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Biologicals Significantly increases nutrients available to the soil • Includes 10 strains of beneficial microorganisms • Introduces an additional carbon source to the soil • Boosts yield by creating a healthier environment • Protects plants against soil borne diseases • Solubilizes tied up phosphorus •
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Fertilizer Without BP FATM • Only 60% - 70% of nutrients are available to the soil • Nutrients remain bound and partially unavailable • Provides no protection against soil borne diseases • Provides limited improvement to soil conditions
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It is well known amongst growers that some portion of • Includes 10 strains of bacteria that work to make nutrients more available fertilizer nutrients become tied up, or bound to, other • Promotes feeder root development resulting in enhanced nutrient uptake substances, making those nutrients unavailable to your • Protects plants against numerous soil borne diseases soil and to the plants. The only way to make those nutri• Increases plant vigor and promotes early plant development ents usable again is to break those bonds or to inhibit them • Boosts yield performance by improving plant health from forming in the first place. BP FATM does just that. • Reduces need for follow up foliar fungicide applications • Environmentally friendly and safe for beneficial insects By applying BP FATM to your fertilizer prior to application, you introduce 10 strains of • Spreads more evenly and is less likely to stripe beneficial bacteria that do multiple things. They release the bound up nutrients from years past, making them available again. They also prevent those bonds from forming Benefits for Fertilizer Dealers altogether in the current fertilizer application. • Blends thoroughly and evenly in the application process • Doesn’t leave fines behind in the truck or bulk containers The result is a much more effective dry program that mines nutrients from years past, • Doesn’t leave residue around spreader openings while also protecting nutrients in the current year so that they are all fully available to • Produces a more even spread of the granules your crop. • Minimizes dust and can even eliminate it altogether
Sky-high corn bushels spur a drop in prices for 2014 Story by Lucas Johnson Staff Writer Photos by Jacob Hatfield
ith the fall season being headlong into harvest, the corn yield across Missouri has reached a record high. Word from farmers across the region has shed light on how productive the season has been. Averages of 200 bushels per acre are common place in fields across the state, and in some spots, numbers have risen to more than 300 per acre.
W
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4 missouri farms
Missouri Missouri Farms Farms
Sky-high corn bushels (cont’d) >>>
Talk of how the surplus is affecting the market is prevalent, as well. The yield for the 2014 harvest season is the result of picture-perfect growing conditions with a mild summer and adequate rainfall. Willa Wiese, a grain accountant at Slater Farmers Grain Terminal said numbers are high all the way around. “Poor ground that should stay in pasture did 180 bushels to the acre ... all the way to 250 plus for better ground” Wiese said. 2014 has been the best year on record, and Wiese explained how the past year’s numbers have measured up. “Our best yield here was 186 and that was in 2009,” Wiese said. “The price has gone down quite a bit, since we had shorter crops, we were using more ... you got a 10 billion bushel crop that you can use a lot for ethanol and seed and export, it doesn’t take long to use it up, but when you have a 14.5 its a different story.” Wiese also explained logistical troubles are beginning to coalesce with transporting the grain, being as how train services are not what they used to be. She further elaborated on past experiences showing similar problems up north. “We’ve seen these problems last year in the Dakota’s coming down here. It’s hard to get your trains back. ... Ours are coming back, but sometimes we have a day or two delay before we get them,” Wiese said. Some speculation about the cause of the slower rail transportation could be that other markets — such as oil, coal and containers — are more profitable than grain. “Im not saying for sure what the deal is, but that’s what happened in the Dakota’s. ... Of course we’ve got a large crop to move too,” Wiese said. According to Wiese, they, as well as most surrounding grain elevators, have all been filled to capacity, which creates problems up and down the chain. Many area farmers have built their own grain bins where they can store their crops on their personal farms. If no alternate storage sight is available, it puts a significant halt on the harvest routine. Wiese said they’ve even had to put
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A ground pile at Mid-State Seed, in Marshall, towers over the skyline Thursday, Oct. 23. (Jacob Ha ield/Missouri Farms) down a ground pile this year, which is a first, and explained the grain will be covered and hopefully stored by December. In comparison to the previous year’s harvest, Wiese speculated corn was anywhere from 60 to 200 bushels per acre in 2013. Dealing with such high numbers, this year’s corn prices are speculated to be low until usage and
export rates are solidified. It’s no secret when a surplus occurs, prices decline, but with the 2014 harvest season still chugging full steam ahead, the dollar price per bushel has yet to establish a firm number. When speaking with Bob Garino, the
Continued on page 5 >>
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missouri farms 5
Sky-high corn bushels (cont’d) Missouri state statistician for the USDA, he said this year’s corn market has seen a significant jump in yield compared to years past. “The market is affected by the overall corn harvest of the country, of which Missouri is a part of that. And just like a lot of the Midwestern states, Missouri is experiencing a record corn crop in terms of harvest, yield and total production,” Garino said. “If you’ve watched the corn prices over the last six to eight months, you’ve seen the price kind of creep down, and it’s definitely having an impact on markets.” At present Garino stated Missouri is estimated to be approximately 180 bushels per acre, which is a record increase by 18 over the previous record from 2004, which was at 162 bushels per acre statewide. To put these numbers in perspective, Garino shared prior numbers in which weather conditions were adequate, but yield amounts would be considered average. Garino said a reasonable year with adequate weather typically produces yields of 140-150 bushels per acre, with the 2013 harvest yielding
>>>
136. “Prior to last year when we had the drought, we had a yield of 75 that year,” Garino said. “And then previous to that we had two off years where we had yield of 114 and 143 ... so anything around 140 is probably considered an average year.” Garino said they will eventually make district and county estimates to determine the regions of the state where yields fare better, but mentioned the “boot-heel” and northwestern regions are typically the highest yielding parts of the state. With a copious surplus being a sure thing for this season’s harvest, one could wonder how far in the future prices will be affected by the overload in grain. “You’ll have some impact next year. What will probably happen is you’ll have a lot of carry-over stocks. We’ll have a pretty good supply of corn throughout the year,” Garino said. “If we have a reasonable harvest next year, even if it’s not a record harvest next year ... we’ll still maintain a decent stock level so the prices will stay lower.” Garino said it will take a year of below-average
harvest to bring the prices back up again. Currently the price per bushel for December corn is at $3.50, down from last year, which was approximately $4.50 according to www.agwebb.com. Garino explained prices spiked in 2012 right around mid to late summer with corn drawing close to $8 a bushel and maintained that higher value, fluctuating around $7 until it was clear the 2013 harvest would produce a good yield. At that point the prices dropped closer to $5. With weather being an ever-present factor, the corn yield this year has already secured its position as the record high, but with all that goes up, it seems something must come down — and in this case, the dollar signs are on the decline. When looking to the future market, Garino said this year’s surplus will affect the market until the next crop is bad. “If we have a typical year, even if it’s a little bit lower ... since the carry-over stocks are decent, it won’t be that big of a jump,” Garino said. Contact Lucas Johnson at ljohnson@marshallnew.com
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6 missouri farms
John’s Jargon Q. A. With low grain prices, my farming costs are too high ... What do I do? In the last issue I discussed a new way to apply fertilizer that enables you to recover some of the fertility that exists in your soil, but that is unavailable to your plants because of it being bound up. We discussed how biologicals work to release bound up nutrients and solubilize them so that your plants can finally feed upon that nutrition. This is key, because without the work of microbial organisms (biologicals) in the dirt, those bound nutrients would remain in the ground and go to waste. Adding biologicals to your dry fertilizer program will add a powerful savings opportunity in these hard times. Moving on ... Let me make a declarative statement: Biologicals save you money, make you money, and save you time!
Q. How do Biologicals save me money? A . I’m glad you asked! At this point, I think we can all agree from our past discussions that healthier plants are stronger and produce more seed. That’s just a fact. Better soil conditions - soil that contains fewer pathogens, more organic matter, good fertility levels, and adequate drainage - impact a plant favorably and enables it to grow stronger and thrive up to maturity. The effort and expense to create such an environment in your soil is where this can get tricky. Let’s take these concepts one and a time. 1) Fewer pathogens in the soil - the types of biological microorganisms that are included in the microbial formulations that we use are such that once they are applied, they immediately go to work fighting off harmful critters in your soil. The mere presence of this good bacteria is enough to repel the harmful organisms away from the good organisms. All while this is happening, the good bacteria continues to grow and multiply by the billions, expanding across the entire application area. In terms of cost savings, the impact of this one dynamic in the field is such that we see growers that are able to lower their fungicide costs. These pathogens are defeated on the outset, requiring less need for a commercial fungicide. 2) More organic matter - increased organic matter in the field is another great benefit of biologicals. It’s indirect, however. What happens is that when you have an entire field of crops that is healthier and that produces more seed, a strong and healthy root system is almost always at the heart of it. That results in a greater amount of organic material left behind in the field after harvest. We know that insufficient organic matter in a field can kill the productivity of a crop. Growers are always monitoring their organic material and, in some cases, have to go to great expense to introduce more organic material into
the ground. Some conventions are by incorporating manures - chicken manure, cow manure, etc. - and sometimes these manures can incorporate even more pathogens, causing a bigger problem than they solve. A bigger root mass is the best and easiest way to save money when dealing with low organic matter. Fortunately, biologicals address this issue while solving all of the other problems we’re discussing. 3) Good fertility levels - We already discussed bound up nutrients in the soil and how biologicals release these nutrients and make them available to the plant again. I won’t belabor that point any longer. It’s sufficient to say that biologicals make your fertility efforts more effective and more productive. And biologicals save you money because you get more use of the nutrients you’re putting on the ground. 4) Adequate drainage - Drainage has much to do with organic matter in the soil. The same argument for organic matter works when discussing how biologicals impact your drainage.
Q. A. All of our research, our experience on the farms of BigYield.us <http://BigYield.us> professionals, and all
What are some other ways that Biologicals can save me money?
of the experience of our customers is that the biologicals create a reduced need for fungicide. In some instances we see growers reducing the rate of their fungicide. In some case we see growers skip a fungicide trip over the field altogether. All of the without compromising the health and vitality of the crop. There’s savings there. Some of our biological formulations include a cold processed sweetener called Soy100. This ingredient works to accomplish several things: 1) It works to feed the good bacteria that is working so hard to fight off pathogens and improve the health of the plants. 2) Sweetener is a substance that most bugs cannot digest, and if they do, it kills them. Some insects seem to know this already and just stay away from fields that contain food that they can’t eat. Other insects will ingest the treated leaves and die shortly thereafter. Some of our growers have been able to significantly cut back on their insecticide program as a result. 3) The BRIX level is a measurement of the health of a plant. It is an indicator of the amount of protein, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates that a plant contains. As you can imagine, the higher the BRIX levels of your plant, the healthier it is. These microbial formulations that contain the cold processed sweetener have a huge impact on the overall health of the plant. In fact, we often see an immediate impact on entire fields after even one application.
With low grain prices, my farming costs are too high ... What do I do? All of that saves you money.
Q. So, how do Biologicals MAKE me money? A. Hopefully, some of the cost saving methods I wrote about above will contribute in such a way that you’re making money. The key here is that we have seen, time and time again, that biologicals improve the health, vigor, and vitality of plants in the field. 99% of the time this leads to a yield increase at harvest. And increased yield means more revenue that can be applied to your bottom line. Without a doubt, biologicals are one of the most important technological advances in modern agriculture. They have gone a significant way toward improving the yield of all sorts of crops - row crops, vegetables, fruits, nuts, tubers, etc. - and our research and understanding is resulting in advances by different companies each year. I anticipate that we will one day see microbial-based products (biologicals) that will be a contributing factor in as much as twice the yield we see on the farm today. It may take another decade to get there, but we’re just at the start of this technology.
Q. Are Biologicals here to stay? A. Yes Q. Should I be looking at Biologicals? A. Yes If you’re not already using biologicals in your operation, I want to encourage you to start reading about biologicals now. Begin the education process. Search online, talk to your crop consultant, talk to your CCA, or CALL ME! I love talking about biologicals and I love how they have impacted my farm research. And I know you will love the cost savings, time savings, and increased revenue that you’ll see from using biologicals on your farm. Let me end with this...
Q. Will Biologicals save me time? A. Yes they will. The savings in time comes from all of the extra things that you don’t have to do because of the massive army of billions of microorganisms that are working in your soil to improve the environment, and consequently, the health of your plants. John Ortiz is the owner of Basic Solutions Research, an Agricultural Research Farm, and he is the General Manager of MOF2 in Garden City, Missouri. Contact John at johno@agteampro. com, or at MOF2, LLC - P.O. Box 401, Garden City, MO 64747. John can also be reached by phone at 816-773-6018.
missouri farms 7
MoDOT to allow overweight loads of grain LOOKING TO BUY OR
SELL? RECREATIONAL FARMS FARM LAND INVESTMENT PROPERTIES
JEFFERSON CITY - Recent heavy rains are hampering farmers' efforts to harvest a bumper grain crop. As muddy fields dry, Missourians must race to draw grain from the fields and get it to market. At the request of Richard Fordyce, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced Missouri grain haulers will be allowed to haul corn, soybeans and other grain crops at heavier than normal weights. Private and for-hire motor carriers may carry up to 10 percent more than their licensed weight; however, the heavier loads are not allowed to use interstate highways. Overweight permits are not required for these slightly overweight loads. All other traffic and motor carrier regulations that normally apply remain in place. This waiver is in effect immediately through midnight, Sunday, Dec. 14. While the waiver is in effect, participating motor
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carriers are limited to: -- A loaded, gross weight no greater than 10 percent above the gross licensed weight of the commercial motor vehicle -- Transportation only within the State of Missouri -- Drivers must obey all posted bridge weight limits -- When crossing a bridge, the driver must restrict the vehicle speed to no more than 30 mph and must center the truck between two lanes of the bridge. The truck driver must yield to oncoming traffic, and -- Travel on highways other than Missouri interstate highways. No overweight travel is allowed on Missouri interstate highways. All travelers are advised to visit the MoDOT Traveler Information Map at www.modot.org for up-to-date road closure information. For more information, call MoDOT Motor Carrier Services at 1-800-8778499 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central time.
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10 missouri farms
MU Extension Corner
Northwest Missouri Horticulture
Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck of Apple Story by Tim Baker MU Extension and horticulture specialist
This fall, I’ve have been contacted on several occasions by homeowners who were worried about the apples from their orchards. Their apples had black, sooty-looking blotches all over. The blackened material was just superficial, and did not penetrate the skin. It seemed to rub off with a bit of scrubbing. Were these safe to eat? What these homeowners were dealing with is a fungal disease, commonly known as sooty blotch. A related disease is flyspeck. In the past, these were considered separate diseases. They are caused by a complex of several organisms. Some researchers now hold that they are different forms of the same disease. The causal fungi overwinter on the twigs of apple trees and other woody host species. Spores are carried by raindrop splashing and wind to the fruit. Humid, rainy weather aids the spread of this disease. Optimal temperatures for fungal growth occur at 59-75 degrees. Hot, dry weather does not favor the development of sooty blotch or flyspeck.
We certainly did see moisture and temperatures that were favorable to development of sooty blotch this year. To control this disease, fungicides may be used. For control recommendations, please refer to our Guide Sheet: Fruit Spray Schedules for the Homeowner. Many of the people contacting me asked if the fruit could be eaten. Since this is a superficial disease, and can be washed off, yes, it can be eaten after cleaning the fruit. Be careful to note that if something else has aided the penetration of the skin, the fruit may be rotted and should be discarded. Although they can be eaten, apples that have been infected with sooty blotch or flyspeck may not keep well. That is because the fungus dissolves some of the protective wax. This wax naturally occurs on the apple, and prevents dehydration. Thus, the apples may shrivel and not keep well. If you would like more information on sooty blotch and flyspeck, please give me a call at 660-663-3232. I have several guide sheets I can send to you.
Grain Storage Bags The 2014 crop is producing a bumper crop. A record corn crop, rail transportation delays, long lines at elevators, and low commodity prices are resulting in a need for alternative storage solutions and a way to expedite harvest. One storage solution Wayne Crook that has been around for a Agronomy specialist while is grain storage bags. Bags measure up to 12 feet in diameter and 328 feet in length, depending on manufacturer and most range in capacity from 8,000 to 12,000 bushels. Prices range between $600 and $900 per bag, with an overall average cost of $0.07 per bushel. This cost is considerable less expensive than commercial storage and much less than erecting permanent storage that may not get used each harvest. The cost of the necessary equipment to load and unload the bags can cost up to $40,000 dollars. If the bags are going to be used continually, purchasing the equipment may be necessary. If the bags will be used less regularly, renting the filling and unloading equipment would be more economical. According to Klein Ileleji, a grain post-harvest technology expert at Purdue University, indicates that these bags require careful site preparation, regular monitoring for moisture and temperature, and special tools for loading and unloading. 1. Position the bags away from tree ad fence lines — Hungry animals are a major threat to bag silos and like to lurk in areas with convenient cover. A hungry, determined deer, dog or raccoon easily tear through a bag in search of food. 2. Keep the site clean — Animals looking for a free meal will be attracted by grain littering the ground around bag silos. Remove any spilled grain and cut back brush to create a clear perimeter around bags. 3. Make sure the site is dry and well drained — Moisture is the enemy of stored crops. The bags are hermetically sealed but they can leak, especially if there are tears or punctures in the flexible plastic lining or if the bags are placed on wet ground. Check bags frequently for damage to the plastic cover. Manufacturers offer special adhesive tape to patch holes. 4. Make sure the crop is dry before storing in bags — The bags cannot be aerated, so the grain leaves the bag at the same moisture level that it entered. 5. Know the bag’s limit — Because the bags are relatively narrow, the temperature of the grain generally rises and falls with outside temperatures. Most manufacturers do not recommend storing grain past March. In addition to the seasonal warm-up, the springtime freezing and thawing of precipitation on top of the bags can also lead to water seepage and spoilage. 6. Check the stored crop regularly for moisture content — This is especially important if the weather turns rainy or snowy or there are long warm spells. Since the bags are not ventilated, there is no way to circulate air to prevent moisture buildup in the grain.
missouri farms 11
SCHUSTER INSURANCE
Using cover crops for feed or grazing By Wayne Crook MU Extension The use of cover crops as a means to improve soil health and reduce erosion and to some degree for weed control is increasing in the area. Some producers see this crop as an additional source for forage. Agencies have lifted some restrictions on the
use of cover crops. For example, there has been recent assistance put in place by USDA NRCS to help establish cover crops including the allowance for grazing and harvesting in some situations. Additionally, the USDA has changed crop insurance rules for 2013 only to allow the production of cover crops and emergency forage crops while allowing insurance coverage for
crops planted in the spring of 2013. However, it is important to know, that these changes do not override the legal implications and responsibilities to safely use pesticides in accordance with pesticide labels. The question is "can a cover crop be used as forage if
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Farm safety for electricty
missouri farms 13
Lightning protection system components A lightning protection system consists of the following five parts: air terminals (lightning rods), conductors, ground connections (electrodes), bonding and lightning arrestors.
AIR TERMINALS Air terminals, or lightning rods, are metal rods or tubes installed at every projecting high point of a building â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as the peak, a dormer, a flagpole or a water tank â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to intercept a lightning bolt. Solid
copper rods should be a minimum of 3/8-inch in diameter, and solid aluminum rods should be a minimum of 1/2-inch in diameter. Rods should extend between 10 and 36 inches above the projecting object. Typically, rods are 10 to 24 inches long; extra support or a brace is needed for a rod that is more than 24 inches long. The most effective spacing is 20 feet apart for rods that are less than 24 inches long or 25 feet apart for rods that are between 24 and 36 inches long. Additionally, a rod
should be located within 24 inches of the end of any building ridge or projecting object. Strategic placement of rods on a structure ensures that lightning will strike the rods rather than another part of the building.
CONDUCTORS Conductors, which are copper or aluminum cables, provide the connection between the air terminals and the earth to direct the lightning strike deep into the earth where it can safely dissipate.
Choose copper or aluminum rather than a combination of the two because galvanic or chemically corrosive action can occur between the two elements. Main conductors connect all of the lightning rods with the down conductors and then connect to the ground connections.
GROUND CONNECTIONS Ground connections, or electrodes, provide contact with the
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14 missouri farms
‘What agriculture means to me’
Lightning protection (cont’d)
>>> Martha Cowherd
>>>
2014-2015 Co-reporter, Concordia FFA Chapter Agriculture is a very broad term used in today’s world. Most people think of agriculture as being animals and crops, but it is not just all agriculture is. Agriculture also includes food you eat every day and many of the necessities you use. There is not a job out there in the world that does not use agriculture. We need agriculture to live, and that is what agriculture is to me!
ground to safely dissipate the lightning charge. A minimum of two ground connections should be used for most buildings; additional ones may be needed for larger structures. The type of ground connection may depend on the conductivity of the soil in your area. Ground electrodes should be 1/2-inch diameter, 10-foot long copper-clad steel or solid copper rods driven at least 8 feet into the ground.
B ONDING BONDING Bonding involves branch conductors that protect against sideflashes by connecting metal objects (such as ventilation fans, water pipes, and so on) with the grounding system.
Common grounding can eliminate lightning sideflashes. Grounding is achieved when all electrical systems, telephone systems, and underground metal piping are connected to the lightning protection system.
LLIGHTNING IGHTNING A ARRESTORS RRESTORS Lightning arrestors provide protection against a strike entering your building through the electrical wiring system and thereby causing potential power surges that may result in severe damage to electrical devices. To provide the best possible protection, lightning arrestors should be installed on the building’s exterior where the electrical service enters the building or at the interior service entrance.
Tips for improving SAFETY on your farm You can start by increasing your awareness of farming hazards and making a conscious effort to prepare for emergency situations including fires, vehicle accidents, electrical shocks from equipment and wires, and chemical exposures. Be especially alert to hazards that may affect children and the elderly. Minimize hazards by carefully selecting the products you buy to ensure that you provide good tools and equipment. Always use seat belts when operating tractors, and establish and maintain good housekeeping practices. Here are some other steps you can take
to reduce illnesses and injuries on the farm:
• READ and follow instructions in equipment operator’s manuals and on product labels. • INSPECT equipment routinely for problems that may cause accidents. • DISCUSS safety hazards and emergency procedures with your workers. • INSTALL approved rollover protective structures, protective enclosures, or protective frames on tractors.
• MAKE sure that guards on farm equipment are replaced after maintenance. • REVIEW and follow instructions in material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and on labels that come with chemical products and communicate information on these hazards to your workers. • TAKE precautions to prevent entrapment and suffocation caused by unstable surfaces of grain storage bins, silos, or hoppers. Never “walk the grain.” • BE aware that methane gas, carbon dioxide, ammonia,
and hydrogen sulfide can form in unventilated grain silos and manure pits and can suffocate or poison workers or explode.
• TAKE advantage of safety equipment, such as bypass starter covers, power take-off master shields, and slow-moving vehicle emblems.
missouri farms 15
Cover crops for feed or grazing (cont’d) >>>
the species was seeded following a soybean/corn herbicide program?" The answer is that it depends on the previous herbicide that were applied to the field and the specific rotation restrictions listed o n the herbicide label. The restrictions on the label are put in place to ensure we continue to produce a safe meat and milk supply. When it comes to the issue grazing or feeding their cover crop, the issue is that once a herbicide is used in the previous corn or soybean crop, the grazing and feeding restrictions on those herbicide labels must be followed for that crop and the subsequent cover crop until the restrictions on those labels have been met. If the specific cover crop species you have planted and is not listed on the herbicide label, this does not mean that the species you have planted can legally be fed or grazed. Most of the species being used for cover crops are not specifically mentioned on current herbicide labels. In those cases, growers must fall back to the default listing on the label, which usually states something to the effect of "all other crops" or "all others" to find the grazing and/or feeding restrictions that they must follow, according to Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri weed specialist. Most often, the average rotation restriction for cover crop species that fall into this "all other crops" category is between 12 and 18 months after treatment. The best thing to do if you are considering using cover crops for feed or grazing is to check your herbicide labels.
In summary: 1. If the crop is to be planted as a cover crop only, then plant back restrictions on a label can be ignored but the grower assumes all risk of succeeding crop damage or failure. 2. If a plant species in whole or in parts is harvested for food or feed purposes, it is considered a crop and must be considered a crop on all pesticide labels. 3. It is a legal obligation of the grower to follow all plant back restrictions before harvesting a crop that will enter the food or feed chain. 4. If a plant species is not specifically listed ont eh label,
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it should be considered as an "other" crop and maximum rotation restrictions should be followed. 5. Most herbicides, particularly residual herbicides, have plant back restrictions that are longer than one year (most often 18 to 24 months) for crops not specifically listed on the label.
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Farming for Novices
16 missouri farms
Tall tales and yield totals
Marcia Gorrell Guest Columnist
My mother-in-law had a saying: "The first liar doesn't have a chance." She was usually referring to harvest time when there are many rumors about the different "yields" each farmer is getting with their crops. For those of you who don't know, the "yield" is the amount of bushels a farmer gets from each acre he grows. While there are industry and county averages, the actual yields vary widely from year to year and field to field. But they are important, because farmers don't set their prices. We can't control the weather, the markets, breakdowns or bad luck. But if we get a higher yield per acre, we can make more money per acre, no matter what the price. Just a little more com per acre can make a big difference between a profit and a loss. And of course, just like fishermen who always describe the big fish they catch (and the ones who get away), there are always a few who seem to quote phenomenal yields, some of which are true and others of which may be exaggerated. I've always related it to those Christmas letters many of us send out. I might send out one like this:
"Dear Family and Friends, Well, this year has been pretty good at our house. First, little Susie finally got potty trained. We are so proud of her. No more diapers. Her third grade teacher is also very happy about it and hopes next year, she may even learn to keep her pants dry. We're also proud of our son, Johnny. He finally made it out of juvenile hall and came home. He's only set one fire this year and the fire department was able to put it out quickly. We still have three rooms we're able to live in, so we feel very fortunate. I am doing well also. I haven't had a drink in 10 hours now and the kids say they really can tell a difference. Hubby is in good shape as well and promises all his affairs are over. No more other women. We also are excited about the financial crisis. Apparently they are going to let us keep our home (all three rooms) for a few more months. Hope your family is doing as well as ours. Merry Christmas." But of course, there I go and exaggerate just a little to make my family sound better and then get a letter from the second liar. "Dear Family and Friends, This year has been super fantastic at the Smith house. Our 7-year-old Angelina graduated from college and is now starting her master's in Advanced Mathematical Concepts. Our older son, Samuel is planning on going to medical school, as soon as he finishes law school and passes the bar exam. He is almost 13, but we are still so proud of him. I am now dealing with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;empty-nestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; syndrome after many long years of raising my children. Of course people comment every day about my size 2 body, but those of you who have been life-long friends remember when I was a size O! My husband, Herbert has just retired fromAIG. He received an awesome retirement package. Apparently now the company is having
problems, but we really don't have time to keep up with the news. Well, Happy Holidays our friends and please if you are ever in the neighborhood, think of us. The Smiths." So keeping those letters in mind, I try really hard to remember my mother in law's advice when it comes to crop yields. But in 2004 (which was a phenomenal year yield-wise), I heard my husband (who never tells his yields) and another farmer talking. "It even seems like the poorer the ground quality, the better the yields, doesn't it," said Farmer Joe. "Oh yes," said Hubby, "it's true." So there I was putting diesel in my truck one day, when a farm owner drove up. We started talking about the great year farmers were having and I was careful to remember my mother-in-law's advice. I was even trying to be humble (unlike my before mentioned Christmas letter.) Thinking back to my husband's conversation, I said, "Yes, it seems like this year the poorer the farm ground, the better the yield." The farm owner didn't seem too happy about my statement. "Well," he huffed. "I guess I must really have poor ground because it averaged 223 bushels of com an acre!" (For those that don't know, that is a great yield!) "Wow, you really do own bad ground," I said, before I had time to cut my tongue out. My mother-in-law had another saying, "You should have been listening, instead of talking." Wow, my mother-in-law was a wise woman. I wonder if her son ever wishes he married someone like her? This article was originally published in The Marshall Democrat-News Oct. 22, 2008.
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18 missouri farms
Stephens named 2014 pork industry environmental stewards
Rural Lifestyles Compiled by Sarah Reed
The flavor and texture of a black walnut makes it one of the most popular nuts used by cooks throughout the country. Whether a professional pastry chef, a hobbyist cook or simply someone who enjoys food, you find that adding walnuts to baked goods brings another dimension to the recipe altogether. In mid-Missouri, walnut trees have a healthy presence. The large green husks of black walnuts can be found along park sidewalks, in residential neighborhoods and underfoot in backyards. Some residents use the volume of walnut trees to their advantage. Arlene Gieselman, a Slater resident and volunteer at Concordia Senior Center, is one who’s enjoyed the harvest for approximately 10 years. As of this past week, she’s sold 1,490 pounds of walnuts. “I started (collecting them) around the last week of September,” she said. “They buy until around the first of November, or whenever it goes to freezing.” Gieselman collects walnuts from various locations, including trees on her property, neighbors’ and even in the village of Arrow Rock. From there, she loads them into dozens of buckets and boxes, and then hauls them to Bernard True Value Lumber and Hardware, in Sweet Springs. “You take them there. They hull them, and then they weigh them,” she explained.
Bernard Lumber currently pays 14 cents per pound after the walnuts are hulled. Before harvest, when black walnuts are still encased in their husks, they look much different than the crushed topping customers sprinkle over ice cream. On the branch, they measure approximately two inches in diameter. As they ripen, the husk often changes from solid green to more of a yellow or even black. Collecting can be a messy task that often requires wearing gloves. Darker husks can be an indication of insects. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, two pounds of unshelled black walnuts will yield approximately one cup of nut meats. Walnuts found in the wild can be cured and stored at home, if one prefers. The husk can be removed by hitting it with a hammer, among other methods. The unshelled nuts should then be rinsed and can be cured from there. The Extension recommends stacking them in shallow layers and placing them in a cool, dry area out of direct sunlight for two weeks. While some are inclined to cure and store walnuts for personal use, the collection is the hobby for Gieselman. “I like being out in the fresh air,” she said. “It makes me feel good. You hear the birds singing and the dogs barking. If you’re out late enough, you hear the coyotes.”
The Pork Checkoff, along with its cosponsor, National Hog Farmer magazine, has selected two pork farms to be honored as the 2014 Pork Industry Environmental Stewards. The award, now in its 20th year, recognizes producers who are dedicated to safeguarding the environment and contributing to their local communities. The 2014 award recipients are David and Sharon Stephens of Malta Bend and Bruce and Jenny Wessling, Grand Junction, Iowa. The judges for the 2014 award represented pork producers and environmental organizations from across the country. The committee reviewed applications from pig farmers who are committed to upholding the ideal relationship between pork production and the environment. The applicants' farms were evaluated based on their manure management systems, water and soil conservation practices, odor-control strategies, farm aesthetics and neighbor relations, and wildlife habitat promotion. The applicants also authored an essay on the importance of environmental stewardship on their farm and how they implement innovative ideas to create tangible actions to safeguard and protect the environment. "The 2014 Stewards clearly understand the comprehensive approach that producers need to take in raising pigs today," said Lynn Harrison, chair of the Environmental Stewards selection subcommittee and former president of the National Pork Board. "These farms clearly show how bright ideas can become innovative solutions. From relying more on solar power to giving back to their communities, the 2014 Stewards have put their own stamp on raising highquality pork for customers." Like past Stewards, the Stephens and Wessling families manage their farms with an eye on sustainability and on their local communities. And they do so while adhering to the U.S. pork industry's We CareSM ethical principles. The 2014 Environmental Stewards will be recognized by their peers at the 2015 National Pork Industry Forum next March in San Antonio, Texas. Videos featuring their farms can be viewed now on pork.org.
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