BAM_11-21-2014 by Shaw Media

AG Mag

NorthCentral Illinois

From

Boom to Burst? Corn and soybean prices are dropping. Local farmers and ag experts discuss whether this is the end of an industry bubble or simply a normal contraction. Drop in crop prices has soybeans on the rise

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AG Mag

NorthCentral Illinois

Publisher Sam R Fisher Advertising Sales Development Director Pam Pratt Editor Terri Simon Magazine Editors Larry Lough, Jeff Rogers

Page Design Jeff Rogers Reporters & Photographers Donna Barker, Sarah Brown, Kath Clark, Goldie Currie, Lyle Ganther, Becky Kramer, Alex T. Paschal, Dixie Schroeder, Ken Schroeder, Terri Simon Published by Bureau County Republican 800 Ace Road Princeton, IL 61356 815-875-4461 Articles and advertisements are the property of Bureau County Republican. No portion of the NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Bureau County Republican. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Bureau County Republican cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Bureau County Republican cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

COVER STORY

Factors in the field Will the drop in prices for corn and soybeans affect planting decisions in the region? Learning to lead At Geneseo High School, FFA adviser and instructor Brian Stahl teaches his students about more than agriculture.

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Index Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next? The drop in prices for soybeans has not been as great relative to corn. How will that affect planting decisions local farmers will have to make?

18 Farm Bureau turns 100 The Bureau County Farm Bureau has made many changes in the past century, but its purpose remains the same.

22 Farmers Forum

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We asked five area farmers whether they had begun planting cover crops.

CENTERPIECE STORY

Taking cover NorthCentral Illinois farmers talk about the benefits and drawbacks of planting cover crops.

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AG Mag

Index 29

Where the farmers eat In Marshall County, the place to be is the Happy Hobo, a restaurant that reflects the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for trains.

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What started as a 4-H project in 2008 for LaSalle County teenager Aaron Bauer turned into a full-blown rabbitry.

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TWO SIDES

TO THE FARMING EQUATION Area farmers: Many factors play into planting decisions

BY DONNA BARKER AND DAVID GIULIANI For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a double-edged sword â&#x20AC;Ś farmers want a bumper crop with big yields per acre, but that bumper crop generally means farmers will get less money when it comes time to sell their crop. Though future market prices are taken into consideration well before they head into the field to plant, area farmers say they generally choose their crops based on what will grow best in a particular field.

10 Fall 2014

While a strong, even bumper crop was projected for the 2014 year, Bureau County farmer Steve Bonucci of Princeton said there will be a lot of farmers who struggle this year to sell their crops and make money because the higher yields will mean lower prices. Of course, what used to be considered a bumper crop is now what farmers have come to expect, Bonucci said. Ten years ago or so, farmers would have considered an average of 200 bushels of corn an acre to be a bumper crop. CONTINUED ON 11

U.S. corn yields Yields have increased dramatically over the past century: Year ................... Bushels per acre 2014 ....................................... *172 2013 ........................................ 159 2012 ........................................ 123 2011 ........................................ 147 2010 ........................................ 153 2009 ........................................ 165 2008 ........................................ 154 2007 ........................................ 151 2006 ........................................ 149 2005 ........................................ 148 2000 ........................................ 136 1995 ........................................ 114 1990 ........................................ 119 1985 ........................................ 118 1980 .......................................... 91 1975 .......................................... 86 1970 .......................................... 72 1965 .......................................... 74 1960 .......................................... 72 1955 .......................................... 42 1950 .......................................... 38 1945 .......................................... 33 1940 .......................................... 29 1935 .......................................... 24 1930 .......................................... 21 1925 .......................................... 27 1920 .......................................... 30 * estimated Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Farmland values Average 2014 farmland values per acre in Midwestern states, with Iowa and Illinois being the first and second highest nationwide, respectively: Farmland value % increase per acre 2013-14 Illinois $7,520 5.9% Indiana $6,950 8.6% Iowa $8,500 10.4% Michigan $4,700 9.3% Minnesota $4,750 10.5% Ohio $5,550 8.8% Wisconsin $4,400 7.3% Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

CONTINUED FROM 10

Now many farmers would think a bumper crop would be more in the 240to 250-plus bushel range as an average, he said. “But farmers didn’t start producing corn to make money,” Bonucci said. “They did it to keep people from starving to death. In that regards, it’s going to be a pretty successful year for American farmers. “I think we should pat ourselves on the back for doing a good job, and thank Mother Nature again for helping us to keep down the number of hungry people in the world.”

Soil guides planting decisions In selecting crops each year for the rural Tiskilwa farm operated by Jim and Sharon Covert, Sharon said the soil itself – its type, moisture and slope – dictates what is planted in each field, rather than the potential price of a particular crop. The Coverts also consider necessary rotation of crops each year to protect the soil and give better yielding crops in the future. Marshall County farmer Bill Read agreed, saying the type of soil and slope of the land, rather than market price, is what drives his decision when it comes to selecting crops for his more than 2,000 acres. Though corn and soybeans are his primary crops, he also plants alfalfa, oats, wheat, hay and sometimes sweet peas, depending upon his contract with an area canning company. The amount of hay he plants depends on how many stock cows he has that year. Regardless of the choice of crops, farmers want to make the best use of their land and to protect it for future generations, Read said.

‘Softness’ in farmland prices According to a study in the spring, the U.S. Department of Agriculture found

Increases since 2010 A look at increases in average farmland values since 2010 in Illinois and Iowa: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Illinois $4,720 $5,390 $6,210 $7,100 $7,520 Iowa $4,350 $5,410 $6,530 $7,700 $8,500 Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

In the photo on Page 10 While farmers headed to the field this fall expecting a good yield, that near-bumper crop usually translates to lower market prices. However, area farmers in NorthCentral Illinois say they usually choose their crops based on what grows best in particular fields, rather than market prices. (Photo by Becky Kramer/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

that Iowa and Illinois had the highest-priced farmland, on average, nationally – at $8,500 and $7,520 an acre, respectively. In Iowa, where the state says one of six jobs is directly related to agriculture, the averSteve Bonucci age farmland price has Princeton farmer nearly doubled since said many will 2010. struggle this year In parts of Illinois to sell their crops and Iowa, though, and make money some farmland prices because the higher yields are starting to see will mean lower declines. But Dale prices. Aupperle, president and founder of Forsyth, Ill.-based Heartland Ag Group, said increases in rural land values over the past decade don’t represent a bubble. “One of my favorite expressions is that ‘Farmland is what it earns,’” said Aupperle, whose company advises farmers. “The earnings stream has supported farmland values for the last 10 years. That takes away from it being a bubble. Now that the earnings Bill Read stream is threatened with lower commodity Marshall County farmer said his prices, you expect to decisions on see some softness in crops are driven land prices.” by the type of soil Although corn and the slope of and soybean prices the land, rather are down, he said, than market demand for those price. crops is stable. He said one expert he knows likes to say, “The best cure for low prices is low prices.” “I believe that with $3 [a bushel] corn and $10 soybeans, that is creating new markets as we speak,” Aupperle said. As corn prices decline, that means feed costs less. “The livestock guys are enjoying this,” Aupperle said. “That’s stimulating demand.” He said he hadn’t seen a dramatic reduction in land values. Since 1970, he said, the upward trend in farmland prices has been interrupted just three times. Two of those interruptions were corrections of less than 10 percent, he said, while the last one, in the 1980s, saw a 50 percent drop. “That was a period of extreme speculation, high inflation, and a severe rise in interest rates,” he said. CONTINUED ON 12 AG Mag

CONTINUED FROM 11

That’s not the case now. Compared with much of the rest of the economy, Aupperle said, farmland is considered a good long-term investment. “Right now, money on the sidelines is waiting,” he said. “If farmland is producing a diminished return on investment, money managers will look around. Can I do better elsewhere? Now we’ll stand the test of scrutiny with our investments and be competitive.”

‘More like a balloon’ Chad Hart, a crop markets specialist and professor at Iowa State University, said corn and soybeans are experiencing record demand. “You have the ethanol industry working at a strong pace. You have good but not great export demand,” he said. Meanwhile, the livestock industry looks strong, with 25 percent of pork being shipped overseas, Hart said. “There are a variety of countries we’re sending pork to,”

12 Fall 2014

Becky Kramer/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

An average of 200 bushels of corn an acre was a bumper crop 10 years ago. Now many farmers think that’s in the 240- to 250-plus bushel range. he said. “China is a big player. So are the Middle East and the countries all along the Pacific Rim. Russia has been a big market for us in the past.” He, too, sees no bubble in farmland prices. “I would describe this more like a balloon,” Hart said. “It’s not going to be bad

investment. Most hold onto it for 20, 40 or 50 years.” Corn yields are estimated to hit a record 172 bushels an acre this year nationally, according to the USDA. The last record was 2009 – at 165 bushels. For decades, yield numbers have risen. Since 1975, corn yields have more than doubled.

“There’s a big debate within agriculture nationally: Do we have continued room for growth in yields?,” Hart said. “You look at state-level numbers, you see well over 200. Somewhere in the 200s is where I think we can plateau.” For the time being, the money is on the livestock industry, which is maximizing returns with low feed costs, he said. “We’re seeing a return to normalcy on the crop side,” he said. “We’re seeing tight supplies for livestock, and that will mean good profit opportunities for the next year and half for livestock.” Statewide, Illinois farmers and their crops have an immense impact on the state’s economy. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the marketing of Illinois’ agricultural commodities generates more than $9 billion a year, with corn accounting for nearly 40 percent of that total, followed by soybeans with about 33 percent. The combined marketing of livestock, dairy and poultry generate about 23 percent.

Building leaders in Geneseo FFA chapter about more than just production agriculture BY LYLE GANTHER For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Lyle Ganther/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Brian Stahl, FFA adviser and ag instructor at Geneseo High School in Henry County, stands in front of one of the walls in the FFA classroom filled with awards that the chapter members have won throughout the years.

Geneseo High School’s FFA Chapter, which was chartered on Oct. 14, 1929, the year after the national FFA was founded, has won many honors throughout its 85 years in the school’s FFA classroom, where plaques fill the walls. Brian Stahl is FFA adviser and ag instructor at the school, jobs he has had since 1997. “In the 1980s, as in most ag programs, we had trouble making the program relevant to school curriculum, being cut altogether, or finding quality teachers,” he said. “Our community formed an ag alumni association in 1989 and has helped us with resources and fundraisers.” Many of the students in the FFA program are not from traditional farming families, Stahl said. CONTINUED ON 15

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“More and more don’t come from production agriculture,” he said. “The National FFA has developed programs such as public speaking, parliamentary procedure, ag sales and other ag issues that deal with real life ag issues.” So what do some of Stahl’s FFA students think? How has the program affected their lives? Eric Johnston, a senior, is in his second year as president of the Geneseo FFA Chapter and his second year as FFA Section 3 vice president. “I got started with trap shooting and grew to love parliamentary procedure team,” he said. “I first became involved as an officer as a secretary. Public speaking helped me in other classes.” Johnston said his goal is to get every student in FFA to grow personally by taking classes and doing something new for them. That helps them to develop

as a person and improve their leadership skills, he said. “My favorite competition has been public speaking, where you have to give a 6- to 8-minute speech on an ag topic of your choice,” he said Johnston also has tried extemporaneous public speaking, where he has to give a speech after 30 minutes of research. After studying chemistry in college, Johnston wants to work in the ag field. “You don’t have to be a production farmer to get a job in the ag industry,” he said. “I would like to use my chemistry skills at a job working for a company like John Deere.” Sommer Gagnon, a junior who is the chapter’s secretary, said she became involved in FFA through her older brother’s involvement in the chapter. She has learned leadership and public speaking skills through her involvement. CONTINUED ON 17

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Geneseo High School FFA Chapter officers are (front row, from left) Sommer Gagnon, secretary; Morghan Davison, reporter; Callie Miller, vice president; and (back row, from left) Eric Johnston, president; and Travis Jodts, treasurer. Historian Brittany Loenser and Sentinel Keegan Minnaert are not pictured. CONTINUED FROM 15

Callie Miller, the chapter’s vice president, said she and her three older brothers were involved in the chapter. She feels FFA is one of the few organizations in school to teach real-life skills, such as leadership and public speaking. Morghan Davison, the chapter’s reporter, said FFA has shown her how to be a better leader and helped her to meet a lot of people. Travis Jodts, the chapter’s treasurer, said his involvement in public speaking contests through FFA has made it easier for him to speak in language arts classes. It also has made him a better leader and helped him when work-

ing with others. Adam Gradert, a chapter member, said his involvement in FFA livestock judging and parliamentary procedure contests has helped him to gain respect and leadership skills and allows him to be a mentor to younger students. Joey O’Leary, who is part of the chapter’s marketing plan team and ag sales team, said FFA has helped him to develop his people skills, which he can use through sales and marketing later in life. Samantha Mannon and Cynthia Venneberg, both members of the horse judging and community service teams, both said FFA has taught them responsibility and leadership.

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Soybeans winning ... for now Alex T. Paschal/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

A load of corn is augered into a wagon while Rock Katschnig harvests at a farm near Hooppole along the border of Henry and Whiteside counties.

18 Fall 2014

Farmers reduce purchases as grain prices fall BY DAVID GIULIANI For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Has the growing season met expectations? In spades. And then some. That’s thanks to nearly perfect weather during the growing season, with cool temperatures and rain at the right times. That has meant a record crop, which means declining soybean and corn prices. For now, the drop in the soybean price has not been as great relative to corn. So, many observers expect farmers to plant more acres of soybeans next year. “There is that potential,” said Darrel Good, a retired agricultural professor from the University of Illinois. “The market will have to answer the question, Do we need more soybeans at the expense of corn this next year? If farmers were to plant today, the market calls for more soybeans. The question is, How will those prices change when the planting decisions are finalized?” Soybeans, he said, are seeing great demand, part of which is seasonal. “Whether that can be maintained or not depends on how the South American crop unfolds,” he said. Dale Aupperle, president and founder of Forsyth, Illinois-based Heartland Ag Group, arrived at similar conclusions.

Crop acreage A look at corn and soybean acreage in Illinois and Iowa (in millions): Corn Illinois Iowa 2014* ................. 12.0 ............. 13.2 2013 .................. 12.0 ............. 13.1 2012 .................. 12.2 ............. 13.7 Soybeans Illinois Iowa 2014* ................. 10.0 ............. 13.2 2013 .................... 9.4 ...............9.2 2012 .................... 8.9 ............... 9.3 * estimated Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

“These things could change,” Aupperle said. “There is an acreage battle going on for farmers. For planting next year, soybeans look like they are winning the battle at this point.” When corn prices went up, so did the cost of farm equipment, said Rock Katschnig, who has farmed in the Prophetstown, Illinois, area for nearly four decades. “Suppliers wanted a piece of the pie,” he said. Now, that crop prices are down, “The suppliers don’t want to drop their prices.” So how will farmers deal with the new circumstances? Katschnig said they may look to reduce the amount of fertilizer on their crops. And

he said seed companies know that farmers will look for better prices on seed corn. “We could save $20 or $30 an acre with certain seed varieties,” he said. Seed giant Monsanto has already cut its profits forecast for next year. With corn prices down, the company told the media, it will be harder to raise seed prices, especially when farmers are expected to reduce corn planting next year. John Deere is already reporting declining sales of farm equipment. “From everything I can see, farm equipment sales are slowing down,” Good said. “Farmers have made a lot of purchases the last couple of years. A lot of them are saying that there is no urgency to invest.” Randy Faber, a farmer from Sublette, said soybeans look like the more profitable crop next year. But he said his contract with Pioneer, a seed company, will largely determine his crop rotation. “The gross cost of putting in a soybean crop is a lot less than corn,” he said. For Faber, a diversified portfolio helps. He runs a cattle operation, which has benefited from low corn feed prices. Starting in the cow-calf business now is a good move, he said, thanks to the highest prices he has seen for calves. “There is record profitability,” Faber said. “[But] it’s ... a 365-a-day-a-year job.”

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What will w-w-winter bring? Experts have mixed forecasts for upcoming season BY DONNA BARKER For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Two years after the drought of 2012 in Illinois, farmland around the state has rebounded, and farmers could breathe a bit easier, bringing in crops which some ag specialists described as “bumper.” The U.S. Drought Monitor has reported the entire state, other than its most southeastern tip, had no drought conditions during the fall of 2014. That southeastern tip of the state is marked as abnormally dry, the lightest of designations by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The rest of the state is marked as either normal conditions or even moderately moist in portions of Central Illinois. Though Illinois did not see extremely dry conditions for 2014, the state did see record-breaking weather this year. The Quad Cities area, which includes much of North Central Illinois, recorded its snowiest winter on record in the 2013-14 season: more than 54 inches of snow. July tied the record, set in 2009, as the coolest July on record with an average daily high of 70.3 degrees. September had record-breaking days

as well, with a high temperature of only 52 degrees on Sept. 12, which broke the 112-year-old record of 55 degrees set in 1902. Also, Sept. 11, with its high temperature of only 56 degrees, broke the old record of 59 Meteorologist degrees set in 1878. James Zahara But the unseasonably cool autumn does not necessarily mean the 2014-15 winter will come early or be a tough one, according to WQAD News Channel 8 meteorologist James Zahara. Most climatologists predict up to 65 percent chance of an El Nino forming during the fall and winter, which usually means a milder winter in the Midwest. El Nino is a weather phenomena that affects not only Illinois weather, but the entire country and world. “But keep in mind, there are a lot more variables that we’ll be analyzing that will go into the winter forecast equation,” Zahara said. “This is something we’ll definitely keep an eye on.”

On the other end of the weather spectrum, the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” predicts another “teeth-chatteringly cold winter” across the country. “Colder is just almost too familiar a term,” Editor Janice Stillman said. “Think of it as a refriger-nation.” Claiming a historically 80 percent accuracy in its weather forecasts, “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” predicts this winter will be one with another Arctic blast, along with above-normal snowfall throughout much of the nation. The extreme weather will continue into summer 2015, which is expected to be predominantly hot and dry, the almanac says. “Winter will bring a frosty bite, and next summer will be its mirror opposite, so get ready for a one-two punch,” Stillman said. “Be prepared – there’s plenty in the forecast to cause all sorts of mayhem: Blizzards, droughts and hurricanes.” However, the Climate Prediction Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced its winter outlook shows equal chances of above, below or near average temperatures, as well as below-average precipitation for Illinois and the Great Lakes region.

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Cost cutting might mean more bean acres A

BY DUSTIN JOHNSON For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

nyone following the price of grain knows that it has been an ugly third quarter for farm profitability. December corn futures fell 25 percent during this time, while November soybeans fell 21 percent. This sets the stage for heavy cost cutting in 2015. The corn-soybean ratio for next year ended the quarter at 2.56, which means beans already have a large price incentive built in. A few private sector estimates are forecasting a rather substantial acreage swap from corn to soybeans in 2015, including Informa economics. It is probably not a bad idea to run your own cornsoybean comparison analysis to see what opportunities you have for your own operation. Keep in mind that markets are usually perfect and this ratio may be suscepti-

ble to change as it prices in a potential acreage swap. The opportunity may disappear long before the first acre of 2015 is planted. If you plan to switch some of your own acres to soybeans, it Dustin might not be a bad Johnson idea to lock in the Says those price using forward switching cash sales, futures, put some acres to options, or a combina- soybeans might tion of these hedging want to lock in tools. This premium the price beans hold to corn may not last, especially if South America has a good growing season with the record bean acres being projected. With the world soybean stocks-to-use ratio expected to grow to 35.8 percent this year, we see the potential for an oversupply in soy-

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beans bringing the ratio back toward 2.0 next year. For those who store a large portion of the 2014 corn crop on farm, you might want to consider selling forward to ensure the carry is collected. Of course, nobody can predict the future, but we do know what the opportunity costs are to selling forward compared to selling at the market now. We see a large potential for unpriced grain to lose that value through the winter even during a sideways market. It has been a long time since we have had a carryout this size, and we have to remember that rebuilding demand usually takes time and low prices. With that said, the best cure for low prices is low prices, and we see the potential for opportunities to come out of this recent downturn. Dustin Johnson is a senior analyst for AgYield.

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Happy birthday! Farm Bureauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission in Bureau County remains unchanged after 100 years BY DONNA BARKER For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

The Bureau County Farm Bureau is 100 years strong ... and counting. Farm Bureau manager Jill Frueh said the organization began 100 years ago with a meeting to inform area farmers about important information and issues for them. From there, a group of farmers decided to form a group, which started in 1914 as the Bureau County Agriculture Improvement Association. The group changed its name in 1916 to Bureau County Farm Bureau. That makes Bureau County Farm Bureau older than the Illinois Farm Bureau, which formed in 1916, Frueh said. CONTINUED ON 23

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Through its 100 years, Bureau County Farm Bureau has maintained its purpose, she said. “We started out 100 years ago by representing the farmers’ interests, providing them information and helping them to become more profitable,” she said. “If there was some sort of disease or political issue, we would make the farmer aware of it. We would help them to understand it and learn how to overcome it. We worked for the good of the farmer. That’s how we started, and that’s what we continue to do.” Through the years, the Bureau County Farm Bureau has expanded its membership to include more

than farmers, Frueh said. Currently, the local Farm Bureau has 3,700 members, with about 1,300 of them being farmers. For the purpose of membership, a farmer is defined as someone who earns $2,500 a year in gross income from any type of farm product. Nonfarmer members are associate members. Looking at the group’s impact on the entire Bureau County community, Frueh said the organization has developed several educational outreaches such as its Adopt a Classroom and Adopt a Legislator programs, which reach out to Chicago-area children and legislators. The Farm Bureau has partnered for 25 years with other agriculture organizations to present the

Photos on Page 22 TOP: The Bureau County Farm Bureau’s first office was located at 603 S. Main St. in Princeton. BOTTOM: The current home of the Bureau County Farm Bureau is on U.S. Route 34 on the outskirts of Princeton. The first board meeting in this building was held in 1960. (Photos contributed)

Photo contributed

The upstairs of this North Main Street building in Princeton was the third home of the Bureau County Farm Bureau. Ag Fair for fourth-graders throughout the county. The local Farm Bureau also focuses on helping young farmers to become established and profitable by providing needed resources

and knowledge, as well as encouragement, Frueh said. “As we are celebrating not just our past 100 years,” she said, “we are also celebrating what we can and will do in the future.”

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BY GOLDIE CURRIE AND KEN SCHROEDER For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

his year was the first when it came to planting a cover crop for Walnut farmer Tom Broens. In an attempt to overcome big challenges with soil erosion, he decided to plant 150 acres of cereal rye as a possible solution. This is his first experiment with the method, so it’s too soon to tell whether it’s really improved the soil. But from the looks of things, it seems to be headed in the right direction. For long-term results, Broens will have to wait four or five years to see changes, as studies show the environmental benefits of cover crops improve over time. Broens is willing to invest that time. Broens admits going with a cover crop was an added expense, but it’s something he is committed to for the betterment of the soil.

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David Meyer of Marseilles is not using a cover crop yet, but is definitely contemplating the idea. “I’m waiting to see what happens in the future,” Meyer said. “When they first started talking about it, they were using a type of rye. The problem is it’s a rye that grows back, and it has to be treated before you start again. If you can’t get into the fields right away, that can be a problem. “We’ve had some wet springs lately, so once you’re able to get into the field, you’d have to spray it,” Meyer said. “If it’s wet, it’s not as effective. That slows you down.” For more than a half century, farmers have been encouraged to plant cover crops between growing seasons as a way to manage soil erosion, preserve soil fertility and quality, and help ward off diseases.

Increase in cover crop use In Illinois and Iowa, known for their high-quality, deep topsoil, cover crops are rarely used. That’s not the case in some other states. 24 Fall 2014

W a H

ING RYE

Area farmers talk about benefits, woes of cover crops

Nationally, cover crops, which include cereal rye and clover, are planted only on a small fraction of farmland, but their use is increasing. From 2012 to 2013, cover crop acreage jumped by 38 percent nationally, Tom Kaspar according to a survey “Right now, we’re funded by the U.S. not doing enough Department of Agrito have an impact culture. on water quality In Iowa, 1.6 percent or water erosion,” of its cropland is cover Iowa State University crop, said Tom Kaspar, an agronomy pro- agronomist says fessor at Iowa State University. “We’re heading in the right direction, but slowly,” Kaspar said. “There’s a lot more interest than there was years ago. I think the state of Iowa and commodity groups are putting a lot of emphasis on cover crops from the standpoint of reducing nutrient losses. Right now, we’re not doing enough to have an impact on water quality or water erosion.” As it is, 60 percent of Iowa’s cropland is rented or leased, which may reduce the incentive to use cover crops, Kaspar said. Landowners, he said, need to understand the long-term benefits of such crops and then ask their renters to use them. “We have seven months of the year when nothing is being grown,” Kaspar said. “We need to use that time.” Even flat land is vulnerable to erosion, Kaspar said, as can be seen during the spring or after rainfall.

Use expected to increase

Photo contributed

Walnut farmer Tom Broens is growing cereal rye, like the crop pictured here, in an attempt to overcome soil erosion. It’s the first time Broens has used a cover crop. He decided to plant 150 acres.

In other states, cover crops are more popular. Jim Hoorman, a cover crop specialist and professor at Ohio State University, said such crops are gaining steam in Ohio, where state officials are advocating them. He ticked off the cover crop acreage numbers in a number of Ohio counties, a couple of which are closing in on 10 percent of farmland. “You have the best soils in the world [in Illinois and Iowa],” Hoorman said. “Guys are happy with their results. We have a lot less organic matter in our soils. We have a lot of heavy clay soils. Guys are worried about compaction and soil structure.” Even in areas with great soils, Hoorman said, the need for cover crops will eventually become evident. CONTINUED ON 26

AG Mag

CONTINUED FROM 25

At some point, they won’t have that soil,” he said. “People who are really hurting try to find ways to make it better. Farmers who are struggling tend to find solutions.” Farmers, he said, should know they can’t plant a cover crop for just one year and see benefits. It takes at least three years, he said. Mark David, an environmental sciences professor at the University of Illinois, said cover crops are used more as “you get out of mainMark David stream agriculture.” University of “When I drive around Illinois environmental sciences Illinois, how often do professor said I see green fields [after cover crops are harvest]? Almost never,” used more as he said. “Cover crops “you get out are not embraced. of mainstream “There is a cost to havagriculture” ing a cover crop. You have to plant it. You have to kill it in the spring. You have to till it. It’s not something that happens for free. You may get some benefits like less erosion, but it’s hard to make the absolute argument that you should use it.” CONTINUED ON 27

Ken Schroeder/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

David Meyer, who farms near Marseilles in LaSalle County, hasn’t quite decided to grow a cover crop, but he is seriously considering it. Meyer said he has concerns about wet springs and the inability to get into the fields right away, which could be a problem if the fields need to be treated before planting.

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It costs about $30 or $40 an acre to have cover crops, he said.

‘One of those chicken-and-egg things’ In Illinois, David said, farmers have a short window for planting cover crops, and they won’t see much growth if they are planted in November. They are easier to establish in central Illinois than either northern Illinois or Wisconsin, he said. One hurdle for cover crops is that seed companies haven’t done much in the way of breeding them, said Kaspar of Iowa State. “There’s no incentive or economics for the big seed companies to get involved in cover crops,” he said. “Right now, we’re using whatever is available. The future of being able to use improved plants designed specifically to be cover crops has a lot of potential that we’re not seeing today. It’s one of those chicken-and-egg things.” Lee County farmer Chuck Rhodenbaugh said he does not use cover crops. “I have never had a problem,” he said. “Most of my ground is flat. I know people who have used cover crops to get by.” He said he had a neighbor who planted turnip as a cover crop so that his stock cows could graze.

Sarah Brown/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Cereal rye cover crops grow among rows of Swiss chard at Wimmer Farms in Arispe, Iowa. Denny Wimmer said the quality of the soil on his farm improves yearly because of the cover crops. “You don’t have to fertilize as much,” he said. “It also adds organic matter to the soil, which is important and keeps improving the soils.” “It worked pretty good for him for that,” Rhodenbaugh said.

‘They’re leery about it’ Abby Merriman, a soil conservationist with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Stephenson County, said a handful of producers in her area are die-hard cover crop users. “There are a lot of people who don’t want to use that extra bit of money they have at the end of the year for cover crops,” she said. “Guys need to see it

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work for someone else before they try it. They’re leery about it.” An area with a 5 percent grade or more is considered highly erodible, which is the case in much of Stephenson County and especially Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, Merriman said. “We have cover crop tours so that other producers can ask what they’ve done and how they like it,” Merriman said. “Cover crops are a good thing to keep your soil from washing away.” David Giuliani contributed to this report.

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AG Mag

Farmers Forum WITH DIXIE SCHROEDER/NORTHCENTRAL ILLINOIS AG MAG

Do you use cover crops anywhere in your farming operation?

Bart Ericson

Marilyn Pletsch

Bart Ericson, McNabb “I know a couple people who use them, but I don’t know anything about them myself. Not very many people use them.”

Marilyn Pletsch, McNabb “No. It’s a new technology, I guess. [A farmer I know] is looking into it.”

Dennis Ford

Dennis Ford, Tonica “No. We tried it, and it was too expensive to kill them the next spring.”

Larry Goodbred, Tonica “No, I don’t. I have never done it. I have been interested in looking at it, but I haven’t actually gone to the effort of doing it yet. It’s a possibility in the future.”

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Monte Whipple, Utica “At this time I do not. I guess for a reason I would say lack of time, lack of adequate knowledge on how exactly it would help me or be beneficial from a crop reward. You often, as a farmer, run out of time weather-wise, and you just don’t have time to do it. I would need to also know from a cost standpoint what it would cost me. I do have a couple of farm fields that would benefit from a cover crop in combating erosion and severe weather.”

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Farmers take the train

Ken Schroeder/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

It’s difficult to miss the Happy Hobo in Marshall County, just a few miles outside of Henry. The red caboose is a dead giveaway that something fun, and tasty, is going on inside this eclectic countryside cafe.

All aboard ... for a huge meal to keep ’em coming back for more BY KEN SCHROEDER For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

During harvest season, the local diner can be a lifesaver. Whether sending someone to pick up grub for the crew or taking some needed time off to go as a group, it’s a quick way to grab some food and get back on the job. In most places, the local diner is in

town, which takes a little longer to get to and probably some time to find parking. In Marshall County, however, it’s a bit easier. Nestled between cornfields and a farmers market is the Happy Hobo, about a mile north of Henry. The restaurant reflects the owner’s passion for trains and is shaped like a freight car and caboose.

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From the moment you walk into the rail car – the order counter and dining area of the restaurant – the aroma of the food starts teasing the taste buds. The caboose houses the kitchen, and the scent of Italian beef and burgers is captivating. CONTINUED ON 30

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The Happy Hobo is the brainchild and pride and joy of Bill Eklund, a Chicagoland native who brought a taste of the local fare to the area. Eklund and his wife, Lynn, run the restaurant with enthusiBill Eklund asm, and the food is bountiful and inexpensive. “I came down here because I really wanted to get away from it all,” Eklund said. “This area’s been good to me.” Chicago-style hot dogs have their home on the menu, as do several Italian sandwiches. The Italian beef is authentic Chicago fare, served on Turano rolls from a Chicagoland bakery. However, the most popular items come from the dynamic burger menu.

Ken Schroeder/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

With Italian beef, burgers, chicken sandwiches and more, the menu at the Happy Hobo is perfect for a snack or a belly-filling meal. The burgers are 100 percent ground chuck that are a touch bigger than a quarterpound when cooked. They further reflect Eklund’s love of trains with names like 3rd Rail, Santa Fe Express, and Hobo Burger. The most popular item on the menu, Eklund said, is the Train Wreck – top the juicy burger with an equal amount of tender Italian beef, add

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grilled onions and mozzarella cheese, and a culinary cafe masterpiece is ready for your delight. Add an order of onion rings, but be prepared to take some home with you; this is not a small burger by any means. If beef isn’t what’s for dinner for you, the Happy Hobo serves up chicken and seafood, including a tasty shrimp taco that, Lynn

said, has proved to be pretty popular. The road to opening the Happy Hobo was a difficult one. Eklund worked in construction, but when the bottom fell out of the housing market, he looked for another way to make a living – and remembered a childhood dream. He had a home at Lake Thunderbird in Putnam County and decided the time was right to live the dream there. “I always wanted to do a restaurant, a restaurant/bar, something like that,” Eklund said. “I never thought it would come true. “The first year we started was actually at Lake Thunderbird at the Snack Shack. There had been a Snack Shack there before, but nobody had really done anything with it, so we figured we’d turn it up a notch and started doing hot dogs and beef.” Favorable reactions led him to take the next step, and he opened Happy Hobo shortly after. CONTINUED ON 31

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The caboose is actually a trailer that was built in Ohio, where the owner had taken it to fairs and such. When he retired, he put the mobile restaurant on eBay, where Eklund outbid a train museum by just a couple of hundred dollars. Once people stop in, Eklund said, they return frequently. “There are some people working on a temporary project outside of town,” Eklund said. “They came here the first day they were here, and they’ve been back every day since.” Much of Eklund’s growth has been by word-of-mouth – no pun intended – and it’s been overwhelmingly positive. Service and taste have kept the clientele coming. “We get a lot of farmers in here, especially during harvest when they’re trying to get the crop in,” Eklund said. “Either a group comes in, or they’ll send a runner. Either way, I do my best to get it quick and right.” The dining area was added

in November of last year; before that, most of the business was carry-out or in the screened-in gazebo out front. The gazebo was turned into a farmers market, and picnic tables have been placed outside for dining with nature. People have asked Eklund: “Why Henry? Isn’t that out of the way?” “Everywhere is out of the way to someone,” Eklund said. “We’ve got a good location on the highway. We’re not going to do anything like Interstate traffic, but we still do some drive-through business. We’ve had a couple of buses stop in on their way through.” Eklund is looking ahead to possibly more expansion in offerings outside the kitchen. “We might host different events like a car show or a craft fair,” he said. “I think a little stage area for people to play some music unplugged, where people could listen for free, would be a great idea.” But whatever Eklund decides to offer, it’s become increasingly clear his food is the main attraction.

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AG Mag

Illinois soybean farmers have much to celebrate I

had the pleasure recently of being part of the Illinois Soybean Association’s 50th anniversary celebration, also honoring the past 100 years of soybean production in Illinois. Certainly, Illinois soybean farmers have much to be proud of and look forward to in the future. ISA’s focus for the last year has been on embracing the past – our legacy of leadership, market development and soybean production in Illinois. Our history has been marked with many successes in helping Illinois soybean farmers improve production. From helping craft legislation that protects our freedom to farm, to creating new markets for soy products and for overseas buyers, to funding research and promotion activities that increase profits and build demand, that has long been ISA’s mission. Here are some interesting milestones from Illinois’ 100-year soybean production history:

SHARON COVERT Director, District 4 Illinois Soybean Association • In 1936, the Northern Regional Research Laboratory in Peoria was established to develop industrial uses for soybeans and soy products like plastics, paints and varnishes. • The Land of Lincoln Soybean Association (LOLSA) – as ISA was originally known – was created in 1964 to develop the Illinois soybean industry and conduct variety testing. • During the 1970s, Illinois farmers helped market soybeans from Mexico to North Africa. Illinois soybean farmers were a big part of the financial power behind opening nine interna-

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tional marketing offices and programs in 76 nations. • At the same time, Illinois farmers turned attention to emerging markets that included development of petroleum printing inks containing soybean oil. The Soy Mark logo identified publications printed with soy ink. The Peoria lab helped develop soy ink, and St. Francis Hospital in Peoria was the first to use it for baby footprints. • Illinois soybean volunteers began to educate consumers about the many benefits of soy during the 1980s. Dozens of people trained to become “Bean Boosters” and cooking demonstrations and product displays blanketed the state. • New soybean uses accelerated during the 1990s. University students created candles from soybean oil and soybean oil-based crayons. CONTINUED ON 33

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Illinois transit systems tested a biodiesel fuel blend and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new soy health claim that stated soy protein included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels. Today our strategic plan focuses on five key areas: Animal agriculture; transportation; yield, composition and profitability; freedom to operate and organizational excellence. Not only do we want to help our top livestock and poultry customers consume more, higher quality and nutritious soy products, we want to make sure we can efficiently transport those products around the world and do so in a manner that allows us to operate freely and sustainably. As part of the anniversary celebration, we also have been envisioning our future during the last year with a

goal of using 600 million bushels of Illinois soybeans by 2020. The volume of Illinois soybean production has grown exponentially from less than 100,000 bushels at the start to more than 460 million bushels today. Illinois has the climate, cropping systems and ready access to domestic and global markets to continue growing production for the future. Illinois soybeans generate more than $6 billion per year in direct sales alone. Our economic impact on the state is multiplied by processing, livestock and transportation industries. Attaining our goal of using 600 million bushels is critical to Illinois soybean farmers’ long-term competitive and comparative advantage. I invite you to learn more about Illinois soybean farmers and our organization and programs by visiting www. ilsoy.org/anniversary.

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Hare-raising hobby LaSalle County teen is youth director for rabbit group BY TERRI SIMON For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

When LaSalle County teenager Aaron Bauer decided to raise rabbits for a 4-H project in 2008, he had no idea those floppy-eared friends would create such a big influence in his life. Bauer is the new District 5 youth director for the National Mini Rex Club, which encompasses Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky. He was nominated for the position by the national director for the club. Bauer’s rabbitry, dubbed Outback Rabbitry, is home to a couple of hundred rabbits – mostly Mini Rex, Holland Lops, and Lionheads, which he raises with his parents, Scott and Kim Bauer, and his 12-year-old sister, Kaitlynn Bauer. CONTINUED ON 36

In the photo

Terri Simon/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Growing to Serve Today’s Farmer

When it comes to raising a grand champion rabbit like the one Aaron Bauer is holding, the LaSalle-Peru High School junior doesn’t hesitate to talk about the positive attributes of each breed. Bauer was recently named the new District 5 youth director for the National Mini Rex Club, which encompasses Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky.

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The rabbit kid tells all ...

The LaSalle-Peru Township High School junior said his sister helps to clean and feed the rabbits; his dad helps him pick rabbits to sell, show and breed; and his mom does most of the paperwork involved with the rabbits, plus keeps the website updated. The family belongs to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the National Mini Rex Rabbit Club, the Illinois Mini Rex Rabbit Club, and the Wisconsin Mini Rex Rabbit Club. As junior director, Bauer said his responsibilities include writing a report several times a year for the organization’s magazine. He is also a mentor for other junior rabbit owners and respected by his peers, young and old alike. Bauer, who attends 20-25 rabbit shows a year, has won a plethora of awards with his rabbits, including many Best in Show, Best of Breed, and Best Opposite Sex. The highest award he’s won was “winning our lane at convention, which basically means we were within the Top 4 out of more than 10,000 rabbits,” he said. Bauer, who is serious about his rabbit business, quickly explained what makes a grand champion rabbit. CONTINUED ON 37

Aaron Bauer Age: 17 Town where you live: LaSalle School and grade: Junior at LaSalle-Peru High School Family members and names: Parents, Scott and Kim Bauer; sister, Kaitlynn, 12 Pets: Bandit (my dog), many rabbits, several guinea pigs Hobbies: Rabbits and fishing Sports you participate in: Photo contributed Soccer and basketball Aaron Bauer handles rabbits of all ages and School awards you have received: Boots Temple Award, sizes. This baby rabbit is just one of many the John Merit Award, Student Excel- Bauers raise to show and sell. lence Award, High Honor Society Favorite subject in school: Math Least favorite subject in school: English What do you want to do when you leave high school? Something to do with engineering What do you like to do for fun? Sports, rabbits, fishing If you were stranded on a desert island and could have just the same meal every day, what would it be and from what restaurant? Nachos from Jalapeños If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it? Invest in something to make even more money! People would be surprised to know this about you: I have a couple of hundred rabbits Likes: Soccer, showing rabbits, fishing and friends Dislikes: Tomatoes Three words you would use to describe yourself: Athletic, smart, confident

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“The qualities a grand champion rabbit will possess will vary between breed,” he said. “In Mini Rex, they are looking for a well-balanced rabbit with very plush, dense fur.” The Bauers sell many of their rabbits, some to other breeders or youths for their 4-H projects, and others as pets. But regardless of the reason people want young Bauer’s rabbits, he said some obligations go along with with taking a rabbit into a home. “The biggest challenge I have discovered is planning time to do all my chores around sports and school,” said Bauer, who is an honors student and athlete. But it’s not all work. Some opportunities are gained by raising the fourlegged friends with floppy ears. “There are scholarship opportunities, plus I have traveled to seven states just for rabbit shows,” he said. “In my travels, I have met many people from all over the United States, Canada and Japan. I have more knowledge about rabbits than anybody ever needs to know.” For more information about Outback Rabbitry, call Bauer at 815-2231778.

Terri Simon/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Aaron Bauer says one of the most difficult things about raising rabbits is trying to schedule cleaning and feeding time around his other high school activities, including his active role on the soccer pitch and the basketball court.

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AG Mag

Feeding from the inside out L E M M

very fall, junior cattle exhibitors and their families search far and wide for that perfect heifer calf. They can travel thousands of miles and look at hundreds of calves trying to find “the one” that they believe has the best shot to bring home the championship banners. While this is a fun and exciting adventure, I believe it is what you do AFTER you find an animal that can make or break your show ring success. Today I would like to talk to you about the importance of feeds and feeding as it relates to developing show heifers. I believe that what and how you feed a heifer is as important as the heifer you select. Don’t get me wrong, daily rinsing and hair care is critically important, however, that is only the hide and hair of the animal. Have you ever heard the saying, “The truest beauty comes from within”? I believe this statement could not be truer in life but also in developing show heifers. I have been taught that to excel at feeds and feeding, the best place to start is by understanding the INSIDE of

AUREN C

ILLAN

Student, Logan Junior High School in Princeton the animal. Think of it like this, feeds and feeding are the knowledge and tools you can use to build your heifer from the inside out. Two areas I will focus on are the stomach and the brain. Let’s start with the stomach. Contrary to popular belief, cows have only one stomach; however, that stomach has four different compartments. The first compartment is the rumen. It is designed for the storage of food and is where fermentation occurs. Believe it or not, the rumen of a full-grown cow can hold up to 50 gallons of feedstuffs or water. Also, the rumen is home to billions of microbes, and they are responsible for the fermentation of the feedstuffs.

Keeping the microbes inside the rumen “happy” is one of the keys of feeding show heifers. The second compartment is called the reticulum. It is a pouch-like compartment, and the tissues inside are in a honeycomb shape. The reticulum traps larger feed particles. Once trapped, these particles are regurgitated, re-chewed and re-swallowed – otherwise called chewing their cud. This allows for further fermentation and digestion of those larger particles. The third compartment is called the omasum. It is a globe-shaped chamber that acts like a filter. The many folds of the omasum serve to squeeze out the water from the feed, so that it doesn’t escape into the rest of the digestive tract. And the fourth and final compartment of a cow’s stomach is the abomasum. This compartment is similar to our stomach. It has a low pH and enzymes to digest the proteins in the feed. CONTINUED ON 39

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Illinois farmers elect directors to checkoff board The Illinois Corn Marketing Board has seated two returning and three new members to its board. The Illinois Department of Agriculture recently announced the results of the farmer elections. IDOA Director Robert Flider congratulated the farmers on their election and said that it’s an honor to be chosen by one’s peers. The farmers elected to ICMB invest corn checkoff dollars as they are assessed and levied at the first point of sale. State law sets the assessment for corn at 5/8 of 1 cent per bushel. The newly-elected board members

CONTINUED FROM 38

The second area inside the show heifer that I’d like to talk about is the brain. So you are probably wondering – what does a cow’s brain have to do with feeds and feeding? Well believe it or not, cattle are creatures of habit. As a creature of habit, their brains are programmed to benefit from consistency. Show heifers tend to thrive on two types of consistency. The first type is what they eat, and the second is when they eat. So, you should really try to feed your show heifers the same feed,

will serve three-year terms. New to ICMB are Pat Dumoulin from Hampshire; Mark Wilson from Toulon; and James A. Reed from Monticello. Dumoulin will represent District 1 which covers Boone, McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall and Will Counties. District 4 will now be represented by Wilson. It covers Whiteside, Lee, Bureau, Stark, Marshall and Putnam Counties. Reed will represent District 7 which encompasses Woodford, McLean, Dewitt, Macon, Piatt and Moultrie Counties. Incumbents Bill Long of District 10

and Donald Duvall of District 13 will maintain their seats. Long’s district includes Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, Greene, Jersey, Calhoun and Macoupin Counties. District 13 will have Duvall representing Marion, Clay, Richland, Lawrence, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash and White Counties. The Illinois Corn Marketing Board was established in 1982 to manage the voluntary checkoff investment that corn farmers in the state agreed to implement that year. The farmers that make up ICMB are elected by their peers to serve unpaid, three-year terms.

at the same volume, at the same time each day. There are times when you need to make adjustments to what you are feeding. When doing so, you need to make those adjustments slowly, or it will throw them off feed and could take up to two weeks to get them back in track. While each show heifer doesn’t come with a feeding manual, by understanding their stomach and brain, I believe you can be on your way to success. Other areas that are important to not overlook when developing a feeding

approach are age, genetics, physical structure and when specifically do you want her looking her very best. Overall, feeds and feeding can be a difficult and confusing area to master, however, there are a lot of great people out there willing to share their knowledge and experience with you. Reach out for advice and guidance early on as it is far easier to start them off right then try to fix mistakes down the road. Lauren McMillan is an eighth-grader at Logan Junior High School in Princeton and works on the family cattle farm in Tiskilwa.

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Vast expansion of power?

Farm Bureau, EPA tangle over proposed water rules BY DAVID GIULIANI For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contends its proposed regulations to carry out the Clean Water Act would not increase its powers over agriculture. Not so, counters the American Farm Bureau. In April, the EPA proposed rules that it said would clarify which

waters the Clean Water Act covers, arguing the U.S. Supreme Court wanted the regulatory confusion cleared up. The Farm Bureau says the new rules would apply to ditches in farms, hampering what farmers could do. The organization, with the support of the Illinois Farm Bureau, has launched the “Ditch the Rule” campaign, to which the

EPA responded with its “Ditch the Myth” webpage. In 2006, the Supreme Court ruled that the Clean Water Act applied to navigable waters as well as waters that have a “significant nexus” with navigable waters. That “nexus” language has resulted in confusion. CONTINUED ON 42

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Lauren Lurkins, director of natural and environmental resources for the Illinois Farm Bureau, said that while the EPA contends that its rules would have no effect on bodies of water that do not contribute to the flow of navigable waters, “I don’t know of a ditch that doesn’t contribute to flow.” “On paper, there are exemptions for ditches,” she said. “They can’t be used in the real world.” When Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, Lurkins said, it put specific limits on the federal government. “The Clean Water Act is based on a cooperative federalism. There is a balance between federal control and state and local control,” she said. “These rules would put all of the power in the hands of the federal government.” If the rules go forward – which could happen next year – lawsuits will be filed, Lurkins said. “That’s why you are seeing people backed into corners,” Lurkins said. “There isn’t room for negotiation, from my perspective.” On its “Ditch the Myth” page, the EPA responds to the Farm Bureau. “The proposed rule actually reduces regulation of ditches because for the first time it would exclude ditches that

‘‘

The Clean Water Act is based on a cooperative federalism. There is a balance between federal control and state and local control. These rules would put all of the power in the hands of the federal government. Lauren Lurkins, Illinois Farm Bureau

are constructed through drylands and don’t have water year-round,” the agency says. The EPA’s page also contends that the rules would leave alone the decades-old exemption for farm ponds and would, for the first time, specifically exclude stock watering and irrigation ponds built in drylands. According to the EPA, the new rules would not expand federal authority. “The proposal does not protect any waters that have not historically been covered under the Clean Water Act,” the page says. “The proposed rule specifically reflects the more narrow reading of jurisdiction established by the Supreme Court and protects fewer waters than prior to the Supreme Court cases [addressing the Clean Water Act].” Kendall Thu, a Northern Illinois University anthropology professor who has focused on water quality issues in rural areas, said the rhetoric in response to

’’

the proposed rules is typical because farmers tend to fear government intrusion. “It’s mostly accurate to say that the rules are clarifications in response to court directives,” he said. “It won’t result in a vast expansion of government powers.” He disagreed with the contention that the federal government would get involved in regulating ditches and ponds on small and mid-sized farms. “The Clean Water Act hasn’t been appropriately enforced,” Thu said. “That can be a detriment to the environment as well as to farmers. What constitutes navigable waters has been contested for years. This is a natural policy evolution.” Farmers, he said, have an inherent interest in protecting the environment. With the rules, they would know what the playing field looks like, he said. “There would be less uncertainty.”

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‘Farming is your bread and butter’ Eleanor Zimmerlein inducted into Agri-Women Hall of Fame BY GOLDIE CURRIE For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Eleanor Zimmerlein of LaMoille this year became the second inductee into the Illinois Agri-Women Hall of Fame. She has played a key role in promoting agriculture and was recognized for her active role in persuading politicians to rethink legislation she didn’t see fit for farmers. CONTINUED ON 44

In the photo Eleanor Zimmerlein of LaMoille was the second inductee into the Illinois Agri-Women Hall of Fame this year. Zimmerlein was recognized for her active role in persuading legislators to understand the needs and roles of farmers. (Photo by Goldie Currie/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag)

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Throughout the years, issues and regulations related to farming practices have entered the spotlight. When Zimmerlein didn’t agree with them, she wasn’t the type to sit back and watch things unfold. Instead, she’d write letters expressing her thoughts to politicians. “I would get so perturbed when I would read something I knew was out of this world, and I would write a letter,” she said. Politicians were sure not to miss Zimmerlein’s bright yellow stationary. On the bottom of the paper, the motto read, “Farming is your bread and butter.” Being involved in the Illinois Agri-Women group has also allowed Zimmerlein to travel on numerous occasions to Washington, D.C., where she met with congressmen, members of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other officials associated with agriculture. Those opportunities allowed face-to-face discussions about regulations related to agriculture being put forth. In explaining her passion for agriculture, she said private property rights is something that’s always been big for her. Being on the farm her whole life and working around regulations made by people who have never been on the farm is something that doesn’t sit well with her. “You struggle for years to pay for your property, and then someone comes along and says, ‘Well, you should paint your house yellow,’” she explained. “They’ve got no involvement. So that’s one thing that gets my blood up.” To Zimmerlein, the EPA is not understanding and doesn’t take into account the improvements farmers have made throughout the years. “They keep raising the bar on you,” she said. “If you spend money to come into their rules and regulations, then five years down the line they change everything and make you spend a lot more money.”

About Illinois Agri-Women Illinois Agri-Women (IAW) are spokespersons for Illinois agriculture. They tell the story of agriculture across the state – to consumer groups, schools, meetings, workshops, legislative hearings, and more. Members come from farms, agribusiness, and others interested in a positive image for Illinois agriculture – virtually every walk of agricultural life. IAW members believe in developing the leadership, managerial, communications, and promotional skills of members in order to be leaders in the agricultural community.

Organizational goals • To speak out in support of the American farmer and the farm industry. • To work for legislation to preserve the family farm enterprise. • To communicate with other organizations to achieve common goals. • To educate the consumer of the economic importance of agriculture to the nation. • To promote greater public awareness that farming is a business and must make a profit to survive. Source: illinoisagriwomen.org

Aside from her ongoing active role in political issues, Zimmerlein is known to still run a grain cart and offer a helping hand on the family farm. Her passion for the farm life stems from the idea of doing work that you can watch grow right in front of you.

Farmers can direct $3.3M to nonprofits Farmers now have the opportunity to contribute $3.3 million to organizations in their communities. To honor and support the tradition of service organizations in rural America, the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program is partnering with farmers to direct $2,500 donations to individual nonprofit organizations. The program, which kicked off its fifth year on Aug. 1, benefits 1,324 counties across 40 states. Organizations that received funding in the past include fire departments, food pantries, community groups and youth service programs like FFA and 4-H. In the smaller, rural communities where this program operates, a donation like this can make the difference in dozens of lives. The results include better-equipped volunteer fire departments, food pantries stocked with more fresh produce, improved meeting halls and fairgrounds, and opportunities for youth leadership development. Since its inception in 2010, Grow Communities has invested more than $16 million in 6,000 nonprofit organizations across rural America. In Illinois

alone, Grow Communities has provided $1,232,500 to nonprofit organizations over the past five years. America’s Farmers Grow Communities is part of the America’s Farmers initiative. These programs, supported by the Monsanto Fund, have awarded over $22 million to rural communities since 2010. Connect with America’s Farmers on Facebook or @AmericasFarmers on Twitter. Join the #GrowCommunities conversation today. To enroll or learn more, visit www. AmericasFarmers.com, or call toll-free 877-267-3332.

About America’s Farmers The America’s Farmers campaign highlights the importance of modern US Agriculture through communications and community outreach programs that partner with farmers to impact rural America. The outreach programs include: • America’s Farmers Grow Communities supports rural America by offering farmers the chance to win $2,500 for their favorite local nonprofit organization. • America’s Farmers Grow Rural Edu-

cation supports rural education by offering farmers the chance to nominate local school districts, who can compete for a $10,000 or $25,000 meritbased grant to enhance math and science education. • America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders gives students pursuing a career in agriculture the opportunity to earn a $1,500 scholarship towards their education. • America’s Farmers Mom of the Year celebrates women in agriculture by offering the chance to be recognized as “National Farm Mom of the Year”. To learn more, visit America’s Farmers at [ http://www.AmericasFarmers. com ] www.AmericasFarmers.com.

About the Monsanto Fund The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Co., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Co. employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at [ http:// www.MonsantoFund.org ]www. MonsantoFund.org.

Have you Centralized your Ag Relationship? Call a Central Bank Ag Banker Today! GENESEO

FULTON

309-944-5601 Randy Clary

800-828-8941 Brad Ottens

PRINCETON

815-875-3461 Dan McAlvey or Jason VanLanduit

MORTON FERTILIZER SERVICE 121 East Main Street • Wyanet, IL

815-699-7701

“Protecting Your Investment In Farmland”SM

Douglas D. Ray, AFM

Geneseo Fulton Princeton www.central-bank.com

Accredited Farm Manager/Managing Real Estate Broker

815-872-FARM (3276) P.O. Box 39 • 226 Prairie Ln. W. • Princeton, IL 61356 www.rayfarm1.com • Email: rayfarm1@comcast.net AG Mag

Ethanol supporters make their voices heard in Washington Jason Marquis, the production manager of Marquis Energy in Hennepin, traveled to Washington, D.C., Sept. 14-17 to meet with congressional officials to highlight the important role ethanol plays in reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and revitalizing the American economy. Marquis joined Growth Energy for a series of meetings with bipartisan congressional delegations from Illinois. They discussed the current state of the industry and stressed the importance of protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). They also discussed increasing market access for E15, a fuel blended with 15 percent ethanol. Marquis emphasized how the RFS has bolstered Illinois’ economy by encouraging the growth of the

Photo contributed

Illinois Delegation for Biofuels group, including Jason Marquis (far right), take a moment from their schedule in Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (center). Also pictured (from left) are John Forte, Courtney Breckenridge and Courtney Henderson. American ethanol industry. “Our message on Capitol Hill was clear – the RFS is working, and there is no need

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for Congress to repeal or reform this successful energy policy. America’s energy independence and economic

prosperity in communities like ours are moving forward thanks to the renewable fuels industry,” said Marquis. “These face-to-face meetings with our lawmakers are an important opportunity for them to hear directly from their constituents about the issues that matter most.” Furthermore, Marquis expressed concern with the proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which significantly reduced the RFS volume obligations for 2014. Biofuel supporters noted that the rule, in its current form, would freeze innovation and investment in next generation biofuels, reduce production of conventional biofuels, harm our environment and jeopardize savings to consumers. CONTINUED ON 47

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46 Fall 2014

CONTINUED FROM 46

“Ethanol is saving all Americans significantly when they refuel their vehicles, 20 cents a gallon or more,” Marquis said, hailing corn-derived ethanol as the “most cost effective liquid fuel on the planet.” During these meetings, Marquis met with U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, and Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, and reiterated how the RFS has helped Marquis Energy. He stressed the importance of enhanced infrastructure to offer consumers higher blends, such as E15. Higher blends give consumers a choice to use homegrown American biofuels that are less expensive at the pump, help reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and help bolster our local communities and economies. “It’s crucial that our representatives in Washington understand the benefits of ethanol – that it creates jobs in Illinois, keeps gas prices

down and contributes to our rural economies,” Marquis said. “During this time of high gas prices, ethanol is the only tool our nation has to reduce prices at the pump. It’s essential we work with our lawmakers to take the steps necessary to maintain the RFS, ensure that USEPA doesn’t reduce its volume goals, and to get E15 and other ethanol blends into the marketplace. American consumers deserve a choice at the pump.” Marquis Energy strives to challenge conventional practices that promote the dependence on foreign fuels as America’s energy source. We are dedicated to producing a renewable, clean-burning fuel that will not only abate dependency on foreign oil, but also benefit our local and national economy. By producing ethanol and its co-products from renewable feedstocks, Marquis Energy continually fosters new innovation for energy sustainability.

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ADVERTISER INDEX

1st Farm Credit Services-Ottawa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 1st Farm Credit Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Ag View FS, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Ag Yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 AgriEnergy Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Beck’s Hybrids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Birkey’s Farm Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 BOS Farm Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Brummel Ag Sales and Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Capital Agricultural Property Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Central Bank Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 CGH Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Cornerstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Country Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Country Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Country Financial/Pekin Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Custom Wash One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Diller-Rod, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Dimond Brothers Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Ed Hartwig Trucking & Excavating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Elmore Electric, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Farmers National Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Frank J. Mautino, State Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Gold Star/Cambridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Grasser’s Plumbing & Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Gripp Custom Farming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Heartland Bank and Trust Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Henry State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Hotsy Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Illini State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Illinois Retina Institute, S.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Johnson Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Johnson Precision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Karl A. Schultz Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Kory Farm Equipment, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Lee’s Water Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Leffelman & Associates, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Manlius Oil Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Maze Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 McHenry Machine Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Michlig Energy, Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Michlig Grain, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Midwest Bio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 MJ Seeds, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Moore Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Morton Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 North Central Bank/Ladd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Northern Partners Cooperative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Olds Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Peoples National Bank/Kewanee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Peru Waltham Mutual Insurance, Company . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Piehl Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Pioneer Hi-Bred International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Pioneer Production Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Poignant Bros. Farm Drainage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Princeton Insurance Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Ray Farm Management Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Renk Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Rick Rediger Auction Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Rollo Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Rotary Airlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 S. I. Distributing/Kelner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Schoff Farm Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Seatonville Elevator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Steve Hamm - Morton Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Streator Farm Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Strong Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Sublette Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sun Ag, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Town & Country Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 V & C Construction Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Vande Voorde Sales, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Vern’s Farm Supply, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Z Best Discount Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 AG Mag

January through April is the best time to build! Planning NOW for “Winter construction” can save thousands! Please contact us for more information!

Garages

I Farm Building I Equestrian I Commercial I Homes

Worth the Wait Good things come to those who wait. For a limited time, receive a free upgrade to our new and exclusive Morton Foundation System when you buy a Morton building to be constructed between January and April 2015. For more information on this offer and our foundation system call or visit us online at mortonbuildings.com

Steve Hamm

Atkinson, IL. • 309-936-7282 steve.hamm@mortonbuildings.com

Certain restrictions may apply. Check with your local Morton Construction Center for details and availability. Patented product used with permission of Perma-Column, Inc. ©2014 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at http://mortonbuildings.com/licenses. Reference Code 043