SPECIALTY CROPS
FarmWeek Page 2 Monday, May 26, 2014
What they’re saying about WRRDA: “This legislation is very good news for Illinois. We know what locks and dams mean to our farmers, to local commerce and to the families that live in areas that are a high risk of flooding. Now we’ve passed a bill that will help make critical and necessary upgrades to that infrastructure after decades of neglect.” — Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield Dick Durbin
“WRRDA is, first and foremost, a jobs bill, and the approval of a long-term WRRDA bill was overdue.” — Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville
Rodney Davis
“I’m elated that our bipartisan, common sense idea to help modernize our region’s aging locks and dams received overwhelming support in both the House and Senate. Improving our locks and dams is critical to our region’s economic health, and we can’t afford to wait any longer.” — Rep.Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline Cheri Bustos
“Now that we have the strategy for the inland waterway system in place, Congress needs to follow through with appropriations. We are hopeful that process will be consistent with recommendations prescribed in the WRRDA conference report.” — Bill Raben, Illinois Soybean Association chairman Bill Raben
“Passing the WRRDA bill is a small victory … however, this is only an authorization bill. Real change is not affected until appropriations for this spending come from Congress and until we increase the barge fuel user fee to grow available funds in the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.” — Gary Hudson, Illinois Corn Growers Association president
WRRDA Gary Hudson
By the year 2025, 100 percent of the funds generated by the tax will be used for that purpose versus half the funds currently used. • Mississippi River Basin study. The bill authorizes a study to evaluate how the basin functions and how it should be managed, especially during times of severe flooding and drought. It also creates an envicontinued from page 1
(ISSN0197-6680) Vol. 42 No. 21 May 26, 2014 Dedicated to improving the profitability of farming, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers. FarmWeek is produced by the Illinois Farm Bureau. FarmWeek is published each week, except the Mondays following Thanksgiving and Christmas, by the Illinois Agricultural Association, 1701 Towanda Avenue, P.O. Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61701. Illinois Agricultural Association assumes no responsibility for statements by advertisers or for products or services advertised in FarmWeek. FarmWeek is published by the Illinois Agricultural Association for farm operator members. $3 from the individual membership fee of each of those members goes toward the production of FarmWeek. “Farm, Family, Food” is used under license of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation.
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ronmental management pilot program for the middle Mississippi River. It was based on a bill Durbin authored and introduced with Davis and Rep. Bill Enyart, D-Belleville. • Accelerates the planning process and streamlines environmental reviews. WRRDA limits most Corps studies to three years and caps the federal cost of them at $3 million. Currently, no limit exists for either.
STAFF Editor Chris Anderson (canderson@ilfb.org) Legislative Affairs Editor Kay Shipman (kayship@ilfb.org) Agricultural Affairs Editor Deana Stroisch (dstroisch@ilfb.org) Senior Commodities Editor Daniel Grant (dgrant@ilfb.org) Editorial Assistant Margie Fraley (mfraley@ilfb.org) Business Production Manager Bob Standard (bstandard@ilfb.org) Advertising Sales Manager Richard Verdery (rverdery@ilfb.org) Classified sales coordinator Nan Fannin (nfannin@ilfb.org) Director of News and Communications Michael L. Orso Advertising Sales Representatives Hurst and Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 1-800-397-8908 (advertising inquiries only) Gary White - Northern Illinois Doug McDaniel - Southern Illinois Editorial phone number: 309-557-2239 Classified advertising: 309-557-3155 Display advertising: 1-800-676-2353
Tom Schwartz, a Centralia specialty grower, works around extreme weather challenges that delayed this year’s strawberry crop at Schwartz Orchard. Schwartz will host the 2014 Horticulture Field Day on June 12. (Photo by Ken Kashian)
Weather extremes challenging fruit crops BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
First, bone-chilling cold; then, an early heat wave. Fruit growers in parts of southern Illinois continue grappling with weather challenges. Tom Schwartz, owner and operator of Schwartz Orchard near Centralia, explained cold and heat are impacting this year’s crops. On June 12, Schwartz will host the 2014 Horticulture Field Day. “There aren’t any peaches,” Schwartz declared. Days of temperatures dipping as low as 15 to 16 degrees below zero destroyed Schwartz’s 2014 peach crop. However, he remains optimistic about his prospective apple crop. “The apples look pretty good. Apples are tougher,” he said. But the
cold temperatures slowed development, he added. Meanwhile, his strawberry crop reflects both cold and more recently hot days.
‘There aren’t any peaches.’ — Tom Schwartz Centralia specialty grower
Schwartz explained he lost the first set of early blooms to cold. Cool temperatures pushed berry development six or seven days behind schedule, he noted. But summer-like temperatures arrived ahead of schedule. “We don’t want 85-
degree days,” Schwartz said. Accelerated heat will result in all the blooms coming on simultaneously, he explained. Strawberry picking began mid-May. Schwartz also raises blackberries, pears, tomatoes and pumpkins along with apples, peaches and strawberries. Fruits and vegetables aren’t Schwartz’ only products. In January, he gained notoriety for his apple cider, which claimed the top prizes in the national and state cider competitions. The awards have increased interest in his cider. Schwartz also developed creative juices, which he markets as Schweet Juice. Those include Blapple, a combination of blackberry and apple, and Strapple, a mix of strawberry and apple.
Horticulture field day, tour set for June 12
Schwartz Orchard near Centralia will host the 2014 Horticulture Field Day June 12, starting at 8:30 a.m. Tour hosts will be Tom Schwartz, orchard owner and operator, and Nancy James, market manager. To reach the orchard, travel Interstate 57 and take exit 109. Go 4 miles west toward Centralia, then turn south or left onto Schwartz Road and travel for 2 miles to 1942 Copple Road. Visit {schwartzfruitfarm.com}. Schwartz Orchard covers about 40 acres southeast of Centralia. This year, the orchard opened April 26 and will close in mid-December. Visitors may pick their own or buy
prepicked apples, peaches, strawberries, pumpkins, blackberries, pears and tomatoes. The orchard sells award-winning cider and specialty juices. The market contains a state-ofthe-art cider press. With daily business hours, a bakery and country store offers a variety of baked goods, apple butters, jellies, pickles, crafts and cookbooks. Registration is encouraged before June 10. The cost is $25 per person or $30 on site. Children 11 and younger are free. To register, email ilsthortsoc@yahoo.com or call Don Naylor, horticulture society executive secretary at 309-530-7676 or 309-828-8929.