FarmWeek for May 13, 2013

TWO GOVERNMENT agencies concluded there are multiple factors that play a role in increased honeybee losses. ............................2

WIND ENERGY can provide a sustainable source of farm income, thousands of attendees at a wind energy conference were told. ..........4

AN INDEPENDENT business leader discusses an IFB action priority: improving the business climate. ..........................9

Black Friday: USDA crop estimates sink markets Monday, May 13, 2013

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Crop markets tumbled Friday as USDA released production and supply/demand reports that were bullish for crop production and bearish for prices.

U.S. farmers this year, despite the late start to planting, are expected to harvest a 14.1-billion-bushel corn crop (up 3.4 billion bushels from last year) and 3.39 billion bushels of beans (up 375 million bushels from a year ago).

National yield averages for this year were forecast by USDA on Friday at 158 bushels per acre for corn, down 5.6 bushels from the February estimate but up 35 bushels from last year, and 44.5 bushels per acre for beans, up 4.9 bushels from a year ago.

USDA also projected a substantial increase in world corn and wheat production and predicted a considerable drop in prices.

“A fall price at $4 (per bushel for corn) is very likely if we get the crop in and get good weather,” Brad Paulson, president of Northern Crops Marketing and Investments, said during a teleconference hosted Friday by the Min-

Two sections Volume 41, No. 19

neapolis Grain Exchange.

USDA predicted ending stocks in 2013/14 will jump to 2 billion bushels for corn (up 1.2 billion bushels from 2012/13) and 265 million bushels for beans (up 140 million bushels from 2012/13).

FarmWeekNow.com

Listen to the AgFanatics podcast about the market outlook at FarmWeekNow.com.

Meanwhile, USDA also predicted world corn production this year will set a fourth consecutive record while global wheat supplies were projected to increase 3 percent.

“There’s not really any positive numbers in the reports at all,” Paulson said.

USDA projected seasonaverage price ranges for 2013/14 of $4.30 to $5.10 per bushel for corn (down from $6.70 to $7.10 in 2012/13), $9.50 to $11.50 for beans (down from the average of $14.30 in 2012/13), and $6.15 to $7.45 for wheat (down from the record average of $7.80 in 2012/13).

“We’re looking by harvest at sharply lower prices for

corn and soybeans than what currently is offered in the futures markets,” Bill Tierney, market analyst with AgResource Co., said during a webinar hosted by CME Group.

The good news is the lower crop prices are expected to spur increased demand. USDA boosted its estimates of feed use, ethanol use, and exports for corn next year (exports for 2013/14 were pegged at 1.3

TAKING ADVANTAGE

45.4 bushels per acre, down 1.8 bushels from a year ago.

The lower yields are due to drought and April freezes that reduced crop prospects in the Southern and Central Plains.

In Illinois, the winter wheat yield prediction for this year (63 bushels per acre) is the same as last year. Harvested area in the state, however, was projected to rise 155,000 acres this year compared to 2012.

Bill Bickett of Princeton took advantage of a brief period of decent weather last week to begin planting corn in a field outside of Princeton in Bureau County. Bickett, who will plant roughly 2,000 acres of corn, said he is three weeks behind in planting. Statewide, corn planting was only 7 percent completed as last week began, well behind the five-year average of 48 percent. There may be an opportunity for some planting late this week. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

Stabenow pulls ‘egg bill’; livestock concerns remain sional Budget Office said could save about $39.7 billion over 10 years. Chairman Senate Ag Chairman Deb Stabenow Frank Lucas’ (R-Okla.) 576-page draft (D-Mich.) pulled controversial “egg bill” also eliminates direct payments in favor of provisions from her planned farm bill an insurance-based crop safety net. mark up this week, but livestock Commodity prointerests remain concerned FarmWeekNow.com grams would take a Visit FarmWeekNow.com to roughly 10 percent about the measure becoming a view details of the latest farm budget hit under the repository for animal welfare, bill proposals. anti-antibiotic, or new marketHouse draft vs. a 2.5regulating measures. percent reduction The Senate Ag Committee is expected from current food stamp spending. to vote on the chairman’s draft proposal Stabenow considered supporting a this week. The 1,102-page draft reportedly measure which would set national stanwould strengthen crop insurance, eliminate dards for layer hen housing, spurring direct payments, create a new revenue pro- protests from the National Cattlemen’s tection program similar to one approved Beef Association and the National Pork by the Senate last year, and maintain some Producers Council (NPPC), who saw the target price protections “decoupled from action as a harbinger of things to come. current planting decisions.”

The so-called “egg bill” is based on a The House Ag Committee followed recent agreement between the Humane Socisuit Friday with a draft that the Congresety of the United States and the United Egg

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Periodicals: Time Valued

billion bushels). Soy exports for 2013/14 were raised 100 million bushels from 2012/13 to 1.45 billion bushels.

“With falling prices, we should see world consumption pick up,” said Ken Smithmier of The Hightower Report.

USDA projected U.S. winter wheat production this year will total 1.49 billion bushels, down 10 percent from last year, with an average yield of

FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com

Producers. Despite Stabenow’s decision to withdraw the measure, NPPC spokesman Dave Warner noted the possibility that it could resurface on the Senate or House floor.

“It would set a dangerous precedent in allowing federal bureaucrats to tell farmers how to raise and care for their animals,” Warner told FarmWeek.

Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) has reintroduced his freestanding version of the measure, possibly setting the stage for a farm bill amendment.

Illinois Farm Bureau National Legislative Affairs Director Adam Nielsen argued “it’s a lot easier to fight an amendment than to fight it as part of a chairman’s mark.”

Warner also is concerned Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) could attempt to attach their Antimicrobial Data Collection Act to the See Stabenow, page 2

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

Quick Takes

FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, May 13, 2013

USDA RESUMING PAYMENTS — Farm payments temporarily suspended due to sequestration resumed last week. Those include payments for the 2011 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program, the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program, and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program.

On March 4, USDA’s Farm Service Agency began a temporary suspension of payments in order to assess the impact of sequestration and determine the least-disruptive process for carrying out required cuts.

Administrator Juan Garcia subsequently announced that the department would use its limited authority to transfer funds to avoid reducing payments.

DISABLED FARMER PLAY RETURNS — A one-act play about a disabled farmer will make its second appearance this summer in Chicago. “Farm Hands,” written by playwright Wendy Whiteside, will be perfor med at 7 p.m. Monday, June 24, in the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

Whiteside inter viewed and incorporated comments from Christian County farmer R.D. Elder for her play. She also drew upon the memories of her Kansas farmer father and disabled grandfathers. In the play, disabled farmer Mike describes the joys and challenges he faces.

“Farm Hands” will be one of 10 short plays performed that evening. For information, go online to {g reenhousetheater.org} or call 773-404-7336.

Whiteside gave AgrAbility Unlimited the rights to her play, allowing the organization to receive royalties from future performances.

AgrAbility unlimited was created to help farm families and farm workers who have physical disabilities.

SHAUMAN NAMED TO PANEL — Former U.S. Grains Council chairman and past Illinois Farm Bureau board member Wendell Shauman has been named to USDA’s Plant Variety Protection Board.

The board advises the secretary of agriculture on issues related to plant varieties and breeders’ rights.

The Kirkwood farmer graduated from Monmouth College with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and earned his master’s degree in agronomy and doctorate in quantitative genetics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Prior to returning to his Western Illinois family farm in 1975, he was a corn breeder for Funk Seeds International for five years.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 41 No. 19

May 13, 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.

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.

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

PRODUCTION

Report: Multiple factors responsible for bee losses

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

There is no single cause of, or solution to, accelerated honeybee losses around the U.S. that have been occurring since 2006, according to a government report.

USDA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this month released a comprehensive report on honeybee health.

The government agencies concluded there are multiple factors that play a role in increased honeybee losses. The situation often is referred to as colony collapse disorder (CCD).

“The decline in honeybee health is a complex problem caused by a combination of stressors,” said Bob Perciasepe, acting EPA administrator.

Factors that play a role in CCD include parasites, disease, poor nutrition, and pesticide exposure, according to the report.

The parasitic Varroa mite, in particular, was recognized as a major factor contributing to CCD in the U.S. and other countries. The situation is difficult to control as there is widespread resistance to chemicals beekeepers use to control mites, USDA and EPA reported.

Beekeepers since 2006 have been confounded by large losses of bee colonies. The cause of CCD has been difficult to diagnose as many of the bees simply disappear.

“If there are no bees to look at, how do you diagnose a disease?” Steve Mayes, owner of Mackinaw Valley Apiaries, told FarmWeek.

CCD in recent years generally hasn’t generated as much media buzz as when it first became prevalent in 2006-07. But the problem hasn’t gone away and, in fact, has gotten worse for many beekeepers.

Bee losses at many apiaries in the state this year ranged from 50 to 80 percent, according to Corky Schnadt, president of the Northern Illinois Beekeepers Association.

“We have a crisis,” Mayes said. “What oth-

Stabenow

Find hives near your fields

Beekeepers voluntarily register their hives’ locations and their contact information on Driftwatch, a state website that identifies locations of hives and pesticide-sensitive crops. The website is {Illinois.agriculture.purdue.edu}.

Farmers do not have to register or pay a fee to look for pesticide-sensitive crops or bees.

er business accepts a 50 percent loss?”

The unseasonably cold spring and subsequent delay in plant emergence/flowering contributed to this year’s bee losses as nectar sources until recent weeks have been scarce.

“The mortality rate was very high,” Schnadt said.

The report also concluded U.S. honeybee colonies need increased genetic diversity to improve disease resistance and worker productivity; land management should maximize available nutritional forage to enhance bee health and to protect bees by keeping them away from pesticide-treated fields; and additional research is needed to determine risks presented by pesticides.

“The crop protection industr y is dedicated to analyzing the impacts of pesticides on honeybee colonies through continued research into field-relevant pesticide exposures, improvement of pollinator habitats, supporting educational outreach programs, and applying best management practices,” said Ray McAllister, senior director of regulator y policy for CropLife America.

About one-third of all food and beverages produced in the U.S. are made possible by pollinators, particularly honeybees, according to USDA.

inclusion of industry-supported Dairy Security Continued from page 1 Senate farm bill. The pair was unable to include Act (DSA) provisions.

The DSA, which includes a “margin protecproposed new veterinary antibiotic reporting requirements in the Animal Drug User Fee Act, tion program” that protects against high feed and low milk prices, is “the best approach for which cleared the Senate last week. providing a cost-effective safety net for dairy The House Energy and Commerce’s health farmers,” Kozak said. subcommittee has moved its version of the bill IFB’s Nielsen related an agreement by farm, — which seeks timely review of animal health environment, and crop insurance groups to link products — for committee approval. conservation compliance requirements to crop Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) backs what insurance premium subsidies. In exchange, Warner termed “burdensome” Feinstein-style requirements “that could be used by opponents of modern production agriculture to go after farmers.”

Illinois Farm Bureau reminded U.S. senators NPPC also opposes attempts and House Ag Committee members of the to revive market restrictions such organization’s farm bill priorities in a letter as a ban on packer ownership of last week. livestock. The group supports a environmental interests agreed to oppose crop Senate-proposed trichina certification program insurance payment limitations, “means testing,” that Warner said would facilitate pork exports, as well as a feral swine eradication program, and or premium subsidy reductions.

American Farm Bureau Federation has continued support for Market Access Program joined 44 other groups in supporting a “white export promotion efforts.

Meanwhile, National Milk Producers Federa- paper” that outlines the new crop insurance approach. tion President Jerry Kozak hailed Stabenow’s

STATE

Page 3 Monday, May 13, 2013 FarmWeek

Quinn seeks federal help for 11 counties Damage assessment continues in 38 others

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Federal disaster help was requested for a portion of the 49 counties that are designated state disaster areas, Gov. Pat Quinn said last week.

State and federal damage assessment teams completed assessments in 11 counties and had the necessary documentation to support the request, Patti Thompson, Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) spokesman, told FarmWeek.

The 11 counties are: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, and Will.

“The five teams are continuing to document damage in the remaining counties. We started in the northern part of

the state because water was receding there while it was still rising in areas farther south,” Thompson said.

“The teams need to be able to access homes that were damaged in order to accurately document the extent of the damage. Our teams continue to work as quickly as possible, but are also taking the time

necessary to build the best case possible for why federal assistance is needed to help people recover from the flood.

“As you can imagine, with 49 counties to reach, our teams have a very big job in front of them, but they are doing everything possible to get it done quickly,” she said.

The list of disaster-desig-

nated counties grew by one last week when Monroe County was added, bringing the total to 49.

If President Obama approves Quinn’s request, residents in the 11 counties will be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest federal loans.

In the interim, short-term assistance is available through

Treasurer offers low-interest loans to disaster victims

The Illinois treasurer’s office is offering low-interest loans to storm disaster victims whose property sustained weather-related damage, according to Treasurer Dan Rutherford.

Under the Community Invest: Disaster Recovery Program, low-interest loans are available to farmers, residents, and business owners living in Illinois disaster areas and waiting for insurance settlements or other aid programs to take effect.

In addition, residents, business owners, and farmers who lack adequate insurance

coverage also may apply.

To receive the low-interest rate, applicants must secure the loan at a financial institution that participates in the state’s Disaster Recovery linked-deposit program.

The loan can be for the entire cost of repairs and expenses. The amount is based on the estimated repair costs and disaster-related expenses.

For more information, email CommunityInvest@treasurer.state.il.us or call the disaster recovery hotline at 866-523-0641.

the Illinois treasurer’s office.

(See accompanying story) Five teams comprised of personnel from IEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration, and local officials are working in the disaster counties.

Quinn also plans to seek federal assistance to help local governments recoup 75 percent of eligible flood-related costs.

Currently, IEMA and FEMA officials are meeting with local government officials to document expenses, such as those for emergency protection, debris removal, and repair or replacement of roads, bridges, and public facilities. Documentation is needed to support a request for federal reimbursement.

IEPA urges caution with flood cleanup; other flood matters

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) urged residents and volunteers to take precautions when cleaning flood debris and contaminated areas.

Questions about disposal of materials are being handled by different divisions. Direct questions about immediate emergencies to 800-782-7860, landfill waste to 217-524-3300, open burning to 217-782-2113, and outdoor chemical contamination to 217-782-3637. **** Uncontaminated sand and

sandbags may be recycled for other uses, including fill for roads and holes. Common sense should be used. Sand that is visually contaminated, such as with oil or fecal matter, should be disposed as waste.

When in doubt, it is generally safer to assume the sand has come into contact with floodwater and treat it accordingly, the IEPA said. **** Sealed drums, propane tanks and other pressurized gas cylinders with unknown contents should be reported to

The state set a record of 13 million tons in coal exports last year, and a new report forecast continued growth for the Illinois coal industry, Gov. Pat Quinn announced recently.

Those exports were fueled by the state’s large volumes of coal, competitive prices, and access to water and land transportation.

The report, Realizing Illinois’ Coal Export Potential, was developed for the Illinois Office of Coal Development.

To view the report, go online to {illinoiscoal.biz}.

The opportunity for costeffective transportation has helped the state’s coal exports grow while U.S. coal production fell, the report noted.

Total Illinois coal output rose 25 percent to 47.2 million tons in 2012, up from 37.8 million tons in 2011.

Coal production nationwide fell 11 percent.

Illinois coal was shipped to

at least 18 countries in 2011 and 2012. Illinois is now the fifth largest coal-producing state in the U.S., up from ninth in 2009. The industry supports more than 4,000 jobs in Illinois. Illinois has easy access by rail or barge to the Gulf of Mexico, where coal is loaded onto ocean-going vessels for export.

The report recommends that Illinois can help promote continued growth in exports through three types of initiatives: • Maintaining and improving Illinois’ competitiveness, including maintaining navigation on the Mississippi River and increasing the draft in the Gulf of Mexico to allow for the loading of larger classes of vessels referred to as “Cape-sized.”

• Providing technical assistance to the smaller producers of Illinois coal.

• Expanding the global awareness of Illinois coal.

Illinois sets coal export record

the IEPA Office of Emergency Response at 217-7823637 or Illinois Emergency Management Agency at 800782-7860. To dispose of propane tanks, contact the nearest propane distributor who will use the tank’s serial numbers to identify the tank owner and location. **** Flood debris and waste that may be put in a landfill include lumber, trees, branches, brush, sand, sandbags, plastic sheeting, shingles, insulation, animal carcasses, grain, animal feed, food, carpet, furniture, metal

debris, and machinery.

Household appliances must be recycled through a local scrap dealer.

Agricultural waste, including bags, cartons, dry bedding, structural materials, and crop residue, may be burned on site without an openburning permit.

However a permit is required to burn clean wood, building debris, and lumber.

An open-bur ning permit application for m is online at {epa.state.il.us/air/permits/openburn/index.html} a n d c a n

LEGISLATOR FARM TOUR

be faxed to 217-5245023. **** After storms, electrical transformers on downed power poles have the potential to leak oil. Some transformers still contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are persistent and toxic pollutants.

Alert local officials who can then contact the appropriate electrical utility company about disposal or cleanup. If transformer leaks are observed, contact the Illinois Emergency Management Agency at 800782-7860 or 217-782-7860.

Effingham County farmer Ken Brummer, right, discusses his livestock operation with state legislators who recently toured his farm. The visitors included urban legislators as well as those who represent the area. The Effingham County Farm Bureau worked with the local economic development foundation to coordinate the legislative tour of four businesses and a farm. (Photo by Cyndi Cook)

WIND ENERGY

FarmWeek Page 4 Monday, May 13, 2013

Wind energy promoted as farm crop

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Wind energy can provide a sustainable source of farm income, wind energy supporters and developers told thousands of attendees last week at WindPower 2013 in Chicago.

“Wind blows even during a drought. When it isn’t possible to grow a crop, it is possible to reap economic energy,” said Pete Ferrell, a Kansas rancher and energy consultant. Ferrell has had wind turbines on his family ranch since 2005.

The nation’s largest wind energy conference returned to Chicago’s McCormick Place for Pete Ferrell the first time since 2009, and drew 10,000 wind energy industry representatives from across the U.S. and around the world.

Ferrell told FarmWeek his cattle have never experienced any health problems or other issues related to the turbines or power generation. However, the cattle “line up in the shade

of the tower,” he added.

“In terms of cleanliness, wind is spotless compared to petroleum (production on farm and ranch land),” Ferrell said.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad endorsed wind energy as an industry that can “raise the incomes of people living in rural America.” Iowa now ranks third behind Texas and California in wind energy development and first in wind energy manufacturing and related companies, Branstad noted.

“We see this (wind development) was a winwin to help the state become more energy independent,” the governor added.

Gabriel Alonso, the new chairman of the American Wind Energy Association who was involved with three wind farm projects in Illinois, said improvements in wind turbine technology are making the industry more efficient and cost competitive with other forms of energy.

“We can produce more power because technology is helping us get more power from each (turbine) installment,” said Alonso, chief executive officer of EDP Renewables North America LLC.

EAST MEETS WEST

Above: Dave Loomis, right, with Illinois State University’s (ISU) Center for Renewable Energy exchanges information with visitors to the Illinois pavilion in the WindPower 2013 trade show. The state’s unified exhibit included ISU, Western Illinois University, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities and the Illinois Energy Office.

(Photo by Kay Shipman) Below: WindPower 2013 participants check out Illinois’ information and displays at last week’s wind energy conference in McCormick Place, Chicago. (Photo courtesy of Illinois State University Center for Renewable Energy)

Hubiao Zheng, left, a technical engineer with Jiangsu JIXIN Wind Energy of Jiangsu, China, chats with Johann Steinlechner of Heppolt Wind LLC, Los Alamos, N.M., during WindPower 2013 in Chicago’s McCormick Place. Amid 600-some trade show exhibits, Zheng showed Steinlechner his company’s turbine technology, while Steinlechner pitched his rooftop turbines for the Chinese market. (Photo by Kay Shipman)

Firms shopping for more wind, renewable power The wind industry has attracted major corporate customers who are pushing for more renewable energy and are seeking new opportunities, wind energy supporters heard last week at WindPower 2013 in Chicago.

“Walmart is open for business to do windmills,” said Greg Pool, senior manager of renewable energy and emissions for Walmart Stores Inc. Executives representing Walmart, Google, Motorola Mobility, Bloomberg, and BD, the latter a Fortune 500 medical technology manufacturer, outlined their uses of wind and other renewable energy and their goals.

Walmart has one of the most ambitious goals — eventually to be powered 100 percent by renewable energy. Pool explained that would be a

quarterly goal of 7 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) of renewable energy for Walmart’s operation worldwide by 2020. Of that total, 2.5 billion kwh would be needed in the U.S. “Energy is our second greatest controllable expense,” Pool added.

Google’s greatest energy use is in its data center facilities, said Gary Demasi, Google’s operations director of global infrastructure. Google seeks to locate facilities where “green energy” is distributed on the power grid and to sign purchase agreements for renewable energy.

The company also has invested in energy projects that reduce carbon emissions, such as methane projects at landfills and “pig farms,” Demasi said.

“It is important for utilities to sit down with us. This is an

economic development issue and an important part of where we go and develop,” Demasi added.

Economics are a key component of Bloomberg’s strategy, according to Lee Ballin, sustainability manager of Bloomberg’s global sustainability group.

Over the last five years, the company has saved $43 million through energy conservation measures and purchases of renewable energy, according to Ballin.

In addition to influencing energy suppliers, corporate actions also can impact their customers, the executives said.

“Our customers are some of the most influential people in the world ... We have greater influence together,” Ballin said. — Kay Shipman

Illinois wind development raises profile at trade show

A group of Italian wind energy developers had no problem finding Illinois’ pavilion among the 600 exhibits at last week’s wind industry convention in Chicago. Seeking opportunities to develop planned wind farm projects, they asked if Illinois had any such projects available.

Fortunately, Dave Loomis with Illinois State University’s Center for Renewable Energy connected the Italian businessmen with a representative of the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities (DCEO).

Illinois’ one-stop-shop display combined state government, education, and economic development. Visitors received copies of a booklet, “Illinois Windy City, Prairie Power,” that summarizes the state’s wind industry.

“It’s a marketing piece to say, ‘Here’s all we have here in Illinois and why you should locate here,’” Loomis said.

Wind-related companies locating in Illinois would join a growing group.

Thirteen major wind companies are based in Chicago and more than 150 companies related to wind energy are located in the state, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel noted during his speech to conference participants.

Illinois entities represented in the state pavilion offered the gamut from wind maps and anemometers to wind developer groups and existing wind farm suppliers.

“If a company comes and says it is looking to relocate and what does Illinois have to offer, we have business people from DCEO and the Office of Energy (to put them in touch with),” Loomis explained. — Kay Shipman

GOVERNMENT

Page 5 Monday, May 13, 2013 FarmWeek

Senate WRDA vote nears; Illinois provisions included Bipartisan Illinois congressmen hailed last week’s Senate approval of provisions aimed at promoting new waterways partnerships and protecting against weather-related market disruptions on the rivers.

At FarmWeek’s Friday deadline, the Senate appeared poised to pass a comprehensive Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) this week. Last week, senators OK’d two WRDA amendments spearheaded by Springfield Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin and Highland Park Republican Sen. Mark Kirk.

Durbin and Kirk joined with Reps. Rodney Davis, a Taylorville Republican, and Bill Enyart, a Belleville Democrat, in support of the Mississippi River Navigation Sustainment Act. The proposal is aimed at speeding response to extreme weather events on the river and maintaining commercial traffic during flood or drought periods.

Durbin and Kirk also won inclusion of provisions of their Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act, which proposes a pilot program to identify up to 15 previously authorized navigation and flood/storm damage reduction projects. Davis and East Moline Democrat Rep. Cheri Bustos support the measure in the House.

Missing from the Senate WRDA proposal is a proposed hike in barge industry “user fees” — i.e., diesel fuel taxes that fund the private share of lock construction/maintenance costs.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)

argued the House should address any change in funding requirements.

Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (R-Pa.) nonetheless stumped for the industry-supported fee increase on the Senate floor, with the support of colleagues including Durbin.

National Waterways Council Inc. spokesman Debra Colbert applauds support for new river partnerships, but sees a fee increase as crucial in kick-starting “priority project” funding.

“The relationship we have now with the government is pretty much a private-public partnership,” Colbert told FarmWeek. “It works well when it’s allowed to work well. If we could get the (increased) user fee through, it could work even better for the next 20 years.”

Colbert noted reports that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee may offer a draft WRDA package early this summer, ideally addressing the user fee issue.

Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) “totally gets the connection between (economic) competition and infrastructure on the river,” she maintained.

Senate-approved Sustainment Act provisions would authorize a Mississippi River “extreme weather management” study, attempt to replace outdated river forecasting tools such manual river gauges (including painted lines on bridges) with automated depth gauges and other resources.

The measure would expand Corps authority to ensure navigable depths outside river channels, to ensure access to docks, loading facilities, and other infrastructure.

Major commodity interests are working to connect the dots and dollars from farm to foreign port — the focus of a forthcoming Midwest ag transportation summit.

The National Grain and Feed Association and the Soy Transportation Coalition will host “A Modern Infrastructure for Modern Agriculture” conference July 30-31 at the Westin O’Hare near Chicago. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will co-sponsor the summit.

U.S. Surface Transportation Board Chairman Daniel Elliott will be keynote speaker for the summit, which will cover rail transportation, highway funding and regulation, waterway needs, and containerized shipping.

To register, visit {www.soytransportation.org} or {www.ngfa.org/meetings.cfm}. Early bird registration fee is $265 if received no later than July 1, while onsite registration is $350 per person.

The summit aims to raise awareness of transportation’s role in ag profitability, spur action on infrastructure improvements, encourage networking between supply chain partners, and foster “bridges between government and agricultural interests that will result in more effective promotion of agricultural transportation issues.”

The latter is a key goal for the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA), which continues to study statewide road and bridge needs for farmers, elevators, and processors.

As Congress weighs measures to promote public-private partnerships in waterways development (see story above), ISA transportation and export infrastructure lead Scott Sigman said he sees similar potential for surface transportation partnerships, possibly via project bond finance.

“We’re trying to help those county commissioners or engineers with finding financing —

with utilizing the programs that exist today,” he told FarmWeek.

“They may not be aware of those programs.

They may not know how to negotiate through the issues of tax-free municipal bonds in some of the most rural counties. Bringing resources to bear that help with that is a part of our initiative ultimately to help the soy complex.”

Sigman outlined other top ISA 2013 ISA transportation research priorities including a “container-on-barge” study focused on “sustainable” commercial shipping.

River barge traffic is “the greener of the transport modes,” burning fewer gallons of diesel fuel per ton-mile and thus polluting less than rail or highway shipping, he argued.

Cost-competitive sustainability is a growing priority along the supply chain, “whether it’s the global corporations involved in ag merchandising or trading or some of the more localized companies that are trans-loading containers and helping with exports,” Sigman said.

Meanwhile, ISA has intensified efforts to bring farmers’ and transportation/logistics companies’ needs into line. ISA helped fund a recent Asian tour pairing producers with international shippers and merchandisers. — Martin Ross

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, left, a Taylorville Republican, introduces his Opportunity Knocks bill, aimed at assuring continuation of unemployment benefits for needy individuals retraining in new fields, during a news conference at Edwardsville’s National Corn-toEthanol Research Center. Center Director John Caupert, looking on, helped inspire Davis to draft the proposal. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Rodney Davis)

Bill offers retraining options

The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville offers not only new technologies for renewable energy but also new opportunities for talented but displaced Illinoisans.

Taylorville Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis said he hopes to ensure bureaucracy doesn’t stand in the way of opportunity.

Currently, unemployed workers who seek training through university, community college, or technical school programs risk losing unemployment insurance benefits if a program is not specifically approved under the federal Workforce Investment Act. Davis’ Opportunity Knocks Act, unveiled recently at the Edwardsville biofuels research center, would expand the definition of approved training and protect benefits for those seeking to train for a new career or ‘ F a m i l i e s c a n continue their education “on decide whether or their own dime” despite having their job. not they want to lostDavis said he sees his bill p u r s u e f u r t h e r fostering new resources in rural training or educa- education, health care, bioenertional goals vs. gy, and manufacturing. He became aware of issues facing the bureaucracy unemployed workers during a deciding.’

2012 campaign stop in Edwardsville, where NCERC Director John Caupert related — U.S. Rep. Rodney concerns among students who Davis had completed SIU biofuels Taylorville Republican training courses but subsequently were expected to repay unemployment benefits they received during training.

“This (proposal) gives families the flexibility to choose the career, the training they desire, especially if they’re going through a time of unemployment,” Davis told FarmWeek. “The time they need unemployment benefits is then.

“It seems like commonsense to me. This is not adding bureaucracy — in my opinion, it’s simplifying it. Families can decide whether or not they want to pursue further training or educational goals vs. the bureaucracy deciding.”

He said he sees his measure bolstering local economies and services. Many skilled manufacturing jobs go unfilled because family members face the choice of going back to school or paying the rent, and “we still have not addressed the nursing shortage in this country as we should,” said Davis, whose wife is a nursing professor.

Workforce training is “critically important to ensure a competent and qualified workforce for tomorrow’s bioeconomy,” Caupert maintained. According to Bio Economic Research Associates, 380,000 rural jobs could be created in the biofuels sector alone by 2016.

Since January 2007, NCERC has trained more than 600 socalled “unemployed or underemployed” individuals for work in the industry, the center reported. — Martin Ross

Summit focuses on partners, policies

FarmWeek Page 6 Monday, May 13, 2013

CROPWATCHERS Bernie Walsh, Durand, Winnebago County: The planters went from full steam ahead to a screeching halt last week, just like the previous three weeks. The ground had dried out pretty well until Thursday when we received another inch of rain. There was a slight chance of frost Sunday night (May 12). I guess we shouldn’t complain too much because we have about half of the corn planted in this area, and there are a few soybeans planted as well. It is supposed to be warmer this week, and we will need that to dry out and get rolling again.

Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: The week started great. Warm, dry, and windy conditions helped dry the fields.

Fieldwork started on Monday (May 6), and by Tuesday almost everyone was going. Thursday, spotted showers slowed us down. The heavy rain didn’t come until later.

We got 0.5 of an inch overnight.

Corn is about one-third planted in Lake County in excellent soil conditions. Winter wheat and alfalfa also have greened up. Showers were forecast for the weekend, but the middle of the week should be in the high 80s. Let’s hope for a great planting season and remember to be careful.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: Rain for the week, 0.6 of an inch on Thursday; May total, 2.4 inches. The sun shined, and there were some good working days early in the week. Corn planters rolled non-stop with many acres now planted. The morale improved in the rural communities.

Our newly seeded oats are up and look good. Most alfalfa fields came through the winter OK and look promising for the future. Hay supplies are very tight, so we really need some good cuttings of hay this year.

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: Fieldwork began Monday, May 6. The fields dried out nicely with the warmer temperatures and sunshine we received. The tractors were rolling in the area and some progress was made in a few days.

Anhydrous was applied, tillage was done, and corn was planted.

Showers came through the area Thursday afternoon, and Friday morning there was almost another inch of rain in the gauge. The forecast called for more rain and cooler temperatures over the weekend. We will be waiting for it to dry out again. Corn planting progress is 20 percent.

Larry Hummel, Dixon, Lee County: Thursday must be rain day. For the past two weeks, fieldwork has been interrupted by showers on the same day of the week. This last shower was on the light side, so we should get back in the fields fairly quickly after some sunshine and a little heat.

The heat is going to be hard to come by with lows close to 30 degrees forecast for the weekend. This area has been fortunate, and planting progress has been made. It looks to me that close to half of the fields are planted.

Joe Zumwalt, Warsaw, Hancock County: Not much progress has been made in the planting department. While we missed the heaviest rains, we have still been very damp, to say the least, and that has kept farmers from doing much fieldwork. Sprayers have been rolling as much as possible to try to get ahead of the weeds, but most everyone is anxious to begin planting. At least we know that for now, the drought is over in Western Illinois. Mushrooms are in full swing right now. This week’s forecast looks promising to dry things out some and allow us to begin some work. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: Rain on May 3 totaled 2 to 5 inches, and Thursday’s totaled 2.75 inches. A couple of guys planted Wednesday and sprayers were running in drier spots. After Thursday night’s deluge, there won’t be any more corn planted before this Wednesday and the goal is to finish this month. Corn planted the last couple days in April is emerging nicely.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We received 3.25 inches of rain last week — 3 inches on Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, and 0.25 on Thursday. The total is 10 inches in April, 3.25 so far in May, and 21.25 since Jan. 1. The corn we planted on May 1-2 has not emerged yet. The cool temperatures have slowed any growth. The forecast is for more rain this week just when the fields will be dry enough to plant. Pasture conditions are excellent. Plenty of grass and water in the streams. The hay fields will be ready to mow before we finish planting this year. Quality and tonnage should be very good this year.

Tim Green, Wyoming, Stark County: Another interesting week. We received 1.6 inches of rain Friday night, May 3, Saturday morning, May 4, and Thursday night. It dried up a little bit around Wednesday and Thursday. Some decided to plant and some didn’t. The ground is not really fit yet. Corn planted two weeks ago is starting to poke through. The warmer weather helped. The weather is cooler now, so maybe we will get another couple days of planting. Be safe.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: It was a very busy week until a rain event stopped all field activity.

Our area saw a good start to corn planting, along with spraying. Ground conditions were just dry enough to plant, but a little sticky when digging up seeds to check for proper depth. No-till fields are getting very weedy, unless a fall herbicide was applied. This seemed to work very well. Looks like we won’t be winterizing the sprayer until winter. Fertilizer plants are really busy, as all work comes at once in a year like this.

Markets were holding strong waiting for the report that came out Friday. Some soybean crushing facilities are closing until the new crop becomes available, as beans are really getting in short supply.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: We had light showers on Saturday, May 4, and again on Thursday. Field activity started on Monday, May 6, and continued on Tuesday and Wednesday before rain brought things to a halt.

Conditions were not ideal, but with all the acres that need to be planted, it was time to start. Other farmers were still not able to get into the fields due to wet soils. Some planted soybeans in fields that were dry while other fields were too wet to plant corn. There is still a lot to be planted. Corn planted in the first week of April emerged after 26 to 27 days. The local closing bids for May 9: nearby corn, $6.72; new-crop corn, $5.18; nearby soybeans, $14.95; new-crop soybeans, $11.89.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: Mother Nature finally allowed three days of fieldwork this past week before another rain event passed through. Two days had temps in the 80s. There are real disparities in planting progress.

Areas northeast of here are more than 50 percent seeded, while farmers in southern parts of the county are still waiting to begin. Corn, $6.84, fall, $5.21; soybeans, $14.99, fall, $11.89; wheat, $6.83.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: Just dumped a perfect inch from the rain gauge from Thursday. The May 4-5 weekend rain total was 0.44 of an inch. Some in northern Champaign County and farther north and west were able to get into the fields last week.

Some farmers are finished with corn and are starting beans. For most of us, equipment is still sitting with no progress. It is time to plant corn as the Osage orange hedge leaves are as big as a squirrel’s ear, but Mother Nature is not cooperating! I captured four moths in my black cutworm moth trap the first night, but there won’t be much corn to munch on. Patience — we may get a dry spell this week!

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: Another week into a new planting season and most planters remain parked. A few got going on the dry spots.

Otherwise, most are still waiting for more sunshine and some drying days. Our gauge picked up 2.5 inches of rain Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, and another 0.6 of an inch Wednesday and Thursday. I have not seen any wheat fields recently, but the spray planes have been going the last couple days. Have a safe week and let the sun shine.

Tom Ritter, Blue Mound, Macon County: Another week with no fieldwork. Conditions were starting to dry out with a few good drying days early last week, but that came to a halt on Thursday morning when we received 0.8 of an inch of rain. Some areas received much more than that. My rain total so far for May is 2.3 inches. Less than 5 percent of the corn in this area has been planted and, of course, no soybeans. Fields are beginning to get a little ragged and may require a little extra tillage or a little extra dose of crop protectants. Farmers are still optimistic that if they can get a narrow window, planting can be accomplished, but possibly with some reduced yields.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: Just as we were starting to think about getting into the fields, wet weather came in to sit us out for another week. After the 2 inches we received two weeks ago and the weekend of May 4 and 5, fields were just started to dry off Thursday when another 0.75 of an inch fell. The few hundred acres of corn planted in Coles County is entering the V1 stage after a month of waiting for enough warmth to encourage growth. The warmer temperatures also encouraged the wheat to rapidly grow another 6 inches. So for now, the only good news is another week gone by puts us another week closer to planting. In the meantime, I hope you all had a good Mother’s Day and thanked Mom far all she does.

Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: WET!! Last week when I reported, we had received only 0.5 of an inch of rain. We ended up getting 3.6 inches for the week. The weekend of May 4-5 and Thursday we received another 1.1 inches. Very little field activity has taken place, but there has been quite a bit of mowing. I did hear of a couple of field cultivators going out on Thursday ahead of the rain, but not much got done. There is a lot of anticipation about getting into the fields. The biggest excitement has been the morel mushrooms that were found in quite a few different places.

Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: 4.4 inches of rain. We are more than half way to last month’s rainfall total, and it’s just the 13th of May. Two months ago, I thought we would be finishing up soybean planting by now.

Everyone is wondering how we are going to get weedy fields worked, and I imagine when 75 to 85 percent of the field is ready, we will plant.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: Since my last report, we received 5 inches of rain. Rainfall amounts vary within a few miles from a tenth or two to inches with each rain event. We have received just enough moisture to keep the soil wet. Some fieldwork occurred prior to the rains. A few planted corn on some of the rolling, well-drained grounds. Several sprayers were operating in the area applying herbicides to fields to maintain control of the weeds. Wheat seems to be doing well despite the cool, wet weather. The few warm days that we had allowed the crop to leap in height.

Most is knee-high and will soon start to extend the seed head. Several vegetable crops have been planted in the area and look good down the row, but I’m sure this wet weather is presenting challenges to the specialty growers as well. One report in the media is how the weather is causing a delay in the development of strawberries. Local grain bids: corn, $6.43; soybeans, $14.99; wheat, $7.15.

Page 7 Monday, May 13, 2013 FarmWeek

CROPWATCHERS David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: Showers were around again Friday morning.

We received rain five out of seven days last week. It really doesn’t matter if you have accumulated 0.4 of an inch or 4 inches, there is a lot of water standing in fields again in the county.

Acres that were not sprayed early this spring are starting to become weedy and need sprayed or tillage. Hoping for showers to come a little further apart so planting can get under way.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: It’s still wet! Up to 3.5 inches of rain fell the weekend of May 4-5, followed by showers almost every day except Wednesday. An additional 1 inch fell Thursday and Thursday evening. On Wednesday, there were several airplanes and helicopters applying fungicide and insecticides to wheat. In some cases highflotation devices were used. Wheat does not like a wet and humid May. There also are aphids in the wheat. A lot of fields that have not had any chemicals applied have a super crop of weeds. They are totally green — or yellow in the case of a bountiful crop of mustard. There are more chances for showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for mid-week.

Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: After 3 inches of rain this past week, nothing has changed field-wise but the height of the weeds. No one has pushed the panic button yet, but their fingers are getting very itchy. You can see a few heads starting to poke out of the wheat fields. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m afraid with all of this rain, the yields might suffer. Oh yeah, it was pouring again Friday.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: Wet fields kept fieldwork to a minimum this past week. There was a little spraying done. I sprayed fungicide on several of my wheat fields, but not all of the wheat was ready for fungicide. The early corn has emerged and looks good. The corn I planted two weeks ago is just beginning to spike through the ground.

Dean Shields, Murphysboro, Jackson County: Friday morning brought more rain to Jackson County. There hasn’t been much corn planted, if any at all. We are still waiting to dry out.

The river is high and since it is staying high, we have some localized flooding. Wheat is looking pretty good — still a lot of green and possibly some disease in it. We are waiting for dry weather and hope to get some this week so we can get started.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County This planting season is like watching paint dry. No fieldwork was done last week. We received a little more than 2 inches of rain on Saturday, May 4, through Monday, May 6, and it all soaked in. Hope to start spraying fungicide on the wheat today (Monday) to protect it from the high chance of disease pressure. Been checking our hay equipment. First cutting is almost ready to go, but fields are very wet.

It will make for some tough cutting and hard drying conditions.

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: It was another wet week here in deep Southern Illinois. We had more than 2.5 inches of rain over the weekend of May 3-5 and it was sprinkling again on Friday morning as I called in my report. Rain also was forecast for Saturday night.

Corn planting remains where it was last week in my report, which is way behind normal. I haven’t heard of anyone talking about switching to soybeans yet, except for some people in the Alexander County river bottoms, where the river has flooded some property. Please take time and have a safe week.

Wheat development behind schedule; disease risk escalates

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

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

The cool, wet weather conditions this spring slowed development of winter wheat.

But the crop still is in pretty good condition in most areas of the state, according Dave DeVore of Siemer Milling in Teutopolis.

“But it’s behind schedule with all the cool weather,” DeVore told the RFD Radio Network.

The wheat crop in Illinois as of May 6 was rated 68 percent good to excellent, 25 per-

cent fair, and 7 percent poor or very poor.

That’s a downgrade from the previous week when the crop was rated 77 percent good to excellent, 21 percent fair, and just 2 percent poor.

“Typically, wheat doesn’t mind a wet April but once we get into May and heading time, you like for the sun to come out and the fields to dry out,” DeVore said. “Too much rain in May is not necessarily a good thing for wheat.”

Wet weather, particularly this time of year, can cause

outbreaks of everything from septoria leaf spot and powdery mildew to wheat scab.

The University of Illinois last week predicted there is a medium to high risk of an out-

FarmWeekNow.com

View the latest forecast for wheat scab outbreaks in Illinois at FarmWeekNow.com.

break of fusarium head blight in a large portion of Southeastern and East-Central Illinois.

The epicenter of the highrisk area is a triangle from Decatur to Paris down to the Effingham area, with Mattoon/Charleston in the center.

More about the head blight forecast and fungicide recommendations is available online at {wheatscab.psu.edu}.

“I hope to start spraying fungicide on wheat Monday to protect it from a high chance of diseases,” Randy Anderson, FarmWeek Cropwatcher from Saline County, said Friday.

The Illinois Wheat Associa-

tion (IWA) on May 21 will host its annual Southern Illinois Wheat Tour to assess the condition of the crop and calculate yield estimates.

“It (the wheat tour) gives us a g ood indication what to expect when the combines start rolling,” DeVore said.

Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n about next week’s wheat tour, contact the IWA office at 309557-3619, Siemer Milling at 217-857-313, Mennel Milling in Mt. Olive at 217-999-2161, or Wehmeyer Seed in Mascoutah at 618-615-9037.

What are the effects of cool, wet conditions on corn?

Seed placed in a cool, moist environment will soak up (imbibe) moisture, even though it may not be warm enough to trigger germination.

Some damage to cell membranes inevitably occurs during this process.

Some of the early damage that occurs due to cold water imbibition is irreversible.

However, if warm soils allow the seed to germinate rapidly and the seedling continues rapid growth, the developing corn seedling often can repair the early damage and escape Kevin Black problems from invading pathogens.

Conversely, if growth is slowed from cool conditions, the pathogens have the advantage.

A similar situation exists for crops that successfully emerge and begin growth, only to be slowed by a later period of cool and/or cloudy weather. Root and stem pathogens find this to be ideal conditions for infection.

Actually, any type of stress that slows growth or diverts resources away from growth can cause increased disease infection.

BY KEVIN BLACK

Another common effect associated with chilling injury of corn seed and seedlings is distorted growth.

Corn seed that imbibes cold water often will exhibit various types of distorted growth. The most dramatic effect is to have the coleoptile shoot curl back on itself or just grow in the wrong direction. Research has shown that wide swings of approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit in day-night temperatures also can cause distorted growth.

Herbicides also can injure corn seedlings that are in cool, moist soils. A seed that germinates and grows rapidly usually can avoid a selective herbicide’s harmful effects by metabolizing and breaking down the product.

However, if emergence and growth are slowed by cool soil or air temperatures, the seed/seedling can be unable to effectively metabolize the herbicide, which then becomes injurious.

Following corn emergence, a period of rapid growth allows equally rapid uptake of the selective herbicide. If a period of slowed growth intervenes, this can cause increased crop injury. The risk associated with early planting is not only from reduced germination in cool soils. There is additional risk that early-season variable growing conditions may result in increased disease infec-

tion, distorted seedling growth, or increased herbicide injury.

Finally, soils early in the season have a greater temperature variation with depth and field location. Slight variations in soil temperature can have large effects even on crop emergence. The best crop stands are created when soil temperatures are consistently at or above the minimum for germination and growth, with a positive 10-day forecast.

Kevin Black is GROWMARK’s insect and plant disease technical manager. His email is kblack@growmark.com.

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FarmWeek Page 8 Monday, May 13, 2013

Time to start mulling replant, prevent-plant options

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

Despite the pressures of a wet spring, Illinois growers may not yet be pondering the possibility of a preventedplanting situation. And with few crops currently in the ground, the notion of required replanting may seem absurd.

percent per day through June 25 — after that, planted crops do not qualify for policy protection, and prevent-plant provisions may kick in. Insured acres planted after the lateplanting period due to insurable causes are covered at 60 percent of original yield and revenue guarantees.

The “late-planting period”

Illinois Farm Bureau risk management specialist Doug Yoder briefed Country Financial crop specialists on the latest farm bill crop insurance developments last week.

But amid still-uncertain weather prospects, Country Financial crop claims supervisor Steve Worthington urges growers to begin reviewing potential crop insurance replant or, in the ultimate worst case, “prevent-plant” options.

June 5 is final planting date for most Illinois corn — the last day farmers can plant a crop and receive 100 percent of their crop insurance guarantee.

The guarantee then drops 1

for corn in Illinois’ seven southernmost counties runs from June 1 to 25. The same period for corn in the rest of Illinois begins June 6 and ends June 30. The late-planting period for soybeans is June 16 to July 10 in the northern third of the state and June 21 to July 15 across the southern two-thirds.

If a crop is damaged prior to the final-plant date and it’s practical to replant the crop, farmers must replant to main-

Food labeling should offer ammunition for consumers attempting to make sound shopping choices, not provide a “weapon” aimed indiscriminately at technology, argue biotech industry representatives.

In the wake of California’s recently failed biotech labeling ballot initiative, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) have introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-To-Know Act, which would require nationwide labeling of foods with biotech ingredients.

The Biotech Industry Organization (BIO) argued that it supports “a voluntary and market-driven approach to food labeling.”

However, BIO opposes mandatory labeling “that could confuse consumers into believing that foods containing biotech-derived ingredients are somehow different in safety

and nutritional characteristics when compared to conventional or even organic foods, when this is not the case.”

Jerry Steiner, Monsanto executive vice president of sustainability, said he feels voluntary, “market-based” labeling of biotech-produced or certified organic products is “just fine,” arguing “this is a preference — it’s not about safety or health.”

Further, Jerry Flint, DuPont Pioneer vice president of biotech and regulatory affairs, said he sees valid grounds for labeling products that offer a “compositional difference” from their conventionally produced counterparts.

For example, cooking oils produced from DuPont’s Plenish high-oleic soybeans will be labeled.

But that label also will note the product includes 0 trans fats — in Flint’s view, that is “a positive way to talk about a product.”

tain coverage.

Worthington advised growers facing a replant to quickly contact their insurance representative, submit a claim, and notify Country Crop Claims to “get a claims adjuster with the insured as soon as possible.”

“Right now, replants really aren’t an issue,” he told FarmWeek. “But I know that when the weather straightens out, a lot of folks can get a lot of acres planted in a day.

“If farmers are looking at replanting, they need to make sure they make contact, report a claim, and get adjuster consent prior to destroying the original planted crop to avoid jeopardizing the claim.

“We need to make an appraisal, or we can authorize a replant over the phone if the grower has less than 50 acres per (insured) unit.”

In preparation to address replant/prevent-plant claims, Country is monitoring areas of the state with more serious flooding or moisture problems.

Congressional biotech labeling proposal consumer confuser?

LABEL PAINS Illinois Farm Bureau policy supports voluntary labeling of biotech or non-biotech products if an approved certification process is in place, including: • Development of a consumer-friendly icon or label indicating presence of genetically modified materials in food.

• Positive labeling of biotech products that is “sciencebased, truthful, and not misleading.”

• Compliance with the science-based labeling policies of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That means no special labeling unless a food is significantly different than its traditional counterpart — i.e., the product has been nutritionally altered or food allergy risk is heightened because of its modification.

Similarly, Okanagan Specialty Fruits’ Neal Carter, who is seeking U.S. approval for nonbrowning modified apple varieties, said he sees voluntary labeling as potentially positive because of his apple’s consumer value. “One advantage is apples already having a (retail) sticker on them,” he added.

Monsanto’s Steiner said he opposes labeling claims that in his view “misrepresent, scare, and demonize the technology.”

AquaBounty Technologies President Ron Stotish, whose genetically modified salmon has been in regulatory limbo for the last several years, noted that “if our product is approved, it will carry a label,” at the producer level. Stotish nonetheless warned “labeling is being used as a weapon by the people who don’t like us.”

Further, biotech labeling could confuse consumers already bombarded with a morass of label information, Illinois Farm Bureau Senior Commodities Director Tamara Nelsen said. Unnecessary mandatory labeling could devalue proven nutrition and health label claims, she said.

“We believe labeling should be there for important things that affect your health — information about allergies, sodium, and the like,” Nelsen said. “This is taking label space away.” — Martin Ross

Crop criteria

To qualify for replant payments, producers must experience damage on at least 20 acres or 20 percent of an insured unit.

Crop potential must fall below 90 percent of their guaranteed yield.

In the case of corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum, payments are based solely on a claimant’s share in an affected crop without regard to actual replacement costs.

For example, if a grower has a 100 percent share in his corn crop and replants 100 acres, the insurer would calculate payments by multiplying that 100 acres by a maximum allowable 8 bushels, times a $5.65-per-bushel projected price. Soybean payments are based on 3 bushels per acre and a $12.87 price.

In the case of a prevent-plant situation, growers should not file a “notice of loss” until after the final plant date. Growers are expected to at least attempt a planting if there is “any opportunity” before then, Country Financial crop claims supervisor Steve Worthington said.

A producer must report a loss within 72 hours after determining planting is not possible prior to the final plant date, or at any time during the late-planting period over the following 25 days. A prevent-plant loss must be submitted no later than three days after the late-planting period ends.

“We need to start documenting that loss at the earliest possible date,” Worthington said. “We encourage people to notify us if they have a problem.”

If a producer has a history of planting a crop in a county where a claim is filed, Country generally will accept that history in documenting intent to plant. Seed receipts and similar records also can be used to demonstrate intent.

There is no limitation on consecutive annual prevent-plant claims, but insured “cause of loss” must occur within a grower’s insurance period. Growers with continuous-“carryover” coverage must have experienced a peril after the insurance sales closing date for the prior crop year — in the case of a 2013 prevent-plant claim, after March 15, 2012. — Martin Ross

WIU ag students part of production

Two Western Illinois University (WIU) agriculture students were involved with the production of “At Any Price,” a new movie about an Iowa farm that stars Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron. The movie opened May 3 in Chicago.

The family farms of Julie Herrmann (in Hinckley and Leland) were used as the movie’s farmstead locations. She is a senior studying agriculture.

Scenes also were shot at Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, which is owned and operated by the family of Brett Gerace of DeKalb, a junior in ag.

“My family … took part in many scenes. Look for me driving the official pace car, a convertible Mustang,” Gerace said.

“They used our entire home for the movie as the characters’ home,” Herrmann said. The filming took about five months, but the crew and director were around the farm for about a year.

Herrmann said her father’s expertise was used to make sure the facts were accurate and the characters were portrayed in a tasteful way.

Electricity use may kill bacteria

Exposing packaged liquids, fruits, and vegetables to electricity for just minutes might eliminate foodborne pathogens on those foods, according to Purdue University research.

Kevin Keener, a food science professor, looks for new ways to kill harmful bacteria, such as E.coli and salmonella, that contaminate foods and cause serious illness and death. He is studying uses of electricity to generate an ionized gas from atmospheric gases inside the food package.

The process creates a variety of bacteria-killing molecules, such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and hydrogen peroxide. The molecules exist only for a few hours before reverting to the original gas, leaving a bacteria-free product.

Keener’s experiment showed the process eliminated bacteria with 20 seconds of treatment and 24 hours of exposure to the ionized gases. He estimated the process cost should be comparable to chemical and heat treatments currently used.

EMERGING ISSUE

Page 9 Monday, May 13, 2013 FarmWeek

IFB ACTION PRIORITY: Drivers with CDL need to declare status Improving the business climate

Kim Clarke Maisch

Editor’s note: Kim Clarke Maisch is state director for the National Federation for Independent Business (NFIB), which represents small businesses around the state. Farmers comprise about 12 percent of NFIB membership. Maisch answered questions related to the state’s fiscal and business climate last week during a FarmWeek/RFD Radio Network interview. IFB’s action priority is to “influence state and federal governments to create positive fiscal and business climates.”

Question: When a business considers moving or expanding, do you believe Illinois is considered a viable option?

Why or why not?

Maisch: Illinois is attractive for a few reasons. Mainly, we are located in the middle of the country. We have great access to a highway system and rail and one of the biggest airports in the country at O’Hare. If those types of things are important to the business that is being sited, they might look at Illinois. Of course, we have a great workforce.

But if you are a business that tends to have a lot of workplace injuries or are concerned about those types of laws, then I think most people would not consider Illinois.

You see a lot looking to the right-to-work states, which are mostly in the South, but now we have two neighboring states, Indiana and Michigan, which have recently become right-to-work states, and that’s very attractive to different industries.

Question: What factors do businesses consider on a possible relocation or expansion in Illinois?

Maisch: What we hear is that things aren’t so great in Illinois.

Recently, Illinois was ranked the third-worst state in which to do business by “CEO” magazine ... . One of the biggest cost drivers of doing business in the State of Illinois is the high cost of workers’ compensation. We had some limited reforms in 2011, but we have to have more reforms. We are one of the top five most expensive states when it comes to workers’ compensation.

Unemployment insurance is another area. We have very high taxes. If you employ someone in Illinois, you are paying unemployment insurance (UI) taxes on them. Those UI taxes are about as high as we have seen them in very long time.

There are lots of other reasons why small business owners are concerned about their future in the state. The pension obligation that lawmakers are trying to fix — $100 billion in debt ... . It’s all about the health of the economy. If the state is saddled with that kind of debt, it’s very difficult for business owners, particularly those who might do business with the state, to get paid. That kind of debt for many CEOs shows this state is not run well.

Question: How would a proposed increase in the minimum wage impact the state’s business climate and business development here?

Maisch: Currently, Illinois is paying a minimum wage of $8.25 an hour. The federal minimum wage is $7.25. Most importantly, we are $1 higher than all of our neighboring states, except for Missouri at $7.30. All the folks who live in the Illinois border communities and try to get customers from the other side are paying a much higher minimum wage.

The proposal in Springfield is to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour over three years and potentially to tie that wage to the consumer price index, which would mean an automatic annual increase without regard for what’s going on in the marketplace.

We believe that the marketplace should determine the cost of labor ... . Raising the minimum wage to $10 would catapult Illinois into the No. 1 spot in terms of what we pay for minimum wage.

We don’t believe government should be in the job of setting wages... .

Question: What are some recommendations to improve the state business climate? Both short and long term.

Maisch: We believe we really need to reform our workers’ compensation system. The biggest item is causation that was left on the table (during the 2011 reform discussions). Did the injury actually occur at the workplace? Or did it occur over the weekend? That’s the whole issue of causation. We need to reform it (causation) in Illinois.

From the NFIB viewpoint, our members’ attitude is if government would get out of the way and stop passing all these laws and let us do what we do best — make our products and sell our services, employ people — the economy would take off.

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

A farmer with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) must declare his medical card status when renewing his license or before a January deadline, according to Terry Montalbano, the CDL administrator with the Illinois Secretary of State office.

“This does not matter what you do for a living,” Montalbano told FarmWeek of the requirement.

Under a new federal law, every driver with a CDL must visit one of 47 state CDL facilities to declare which of four medical card categories is applicable. If someone’s CDL expires before Jan. 30, that individual may take care of the matter while renewing the license, Montalbano said.

A driver with a CDL who does 100 percent of his transportation duties within the state’s borders would declare his status as “intrastate.”

However, a driver with a CDL who crosses the state border, no matter the distance, would declare his status as “interstate,” according to Montalbano.

By mid-March, only 34 percent of drivers with CDLs had declared their status. Drivers who fail to declare their status by the deadline will have their CDLs suspended.

The intrastate section offers a non-excepted category for those subject to federal driver qualification requirements. An “excepted intrastate” category is offered for those who are excepted from all or parts of the state driver qualification requirements.

“If they have a CDL, they must declare,” Montalbano said. “As farmers, they would be

exempt (from the driver qualification requirement) within their 150 miles across state lines doing farming business, etc. So that farmer can either mark EI (excepted interstate) or EA (excepted intrastate), and neither is wrong.

“However, if that same farmer does nonfarm work in the off season and crosses state lines for commercial purposes, he must mark NI (non-excepted interstate) and that covers all transactions,” Montalbano said.

Kevin Rund, Illinois Farm Bureau transportation specialist, further explained the situation. Before completing the certification process, drivers will have to answer two questions.

First, do they drive a truck outside of Illinois or stay wholly within the state? Second, are they required to have a medical card?

Once drivers have answered those questions, they’ll be able to determine their correct category from among the four — EI, EA, NI, and NA (non-excepted intrastate — offered by the secretary of state.

Certain farmers are eligible for an exception from having to have a medical card, Rund said.

However, that exception does not extend to farmers who drive a combination vehicle, such as a semi or truck-trailer that weighs 10,001 or more pounds gross combination weight rating (GCWR), Rund added.

More information about this requirement can be found on {ilfb.org}. Look under the policy and issues icon, then click on “current issues,” then “transportation and infrastructure.” Look for the “medical card certification” option.

GOVERNMENT

FarmWeek Page 10 Monday, May 13, 2013

House panel to launch ag labor ‘discussion’

BY MARTIN ROSS FarmWeek

The hot-button issue of immigration was absent from the U.S. House’s preMemorial Day docket, announced last week. But a Farm Bureau policy specialist sees post-July 4 debate emerging after crucial groundwork is completed.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet is set Thursday to review ag-specific labor proposals sponsored by Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). That panel is expected to guide House immigration debate.

A separate, comprehensive “Gang of Eight” immigration package (named for the bipartisan group of House-Senate lawmakers supporting it) has yet to surface in the House. That plan includes a two-tiered program aimed at meeting both longer-term and temporary, seasonal ag labor needs.

American Farm Bureau

Federation (AFBF) and the United Farm Workers are part of the coalition backing the Gang of Eight measure.

AFBF’s taken a neutral position on Goodlatte’s plan.

AFBF labor specialist Kristi Boswell nonetheless acknowledged Goodlatte, former chairman of the House Ag Committee, “wants to start the discussion.” The Gang of Eight has kept Goodlatte “in the loop,” and Goodlatte in turn has been “very careful” to commend the “Gang of Eight process” in the Senate, she told FarmWeek.

“We’re probably looking toward the middle of summer, maybe next fall, by the time we see (immigration legislation) on the floor, in the House, anyway,” she said.

“It’s not that there’s not an appetite for it. I think the House ‘Gang’ is working diligently; it’s just a little behind where the Senate’s at. There actually may be a little strategy there, in seeing how the Senate process plays out.”

In an “open letter” to Illinois’ House members last week, the Illinois Business Immigration Council (IBIC) — a collection of statewide business, academic, and civic interests — applauded Senate proposals as “a good first step,” and called for “similar action” in the House.

The group stressed the need for “a streamlined process to legal employment” and immigration policy that responds to business needs “in a market-driven way.”

Boswell cited “definite distinctions” between Goodlatte’s plan (see accompanying details) and Senate ag provisions. For example, Senate proposals offer a conditional “blue card” for longterm ag-exclusive workers, who ultimately could earn a comprehensive “green card.”

Goodlatte does not.

But Boswell emphasized House discussion is still in the early stages, and “we don’t know what leadership will go forward with yet.”

The Goodlatte plan

Here are some of the key provisions of U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s (R-Va.) Agricultural Guestworker “AG” Act. The measure has six Republican co-sponsors.

• The bill designates USDA as administrator of a new “H2C” guest worker program, rather than the U.S. Department of Labor. USDA “is better equipped to help farmers and better understands their needs,” Goodlatte maintained.

• Goodlatte’s guest worker program reportedly “removes barriers and excessive paperwork farmers face in hiring foreign workers.” Growers designated as registered ag employers

by USDA and who agree to program terms and obligations can hire guest workers already admitted to the U.S. without having to file another petition for the individual worker.

• The new program’s petition process would be “attestationbased.” That means employers simply would have to promise to meet program standards rather than having to prove in advance that they will.

• In order to discourage what Goodlatte termed “frivolous and abusive” litigation against them, growers may require as a condition of employment that guest workers be subject to binding arbitration and mediation of any grievances they file.

• The bill would replace what the congressman called “the artificial government-imposed wage rate” included in the current H-2A ag guest worker program with an area “prevailing” wage rate or a state minimum wage — whichever is greater.

• The cap for the new program is set at 500,000 H-2C workers per year, but the secretary of agriculture has authority to raise or lower the cap based on market demands and needs.

• Under the new program, guest workers would not be eligible for “Obamacare” benefits or the federal Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit.

Cuba signals positive; labor issues stall debate

The Latin American Working Group (LAWG) has delivered an 8,000-signature petition asking Secretary of State John Kerry to remove Cuba from the State Department’s list of “state sponsors of terrorism.” That move is seen as crucial to support for liberalizing U.S.-Cuban travel and trade.

Mavis Anderson, senior associate with LAWG’s Cuba program, said she does not expect to see Cuba immediately stricken from the list, and LAWG will continue to collect signatures.

Normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations has ramifications for U.S. relationships throughout Latin America, Anderson told FarmWeek. Recently deceased socialist Venezuela President Hugo Chavez aligned with Cuba in his effort to influence his South American neighbors.

While new President Nicolás Maduro has reaffirmed relations with Cuba, Anderson argued “all of Latin America supports normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States.”

A major challenge to U.S.-Cuba progress is congressional immigration debate. The White House is counting on Cuban-American Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to garner conservative support for bipartisan labor reforms, but Anderson reports Rubio has taken “the hardest of lines” against U.S.-Cuba reforms.

“If the president takes Cuba off the terrorist list now, before the immigration bill is finalized, it could have an impact on the kind of work Rubio would do on immigration,” she told FarmWeek.

“But we’re not going to sit back and wait — everyone who wants this policy to change just has to keep at it. Immigration has a big impact on U.S. relations with Latin America, as does Cuba policy.”

While Kerry has been quiet regarding Cuba, Anderson cites promising developments. A U.S. federal judge has allowed Rene Gonzalez — one of a group of five Cuban intelligence officers imprisoned in the U.S. in 2001 — to remain in Cuba in exchange for him renouncing his U.S. citizenship.

Following that ruling, Cuba’s foreign minister said he was willing to meet with U.S. officials regarding Alan Gross, a State Department contractor jailed in Cuba in 2009 for allegedly bringing banned communications equipment into the country.

And Anderson said she sees growing congressional support for U.S.-Cuba reform. LAWG and a Cuban-American delegation recently visited Taylorville Republican Rep. Rodney Davis.

“Congressman Davis is a big advocate of trade with Cuba, and a trip to the country in 2005 convinced him that the U.S. embargo only empowers the Castro regime,” a Davis aide told FarmWeek.

— Martin Ross

PRODUCTION

Page 11 Monday, May 13, 2013 FarmWeek

Weed issues pop up around state this growing season

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Farmers have a growing problem this spring as cool, wet field conditions compromised weed control strategies.

Winter annuals, such as marestail and foxtail, sprung up around the state in recent weeks after temperatures reached the 70s and even 80plus degrees in some areas.

“When we get these warmer temperatures, it really kicks off the winter annuals,” Barry Nash, GROWMARK weed science technical manager, told FarmWeek on a 70-degree day last week.

“They (winter annuals) are growing very fast,” he continued. “We’ve got a lot of vegetation out there.”

Many farmers, unfortunately, have been unable to apply burndown programs to fields this spring due to heavy rains and flash flooding.

Illinois in April received an average of 6.9 inches of precipitation, more than twice the long-term average.

“The way the soils are shin-

‘When we get these warmer temperatures, it really kicks off the winter annuals.’

— Barry Nash GROWMARK weed science technical manager

ing, it tells me there’s still too much moisture,” Nash said.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that planting now is bumping up against the window to apply herbicides.

Phenoxy and benzoic acid herbicides, such as 2,4-D and dicamba, have planting restrictions of seven to 30 days for both corn and soybeans.

“Phenoxies and benzoics degrade rapidly via microbial degradation,” Nash noted.

“However, the degradation process can be considerably delayed under cool, wet soil conditions such as those we are experiencing.”

Nash urged farmers not to plant sooner after herbicide

USDA issues last call for ag census forms

USDA last week urged farmers who have not returned their 2012 Census of Agriculture forms to do so by the end of this month.

The Census of Ag, conducted every five years, is the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation, said USDA. USDA so far has received more than two million completed 2012 census forms. The deadline to file the forms is May 31.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) may contact farmers by phone or in person to collect census information since time is running out.

“Our nation needs your help to ensure that decisions about U.S. agriculture accurately represent you, your communities, and your industry,” said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I urge you to respond to the census.”

Federal law requires a response from everyone who receives the census form and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

Farmers who do not respond to the census could be subject to a fine. Farmers can return census forms online at {agcensus.usda.gov}. For more information, call 1-888-424-7828.

HerbFest slated June 8 The Illinois Herb Association (IHA) will host HerbFest from 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

June 8, at Washington Park Botanical Garden in Springfield.

HerbFest is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about growing or using herbs.

The event will feature such sessions as the; Many Uses of Lavender, Growing and Using Elderberry, and Herbs of the Bible.

“We’re really looking forward to diving into some new

topics and sessions (at HerbFest), including Herbs of the Bible and Leading Herbs for Healing,” said Kay Carnes, IHA president.

Registration is $40 for IHA members and $45 for nonmembers. Pre-registration is due by May 31.

Registration forms are available online at {www.specialtygrowers.org/illinois-herb-association-html} or by contacting Charlene Blary at 309-5572107 or by email at cblary@ilfb.org.

applications than the label recommendation.

Those who plant too soon after herbicide applications could cause issues with corn and soybean emergence or cause corn to corkscrew or unfurl underground.

“This is not the year to push the 2,4-D or dicamba burndown labels,” he said.

“The seed supply is short due to last year’s drought. So there’s no recourse (if the first planting of a crop is ruined).”

So how should farmers handle the situation?

Nash recommended removing 2,4-D from the mix and increasing the glyphosate rate to at least

32 ounces per acre.

In the future, he also recommends using fall-applied herbicides for residual weed control. Farmers who used fall-applied herbicides last year could get into the field to plant five to 10 days earlier this spring than those who did not use fall-applied herbicides, according to Nash.

Nash said he believes tillage at this point is not a good option to control some of the large weeds.

“You’re just going to bury them (and eventually the weeds will pop back up),” he said. “They’re much harder to control the second time around.”

Farmland preservation focus of Northern Illinois conference The link between farmland preservation and resource protection will be explored June 21-22 in Belvidere.

The Northern Illinois Farmland Conference will be held in the Boone County Community Building complex.

Participants will hear information about nat-

ural resource conservation, farmland preservation, and the benefits of both to local communities.

A tour of local farms and agribusinesses will be offered.

For more information, call Gina DelRose at 815-544-5271.

FB IN ACTION

FarmWeek Page 12 Monday, May 13, 2013

IAITC golf outing golfers being sought Golfers and ag literacy supporters have an opportunity to hit the links and support Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) June 13 at Wolf Creek and Elks Country Club golf courses, Pontiac. The early bird registration deadline is June 1.

All proceeds raised support IAITC efforts.

The event will start at 9 a.m. when the driving ranges open. A shotgun start will begin at 10:30 a.m. at both courses. A box

lunch and snack bag will be provided.

The banquet and auction will start at 4:30 p.m. at the Elks Country Club. Prizes will be awarded.

Golfers may play as individuals or with a foursome.

The registration fee for a foursome is $130 for each golfer. A family rate of $200 per pair is available for a parent or grandparent golfing with a youngster 18 or younger. A teacher or an ag literacy coordinator may golf free with three additional reser vations.

Golfers who register before June 1 are eligible for an early bird prize drawing.

Banquet-only tickets are available for $50 each.

To register, go online to {iaafoundation.org} or contact your county Far m Bureau or the IAA Foundation at 309-557-2230 for a registration for m.

Sangamon County farmer Kyle Miller, left, discusses raising hogs on his family’s farm near Waverly with state Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Matteson). Hastings, a newly elected

legislator, was “adopted” by the Sangamon County Farm Bureau and recently toured a hog farm and implement dealer in the county. (Photo by Christina Nourie)

Machinery, livestock highlight senator’s visit

Newly elected state Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Matteson) jumped at the opportunity when he was invited to join the Adopt-A-Legislator program. Within weeks of being “adopted” by the Sangamon County Farm Bureau, Hastings traveled south to “do everything a farmer does.”

BY CHRISTINA NOURIE

Although his visit was cut short because of a legislative meeting, the senator and his hosts made the most of their time. Hastings met county Farm Bureau leaders at the county Farm Bureau office then joined his district outreach coordinator, Cassandra Matz, for a tour of Sievers Equipment Co., Auburn.

The senator learned about the latest technology in agricultural machinery and discussed key issues, such as the sales tax exemption on ag inputs and the state’s business climate. He also drove a tractor.

Livestock was the focus of a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities on the fourth-generation Miller family hog farm near Waverly. Hastings toured the buildings and learned about the science,

technology, and care used to raise hogs. The farmers and senator discussed swine genetics and breeding, antibiotics and animal care standards, including use of gestation stalls.

Over lunch in Springfield, the senator and several county Farm Bureau leaders talked about Illinois Farm Bureau legislative priorities, the state budget, firearms, and politics.

The senator said he enjoyed his visit and looks forward to returning during harvest. His ‘adopted’ farmers look forward to visiting the senator’s district to learn more about suburban issues and perhaps even attend a White Sox game.

Christina Nourie is the northwest legislative coordinator for Illinois Farm Bureau. Her email is cnourie@ilfb.org.

LEARNING CANINE COMMANDS

More than 200 second graders from throughout Mercer County gathered at the Mercer County Fairgrounds last week to learn more about agriculture, conservation, and the environment. The students rotated among 11 stations that dealt with a variety of topics such as combines, recycling, and animal care.

Here, second graders from Apollo Elementary School in Aledo learn what commands are used to train a dog to herd animals.

(Photo by Kendra Bolen, Mercer County Farm Bureau manager)

FROM THE COUNTIES

Page 13 Monday, May 13, 2013 FarmWeek

B

UREAU — The Farm Bureau Member Relations Task Force and the University of Illinois Extension will cosponsor basic computer classes from 1 to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, June 5, at the Princeton High School computer lab and Wednesday, June 12, at the Bureau Valley High School computer lab in Manlius. Cost is $10. Call the Farm Bureau office at 8756468 to register or for more information.

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

Thursday, June 27, at the U-

C

Hotel in Charleston. The women’s group will offer educational, networking, social and community-service opportunities. Call 354-3276 to register or for more information. Reservation deadline is June 24.

• Women Caring for the Land will host a conservation discussion and field tour from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, June 26, at the Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education in Mattoon. Women who own or manage farmland in Coles or Douglas counties are invited to participate. Call Teresa Bullock at 815-753-6365 or email tbullock@niu.edu to

ADOPTED LEGISLATOR CHAT

LaSalle County Farm Bureau President Monty Whipple, right, and state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) discuss Illinois Farm Bureau’s 2013 legislative priorities during a recent meeting in her district. County Farm Bureau leaders and their “adopted” legislator talked about a proposed farmland assessment amendment, hydraulic fracturing, posting and closing of roads, wind energy, and other ag-related issues. LaVia discussed state pension reform, the state budget, and education funding issues. The county Farm Bureau is planning to host two schools from LaVia’s district at the county 4-H fair and a livestock farm tour for the representative this summer. (Photo by Christina Nourie, Illinois Farm Bureau northeast legislative coordinator)

Auction Calendar Wed., May 15. Online Only Unreserved Auction. bigiron.com Sat., May 18. 9 a.m. Public Auction. L.E. Cecil Const. Co., Louie and Judy Cecil, CARBONDALE, IL. Canning Auction Service. www.canningauctions.com or auctionzip.com Sat., May 18. 9 a.m.

Consignment Auc. TREMONT, IL. Cal Kaufman and Brent Schmidgall, Auctioneers.

Mon., May 20. 10 a.m.

McDonough Co. Farmland Auc. Lowderman Auction & Real Estate. www.lowderman.com Sat., May 25. 10 a.m. Real Estate Auc. Loren “Hank” Best Est., ALHAMBRA, IL. Ahrens and Niemeier Auction Service. www.a-nauctions.com Fri., May 31. 10 a.m. LaSalle Co. Land Auc. Robert Anderson, UTICA, IL. Marty

McConville, Dick McConville and Joe McConville, Auctioneers. mcconvillerealty.com Fri., May 31. 10 a.m. Piatt Co. Land Auc. FARMER CITY, IL. Hertz Real Estate Services. www.hertz.ag Tues., June 11. 6 p.m. Benton Co., IN Land Auc. OXFORD, IN. Schrader Real Estate and Auc. Co., Inc. schraderauction.com Tues., June 18. 10 a.m.

Vermilion Co. Land Auc. ROYAL, IL. www.hertz.ag Tues., June 18. 7 p.m. Bureau and Lee Co.’s Land Auc. Lorena Wallace Est., DEER GROVE, IL. Wallace Land Co. www.wallaceland.com Sat., June 22. 10:30 a.m. Ogle Co., IL Est. Auc. Loren and Elsie Richolson Est., DAVIS JUNCTION, IL. Lenny Bryson and Todd Wills, Auctioneers. www.lennybrysonauctioneer or www.toddwillsauctioneering.com

register or for more information. Deadline to register is June 14.

OOK — Farm Bureau will host a safety seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at the Farm Bureau office. Cook County Detective Sgt. James Hennelly will speak on popular scams seen by law enforcement. Call the Farm Bureau office at 708354-3276 to register.

• Farm Bureau will partner with the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners to provide an in-suite resource center at the Farm Bureau office. Resource center hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through Nov. 15. For gardening assistance, call Master Gardener volunteers at 708354-3276 or email mastergardener@cookcfb.org.

• Farm Bureau will host a health expo from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Farm Bureau office. The expo will feature free glucose and blood pressure testing; free spinal and basic hearing screenings; and stroke,

C

abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral vascular diseases, and osteoporosis screenings.

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

• Farm Bureau will sponsor a “Paint the Yard” contest. Entry forms, contest rules, and a list of participating greenhouses and garden centers are available at {cookcfb.org} or by calling the Farm Bureau office at 708-354-3276. Deadline to enter is Friday.

UPAGE — Farm Bureau will host a defensive driving class from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, and Thursday, June 20, at the Farm Bureau office. Cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonAARP members. Call the Farm Bureau office at 6688161 to register or for more information. Registration deadline is June 12.

ONTGOMERY — Prime Timers will meet at noon Wednesday at the Hillsboro Lions Club.

Cost is $9. Auctioneers Dan Matthews of Nokomis and

D

M

Gavin Pope of Raymond will host an “Antiques Road Show.” Call the Farm Bureau office at 532-6171 for more information.

• Prime Timers will see “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” on Wednesday, June 26, at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan. Cost is $46. Call the Farm Bureau office at 5326171 for more information.

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

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

Call 877-732-8258 for reservations.

P

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

PROFITABILITY

FarmWeek Page 14 Monday, May 13, 2013

Planting delays expected to alter crop mix, hybrid selection

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Farmers and market analysts believe extended planting delays this spring will alter the crop mix.

But there’s still time for U.S. farmers to grow a big corn crop despite the possibility of fewer acres and slightly lower yield potential.

Corn planting as of the first of last week was just 12 percent complete nationwide, compared to the five-year average of 47 percent, and 7 percent complete in Illinois, well below the average of 48 percent.

“We haven’t planted any corn yet. Last year all our corn was planted

by April 7,” said Garry Niemeyer, a Sangamon County farmer and chairman of the National Corn GrowGarry Niemeyer ers Association. “It’s frustrating knowing you have so much to do and not being able to get started.

“But you have to take it one day at a time and see how things go,” he continued. “If you think back to 2009, even though it was planted late, we had a good crop.”

U.S. farmers in 2009 planted 98 percent of the corn

crop after the third week of April and still produced a record crop of 13.2 billion bushels.

Last week, Bill Tierney, market analyst with the AgResource Co., during a webinar hosted by the CME Group predicted U.S. corn plantings could decline by 1.5 million acres from USDA’s March estimate of 97.3 million acres. He also predicted average yields in the U.S. could decline by 3 bushels per acre.

Corn acres could be lost due to flooded fields and changes to planting rotations.

“We believe there will be a shift from corn to soybeans,” Ken Smithmier of The Hightower Report said during the webinar.

But Niemeyer said he believes most farmers will stick with their rotation intentions for now.

“I don’t know if there will be a lot of switching,” he said. “We started with (an estimated) 97.3 million acres of corn. So even if there’s a one-million-acre drop (in actual corn acres), it wouldn’t be critical.

“We’re going to plant all our corn,” continued Niemeyer, who noted he switched planting intentions for one field to a shorter-season variety. “We’ve got our chemicals on. We already made our decision.”

Field drying was expected

M A R K E T FA C T S Feeder pig prices reported to USDA* Weight 10-12 lbs.

40 lbs.

Range Per Head $29.64-45.00 NA

Weighted Ave. Price $36.83 NA

This Week Last Week 103,264 93,478 *Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm Receipts

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered) Carcass Live

(Prices $ per hundredweight) This week Prev. week Change $89.28 $84.34 $4.94 $66.07 $62.41 $3.66

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

This week $126.00 $126.00

Prev. week $129.05 $128.63

Change -$3.05 -$2.63

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 $134.35 $135.67 -$1.32

Lamb prices Slaughter Prices - Negotiated, Live, wooled and shorn 128-166 lbs. for 106.86-137 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 122.58); 174-190 lbs. for 112-116 $/cwt. (wtd. ave. 114.15)

Export inspections (Million bushels) Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn 5/06/2013 6.4 16.6 6.5 4/25/2013 9.0 30.9 11.6 Last year 13.1 27.0 29.9 Season total 1252.4 919.0 488.7 Previous season total 1102.7 944.1 1110.1 USDA projected total 1350 1025 750 Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

to be slow over the weekend as the forecast for Sunday called for temperatures about 10

degrees or more below normal, according to James Auten, meteorologist with the Nation-

Viscosity is a physical property of a fluid defined as its resistance to flow and is highly dependent upon temperature.

Lubricant viscosity is closely related to its ability to reduce friction.

If the lubricant is too thick, meaning it has a high viscosity such as honey, it requires a large amount of energy to Tom Drew pump or move. If it is too thin, the surfaces will rub, friction will increase, and wear will result.

It is well known that the viscosity of oil increases (gets thicker) as temperatures decrease and decreases (gets thinner), as temperatures increase.

The most common method for measuring the viscosity of lubricants is the Kinematic Method and is performed by timing a known volume of oil as it flows through a calibrated capillary tube under gravity.

The Viscosity Index (VI) of oil relates to the change in viscosity for a given change in temperature. VI is calculated using the viscosities at 40

degrees centigrade and 100 degrees centigrade. A high-VI lubricant will have a smaller change in viscosity with a given change in temperature than one with a low VI. A viscosity index improver (VII) is a polymer that is used to decrease the viscosity-temperature dependence of lubricants. Viscosity index improvers allow for lighter base oils to be used as they make the oil act “thicker” at higher temperatures to prevent metal surfaces from rubbing together.

Meanwhile, the oil remains thin at lower temperatures, allowing easier cranking and pumpability throughout the engine.

Lubricants containing a viscosity index improver are labeled as multi-grades or multi-viscosity oils.

An example is an SAE 15W40 where the “15W” represents the winter grade performance and the “40” represents the high temperature performance.

One differentiating characteristic of a quality engine lubricant is its ability to “stay in grade” during its useful life. A lubricant can thin (lose viscosity) and allow excessive wear if its viscosity index improver fails.

al Weather Service Lincoln office. “(This) week it looks like temperatures will warm back up,” he said. “But it looks like a front from the northwest could move in (and drop moisture) late Wednesday into Thursday.”

Portions of Central and Southwestern Illinois received some of the heaviest rains in recent weeks while parts of Northeastern and East-Central Illinois have been drier and a little more conducive to fieldwork, Auten added.

The thick and thin of engine lubricants

BY TOM DREW

It is well known that the viscosity of oil increases as temperatures decrease and decreases as temperatures increase.

This is commonly referred to as “shearing,” referring to the shearing of long-chain molecules, and results in temporary and permanent viscosity loss.

FS Suprex Gold ESP engine oils utilize superior viscosity index improver chemistry to offer exceptional shear stability and stay-in-grade viscosity well beyond provisions of the API CJ-4 performance category.

Shear stability is important for long-lasting protection and extended drain intervals. Contact an FS energy lubricant sales specialist for more regarding Suprex Gold ESP or other high-quality FS lubricants.

Tom Drew is GROWMARK’s lubricants marketing manager. His email address is tdrew@growmark.com.

Woodland management workshop offered for landowners A woodland management workshop for landowners will be Saturday in the Giant City Lodge, Makanda. Pre-registration is required by Wednesday.

The workshop will start at 9:30 a.m. and conclude in the early afternoon following a field trip to Touch of Nature. The registration fee is $5 per person. Lunch may be purchased at the lodge.

The workshop is designed to give woodland landowners insights about the risks of growing timber. John Groninger, forestry professor at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SIU), will be one of several who will discuss forestry management.

Woodland management may be adapted to reduce the risk of loss from unavoidable weather events such as tornados, ice storms, drought, or flooding.

Keeping timber healthy and growing steadily is important to manage risk. “Trees are more

likely to fall when root systems are in decline,” Groninger said.

Jesse Riechman, coordinator of the Southeastern Illinois Prescribed Burn Association, will show the effects of a prescribed burn during the field trip. Landowners will learn about the benefits of using fire and practical ways to begin a burning program.

Registration is being handled by the Murphysboro University of Illinois Extension Service. To reserve a space, call 618-687-1727 or go online to {web.extension.illinois.edu/fjprw/}.

The workshop is being presented by the Goods from Your Woods Forestry Consortium that includes the Natural Resource Conser vation Ser vice, the Illinois Forestry Association, the SIUC forestry department, the U of I Extension, and the Southeastern Illinois Prescribed Burn Association.

PROFITABILITY

Page 15 Monday, May 13, 2013 FarmWeek

CASH STRATEGIST

Late corn planting and acreage shift

So far, the delay in corn planting has generated plenty of attention on how it might impact yields. There’s been occasional discussion about the possibility of shifting acres, or acreage eventually being declared as “prevent plant,” but neither has received significant attention.

Interestingly, acreage changes through the years have generally been confined in a 2-million-up to 2-million-down range with but a few exceptions. The four years in which corn plantings declined more than 2 million acres had various other overriding circumstances that had an impact on those changes.

The most dramatic was 1983, but the steep drop in corn plantings then was a result of a massive government acreage set-aside program. It reduced plantings of all crops 42 million acres from the prior year, half of that coming from corn.

The infamous flood year, 1993, had flooding issues extending well into summer.

USDA estimated that 2.9 million acres were lost to flooding alone. The year 1995 was a wet one with late planting and acreage being pushed into set-

aside and some into soybeans.

The year 1982 was a different situation, although wetness did cause plantings to drag.

The spring Falkland’s crisis between Great Britain and Argentina lifted soybean prices relative to corn. The last grain purchase agreement the U.S. had with the Soviet Union was set to expire as well. And corn ending stocks were rising to high levels, while stocks of soybeans were declining.

The year 1978 should not be ignored. There was a shift in acreage from corn to soybeans due to the first serious Brazilian soybean problem.

The year 1984 still seems to fit the best. It was a year in which corn plantings fell 2 million from the March estimate a 2.5 percent drop. A similar shift this year points to a corn planting number at 95 million acres.

If the 1984 example holds up, and yields come in close to trend, it will result in a 14.2-billion-bushel crop. If yields fall 5 percent below trend, a 13.5billion-bushel crop still is likely.

And unless demand is unexpectedly good, that still builds ending stocks, a little, or a lot.

And even though the prevent-plant provision for insurance is a possibility, it’s not available until June 25 in Iowa and June 30 in Illinois. That’s still a long time away.

AgriVisor endorses crop insurance by

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Corn Strategy

ü2012 crop: The new supply/demand numbers will keep corn prices from moving higher, especially with sagging exports. Sell inventory other than “gambling stocks” you want to carry into summer. ü2013 crop: Unless weather becomes an extreme problem, and it doesn’t look like it is going to, new-crop prices look destined to move lower into early July. Price another 10 percent as long as December futures are above $5.25. vFundamentals: Because planting is lagging, weather remains a large variable. But because those forecasts can change daily, planting is not yet a feature with which to build a bullish case. Instead, the large world new-crop production estimates for corn and wheat point to an increasingly negative price environment.

Summer weather again will need to be troublesome to reverse negative price expectations. In the interim, end users are likely to be slow to cover needs.

Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2012 crop: Even though cash tightness continues to support old-crop prices, the products are not performing as well as the soybeans. And with imports reported to be lined up, there’s more downside risk than upside potential. Sell any remaining bushels other than “gambling” inventories you want to carry into summer. ü2013 crop: The forecast for a larger world crop will maintain downward pressure on new-crop prices. Use any bounce to make catch-up sales. If weather were to allow planting to accelerate, new-crop prices could slip 50 cents to $1 per bushel. vFundamentals: There were reports last week from good South American sources that 5 million to 6 million bushels of soybeans had been bought for import to the U.S. The economics for imports are in place. Even though there’s still talk of good summer Chinese imports, ongoing problems with bird flu may

undermine their interest in importing large quantities. That would free up South American supplies for other users, including those in the U.S.

Wheat Strategy

ü2012 crop: Chicago July futures’ inability to hold $7.09 support tilted the odds toward lower prices. The next significant support does not come until the $6.98 level. Price any remaining old-crop inventories you may still have with Chicago July futures trading near $7. ü2013 crop: Price another 20 percent with Chicago July at $7.09. Stay close to the Hotline

as we could recommend additional sales, especially for those pricing off the combine. vFundamentals: The latest USDA supply/demand report pegged U.S. wheat supplies for 2013/2014 at 2.9 million bushels, down 7 percent from 2012-2013. The new U.S. wheat crop was forecast to reach 2.1 million bushels, down 9 percent from last year because of the decline in the hard red winter crop. Still, the most damaging number was global wheat production, projected to hit a new record at 701.1 million metric tons (a metric ton is 36.74 bushels).

PERSPECTIVES

FarmWeek Page 16 Monday, May 13, 2013

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Displeased with IFB support of pension plan

West Fertilizer tragedy: Reflecting on our responsibilities

On the evening of April 17, 2013, an — to prevent accidents and incidents. explosion at West Fertilizer in West, Texas, The members of IFCA have long felt the claimed the lives of 15 people, injured hunstorage of bulk fertilizers and pesticides cardreds, and altered the community in a way ries an inherent responsibility to ensure the that will stay with its citizens for the rest of safety and stewardship of these products. their lives.

Following a devastating ag retail fire in It may be months before the McLean County in the late 1980s (thankfully, Chemical Safety Board deterwith no serious injuries), IFCA advocated for mines the cause of the explothe containment of bulk agrichemicals at sion. However, lawsuits, concommercial facilities to mitigate environmengressional action, and state tal impact from spills or fires. agencies likely will not wait for With support from Illinois Farm Bureau, all the answers before charting similar containment requirements were a course of action that will extended to on-farm storage of bulk agriimpact the entire ag retail and chemicals in 2002.

JEAN PAYNE fertilizer industry.

IFCA consistently develops programs and For those of us in the Illioutreach to our members to help them prenois agricultural input sector, pare for the unexpected. We have dealt with the event at West Fertilizer was a shocking, difficult challenges, including the theft of somber, and solemn reminder of the serious anhydrous ammonia for illicit purposes and responsibility we have to ensure the safety the ramifications of handling hazardous and security of our agrichemical facilities. products in an era of terrorist threats.

The Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical AssociaThe truth is, ag retailers are a highly regution (IFCA) fielded many phone calls followlated sector of the ag industry. ing the tragedy questioning the safety of agriMany of the regulations governing our chemical facilities in Illinois. industry are the direct result of IFCA having Given IFCA’s the vision and the will to ensure that history of supWest Fertilizer Co. in West, anyone engaged in the storage, hanporting stewarddling, and sale of bulk agrichemicals Texas, was a retailer with ship and reasonproduct stored in warehouses. understands and accepts the responsiable regulations bility to the industry and to the comAn international business that ensure prodmunity to handle these products uct security, train- group is considering Tuscola accordingly and to always be prepared as the location for a fertilizer ing, and emerfor the worst. We will continue that manufacturing plant that gency preparedmission with the memory of West, would have additional regula- Texas, in our minds and hearts. ness, I felt gratetory oversight compared to ful to talk about Our communities, our emergency the positive steps fertilizer retailers. responders, our customers, and our we have taken to employees should demand no less than assure the safety of our industry and the the industry’s continued commitment and communities in which we are located. commonsense efforts to ensure safety, securiStill what might the West Fertilizer tragedy ty, and emergency preparedness. mean to Illinois ag retailers? As an industry, it requires us to take a hard look at what we Jean Payne is the president of the Illinois Fertilizer have been doing — and must continue to do and Chemical Association.

Editor’s note: FarmWeek asked high school students competing in the recent state Envirothon (an environmentally themed academic competition) for their opinion on why it is important for students to study environmental issues.

”It’s important because as the young generation we will have to care for the land so it will last through our generation.”

Editor: I was extremely disappointed and angered to read that Illinois Farm Bureau “supports the legislation as amended in the House” which is the legislation Speaker Madigan rammed through to cut retirement benefits to teachers who are already retired.

This is in violation of the Illinois Constitution.

I wonder if IFB is aware that many farm families have members who are or were teachers in the State of Illinois.

These teachers worked hard and mistakenly trusted that the law would be upheld in Illinois.

Is IFB aware that ag teachers are also members of the Teachers’ Retirement System and are victims of IFB’s support of this action by the House?

What would happen if ag teachers rebelled against IFB’s stand? As a retired high school principal, I know full well that ag teachers sponsor FFA chapters in local school districts.

The General Assembly of Illinois and former governors of Illinois caused this problem with pension debt. Now they seek to blame retired educators, who always paid their fair share — unlike the state.

In addition, the legislators and IFB seek to put solving this problem on the backs of retirees. How would the IFB react if the state, seeing that corn crop prices were at an alltime high last year, decided to tax farmers an extra percentage because they were hurting the economy in Illinois? Not favorably, I would guess.

It’s a fact that not all educators or any other state employees will retire on the same day. Therefore, this pension debt is a crisis that is really not a crisis. Retirements will happen over many years, not on the same day.

After this action by the IFB, I will not be able to support any movements by the IFB in the future.

JOHN DENTON, Troy

Editor’s note: The IFB Board of Directors, made up of farmers from across Illinois, created an action priority to “influence state and federal governments to create a positive fiscal and business climate.” The state’s pension system currently is funded at only 20 percent, and the pension liability now stands at $100 billion, the worst in the nation. The heavy debt negatively impacts the state’s business climate.

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“It’s the world. The younger generation needs to have some idea and keep it going.” we do.”

Sarah Donnelly,

Spoon River Valley High School

senior

Lucas Perrilles

Spoon River Valley High School

junior

Letter writing policy

“It’s important because we have to take care of the environment. It’s a large part of our lives and important for everything

Andrew Hartley

“It’s something good to know about.

A lot of kids don’t know where everything they see comes from.”

Nic Barker

Auburn High School

Dakota High School

junior

senior