Farmweek oct 14 2013

The federal shutdown continues to interrupt trade prog ress and uproot soil conser vation employees................3

Pa l m e r a m a r a n t h m a y b e lurking in Illinois fields, prompting management tips from U of I specialists............5

C e l eb r a t i n g f a l l t a ke s o n new meaning at The Great P u m p k i n Pa t c h , m a r k i n g 2 5 years of success......................8

A service of

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‘New’ EPA report signal of renewed agency push?

Illinois Farm Bureau mission: Improve the economic well-being of agriculture and enrich the quality of farm family life.

Monday, October 14, 2013

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Two sections Volume 41, No. 41

A newly released U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report may signal renewed efforts by the agency to redefine “waters of the U.S.” and gain broad new federal powers over ag and other watershed activities.

The preliminary report re-interprets past data and conclusions regarding “conductivity” between headwaters, wetlands, streams and major waterways currently under EPA’s scope. It is intended to guide development of a rule, now under administration Office of Management and Budget review, that would clarify the federal Clean Water Act’s role in protecting so-called “waters of the United States.”

EPA concluded all streams are connected to downstream waters, as are wetlands and open waters in floodplains or natural riparian areas adjacent to streams and rivers connected to downstream waters through groundwa-

ter or overland flows.

EPA reported insufficient data was available to reach a conclusion regarding isolated wetlands and open waters outside riparian areas. “They don’t quite have the science there to conclude that you’re sharing those waters. It’s a little more complicated,” said Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Natural and Environmental Resources Lauren Lurkins.

Lurkins argued EPA’s “scientific literature review,” drafted in response to U.S. Supreme Court rulings that have raised questions about federal regulatory waters, offers no new information.

She plans to submit comments on the ag implications of EPA’s forthcoming proposals, suggesting the review “doesn’t go far enough to really inform policymaking.”

“There needs to be some kind of established methodology for figuring out when there’s a significant nexus between navigable and non-navigable waters,” the policy specialist and envi-

ronmental attorney advised.

“Everything that’s connected hydrologically should not be regulated by EPA. That’s what Congress said when it came out with the Clean Water Act in the ’70s. EPA can’t just broaden its jurisdiction through a rulemaking procedure.”

That didn’t stop environmental and sportsmen’s groups last week from hailing EPA’s conclusions as proof of what Trouts Unlimited research scientist Helen Neville termed the “physical, chemical and biological connections between headwater streams and downstream water bodies.”

“We must consider the collective impact of those streams,” said Neville, arguing they have “enormous effects on downstream waters and ecosystems.”

University of Wisconsin restoration ecologist Joy Zedler decried the purported loss of some 80 percent of original wetlands across Iowa, Illinois,

Indiana and Ohio, “where soil that wetland plants would have stabilized is now somewhere deep in the Gulf of Mexico.” She linked wetlands/riparian preservation as well to flood and carbon sequestration.

Lurkins participated in discussion of the EPA draft report with the Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC), a group of ag and other interests including American Farm Bureau Federation.

A Denver consulting firm currently is dissecting the 300-plus-page report to determine its real-world relevance to federal water protections. The document will be refined into a final report by an independent science panel.

Lurkins noted the independent panel has not been asked to review EPA’s proposed rule, despite it being based on report data.

“WAC’s consultants are looking at how — or whether — we can use this data to inform policymakers,” she advised.

Barge fee hike offers ‘tremendous efficiency gain’

Periodicals: Time Valued

A major Midwest ag coop/commodity shipper is willing to pay a bit more of the freight to maintain a U.S. edge in the global marketplace.

In a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., and Ranking Republican Sander Levin, D-Mich., Illinois Farm Bureau and GROWMARK joined ag and other industry

groups stressing the “urgent need” for a 6- to 9-cent hike in the current 20-cent-per-gallon barge diesel fuel tax.

Barge taxes feed the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF), which matches federal appropriations for navigational construction and rehabilitation, but IWTF reserves continue to wane at current tax levels.

Neither Senate nor House transportation committees included a fee increase in waterway proposals, instead passing the measure to Ways and Means, which faces political concerns about passing even a voluntary tax hike.

A mere 300 commercial operators would pay higher barge fees, “while the entire nation benefits, (including) hydropower, municipal water supply, recreational boating and fishing, flood control, national security and waterfront property development,” IFB and others told Camp and Levin.

For agriculture’s part, Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK executive director for corporate/government relations, argues a tax hike “is where we can get a

return on investment.”

The fall shutdown of even one lock due to structural or equipment failure poses a “catastrophic loss to our marketplace,” Spencer said. Barge diversion could cause a bottle-

neck in rail and highway “grain flows,” and disruption of the river grain bid system “takes a player out of the system,” likely dinging farm commodity prices, he suggested.

But he also sees a trust fund

A HILL OF BEANS

re-infusion offering hope for modern new locks on the Illinois and Upper Mississippi Rivers. He noted the fuel and personnel costs of a barge See Fee, page 3

Soybeans flow from a combine operated by Carl Reum near Sibley in Ford County. Dennis Tongate of Gibson City handles tarp duty on the waiting semi-truck. Reum noted conditions were extremely dry in the field throughout summer. Yields were averaging 50 bushels per acre. See harvest story on page 9. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com

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

Quick Takes

AROUND ILLINOIS

FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, October 14, 2013

COLLECT TRUCK, DRIVE OUT HUNGER — It may be harvest season, but it’s never too early to think about your Christmas gift list. Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders have just the item to add — a collectible truck.

The 2014 limited edition 1/64th scale Kenworth W900 truck sells for $60. All proceeds will go to the Harvest For All Food Drive. IFB Young Leaders team up with Feeding America, the nation’s largest food bank. Last year, they raised $786,949. They also donated more than 68,715 pounds of food and gave 2,005 hours of volunteer time.

There are only 250 trucks available. The die cast model is the fifth and final truck in an annual series. Displaying the truck can become a daily reminder of how Illinois’ farming community unites to feed the world and neighbors down the road.

Visit {www.ilfb.org/youngleaders} to download the order form or call 309-557-2536.

FALL HERBICIDES CONTROL MARESTAIL — Widespread and often dense populations of marestail (horseweed) in soybean fields this spring caught the attention of farmers and other weed management practitioners.

Populations of winter annual marestail typically emerge during the fall months. Following harvest, fall-applied herbicides often provide more effective and consistent control of emerged marestail compared to spring-applied or burndown herbicides, according to Aaron Hager, University of Illinois associate FarmWeekNow.com professor of weed science.

We have a video interview of He recommends applying Aaron Hager about fall control of 2,4-D (1-pound acid equivamarestail at FarmWeekNow.com. lent per acre) any time between mid-October and late November to control emerged marestail.

“This treatment should not be expected to provide much soil-residual activity, so marestail plants that emerge after application will most likely not be controlled,” Hager said.

He further noted farmers should not rely solely on glyphosate (either in the fall or spring) to control emerged marestail. Other herbicides, including glyphosate, can be tank mixed with 2,4-D to broaden the spectrum of winter annual species controlled, he added.

Hager also recommends scouting fall-treated fields before spring planting and taking appropriate measures (that is, supplemental herbicides, tillage, etc.) to control any remaining marestail and emerged summer annual species, including springemerging marestail.

GRAIN TOUR INCREASES EXPORTS — An Illinois grain industry tour earlier this summer has paid off to the tune of $173 million for state agribusinesses.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture tour, which the department conducts annually, brought 42 foreign grain buyers to Illinois from China, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Thailand and Vietnam.

Exports account for 42 percent of the Illinois agriculture industry’s cash receipts.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 41 No. 41 October 14, 2013 Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers.

FarmWeek is produced by the Illinois Farm Bureau.

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STAFF Editor Chris Anderson (canderson@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

Shutdown and barricades no deterrent to vets, volunteers National Park Service guards stand near barricades at the entrance to the World War II Memorial as visitors and protesters mingle. (Photo by Jill Frueh)

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

A group of Illinois veterans, a county Farm Bureau manager and other volunteers didn’t let the government shutdown or barricades keep them from touring war memorials in Washington, D.C. “It was very touching,” said Jill Frueh, Bureau County Farm Bureau manager, of her recent Honor Flight trip during the third day of the government shutdown. She escorted Korean War veterans Richard Kehl of Mount Carroll and John Keegan of Henry, both Farm Bureau members.

Barricades were moved aside at the World War II Memorial, but the entrance to the Korean War Veterans Memorial was blocked when a busload of Illinois vets and volunteers arrived. Frueh watched a man in a business suit and tie run across a field and push the barricades aside.

When Frueh thanked him, the

Honor Flight volunteer and Bureau County Farm Bureau Manager Jill Frueh, center, is flanked by Illinois Korean War veterans Richard Kehl, left, Mount Carroll, and John Keegan, Henry.

the Illinois veterans get close to the monument’s steel statues.

After a longer-thanplanned day, the group returned to cheers when hundreds met their 11 p.m. arrival at the Moline airport.

Frueh said she was inspired to volunteer by Henry County Farm Bureau manager Katie Boruff Laleman who escorted a May 2012 Honor Flight.

“There was so much emotion,” Boruff Laleman said.

She was touched by the stories the veterans shared throughout the day. “I hope we can encourage others to apply,” she added.

Frueh was asked why she chose to support two veterans she’d never met. “I work for a volunteer organization and I understand the need to give back,” she said.

For information, to volunIllinois Korean War veterans stroll toward crowds barricaded outside the teer as a guide or apply as a Korean War Veterans Memorial. Guards allowed the Quad Cities Honor veteran, go online to {honorflight.org}.

Flight group to enter, but detained other visitors. (Photo by Jill Frueh) man said he was a congressional staffer.

“The guards were there, too,” Frueh said. “I thanked them for letting us in. They said, ‘We understand why it’s important.’ ” Other visitors remained crowded on sidewalks behind the barricades. They watched

FISCAL FUROR

Page 3 Monday, October 14, 2013 FarmWeek

Can policymakers avert ceiling-related ‘uncertainty’?

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

As the White House and congressional leaders continue to seek a fiscal compromise addressing a rapidly approaching debt limit collision, farms and other businesses across the country are struggling to grasp how they might ride the ripples of a U.S. “default” scenario.

At FarmWeek’s Friday deadline, House Republicans and the president were working to negotiate at least a short-term extension of the nation’s debt limit in hopes of jump-starting bipartisan fiscal talks. The U.S. Treasury warned it would run out of “extraordinary measures” to free up cash to cover national debt this week.

Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK executive director for corporate/government relations, is concerned failure to reach a debt limit compromise would spur significant “uncertainty in the marketplace.”

Even the perception of a possible U.S. credit default could disrupt producers’ or their suppliers’ “best-laid plans and market positioning for either purchase of inputs or sale of goods,” Spencer suggested. Potential default would send an “economic ripple through all the supply chains throughout the United States,” and even impact world markets, he said.

“We’re seeing a lot of concern from economists, people who are deeply engaged in the marketplace, entities like us who are constantly involved in the futures exchanges for fuel, for inputs and pricing of inputs we know will be needed in the spring of ‘14,” Spencer told FarmWeek.

“We’re trying to manage price risk the best we can, not only as a cooperative, but also for the farmer members. When you have an unpredictable occurrence in the marketplace, the best-laid marketing plans

can look very out-of-synch.”

The global implications are even more sobering. Illinois Farm Bureau economist Mike Doherty sees the possibility of U.S. default rattling “the international community and its comfort level with doing business with the U.S.” Washington trade consultant Paul Drazek notes “the Chinese are going to always do what’s best for the Chinese.” China’s removal of its billions in U.S. investments likely would prove “catastrophic” to the U.S. economy, he added.

Drazek said the Chinese “are going to be looking at this in every different direction and ultimately decide what they’re going to do to serve their best interests.”

Doherty noted the the U.S. economy currently “has some very mixed traction.” A recent resurgence in the housing market and favorable near-term manufacturing prospects weigh against weak September Purchasing Managers Index ratings for the service sector and “some real ups and downs in the housing market” related to interest rates, he said.

Doherty cited a “quick cooling-off ” in new housing construction with a relatively small increase in interest rates in July, followed by an August rally. Some economists fear a default situation could ignite a spike in rates.

Fueling uncertainty about the strength of the U.S. economy is the Federal Reserve’s apparent reluctance to “taper” economic stimulus in the form of “quantitative easing” — accelerated bond buying to inject cash into the economy.

“It looks like the economy should survive without Fed stimulus, and this would be an opportune time to taper off,” Doherty said.

“You put all this together, and there’s reason for concern that a debt ceiling failure could trigger a number of other bad events.”

Shutdown ripple engulfs SWCDs, conservation work

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff worked in different offices last week, forced by the federal government shutdown from their usual locations in USDA Service Centers.

Finding a desk, phone and computer is just one ripple.

Delay or possible loss of the usual construction season for conservation work is another, according to Mike Rahe, manager of the office of Natural Resource Management in the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA).

“This is the time of year when crops are out and people want to put in conservation practices. The weather doesn’t hold off for us,” Rahe told FarmWeek.

With USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices shuttered and websites closed, SWCD staff lack access to plans with engineers’ notes and NRCS-owned design and survey equipment, said Rich Nichols, executive director of the Association of Illinois SWCDs. “As soon as the crop is out of the ground, it’s just perfect for construction,” Nichols added.

As of Friday, 66 SWCDs had employees working from home and five were working in SWCD-owned office buildings. County Farm Bureau offices and local Extension offices each housed two SWCD employees. One was based in a county courthouse, and one was working in the SWCD chairman’s farm office. Three employees were using accumulated leave time.

Each district reports directly to its board, which made arrangements with staff, Rahe said.

“Mostly they will be in the field, checking on projects,” Nichols said.

Nichols suggested some districts may post a notice about their temporary location on the outside of their shuttered office. Both IDOA and AISWCD were working to compile temporary locations of local SWCDs. “I think some (SWCD) staff were able to take some (project) files home for the short term,” Rahe said. “As this (shutdown) goes on, it becomes more difficult.”

Shutdown further delays U.S. trade progress The mills of trade policy grind slowly, and amid a federal shutdown and congressional gridlock, they promise to grind even slower.

That’s according to Washington consultant Paul Drazek, who noted cancellation of last week’s first real U.S.-European Union (EU) trade negotiating session in Brussels.

cally unable to participate amid shutdown, Drazek sees little point to holding “intercessional” meetings aimed at ironing out contentious issues prior to final talks.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, meeting with TPP counterparts last week in Bali, said participants were “charting a path forward on

‘I never thought the TPP was going to conclude by the end of the year, anyway ... The shutdown probably makes that inevitable.’

— Paul Drazek Washington trade consultant

That may prove a minor glitch. U.S.-EU talks are expected to continue for the next 1 1/2 to 3 years. But leaders of 12 nations engaged in TransPacific Partnership (TPP) talks aspire to complete an agreement by year’s end.

TPP talks require consensus agreement. With the U.S. basi-

outstanding issues … in order to move the negotiations toward completion.” But with federal resources strained, Froman lacked staff experts attuned to specific issues, Drazek said.

“He can talk about the big picture stuff, but he’s not well enough versed on specific tech-

nical issues to get into it too much,” he told FarmWeek.

“Expecting him to sit there with a text and decide what language is acceptable in services negotiations, well, that’s not very likely.

“I never thought the TPP was going to conclude by the end of the year, anyway. I thought they’d manage to come up with something they could claim as a framework agreement, but there’d still be loose ends left over, including what Japan’s going to do on sensitive products, that would carry over to 2014. The shutdown probably makes that inevitable.”

TPP talks also include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Even without shutdownrelated delays, Drazek anticipates continued U.S. “conflict” over trade, especially in the absence of trade promotion authority (TPA) enabling the administration to negotiate agreements subject to a straight up-or-down vote. TPA expired

in mid-2007; without it, Congress could “amend these agreements to death,” he warned.

TPA barely passed the House in 2002. Drazek fears Congress’ heavy partisan divide — with some Democrats still concerned about the environmental and labor implications of free trade and many Tea Party conservatives wary of global dealings — will complicate an

Fee

already complex debate.

“If you remember the Boston Tea Party, the folks tossed tea overboard because it was being taxed,” Drazek mused. “Import tariffs are taxes — you’d think they’d want to get rid of them. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Tea Party crowd deals with trade promotion authority and, ultimately, trade agreements.” — Martin Ross

Continued from page 1 tow waiting for another tow to split, passing in two moves through an outdated 600-foot lock and re-assembling on the other side.

“It’s a function of time value of money, as well. The commodity has not reached its destination, it’s not being put to use, it’s not getting economic return,” he told FarmWeek. “It’s just sitting alongside a river.

“If we could cut in half the amount of time we’re going through a 600-foot lock, if instead we could pull a 15-barge tow into a 1,200-foot lock, change (water) elevation, and be on our way, that’s a tremendous efficiency gain.”

Panama Canal expansion creates new U.S. trade opportunities, “but not if our channels are not dredged and our locks and dams are not functioning,” industry groups warned.

Spencer cites preparatory U.S. port upgrades, including channel dredging at New Orleans to enable loading by larger freight vessels the expanded canal will accommodate. — Martin Ross

MARKETS

FarmWeek Page 4 Monday, October 14, 2013

Analyst: South America controls soy market destiny

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Soybean stocks, at 141 million bushels, currently are tight in the U.S., but that may not matter by early next year.

South American farmers are expected to boost soybean plantings this fall and reload the world pipeline in 2014.

Giovani Ferreira, agribusiness manager for Gazeta Do Povo (a Brazilian publication), last week estimated Brazilian farmers this fall could plant 3.25 million more acres of beans and reduce corn plantings Giovani Ferreira by 2 million acres due to economics that currently favor soy production.

Overall, he projected soybean production will total 90 million tons (3.3 billion bushels) in Brazil, 55 million tons (2 billion bushels) in Argentina and 10 million tons (370 million bushels) in Paraguay.

“Our soybean production likely will grow and corn acres

will decrease because of prices,” Ferreira told FarmWeek.

Ferreira and his business associate, Jose Rocher, last week met with AgriVisor analysts in Bloomington during a crop expedition tour through the U.S. Dale Durchholz, AgriVisor senior market analyst, projected South American bean production could reach 5.7 billion bushels.

If realized, South American bean production would nearly double that of the U.S. American farmers this fall are expected to haul in Dale Durchholz about 3.1 billion to 3.2 billion bushels of beans.

“South America controls the destiny of the (soybean) market,” Durchholz said. “There’s potential, with good weather, for a 5.7 billion bushel soybean crop in South America.”

Soybean prices could decline from the $13-range this month to $12 per bushel by the end of the calendar year. If

South America harvests a binbuster crop, bean prices by next year could slip to $10 per bushel, according to the analyst.

The planting season in South America is off to a less than desirable start, though, as rains in Brazil delayed planting.

Soy planting last week in Brazil was about 5 to 8 percent complete compared to 12 percent at the same time last year, Ferreira noted.

“If there are weather scares in South America, (the bean market) could gain more strength,” Durchholz said.

However, South American farmers still have infrastructure issues that reduce their competitiveness with their U.S. counterparts.

Crop storage in Brazil totals about 60 to 70 percent of production. Durchholz estimated storage capacity in the U.S. is around 90 percent.

The Brazilian government is attempting to catch up. Last year, it started a program to expand storage capacity and it currently is in the midst of road and rail projects that are expected to be completed in the next five to 10 years.

Brazilian ag infrastructure primed for export takeoff ?

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

The bureaucratic anchor is being lifted and Brazil appears primed to take off — by road, rail, barge and ship, according to Marcelo Duarte Monteiro, executive director of the Brazilian corn and soybean group Aprosoja Mato Grosso.

Agriculture accounts for roughly a fifth of Brazil’s gross domestic product, and exports are “even more important,” Montiero said.

But he admits “not everything is beautiful,” citing daunting transportation challenges from Brazil’s productive interior to key ports.

In 2007, Brazilian officials launched a national “growth acceleration program” that outlined prospective energy, construction and transportation investments by federal government, state enterprises and the private sector.

Only 60 percent of program funding was spent during 20072012. However, the initiative’s current third phase focuses on new public-private partnerships. According to Montiero, the new partnerships have “the potential to overcome some of the bureaucracy problems of the country.”

Efforts are underway to relieve highway congestion (72 percent of ag exports are delivered by truck), heighten rail capabilities and overhaul ports. Montiero argues completion of a new highway from northern Mato Grosso to the Panamax-capable inland port of Santarém within the next few years will “dramatically change the price structure for this part of the country.” He sees increased incentives for private interests to build their own ports within public terminals.

To Gary Niemeyer, an Auburn producer who campaigned for Upper Mississippi-Illinois River lock improvements in 2007 and since has stumped for funding of self-same improvements, Brazil’s momentum is frustrating. Transportation costs today account largely for the U.S.’ competitive edge over Brazil.

“There are a lot of other countries we’re competing against that have their governments supporting them in ramping up infrastructure improvements,” Niemeyer told FarmWeek.

“They’re going to be competing with us in a big way in the future.

It would be a shame to lose our competitive advantage. We have locks that were built to last 50 years that were built 80 years ago.”

Montiero anticipates key port investments in every region.

Meanwhile, the government is backing private rail investment aimed at boosting nationwide trackage (now at roughly 17,400 miles) by 35 percent, and implementing a new regulatory framework to improve rail competition.

While Montiero sees river commerce as “the cheapest way to move your beans or your grain,” he noted “our policies are not yet focusing on that.” Only 8,000 of 27,000 miles of waterways currently are “effective” transportation channels. “It’s a rich system, but very poorly used,” he said.

Cooperatives…

Working together to grow.

For over 80 years, the FS System of member cooperatives has worked together to improve the profitability of farming. Through professional people, quality products, and exceptional service, we prove that by working together we grow together.

Celebrating Co-op Month.

©2010 GROWMARK, Inc. A Farm Bureau Affiliate M12238

According to Brazilian officials and industry sources, the major infrastructure projects pictured above may be feasible within the next five years. Government partnerships, regulatory reforms and bureaucratic streamlining are making rail, road and port improvements possible.

PRODUCTION

Page 5 Monday, October 14, 2013 FarmWeek

Predicting the next Asian carp or kudzu Researcher applies risk-assessment tool

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

University of Illinois weed science professor Aaron Hager warns farmers to take care when harvesting fields with Palmer amaranth. (FarmWeek file photo)

Precautions needed harvesting fields with Palmer amaranth University of Illinois researchers haven’t found a common denominator for where Palmer amaranth has spread in Illinois. They know it’s not going away.

The invasive, fast-growing weed has been confirmed in 26 counties based on field and laboratory studies by weed scientists at the U of I and

FarmWeekNow.com

Download management tips on how to handle Palmer amaranth during harvest at FarmWeekNow.com.

Southern Illinois University.

Conclusive results were not available yet on samples from other counties.

“There is no smoking gun, no common denominator” among fields with Palmer amaranth, Aaron Hager, U of I weed scientist, told FarmWeek.

Asked about a possible link to contaminated cover crop seed, Hager said he can’t definitively attribute a specific Palmer amaranth population to a cover crop. However, he expressed concerns about few available sources of certified weed-free cover crop seeds and recommended farmers scout fields to ensure

desired cover crop species germinate.

Hager advised farmers to take care when harvesting or tilling fields with Palmer amaranth populations.

• Harvest those fields last and plant them last next spring.

• Mark or flag areas with Palmer amaranth and don’t mechanically harvest the mature plants. Physically remove those weeds before harvest and either leave them in the field or put them in a sturdy bag. Bury or burn the bags in a burn barrel as soon as possible.

• Don’t till fields with Palmer amaranth infestations in the fall or the next spring.

Leaving seeds on the soil surface increases opportunities for birds and animals to eat and spread them.

To effectively manage Palmer amaranth, farmers will need to use multiple tactics and an integrated approach, according to Hager.

Some of the weed populations show glyphosate resistance, he noted.

For more information and images, go online to {bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu} and search for Palmer amaranth. — Kay Shipman

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure to stop the next Asian carp from being introduced and costing millions in damage control, according to Reuben Keller of Loyola University’s Institute of Environmental Sustainability.

Recently, Keller described work to forecast invasive species that not only would become established but also cause economic damage.

“The cost of invaders is so high and the cost of introduction (of a species) is so low that it pays to do risk assessment,” Keller said, during the recent Governor’s Conference on the Illinois River System.

While Keller has focused on invasive aquatic species, he told FarmWeek the same risk assessment could be applied to invasive plants.

In the Great Lakes region, one non-native aquatic species becomes established on average each year.

Not all introduced species become established and not all the established species cause economic impact, Keller cautioned. Efforts must be prioritized on those species with the greatest

Illinois’ notorious list The following flora and fauna made an Illinois’ invasive species list.

• Multiflora rose • Canada thistle • Johnsongrass • Wild boar (feral hog) • Asian carp (silver and bighead) • Soybean aphid • Emerald ash borer Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

potential to cause damage, he emphasized.

Keller’s definition of an invasive species is one that has been transported, reproduced, spread and caused economic/environmental impact. His goal is to identify high-risk species before they are introduced and encourage governments and agencies to work cooperatively to prevent that.

According to Keller, a species’ ability to live in our climate is the best indicator that it could become established. His group tested that indicator and was right 80 percent of the time.

An available food source is the best indicator that a species could cause negative impact after becoming estab-

lished, he said. That indicator also proved to be accurate 80 percent of the time.

Keller has tested the economic cost/benefit of preventing high-risk species introduction given the computer model’s 80 percent accuracy. “We know we won’t get it right all the time and will make mistakes, but we will get it right enough times to pay for it,” he said.

To test the cost/benefit analysis, Keller’s computer model was applied to U.S. reptile trade and the introduction of Burmese pythons that are causing environmental and economic problems in Florida.

Preventing the introduction of those snakes would have been “really worthwhile,” he noted.

Problems exist because states’ invasive species lists aren’t the same and result in gaps, according to Keller.

The “weakest-link state” could result in an invasive species spreading to other states because species don’t respect political boundaries, Keller said.

“We hope to give Great Lakes states and federal agencies scientific information and hope they will be more proactive on prevention of high-risk species introduction,” he concluded.

FarmWeek Page 6 Monday, October 14, 2013

CROPWATCHERS Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: Another fantastic week for harvesting, especially soybeans. After 1.3 inches of rain Oct. 5, everything dried out enough to start combining on Monday (Oct. 7). We harvested some corn and are waiting for the beans to dry out. Corn yields were very good. Moisture levels in the longer-season corn — anything above 108 days — have stayed in the upper 20s to lower 30s. I think a hard freeze will help dry the corn and green stems in the beans. Have a safe week.

Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: Harvest started to speed up around here last week. A few more beans are getting cut.

Bean yields have been a little above expectations. Corn harvest is going slowly. The moistures just aren’t coming down. People are still talking about 27 to 28 percent corn.

Hoping some dry weather and a little wind will dry it out. We are finding a little white mold in spots in the bean fields, which is hurting our yield some. I found some in the back of the field and was surprised it was there, so we are keeping our eye out. Be safe.

Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: Still haven’t finished a field of beans. Too many green beans found in the low spots.

Moisture is 11.5 to 12 percent.

Yields are a little less than anticipated, but about average. No corn has been done yet. Some winter wheat has been planted and some has already sprouted. Rain was forecast for the weekend (Oct. 12-13). Where was this rain in July and August? Be safe.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: Last week’s weather was perfect.

Many of the soybean fields disappeared. Corn is also being harvested at a rapid rate. My grandkids found my hiding spot for all of my snacks in the combine cab.

They love their combine rides.

Tillage is going well after recent rains. Lime and fertilizer is being spread.

Markets are in harvest pressure.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: Rain Friday (Oct. 4) added 0.7 of an inch to the October total of 1.5 inches. The north part of the county has had up to 4 inches.

Hay fields, pastures and lawns are very green. Many soybeans were cut by midweek. Corn harvest is moving on with yields that nobody predicted. Some producers are having problems with lodged fields. Moisture levels are coming down, but there are still some farms that have fields that are green, and the corn is still too wet to start.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: The lower humidity this week was a big help to the progression of soybean harvest.

Many acres of soybeans were taken out as farmers focused on harvesting soybeans instead of corn this week. Corn was also able to dry down in the field. The corn we harvested this week has ranged from 15 percent up to 28 percent moisture. We have been limited by the amount of acres we have that are dry enough to take to the grain elevator. With those constraints, we have been able to harvest 21 percent of our corn. Local closing bids for Oct. 10 were nearby corn, $4.14; fall 2014 corn, $4.44; nearby soybeans, $12.73; fall 2014 soybeans, $11.45.

Our thoughts and prayers go out the family of Vaughn Borchers who lost his life in a farming accident this week. Vaughn preceded me as a director on the FordIroquois Farm Bureau Board. He encouraged me to take advantage of the opportunities it would provide, which I tried to do.

Vaughn will be greatly missed!

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: After some rain last weekend, the weather warmed up and fields dried out. Sunny days have been great for soybean harvest. Soybean yields are good, but test weights have been running low. Soybean harvest is 50 percent complete in the area. Corn has been left alone this week, hoping that the warm temperatures will bring the corn moisture down. Corn harvest is 10 percent complete.

Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: We finished the last 40 acres of soybeans Wednesday. Yields ended up about 10 percent below our 10year average. Now we are concentrating on cornfields that were stressed by the dry weather in August. Stalk quality is a real problem. The variety we are harvesting now is yielding 230 bushels through the low areas and standing well.

Once you get part-way up the hill, the problems begin. Fields dropped to the 140bushel range and stalks are collapsing under their own weight. The rest of the corn is standing well, but the last thing we need now is a big windstorm.

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: Another beautiful harvest week. Most attention has shifted to soybean harvest. Fortyfive to 55 bushels are catching most fields. As I feared, replanted patches in corn are causing harvest problems with the late corn still in the mid-30s for moisture.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We did not receive any rain last week. We switched to soybean harvest and the first fields were much better than anticipated.

Moisture was 12 percent and the yields were above 60 bushels per acre. Corn yields are just as much of a surprise. Some fields have yielded in the low 200 bushels per acre range. Some dry fertilizer is being applied. It is still too warm to apply ammonia.

We are about 25 percent finished with harvest. We will need some good fall weather to finish harvest before the weather turns cold.

Please be safe this fall.

Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: Harvest is progressing across the area. Very little rain fell last weekend (Oct. 56) allowing harvest to push forward. Majority of the soybeans are ripe, and corn is not drying very well in the field. Some of the soybeans are yielding more than the corn did in 2012.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Another excellent week of harvest weather has allowed both corn and soybeans to be more than 50 percent completed. Yields remain good and prices reflect that trend. Timely, cool, summer weather and subsoil recharge got us through this year. We will need another recharge this fall/winter. Some fertilizer is being spread. Have you ever had such a good apple crop? Corn, $4.19; Jan., $4.34; fall ‘14, $4.47; soybeans, $12.60; Jan., $12.66; fall ‘14, $11.35; wheat, $6.29.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: Harvest is in full swing as the weather finally cooperated. We had 0.33 of an inch of rain last Saturday (Oct. 5). With USDA shutdown, I contacted area co-ops for harvest progress. Dean Killion of Premier Co-op reported 44 percent of corn and 37 percent of soybeans harvested as of Oct 9. Jon Carr of Topflight Milmine said 30 percent of corn and 25 percent of soybeans were harvested as of midweek, but should be 50 percent by weekend as many farmers were combining beans. Pam Jarboe of Topflight Bement reported they finished drying corn Sept. 25, 2012, while corn drying started Sept. 25, 2013. What a difference a year makes! Green stem is slowing down our bean harvest. Our first field went 51.3 bushels per acre at 12.8 percent. Finally found some dry 18 percent corn, as much of it is still 25 or so. Let’s be careful out there!

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: Another 0.2 of an inch in the gauge over two days last weekend (Oct. 5-6). It didn’t even slow up the combines.

Quite a bit of corn has been coming out at various moisture amounts and good yields, while others are trying their beans.

Wheat drills will be following soon. Still time to be careful as the machines keep rolling. Have a safe week.

Tom Ritter, Blue Mound, Macon County: It was a beautiful week of weather so farmers could harvest diligently. Corn harvest is probably approaching 40 percent complete in this area.

Beans are possibly about the same. The major push this week turned more to soybeans, as more acres matured. Overall, farmers are very pleased with the yields — a lot of 50s and 60s. Corn yields have also been very good, approaching or being more than 200 bushels per acre. The dryness in our immediate area was not as dramatic as it was in northern Macon County and to the north/northeast of there.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: Harvest has finally started moving forward across Coles County with big help from this week’s weather.

Yields are holding up where they were last week for both crops so far. Soybean harvest has made a big jump to around 33 percent complete and corn harvest looks to be around 25 percent. Early observations are that corn sidedressing and soybean fungicide paid off big this year. It is really great we get to learn things like that this year. It’s a stark contrast to last year’s lesson — that crops cannot handle extreme drought very well. As the rush starts, remember to stay safe.

Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: This past week has been rather dry. The heavy dews in the morning slowed harvest progress in the morning hours. Quite a bit of corn and beans being shelled. The beans have dropped down and are testing 12 to 13 percent.

Seems like the corn has had a massive drop in moisture with some 18s and 20s coming straight out of the field.

Overall, yields are better than most people thought for as dry as it has been the last couple of months. A little bit of tillage work, but not a massive amount yet. People are focusing on harvest. Might want to doublecheck your fire extinguishers and make sure they are pressured up and ready to go if you would happen to need one. Pray for the stability of the country and all of the financial turmoil we see in front of us. Hope they can get an ag bill put together.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: On Saturday (Oct. 5), showers moved through in the afternoon, which left about 0.7 of an inch of rain. A lot of beans were cut around the area last week. Yields are in the mid30s to low-50s, depending on maturity and maybe more so on planting date. The earlier-planted beans seem to be a little better. There has also been wheat sowed and some has already emerged. Everyone keep harvesting and stay safe.

Jeff Guilander, Jerseyville, Jersey County: Widespread harvest has finally arrived with soybeans taking center stage.

Moistures are from 11 to 16 percent and yields have been good but highly variable. Corn moisture is still hanging in the low 20s and some deterioration in the stalks is showing, making everyone a little more nervous. Another week of beans and I think everyone will be ready to finally get after this corn crop. Good luck and be safe.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: We had another good week of harvest weather. I received 0.2 of an inch Saturday (Oct. 5), while other parts of the county had up to 1 inch.

Temperatures were in the 80s. Corn and soybean harvest in the western part of the county has made good progress. Other areas have been slow due to delayed plantings of a wet spring.

Several fields of corn have green leaves, and first-crop soybeans are slow to dry down. A common complaint is the slow field dry down of the corn. The driest corn we harvested has been 20 percent. Soybean yields have been ranging from 40 to 60 bushels per acre. With good field and weather conditions, additional wheat fields have been planted. Local grain bids are corn, $4.07; soybeans, $12.87; wheat, $6.63. Have a safe week.

Page 7 Monday, October 14, 2013 FarmWeek

CROPWATCHERS Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: This week we have had cool nights and mild days. Showers moved thru the area on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 5), leaving 0.5 of an inch to 7 inches of rain. In spite of this, harvest has resumed for the earlyplanted crops. Harvest for the later-planted crops will be awhile, as some bean fields are totally green.

Yields are a pleasant surprise considering weather conditions during the growing season. Some wheat has been sown.

Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: We got another 1.7 inches of rain last Saturday (Oct. 5), but it hasn’t rained since. Bean harvest is finally getting cranked up. Yields on these early varieties are respectable, considering, but sure not bragging material. Afraid later ones may drop off. Wheat sowing is getting started also.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: We received 3.5 to 5.5 inches of rain slowing harvest over the weekend (Oct. 5-6).

Corn harvest started as soon as ground conditions allowed. The rain didn’t seem to affect the stalks as much as I thought.

Bean harvest resumed later in the week. The first beans I cut yielded well, even though my stand wasn’t the best. Wheat sowing will start as soon as soil conditions allow.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: Busy week sums it up! The past weekend (Oct. 5-6) we got a good rain (only about a month late) with amounts from 2.5 to 3.5 inches.

We were back in the field two days later. Corn is finally drying down and a lot of beans are ready to cut. Started sowing wheat. It is going in well, as we no-till it and use a burndown after planting.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: The weather was pretty nice for harvest last week, and we got a lot done. It seems like yields are going to be good, and everybody is happy about that. Some wheat is ready to sow, so it has been a busy week here in Jackson County.

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: We received about 2.5 inches of rain over the weekend (Oct. 5-6), but some areas of the county received more than 5 inches. We got back in the cornfields Tuesday afternoon. We cut beans Thursday. We are about 40 percent finished with our corn and about 20 percent finished with soybeans.

Yields so far for corn have been good, except for a few hybrids that had some pollination issues during the dry weather in July.

Soybean yields are running at roughly 60 bushels per acre on the Group III’s that we have cut so far. Hopefully, the later beans will hold that yield. Please take time and be careful as we go through this busy season.

Millipedes, sow bugs, pill bugs may invade homes

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

Millipedes, sow bugs and pill bugs are common fall home invaders. They are arthropods, cousins o f i n s e c t s.

These creatures do not intentionally invade homes, but may do so as they wander Kevin Black around, looking for sheltered places to overwinter.

Millipedes, sow bugs and pill bugs prefer moist, but not wet environments with decaying plant and organic matter.

This often describes flower beds and ornamental plantings around homes. Thousands of these arthropods may be just inches away from our homes for most of the year.

M i l l i p e d e s h ave t u b u l a r shaped bodies with two pairs of legs per body segment. They

BY KEVIN BLACK

have a multiple-year life cycle.

Millipedes may have up to 200 pairs of legs at maturity. Body segments and legs are added as the millipedes mature.

Sow bugs and pill bugs are ter restrial cr ustaceans that resemble little armadillos with overlapping rounded plates over their backs. When disturbed, sow bugs and pill bugs will often roll into a ball for protection. Sow bugs typically have seven pairs of legs.

Millipedes, sow bugs and pill bugs sometimes move in with us if it gets either too wet or too dry in their outdoor environment. However, once these little creatures get inside, it is too dry for them and there is little food, so they die. In some seasons, many milli-

pedes, sow bugs or pill bugs will crowd into cor ners of garages or basements before dying. As they die, millipedes for m a flat coil shape. Sow bugs and pill bugs curl into little balls as they die.

Insecticide perimeter treatments around the house foundation will often reduce the number of millipedes, sow bugs and pill bugs that invade our homes. Remember that these arthropods serve a useful func-

tion outdoors, so don’t overdo the insecticide treatments.

Indoors, a broom and dustpan or vacuum cleaner is a g ood way to deal with the invaders. There is no reason to use insecticides against millipedes, sow bugs or pill bugs inside the house.

Ke vin Bla ck is GROW MARK’s insect and plant disease technical manager. His email address is kblack@growmark.com.

FS propane road shows scheduled Propane autogas represents an increasingly popular alternative transportation fuel. The environmentally-friendly fuel will occupy center stage at GROWMARK Inc. Propane Autogas Road Shows Tuesday.

Two events get underway Tuesday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Sangamon County Farm Bureau in Springfield and 1 to 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Conference Center in Bloomington. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Scott Long, GROWMARK propane market-

ing and business development manager, will speak along with Robert Little with Roush CleanTech. Ryan Zic and Ben Hanewinkel of Central States Bus Sales will discuss a nationwide trend toward propane buses.

Propane-powered buses, service trucks and vehicles will be on display. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in demonstrations of the vehicles.

To register or get more information, contact Scott Long at 309-557-6379 or slong@growmark.com.

November immigration debate seen as possible

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Amid the federal shutdown, many g overnment ser vices have slowed to a trickle.

What’s picked up, by latest accounts, is the flow of foreign-born “illegals” across U.S. borders.

Immigration reform offers an overstressed, resource-constrained government the best option for dealing with that renewed flow, according to American Farm Bureau Federation policy specialist Kristi Boswell.

That’s one of the messages ag interests, including Illinois Far m Bureau, will take to Capitol Hill this month.

Informa Economics’ Jim Wiesemeyer sees immigration as “just another little tidbit” on Congress’ post-shutdown,

pre-holiday platter. Boswell’s more optimistic, noting House Democrat introduction of

ber or early October,” she told FarmWeek.

“Depending on how long

‘We all knew this fiscal debate was going to happen. None of us really expected anything to happen in September or early October.’

— Kristi Boswell their version of Senate-proposed measures and talk of four added pieces of the jigsaw-style House Republican plan are in the “drafting stage.”

“We all knew this fiscal debate was going to happen.

None of us really expected anything to happen in Septem-

AFBF policy specialist

this debate goes, it does start to impact any calendar opening for immigration reform.

But I’m still hopeful there will be a period of time in early November prior to Thanksgiving recess, or possibly when (lawmakers) return after that, depending again on how they address the debt ceiling or

(continuing budget resolution).”

House leaders appear to realize immigration refor m “will be a really hard feat to do in an election year,” she said.

Both the Senate and House have offered new ag g u e s t wo r ke r p r o p o s a l s.

Boswell cites “severe” farm labor shortages this season.

M i c h i g a n p r o d u c e r s h a ve struggled to raise a workforce for the apple har vest, and California’s breadbasket produce industry cites continued challenges.

That’s despite reports that U. S. B o r d e r Pa t r o l a g e n t s apprehended 388,422 people trying to enter without documents during the 11 months ending in August, versus 364,768 apprehensions over the prior 12 months.

Wiesemeyer argues only 20 percent of House districts have significant percentages of “illegal Hispanic voters” and thus feel little pressure to enact refor ms. But Boswell believes that “unless they’re on the far (political) extreme,” most lawmakers realize “the system is broken.”

Current House proposals would require not only that U.S. points of entry are secure but also that “appropriate metrics are in place to make sure they are secure,” Boswell said.

“We have to get our arms wrapped around this, and we need to fix the system,” she argued. “Otherwise, it’s going to continue to deteriorate. It’s going to get worse before it gets better, if Congress fails to act.”

SPECIALTY CROPS

FarmWeek Page 8 Monday, October 14, 2013

Pumpkins family farm specialty for 25 years

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Bumper pumpkin and squash crops are helping a family specialty farm mark its 25th growing season.

Bruce and Mary Beth Condill, their three sons and wives, and eight grandchildren are busy at The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur. Unlike other crops, pumpkins aren’t phased by drought.

“Pumpkins love dry, hot weather,” said Mac Condill, one of the Condill sons. Mac and his wife, Ginny, own and operate the farm’s Homestead Bakery.

This year’s squash crop also is strong and storing very well, Mac added.

While the farming operation has expanded over the years, pumpkins receive special attention. Visitors may pick their pumpkins in the field or chose from an array at the farm.

Pumpkin baked goods and pumpkin ice cream are offered as well.

A special feature this fall is a huge pumpkin tower similar to the one displayed at the White House in 2010.

The bakery serves madefrom-scratch baked goods year-round. During September and October, the bakery is open daily. The rest of the year it is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Another farm enterprise is Homestead Seeds, owned by Mac and Ginny.

Homestead Seeds sells seed for nearly 200 varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds from 30 countries. The seed is sold online and at the farm.

“As near as we can tell, no one in the world grows that many varieties,” said Bruce Condill.

The farm also works with seed companies to test different varieties.

The Great Pumpkin Patch is open through Nov. 3.

For more information, visit {the200acres.com}.

Ab ov e: The Great Pumpkin Patch owner Bruce Condill, right, and his son Mac, one of three Condill brothers, stroll past a huge pumpkin tower similar to one displayed at the White House in 2010. The family farm business is marking its 25th growing season.

Right: The variety of pumpkins and gourds grown on the farm in Arthur decorate the farmyard and family barn. (Photos by Ken Kashian)

Global food security issues discussed

Ending world hunger and poverty by 2045 might seem like a daunting challenge. Farmer/philanthropist Howard G. Buffett and his son, Howard W., will share their plan to achieve that goal at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 28 at the InterContinental in Chicago.

The Buffetts direct the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

They plan to invest more than $3 billion to find solutions to global food and water security issues. The father/son duo will share thoughts on global food security issues and provide opportunities for others to engage in the mission of ending world hunger.

Register for the event by Oct. 22 at {www.thechicagocouncil.org/Files/Event/FY14_Events/10_October/40_Chances_ _Finding_Hope_in_a_Hungry_World.aspx}.

Travel with other Farmers!

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YMT Vacations has been issued license #CT-2013-301339-1 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. *Price per person, double occupancy. Plus add-on airfare to Miami from departure city. Space is limited, while supply lasts.

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FROM THE COUNTIES

Page 9 Monday, October 14, 2013 FarmWeek

Harvest in full swing; yields encouraging

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Harvest activity picked up last week as lateplanted crops finally dried down to acceptable levels at numerous locations.

“Right now, we’re in full swing,” Carl Reum, a farmer from Gibson City, told FarmWeek on Thursday as he harvested corn. “Things are going good. By (the first of this week) we should be over 50 percent done with both corn and beans.”

Reum’s corn on Thursday tested just 16 percent for moisture. Bean moisture last week started off around 12 percent during the mornings and dipped to single digits later each day on his farm.

Harvest progress estimates were unavailable from USDA last week due to the partial shutdown of the federal government.

Traders estimated corn harvest was about 22 percent complete and about 20 percent of beans were cut as of the first of last week. Corn harvest by the end of last week was projected to be about one-third complete.

“We’re really in the early stages,” Dale Durchholz, AgriVisor senior market analyst, said last week. “We’re getting no official data from the government right now.”

Yield reports so far suggest farmers could harvest an above-average corn crop and at least an average soybean crop. USDA last month pegged crop production at a record 13.8 billion bushels of corn and 3.15 billion bushels of beans.

Durchholz predicted national yields could

average in the high 150s for corn and between 41 and 42 bushels per acre for beans.

“The early experience with the crops generally is that yields are better than people thought they would be,” Durchholz said.

But we haven’t gotten into harvesting some of the poorer crops in (drought-stressed) Iowa and Minnesota, so we’ll find some (yield) drag,” he continued. “And all of the beans harvested so far were planted early. A lot was planted in June that probably won’t yield as well.”

Reum reported corn yields on his farm are much better than last year, but bean yields are averaging 36 to 50 bushels per acre compared to 50-plus last year.

“Dry weather in our area hurt the beans,” he said. “It never rained in August.”

Traders last week not only lacked harvest information from USDA but also supply and demand estimates that were supposed to be released Friday. USDA suspended its supply/demand report Friday due to the shutdown.

“I certainly think the market has been affected by the lack of information,” said Rich Nelson, director of research at Allendale Inc. in McHenry. “Overall, (traders) are doing the best they can to get by.”

Nelson predicted USDA will maintain strong supply estimates once the government reopens, which will put the focus on demand.

“It looks like yields will be increased, but that should be countered by lower acreage,” Nelson added. “So I see little change to supply (estimates) from the September report.”

Corn stalk quality is a concern; Asian soybean rust a nonissue

Farmers avoided an early frost this year, but crops left out in fields still are at risk.

The late-season drought deteriorated the quality of cornstalks and any combination of rain, wind or other severe weather literally could flatten some fields prior to harvest.

“Stalk quality is bad (at some locations),” Kevin Black, GROWMARK insect/plant disease technical manager, told FarmWeek.

“A lot of (corn) fields have standability issues, particularly where drought conditions were most severe.”

Black recommended farmers scout fields and prioritize remaining corn harvest based on ‘Stalk quality is fields with the most stalk quality issues to reduce the risk of addibad. A lot of tional crop damage. (corn) fields have The National Agricultural Statistics Service Illinois field office, s t a n d a b i l i t y prior to the partial government issues.’ shutdown, rated the condition of the corn crop in the state on Sept. 30 as 10 percent poor or — Kevin Black very poor, 28 percent fair and 62 GROWMARK percent good to excellent.

“We’ve got rain in the forecast,” Black said on Thursday. “Any delays of corn harvest mean that much more could fall over.”

The soybean crop, on the other hand, is not at risk of yield reduction due to Asian soybean rust, which recently was confirmed in four southern Illinois counties (Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union).

The majority of the soybean crop (71 percent) in the state was mature late last month prior to the arrival of rust.

“It (the late-season finding of soy rust in Illinois) is pretty much a nonissue,” Black said. “We’re basically talking about a detection, not a serious problem.”

However, soy rust is prevalent in Alabama and Mississippi, where it could overwinter on kudzu.

“With the buildup of rust (along the Gulf Coast), if we happen to have a mild winter (in the south), rust could be an issue in 2014,” Black noted.

Illinois is the 12th state with a confirmed rust detection this year. The disease has been found in 283 counties nationwide.

Last year, soy rust was confirmed in 385 counties in 13 states nationwide. — Daniel Grant

C

OLES — Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members will host a holiday make and take at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Farm Bureau office.

Cost is $25. Call the Farm Bureau office at 345-3276 by Nov. 1 to register.

• Farm Bureau will sponsor basic computer classes from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 12-14 at the Workforce Development Center. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Call the Farm Bureau office at 345-3276 by Nov. 1 to register.

ONROE — Farm Bureau will co-sponsor a calf sale at 4 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. A cattle clinic including judging and fitting demonstrations will begin at noon.

EORIA — Farm Bureau will host an equine round table at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Farm Bureau auditorium.

• Farm Bureau will sponsor a bus trip to Williamsburg, Iowa, Nov. 6. The trip will include tours of Jon Kinzebaw’s antique tractor collection, the Kinze Innovation Center and Kinze Manufacturing plant. Cost is $30 for members.

TARK — Farm Bureau will sponsor a photo

M P S

contest. The winning photograph will be used on the cover of the 2014 plat book. The entry deadline is Nov. 29. Call the Farm Bureau office at 2867481 or email starkcfb@agviewfs.com for contest rules and entry forms.

TEPHENSON — Farm Bureau is taking orders for Terri Lynn nuts and candies. Orders are due by Friday. Order forms are available at the Farm Bureau office or at {stephensoncfb.org}.

• Farm Bureau will sponsor Stroke Detection Plus health screenings from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Farm Bureau office. Members will receive a discount. Call 877732-8258 to schedule an appointment.

• Farm Bureau and Stephenson Service Company’s annual meeting will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 26 at Highland Community College Student Conference Center. Abe Trone will discuss the Illinois Farm Bureau European Union Animal Care Study Tour he participated in and the Freeport High School varsity choir will perform. Call the Farm Bureau office at 232-3186 for reservations.

S

PROFITABILITY

FarmWeek Page 10 Monday, October 14, 2013

Tips to ensure trouble-free diesel engine operability this winter

As I write this article, the daytime temps are in the 70s and 80s and drop down to the 50s during the evening. So, why would we want to discuss cold temperature management for diesel fuel?

Starting the management process now can help ensure trouble-free diesel Mark Dehner engine operability this winter. Exercising good fuel management practices early will help you avoid the unexpected surprise of diesel fuel gelling when temperatures drop.

BY MARK DEHNER

Heavy, straight-chain hydrocarbons (n-paraffins) prevalent in today’s diesel fuel have low solubility and easily precipitate out in the form of wax crystals as fuel temperatures cool during the cold winter months.

The wax crystals can plug diesel fuel filters and restrict the fuel flow to an engine resulting in loss of power, engine stalling or the inability to start.

The traditional fix has been to blend conventional No. 2 diesel fuel with lighter, less dense, No. 1 diesel fuel to diffuse the wax and lower the operability temperature range.

However, a reduced supply is making No. 1 diesel fuel more expensive and increasingly difficult to find. Furthermore,

Conference to highlight farmland markets What dynamics are driving tomorrow’s market for farmland?

Farm owners and operators will find answers to this question at the Farmland Markets Conference from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Nov. 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign.

Presented by the TIAA-CREF Center for Farmland Research at the University of Illinois, the conference will feature Joseph Glauber, chief economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, addressing factors influencing commodity prices and revenue generated by farmland for both owners and operators.

U of I agricultural economists Gary Schnitkey and Bruce Sherrick will explore how the financial risk in land is shared and trends in farmland performance as a financial asset for both owners and operators.

The registration fee is $85 per person through Oct. 31. The fee will be $99 after that date. The conference will include vendor exhibits and a buffet lunch. To register, visit {agengage.com/farmlandmarkets2013}.

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

This Week NA *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm

Last Week NA

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live

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

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

This week NA NA

Prev. week NA NA

Change NA NA

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 NA NA NA

Lamb prices NA

NA prices due to federal shutdown.

Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 10/07/2013 30.6 29.8 25.3 9/26/2013 14.3 33.0 21.9 Last year 31.3 13.2 17.3 Season total 66.5 526.3 93.6 Previous season total 77.0 369.0 100.0 USDA projected total 1370 1100 1225 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

No. 1 diesel fuel contains a lower energy content causing decreased fuel economy.

Choosing a robust Cold Flow Improver (CFI) additive to blend with diesel fuel is an effective solution for eliminating or reducing the use of No. 1 diesel fuel. CFI additives can be very effective at improving low temperature operability without reducing the fuel’s energy content or fuel economy. They essentially modify the size and shape of wax crystals, enabling the treated fuel to flow through a vehicle’s fuel system and fuel filter. Vehicles

can operate at temperatures well below the diesel fuel’s cloud point.

In addition to wax modifying and wax anti-settling characteristics, top performing chemistry also contains a deicer for icing caused by troublesome moisture and lubricity agents for added protection of fuel pumps and injectors.

A few other fuel management best practices include: • Check storage tank for both sludge and moisture, and physically remove if discovered.

• Start the treatment

process early so when cold temperatures arrive your diesel fuel is fully fortified.

• Keep storage tanks full to prevent unwanted moisture from condensing inside the tank.

Your local FS energy salesperson is an excellent source of additional information and can assist you in developing a plan for operating your diesel equipment during cold temperatures.

Mark Dehner is GROWMARK’s refined and renewable fuels marketing manager. His email address is mdehner@growmark.com.

Cattle losses could have little impact on market

at Allendale Inc. in McHenry. “It shouldn’t be that much of an issue (for total beef supplies).”

An early season blizzard that devastated numerThe situation in South Dakota could get ous cattle operations in South Dakota and the worse, though. Russ Daly, South Dakota State Plains is expected to have little impact on markets.

University Extension veterinarian, said more The surprise blizzard dumped as much as 2 to cattle could get sick and die in the weeks ahead.

4 feet of snow at some locations. Some farmers, “After mortalities are disposed of and the lost who were unable to round up their cattle herds cattle return to pastures, ranchers may still face prior to the problems with storm, lost a sigtheir animals in nificant amount the days and ‘That’s a large number (of losses in SD) weeks of animals. following but nationwide it’s a drop in the bucket.’ the storm,” “This early season, recordDaly said. setting blizzard “Respiratory — Rich Nelson diseases in catis devastating to Allendale, Inc. our producers tle generally and our have an incubathoughts are with them,” said Lucas Lentsch, tion period of seven to 14 days,” he continued.

South Dakota secretary of agriculture. “We are “Therefore, ranchers might expect that cattle working to coordinate with ag industry stakehold- affected by the blizzard could break with these ers to establish and execute a response plan.” illnesses over the next two weeks.”

Cattle losses in the Plains, caused by a combinaLive cattle prices were buoyed early last week tion of a dramatic drop in temperature and suffoby reports that cash values continued to hold cation in the deep snow, were estimated at 100,000 firm despite the government shutdown and subhead, including 60,000 head in South Dakota. sequent lack of marketing information, accordSome cattle ranchers reportedly lost as much ing to the CME Group Daily Livestock Report. as 50 percent of their herds. Overall, the blizBut prices likely will remain in a sideways zard killed an estimated 1.5 percent of South pattern until USDA reopens its data reporting Dakota’s cattle herd. services, Nelson noted.

“That’s a large number (of cattle losses in “In the past when we had extended governSouth Dakota), but nationwide, it’s a drop in the ment shutdowns in 1995 and 1978, we saw catbucket,” said Rich Nelson, director of research tle prices drop,” he added.

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Hog packers scramble to establish settlement prices

Hog packers have scrambled this month to establish fair settlement prices in the absence of USDA market data that was suspended by the government shutdown.

And, despite a bevy of alternate settlement mechanisms used so far, the market has remained quite stable, according to Ron Plain, livestock economist at the University of Missouri.

“A lot of packers are scrambling to come up with alternatives to USDA market information not being reported,” Plain told FarmWeek. “It’s a situation where packers have to fill in (data gaps) with something. They’re trying to be fair about it.”

Smithfield is using CME Group Futures contracts to help establish prices paid to hog farmers.

CME Group last week reported that, if relevant data is not available for Oct. 11 and Oct. 14 by Tuesday, then the final settlement for October 2013 lean hog futures and options contracts will be calculated by using the volume weighted average price of trades that occur from Oct. 11-14.

CME Group also will increase surveillance of lean hog futures to prevent price manipulation.

Cargill, meanwhile, will use the pork cutout value quoted

by Urner Barry — a business publisher that reports market news and quotes to clients in the meat industry — to calculate an implied lean hog price, Reuters news service reported.

Plain believes the situation in the hog markets has been handled well so far.

“Trading in the futures mar-

kets has been quite stable,” he said. “There have been no big fluctuations.”

He also noted that packers still possess much of the key information required to establish fair prices.

“People who know quite a bit about what’s going on are packers,” Plain said. “They know how many (head) are killed, what they’re paying and packers trade futures contracts.

So, they have quite a bit of information about what’s going on.”

Plain believes hog slaughter numbers and prices will remain in line with what analysts expected prior to the government shutdown.

He predicted U.S. hog production will be profitable in the fourth quarter this year through at least the third quarter next year. — Daniel Grant

PROFITABILITY

Page 11 Monday, October 14, 2013 FarmWeek

CASH STRATEGIST

Eye popping corn/soy yields

The trade has been bombarded with reports of very good yields for corn and soybeans over the last week. With the harvest for both exceeding 33 percent, the trade is increasingly thinking the preponderance of these high yields indicates the next USDA report and the final one will project higher yields for this year’s crops.

Still, that’s not to say all of the yields are good. We hear poor ones along with the good ones. Nevertheless, the good ones are more numerous and generally much better than producers expected to find.

With that, we took another look at the details of USDA’s September crop report, to give us a perspective on what future reports might say. The details of the October report would have helped clarify the situation.

For corn, if one uses an average ear count decline and the 5-year average ear weight prior to last year, the national corn yield could be 7 to 8 bushels higher than the 155.3 September estimate. Using the average ear weight of the last five years, including last year, the yield would be 2 bushels higher. Reality is somewhere in between, but we don’t believe it will be more than 2004’s thenrecord 160.4 bushel yield.

The potential shift for soybeans is a more difficult call, in part because pod counts increase through the reports, especially from September to October. And this year, USDA projected a record pod weight on the September report. That will come down.

Last year’s pod count change was close to the normal 8 percent increase. Using that and an average pod weight implies yields should increase about 1 bushel from USDA’s current 41.2. And, there’s a possibility it could be 1 1/2 bushels higher.

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Corn Strategy

ü2013 crop: The drop to new lows keeps the shortterm trend pointed down, a trend that’s likely to remain in place into December’s 20week low. The next selling opportunity may not come until well into the new calendar year. Use rallies into the high $4.30s on December futures to make needed sales. ü2014 crop: The move to a new low may have eliminated any near-term pricing opportunity. We think there will be an opportunity to begin pricing the crop over $5 on December 2014 futures in early 2014. For now, we are reluctant to sell weakness. vFundamentals: Yield reports continue to be very good, suggesting the national yield is higher than the USDA September forecast. The barrage of excellent reports is leading many to think it could be significantly higher, offsetting the expected reduction in acreage. In addition, demand expectations have taken a hit this past week with the leaking of an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to lower the ethanol mandate for 2014.

Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2013 crop: The late week break may have ended any chance of seeing a near-term rally. Use a rally over $12.75 to make needed sales. But, we are reluctant to chase prices lower to add to sales, seeing another opportunity again in early 2014.

Meanwhile, this break could carry futures to $12 by year’s end. ü2014 crop: The higher soybean/corn price ratio is stimulating plantings in South America, and maybe in the U.S. next spring. Price the first 10 percent if November 2014 futures rebound to $11.90. vFundamentals: The early soybean yield reports are even more shocking to the trade than the ones for corn. Like corn, the potentially better yield may offset a small loss in acreage, keeping production at or above the last forecast. Demand is good, but it’s important to note export shipments are behind the early pace of the last three years. U.S. producers are behind their usual new-crop

sales pace, while Argentine farmers have more than usual old crop to price.

Wheat Strategy

ü2013 crop: Continue to use rallies over $6.95 on Chicago December futures to get sales to 70 percent complete. If you didn’t make the sale, use a rally over $6.90 to get caught up. If wheat is farm stored, consider a winter delivery with a hedge-to-arrive contract based on March futures to capture some additional storage income. ü2014 crop: Leave an order to make a 10 percent sale if Chicago July futures reach $7.05.

vFundamentals: The talk in wheat continues to surround potential demand. Brazil, Argentina, Russia and Ukraine are the countries most often mentioned in the discussion, with Brazil being the potential buyer. The others may not have as much to sell, especially Argentina. But it is important to note Egypt did cancel a tender last week because they thought the offering prices were too high. In that regard, it is important to note the world is not short of wheat.

Nevertheless, our export shipments remain very good.

PERSPECTIVES

FarmWeek Page 12 Monday, October 14, 2013

What is different about local foods?

Cooperative guiding principles remain intact Ace Hardware. Blue Diamond almonds.

Your local credit union. Rural electric providers. The GROWMARK System.

Believe it or not, these seemingly unrelated businesses all have one major thing in common — they are cooperatives.

Cooperative businesses operate under a set of principles set forth hundreds of years ago and are still followed today. These seven guidelines set cooperatives JOHN REIFSTECK apart from other business structures.

The first four principles — voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, and autonomy and independence — are instructions on how the business is to be run.

Individuals wanting to utilize the services of a cooperative are allowed to join. Members of the cooperative run the business through an elected board of directors. They also receive patronage benefits in proportion to the business they conduct with the cooperative. Each cooperative is an autonomous organization controlled by its elected directors.

These principles involving day-to-day details are important, but they don’t stop there. The final three outline what I feel are the most important aspects of cooperatives.

Principle No. 5 is education, training and information.

Cooperatives provide education and training not only for their members, but also for employees, managers, directors and commu-

Economic knowledge required for politicians

Editor: Economics is so very important whether you are talking about family, business or government. Some people have trouble realizing or understanding the simplest rule of economics: income must exceed expenses.

If you’re in business and don’t or can’t grasp it, you’re shortly out of business. If you’re a family or government, you’re shortly in debt.

nities. FS crop specialists and energy specialists are constantly educated with the most current technical and safety information in order to provide the knowledge and services customers need.

Cooperation among cooperatives is the sixth principle. By working together, cooperatives can serve their members more effectively. Examples of this principle are played out often in the GROWMARK System.

We’ve created partnerships, especially in our grain businesses, which allow for greater efficiency and expanded market access.

By working together, we achieve more than what each can do independently.

The last cooperative principle — concern for community — is what I believe truly sets cooperatives apart from any other type of business. Cooperative employees live and work in the same communities as the members they serve.

By volunteering as 4-H leaders, serving on school boards, coaching Little League or supporting a local family in need, our employees work hand in hand with local residents to make our communities stronger.

From the 1920s when Farm Bureau members formed the first FS cooperatives until today when the GROWMARK System is a thriving member of the agriculture industry, working together has truly been the key to success for both organizations.

Thank you for your continued support of your local FS cooperative. Please join us as we celebrate National Cooperative Month during October.

John Reifsteck is GROWMARK’s Chairman of the Board and President.

What’s different about local foods anyway? Fifteen years ago, it was easy to dismiss the whole idea as a trendy food fashion, but now we’re talking upwards of $8 billion a year in sales.

Local foods are no longer sold only in small-scale retail farmers’ markets, but have made their way into wholesale food distribution.

On the surface, it seems like a classic response by agricultural proGARY MATTESON ducers to supguest columnist ply marketplace demand. Probing deeper, there are diverse influencers and institutions that have helped make the market for local foods, and that is part of why local foods are different than conventional crops.

For years, many groups outside of agriculture have influenced ag policy. In these cases, unlikely political coalitions are based on a common interest in natural resources.

Yet for coalitions effecting local foods policy, the ties that bind connect a different cast of influencers. Many of the players are “social entrepreneurship” ventures that use market mechanisms to achieve social goals.

The “entrepreneurship” aspect allows for marketresponsive innovation, while the “social goals” component strives to influence individual behaviors and benefit the community. Social entrepreneurship ventures are often nonprofit organizations seeking broad community, social or environmental objectives.

Newly created marketing channels for local foods include farm-to-school, farmto-hospital, Community Supported Agriculture, food hubs, e-commerce aggregators and virtual markets. Consumer alliances and healthy food

advocates promoted these solutions, which attracted the attention of big health care providers.

Innovative programs such as doctors’ prescriptions for fresh vegetables purchased at farmers’ markets to combat diabetes and obesity illustrated the power of local foods to improve lives. The social entrepreneurship aspect of local foods has become an essential part of its nature.

Local foods will continue to be different into the future.

First, the nature of local foods and related activities will lead to the emergence of “Retail Agriculture” as a distinct sector separate from traditional commodity production, encompassing local foods, organic, sustainable and directto-retail sales.

Second, product identity and farm practices descriptions will continue the information-rich character of local foods.

Third, public and private social entrepreneurship ventures will persist as key innovators in developing new marketing channels for farmers to sell directly to diverse household and institutional consumers.

Projecting the future of local food begins with understanding its unique attributes.

Retail agriculture will likely follow the same long-term cost curve as conventional agriculture: technological innovation will increase productivity, allowing efficient food processing and transportation to produce safe, abundant food.

Our common future will need the miracle of conventional agriculture’s productivity.

There is every reason to expect that retail agriculture will grow in capacity and influence.

ness experience, so as to understand economics. It’s immensely important when you borrow money to have some plans as to how and when you will pay

it back, rather than leaving it for future generations to solve the problem.

DON ELLINGSON Popular Grove

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

If a family or government borrows money with no increase in income, they’re instantly in debt and will go deeper into debt. Why are there so many people, both in and out of government, who don’t understand that?

The best way to learn economics is to have been involved in business. How many of our presidents have had any business experience?

Most of our recent presidents have been career politicians.

One should learn economics first and then get into politics.

That hasn’t been happening.

Harry Truman farmed before he got into politics and later ran a haberdashery. This taught him practical economics. After the depression of the ‘30s and then the costly Second World War, his common sense knowledge of economics helped the nation finally start on the road to recovery. He was the right man at the right time because he understood economics.

It would be great if we could require anyone running for president to have had busi-

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All letters are subject to editing, and only an original with a written signature and complete

Gary Matteson is vice president of Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach at the Farm Credit Council.

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