15 DAYS REMAIN UNTIL THE NOV. 6 ELECTION
FaRmeRS at thiS year’s Illinois Commodity Conference will be encouraged to work together for the common good of the industry. ...........................................2
Monday, October 22, 2012
a NeW WeaN-to-FiNiSh barn will increase the cash flow for a Carlinville family and it also opens the door for a son to remain in the family operation. ..................5
Two sections Volume 40, No. 43
NRCS handling ‘hodgepodge’ of conservation authorities cations for the Environmental Quality Incentives ProRecord CSP gram (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive enrollment Program (WHIP). BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Periodicals: Time Valued
The Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is signing up farmers for some popular conservation programs but not for others because of the farm bill’s expiration, the state conservationist told the Illinois Farm Bureau Board of Directors last week. “We’re kind of stuck Ivan Dozier in a hodgepodge,” Ivan Dozier said of his agency’s extended authority for some programs but not others. Farmers should not anticipate a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) offering, he said. “Our authority expired; we’re not allowed to do any more signup,” Dozier said. Likewise, authority for the Wetland Reserve Program also expired. But NRCS is taking appli-
Earlier in the year, Congress extended NRCS’ authority for EQIP, WHIP, and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) through 2014, Dozier noted. “We are going to go ahead and run with those programs,” he added. Although final numbers were not available, preliminary data showed Illinois made strides in acreage and dollars invested in conservation last fiscal year, according to Dozier. Illinois received about a $1.9 million increase for conservation programs. “We hadn’t been able to do that before,” Dozier noted. Statewide, about $14.2 million was obligated for EQIP, including $2.1 million for an air quality initiative in northeast suburban and metro east counties. Dozier attributed much of the EQIP increase to practices related to livestock, such as watering systems and grazing enhancements. About 64 percent of the state’s EQIP funding was spent on practices related to livestock, he said. Illinois experienced major growth in CSP. About $4.7 million was obligated for roughly 228,000 acres. “It was the biggest (CSP) enrollment that we’ve ever done,” Dozier said. The previous year’s enrollment was 178,000 acres. Dozier thanked IFB for its support of conservation programs and for comments on issues. “I’ve been glad to hear feedback that there are opportunities we can work on,” he said.
Farming partners Ron Vieth, left, and Kyle Brase discuss wheat sowing progress last week during a break in a field south of Alhambra in Madison County. Brase estimated their wheat planting was 70 percent complete prior to rainstorms the middle of last week. Brase believes farmers in his area could plant as much as 25 percent more wheat this fall than they did last year. (Photo by Daniel Grant)
Wheat planting accelerates; acres could grow
a lot higher quality product.” Farmers also may be planting more wheat to Interest in wheat production is strong this fall take advantage of nitrogen in the soil that was and acres could grow from a year ago, according unused by the drought-stressed corn crop, to growers who recently stepped up the pace of according to Steve Stallman, a wheat grower from winter wheat planting in Illinois. Chester (Randolph County) and IWA president. Kyle Brase, a grower from Edwardsville “I’m anticipating a few more acres this year,” (Madison County) and secretary of the Illinois he said. Wheat Association (IWA), last week said wheat Wheat acres in Illinois from 2002 to 2012 averplanting was about 70 percent complete in his aged 760,000 per year. But farmers this year hararea. vested just 630,000 acres compared to 765,000 “There’s a lot more interest in wheat this year,” acres in 2011. Brase said. “It’s competing for acres.” “Wheat planting started later than normal as a Brase farms in an area where many farmers lot of soybeans, with the late-season moisture, make wheat acreage decisions on a year-by-year took a second growth and had green stems, which basis, depending in part on the economics of delayed soybean harvest,” Stallman said. “But wheat production, seed quality and availability, we’ve had good progress recently, although it’s and fall planting conditions. been somewhat spotty (due to rain).” This year, he estimated Wheat planting as of the first of FarmWeekNow.com wheat acreage in his area could last week was 46 complete statewide View a video of Kyle Brase disincrease by as much as 25 percompared to the five-year average of c ussing wheat planting at cent. 48 percent. “I think there’s a couple dif- FarmWeekNow.com. “With the rains last week, more ferent things (driving renewed wheat was planted,” said Pete interest in wheat),” Brase said. Tekampe, a FarmWeek Cropwatch“The economics of wheat have been strong and er from Grayslake (Lake County). “The earlywe’re coming off a year in which quality was planted wheat on dry ground has emerged.” excellent.” Livestock producers also have renewed Intensive management is a key to increasing interest in wheat as the crop not only provides the likelihood of better yields and quality in straw, but also a possible feed grain next year wheat, he noted. that will be available two to four months before “If it needs more nitrogen or fungicide, we do corn harvest, added Brase, whose family operit,” Brase said. “When we do that, we end up with ates a dairy.
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com
Illinois Farm Bureau®on the web: www.ilfb.org
FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, October 22, 2012
Quick Takes BOARD OF TRADE SALE — Chicago-based CME Group last week agreed to acquire the Kansas City Board of Trade (KCBT). CME Group will pay $126 million in cash for KCBT, the leading futures market for hard red winter wheat. CME Group, as part of the agreement, will maintain a committee of KCBT market participants to advise on hard red wheat contract terms and conditions for at least three years. CME Group also agreed to maintain the KCBT trading floor in Kansas City for at least six months. “Building on two rich legacies, the combination of KCBT hard red winter wheat products with our deep and liquid Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat futures and options markets will provide new trading opportunities for market participants around the world,” said Terry Duffy, executive chairman of the CME Group. The KCBT Board of Directors unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close later this year. NEW TOOL TRACKS RESISTANCE — A new interactive map is helping Illinois far mers combat glyphosate resistance. Funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff, the online resource gives farmers access to detailed information about the most prevalent glyphosateresistant weeds in their counties. The tool also provides a photo gallery of weeds at various growth stages and links to a variety of related websites. The map, found at {ilsoy.org/wrm}, is free. No registration or login is required. The tool was developed through partnership between the Illinois Soybean Association and research teams at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Illinois. Currently, the map details the three most dominant glyphosate-resistant weeds in Illinois: common waterhemp, horseweed (marestail), and Palmer amaranth; however, there are plans to expand the content to include more weed species in the future. GROWMARK RANKS HIGH — GROWMARK ranked in the top 10 on two national rankings of cooperative businesses. GROWMARK this year ranked fifth on the NCB Coop 100 listing of the nation’s 100 highest revenue-earning cooperatives across all economic sectors. GROWMARK was ranked seventh on the 2011 list. Cooperatives in this year’s top 100 account for a combined revenue of more than $216 billion in 2011. The cooperative ranked fourth on the USDA list of the 100 largest agricultural cooperatives in the United States, a ranking which also was achieved in 2011. The cooperatives on this list combined for a total sales revenue of $148 billion. GROWMARK is a regional cooperative providing agriculture-related products and services, as well as grain marketing, in 31 states and Ontario, Canada.
(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 40 No. 43
October 22, 2012
Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers. FarmWeek is produced by the Illinois Farm Bureau. FarmWeek is published each week, except the Mondays following Thanksgiving and Christmas, by the Illinois Agricultural Association, 1701 Towanda Avenue, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61701. Illinois Agricultural Association assumes no responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products or services advertised in FarmWeek. FarmWeek is published by the Illinois Agricultural Association for farm operator members. $3 from the individual membership fee of each of those members go toward the production of FarmWeek.
Address subscription and advertising questions to FarmWeek, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702-2901. Periodicals postage paid at Bloomington, Illinois, and at an additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices on Form 3579 to FarmWeek, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702-2901. Farm Bureau members should send change of addresses to their local county Farm Bureau. © 2012 Illinois Agricultural Association
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 Linda Goltz (Lgoltz@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
EmErging issuEs Illinois Commodity Conference Nov. 20
Theme of event will focus on ‘Working Together’
BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Farmers face a number of challenges, from drought-related losses and economic difficulties to threats from activist groups. And rather than tackle the various challenges individually, farmers at this year’s Illinois Commodity Conference will be encouraged to work together for the common good of the industry. The 2012 Illinois Commodity Conference will be held Nov. 20 at the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington. The annual, one-day event brings together crop growers and livestock producers to discuss triumphs and challenges in the industry. The theme of this year’s event is “Working Together Everyone Achieves More.” Jody Lawrence of Strategic Trading Advisors will discuss marketing plans for a difficult year; Nic Anderson, business developer for the Illinois Livestock Development Group, will tell attendees why growing the livestock industry is important to Illinois; and Jean Payne (Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association) and Dan
Schaefer (Illinois Council on Best Management Practices) will discuss good stewardship and water quality practices. “Through the past year, with the drought, livestock producers have been challenged,” Anderson said. “But what we’ve seen throughout the Midwest and especially in Illinois is that livestock production still is coming back to where the crops are grown.” Livestock consume almost half the corn and soybean meal produced in Illinois, along with distillers grains from the ethanol industry, and manure from the livestock is used as fertilizer to grow more crops. “It all comes back to getting closer to inputs and the market so you (farmers) have more control,” Anderson said. “And the value of the nutrients from
the livestock go back to the crops.” Kevin Daugherty, Illinois Farm Bureau education director, will discuss the role of Ag in the Classroom, while farmers Mike and Lynn Martz will discuss various consumer outreach efforts. The other speaker at the event will be Coach Herman Boone, whose inspirational story was captured in the Disney film “Remember the Titans.” Boone faced racial tensions when named head football coach of three schools that were integrated in Virginia in 1971. He brought the team and communities together and the football team had an undefeated season and won the state championship that year. The event is sponsored by the Illinois Beef, Corn Growers, Milk Producers, Pork Producers, Soybean, and Wheat associations. Participants should register with their respective commodity groups or go online to {ilcommodityconf.wordpress.com}. The registration fee is $45 per person prior to Nov. 8 and $60 after Nov. 8. The fee for students is $20.
Land value, leasing conference slated Nov. 7 What’s driving land values and cash rents? Farmers and landowners perhaps can get a better handle on the market next month by attending the AgEngage land value and leasing conference in Central Illinois. The event will be Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. “Higher grain prices, better income prospects, better balance sheets and cash reserves, investment opportunities, the desire for more income, sentimental desires for land owner-
ship, and farm efficiency are the basis of higher land prices,” said Joel Hertz, chairman of the board emeritus of Hertz Farm Management and Real Estate Services. “Land values are not the driver of the farm economy,” he continued. “They are a result of the farm economy and national economy.” Hertz will be one of 15 national and regional speakers at the conference. David Oppedahl, ag economist for the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, and ag economists from
NASS to gather data on fertilizer, pesticide use Farmers in 26 states, including Illinois, soon will be asked to provide information about their use of fertilizer and pesticides on soybeans and wheat. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) over the next three months will contact select farmers to answer questions for the agricultural resource management survey. The survey is conducted to ensure decisions about ag chemical use are based on current, unbiased data gathered from farmers, according to Chris Messer, chief of the NASS program administration branch. Hundreds of NASS interviewers will ask farmers to report nutrient or fertilizer use, biocontrol or pesticide applications and pest management, and irrigation practices on one field selected randomly to represent data from their farm. The data will be used for statistical purposes only and all information will be confidential. NASS will release survey results next May.
the University of Illinois and Purdue University also will be among the featured speakers. Special sessions will begin at 9 a.m., and the conference will conclude at 3 p.m. An early-bird registration fee of $85 is good until Oct. 28. For more information or to register, go to the website {AgEngage.com}.
Tuesday: • Dr. Kevin Moore, associate professor of ag economics at the University of Missouri • Doug Little, brand manager for Great Lakes Hybrids Wednesday: • Wes King, Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Council • Mike Rauch, Cook County Farm Bureau’s chairman of the Food Checkoff Committee • Dan Kelley, chairman of the board and president of GROWMARK Inc. Thursday: • Tim Maiers, Illinois Pork Producers Association • Ivan Dozier, state conservationist • Ashley Koff, registered dietician and healthy lifestyle expert Friday: • Harry Cooney, GROWMARK energy • Charlie Arnot, Center for Food Integrity • Alan Jarand, director of RFD Radio To find a radio station near you that carries the RFD Radio Network, go to FarmWeeknow.com, click on “Radio,” then click on “Affiliates.”
Page 3 Monday, October 22, 2012 FarmWeek
EDUCATION
Fresh initiative targets interest in ag careers BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Illinois students interested in agriculture may turn to practical, real-world information on 58 careers expected to grow in the state. The Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education (FCAE) worked with AgCareers.com to develop career profiles in plant science, animal science, food science, agricultural mechanics, agricultural business, and natural resources. “We know we have a shortage (of employees) in the ag industry. We have a huge job deficit,” Ashley Collins of AgCareers.com told FarmWeek. “We hope this tool will get young people interested at a younger age and help them be prepared.” Each profile is a composite of the actual duties, skills, and education of an individual in that position. The information reflects representatives of careers, employers, and educational institutions rather than specific individuals. The profiles are online at mycaert.com/career-profiles}. The career information also is presented on posters and display signs and compiled in notebooks for educators, said Jess Smithers, FCAE coordinator. To ensure the career infor-
mation was current and applicable to Illinois, AgCareers used its database to validate anticipated demand in Illinois along with job-specific training and skills sought by real employers, Collins said. Annually, AgCareers posts about 36,000 ag and natural
resource jobs on its website and processes nearly 10,000 applications. The company has offices across the United States and in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The employment firm worked on a similar ag career project in Canada, but Illinois became the first state to develop ag career profiles, according to Collins. Smithers envisioned teachers using the career information in their classes. Lesson plans and associated resources are available. FCAE also is developing an ag career application “app” for Android smart phones and iPhones, he added. The career project was funded as part of a grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Community College Board.
New dean expanding student learning opportunities at SIU Agriculture students at Southern Illinois University (SIU) are finding new opportunities on the Carbondale campus and elsewhere, thanks to Dean Mickey Latour. “It’s my MO (modus operandi). I like to think outside the box,” Latour told FarmWeek before speaking to the Illinois Farm Bureau Board of Directors last week. Latour, a native of Louisiana, became dean of the SIU College of Agricultural Sciences in July. At SIU, plans are under way to launch a new initiative, dubbed i2i, this winter. It will allow undergraduates to earn credit hours with a detailed research project based on their field of study and interests. Latour described it as “almost a mini thesis.” Mickey Latour Students will be able to work and live anywhere the project is based and a mentor is located. Other ideas being considered include a winter session over break before the start of the spring semester, open online classes for newly admitted students, and in-depth, hands-on one week courses for farmers and other professionals. Latour told the IFB board that he plans to build on his experience of creating and teaching distance learning programs at Purdue University at West Lafayette, Ind. As the chief director of Purdue’s distance learning, Latour oversaw graduate programs in agriculture and management. A combination master’s degree in agricultural economics and a master’s in business administration is being discussed at SIU, according to Latour. The new degree could be offered through distance learning or include online work with a short term on the Carbondale campus, he explained. “The opportunity is rich to think about tremendous opportunities in distance learning and new programs to bridge the gap for professionals who want to go to the next stage in their careers,” Latour said. Latour said he also is considering condensing traditional 16week semesters to free students for internships in the fall and spring. Those seasons match the busy seasons for agricultural companies, and SIU students would be available when other college students are in school, he pointed out. “We (at SIU) are picking a pathway to move forward. The time is right for the deans of all the colleges to work together,” Latour said. — Kay Shipman
Champaign County farmer’s poetry yields bountiful harvest Words paint pictures, mimic sounds, and describe aromas for a farmer poet who is surrounded by inspiration. After many years of writing poetry, Champaign County Farm Bureau President Lin Warfel of Tolono recently saw a selection of his poetry published by The NewsGazette Inc. In “Song of the Prairie,” Warfel shares the joys and challenges of modern farming and connects to his land and his heritage. “It’s a real privilege to be a farmer,” he says. “I’ve been blessed to have a great life and a great family, starting with my wife. I have been blessed all along the way.” A farmer poet never knows when inspiration will strike so Warfel crafted a unique solution to capture his ideas while driving a tractor or a combine. “I keep a felt-tip Sharpie (marker) and I write on the windows,” he explains. Later he jots those ideas down on paper and transfers them to his computer. Warfel estimates his computer contained 900 poems a year ago and he has written FarmWeekNow.com another 100 to You can order a copy of “Song of 150 poems since the Prairie” online by going to then. FarmWeekNow.com Although Warfel began writing poetry in high school, he starting sharing his poems with others via email about only 10 years ago. A fortuitous exchange with Zelema Harris, retired president of Champaign’s Parkland College, sparked outside inter-
est in his work and led to a request from John Foreman, publisher of The News-Gazette. Foreman pitched an idea for Warfel to publish a book of poetry, but Warfel declined, saying he was too busy. About a year ago Foreman repeated his request. “John, now I’m county Farm Bureau president and I’m twice as busy as I was,” Warfel remembers saying at the time. Foreman countered that all Warfel had to do was select the poems and The News-Gazette publishing would handle all the other details. Those details included the cover photo of Warfel in one of his seed corn fields this summer and other photos scattered throughout the pages. Warfel says he never imagined a book of poetry was in his future. “I’m still kind of numb,” he adds. He also never imagined his poems would have such an impact on some readers. A local librarian told Warfel after reading one of his poems she sat in her office and cried. “I wasn’t prepared for that,” he says. A man who had worked on Warfel’s grain bins for 30 years came to see Warfel after reading his poems. “He drove in and gave me a hug — he’s not a man-to-man hugger — He had tears in his eyes,” Warfel says. The paperback is available through {newsgazette.com} and {amazon.com}. Search for “Song of the Prairie” by L. A. Warfel.
Warfel retains his farmer sense of humor about digesting the poems in “Song of the Prairie.” “It’s like eating early sweet corn. The first ear tastes really good — but don’t eat the whole truckload in one sitting.” — Kay Shipman
Farmer-poet Lin Warfel of Tolono jots ideas for poems in his tractor cab when inspiration strikes. Warfel, Champaign County Farm Bureau president, says he keeps a marker handy so he can write verses on his cab windows. (Photo by Darrell Hoemann/The News-Gazette)
FarmWeek Page 4 Monday, October 22, 2012
issues
Oil prices could ease; high diesel prices could linger BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Oil prices in the U.S. could ease in coming months and into next year as supplies are projected to increase. But truckers, farmers, and other users of diesel fuel may not see much price relief of that fuel as stocks remain tight. U.S. domestic crude oil production this year was projected to average 6.3 million barrels per day, up 700,000 per day from a year ago, based on estimates from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Domestic crude oil production next year was projected to jump to 6.9 million barrels per day, which would be the highest level since 1993, according to EIA. “We have a case out there where oversupply is going to help bring (oil) prices down,” said Jackie McKinnis, GROWMARK energy analyst. EIA this month in its short-term energy outlook projected the price of West Texas intermediate oil (the benchmark for U.S. prices) could ease from an average of $96 per barrel this year to $93 in 2013, while Brent crude from the North Sea was projected to decline from $111 per barrel this year to $103 next year. Oil prices likely won’t drop dramatically, though, according to McKinnis.
Oil consumption was projected to increase 2.7 percent this year and 2.5 percent next year. Meanwhile, refining issues could keep pressure on fuel prices, particularly diesel. The average price of a gallon of gas nationwide last week was $3.82 per gallon, up 34 cents from a year ago, while diesel averaged $4.15 per gallon, up 31 cents. “We’ve got plenty of crude in the U.S., but not plenty of refined product,” McKinnis said. “Prices could remain range-bound.” The supply of refined oil products has been tight due to planned fall maintenance shutdowns at some refineries, unexpected outages at other refineries, and economics that
encourage the export of product from the Midwest rather than shipping it to either U.S. coast.
“We’re especially short on diesel stock,” McKinnis said. Refinery issues and tight refined product supplies have
Key soy trade funding in limbo with farm bill BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek
For U.S. soybean growers and marketers, farm bill export funding isn’t chicken feed. But it’s about chicken feed, fish feed, and an array of other potential global market offerings. And for Roseville grower and Illinois Soybean Association at-large Director Ron Moore, it’s about market security in tough times. One of the more immediate impacts of the 2008 farm bill’s expiration on Oct. 1 was sus-
pension of federal Foreign Market Development cooperator program (FMD) authorization. FMD is funded on a fiscalyear rather than calendar-year basis, and “without authorization, 2013 monies aren’t available,” warned Dana Johnson, the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s (USSEC) global strategy director. USSEC, in tandem with the American Soybean Association (ASA), is the largest participant in FMD-funded efforts. USSEC-ASA uses FMD funding to offer technical assis-
tance to end users, training in use of livestock/aquaculture rations, and “trade facilitation” between buyers and sellers. USSEC relies on a mix of FMD, the farm bill-authorized Market Access Program (MAP), and soy checkoff funding for its international market development efforts. Moore is frustrated by the prospect of market development disruption resulting from congressional farm bill inaction. “The Market Access Program is increasingly important
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led to wide swings in the basis market (cash compared to futures prices) at Chicago. The situation has added volatility to prices at the pump, the analyst noted. In other energy news, EIA this month in its winter fuels outlook projected household expenditures for heating oil and natural gas this winter will increase 19 and 15 percent, respectively, compared to last year. Expenditures also were projected to increase for electricity (5 percent) and propane (13 percent) compared to a year ago. The forecast reflects an expected return to normal winter temperatures east of the Rockies compared to last year’s unusual warmth.
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to the soybean industry, because in the last few years, 50 to 60 percent of our soybeans have been exported,” the Warren County farmer maintained in a recent RFD Radio-FarmWeek interview. “We need to continue to use MAP funds to promote soybeans overseas. We do have competition from South America.” USDA’s Foreign Ag Service anticipated an FMD “gap period” and allocated unused funds to help FMD cooperators continue projects through Nov. 1, providing USSECASA a $2.6-million “bridge,” Johnson said. Further, she reported, “We have a little more breathing room with MAP,” which operates on a calendar-year basis and offers funding through December. However, USSEC-ASA has been forced to shift budgetary resources to maximize the impact of remaining FMD funds within a limited window. The lack of a new farm bill raises concerns about potential cancellation of or delays in FMD-funded projects planned for November and beyond. “We’re in these markets to build relationships and to add value for our foreign customers,” Johnson stressed. “When you have to either start and stop or delay a program, it erodes the predictability of our programs. “We’re doing the best that we can with the uncertainty the farm bill expiration has caused. We’re hopeful Congress will return after the election and take this up immediately, so we don’t have to go through worst-case scenario planning,” she said.
Page 5 Monday, October 22, 2012 FarmWeek
livestock
Family expands hog operation for next generation BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
This is National Pork Month, and it no doubt is extra special on Klaus Farms in Carlinville. David and Mary Klaus and their daughter and son-in-law, Jane and David Dunn, last week opened a new facility on their hog operation. The 2,480-head, wean-tofinish barn not only will increase the cash flow on their Triple D Farms, but it also opens the door for the Dunn’s son, Lucas, to remain in the family operation. “We wanted to expand,” David Klaus told FarmWeek.
“But it’s getting hard to rent ground (to expand crop production).” So the family focused on the livestock portion of their operation. Pigs in the new facility will be raised under contract with Phil Borgic, a pork producer from Nokomis and former president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA). The Klaus and Dunn families switched to contract pork production in 1998, when the hog market crashed, as a way to stay in business. “I’ve raised hogs all my life. We needed to stay in the hog industry, and that was about
the only way we could really do it,” said Klaus, 65. “We needed the cash flow and (contract production) eliminates much of the risk.” The new facility features wet/dry feeders and tunnel ventilation. The ventilation system should provide a more uniform temperature in the barn, reduce odor, and improve the overall health of the pigs. “Our goal is to be environ-
mentally friendly. We live right there, too,” Klaus said. “We’re glad we’re in the pork industry and supply a good product to consumers.” The multi-generation pork producers last week hosted an open house at the new facility so neighbors could view it and learn about modern pork production. The event was sponsored in part by IPPA and Country Financial. “We’ve had a lot of interest
in the community,” Klaus said. “(The open house) allowed (neighbors) to see what it’s like, and it was a good way to promote pork, especially now during (National) Pork Month. “We have a good relationship with our neighbors and we want to maintain that.” Overall, the pork industry contributes about $1.8 billion and 10,533 jobs to the state’s economy, according to IPPA.
Applicants sought for Illinois buffer sites The Illinois Buffer Partnership is seeking 20 buffer demonstration sites for 2013. The application deadline is Dec. 31. The partnership is a collaboration of private and public, agricultural and conservation organizations. The effort was initiated by the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices and is coordinated by Trees Forever. After the 20 sites are selected, field days will be conducted for farmers, landowners, and community leaders. Cost-share money is available to select landowners for costs incurred. Participants will be reimbursed up to $2,000 for 50 percent of the expenses that remain after Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or other federal, state, or local funding has been applied to the project. Landowners also may benefit from a seed cost-share program offered through FS/GROWMARK. Site selection will be based on the following characteristics: • Visibility and accessibility; • Representative of local eco-regions; • Close proximity to local watershed programs or water issues; • Enrolled in CRP or Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) • Owned by landowners who are involved in their community or watershed, willing to allow field days, and committed to long-term whole-farm planning; and • Local community support. For information or an application, contact Debbie Fluegel, Trees Forever field coordinator, at 309-925-9925 or 309-6130095 or email dfluegel@treesforever.org.
David Klaus, left, discusses technological advances in his new 2,480-head, wean-to-finish hog barn with Russell Poggenpohl of Poggenpohl Redi-Mix, during an open house at the Carlinville-area facility. The new facility has state-of-the art feeding and ventilation systems to improve animal welfare and output. Poggenpohl supplied the concrete for the facility. (Photo by Rita Frazer, RFD Radio Network)
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FarmWeek Page 6 Monday, October 22, 2012
CROPWATCHERS Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: Corn harvest was slowed somewhat last week by welcome rains. We received 0.9 of an inch last weekend (Oct. 13-14) and another 0.75 of an inch Wednesday night and Thursday. So we have combined corn only three of the last seven days going several weeks with no rain delays. The yields are still running all over the board, with the corn after beans doing the best. Lime spreading, fertilizer applications, and fall tillage are all under way. Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: Another wet Friday morning in Lake County — that’s three in a row. Where were the rains this summer? We got a little more than 0.6 of an inch of rain late last week. Most of the beans are cut and yields were a little less than normal. The last beans I cut still had green stems and were very tough to combine. Not much corn has been picked yet. Yields are all over the board. Moisture is from 25 down to 14 percent. With the rains the last week, more wheat was planted. The early-planted wheat has emerged. Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: Our prayers were answered last week with rain five out of the last seven days. We received a slow, soaking, 2.1 inches. Some cornfields will have lodging problems with the wind and the rain, but most are standing quite well. Soybean harvest is virtually complete. Fall tillage is under way. Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: A week can make a big difference in the weather. It started raining on Oct. 13, and it has been raining and cold ever since. More than 2.5 inches of rain has fallen with all of it soaking into the ground through the large cracks left over from summer. Eighty percent of the corn in the area is harvested. We finished harvest on Oct. 12 — the earliest ever, according to my parents. Now we are waiting for the fields to dry out so we can continue doing tillage. Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: Rains this past week halted harvest progress, but I haven’t heard anyone complain. The 2 inches of rain we got won’t do a lot to recharge the soil, but it’s a good start. Harvest activity was moving along nicely before the showers. There are still a few soybeans in the field and probably close to 25 percent of the corn. Our soybean yield ended up at about 75 percent of average. Corn will be closer to 70 percent. Yields ranged from 36 to 60 bushels to the acre on soybeans and from 88 to 190 bushels so far on corn. Soil type, corn-on-bean ground, and, if you were lucky, an extra shower or two in July, made a big difference this summer. Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: It seems to rain pretty easily now. More than 3 inches have fallen since Saturday, Oct. 13, with showers daily. There is less than a quarter of the corn left in the field and more than that of the bean crop remaining. Tillage and NH3 application will go much better with the moisture in soil. Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We received 2.5 inches of rain last week. It was very welcome, as we have been dry since harvest started. It is still not enough to put water in the streams, but it will help. We finished harvest on Oct. 16. That is the earliest we have ever finished. The crops ended up better than we expected, and the quality was good as well. We are getting ready to clean the cattle pits and do some fall tillage when it dries out. There has not been any fall ammonia applied up to this point, but by next week the soil temperature should be low enough to start. Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: We finally got a week with some nice, scattered showers that brought some much-needed moisture back to the drought-stricken area. I think the markets thought the rain would still put ears on all the barren corn plants. You have to look hard to see a corn or soybean field left in my area.
Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: It was a wet week with some corn picking in the middle of the week. We’ve had anywhere from 2.5 to 3.5 inches, depending on where you are in the county. There is a little bit of corn and beans to harvest yet, but not a lot. I just drove by some wheat that is starting to pop up out of the ground. I talked to a guy the other day in the coffee shop that was bragging because he planted beans six months this year. He started planting beans in March and planted for six months. I thought that was noteworthy. Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: It was not a good week for harvesting or tillage. We only got in one day of combining soybeans. Rains are keeping us from harvesting the last two fields. They always say the last bushels are the hardest ones to get. Green stems have been a concern on short soybeans on the hills. They don’t feed into the combine very well. The reversers on the combines are getting a workout this year. They tell me that the new draper heads work really well for this problem, with no shattering. There’s always something to update our machinery line. Markets are up and down. Importing corn really hurt our commodity prices. Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: Harvest was slower last week due to rain and wet weather. We received 2 inches for the week with most of it coming on Oct. 13 and 14. There are still corn and soybean fields yet to be harvested. We still have 50 percent of our corn to harvest, and we did not get much done over the past week. The corn has not been drying down, and the moisture has ranged from 20 percent to 32 percent. The local closing bids for Thursday: nearby corn, $7.64; fall 2013 corn, $6.02; nearby soybeans, $15.36; fall 2013 soybeans, $13.21. Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Another inch of rain interrupted the soybean harvest again, but no one is complaining. We desperately need to recharge the soil moisture. Tiles still are not running. Tillage and fertilizer applications occurred between rain events. Farmers are keeping one eye on the October average price for insurance purposes. Corn, $7.73; fall 2013, $6.16; soybeans, $15.34; fall 2013, $13.23; wheat, $8.11. Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: I listened to the pitter patter of rain drops again this Friday morning. We had a perfect 1 inch on Sunday, Oct. 14; 0.5 of an inch on Wednesday; and 0.2 as of this writing on Friday. We did get in an afternoon of bean cutting. Corn harvest is wrapped up and bean fields are disappearing rapidly. Country music legend Marvin Lee was interviewed by WDWS radio’s Dave Gentry on Thursday. Marvin mentioned that he had just finished bean harvest and “yields were all over the place.” That sums up 2012 harvest pretty well! Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: Fieldwork came to a halt last week due to 2.25 inches of rain over the weekend (Oct. 13-14). Some thought we have had enough rain to replenish the soil, but we still are at least 50 percent short of the average. Overall, the bean yields were fairly good with a few fields left to meet the combine when the ground gets settled again. Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: This past week we received 0.5 of an inch of rain. More was expected through the weekend. There has been some chiseling done. A few guys started applying anhydrous this past week. Most all of the corn is out. We shelled a little bit last week, and we had some aflatoxin to deal with. It’s a different animal. A lot of the beans have been taken out, but there are a few left. Haven’t heard much about bean yields. Everybody seems to be pleased, but I think the beans may have looked a little better than what they actually yielded. They yields in one field ran from 45 all the way up to 72 bushels per acre in an area, but the field average was 52. We had some above 100 register on the yield monitor, but it wasn’t a reality. Seed companies are encouraging you to get your next year’s seed ordered.
Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: We still have beans left to cut that we may do by November because they are so green. It’s raining on this Friday morning, and we had 1.5 inches of rain last week. Most chiseling is done and some are working bean stubble. Leaves are falling, so winter is getting closer, unfortunately. Jeff Guilander, Jerseyville, Jersey County: With the frost last week, the crop year that was 2012 is all over but the shouting. I think corn will average 50 percent of normal while the final bean numbers will average a little better. With the rain Thursday and Friday, fall tillage slowed down and allowed us to catch up on all the things we have been ignoring the last few weeks. It also allowed us time to start thinking about next year. Bring on 2013! Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: The week was dry and mild until Wednesday night when rain showers moved into the area leaving 0.75 to 1 inch or more and halting field activities. Farmers have been harvesting corn and beans, applying fertilizer, and doing fall tillage. Bean harvest is pretty well complete except for the double-crop beans, which are too green to harvest. Harvesting of the May-planted corn continues even though it is carrying quite a bit of moisture. The yields are higher than the April-planted corn. Some wheat is being planted. Showers are predicted to return by mid-week this week. Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: A sprinkling of rain fell as I wrote this report Friday. We accumulated a little more than 1 inch of rain since my last report, with a shower the previous weekend and another at midweek. Soil conditions are tacky and, depending on tillage practices, somewhat muddy. Some are done with first-crop soybeans and corn, while others are nearing the end. A few doublecropped soybeans were cut before the last shower. Most double-cropped soybeans and milo need to dry down before harvest. Some winter wheat plantings were done in both corn and soybean fields. This activity has slowed as the frequency of rain showers increased. Local grain bids: corn, $7.17; soybeans, $15.31; wheat, $8.26. Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: Wednesday evening we got 1.5 inches of rain we sure didn’t need. Lots of folks were cutting beans, and some were sowing wheat. There are still lots of beans to be cut yet and not a whole lot of wheat has been sown yet. I know it seems like we are always behind the rest of the state, but we like to just take our time and enjoy it – NOT! After three or four frosts, some of the beans with all of the green leaves hanging on them will still not get ripe. Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Harvest is almost done, except for the double-crop beans. I’m not sure how long it will be before they are ready. They have a lot of green in them. The first sown wheat is beginning to emerge and with some good weather, we might be getting our wheat off to a good start. Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County It was a good week. We finished planting wheat, and we’re down to about 30 acres of beans that are a little green. Fall fertilizer on some fall tillage and some Bush-Hogging are the main activities in the countryside. The one thing I want to emphasize is to get out and vote!! Because if you don’t vote, then don’t complain about who is in office or who is running for an office. Remember there were people who fought and died for you to have the right to vote.
Reports received Friday morning. Expanded crop and weather information available at FarmWeekNow.com
Page 7 Monday, October 22, 2012 FarmWeek
harvest
Majority of harvest complete; intermittent rains could continue BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
Farmers last week worked around some welcome rains to push har vest into its final stages at most locations around the state. Corn and soybean harvest as of the first of last week was a combined 78 percent complete compared to the fiveyear average of 57 percent. For each crop, the state’s harvest completion rate last week was 87 percent for corn and 69 percent for beans.
“You have to look hard to see a corn or soybean field left in my area,” said Jacob Streitmatter, a Far mWeek Cropwatcher from Peoria County. Much of what’s left in fields are late-planted crops or double-crop soybeans. In other areas there was just too much moisture to finish harvest. Many parts of the state last week received 1 to 3.5 inches of rain. “All the early corn has been harvested for some time, but there is some late-planted corn
that was stunted and now it’s holding moisture,” said Steve Stallman, a farmer from Randolph County. “And the double-crop beans in my area are lagging way behind. We had a lot of frost damage.” The intermittent rains could continue this week, according to Ed Shimon, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Lincoln. “ We ’ r e l o o k i n g a t a n extended warm period (this week) with highs in the low- to mid-70s,” Shimon said. There
could be a few episodes of showers, particularly Monday night into Tuesday and possibly late in the week, he said. The fairly wet pattern in recent weeks continued to improve soil moisture conditions. Topsoil in the state last week was rated 61 percent adequate, 35 percent short or very short, and 4 percent surplus. “It (more rain) will be welcome,” Shimon said. “There are still drought effects in almost the entire state (except parts of the south).”
Northern Illinois last week remained the driest part of the state. So farmers there didn’t mind when rainfall delayed harvest. “Corn harvest was slowed somewhat … by welcome rains,” said Bernie Walsh, a Cropwatcher from Winnebago County. Sorghum harvest in Illinois last week was 57 percent complete, compared to the average of 50 percent, while 97 percent of the third-cutting of alfalfa had been completed.
Ted’s Greenhouse has long tradition serving Chicago area T h e ex p r essio n “g o in g green” has become popular in recent years. But for Ted Bier nacki, owner of Ted’s Greenhouse in Tinley Park, going green has defined his whole career. Bier nacki, 82, g r ew up working on his father’s 16acre produce far m on the south side of Chicag o in Blue Island. The operation was founded in 1926. It was there that he developed a g reen thumb and, after a brief stint in the manufacturing industry and the military, he returned to the family business and transplanted it to Tinley Park in 1957. “I went to work (out of high school) for a manufacturing company and made $1.08 per hour,” Biernacki said. “I quit (by the following fall) and took over the greenhouse. It was at that point I made up my mind I’d grow what people want, not what they need.” Bier nacki and his wife, Waneta, oversee the operation of Ted’s Greenhouse while his son, Dan, and his wife, Karen, manage the daily operations. It offers a variety of annuals, perennials, biennials, herbs, vegetables, and specialty stock. Biernacki, who is a member of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association, noted he car ries 67 varieties of tomatoes and more than 1,000 varieties of petunias. “I concentrate on growing a good plant,” Biernacki s a i d . “A l o t o f o u r s t u f f ends up on Michigan Avenue and State Street” and other premier locations around Chicago. Ted’s Greenhouse grows ever ything from seed and carefully manages the plants until they are shipped to the final destination.
Ted Biernacki, owner of Ted’s Greenhouse in Tinley Park, discusses the value of growing a high-quality plant from seed inside his greenhouse. Biernacki developed his green thumb at a young age working on his family’s 16-acre produce farm on the south side of Chicago. He opened the greenhouse in Tinley Park in 1957. (Photo by Ken Kashian)
“I don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than growing a good plant and see it put to good use where people can enjoy it,” Biernacki said. “I enjoy going to work
ever y mor ning, although sometimes it’s a bit of a challenge.” Biernacki is battling some health issues but intends to keep working. He also hopes
to travel to Springfield Jan. 9-11 for the Illinois Specialty C r o p s, A g r i to ur i sm , a n d Organic Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Ted’s Greenhouse used to
sell a large portion of its products directly to cons u m e r s a t ve n u e s s u c h a s farmers’ markets, but Biernacki has shifted more focus to wholesale markets. The greenhouse sells many plants to businesses, municipalities, church groups, garden centers, and schools. Bier nacki still relishes co n ta ct wi th co n s u m er s, though, and takes time to explain plant and food production. “I try to educate people,” he said. “People (often with no food production experience or knowledge) tell me they don’t want chemicals or g enetic enhancements. “But many people in this country don’t realize that if not for commercial fertilizer a n d p e s t i c i d e s, o u r N o. 1 problem — obesity — would be solved overnight. There wouldn’t be enough food for everybody.” More infor mation about Ted’s Greenhouse, including a directory of all the plants grown there, is available online at {tedsg reenhouse.com}. — Daniel Grant
Beef specialist: Beware of possible grazing issues Lush regrowth can cause problems Cattle producers should take precautions before turning their herds loose into pastures that recently put on substantial regrowth. Lush g rowth predominantly in grass pastures can cause cattle to suffer grass t e t a n y, a p o t e n t i a l l y f a t a l condition caused by a magnesium deficiency. Meanwhile, cattle that are turned loose into heavy legume pastures could be at risk for bloat. Bloat is a digestive disorder caused by the accumulation of gas in the rumen.
“Generalities can be dangerous, but g rass tetany is classically seen in the spring w i t h o l d e r, l a c t a t i n g b e e f c o w s o n l u s h , ve g e t a t i ve , green pastures when nighttime temperatures are below 55 degrees,” said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist. “These are the same conditions our fall calving herds are now experiencing, which makes them the most susceptible.” Drought-parched grasses this summer reduced magnesium uptake from the soil. Many producers fer tilized pastures in the spring and, with the drought, there has
been some nitrogen and potassium carryover, according to Lemenager. “Magnesium absorption in the animal is compromised when dietary potassium intake is high and sodium intake is low, which is a characteristic of lush, vegetative growth,” the beef specialist said. Grass tetany and bloat can be lethal within a matter of hours. Therefore, prevention is the key to protect herds. Producers should provide their cow herds with a vitamin-mineral supplement that is palatable and contains higher magnesium concentra-
tions, typically about 4 percent, to reduce the likelihood of grass tetany. Preventing bloat is difficult but management techniques can be employed to lower the risk. Those techniques include: making sure cattle are full before first allowing them to graze; feeding dry grass, hay, or corn silage before turning animals out to pasture; delaying turnout until pastures are dry after dew or rain; monitoring animals every couple hours for the first six to eight hours after turnout; and considering anti-bloat supplements.
FarmWeek Page 8 Monday, October 22, 2012
OUTREACH CELEBRATING HARVEST OF 2012
Safe food remains a farm-to-table responsibility BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Bill Wykes, president of the Illinois Soybean Association, addresses the hundreds of people who were among the 40 farmers and members of 24 rural and suburban churches who gathered recently on the Kurt and Deb Larson farm in rural Earlville (LaSalle County) to celebrate the harvest of 2012. The event was one of three local Foods Resource Bank (FRB) projects expected to raise about $70,000 to fund programs that help people in some of the world’s poorest countries become more self-sufficient. In an FRB growing project, each farmer contributes the revenue from one or more acres, and members of the participating churches help defray the farmers’ costs of production. (Photo by Ken Kashian)
Food safety relies on farmto-table obligations, including those of Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) meat and poultry inspectors, the head of the state’s meat inspections agency told FarmWeek. “Our main mandate is that only wholesome product enters commerce,” said Dr. Kris Mazurczak, a veterinarian and bureau chief of IDOA meat and poultry inspection. In Mazurczak’s opinion, food safety is everyone’s responsibility: “It starts with the producer to make sure he raises (the animal) properly. The slaughtering house and processors have an obligation; the transportation (sector) has an obligation; the retailers have an obligation. “But it does not stop there. Consumers play a part too,” he continued. But consumers’ lack of understanding about the sources of their food has led to “a disconnect between consumers and their obligation,” he said. Consumers must ensure their food remains safe. Mazurczak pointed out consumers’ responsibilities range from avoiding cross contamination by washing cutting boards and utensils to storing food at proper temperature in warm weather by taking meat home in coolers from the supermarket. Federal law requires state inspections of meat and poultry processing facilities to be equivalent to those of federal inspections, according to Mazurczak. Inspectors must view each animal and bird while it’s living and later inspect each carcass during slaughter operations. Visual inspections are made and samples are taken to test for “possible contamination that can’t be seen” and the presence of antibiotics, he explained. Afterward, each carcass is stamped with a state inspection brand and only then allowed to enter intrastate commerce. “The meat industry and slaughtering houses are highly regulated,” Mazurczak said. The law requires products from state-inspected facilities to be sold within state borders. Federal meat and poultry
inspections are required for out-of-state commerce.
IDOA meat and poultry inspectors use a computerized performance-based inspection system, known as PBIS, to record inspection findings during daily visits to each plant. In Illinois, all plants operate under the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system, a food safety management system. “It’s highly complex and challenging for smaller plants,” Mazurczak said. In Illinois, food recalls occur infrequently, but may be triggered by a variety of factors. If a sample tests positive for some contamination, the product will not be allowed to be sold, and the processor will have to supply documentation that all the product was recovered. If the processor can’t prove that, a voluntary recall occurs and the public is informed about the potential risk, he explained. Sometimes, the food-recall trigger occurs elsewhere A recent voluntary recall of Central Illinois ground beef happened because the Central Illinois processor had received Canadian beef trimmings that were recalled, according to Mazurczak. The ground beef was sold to restaurants and wouldn’t have caused any illness if the meat had been cooked to proper temperatures, he added. However, IDOA issued the recall as a “precaution,” Mazurczak said. “We see (recalls) as a service to the general public,” Mazurczak said. “People should not neglect (food-borne illness) symptoms if they ate food in the general vicinity” of the recall.
Page 9 Monday, October 22, 2012 FarmWeek
FROM THE COUNTIES
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UREAU — Bureau, Marshall-Putnam, and Stark County Farm Bureaus will host a college open house Day for Agriculture from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the Marshall-Putnam County Farm Bureau office, Henry. Call the Farm Bureau office at 815-875-6468 for more information. HAMPAIGN — Champaign County Farm Bureau will celebrate its 100th anniversary at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Royal Community Building, Royal. Dinner will be served. U.S. Rep Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, will be the speaker. Entertainment will be provided by Marvin Dee, Don Wood calling for square dancing, and Chris Kart, State Fair hog calling
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champion. Cost is $10. Call the Farm Bureau office at 217-352-5235 for reservations or more information. ENRY — “Bushels for Hunger” continues through Nov. 30 at participating grain elevators in Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark, and Whiteside counties. All proceeds from the bushels of grain donated will go to the River Bend Foodbank. Contact your county Farm Bureau for participating elevators and more information. TEPHENSON — The family portrait program for Farm Bureau members will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10-11 at the Farm Bureau office. Members will receive a free 8 x 10 color portrait. Call the
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FROM PLANT TO BLUE JEANS
Farm Bureau office at 815232-3186 for an appointment. • A defensive driving course will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 13-14 at the Farm Bureau office. Doug Sommer will be the instructor. Cost is $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Lunch will be provided. Call the Farm Bureau office at 815-2323186 for reservations or more information. • Farm Bureau and the Stephenson Service Co. will hold their annual meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the Farm Bureau office. Doug Scheider will provide a presentation on his market study tour to Cuba. The Freeport High School Varsity Choir will provide the entertainment. Pie and beverages will be served. Call the Farm Bureau office at 815-232-3186 for reservations or more information. ERMILION — Farm Bureau, Vermilion Advantage, and Neuhoff Media will sponsor a second candidates’ forum at 7 p.m. Thursday at
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Schuyler County Farm Bureau ag literacy coordinator Jean Barron shows students from Valerie Andrews’ kindergarten class at Washington Elementary School in Rushville an actual cotton plant. The county ag literacy program is using cotton donated by the Mississippi Farm Bureau to teach students from pre-K through fourth grade that blue jeans come from the cotton plant. Students made quilt blocks and participated in a weaving activity to demonstrate how the fibers in jeans are woven together to make the blue jean material. (Photo by Kelly Westlake, Schuyler County Farm Bureau manager)
AFBF honors 3 Illinois county Farm Bureaus Three Illinois county Farm Bureaus are among 25 county Farm Bureaus nationwide recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for innovative program ideas in this year’s County Activities of Excellence Awards (CAE) program. They will be highlighted during the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in December in Chicago and the AFBF annual meeting Jan. 13-16, in Nashville, Tenn. This year’s AFBF winners come from Illinois and 16 other states. The Illinois winners are: Cook County for its county staff exchange; Grundy County for its grow a garden feed a family program; and Livingston County for its project P.A.I.L. (Promoting Agriculture in Literature). The CAE program acknowledges and shares successful county Farm Bureau programs and activities.
the Village Mall Center Court, Danville. Candidates who represent the 15th Congressional District and the General Assembly have been invited. The forum will be broadcast live on 1490AM WDAN and streamed online at {vermilioncountyfirst.com}. ABASH — Farm Bureau will sponsor an antique tractor drive at 8 a.m. Saturday. Cost is $25 and includes lunch and a sweatshirt. Call the Farm Bureau office at 262-5865 for more information. • Due to weather and field conditions, the Plow Day scheduled for Nov. 3 has been canceled. • Farm Bureau will sponsor a trick-or-treat event from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Farm Bureau office. There will be candy, crafts, and a drawing for a Toys-R-Us gift card. ILL — The Women for Family Farms Committee will sponsor its annual fall women’s luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the Jacob Henry Mansion, Joliet. Sandi Hayne, jazz vocalist and
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musician, will provide the entertainment. Tickets are $19 and are available at the Farm Bureau office. Deadline to purchase tickets is Nov. 1. No refunds or cancellations will be permitted after the deadline. Call the Farm Bureau office at 815727-4811 for reservations or more information. • The Prime Timer’s Committee will sponsor a bus trip Wednesday, Nov. 28, to the Roosevelt University Auditorium Theater to see “Sister Act.” Cost for bus and ticket is $90 for members and $100 for nonmembers. The bus will leave the Farm Bureau parking lot at noon and return by 6 p.m. Call the Farm Bureau office at 815-7274811 for reservations or more information. “From the counties” items are submitted by county Farm Bureau managers. If you have an event or activity open to all members, contact you county Farm Bureau manager.
FarmWeek Page 10 Monday, October 22, 2012
proFitability
Hope for lower fuel prices is not a good strategy BY JACKIE MCKINNIS
Do you have a consistent fuel-buying plan? Everyone has a different comfort zone. If you have a budgeted number for fuel, and the market reaches that number, do you lock some in Jackie McKinnis or hope the market will go lower? When something goes on sale, do you buy it now or hope that it gets even cheaper,
knowing the sale price might not come your way again? Do you buy by the calendar? That can be a successful technique if used on a consistent basis. Market prices tend to be lower in winter and higher in spring and fall. If you always buy fuel in December, January, and February for the coming year, your track record is likely pretty good for a majority of years. Aim to average price your fuel. If you buy all your fuel at once and hit a home run, that’s luck, not strategy. We prefer to buy smaller amounts on dips
Farmers told of due dates for EQIP, WHIP signups Illinois farmers may apply now at Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices to be considered for the first round of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) selections. Illinois State Conservationist Ivan Dozier said farmers must have their eligibility verified by Nov. 16 for first-round consideration. Although EQIP and WHIP are offered through continuous signup, NRCS periodically makes funding round selections. Statewide EQIP practices include nutrient management, cover crops, terraces, grass waterways, manure management facilities, and pasture management. WHIP offers financial assistance to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land and nonindustrial private forest land. In addition to Nov. 16, NRCS has set Jan. 18, March 15, and May 17, 2013, as three additional EQIP and WHIP cutoff dates for funding consideration. Interested Illinois farmers should visit their local NRCS office and submit applications before those dates.
M A R K E T FA C T S Feeder pig prices reported to USDA* Weight 10 lbs. 40 lbs.
Range Per Head $24.24-$48.11 n/a
Weighted Ave. Price $37.28 n/a
This Week Last Week 100,692 98,410 *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm Receipts
(base hits), and raise the odds that a series of base hits will win the game year in and year out. You don’t have to be a technician to look at a chart and see if it’s headed up, down, or sideways. Buying fuel in the early phase of an uptrend is a good idea — particularly if the chart tells you that the market has been moving between two numbers for a protracted period of time. Buying on a big down day can be like stepping in front of
a moving train, but in our headline-driven world this technique works well at times, too. Today’s market often lacks the follow-through that used to be common. There are no guarantees in life, or when buying fuel, but hoping for lower prices at the right time is not a strategy. Taking action is a strategy. Decide how much fuel you would be comfortable with buying ahead of time, and put that into effect.
Carcass Live
Change -0.35 -0.26
USDA five-state area slaughter cattle price Steers Heifers
(Thursday’s price) (Thursday’s price) Prev. week Change This week 124.65 124.91 - 0.26 125.17 124.97 +0.20
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 143.52 NA
Lamb prices Slaughter Prices - Negotiated, Live, wooled and shorn 105-180 lbs. for 90-112 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 102.78).
Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 10-11-12 57.8 7.0 17.2 10-04-12 45.7 13.2 17.4 Last year 45.3 16.6 21.2 Season total 180.5 376.1 117.3 Previous season total 114.5 423.6 165.3 USDA projected total 1055 1200 1250 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.
Jackie McKinnis is GROWMARK’s energy analyst. Her email address is jmckinnis@growmark.com.
September cattle on feed numbers bullish BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek
A decline in U.S. cattle inventory projections this month are expected to be supportive of prices. USDA in its monthly cattle on feed report Friday pro-
FarmWeekNow.com Visit FarmWeekNow.com for full details of the cattle on feed report.
jected cattle and calves on feed in the U.S. as of Oct. 1 totaled 10.989 million head, down 3 percent from a year ago. Placements in feedlots during September totaled just 2.004 million head, down 19 percent from the same time last year. In fact, placements last month were the lowest on record for September since USDA started the current data series in 1996. “There are a lot of bullish things (in this report) for live cattle prices,” said Rich Nelson, director of research at Allendale Inc. in McHenry. “It certainly should be sup-
portive” of prices. September marked the fourth consecutive month placements in feedlots dipped below year-ago levels. “It certainly will tighten the live cattle supply tremendously for the first half of 2013,” Nelson said. USDA previously projected beef supplies next year will decline by 3.7 percent. Nelson projected the drop in beef supplies next year could be even more severe than the current USDA projection. “There still is a lot of resistance to placing cattle in feedlots until profitability returns,” he said. “We’ll be facing tight supplies for at least the next several months.” USDA on Friday also issued a Canadian cattle report that showed shipments of fed cattle from Canada to the U.S. so far this year are down 8 percent. “That’s just confirmation that the North American beef supply is tightening up,” Nelson said. Marketings of fed cattle in
September totaled 1.598 million head, down 12 percent. The marketings number was the second-lowest on record for September since 1996. Futures prices for cattle on Friday were $128 per hundredweight for December, $134 for February, and $138 for April. Nelson projected cattle prices will climb higher in the wake of the latest inventory estimates.
USDA
Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) (Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week $80.31 $80.66 $59.43 $59.69
I urge you to talk to your local FS cooperative, and see what fuel buying options they are offering right now. They are sure to have something that will appeal to you. We are living in a very volatile market era, and it’s just as risky to have no fuel bought as it is to have all your fuel bought.
Farm Service Agency SURE SIGN-UP BEGINS — Farmers can enroll in the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program for 2011 crop year losses starting today (Oct. 22), the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Illinois announced last week. SURE authorizes assistance to farmers and ranchers who suffered crop losses caused by natural disasters that occurred through Sept. 30, 2011. All eligible farmers must sign up for 2011 SURE benefits before June 7. To qualify for a SURE payment, the producer’s operation must be in a county that was declared a disaster for 2011 and have at least a 10 percent production loss that affects one crop of economic significance. In 2011, 66 Illinois counties received a primary disaster designation and 27 received a contiguous disaster designation. This means producers in 93 Illinois counties can qualify for SURE benefits as long as they have at least a 10 percent production loss that affects
one crop of economic significance and all other eligibility requirements are met. Farmers whose operations are located outside a disaster county are eligible for SURE benefits if they had a production loss of 50 percent or more of the normal production on the farm. Farmers in the remaining nine Illinois counties are eligible if they experienced a production loss of 50 percent or more of the normal farm production. To meet program eligibility requirements, farmers must have obtained a policy or plan of insurance for all insurable crops through the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. and obtained Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage on non-insurable crops, if available, from FSA. Forage crops intended for grazing are not eligible for SURE benefits. For more information on SURE program eligibility requirements, contact your county FSA office.
Page 11 Monday, October 22, 2012
PROFITABILITY Corn Strategy
CASH STRATEGIST
Cents per bu.
ü2012 crop: December corn futures remain positioned to test the $7.90s. It appears unlikely prices will test $8.50 again, and they may not get above $8. Make catchup sales with December futures trading above $7.80. We may use a rally above $7.90 to add to sales. ü2013 crop: Use rallies to $6.50 on December 2013 futures for catch-up sales. We could use a push to $6.60 to add another increment. vFundamentals: Corn demand other than for feed continues to be lackluster. Export sales and shipments continue to disappoint. However, it is thought South American shipments are starting to wind down. And the supply of feed wheat in the world seems to be tightening. Demand for processing into ethanol remains weak too. The cumulative “crush” is off nearly 12 percent this marketing year. Part of the slippage is tied to gasoline demand dropping to five-year lows over the summer and into the fall.
Soybean Strategy
Bean exports good, corn/wheat soft Grain and soybean/product export sales are best described by the title of one of Dickens’ books, “A Tale of Two Cities.” While soybean and soybean meal sales have been robust, the opposite has been true for wheat and corn, the latter in particular. Wheat has had plenty of competition, especially coming
from the old Soviet Union countries. Corn has had to fight the implications of record high prices, as well as larger supplies coming out of South America and feed wheat competition. Thanks to aggressive Chinese buying, soybean export sales have been strong since last spring. Soybean meal sales have been nearly as robust. But interest seems to be moderating with buyers starting to look ahead to South American supplies. Still, shipments should be good into year’s end, implying a strong cash market.
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ü2012 crop: Even though export sales have moderated, physical demand for soybeans is starting to accelerate. We’d continue to wait for a move back near $16.70 before making catch-up sales. ü2013 crop: With the short-term trend having turned up, patience in making sales should be rewarded. Still, use rallies above $13.70 on November 2013 futures for catch-up sales. Plan to add another sale before the end of the calendar year. vFundamentals: The soybean market rode the emotion that carried corn and wheat prices higher this past week. But the actual demand for soybeans continues to be stronger than it is for the other two. Last week’s 54-million-bushel export shipments should be the beginning of persistent 50 million to 60 million bushel export weeks. Crush demand is more difficult to gauge with actual numbers coming only once a month, but the cash
crush margin remains at a high enough level to foster a good processing pace.
Wheat Strategy
ü2012 crop: Overall, the action in wheat prices has the character of a broad, distribution top. The most recent low may have been a 20- and 40week low, allowing prices to have a firmer trend for the near future. Still, the nearby Chicago contract may struggle to sustain gains between $8.80 and $9. Use rallies into that level for catch-up sales. ü2013 crop: Make catch up sales with Chicago July
futures trading above $8.65. Check the Hotline frequently; we could add a sale if it pushes toward $8.75. vFundamentals: Like the Russians, the Ukrainians finally confirmed weeks of speculation that they would move to curtail wheat exports. It now appears they will limit them to 5 million metric tons (184 million bushels), effectively ending shipments by mid-November. Western Australia remains dry, dragging its crop potential down, and it’s still too wet in Argentina. But the world is still not as short of wheat as it is other grains.
FarmWeek Page 12 Monday, October 22, 2012
perspectives
Animal abuse Achilles heel of U.S. livestock industry
Strong relationships form cooperative foundation In the 1970s, I recall seeing a bumper sticker stating: “I’m proud to be a farmer.” I was just starting my farming career, and I thought that sticker had it right –- I WAS proud to be a farmer! Over the last four decades, I have to say that I’m STILL proud to be a farmer. Although I’ve lived through good and bad years, adapted to rapidly changing technology, and accepted the challenge of feedDAN KELLEY ing a growing world population, one thing has remained the same — the value I receive from my cooperative. The people at my local co-op are important members of my team and I appreciate their commitment to me and my operation. I know I can depend on their good advice, proven products, and services I need to be productive and profitable. Here in the United States, October is designated as National Cooperative Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions cooperatives make to all aspects of society. In addition, the United Nations named 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives; we’re definitely on the world stage. Cooperative businesses are all around us, more than 29,000 in the United States. Americans have come to depend on the variety of
goods and services they provide. Many economic sectors support thriving cooperatives, including grocery, electric, farm supply, credit unions, lending associations, and marketing. These businesses account for more than 2 million jobs and yearly revenue in excess of $650 billion. The GROWMARK System has a strong cooperative heritage and deep roots within the American economy. Comprised of FS and grain member cooperatives and subsidiaries, it employs more than 7,000 people, who in turn serve more than 250,000 customers in 31 states and Ontario, Canada. Eighty-five years ago, a group of Farm Bureau members seeking a reliable supply of quality products at a reasonable price joined together to accomplish this goal by forming the first FS cooperatives. Without their foresight and determination, the GROWMARK system would not be here today. And for that, I say thank you to the Farm Bureau members of yesterday and today. Thank you for supporting your local FS member cooperatives and the GROWMARK System. Your commitment to building strong relationships and working together is the foundation of the cooperative way of doing business. Dan Kelley is GROWMARK’s chairman of the board and president.
“I guess I asked her to bring lunch to the fields one time too many.”
Somewhere in America today an animal rights activist lurks on a farm with a hidden camera. It’s hardly a secret. Indeed, the activists groups have repeatedly told us hidden cameras are their most successful tactic, and they’ll continue to use them. Yet, even with the knowledge of our foe’s battle plan, our industry continues to fall into their ambush. By now you’ve all seen the memo: animal abuse cannot be tolerated. It’s a public relations disaster, a detriment to animal performance and business profitability, and creates a poor environment for all employees. But most important, animal abuse is simply wrong. Recent news of the release of an undercover video by the group Mercy For Animals underscores the need for America’s livestock industries to redouble their efforts to end animal abuse. Organizations representing every domestic livestock species have animal well-being programs in place. And over the past several years those programs have helped foster dramatic improvements in animal care. All of those industry-implemented programs express a “zero tolerance” for animal abuse. Under such guidelines the only possible grades our industries can achieve are pass or fail. Therefore, when it comes to issuing a grade on animal abuse, our collective industries are failing. That sounds harsh, and it’s not meant to minimize the tremendous effort put forth by Extension agents, association employees, veterinarians, and producers. We’ve made a lot of progress, no doubt. But that one bad apple is still ruining the whole barrel. Not that the recent target of the undercover video is a bad apple. Quite the contrary, the owners of GREG HENDERSON the Idaho dairy caught in this latest event are responsible, progressive liveguest columnist stock operators. They told the Associated Press they were appalled by the images depicted in the video and have taken swift and decisive steps to address the situation. “And we also showed the video to all the rest of the employees in our dairies, all 500 employees, and they had to sign a deal that said they understand that there’s zero tolerance for animal abuse in our dairies,” the owner said. The three former workers at the dairy allegedly caught abusing animals in the video have been charged with animal cruelty by the Twin Falls County prosecutor. Unfortunately, the actions of the three workers placed the jobs of the other 500 employees in jeopardy. That’s because the dairy may lose some of its large customers. And the actions of those three also contribute to the gradual erosion of consumer confidence in food animal products. A news story about the undercover video on Drovers/CattleNetwork brought reader comments from both sides of the issue. But one from an animal rights activist and vegetarian known to Drovers/CattleNetwork wrote: “Animal cruelty is endemic to the dairy industry and agribusiness as a whole.” That statement is completely false, but as long as we have events such as the recent one, this activist will be able to make such outrageous claims, a point the activist made at the end of the post: “You can bet this will be shared widely on Facebook and Twitter, and I’ll do my part to make it happen.” We may have made great strides in changing animal care practices, but as long as animal abuse occurs .01 of a percent of the time, the opportunity exists for activists to exploit such actions with video distributed via Facebook and Twitter. Our industries must continue to strive toward zero incidence for our zero tolerance policies on animal abuse to work.
e’ve made a lot of progress, no doubt. But that one bad apple is still ruining the whole barrel.
W
Greg Henderson is the editor and associate publisher of Drovers/CattleNetwork. This column was published earlier and is reprinted with permission from Vance Publishing.