gambling” inventories you want to carry into summer. ü2013 crop: Old-crop prices are the biggest feature supporting new-crop prices. New-crop export buying is slow and steady, but it is not strong enough to give prices a lift. Use any bounce to make catch-up sales. vFundamentals: The National Oilseed Processors Association April soybean crush number, 120.1 million bushels, came in below expectations. Traders still perceive the crush pace hasn’t declined enough, but crush margins have again fallen precipitously since the beginning of the month. Soybean meal is starting to become available in South America, and the economics are in place to make soybean meal imports feasible.

There’s still scattered talk of soybean imports, too.

Wheat Strategy

ü2012 crop: The shortterm trend in wheat has turned down. Prices on the Chicago July contract are positioned to test the $6.65 low. Old-crop sales should have been wrapped up when Chicago July traded above $7. Wait for a recovery bounce to make catch-up sales. ü2013 crop: New-crop sales were increased 20 percent when Chicago July traded above $7.09, bringing sales to 55 percent complete. If you plan to sell wheat directly off

the combine, you may want to be more aggressive in making additional sales on bounces, as prices will be vulnerable to seasonal pressure going forward. vFundamentals: The latest crop progress report indicated 32 percent of the winter wheat crop was in good to excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week. However, the top-producing state of Kansas indicated further deterioration of crop conditions. Dry conditions in Russia and Ukraine remain on the trader’s radar, but world supplies are still forecast to be ample.

PERSPECTIVES

FarmWeek Page 16 Monday, May 20, 2013

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Domestic, world hunger:

One. Two. Three.

nthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.

Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

From technology to cooperatives to partnerships, American agriculture is making tremendous breakthroughs in fighting domestic and world hunger. American agriculturalists constantly prove time and time again that a small group of dedicated people can indeed change the world EMILY for the better.

BLOEMER One. Two. Three.

Somewhere around the world a man, woman, or child just died.

According to the United Nations, a human life is snuffed out every 3.5 seconds because of the inability to obtain man’s most primitive necessity: food.

With the help of advancements in technology and farming practices, however, agriculturalists around the world are defying hunger by increasing food production. For instance, the global positioning system (GPS) installed in farm equipment increases the yields of crops by monitoring when and where to apply pes-

ticides and fertilizer.

Likewise, the GPS and auto steer are the precision instruments of planting and harvesting, with their satellites locating the farm equipment within inches.

Biotechnology and genomics will continue to increase food production around the world as well.

An article by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture explains that, “Plant breeding is the science of maximizing positive genetic traits in plants that people grow … . They are at the core of our ability to meet today’s challenges and opportunities for everything that we rely on agriculture to provide.”

Besides increasing the amount of food available for the hungry, cooperatives and partnerships actually try to combat world and domestic hunger. An October 2012 online article by the Inter Press Service titled “Cooperatives Cushion the Blows of Hunger” describes the benefits of starting local cooperatives in hungerstricken areas.

FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) Director Jose Graziano da Silva says, “Cooperatives play a crucial role in generating employment, reducing poverty, improving food security, and contributing to the gross domestic

product in many countries.”

Similarly, numerous kinds of partnerships can help fight world hunger. Private businesses can donate supplies, money, expertise, and community service to aid in world hunger prevention. Successful cooperatives can convince farmers from other areas to create their own cooperatives. The opportunities and ideas of partnerships are endless within agriculture!

Any personal effort to eradicate world hunger will have a permanent impact on the lives of millions who are fighting the day-to-day effects of malnutrition. FFA members may obtain community service hours by trick-or-treating for UNICEF. UNICEF is a non-profit organization that provides vaccinations, education, and

GROWMARK names FFA essay winners

Emily Bloemer, rural Bloomington, was a repeat state winner of the 2013 GROWMARK essay contest for Illinois FFA members. The theme of this year’s contest was “Fighting Domestic and Global Hunger.”

Four runners-up also were named.

The runners-up and their FFA chapters are: Aya Bridgeland, Byron FFA, Byron; Mackenzie Clawson, Mercer County FFA, Seaton; Charlie Herrera, Chicago Ag Sciences FFA, Chicago; and Matthew Rehmer, Marissa FFA, Lenzburg. Each runner-up will receive a $125 award.

This is the 20th year for the contest, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with Illinois FFA.

nutrition for children in more than 190 countries and territories around the world.

Instead of donating money, the Midwest Food Bank offers a unique opportunity for community members to donate time to sort, load, and pack donated food. This food will be sent out to food pantries in Illinois each month to help feed more than 100,000 hungry people.

Not only this, but Heifer International uses agriculture to fight the sinister threats of starvation. A monetary donation lets the donor choose what to give a family in poverty, such as sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, or other livestock animals.

These animals not only provide nutrition for the hungry, but they give families a way to start a business and be financially independent.

Poet Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Thanks to American agriculture, millions of people will never forget the feeling of going to sleep with a full stomach.

Whether it be technology, cooperatives and partnerships, or personal efforts, agriculturalists valiantly rise to the challenge of eradicating domestic and world hunger every day.

Emily Bloemer, a Heyworth High School student, is a member of the Heyworth FFA Chapter. Her FFA adviser is Jestun Nutter. She will receive a $500 scholarship from GROWMARK at the Illinois FFA State Convention in June. The Heyworth FFA Chapter will receive a $300 award.

Let’s keep the food in food aid and ensure the hungry get fed

Recently, an American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) staff member was interviewed on the proposed changes to U.S. international food aid. The question was whether the United States should shift food aid donations to cash instead of Americangrown food.

BOB STALLMAN Like most interviews, this one went on for 15 to 20 minutes. The result was one pieced-together quote: “Exports via food aid are a small drop in the market. Our concern is less about decreasing an important revenue stream for U.S. agriculture. It’s more about the loss of a sense of pride.”

Once the article ran, some organizations pounced, effectively charging: How could American agriculture, solely out of pride, take food out of the mouths of 2 million to 4 million people?

Facts do suffer when skewed through the prism of

agenda-driven politics.

Not that long ago, a fact sheet posted by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) reported that cash or voucher humanitarian relief systems and programs are more expensive than those using U.S.-procured commodities. Interestingly, now that President Barack Obama has proposed using cash in lieu of commodities, USAID’s website, updated in late April, now says just the opposite.

There have been times when those programs accounted for a significant percentage of our exports. But that is simply not the case today.

In one breath, critics claim the Food for Peace program currently accounts for “less than 0.2 of 1 percent of U.S. agricultural production and about one-half of 1 percent of U.S. agricultural exports.”

Then, in the very next breath, they claim this program dealing with “less than one-half of 1 percent” of our exports is driving “Big Ag” to come out with “guns blazing.” Their emotional response ignores a logical analysis of their own

statements, and frankly gives Farm Bureau more credit than is due.

We will claim some credit for our nation’s long-standing success in helping those in need around the world. The very origin of the Food for Peace program can be traced to a September 1953 meeting of the Cheyenne County (Kansas) Farm Bureau.

A young farmer named Peter O’Brien put into motion a grassroots idea that made its way through our policy development process, from Kansas to AFBF and then as legislation introduced by Sen. Andy Schoeppel (R-Kan.) that was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954.

If critics of Farm Bureau’s policy on food aid ask whether we are proud of our role in this program, the answer is an unequivocal, “You bet we are.”

Are America’s farmers and ranchers proud of our contribution to feeding multi-millions of people around the world, thanks to a Farm Bureau idea? Again, “You bet.” Would we rather see crops produced here in the United States being

used in these kinds of aid programs? Yes! The problem with switching to cash donations is that cash too easily can be used for purposes other than feeding people.

Shipping a cargo load of food, rather than the money to buy food (if it is available), is the best and most secure way to ensure that taxpayer-funded international food assistance actually makes it to hungry people overseas.

Without that certainty, the full impact of our nation’s donations could be easily slashed by administrative costs assessed by cooperating entities, or worse, siphoned off by inept or corrupt governments in recipient nations. That is why several international food aid organizations also oppose switching to cash donations.

At a time when even hunger assistance comes into question due to our nation’s fiscal condition, it is vital to support efforts that clearly give our tax dollars more bang for the buck, and more certainty that our food aid will reach those in need.

To date, we have not taken a strong position on this issue, known in Washington as “cash in lieu of commodities.” We have listened to both sides.

The recent misrepresentation of Farm Bureau’s motives now gives us the opportunity to go on record and stand boldly with many other farm groups and enlightened humanitarian non-governmental organizations in working to keep U.S.produced food a part of the food aid program.

Our current approach to helping feed the world successfully ensures that we share our nation’s bounty. Those who would rather just have American taxpayers write another check to pay for uncertain results should focus on how to feed more hungry people rather than criticize the organization that helped start Food for Peace or malign the farmers and ranchers whose work makes our food donations possible.

Bob Stallman, a Texas rice farmer and cattle rancher, is president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.