Farmweek july 6, 2015

FFA’ers from six chapters represent the first crew of Weed Warriors scouting Illinois fields. page 2

More than 1,100 farmers attended 11 watershed meetings hosted by county Farm Bureaus. page 3

WOTUS rule goes into effect Aug. 28 Monday, July 6, 2015

Opponents’ fight continues

BY DEANA STROISCH FarmWeek

Periodicals: Time Valued

Opponents ramped up efforts last week to force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw their regulations governing “waters of the U.S.” The final rule, officially published in the Federal Register, goes into effect Aug. 28.

More than 20 states and the American Farm Bureau Federation have already filed lawsuits to stop implementation.

Illinois wasn’t among them.

Meanwhile, representatives from a coalition of Illinois business organizations – from farmers to homebuilders – urged U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, and Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, to support legislation (S 1140) that would require the agencies to rewrite the rule.

“Our groups believe strongly that it’s time for Congress to reassert itself on clean water, and send EPA and the Corps of Engineers back to the drawing board with state and local agencies to develop a new rule before the end of the

year,” the group wrote to the senators.

The coalition, which includes Illinois Farm Bureau, also held a teleconference Tuesday. The coalition’s concerns include an “illegal public relations campaign” in favor of the proposed rule, the final rule’s all-encompassing definitions and its ambiguity.

“The final rule’s vague definitions make it easy for the federal government to regulate not only water, but land as well, and allow for the agencies to identify land as a tributary — which is subject to regulation — based on past, rather than current, conditions,” said Lauren Lurkins, IFB’s director of natural and environmental resources.

“To make things worse, regulators don’t even have to be present on the land in question to regulate it. From their Washington D.C. offices more than 800 miles from Illinois, the agencies can use ‘desktop tools’ to establish the presence of a tributary on private lands.”

Dan Eichholz, executive director of Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers, described the rule as a “double whammy” for the aggregate industry.

“Not only could this make it much more difficult to open a new facility or expand an existing facility, but basically all the products we produce go into the construction industry,” Eichholz said. “This rule has the potential to essentially halt or significantly slow construction projects.”

Bill Ward, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Illinois, said preliminary estimates show the average cost of permits for an average size See WOTUS, page 2

Lee County Farm Bureau members and guests celebrated during a 100th birthday party. page 11

GRAIN BUSINESS FLOODED

Two sections Volume 43, No. 27

Jersey County Grain Co. in Calhoun County near Hardin remains closed for business due to flooding from the Illinois River. Illinois’ rainy June entered the record books as the wettest in state history. Read more weather information on page 3. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

Macomb supporters teach key ag ed lesson

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Macomb ag education supporters put a modern twist on the rural tradition of barn raising; they built a high school agriculture program from the ground up.

McDonough County Farm Bureau Manager Sarah Grant, one of the main organizers, called the effort “a labor of love.” In August, newly hired teacher Wyatt McGrew will harvest the fruits of that labor by teaching ag classes for the first time in decades at Macomb High School.

“We had to develop our own blueprint,” added Robb Creasey, 1st Farm Credit vice president and another campaign leader.

Macomb students and parents found themselves in a situation similar to those in other school districts. In the 1980s, the district closed its high school agriculture program.

Macomb students could take ag classes through a cooperative agreement with a neighboring district, but the arrangement came with several hurdles, even making it difficult for Macomb seniors to graduate on time.

In fall 2012, momentum to reopen the Macomb High School ag program reached a

tipping point with the founding of a nonprofit Macomb Agriscience Association (MAA) whose members include parents, educators, community ag leaders and representatives of ag businesses and organizations. “Somebody needed to be the engine to get it started,” said Bruce Eidson, senior research associate with DuPont Pioneer and another campaign leader.

When Creasey’s oldest daughter, a 2015 graduate, told her father she was interested in agriculture, but “didn’t have a chance to experiment in ag through Macomb High School, that’s when the light bulb came on for me,” he recalled. “We felt, as a group, our kids were missing out on great opportunities for careers and college.

Our kids were the ones getting shortchanged in the deal.”

MAA approached the school board and district about reopening the ag program, but was told the district lacked funding. MAA proposed and received from the district a three-year commitment — if organizers raised $300,000 to privately fund an ag teacher’s salary and benefits, and support the program, according to Grant. The district had no mechanism to accept private funding, so a policy to accept

external funding was developed and passed in March 2014, Grant said.

MAA launched a two-prong approach of fundraising and educating the community about the need for and value of ag education. Some residents didn’t even know the high school didn’t offer ag classes, Creasey noted. FFA officers talked to high school students to raise interest; ag education supporters marched in parades.

Fundraising occurred in many places and forms, even grain bushel donations. To date, MAA has raised and collected pledges for $225,000, Creasey said.

Andy Baker, director of Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture, convinced the university’s Ag Mech Club and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity to donate. Baker pointed out WIU ag education students can use Macomb High School ag classes for field experience.

“I think we can at least triple the number of Macomb High School graduates who study agriculture at WIU,” Baker said. McGrew, the new Macomb ag teacher, earned his ag education degree from See Macomb, page 2

Quick Takes

FarmWeek • Page 2 • Monday, July 6, 2015

IDOA CONTINUING SERVICES — The state’s new fiscal year began last week without a budget while the General Assembly and Gov. Bruce Rauner remained at an impasse. Questions surfaced about state employee paychecks and a potential government shutdown.

“The Illinois Department of Agriculture will continue to conduct regulatory activities impacting farmers, agribusinesses and consumers in Illinois,” Kristi Jones, Illinois Department of Agriculture communications manager, told FarmWeek.

TPA SIGNED — President Barack Obama last week signed a bill granting him so-called “fast track” authority to negotiate trade deals.

The bill, formally called Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), allows the president to negotiate trade deals without Congress changing them. Congress can still vote up or down on the deals, but can’t amend them.

Illinois Farm Bureau supported TPA. So did the American Farm Bureau Federation.

“The American economy stands stronger when we work together, and that’s just what Trade Promotion Authority enables us to do at the bargaining table,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “U.S. agriculture is ready for ambitious trade agreements that break down barriers to products grown and made in America, so our trading partners know we mean business.”

EMBASSIES TO REOPEN — President Barack Obama announced plans last week to reopen Cuban and U.S. embassies in Havana and Washington, D.C., later this month.

The announcement represents another step in the president’s plan to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Obama also called on Congress to end the trade embargo altogether.

Illinois Farm Bureau policy supports “resumption of normal trading relations with Cuba,” including elimination of restrictions on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba, and simplifications of licensing and shipping requirements for sales to Cuba.

QUEST FOR BEST STEAK — Those who would like to nominate their favorite steak, served at an Illinois eatery, as best in the state have five days left.

The online nomination process for the “Quest for Illinois’ Best Steak” contest, organized by the Illinois Beef Association (IBA) and Illinois Farm Bureau, ends Friday (July 10).

Votes can be cast online at {FarmWeekNow.com} or the IBA website {illinoisbeef.com}.

(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 43 No. 27 July 6, 2015 Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers.

FarmWeek is produced by the Illinois Farm Bureau.

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Illinois Agricultural Association assumes no responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products or services advertised in FarmWeek.

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FFA chapters get

Down in the weeds

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

FFA members from around the state recently received a crash course to identify one of the most challenging weeds facing Illinois farmers — Palmer amaranth.

As pilot members of a new weed scouting program offered through GROWMARK Inc., the high school students gained basic information about crop scouting and weed identification before applying those skills in farmers’ fields. “We’re trying to help kids put a face to a weed,” University of Illinois Crop Sciences Professor Aaron Hager told FarmWeek.

The new Weed Warrior Program involves six FFA chapters whose members will scout farm fields in their area with a goal to identify possible Palmer amaranth infestations. GROWMARK, U of I Extension Service and Department of Crop Sciences, Illinois FFA Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and Dow AgroSciences are collaborating on the program. Participating FFA chapters include: Alton, Armstrong, Eureka, Flora, Peotone and ROWVA. Hager, Dennis Bowman, U of I Extension agriculture educator; and David Powell, GROWMARK’s insect and dis-

Macomb

ease technical manager, worked with the students and will provide support during the 11week program.

Palmer amaranth germinates throughout much of the growing season, starts earlier and grows faster than other weeds, and is a prolific seed producer, according to Hager. Professional weed scientists will con-

firm suspected Palmer amaranth locations identified by FFA’ers, Bowman said.

Will County Farm Bureau Manager Mark Schneidewind discussed the new program with the Young Farmers Committee and two members volunteered to work with the Peotone FFA. “Our community supports us so much and this is a way to give back and support them,” said Katrina DeutscheVaclavik, Peotone FFA adviser and agriculture teacher. She encouraged interested farmers to contact her to arrange field scouting.

Continued from page 1 WIU, Baker added.

MAA developed a curriculum for the ag program and submitted, at the school board’s request, a detailed report on what the new program would need.

Community and MAA support for McGrew and his fledgling program continues. Recently, a local farm supply store hosted an open house for McGrew. Baker estimated 80 Macomb students expressed interest in ag classes, a number he expects to increase.

WOTUS

Continued from page 1 subdivision increasing from about $50,000 to $270,000, and the length of time to get them increasing from 1 to 2 years to 3 to 5.

“The hard part for our engineers who will do the work on this — they won’t even really give us estimates,” Ward said. “If you ask for work to be done after the first of August, they may not give you a true estimate because they don’t know how much time it takes, and the regulations are so confusing, and the criteria is so new and different that they’re really not sure how long it’s going to take to figure it out,” Ward said.

Deutsche-Vaclavik envisioned her students gaining valuable skills while learning about potential careers and interacting with staff from Farm Bureau, local FS cooperatives and U of I Extension.

“This is a chance to work with experts who serve the farm community,” she added.

“We’re really excited. This is such a great experience for us.”

GROWMARK anticipates weekly chapter reports of crop scouting, knowledge gained and individuals from the ag community they’ve met, according to Karen Jones, GROWMARK cooperative affairs and communications specialist.

GROWMARK will compensate chapters for their work.

Chapters will share their information with periodic reports in FarmWeek, the RFD Radio Network® (RFDRN) and social media.

Hager noted the idea for the new program sprang from his conversation with Rita Frazer, RFDRN director, about ways to get young people interested in weed science.

“We need more people involved in this industry. Our hope is this will be successful,” Hager said.

Asked what message Macomb’s effort offers to others who want an ag program in their schools, Eidson suggested “thinking outside the box.”

“If you want it, you have to support it with time and money ... People will give and support something if they see the need and passion,” Edison said.

Creasey added: “When you’re passionate and feel confident of the need for your community, you put in sweat and hours to make it happen.”

Carmi farm to host July meeting

The University of Illinois Extension and Mike and Brandon Huff of Sunnybrook Gardens, Carmi, offer a summer twilight tour from 6 to 8 p.m.

July 20. The event is free. Preregistration is required by July 17.

Register by calling 618-3822662 or visiting {http://bit.ly/ 1GFep9N}.

The father-and-son team began selling produce 10 years ago, and continue to expand and diversify. They sell products at their on-farm stand, at the Carmi Farmer’s Market and wholesale to area restaurants.

The Huffs will discuss their production practices for tomatoes, peaches, strawberries and sweet corn along with display-

ing their equipment, including a mechanical strawberry harvester, bed shaper-mulch layer and potato digger.

Participants will learn about the farm’s new frozen sweet corn processing venture that starts this season.

U of I Extension educators Bronwyn Aly and Nathan Johanning will share additional information on fruit and vegetable production practices and specialty equipment.

The farm is located on 1152 Martin Drive, Carmi.

For more information, contact Aly at baly@illinois.edu or 618-382-2662, or Johanning at njohann@illinois.edu or 618687-1727.

Rainfall smashes June record; more in store this month?

Page 3 • Monday, July 6, 2015 • FarmWeek

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

The unbelievably wet weather pattern in Illinois officially entered the record books last week.

And, unfortunately, the faucet could keep running more than normal this month.

Precipitation across the state for June averaged a staggering 9.53 inches, 5.3 inches above average, which makes it the wettest June on record.

The previous record amount of June rainfall in Illinois was 8.27 inches recorded in 1902, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey.

“We’ve got some pretty fantastic (rainfall) amounts at individual stations around the state (in the 15- to 20-inch range for the month, including 17.2 inches at Ashkum in Iroquois County),” Angel said.

In fact, June was so wet this year it now holds the mark as the second-wettest month in Illinois history dating back to records since 1895. The only month to receive more precipitation than last month was September 1926, which featured an average of 9.62 inches of precipitation.

The situation delayed planting — about 700,000 acres of beans were unplanted in the state last week — drowned out crops, created sloppy grazing conditions for livestock, and produced flooding around creeks, rivers and in low spots.

The Illinois River last week was about 10 feet above flood stage at many locations, while the Ohio River was expected to crest about 7 feet above flood stage at Cairo.

Across the state border, Chris Hurt, Purdue University economist, estimates crop losses in Indiana could total an estimated $475 million.

“It’s not hard to find the culprit — excessive amounts of rainfall,” Hurt said.

The torrential rains resulted from a mix of the way systems set up last month, along with remnants of Tropical Storm Bill that dumped additional amounts of moisture, Angel noted. The majority of topsoil moisture (63 percent) last week was rated surplus in Illinois.

“Some of the soil moisture is getting recycled,” Angel said.

“The soil moisture builds up, evaporates into the atmosphere and becomes fuel for the next thunderstorm.”

Rain-weary residents of the Midwest may not see much relief any time soon. The National Weather Service forecast this month calls for an increased chance of above-normal precipitation in Illinois and neighboring areas.

A continuation of the cloudy, rainy pattern also could extend chances of severe weather. Illinois last month was pounded by wind and hail damage along with several tornadoes.

“As long as we have a very active system, we still have that risk (of severe weather) as we move forward,” Angel added.

Temperatures should remain moderate. The statewide average temperature last month, 71.9 degrees, was nearly identical to the long-term average of 71.8 degrees for the month.

Jeff Kamp, left, Tri-County Farm Service 28 percent plant manager, talks with Mike Kiel, Jersey County Grain Co. operations manager, about flooding along the Illinois River that caused evacuation of the grain company near Hardin. The fertilizer facility at the location remains open with the river at more than 36 feet. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

Cover crops may help save soil in flooded fields

Farmers may consider cover crops to preserve soil in fields not planted due to flooding, according to two soil specialists. Purdue University Agronomist Eileen Kladivko and Barry Fisher, Indiana soil health specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, encouraged farmers to manage “prevented planting” acres and prevent further soil degradation.

“Cover crops are an excellent option for producers to consider for protecting their soil and increasing productive capacity for succeeding years,” they wrote.

Excessive rainfall can break down soil aggregates, especially near the surface, and erosion can wash away topsoil, Kladivko and Fisher noted.

“To rebuild productive capacity and improve soil health, growing a cover crop for the remainder of the season is crucial,” they wrote. “In fact, having something green and growing during the nonfrozen times of the year is a key concept for improving soil health, decreasing nitrate leaching to drainage waters and improving water quality.”

Their article covers improving soil structure and biological activity in topsoil, increasing permeability and decreasing compaction, building soil nitrogen, selecting the right cover crops and seeding cover crops. It also provides links to additional cover crop resources.

To download the article, visit {http:// bit.ly/1CdWJDF}.

Watershed nutrient meetings reach farmers across state

More meetings coming in winter

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

More than 1,100 farmers and others interested in managing nutrients and enhancing water quality participated in

11 watershed meetings hosted by county Farm Bureaus and the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (CBMP), said Lauren Lurkins, Illinois Farm Bureau natural and environmental resources director.

Lurkins called the meetings “a great kickoff for the Nutri-

IAITC launches environmental stewardship education online

Educators gained new resources to help them and their students understand what farmers are doing to protect natural resources on their farms. Last week, Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) launched an environmental stewardship section on its website. Each Tuesday, IAITC will post new information on its Facebook page.

The section offers resources and activities related to soil and water, and incorporated into classroom instruction. The first activity offers instructions to make Circle of Earth bracelets with beads representing water, plants, soil, day, night, sun, air and people.

The section includes links to FarmWeek stories, photos and videos of Kane County farmer Andy Lenkaitis, Massac County farmer Rollo Burnett and Sangamon County farmer Garry Niemeyer.

Visit {agintheclassroom.org} and click on the Environmental Stewardship icon at the bottom of the green column.

with more information about best management practices (BMPs) on its website at {illi and get ideas for best noiscbmp.org/Nutrient-Lossmanagement practices for your farm.

Reduction-Strategy}.

Planners are discussing siment Loss Reduction Strategy.” ilar meetings in other waterThe Illinois Environmental sheds probably in the winter, Protection Agency (IEPA) and according to Lurkins.

Illinois Department of Agri“The focus was on culture intend farmer educato release the tion,” she final strategy said. “It is ‘ I t i s i m p o r t a n t important that this summer.

Meeting that conversation conversation participants continue in continue in local local included commucommunities...’ farmers, agrinities in our culture retailstate so the ers, and staff people who — Lauren Lurkins didn’t attend of Soil and IFB natural and Water Conserthe watershed environmental resources vation Dismeetings director tricts, Natural know what is Resources Conservation happening.

Service, IEPA and others.

“Now it’s about taking the Lurkins thanked those who information gained from the organized and supported the meetings and seeking more meetings as well as those facts about BMPs that work who attended. for your farm and implementThe Illinois CBMP posted ing them,” Lurkins advised meeting presentations along farmers.

COUNTRY Financial reminds farmers of USDA’s prevented planting rules, including: • Claims cannot be submitted until after the final planting date for each county.

• Lost acres must be reported to the Farm Service Agency and the insurance company.

• Conditions must be general to the area.

• The cause of loss must be covered by insurance.

• The lesser of 20 acres or 20 percent of the unit must be prevented to qualify for an indemnity.

• Full payment will be provided if no crop is replanted.

• A second crop can be planted after the late planting period and still retain 35 percent prevent payment. If the second crop is a cover crop, full prevent payment will be received if not hayed or grazed before November 1.

The second crop must be insured.

• Prevented crops can’t be planted at any time for harvest, and retain prevent payment.

Wheat harvest winds down; hay quality issues persist

FarmWeek • Page 4 • Monday, July 6, 2015

alfalfa (84 percent complete) and second cutting (8 percent complete) Farmers took advantage of some remained significantly behind the averscattered sunny days the past week to 10 age pace as of the first of last week. days to finish wheat harvest at numer“With all the rain, everybody is just ous locations in southern Illinois. frustrated they can’t get anything done Paul Bathon, a wheat grower from in the field,” said Kendall Guither, a Nashville (Washington County), last farmer from Walnut (Bureau County) week stayed in the field until 1 a.m. July and president of the Illinois Forage and 1 to complete harvest before another Grassland Council. chance of rain moved into his area.

Guither said the wet weather didn’t “I didn’t want quality to go down any dampen enthusiasm for the Illinois Formore,” Bathon said of his late night age Expo late last month. About 500 push to complete harvest. “The yields people (ranging in age from 2 weeks to were pretty good until we got another 94 years) attended the event, which fearain (in late June), which knocked down tured 44 vendors and about 70 pieces of quality and test weights.” equipment.

Fortunately, issues with Fusarium “We had a great show,” Guither said. head blight (head scab, which leads to “We just couldn’t do any of the field vomitoxin) weren’t as severe for many demonstrations.” growers as last year when high levels led Guither believes many alfalfa growto significant price docks. ers could lose a cutting this year due to “There was some Fusarium out weather delays. Quality of the crop also there,” Bathon said. “I think if you continues to deteriorate with each passsprayed (fungicide in a timely manner) ing shower. you were OK, unless you had a suscep“Quality is decreasing, no doubt Wheat harvest keeps rolling between rain showers for Dewey and Scott Groennert near tible variety.” about it. Anybody with first crop still Nashville in Washington County. USDA reported 38 percent of Illinois’ wheat crop was harBathon described yields as good to out there, the quality is terrible as (the vested as of June 29 compared to the five-year average of 59 percent. (Photo by Brad Coaverage. Elsewhere, though, Garry crop) is way past maturity,” he said. nant, Washington/Perry County Farm Bureau manager) Hunter, a wheat grower from Salem “There’s been so much cloudy weather, (Marion County), said his crop was the the plants are not reaching full photoIllinois farmers harvested 38 percent ed 590,000 acres last fall and are expect- synthesis.” worst in 20 years. of the wheat crop as of the first of last ed to harvest 560,000 acres of wheat Hunter put most of his crop in onUSDA projects farmers in Illinois this season, down 16 percent from last farm storage, so he won’t know how the week followed by a large portion cut in will harvest 575,000 acres of all hay the past seven days. year. quality grades out until he delivers it to (including 300,000 acres of alfalfa) this Overall, Illinois wheat growers plantIn other harvest news, first cutting of year, up 11 percent from a year ago. a commercial facility.

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Submit comments on RFS U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials want to hear from you about their proposal to cut the amount of renewable fuels blended into the nation’s motor fuel supply for this year and next year.

Go to {votervoice.net/ ILFB/campaigns/41456/re spond} and send your comments by July 27. EPA proposes increasing the amount of biofuels blended, but the levels fall well short of levels set by Congress in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

The Clean Air Act statute does not permit EPA to take into account “factors that affect consumption,” such as purported infrastructure constraints or the so-called “blend

wall,” in determining whether to grant a general waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

By embracing the blend wall concept, the EPA proposal not only violates the law, but also undermines the incentive to expand biofuel production and distribution capacity, and allows oil companies to only blend as much renewable fuel as they are comfortable using.

Adam Nielsen, Illinois Farm Bureau director of national legislation and policy development, urged members to send comments specific to their operations, cost of production, futures prices and demand.

Field Day scheduled July 9

The University of Illinois Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center at Shabbona will offer pertinent issues for the 2015 growing season, starting at 9 a.m. July 9.

The free program will be presented by U of I Extension specialists and researchers, and conclude with a meal at no additional cost.

The center hosts more than 45 research projects on corn, soybeans, wheat, oats and cover crops. Studies include evaluation of crop rotations, planting dates, row spacing, crop nutrient management and variety comparisons.

Weather permitting, presentations will occur outside next to the individual plots.

The center at 14509 University Road is located about a half mile east of Shabbona on U.S. 30, then 5 miles north on University Road. For more information, contact U of I’s Russ Higgins at 815-274-1343 or rahiggin@illinois.edu.

Page 5 • Monday, July 6, 2015 • FarmWeek

LESSONS IN HERITAGE

USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini, right, discusses progress of the central Illinois corn crop with Auburn farmer Wes Seifert in Sangamon County. Dolicini, who made his first visit to an Illinois farm last week during a state visit, said he was surprised by flooded fields and rivers he saw. (Photo by Kay Shipman)

FSA’s Dolcini to farmers: Keep good records, contact FSA

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

Jack Eaker and Brandon Smith of Edwardsville join Kristie Clayton of Winchester, left to right, in reading names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Sixty FFA students from across Illinois participated in the annual Heritage and Co-op Trip sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau and its affilated companies. (Photo by Renee Deuth, IFB membership and program manager)

BIOTECH TOUR COMPLETED

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, center, visits with GROWMARK Inc. representatives at the Syngenta corn product development facility in Wapella. Davis completed a biotech tour in his district last week to learn more about biotech’s importance to farmers, consumers and the economy. GROWMARK representatives pictured include, from left, Chuck Spencer, corporate and government relations executive director; Randy Pearson, quality assurance manager; Mark Thornsbrough, seed division manager; and Rod Wells, crop nutrients division manager. Davis noted information he gathered during the tour will help him develop policies in his role as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research. (Photo by Cassie Becker, GROWMARK publications and media relations specialist)

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini selected a fitting time for a first visit to an Illinois farm last week. Dolcini, who has led the USDA agency since last September, remarked he couldn’t believe the flooded rivers and fields when he landed earlier in Minneapolis.

Surveying a central Illinois cornfield, Dolcini told FarmWeek his agency “is in the information gathering stage just like farmers.” Dolcini, Illinois FSA Executive Director Scherrie Giamanco and Illinois FSA Executive Officer Rick Graden took a quick tour of corn and soybean test

®

plots on the Tim Seifert farm near Auburn. The plots included nitrogen and corn water utilization studies.

Dolcini encouraged farmers to contact the Risk Management Agency and to reach out to their local FSA office. “We’ll help to the degree we can. Keep good records and keep in contact with FSA,” he said. A former California FSA executive director, Dolcini smiled when someone mentioned sending Illinois’ recent rain to California.

Illinois marked the 27th state Dolcini visited since last September. The visits offer educational experiences, he said.

This trip helped him “learn what it takes to farm corn and beans in Illinois.”

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FarmWeek • Page 6 • Monday, July 6, 2015 Pete Tekampe, Grayslake, Lake County: Finally a little relief. Haven’t had rain for two days now, and they are calling for four more days without rain. The highs have been in the low 60s. Corn is still deteriorating because of the soggy ground and cool temperatures. Early-planted beans look good and have good color. The later beans don’t look healthy and don’t seem to be growing. Winter wheat is turning and looking good. Cutting is still about two weeks off.

Oats are completely headed out and also looking good. A lot of hay has been cut the last two days hoping for the dry spell.

Remember to be safe.

Leroy Getz, Savanna, Carroll County: More of the same old story with a couple of toad strangling downpours brings June’s total to 11.6 inches of rain. Very little field activity occurred. We mowed the last of our first-crop hay Wednesday, but the fields are very soft. Corn varies in height from head-high down to nothing, depending upon the drainage in the fields.

Soybeans are looking good, but many fields need spraying for everything from giant ragweeds to volunteer corn.

Ryan Frieders, Waterman, DeKalb County: Another week of rain and cloudy days. I have seen neighbors using helicopters to spray soybeans because it is so wet in the fields. Sunless days are definitely limiting crop growth and development. A lot of cornfields in the area may not make it to kneehigh by the Fourth of July. On a lighter note, happy Independence Day, America!

Ken Reinhardt, Seaton, Mercer County: I noticed the first glimpse of tassels July 1 in several local cornfields. Most of the county missed weekend rains which were heavy to the north and east of the area. Soybean spraying is going as ground conditions allow. There is still some urea being flown on corn for additional nitrogen. Now the big decision is whether to apply fungicide to the corn with the economics being a much bigger factor than in recent years.

Ron Moore, Roseville, Warren County: We received another 1.3 inches of rain last week. That makes more than 14 inches in June.

We still haven’t mowed the second cutting of hay yet. Just raining every other day, and no dry weather in the forecast. The corn is starting to tassel now, and there are reports of several diseases starting to show up. We have added a fungicide spray to try and preserve what yield there is left. The soybeans will need another round of spraying to clean up some weed escapes. They are starting to flower now and should be about kneehigh this week. Pasture conditions are pretty good so far. Still have good grass, and the cattle seem to want to stay home for now. That may change when ears start developing.

Jacob Streitmatter, Princeville, Peoria County: What a wet month of June. I stopped counting.

Dumped my rain gauge twice when it was running over. Being generous, we had 15 inches plus. Crops look downright horrible. It’s too late for corn. I’ve written it off, but maybe soybeans can hold on.

Maybe it could dry off so I could replant beans. Finally got firm enough to carry the sprayers.

Ron Haase, Gilman, Iroquois County: Rain continued last week. Our farms received a range of 2.5 to 3.1 inches. For the month of June, most of our farms received more than 10 inches. With weed control becoming a bigger issue day by day due to the wet fields, we plan to spray some herbicides in our soybean fields today (July 2).

The high population of mosquitoes kept us from walking too many acres of soybeans.

Crop conditions have not improved. Many area cornfields are near the VT growth stage.

I saw a few tassels emerged on July 1. The saturated areas within the corn and soybean fields are continuing to deteriorate even to the point of death. Most soybean fields are between the V5 growth stage and the R2 or full bloom growth stage. The local closing prices for July 1 were nearby corn, $3.92; new-crop corn, $3.96; nearby soybeans, $10.51; and new-crop soybeans, $9.92.

Mark Kerber, Chatsworth, Livingston County: After all the rain, the Fourth of July weekend sounds dry. Sprayers will be running, hopefully not getting stuck.

Crops look horrible. Even the good fields of corn have yellow spots in them. It sounds weird hoping for dry weather in July. Markets have reacted some to the many acres of unplanted beans across the Corn Belt. The top end is long gone from our fall yields.

Brian Schaumburg, Chenoa, McLean County: June rain totals ran between 6.7 inches to nearly 11 inches, making it one of the wettest on record. Crop ratings have slipped, but are still surprisingly good for what they have been through. Spraying and replant will commence when we dry out.

Markets took note of the weather and the stocks/acreage report, and sent prices off like a Roman candle! Hopefully, farmers reward the rally. Corn, $3.88; fall corn, $3.97; soybeans, $10.35, fall soybeans, $9.99; wheat, $3.96.

Steve Ayers, Champaign, Champaign County: Water, water everywhere, continued.

When waterfowl have taken up residence in your field ponds, you know it’s wet. Fields started drying up a bit this week. Corn planted April 16 started tasseling June 27.

Corn and soybean fields are wavy with drowned out spots, yellow and stunted areas. Corn is tasseling under nearly ideal conditions. Premier Co-op Rain Gauge reported Dewey in northern Champaign County recorded a whopping 16 inches of rain in June for a total of 22.75 inches so far this year. See you next week at the Fisher Community Fair and Historic Farm Days at Penfield. Slow down at the rural intersections, and let’s be careful out there!

Wilfred Dittmer, Quincy, Adams County: We’ve been moving as of late in some of the earlyplanted fields, but the moisture content is still disturbing to many. Some of it is tasseled around here. Rain is continuing to come our way about .5 of an inch of rain last week. We had a couple days with sunshine and now the predictions are for more rain. Soybeans are improving after their cold start. Wheat fields look like there could be some extra bushels there. Hay fields may get some extra bales, too. If only the prices could get reconnected on all crops, we may all have some bonus to deal with. Have an extra good July Fourth and do be careful.

Carrie Winkelmann, Tallula, Menard County: The rain continues to thwart efforts to get anything done. We had a hair under 9 inches for the month of June. I have noticed a little fieldwork getting done this week, a couple sprayers out, etc. It hailed horribly in spots around the area. I drove by soybean and cornfields in Bradfordton that looked horrible and were probably 75 percent defoliated. We had some wind damage. Yellow areas are really showing up in soybeans fields. Our earliest planted corn has started throwing pollen this week. I won’t even get into the trouble we have had getting grain loaded out of a few bin sites.

Todd Easton, Charleston, Coles County: The rain keeps falling across Coles County with reports approaching 3 inches on top of what we have already been swimming in. I personally have been on a venture out west ever since I reported last week’s report, and thought I would try a CropWatcher on tour report. Iowa had generally a good looking corn crop that was a bit shorter reaching chest-high to knee-high. As we got into and across Nebraska, there seemed to be a bit more corn planted than normal, and it was growing at around knee-high with irrigators parked at the side of the field. Full ponds, streams and rivers reflected that they, too, were getting plenty of rainfall. The soybean crops followed the same trend of not as big as home and getting shorter as you went west.

Jimmy Ayers, New City, Sangamon County: Another wet week, probably 2 inches of rain around here at our place. The creek banks and river banks have had quite a bit of flooding this week with up to 5 inches in spots. Quite a few beans are struggling with no oxygen in the soil. Some of the beans need to be sprayed. A little bit of spraying started Wednesday. Still pretty muddy. Corn is coming on pretty fast. A lot of fields are tasseling. Still wet areas, some of them are pretty good sized, also struggling with lack of oxygen and too much water.

Springfield set records for the month of June.

We’re going to end up with some prevented planting in the area, and there’s areas that may be replanted. A lot of guys said they put their planter away for the year and they are done. We did have hail in several locations across the county. Talking to the adjusters, they are extremely busy with hail, wind damage and replant as well as prevent plant. So, be patient with them; they’ve got a lot on their plate. Hope you had a great Fourth of July.

Doug Uphoff, Shelbyville, Shelby County: June rainfall in the county totaled 2.5 inches in the northern part to 26 inches in the southern portion. From east to west, rainfall totaled 10.5 to 9.44 inches. Beans look terrible with yellow spots getting worse. Southern part of the county is a disaster.

David Schaal, St. Peter, Fayette County: We’ve had almost 14 inches of rain during the month of June. Soybeans have gone backwards since all the rain. Soils are totally saturated and have no oxygen. There are still some beans in the county yet to be planted, and some to possibly be replanted if time permits.

Some of the first corn planted in the area is starting to throw tassels. Most corn in the area is big enough now to handle some rain, unless it’s bottom or lower ground. Some farmers have aerial applied nitrogen because they felt that nitrogen had been lost due to so much water. Wheat harvest has been a struggle. Hope everyone has a safe Fourth of July holiday.

Jeff Guilander, Jerseyville, Jersey County: Another wet week has everyone a little on edge. We received some precipitation on 75 percent of the days in June. With a lot of corn pollinating, the talk now is fungicides.

Depending on crop rotation and hybrid, some fields have some real issues with disease. A lot of soybeans still need spraying, but overall look to be taking the weather better than the corn. At this point, the corn crop cannot get any bigger; let’s hope it does not keep getting smaller.

Dan Meinhart, Montrose, Jasper County: It has been another warm and wet week.

Showers moved through the area off and on all week on already saturated soils. Fields are suffering severe stress due to excessive moisture. Some wheat harvest has been taking place off and on all week between rains. The wheat is carrying high moisture and sprouting damage. Some post spraying has been taking place where ground conditions permit.

Showers are in the area as we are writing this report.

Dave Hankammer, Millstadt, St. Clair County: Grain moisture, low test weight, high grain damage, and last but not least, vomitoxin, have turned the 2015 wheat crop into a low valued commodity. Refusal of wheat deliveries has become common at terminals and elevators. With an additional 3plus inches of rain for the week, little harvest activity occurred. One or two stubble fields were planted to another crop, but the soil had to be on the wet side when the planting occurred. Some straw and hay making was also done with less-than-favorable conditions. There still are several fields waiting to be planted to first-crop soybeans, while others are in need of replanting. Weed control is still a challenge in beans since ground travel has been impossible. Some of the earliest planted corn is beginning to tassel, and many of the fields are showing signs of stress from excessive rain. Local grain bids are corn, $3.91; soybeans, $10.54; and wheat, $5.06.

Have a safe week.

Page 7 • Monday, July 6, 2015 • FarmWeek Rick Corners, Centralia, Jefferson County: Nothing more to say than disaster.

Thousands of acres of beans to plant, and those that are planted look pitiful. Corn is an uneven, yellowish mess. I think most of the wheat is cut, and I won’t even comment on that fiasco of dockage. This is definitely the worst situation I’ve seen in my years.

Randy Anderson, Galatia, Saline County: Still another damp week. But not as wet as the past few weeks. Crops are trying to recover, but the top end has been taken off the corn crop for sure. Beans are at a standstill just looking for a dry spell. Going to try to make some hay this week, might be a few dry days. Post spraying beans for weeds and some for Japanese beetles.

Kevin Raber, Browns, Wabash County: The excess moisture continues. It’s raining now as I file this report July 1. Somehow with all the rainy days, I found a few days of fit weather to get all of my wheat cut.

Yields were in the high 60s to low 70s, good for the adverse conditions it went through. The early-planted corn is beginning to tassel. Corn seems to be taking wet conditions better than soybeans. Bean fields have a lot of light green areas and don’t seem to be growing. The Wabash River is still above flood stage and may not drop below flood for 10 days or more.

Ken Taake, Ullin, Pulaski County: We finally missed a rain event last week. We had under .1 of an inch of rain from the showers last weekend, and we certainly were happy to miss that one. We still have plenty of moisture in our area. Our early corn is starting to tassel, and quite a few fields are starting to tassel in the area. There are still some soybean fields that need to be planted. The weeds are certainly loving this warm, wet weather. Quite a few soybean fields still need to be sprayed or have a lot of weed escapes. Both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers are well above flood stage, and a lot of crops in river bottoms are underwater.

Please be careful during this upcoming week.

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

U of I specialist to discuss nutrient management

IFB Commodities Conference July 29

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

Farmers concerned about pale, yellow corn shouldn’t necessarily rush to apply more nitrogen fertilizer to their fields.

Such a move may not make economic or agronomic sense in many fields, depending on the situation, according to University of Illinois specialists.

Gary Schnitkey, U of I farm management specialist, will discuss controlling farm costs and the economics of nutrient management this month at the Illinois Farm Bureau Commodities Conference.

The annual event takes place July 29 at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal. “ I f yo u f a l l - o r s p r i n g applied your nitrogen, you’re worried about it being gone (due to excess moisture),” Schnitkey said. “And if you side-dress it, you’re worried about getting it on.”

Interest in split-applied nitrogen applications continues to rise.

But Schnitkey urges farmers to calculate the cost compared to the potential reward. Nitrogen fertilizer prices remain high, while crop prices, despite a recent rally, remain below year-ago levels.

“With tighter margins, you now need more bushels to justify all input costs,” Schnitkey said. “There’s a lot of interest in split nitrogen applications.

But the benefits associated with (split applications) at least have to cover the additional application,” which could run in the

$10 to $15 per acre range.

The U of I c o n t i nu e s t o monitor soil nitrogen in an ongoing nitrog e n t r a ck i n g study. And the Gary Schnitkey m o s t r e c e n t samples do not show large losses of soil nitrogen as many feared due to the torrential rains of the past six weeks.

“We know these numbers are variable and that we need to be

cautious using them, but the fact that soil nitrogen didn’t decrease sharply, especially at Urbana where so much rain fell, provides some confidence that losses have not been very high,” said Emerson Nafziger, U of I crop systems specialist.

“Except where roots have been in water for a week or more, fields and parts of fields where crop roots are still supplied with oxygen continue to show good canopy color.”

Much of the early-planted corn crop last week was between the V9 and tasseling

stages. Statewide, 2 percent of the crop was silking as of the first of last week.

Nafziger, as of last week, finds it unlikely N levels will slip below those needed to maintain crop g rowth before uptake starts to slow.

“Rapid loss of color in places where water stands comes from the loss of roots’ ability to take up nitrogen, not from loss of nitrogen from the soil,” Nafziger noted. “While it can test our patience, waiting until soils dry out for a week or more before deciding that more

nitrogen is needed is the best course of action.”

Meanwhile, simply adding nitrogen to corn that stood in water for a long period of time likely won’t fix the lost yield potential at this point, Nafziger added.

Those wishing to attend the Commodities Conference may preregister online through July 20 at {ilfb.org/commodities conference} or contact their county Farm Bureau. Registration the day of the event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Marriott.

If you hosted a Fourth of July cookout, you may have spent slightly less than you did last year. An American Farm Bureau Federation sur vey showed a cookout including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and chocolate milk cost just under $6 per person.

T h e s u r ve y s h owe d t h e average cost for a summer cookout for 10 totaled $55.84 or $5.58 per person. That’s about a 3 percent decrease compared to a year ago.

“As a nation, we continue to enjoy a consistent, high-quality supply of meats and poultry at prices that are remarkably affordable for most consumers,” said John Anderson, AFBF deputy chief economist.

Ketchup prices showed the greatest change from last year.

O n ave r a g e, ke t ch u p c o s t $1.46 for a 20-ounce bottle, a 7.4 percent increase compared to 2014. Hamburger buns — at an average $1.50 per package — showed the largest price decrease of 10.7

percent lower than last year.

AFBF’s summer cookout menu for 10 consisted of hot dogs and buns, cheeseburgers and buns, pork spare ribs, deli potato salad, baked beans, corn chips, lemonade, chocolate

milk, watermelon for dessert, and ketchup and mustard.

Eighty-eight Farm Bureau members in 30 states checked retail prices for summer cookout foods at their local grocery stores for the informal survey.

July Fourth cookout kinder on the wallet

Soybean field days scheduled

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) will host a series of ILSoyAdvisor Field Days at three regional locations this summer. Local agronomists will join farmers and industry representatives to discuss best practices for highyielding soybeans.

The field days will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates: • Aug. 4, Hinckley, • Aug. 5, Villa Grove, and • Aug. 6, Benton.

Funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff, each event will offer advice from agronomy experts with presentations and hands-on demonstrations. Topics include foliar feeding, adjuvants,

unmanned aerial vehicles and growing 100bushel-per-acre soybeans.

Attendees will also learn more about the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS), which is expected to be released this week. Dan Schaefer, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association director of nutrient stewardship, will provide an overview of NLRS and discuss ways growers can address nutrient loss on their farms.

Field days are free, and include lunch and refreshments. Continuing education units will be available for attending Certified Crop Advisors.

Registration is encouraged, but not mandatory.

For detailed information on the events, visit {ilsoy.org/fielddays}.

USDA awards $190,310 for 12 Illinois projects Twelve Illinois renewable energy and energy efficiency projects join 544 nationwide to receive USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funds, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week.

In Illinois, the recipients include five solar projects, five

grain dryers, a geothermal system and greenhouse curtains.

A Jasper County grain and hog farm will receive nearly $18,000 to install an 11.2 kilowatt solar system for the hog operation. The new system is projected to offset about 83 percent of the farm’s annual electricity use.

A Jefferson County farmer will receive about $20,000 to upgrade an existing grain dryer, which will reduce energy use by about 38 percent annually.

In northern Illinois, Kolze’s Corner Garden received nearly $10,000 to install greenhouse curtains to lower energy use by

43 percent. The extra shading also will reduce water used for irrigation during the summer.

Created by the 2002 farm bill and reauthorized in the 2014 farm bill, REAP funding has helped far mers expand their renewable energy use in recent years.

Eligible farmers and rural

s m a l l b u s i n e s s e s m ay u s e REAP funds to improve energ y efficiency or install renewable energ y systems, including solar, wind, renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters), small hydroelectric, ocean energy, hydrogen and geothermal.

Cattlemen urged to be environmental inspection ready NCBA connects producers, consumers

FarmWeek • Page 8 • Monday, July 6, 2015

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek Cattlemen need to be aware of new and existing environmental regulations to be ready f o r a p o s s i b l e g o ve r n m e n t inspection, an expert panel recommended during the recent Illinois Beef Association (IBA) Summer Conference.

Bruce Rodely, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) engineer with the water bureau; Ted Funk, agricultural consultant and engineer; Bruce Rodely and Nic Anderson, Illinois Livestock Development Group livestock business developer, focused on new state regulations for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). The discussion also covered state rules related to the state Livestock Management Facilities Act. “Figure out which regulations apply to your facility and get help,” Funk said. “Do you know if you’re a point source versus a nonpoint source? ... Do you have a nutrient management plan?

What shape is it in? A nutrient

management plan — if it is well done — is your defense.”

Rodely distributed an IEPA inspection checklist and encouraged farmers to become familiar with factors that would be inspected and audited. “With our checklist, we’re trying to implement standards statewide,” he added.

“To keep you out of a whole quagmire, it’s better to do what you need to do, not skate by and get caught,” Funk warned.

Farmers are finding stricter regulations on Ted Funk manure storage and application. “Think of the value of investing in longerterm storage,” Anderson said.

“The return on that manure storage will come back to you over a longer period of time.

Putting nutriNic Anderson ents in the right place at the right time, that makes use more efficient.”

Anderson recommended IBA members take advantage of

a new consulting service available through their association.

IBA retained Funk to review to learn more about IBA’s consulting service.

members’ farm operations, records and plans, and provide written recommendations.

“Ted (Funk) came to our place. He does a good job. It’s very reasonable,” said Mike Martz, a DeKalb County cattleman.

This year, IBA is offering the environmental consulting service on a trial basis, said Reid Blossom, IBA executive vice president. “The awareness of the cattle community of environmental regulations is not as high as it could be,” Blossom told FarmWeek.

“We’re trying to increase awareness of rules and of easy improvements producers could make.”

To arrange for a consultation, interested IBA members must first contact IBA, which will verify their membership. Under the new program, IBA will cover two-thirds of the consultation fee with the producer paying the remaining third.

Accuracy y where it matterrs most.

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek The beef industry could hire celebrity spokespeople or launch a massive marketing campaign to promote itself.

But the best way for the industry to connect with consumers continues to be through the very farmers who raise the cattle, according to industry research.

“Most consumers trust farmers,” Season Solorio, executive director of issues and reputation management for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) said recently at the Illinois Beef Association Summer Conference. “It’s some of the farming practices they (consumers) have questions about. And that’s okay.”

In a multifaceted information age where attention spans may last 30 seconds, Solorio believes consumer trust can be built and maintained by beef producers who are transparent, strive for continuous improvement, build conSeason Solorio nections and develop advocates.

NCBA offers the Beef Quality Assurance and Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) programs to assure consumers of quality standards in the industry and train producers to be industry advocates. Nearly 7,000 producers completed the MBA program during the past five years.

“We train producers to tell their story,” Solorio said. “We can’t segment ourselves and say, ‘I’m just a cow-calf producer’ or ‘just a packer.’ We’ve got to do a better job talking about everything.”

Beef Checkoff research places consumers in one of four “buckets” when it comes to opinions about beef production.

Bucket 1, contains consumers who are positive about beef production, about 26 percent of the population, who simply enjoy the taste of beef.

Bucket 2, more than half the population (52 percent) believes the positives of beef production somewhat outweigh the negatives. They’re motivated by beef ’s health benefits.

Bucket 3, 15 percent of the population believes the negatives of beef production somewhat outweigh the positives and some are skeptical about beef ’s health benefits.

Bucket 4, the “vocal minority” at about 7 percent of the population are negative about beef production.

“Our ultimate goal is to move more people to Bucket 1,” Solorio said.

NCBA now puts more focus, including digital marketing efforts, toward older Millennials, those between 27 and 35 years of age.

“We’re trying to better understand older Millennials and how they influence their kids,” Solorio said. “A lot (of older Millennials) fall into Bucket 2. And they’re starting to become parents and make different choices.”

Each new generation seems to be more interested in information about food production as they’re further removed from the farm and generally have less basic knowledge about production agriculture.

A recent survey shows more than half of Millennials (52 percent) say the social attributes of beef production are important compared to just 39 percent of other age groups who share the same belief.

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Beef industry continues to do more with less to feed growing population

Page 9 • Monday, July 6, 2015 • FarmWeek

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

The U.S. beef industry continues to do more with less as it strives to feed a growing population worldwide.

The beef industry from 2005 through 2011 reduced emissions to water by 10 percent, cut emissions to soil by 7 percent, and lowered water use and energy use by 3 and 2 percent, respectively.

Overall, sustainability in the beef industry improved 5 percent during that time, according to Cameron Bruett, who leads the sustainability and corporate communications efforts at JBS USA, the world’s largest animal protein company.

Southern Illinois to host dairy showcase

The Illinois Milk Producers’ Association (IMPA) will host its annual Dairy Technology Showcase at 10 a.m.

July 28. Hosted by dairy consultant Dave Fischer, the tour will highlight dairy technology and dairy management on two farms in Washington and Clinton counties.

Participants will first tour Finke Dairy, owned and operated by Craig and Tricia Finke near Nashville. The fifth-generation dairy farm family milks 120 Holstein cows and operates a new state-of-the-art milking facility focused on cow comfort with automated, robotic feeding and milking systems.

Arentsen Dairy Farm, owned and operated by Jerry and Phillip Arentsen, near Albers will be the second stop from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The Arentsens recently updated their free stall barn to sandbedded stalls and use a robotic system to milk 120 Holstein cows. The farm also features an automated calf feeding system.

Each farm stop will include an organized tour conducted by the dairy owners along with management discussions and questionanswer sessions led by Fischer, former University of Illinois dairy educator. Phil Cardoso, U of I dairy specialist; Mike Hutjens, retired U of I dairy specialist; and Jim Fraley, IMPA manager, will also be on hand.

Participants may attend one or both tours and are not required to register for the showcase. However, travel and lunch arrangements must be made by each individual participant. For more information, contact Jim Fraley at 309-557-3109 or Dave Fischer at 618-8304957.

Bruett recently told participants of the Illinois Beef Association’s Summer Conference the industry must continue to meet consumer demands while improving herd efficiency. “It’s about Cameron Bruett continuous improvement, which has been the story of agriculture forever,� Bruett said.

The focus on sustainability often seems to zero in on the environment. But the other two pillars, economic and social aspects of sustainability, are equally important.

Bruett sits on the Global Roundtable for Sustainable

improve your (herd’s) performance, not just appease an animal activist.�

Bruett believes one of the biggest threats to agriculture revolves around the disconnect between the industry and consumers (less than 1 percent of 316 million Americans operates a farm).

The disconnect combined with misinformation about food production spread via the Internet/social media threatens to overregulate the livestock industry and eliminate key production practices. “Activists are dictating the terms of how we raise our animals,� Bruett said. “I call it concerns of a full stomach.�

A number of food retailers in recent years made food production claims, which passes demands and costs

Beef, which seeks to advance continuous improvement through leadership, science and multistakeholder engagement. “Sustainability is not an environmental program. It’s a balance of all three (pillars),�

Bruett said. “There is an economic pillar to sustainability, and it’s important.�

Beef producers obviously need to turn a reasonable profit or production could drop off the table. Science and technology are part of improving production practices to help boost production and lower costs. “Will technology be an option for our industry (in the future)? Increasingly, we’re taking technology out. This is a sustainability issue,� said Bruett. “If you change a production practice, it actually needs to

through the production chain to packers and producers.

This could be counterproductive at a time when food production needs to grow 70 percent by 2050 to meet the global challenge of feeding an estimated 9.5 billion people by that time. “Clearly, we need to do more with less and be more efficient,� Bruett said. “This is a great opportunity for our industry, if we’re allowed to do what we do best (efficiently raise animals and produce a high quality product).�

Consumers also play a vital role in the sustainability of the food production system. “Food waste may be the No. 1 challenge of sustainability,� Bruett added. “One out of every three calories produced in the U.S. is wasted.�

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Sign-up open for 2016 Margin Protection Program FarmWeek • Page 10 • Monday, July 6, 2015

Illinois dairy producers can start enrolling in USDA’s Margin Protection Program (MPP) through Sept. 30 at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.

Enrollment will be for 2016 coverage. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 farm bill, provides financial assistance to participating dairy operations when

the margin — the difference between the price of milk and feed costs — falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer.

More than half the nation’s dairy producers enrolled in the 2015 program. MPP gives participating dairy producers the flexibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation. Participating farm-

DAIRY SHOWCASED

Linda Drendel of Lindale Holsteins, left, tells the Graves family of New York about the dairy farm operation. Drendel and her husband, Dale, hosted more than 400 dairy farmers from across the nation during a tour of their Hampshire farm recently in conjunction with the National Holstein Convention at St. Charles. Dale served as co-chairman of the weeklong event, which included farm tours, youth contests and a sale.

(Photo by Jim Fraley, Illinois Farm Bureau livestock program director)

ers will remain in the program through 2018 and pay a $100 administrative fee each year.

Producers also have the option of selecting a different coverage level during open enrollment each year. MPP payments are based on an operation’s historical production. An operation’s historical production will increase by 2.61 percent in 2016 if the operation participated in 2015, providing a stronger safety net.

Dairy operations enrolling in the program must meet conservation compliance provisions. Producers participating in the Livestock Gross Margin insurance program may register for MPP, but this new margin program will only begin once their livestock dairy insurance coverage has ended. Producers must also submit form CCC-782 for 2016, confirming their MPP coverage level selection, to the local FSA office. If electing higher coverage for 2016, dairy producers can either pay the premium in full at the time of enrollment or pay a minimum of 25 percent of the premium by Feb. 1, 2016.

Fuel isn’t the only thing driving your success.

USDA has an online resource available at {fsa.usda.gov/mpptool} to help dairy producers decide which level of coverage will provide them with the strongest safety net under a variety of conditions. Pro-

ducers can also review historical data or estimate future coverage based on data projections. The secure site can be accessed via computer, mobile phone or tablet, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

FIGHTING HUNGER

Fulton County Sheriff Jeff Standard, left, and Fulton County Coroner Steve Hines race to win the Fulton County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee annual “I Shopped the Sheriff” event. The duo beat Fulton FS Manager Mark Pedigo and his shopping partner, Candace Hanson. The Standard/Hines team won with $530 worth of groceries because they had more items for their dollar compared to the Pedigo/Hanson team, which collected $880 worth of groceries. Six cartloads of groceries were taken to the Lewistown Association of Churches food pantry. Fulton County Farm Bureau purchased the carts of the FS team and County Market donated the sheriff’s haul. (Photo

by Lisa Welker, Fulton County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee)

Create a 15-30 second or 1-2 minute video that shows life on the farm!

Contest runs July 1- November 1, 2015 For Illinois Farm Bureau members and their families

Businesses that are driven to succeed partner with FS. Our energy experts stay focused on what’s ahead, providing next generation fuel management tools and state-of-the-art software, along with a breadth of essential, quality products that point the way forward. FS is always discovering new ways to help customers optimize their operations and ensure they’re ready for what’s next.

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NEWS568-T5

Lee County Farm Bureau celebrates 100 years

Nearly 225 Lee County Farm Bureau members and their guests recently celebrated their 100th birthday with a Centennial Celebration at the Elks Lodge in Dixon.

The program honored the past and celebrated the future.

Members enjoyed a variety of historical exhibits, including a progressive tractor display, old photos, Lee County Farmers dating back to the 1920s, past awards and memorabilia, and much more.

The program highlighted two keynote speakers, Gerald Salzman and Katie Pratt, whose roots run deep in Lee County.

Members enjoyed participating in the Red/Green Challenge, a fundraiser for the Lee County Farm Bureau Foundation in which members donated money toward their favorite equipment color to see which is the favorite brand among the Lee County Farm Bureau membership. Members raised nearly $2,200 and declared red as the winning machinery color.

Each member present received a copy of the Lee County Farm Bureau Commemorative Centennial Magazine, highlighting the history and accomplishments of the Lee County Farm Bureau during the past 100 years.

During the past 2 ½ years, 100th Anniversary Committee members spent hours researching county Farm Bureau history and preparing for the celebration. The Lee

BY DANELLE BURRS

Companies stay nimble in evolving food industry

The food industry expects to hit the $2 trillion mark by 2025, and only those companies prepared for tough competition will reap the rewards, according to a new Technomic report on the changing food industry landscape. To meet demands of the next 10 years, food businesses can prepare by staying alert to trends.

First, businesses need to constantly reinvent themselves while reimagining how they go to market, reallocating resources to accommodate a growing demand for healthier food that could include offering digital platforms for purchase and distribution.

The report emphasized the importance of staying nimble to meet shifting demands, which businesses can do by utilizing a “less is more” mindset to combat anticipated increases in food, labor and operating costs.

Companies demonstrating a focus on research and predictive analytics, offering sustainable foods and corporate responsibility will be poised to succeed, according to Technomic.

County Farm Bureau mission continues to be a positive voice for agriculture through leadership and education to improve the quality of life and

economic well-being of our members and community.

Page 11 • Monday, July 6 , 2015 • FarmWeek

ADOPTED LEGISLATOR VISIT

Danelle Burrs serves as Lee County Farm Bureau manager.

Alber Blaser sorts through historic photos during Lee County Farm Bureau’s recent 100th birthday celebration. More than 200 Farm Bureau members attended the event. (Photo by Danelle Burrs)

Cass-Morgan County Farm Bureau leaders recently visited their adopted legislator state Rep. Luis Arroyo, second from right, DChicago, in his district office. Shown left to right are county Farm Bureau members Linda and Roger Hardy, county Farm Bureau Manager Lindsay McQueen, Arroyo and Christina Nourie, Illinois Farm Bureau northeast legislative coordinator. During lunch, the group discussed the state budget and numerous legislative issues.

Arroyo hopes to bring a group of constituents for a farm tour in the fall. (Photo courtesy of Christina Nourie)

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Teachers learn buzz about agriculture

FarmWeek • Page 12 • Monday, July 6, 2015

Seven preschool to high school educators from Fulton and McDonough counties recently took part in the Summer Ag Institute (SAI), sponsored by the Fulton County Farm Bureau and the McDonough County Farm Bureau.

Participating teachers learned about opportunities to expand their curriculum by including topics related to agriculture. The recent program focused on the importance of pollinators.

The institute kicked off with a visit to Dadant and Sons in Hamilton. The company began making beekeeping supplies in 1863, making it America’s oldest and largest manufacturer.

Teachers also traveled to the Monsanto Learning Center near Monmouth where manag-

BY ELAINE STONE

er Troy Coziahr showed the teachers various test plots. He also discussed traits being built into new varieties and the importance of higher yielding varieties, which enable farmers to use less crop inputs. He shared Monsanto’s efforts to protect the bee and butterfly populations.

Second-day activities included a visit to Christ Orchard in Elmwood where three generations work in the company. In business since 1977, the orchard includes apples, apple picking, pure honey, apple cider, pumpkins, squirrel corn, squash, gourds, Indian corn, mums, straw bales, cornstalks, fruit butters and preserves.

Hummingbird Haven near Smithfield comprised the second stop of the day. Owned by farmers Creel and Lois White, the private home site has more

than 50 hummingbird feeders and natural habitat to host hummingbirds on a major migratory route. The Whites have been caring for hummingbirds for more than 30 years.

Lois has been involved with the Illinois Audubon Society and Illinois State Biologists leg-banding project, which helps to track migration patterns of the birds. Hundreds of visitors come to the White’s home each year to watch the birds, help with banding and to even adopt their own bird. The group had a rare treat observing a baby “hummer” that had been kicked out of a nest, which Lois was hand-feeding and hoping to nurse back to good health.

The final day of the program wrapped up with presentations by Illinois Ag in

Gabe Dadant, the 6th generation of his family to run Dadant and Sons, shows Summer Ag Institute teachers from McDonough and Fulton counties the frame of a bee colony. The Hamilton-based company ranks as America’s oldest and largest manufacturer of beekeeping supplies. (Photo by Elaine Stone)

the Classroom staff — Fulton County Ag Literacy Coordinator Tonya Holt, McDonough County Ag Literacy Coordinators Abby Ruebush, Jill Cook and Ronda McKee, and Illinois Farm Bureau Education Specialist Chelsea Dean. They showcased books, Ag Mags,

Get accurratte acreage rep portingg in minutes

lesson plans and websites that can easily be incorporated into classroom curriculum.

Summer Ag Institute focuses on integrating resources and hands-on activities about agriculture and the environment into existing classroom curriculum. Participants earned 18 hours of continuing education credit upon successful completion of the course.

Elaine Stone serves as Fulton County Farm Bureau manager.

U of I offers GAPs webinars

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The University of Illinois Extension Kankakee County is offering a webinar series on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for fruit and vegetable production from 6 to 8 p.m. on consecutive Mondays in July.

Registrations are accepted after July 1, but handouts will not arrive before Monday’s first session.

Through the GAPs webinar, farmers will gain information to develop a written food safety plan. Topics covered will include a description of GAPs and a GAP audit, developing a food safety plan, water quality and testing, soil and manure management, recordkeeping and trace back, and human health and hygiene.

Participants may join the webinars on their home computers, but need high-speed Internet access and a way to hear presentations.

Each registered participant will receive webinar instructions, handouts and a GAPs manual. The cost is $20 and must be received with the registration.

To register online, visit {http://web.extension.illinois. edu/gkw}. The online registration links are located in the blue, right side column. Payment will be accepted via credit card or check. For more information, contact James Theuri, local food and small farms educator with Kankakee County Extension, jtheu50@ illinois.edu or 815-933-8337.

Page 13 • Monday, July 6, 2015 • FarmWeek

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DAMS — Farmland assessment seminar, 1 p.m. July 15 at the Farm Bureau office. Brenda Matherly, Illinois Farm Bureau assistant director of local government, will discuss the farmland assessment law and recent changes to the formula. For more information, call 2227305.

UREAU — CPR training, 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Henry and Stark County Health Department in Kewanee. Certification will not be provided. Call 875-6468 to register by Wednesday. • Nauvoo trip, leaving 6 a.m.

July 30. Tour of historic sites and homes in Old Nauvoo and Baxter’s Vineyards. Cost is $75.

Call 875-6468 for reservations

by July 14.

HAMPAIGN — Foundation Pull 4 Agriculture, 8 a.m. Saturday at Olde Barn Sporting Clays in Oakland. Shooters must bring their own gun and ammunition.

Cost is $60. Shotgun raffle, need not be present to win.

Only 300 tickets will be sold.

Call 352-5235 for more information. Register on site or prior to the event. Visit {ccfarm bureau.com} for more information.

OUGLAS — Drainage law meeting, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 15 at Douglas County Ag Center in Tuscola.

Kyle Emkes, Champaign drainage attorney, will speak.

Call 253-4442 to register by Friday. • Young Leader electronic recycling day, 9 a.m. to noon July 18 at Douglas County Ag Center in Tuscola. Must live in Douglas County to participate.

Materials from businesses, institutions or schools will not be accepted. Call 253-4442 for specific restrictions and costs. • Kiddie tractor pull. Registration 5 p.m. Thursday at Moultrie-Douglas Fairgrounds in Arthur. Cost is $1. Pull begins at 5:30 and will be held rain or shine. Call 253-4442 for more information.

FFINGHAM — Member appreciation picnic, 6 to 9 p.m. July 19 at Evergreen Hollow Park in Effingham co-sponsored by COUNTRY Financial and South Central FS Inc. Quick and Bradley will perform; free swimming, 7 to 9 p.m. at Kluthe Pool. A drawing will be held for preregistered members who attend. Call the Farm Bureau office at 342-2103 by Friday for reservations.

ANCOCK — 8th Hancock County Residue Management Conference, 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 14 at Sullivan & Son Auction and Events Center, Carthage; sessions and farmer panels focus on residue management,

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nutrient management and soil health; no cost to attend, noon meal provided. • Young Leaders volleyball tournament, 6 p.m. Saturday at Hancock County Fairgrounds in Augusta. Must be over the age of 18 to participate. Call 357-3141 for more information. “Likeâ€? Farm Bureau volleyball tournament on Facebook.

ACON — Annual meeting and member appreciation dinner, 6 p.m. Aug. 7 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur.

Cost is $2. Tickets are available at the Farm Bureau office through July 30. Proceeds will benefit the Foundation scholarship fund. Call 877-2436 for more information.

ERCER — Young Leaders pedal tractor pull, Wednesday at Mercer County Fairgrounds in pavilion by main gate for children 12 and under. Registration begins at noon; pull begins at 1 p.m. Tractors are provided.

Fair admission and pull are free. Call 582-5116 for more information.

ONTGOMERY — Prime Timers July luncheon and meeting, noon July 15 at the Farm Bureau office. Young Leader Neil Tester will speak about the recent IFB Ag Industry Tour to Louisiana. Members 55 and older are invited to attend. Cost is $10.50. For reservations, call 532-6171 by Friday.

OULTRIE — Annual meeting, registration 5:30 p.m., dinner 6 p.m. July 16 at First United Methodist Church in Sullivan.

Matt and Philo will provide music. Nonperishable food items will be collected for local food pantry. Philip Nelson, Illinois Department of Agriculture director, will speak. Call 728-4214 for reservations by Thursday. • Kiddie tractor pull. Registration at 5 p.m. Thursday at Moultrie-Douglas Fairgrounds in Arthur. Cost is $1.

Pull begins at 5:30 and will be held rain or shine. Call 2534442 for more information.

EORIA — Members may place Michigan blueberry orders by visiting {peoriacountyfarmbureau.org} or the Farm Bureau office.

Order deadline is 5 p.m.

Thursday. Pickup will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 16. • Exhibit at Heart of Illinois Fair, 4 to 9 p.m. July 1018.

T. CLAIR — Ice cream social, 6:30 p.m.

July 14 at Scheve Park in Mascoutah. Swimming from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 233-6800 for reservations by July 13.

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HELBY — Golf outing, 7 a.m. Saturday at Fox Prairie Golf Course in Windsor. Shotgun start 8 a.m.; lunch 12:30 p.m. Cost is $65. Preregistration is suggested. Call 7742151 for event details. Proceeds will benefit the John Culumber Memorial Scholarship and Foundation scholarships.

TARK — CPR training for family and friends, 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Henry and Stark County Health Department in Kewanee.

Training is free. Participants will receive a “CPR Anytime Kit.� Call 286-7481 to register

by Wednesday. Training is sponsored by Bureau, Henry and Stark County Farm Bureaus.

ERMILION — Member appreciation night with Danville Dans, 6:30 p.m.

July 17 at the Danville Stadium.

Free tickets available at the Farm Bureau office for members and their immediate families. • On-the-road truck seminar, 9 a.m. July 20 in the Farm Bureau auditorium. Kevin

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Rund, IFB senior director of local government, will review the latest trucking regulations.

AYNE — Young Leader golf scramble, noon July 25 at Wayne County Golf Course in Fairfield. Cost is $50 per person for the fourman scramble. Visit {waynecfb. com/golfscramble.html} for more information. Reservation deadline is July 17. Proceeds will benefit the Progressive Ag Safety and Young Leader collegiate scholarship.

HITE — Young Leader pistol shoot, 8:30 a.m. July 18 at Carmi Rifle Club. Event will include Speed Steel and Display of Marksmanship. Cost is $35.

Visit {whitecfb.com/pistol shoot.html} for more information. Proceeds will benefit the Young Leader Collegiate Scholarship.

ILL — Family Fun Night, 4:30 to 8 p.m.

July 16 at the Farm Bureau office. Cost is $10 for adults and children 13 and over, $5 for children 12 and under. Call 727-4811 for tickets and event

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details by Friday. • Young Farmers Golf for Ag Education, noon July 31 at Cinder Ridge Golf Course in Wilmington. Cost is $100 per golfer if registered by Friday and $125 after. Cost for dinner only is $30. Call 7274811 for event details and to register by July 24. Proceeds will benefit Will County Ag Education. • Legislative barn meeting, 6 p.m. July 27, Glenn and Bonnie Ginder’s farm, Peotone, for members and their spouses. Sens. Toi Hutchinson, Donne Trotter, Napoleon Harris III; Reps.

Thaddeus Jones, Elgie Sims Jr., Katherine Cloonen and Al Riley will be present. Call 727-4811 for reservations by July 24.

OODFORD — On-the-road seminar, 7 p.m. July 14 at the Farm Bureau auditorium.

Kevin Rund, IFB senior director of local government, will speak. Call 4672347 for reservations by July 13.

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IFB Young Leader Discussion Meet

Discussion Meet Friendly Competition That Builds Your Leadership Skills

District & State Discussion Topics:

Additional State Topics:

How do we get the public to support right to farm laws?

Should these laws be determined on the state or the federal levels?

How can we influence state and local policy that more effectively balances the social and economic interests of farmers and ranchers versus burdensome federal regulations?

How should Farm Bureau protect and encourage producers’ ability to use new technology? How can Farm Bureau work with government and the public to ensure public acceptance while encouraging innovations?

Should we draft policy to protect livestock producers from false accusations regarding animal welfare? What could it look like?

How do we balance agriculture’s water needs with maintaining vibrant communities? How do historical water rights influence the discussion?

NEW SCHEDULE

Entries due to your county Farm Bureau 7 days before your district competition Contact your county Farm BureauÂŽ for eligibility and contest information.

District

Date

Starting Time Location

1&2 3 4 5&6 7&8 9

11 & 12 13 & 17

15 & 16 18

Aug. 3 August 12 August 24 June 30 August 4 July 27 $XJXVW August 4 August 25 -XO\ August 25 August 15

6:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

S P 7:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

S P 7:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

Stephenson County FB, Freeport Wyffels Hybrids Research Center, Geneseo Mendota Civic Center, Mendota Grundu CFB, Morris 1st Farm Credit, Edwards Hancock County FB, Carthage 6DQJDPRQ &RXQW\ )% 6SULQJĂ€ HOG Douglas County FB, Tuscola Edwards County FB, Albion (IĂ€ QJKDP &RXQW\ )% (IĂ€ QJKDP Madison County FB, Edwardsville Massac County Youth Fairgrounds, Metropolis

For more details or list of prizes - ilfb.org/get-involved/young-leaders or facebook.com/ilfbyl

YL507T5

FarmWeek • Page 14 • Monday, July 6, 2015

Managing crops in a wet year Crop markets respond to supply situation

BY SID PARKS As I travel around the Midwest, there are some tremendous looking crops. However, there are also fairly large areas where excess water is a problem. At my place, I’ve had more than 17 inches of rain since April 1.

So, how do you manage your fields during a wet year? The first concern for corn when there is excess rainfall involved is nitrogen (N). Any applied N fertilizers are eventually transformed to nitrate and become subject to leaching. The most common symptoms of nitrogen deficiency in the corn plant are stunting and yellowing of the lower leaves.

However, yellow leaves do not necessarily mean nitrogen has been lost; it is simply unavailable to the plant. Plant roots require soil pore space not saturated with water and simply may not be able to absorb the available nitrogen. Applying extra nitrogen fertilizer in this case is not the solution.

So, how do you know whether more N is actually needed? The best approach is to test the soil for nitrogen, and your local FS cooperative has a program called N-WATCH to help with this process. The NWATCH program is set up to test for both soil nitrate and ammonium. Other tools and modeling services have been getting more exposure in recent years, and are being evaluated and refined.

Imagery services, both satellite based and aerial, including unmanned aerial vehicles, may offer potential for identifying problems, such as crop damage or drainage issues. These images show variation in growth and are useful in quantifying the degree or size of damaged area. However, any of these must be ground-truthed to verify the actual cause for the variation.

What about disease prevention? Frequent rainfall and cooler temperatures offer an ideal environment for development of many plant diseases. However, the presence or absence of disease should be confirmed through in-person scouting.

Your local FS crop specialist has access to tools and services to help with crop management, empowering you to be able to use this information for future managerial decisions. If you would like to learn more about the N-WATCH program, visit {nwatchonline.com}.

Sid Parks serves as GROWMARK’s agronomy information services manager.

His email address is sparks@growmark.com.

BY DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek

The combination of poor crop conditions in some areas and fewer planted acres than expected sparked a rally in the crop markets last week.

Prices jumped 55 cents for soybeans, 25 to 30 cents for corn and 30 cents for wheat June 30 as USDA acreage estimates came up short of trade expectations by about 100,000 acres of beans and 300,000 acres of corn.

USDA projects farmers planted 88.9 million acres of corn, which would be the lowest total since 2010, and a record 85.1 million acres of beans.

About 5.1 million acres of beans, including 700,000 in Illinois, remained unplanted as of the first of last week.

“Thirty days ago, we were bearish. Today (June 30), farmers were given a reprieve,” Steve Freed, market analyst with ADM Investor Services, said during a webinar hosted

by CME Group. “No one forecast the record rains.”

Torrential rains not only delayed planting in some areas, but also drowned out or damaged crop stands.

Nationwide, the portion of

to see the latest USDA acreage and stocks analysis.

the corn crop rated good to excellent plummeted from 74 to 68 percent between June 1 and June 29. Last year at this time, 75 percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent.

The portion of soybeans rated good to excellent last week totaled 63 percent, down 2 percent from the previous week and 9 percent below last year.

“We had 2.5 weeks of flooding rain that really set the background for discussions about lower yields,” said Dan Basse, market analyst with AgResource Company.

In Illinois, USDA estimates farmers planted 11.9 million acres of corn, down 100,000 acres from last year, and 10.1 million acres of soybeans, which was 100,000 more acres than Iowa for most of any state nationwide.

Stocks of corn (4.45 billion bushels) and beans (625 million bushels) in all positions on June 1 were up significantly

from last year, but below trade expectations by 108 million bushels for corn and 45 million bushels for beans.

“The stocks estimate implies that feed and residual use of corn during the third quarter of the marketing year totaled 1.148 billion bushels, 289 million more than during the same quarter last year and the most since 2010,” said Darrel Good, University of Illinois economist.

Good and Dale Durchholz, AgriVisor senior market analyst, believe USDA also overestimated last year’s crops.

“Soybean production was overestimated last year by the equivalent of about 1 bushel per acre. We’ve got some adjustments USDA has to make going forward,” Durchholz told the RFD Radio Network.

“Corn stocks were about 100 million bushels less than the trade expected. It implies either consumption was up a lot or, like beans, the fact that last year’s crop was overestimated.”

Traders moving forward expect to keep a close eye on the weather, and USDA crop estimates this month and in August.

Milk prices inch higher

The Class III price for milk adjusted to 3.5 percent butterfat for the month of June was announced at $16.72 per hundredweight. This represents an increase of 53 cents from the previous month’s announcement and $1.26 over the last four months.

The wet weather during June has set new record monthly rainfall amounts in many areas of the state. This persistent rainfall has pushed back hay cutting and soybean planting for many dairy farmers. It will be a wait-and-see game to see how the cows respond to overly mature hay. Cooler temperatures certainly have been welcomed as milk production levels are responding to this cool summer.

Tuesday: • FarmWeek: “The Early Word” • Kevin Rund, Illinois Farm Bureau senior director of local government: transportation update • Linda Olson, IFB manager of consumer communications: video contest • Bryce Anderson, DTN Wednesday: • Garry Niemeyer, Sangamon County farmer; and Tamara Nelsen, IFB senior director of commodities: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

• Kevin Reagan, Stone Seed Group: growing conditions Thursday: • Lee Rainie, Pew Research Center: society’s mistrust of science • Don Schaefer, Mid-West Truckers Association: trucking regulations • Jeff Jarboe, Illinois Corn Growers Association: EPA hearing on Renewable Fuel Obligation numbers Friday: • RFD Radio Network live from Historic Farm Days in Penfield • Ivan Dozier, Natural Resources Conservation Service: NRCS reorganization

Corn Strategy

Monumental fundamental shift

The June 1 grain stocks numbers sent analysts back to their drawing boards to re-evaluate their long-term expectations.

The implications of the stocks numbers, and the impact weather is perceived to be having on this year’s crops, has caused some longtime analysts to “do a 180” with their forecasts. One prominent, longtime analyst that had been projecting a 1.7 billion bushel new-crop corn carryout is now looking for one closer to 1 billion bushels. And some of the soybean changes have been equally as dramatic. Those imply major adjustments to price expectations going forward.

But in the immediate future, the unknown is how USDA might handle changes on the supply/demand forecasts coming July 10. And the low June 1 corn and soybean stocks indicate the department needs to make significant adjustments to the old-crop forecasts.

For corn, the larger-thanexpected pace of feed/residual usage continues to imply usage has reverted back to the pattern that existed prior to the last four to five years. The current 5.25 billion bushel number they are using again indicates an unusually low fourth quarter feed/residual use. That clearly doesn’t fit with the usage pattern so far this year.

We expect them to increase the old-crop feed/residual use on the July 10 report 100 million bushels, and it could eventually be larger yet. That would also suggest the new-crop feed/residual number might not be large enough either.

The ending stocks would have to be adjusted downward a similar amount, all other categories being left unchanged; something close to 1.776 billion bushels.

And if the corn number wasn’t enough of a surprise, the June 1 soybean stocks were an even bigger shock. They imply last year’s crop might have been significantly overestimated.

They made a 14 million bushel upward adjustment in the residual use after the March 31 report to account for an overestimate in the crop. The June 30 number indicates that was not nearly enough.

Even if they add another 25 million bushels to the residual, it would imply last year’s crop might be 40 million bushels smaller than forecast. The June 30 stocks number implies it could be closer to 70 million, but we don’t expect them to move that far at this time.

But a 25 million bushel increase in the residual and another adjustment in exports could drop old-crop ending stocks close to 285 million bushels.

The planted acreage numbers weren’t much of a surprise, but the impact weather might have had on yields for these crops could cause USDA to lower its yield expectations.

The trade has started to lower yield for both corn and soybeans, albeit they are still at historically high levels. And soybean acreages are being reduced by some magnitude because of the extremely wet conditions for fields yet to be planted.

Whether USDA makes yield changes is debatable. But we believe prudent changes point to new-crop carryouts of 1.2 billion bushels for corn and 325 million for soybeans. USDA’s forecasts might not be that low, but that seems to be levels the trade is coalescing around.

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ü2014 crop: Leave orders to make a 20 percent sale if September futures reach $4.39.

Price any remaining 2013 crop inventories you may have at the same time. Although we expect another opportunity to price corn this summer, it may not come until the end of August. Manage your risk accordingly. ü2015 crop: Prices are approaching the key resistance just over $4.50. Leave orders to price 10 percent of the crop at $4.49. We prefer to use hedge-to-arrive contracts given the sag in basis. vFundamentals: The low June 11 corn stocks and the heavy rains across the Midwest are causing analysts to significantly revise their new-crop forecasts. Nearly everyone has abandoned their negative fundamental expectations. Still, much of the growing season remains, leaving room for conditions to shift the other way again. ûFail-safe: At the least, make sure sales are complete by the close on July 10. We’d also complete old- and newcrop sales if December futures close under $4.25.

Page 15 • Monday, July 6, 2015 • FarmWeek Cents per bu.

Soybean Strategy

ü2014 crop: Given additional gains last week, make another 10 percent sale if July futures hit $10.75, boosting your total to 85 percent complete. Even though we expect to see higher levels yet, the market should soon turn down into another short-term low in early August. But given production risk, we want to hold some inventory. ü2015 crop: Leave an order to price 10 percent if November futures hit $10.70.

Like corn, the coming week could bring a short-term peak in prices. Because the bigger picture is turning more positive, we don’t feel the pressure to be more aggressive with 15 percent already sold. vFundamentals: The low grain stocks supplemented planting concerns to lift prices to another new high.

The weather situation has elevated both yield and acreage uncertainty, while the stocks number indicated beginning

stocks will be significantly smaller than previously believed.

Wheat Strategy

ü2014 crop: Old-crop wheat sales should be complete. ü2015 crop: Use $6.25 as a target to increase sales by 25 percent. For those selling wheat across the scale, use this rally to price a portion of what you are comfortable selling. vFundamentals: Wheat futures tagged along higher with corn and soybeans last week after the reports were released. Relative to expectations, the stocks and acres

reports were not bullish for wheat. With sentiment in agricultural markets turning friendlier, fund traders have been caught holding a hefty net-short wheat futures position. Short covering may continue to be a tail wind for Chicago futures in the coming weeks. Harvest delays and quality concerns for the U.S. winter wheat crop lend support to the market. Growing weather worries in Europe, Canada and Australia are bullish as well. Supply-side considerations are driving the market higher, but sustained strength will rely on demand keeping up.

FarmWeek • Page 16 • Monday, July 6, 2015

Letters to the editor

Agribusiness Roundtable focuses on connecting with consumers

FarmWeek file photo

Every year around this time, Illinois Farm Bureau holds the IFB Agribusiness Roundtable in Bloomington. The goal of the roundtable is simple — bring together companies from all sides of the agriculture industry, have a central topic and have an open dialogue for the day, encouraging frank discussion, networking and camaRYAN raderie.

TRACY On June 24, we did just that.

Twenty companies attended the roundtable, which focused on recent research done by the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) on “Cracking the Code on Food Issues: Insights from Moms, Millennials and Foodies.” Terry Fleck from CFI served as our keynote speaker and presented their research. CFI has found that when we prove to consumers we share the same values as they do, we can build greater confidence and trust with them. In looking at the different groups (moms, millennials and foodies), they found much of that trust depends on the topic, and more importantly, who is delivering the message.

Farmers have a great story to tell and are some of the best spokespeople. They share many of the same values with consumers; consumers just need to occasionally be reminded of that. The American food system is the safest in the world, and has never been safer than it is today. Somehow this message gets lost in a world of distrust and misinformation. What’s the old adage? Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.

To combat much of the misinformation out there, IFB has been involved with the Illinois

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Editor’s note: Kay Shipman asked farmers attending the McLean County Farm Bureau and Illinois Council make.” on Best Management Practices nutrient watershed meeting the importance of farmers attending meetings about nutrient management.

Farm Families (IFF) coalition to engage consumers, and get them the information they need and want. To update the roundtable on the program, we invited Jill Thurmond, a City Mom from the 2014 IFF class, to tell the group how the City Mom program helped correct some misconceptions she had about farming and food. Jill did a wonderful job of giving us insight into what she and consumers like her are looking for; trust, honesty and safe food, things we can all agree on and American farmers do every day.

Roundtable participants also heard from Nathan Carpenter with Illinois State University’s Social Media and Analytics Command Center on tracking social media. It is amazing when you look at the reach and scope social media has today. Nathan did a great job of sharing that with us. Social media’s impact on food and how consumers receive their information is something we must embrace. In fact, IFB President Rich Guebert agrees with that. Follow him on Twitter at @ilfbpres.

Working together with the agribusiness industry is something IFB acknowledged has great value and has focused on over the years.

The Agribusiness Roundtable is just one example of that effort. Realizing that we are all in this together and that working toward a common goal makes us so much stronger is vital to our continued success. We may not agree on everything, but the things we do agree on are as important as the things we don’t. I’m glad groups like the Agribusiness Roundtable work on issues that can make a lasting impact.

Ryan Tracy serves as IFB’s director of external relations.

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“To be proactive before we get regulated, and to learn about the best management choices we can

Kurt Williams Ellsworth

“It’s our future.”

Ed Rau Maroa

Farm is friendly to insects, wildlife

pheasants. Wily critters even go into the small towns for fat cat dinners.

Insects? Plenty! A few select ones that exploded in population have been beaten back, but some are still around.

Instead of broadcast spraying whole fields, we now can use drones to identify spray spots only, thus limiting overall environmental impact ... and saving us money!

Butterflies? We have a variety, but yes, a decline in Monarchs. I do have conservation acres and ditch banks that have milkweeds, but there are a lot fewer milkweeds than in the past. One neighbor spearheads an effort to plant milkweeds!

Bottom line? Our farm is friendly to a host of sensitive insects and wildlife. I intend to keep it that way!

LINDEN WARFEL Tolono

Explore possibilities of improving soil

there is a growing movement back toward more natural ways of doing things, ways of farming that actually improve the soil and improve our health rather than diminishing it.

Biological and organic farming are steps in the right direction, but too often even these approaches haven’t broken free of the old paradigm that assumes the need for heavy machinery, and continual working and reworking of the soil, which is so destructive to the life and health of the soil. I would encourage any farmer who is looking for alternative ways of improving the fertility of the land he farms to start exploring the possibilities that are out there.

Here are two examples of financially successful, and healthy, alternatives: {singingfrogsfarm.com/Home. html} and {http://bit.ly/ 1Hqf1lb}.

BRUCE JONES Prophetstown

Editor: It’s a very good thing to do, and paying keen attention to the small, living creatures in our environment, the most fragile of the lot, makes a lot of sense. Particularly since the bomb book “Silent Spring” hit the market, I keep close tabs on insects and wild animals around our farm.

There have certainly been changes!

More deer and more coyotes! Fox, squirrels, raccoons, opossum about the same.

Birds? More of the small ones — hummingbirds, wrens, finches, and more of the larger ones — robins, thrushes, cardinals. Hawks are stable, each having a territory. We have had a turkey buzzard first time ever!

Coyotes, not farmers, are responsible for the decline in

Editor: I would like to applaud the letter to the editor that Arch Hopkins wrote in the June 22 edition of FarmWeek. It’s worth highlighting this statement: “We need to find ways to minimize chemicals and reintegrate the natural world into our farming.”

I get discouraged reading farm publications that only give us the party line that the big chemical and seed companies want us to hear. Just like President Dwight Eisenhower warned our nation of what he called the “military industrial complex” that had developed during World War II, so do we need warnings about the agricultural industrial complex that has taken over American farming.

Mr. Hopkins’ concern “for the future of our great farmland as well as our health” is well-founded and needs to be taken seriously. Fortunately,

“We have to know what it is we’re facing when it comes to environmental strategies, and how we can work those into our operations and still be profitable.”

Alan Bailey Springfield

tainability.”

“I want to do the best job I can.

We have been doing that for years to improve soil tilth and nutrient sus-

James Sloneker Bloomington