Dekalb County Ag Mag Winter 2014 by Shaw Media

agmag

DeKalb County

Winter 2014

Marking Ag Achievements

State historical markers celebrate areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contributions See Page 5 A Publication of

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DeKalb County

Table of Contents

Cover Story: Marking countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural history

Local agriculture leaders dedicate series of markers around DeKalb County

Calendar of Events

10 Corn takes a tumble

Falling per bushel prices could lead to more soybean planting

22 The Troubles with Old Iron

27 Cover crops: Worth the cost?

The crop has a rich history that the Illinois Soybean Association is focusing on.

14 Wineries boost tourism

Growing cold-weather hardy varities, local wineries are drawing people and making great wines

20 Raising top cattle

Feeds and feeding are key to raising top quality show cattle, a junior exhibitor writes

agmag

DeKalb County

Published by Shaw Media Publisher: Karen Pletsch Project Manager: Lisa Angel Design & Layout: Allison LaPorta Articles and advertisements are property of Shaw Media. No portion of DeKalb County Ag Mag may be produced without written consent of the publisher.

Some local farmers have begun using cover crops, with positive results

30 Heck of a harvest

12 Soybean farming history

A look inside the process of restoring Engine No. 110, a steam-powered tractor originally built in Sycamore

All things considered, the elements were kind to farmers harvesting their crops this year. Results were bountiful.

33 New board members

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board has seated two returning and three new members

On the cover: Danielle Guerra - dguerra@shawmedia.com Allan Aves, past president of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, unveils a historical marker recognizing the bureauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standing as the first of its kind in Illinois and one of the oldest in the country.

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Honoring history

Markers commemorate DeKalb Co.’s history of ag innovation

DeKALB – In pirate lore, “X” marks the spot for buried treasure. In DeKalb County, a different kind of marker is used to indicate the location of some of the most treasured agricultural gems in the area.

By Katrina J.E. Milton kmilton@shawmedia.com

The DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association, Inc. (DAAHA) has dedicated three historical markers in DeKalb County and is working to create three more. The organization spent more than two years researching the history behind the first historical marker before it was validated as historically significant by the Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS). “The two big goals of creating the markers are to raise awareness of the history and legacy of agriculture in DeKalb County and to help foster an appreciation of the area’s heritage of innovation,” DAAHA Board President Larry Mix said. “We hope that by teaching the community about DeKalb County’s agricultural history, it will inspire the next generation.” Dr. David Smith, a plant pathologist and geneticist who formerly did research at DeKalb/ Monsanto, wrote the 1,000-word justification for the first historical marker.

Photo Above: Monica Synett/Shaw Media Warren Holdridge and Millie Sulaver, who both worked with innovative plant breeder Charlie Gunn, unveil a historical marker noting the location of an experimental field where the first hybrid corn was bred in Illinois. The plot was set up in secret by Gunn and Tom Roberts in 1925.

“Creating a marker is a multi-step process that includes a lot of research,” Smith said. “First, you need money committed to help fund the maker. Then you have to justify its statewide or national significance. You also have to have a location.” The first historical marker, dedicated on Sept. 8, commemorates

6 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014 the first DeKalb Brand hybrid corn breeding plot. The marker honors Charlie Gunn, a corn breeder, and Tom Roberts, a manager, both of the DeKalb County Agricultural Association, who began a hybrid corn-breeding program in secret in 1925 on the J.J. Kingsley farm in DeKalb. The marker is located on Nelson Road, just north and east of where it intersects with Lincoln Highway, two miles west of DeKalb. Persuading the state historical society to recognize the significance of the plot was one hard part, but before that could happen, DAAHA members had to find the actual location of the plot. That was no easy task because the half-acre plot was originally kept secret. Researchers relied on an oral history interview with Gunn, as well as his personal notes from the time, County historian Sue Breese said. Their research led to some surprising discoveries. Photo taken by: Danielle Guerra • dguerra@ shawmedia.com

“We knew [the plot] was out [there], but we thought it was on the opposite side of the road,” Breese said at the time the marker was unveiled. “Through researching Gunn’s notes, we found that it was here.” Roberts and Gunn tested their hybrid corn for a few years before disclosing the program to their board of directors in 1928. They found the hybrid out-yielded the open-pollinated variety by 35 percent. The second marker, commemorating the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, was dedicated on Sept. 29. In 1912, farmers, businessmen, and bankers formed the DeKalb County Soil Improvement Association. The organization, which became the DeKalb County Farm Bureau in 1926, was the first farm bureau in Illinois and is among the oldest in the United States. The marker is located at the farm bureau’s Center for Agriculture building at 1350 W. Prairie Drive in Sycamore. It recognizes the group’s forward-thinking founders and the DeKalb Farm Bureau’s standing as one of the oldest in the country.

Photo taken by: Monica Synett • mmaschak@shawmedia.com

Top Photo: Local officials at the unveiling at the unveiling of a historical marker recognizing the DeKalb County Farm Bureau included (left to right) DeKalb Mayor John Rey, DeKalb Area Heritage Association President Larry Mix, past farm bureau President Allan Aves, William Furry, director of the Illinois State Historical Society, and State Rep. Bob Pritchard. Bottom Photo: Forrest Troyer, 85, of DeKalb, dons a DeKalb winged-ear hat and T-shirt at a dedication ceremony to recognize the first DeKalb-brand hybrid corn breeding plot north of the intersection of Illinois Route 38 and Nelson Road in DeKalb. Troyer was a corn breeder for more than 50 years.

“Originally dedicated to improving crop production, this farmerled organization has evolved, finding solutions to challenges posed by America’s progressing agriculture and offering a wide variety of assistance to farmers, rural families, and their communities,” the marker reads. As farm bureau President Mark Tuttle said at the marker’s unveiling, DeKalb County’s agricultural tradition is “a way of life. It’s important that we keep it a way of life.” The third marker was dedicated on Oct. 11, honoring William G. Eckhardt, a soils professor at the University of Illinois. Eckhardt was hired by the DeKalb County Soil Improvement Association, a forerunner of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and the DeKalb Agricultural Association (DAA), and became the organization’s first farm adviser. The marker states that his job was to establish permanent and profitable agricultural practices, to improve farming practices in the county, and to oversee farming operations. Eckhardt, who was also an inventor, helped solve the problem of seed corn rotting. In 1920, he patented a technique of forced-air drying that is still used today. He also designed drying

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 7 bins and storage silos that were built and used on his farm.

The marker states that “both the DAA and Eckhardt were innovators in researching and developing high quality corn seed; their competitive and collaborative efforts fueled rapid advancements in the field of hybridizing corn.”

The marker was placed at the site of Eckhardt’s home and seed house, 339 W. Roosevelt St. in DeKalb. DAAHA is working to create three additional historical markers: one for the Marsh Harvester that was manufactured in Sycamore, one for Jacob Haish, an inventor of barbed wire and machines and library benefactor, and one for the world-famous winged ear logo of DeKalb Brand corn. To help inspire the next generation, DAAHA is partnering with the DeKalb County Future Farmers of America for Ag Innovation Challenge 2014. The challenge, a speech contest that is a judged competition, will be part of the FFA Prepared Public Speaking CDE. In their speeches, high school students will address a specific agronomic challenge faced by farmers. The winner will be awarded scholarship funds to use at an accredited college or university of his/her choice. “What I’ve found is that one inventor or invention leads to another,” Mix said. “The inventors learned from each other and are all linked together. There are not only one or two things that are significant about DeKalb County and Northern Illinois; it’s a whole series of events and progress over time.”

Calendar of Events Dec. 15 University of Illinois Farm Economic Summit Faranda’s, DeKalb 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. www.regonline.com/2014IFES $65 in advance, $75 at the door

Dec. 17 Farm Bill Meeting by USDA DeKalb County Farm Bureau Center for Agriculture • 2 p.m.

Dec. 18 Farm Bill Meeting by USDA DeKalb County Farm Bureau Center for Agriculture • 6 p.m.

All meetings held at the Center for Agriculture unless otherwise noted. For most meeting reservations contact the DeKalb County Farm Bureau office, 815/756-6361

8 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014

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Planting plans

Falling corn price could lead some to plant more soy

Katrina J.E. Milton kmilton@shawmedia.com

This year was a good year for both corn and soybean crops, which means declining soybean and corn prices. For now, the drop in the soybean price has not been as great relative to corn. Many observers are expecting 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?”

Mike DeSchepper of Cortland, the president of the DeKalb County Corn and Soybean Association, said that the price of corn falling probably will lead to more farmers planting soybeans next year. “I am in chemical and seeds retail, and I am seeing more sales in beans right now,” DeSchepper said. “There could be not as much of a demand for corn, but it’s hard to say at this time. … Many farmers are still undecided due to the always-changing prices.” He said that the Chicago Board of Trade lists corn just around $3.75 per bushel, which is approximately half of what it was a year ago. Soybeans are listed around $10.25 a bushel. He said that in general, seed pricing is about the same as last year.

Soybeans, he said, are seeing great demand, part of which is seasonal.

Seed giant Monsanto, part of whose operation is based in Waterman, 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.

“Whether that can be maintained or not depends on how the South American crop unfolds,” he said.

Not surprisingly, John Deere is already reporting declining sales of farm equipment.

Photo Above: Monica Synett • mmaschak@shawmedia.com Farmer Ray Heinisch maneuvers his combine to harvest his soybean crop in DeKalb this fall.

“From everything I can see, farm equipment sales are slowing down,” Good said.

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“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.” Ben Drake, a farmer from Sycamore, said that he was impressed with the soybean crop this year and was not expecting such high yields. “With a lot of rain in early spring, and again in June and July, the soybean yields are better than what we anticipated,” he said. DeSchepper said that most farmers in DeKalb are pretty happy about their yields this year, which are an improvement over last year. “It was a very good year for both corn and soybean crops,” DeSchepper said. “We’ve had a very good harvest as well. It was an average to above-average crop.” Although Drake sees that a lot more farmers are growing soybeans due to the drop in corn prices, Drake will choose to simply divide his acreage 50-50 between soybeans and corn. “Every year, I rotate between corn and beans,” Drake said. “The price of corn has dropped tremendously, and I would need to plant more. It’s hard to spend more money in order to get more yield because the return will be so much less. “Soybeans are holding out a lot better than corn, but it’s still down. … You have to ride out the market. Farming really is a gamble. You have to take the highs with the lows.” David Giuliani contributed to this story.

All photos by Monica Synett • mmaschak@shawmedia.com Top Photo: Soybeans fill up the combine’s container during harvesting. Middle Photo: Unlike corn, soybeans require dry weather for harvesting. Bottom Photo: Ray Heinisch, who’s been farming for 37 years, harvests his soybean crop in DeKalb this fall. Heinisch was one of the first farmers in the area to harvest this season.

Crop acreage

A look at corn and soybean acreage in Illinois and Iowa (in millions): Corn 2014* 2013 2012

Iowa 13.2 13.1 13.7

Illinois 12.0 12.0 12.2

Soybeans 2014* 2013 2012

Iowa 13.2 9.2 9.3

Illinois 10.0 9.4 8.9

* estimated

12 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014 Certainly, Illinois soybean farmers have much to be proud of and look forward to in the future.

A legacy of leadership By Sharon Covert

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: • In 1936, the Northern Regional Research Laboratory in Peoria, Ill., 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 international 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, Ill., 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. 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.

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.

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. • Sharon Covert is director of the Illinois Soybean Association and a soybean farmer from Tiskilwa.

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 13

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Bunches of Grapes Boost Agritourism in DeKalb County

By Katrina J.E. Milton kmilton@shawmedia.com When thinking of agriculture in Illinois, corn and soybeans usually come to mind. But when it comes to the kind of agriculture that can attract tourists from outside the area, the real growth crop is grapes. Debbie Armstrong, executive director of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that over the past five years, local vineyards have played a growing role in “agritourism” – tourism associated with agriculture. “It isn’t just visiting farms,” she said. “It includes farmers’ markets, agricultural museums and exhibits, pumpkin and apple patches, farm tours, animal farms and petting zoos, Christmas tree farms, and wineries,” Armstrong said. “We do offer all of the above in DeKalb County.”

Katrina Milton – kmilton@shawmedia.com Waterman Winery co-owner Alexa Tuntland in the vineyard at Waterman Winery.

According to the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association (IGGVA), the 105 wineries and 1,107 acres of grapes in Illinois earned nearly $700 million in 2012, a 120 percent increase in five years. The organization also states that by 2012, the number of tourist visits to the state was more than 500,000, more than double the number of five years earlier. There are three wineries in and around DeKalb County: Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park, Prairie State Winery in Genoa, and Waterman Winery Cellars in Waterman.

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WE DID IT AGAIN. AGAIN. Katrina Milton - kmilton@shawmedia.com Grapes on the vine at Waterman Winery.

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“You really don’t have to travel to California to find good quality wine anymore,” Armstrong said. “We have award-winning wines that come from Illinois.” Making DeKalb County a destination location for tourists has become increasingly important for vintners such as Joe Brandonisio, the general manager of Acquaviva vineyard and winery. “People try to save their whole lives to go to Italy,” Brandonisio said. “But we’re right here in their backyard. We have that Old World feel, that vineyard experience, and a winery setting where you feel like you’re somewhere else.”

Brandonisio said that giving visitors that getaway feeling is what led Acquaviva to plan on opening a bed and breakfast in Maple Park in spring 2015. “We want to show people that you can have that Napa Valley experience and see a working vineyard,” Brandonisio said. “Most people are surprised to learn that grapes can grow here, and the process of Illinois grape-growing intrigues them.”

Illinois Grapes

Terrie Tuntland, the vice president of the IGGVA and one of the owners of Waterman Winery and Vineyards, Inc., said that people often are surprised to learn that grapes can be grown in Illinois. The vineyard in Waterman was the first vineyard in DeKalb County, with grapes first planted in 1998. “In the beginning, people said that we couldn’t do it,” Tuntland said. “But we’ve always been the type of people that go out and prove them wrong.” Grapes grown in Illinois are different from those grown in California and Italy. Wine produced from Illinois grapes tastes different from other wines, due to the use of new and different varieties of grapes. Prairie State Vineyard grows 3.5 acres of cold-hardy grapes for Prairie State Winery and is located in rural Kingston. The winery relies heavily on grapes grown in other vineyards around the state, with many varieties used in their wine grown in central and southern Illinois

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The 12-acre vineyard in Waterman grows 40 varieties of grapes, mostly FrenchAmerican hybrids, such as Frontenac. The winters in Illinois can be too cold for many types of grapes, and the owners of the vineyard chose to plant variations that can withstand cold temperatures. “It took five to seven years for our first grapes to mature, and it will take some time to see what other types of grapes will grow best in our colder climate,” Tuntland said. Brandonisio said that grape-growers in Illinois have concerns that vineyards in Italy and California do not, such as high humidity levels and mildew or fungus growth. He said that he grows 19 varieties of grapes on 20 acres, choosing hardy grapes that survive in temperatures as low as minus-35 degrees. The cold weather does have some benefits, however. During the process of cold stabilization, cold temperature naturally removes some of the tartaric acid, which provides some of the tartness in the wine. Cold stabilization keeps tartaric acid crystals, also known as wine diamonds, from forming after the wine has been bottled. To help with cold stabilization and environmental sustainability, the Waterman Winery uses a barn from the 1800’s that is heavily insulated, keeping the temperature cool in summer and warm in winter. Instead of putting grape skins and pits not used in the winemaking process into a landfill, the vineyard spreads the remains on the farm’s fields as a compost fertilizer. Both the Acquaviva and Waterman wineries have another aspect of sustainability: everything from the growing of the grapes to the bottling of the wine happens at the vineyard. “We do everything on the farm by hand,” Alexa Tuntland, Terrie Tuntland’s wife and business partner, said. “We pick the grapes by hand, we crush the grapes by hand, and we even wash the wine bottles by hand before bottling.

Katrina Milton - kmilton@shawmedia.com Terrie (right) and Alexa Tuntland prune away a bunch of grapes from a vine at Waterman Winery.

“… And I think people like knowing that everything is done by hand. When buying a big-name brand, there’s no knowing what chemicals or sprays are added or used. It’s not like that with a family-owned business.”

The Future of Vineyards

People from all over the world have visited the Waterman winery. Tuntland said that the vineyard’s family farm atmosphere is part of what makes it a tourist destination. “Visitors love being on a farm,” Tuntland said. “They like to sit and take pictures in the tractor tire. They see that we’re an actual farm with 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans and that we’re located in a rural setting. … To them, it’s a huge thing and a unique experience. They love experiencing and seeing the things we take for granted.” Brandonisio said there is no question that vineyards are a tourist destination. Acquaviva has recently expanded to include a restaurant in Sycamore, Ristorante di Acquaviva, in addition to its winery in Maple Park and Acquaviva Tasting and Wine Bar in St. Charles. “People are interested in learning about wine and pairing wine with food,” Armstrong said. “They also find this to be a great way to relax and spend quality time with friends and family.

Katrina Milton - kmilton@shawmedia.com Award-winning wines don’t only come from California. Some are for sale here in DeKalb County, including these on display at Waterman Winery Cellars.

Armstrong said that she believes that the popularity of vineyards in the area will continue to increase. “We continue to see more wineries expand in Illinois and the demand has increased with the amount of festivals and events that are related to the wine industry,” Armstrong said. “We are getting more calls about tastings and winery tours from visitors now.”

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 17

18 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014

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Show Cattle By LAUREN McMILLAN For DeKalb County AgMag Every 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 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 only have 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

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 21

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, rechewed 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 globeshaped 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. 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, 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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The Troubles with

Old Iron

Part II

Story and photos by Liam Dancey

Restoring

a vintage vehicle is no small task. It takes dedication to breathe new life into a rusting hulk. The restoration process is not only one of fixing the obvious problems with a vintage machine – it also involves discovering the hidden problems and fixing those, too. Fortunately, there usually are numerous resources available to assist in the process of a restoration. For instance, those who restore classic cars can retrieve documents from the manufacturer’s archives. Missing parts can be found in flea markets or on the Internet, and it is not uncommon to consult individuals who once built that type of car for a living. In the world of steam power, though, things aren’t so simple. Most manufacturers of steam traction engines in the United States simply ceased to exist, and all of the abyss companies’ documents, workers, blueprints, and buildings faded into the limelight of history.

In other words, there simply is nothing left. The restoration of steam machinery is not for the faint of heart. Bringing life to an old traction engine is about bringing joy to the faces of the younger generation, so they may experience a bit of a bygone era.

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 23

This is why the Northern Illinois Steam Power Club (NISPC) decided to rehabilitate its 1916 steam tractor, built in the club’s hometown of Sycamore. In part one of ‘The Troubles with Old Iron,’ from the Fall 2013 issue of this publication, I acquainted readers with the history of the Illinois Thresher Co. of Sycamore, and its founder, William Rumely. When Steam Traction Engine No. 110 left the factory aboard a railroad flatcar, it was a typical agricultural engine of the time. Now, though, Engine No. 110 is one of only six Illinois Thresher traction engines in existence, and one of only three in operable condition. That is why it was deemed necessary to rehabilitate the engine after nearly 100 years of use. A full teardown at a machine shop in Naperville countless problems were discovered with the machine. For starters, the engine’s cylinder was so worn out that it was oval-shaped, the main crankshaft had to be completely rebuilt, and the rear axle was bent. That last discovery opened a window to the machine’s past amongst the restoration group. Back when steam traction engines were used across the United States, they would travel from worksite to worksite. Utilizing the rough-hewn roadways of yesteryear was the only way to travel these distances.

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More than a few times, though, the frail wooden bridges that were found on these roads could not support the weight of a lumbering steam tractor, and the resulting bridge collapse would

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24 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014 dirtiness seemed appropriate. The engine was meant to be covered in mud and soot, not polished, stuffed and mounted on a showroom floor. Engine No. 110 was home again for the first time in three years. That night, the final details were addressed in preparation for the morning. Pinstripes were detailed upon the machine, and her newly constructed water bunkers attached to the operator’s platform. The work lasted well past midnight beneath the glow of several floodlights.

Work continues late into the night as yellow pinstripes are added beneath the beams of floodlights.

cause injuries both to the operators of the engine and the machine itself. It is theorized that Engine No. 110 was a victim of such an accident, resulting in the bent rear axle. It is unknown whether the operators from that time escaped unharmed. The bend went unnoticed for decades until the machine was parked on the concrete floor of the machine shop, where it was easy to see that the wheels were bent outwards.

Smoke began to pour from the chimney of Engine No. 110 early the next morning. The boiler warmed for the first time in a long time, and the steam pressure gauge’s needle crept groggily up from zero. Once enough pressure was raised, the engine whirled to life. Success! Engine No. 110 had been reborn, and all of the work seemed worth it as we saw the smiles on the spectators’ faces. Although problems did arise during the show, resulting in two more late nights, they were soon corrected and the engine performed like it was brand new. Nothing has ever brought people together more than the spectacle of a working steam engine, and we have ensured that Engine No. 110 will continue to bring people together for another 98 years.

There is no way to repair the axle, which will eventually require replacement. In the winter of 2013, after the engine’s individual components were re-machined and the engine reassembled, the next step in the rebuild was to pour the Babbitt bearings for the main crankshaft. Although some of the techniques used in the restoration were as modern as using a 3D printer to make casting patterns, the process of pouring Babbitt bearings has changed little in 200 years. Babbitt bearings are used to surround the crankshaft; the soft metal is easier to replace than an entire iron casting. As the Babbitt metal was heated to a molten state, the bearing caps of the engine were heated with numerous blowtorches. When the caps reached the correct temperature (about 400 degrees Fahrenheit) the crankshaft was lowered into the desired spot, bearing caps secured, and edges sealed off with a clay-like substance known as “Monkey Stuff.” The molten Babbitt was then poured into the hollow space around the crankshaft, effectively creating brand new bearings using an age old process. Now, the crankshaft is truer than when it came new from the Illinois Thresher Co. 98 years ago. The day before the beginning of the annual Sycamore Steam Show & Threshing Bee, Engine No. 110 arrived at the show grounds upon a lowboy trailer. Being able to see the restoration from start to finish was a rewarding feeling. When the freshly painted red wheels touched the soil for the first time, the

Liam’s love of all things steam began when his parents took him to his first Northern Illinois Steam Power Club show when he was 3. From then on he has been fascinated by and passionate about any type of steampowered machinery. Liam runs several types of steam machinery for other steam power clubs in Illinois and Wisconsin, including a 1912 Heisler Locomotive and a 1925 Erie Steam Shovel. Engine No. 110 will always be his first love, as it was the engine on which he learned much of what he knows today. Liam is currently a high school senior and plans to study Civil Engineering with a rail systems emphasis beginning in the fall of 2015.

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 25

26 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014

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Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 27

Some running

to cover crops By Katrina J.E. Milton kmilton@shawmedia.com

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. In Illinois and Iowa, known for their high-quality, deep topsoil, cover crops are not used as often as in some other states. In recent years, however, farmers in DeKalb County have begun using cover crops, with positive results. Nationally, cover crops, which include cereal rye and clover, are only planted on a small fraction of farmland, but their use is increasing. From 2012 to 2013, cover crop acreage jumped by 38 percent nationally, according to a survey funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 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 counted the cover crop acreage numbers in multiple 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.”

28 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014 Even in areas with great soils, Hoorman said, the need for cover crops will eventually become evident. “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 only a year and see benefits. It takes at least three years, he said. “I started planting cover crops three years ago, and they planted have helped aerate the soil, loosening it up and making it less tight,” Ben Drake, a farmer in Sycamore, said. “Planting cover crops let the seed come through the soil better in the springtime.” Drake has planted over 150 of acres of cover crops for three years. He uses airplanes to drop radish seeds into standing fields of corn to penetrate the ground and aerate the soil. Drake does not harvest the radishes that he plants. Instead, he lets winter kill the radishes and plants directly over the cover crop in the spring without doing any tilling. Mark David, an environmental sciences professor at the University of Illinois, said cover crops are used more as “you get out of mainstream agriculture.” “When I drive around Illinois, how often do I see green fields [after harvest]? Almost never. Cover crops are not embraced,” he said. “There is a cost to having 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.” It costs about $30 or $40 an acre to plant cover crops, he said. “Planting cover crops can be rather expensive, especially for not receiving any harvest money,” Drake said. “It’s not inexpensive to do, but there are programs that local soil and water conservation offices offer that help lower the prices.” Although cover crops can be expensive, Drake said that he will continue to grow them because he has noticed a positive change in his soil’s condition.

The Long-Lasting Benefits of Cover Crops

According to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) a cover crop can reduce soil erosion by as much as 50 percent. Cover crops keep ground covered, conserve moisture, add organic matter to the soil, trap nutrients, improve soil tilth, and reduce weed competition. Cover crops have also been shown to improve water quality and minimize and reduce soil compaction. Trent Sanderson, a farmer in Claire, has been using a wide range of cover crops in his corn, soybean, and wheat fields for three years. He uses mixes of radishes, Austrian winter peas, oats, crimson clover, triticale, dwarf rape seed, annual rye grass, and turnips on over 600 acres. He seeds the cover crops together in several different combinations and seeding rates, using different planting methods throughout the year. “Cover crops help recycle nutrients, add biodiversity to the soil, conserve and promote soil health,” Sanderson said. “All of these things help us be good stewards of the land leaving a legacy to our future generations. Our soils feed our world.”

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 29

Cover Crop Hurdles

One hurdle for cover crops is that seed companies haven’t done much in the way of breeding them, said Tom Kaspar, an agronomy professor at Iowa State University. “There’s no incentive or economics for the big seed companies to get involved in cover crops. 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.” Heinsohn said that one disadvantage to growing cover crops is that they deplete nitrogen in the ground, which can cause a corn crop to suffer if it is not managed. “It’s easier to follow a cover crop with soybeans because the soybeans are not as susceptible to that early season nitrogen depletion in the soil,” he said. To combat nitrogen and other nutrient depletion by cover crops, the USDA’s NRCS advises growing long-season crops or a cover crop following a short-season crop, since living roots provide the easiest source of food for soil microbes that provide nutrients and other compounds to the plant.

A Time to Reap, a Time to Sow

In Illinois, David said, farmers have a short window for planting cover crops, and they won’t see much growth if they are

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planted in November. They are easier to establish in central Illinois than either northern Illinois or Wisconsin, he said. Last year, Jeff Heinsohn a farmer in Kirkland, planted more than 700 acres of wheat and oats that he harvested to feed his dairy cattle. This year, due to planting late in the spring and harvesting late in the fall, Heinsohn did not plant a cover crop. “The biggest issue is time,” Heinsohn said. “You have to make sure to plant the cover crop on time, but they are planted in the fall when farmers are usually busy harvesting crops. You need to plant them early enough so that they will have enough vegetation growth to last the winter. …In the spring, another challenge is terminating the cover crop. You have to kill the cover crop early enough and correctly so that there is not too much growth.” Even though Heinsohn was not able to plant a cover crop this fall, he said that plans to plan Austrian peas next spring. “I plan on continuing planting cover crops in the spring,” he said. “Cover crops help break down root residue, lead to better water infiltration in the roots, and they help keep microbial life in the soil going. …The benefits of cover crops outweigh the bad.” • David Giuliani contributed to this article.

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30 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014

Average

Fall Weather Leads to an Above-Average Harvest

By Katrina J.E. Milton kmilton@shawmedia.com

Temperatures and rainfall totals have were fairly typical this fall, which has lead to a productive harvest season for farmers in DeKalb County.

Temperatures and rainfall totals have were fairly typical this fall, which has lead to a productive harvest season for farmers in DeKalb County. “It’s been a pretty normal fall harvest season,” farmer Jeff Wielert said. “It’s been quite nice fall harvest. But weather has definitely been an issue this year.” Wielert and his wife Kim own Bountiful Blessings Farm Produce in Hinckley. They grow over 35 different vegetables on their farm. “Everything was about two weeks late this year due to the snow and frost on the ground in spring,” he said. “It was a real good, long growing season, though. The first killing frost occurred after mid-October. ... I remember two years ago, the first frost was in mid-September, killing all of our sweet corn. So this year has been a pretty good year.” Gilbert Sebenste, a staff meteorologist at Northern Illinois University, said that the weather in September and October was very close to average. “At times, the heavy rains made it a bit frustrating for farmers, but it was not as horrible as it could have been,” he said. In DeKalb, the average temperature in September was 62.7 degrees, which is .7 degrees cooler than the 30-year average of 63.4 degrees. The average

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 31

temperature in October was 51.2 degrees, very close to the 30-year average of 51.4 degrees. During the month of September, DeKalb County received 3.13 inches of rain, which is slightly under the month’s 30-year average of 3.25 inches. The first half of September was quite wet, with over 90 percent of the month’s rainfall total occurring in the first 13 days. “Farmers usually harvest their crops in September and October,” Sebenste said. “The rainy beginning to September meant that the farmers were off to a slow start. But the dry back half of the month allowed farmers to start catching up.” The 30-year average of rain for the month of October is 2.85 inches. DeKalb County’s October rainfall totals were considerably under the average amount, with a total of 2.20 inches and only two days of rainfall. October 3 saw 1.4 inches of rain, and 0.8 inches fell on Oct. 14. Sebenste said that areas north of Interstate 39, including Kane and McHenry counties, received much more rain due to large storms that narrowly missed the DeKalb County area. Although the growing season has come to an end, harvest does not mean the end of work for farmers. Wielert said that there is always some type of work to be done on the farm, even after he has finished harvesting his crops. “We are constantly doing something in the

greenhouse from February to the end of October,” Wielert said. “During the winter, we plan and advertise for community supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions, order fertilizer, plan crop rotation and tilling, and maintain and winterize equipment. We are already looking at seed catalogs for next year.” Based on the warm temperatures of ocean waters in the North Pacific, Sebenste predicts a cold and snowy winter similar to last year. Last year was the second coldest and ninth snowiest winter in DeKalb County since record-keeping began in the 1880s. The warm ocean waters in the North Pacific push air north to Siberia. The jet stream then drops southeast to the United States, producing cold weather. Wielert welcomes the snow, saying that more snow on the ground during winter leads to more moisture in the ground come springtime. However, he was not happy to hear that DeKalb County is expecting yet another cold winter. The colder temperatures make running greenhouses and keeping them warm more expensive. A dry, cold winter could leave a deep frost that might delay planting in the spring due to low soil temperature. “There’s not much you can do to prepare for winter, just make sure that you have good drainage and that your soil is tilled properly,” Wielert said. “You have to let it sit. You have to let weather take its course.”

32 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014

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Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 33

Corn marketing board seats 5 members By DeKALB COUNTY AG MAG BLOOMINGTON — 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 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. The ICMB farmer leaders are tasked with developing and maintaining markets for corn which is Illinois’ highest valued agricultural commodity. Find out more about ICMB at www.ilcorn.org and the family farmers who contribute to the checkoff at www.watchusgrow.org.

34 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014

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Do not export Genuity® Roundup Ready® Alfalfa seed or crop, including hay or hay products, to China pending import approval. In addition, due to the unique cropping practices do not plant Genuity® Roundup Ready® Alfalfa in Imperial County, California, pending import approvals and until Monsanto grants express permission for such planting. Vistive® Gold soybeans have received full approval for planting in the United States but have not yet received import approval in all key export markets. For 2015, Vistive® Gold soybeans will be available as part of a stewarded introduction only to growers who have signed a 2015 Vistive Gold Soybean Grain Production Grower Agreement and agree to follow the stewardship requirements. Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship ® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state. IMPORTANT IRM INFORMATION: Genuity® RIB Complete® corn blend products do not require the planting of a structured refuge except in the Cotton-Growing Area where corn earworm is a significant pest. See the IRM/Grower Guide for additional information. Always read and follow IRM requirements.

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Trait and Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers

For more information regarding the intellectual property protection for the seed products identified in this publication, please see www.asgrowanddekalb.com. Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup ® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Tank mixtures: The applicable labeling for each product must be in the possession of the user at the time of application. Follow applicable use instructions, including application rates, precautions and restrictions of each product used in the tank mixture. Monsanto has not tested all tank mix product formulations for compatibility or performance other than specifically listed by brand name. Always predetermine the compatibility of tank mixtures by mixing small proportional quantities in advance. Acceleron and Design®, Asgrow and the A Design®, Asgrow®, Bollgard®, Bollgard II®, DEKALB and Design®, DEKALB®, DroughtGard®, Genuity Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup®, SmartStax®, Vistive®, VT Double PRO® and VT Triple PRO® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Deltapine® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. Channel® and the Arrow Design® and Seedsmanship At Work® are registered trademarks of Channel Bio, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Monsanto Company. 2014R3

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 35

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36 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Winter 2014

Details of these practices can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. ÂŠ2014 Monsanto Company.