AG Mag Central Iowa
Vital Signs An annual checkup on the health of agriculture in the fields, in the classrooms, and in Washington, D.C. WINTER CALM: We give you a look at Iowa fields as they lie still during winter months.
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 371 NEWTON, IA 50208 P.O. Box 967 Newton, IA 50208 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
MEAT MARKET: A Knoxville staple is new and improved. A Publication of Shaw Media
Spring 2017 AG Mag
1
Contact any Key Cooperative Agronomist to learn more about implementing Instinct® II and N-Serve® nitrogen stabilizers on your farm. your essential business partner
www.keycoop.com
2 Spring 2017
®Instinct and N-Serve are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. Instinct II is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Do not fall-apply anhydrous ammonia south of Highway 16 in the state of Illinois. Always read and follow label directions.
AG Mag Central Iowa
Publisher Dan Goetz Advertising Director Jeff Holschuh Managing Editor Abigail Pelzer Magazine Editor Jeff Rogers Page Design Jeff Rogers Reporters & Photographers Pam Eggemeier, Christopher Heimerman, Justin Jagler, Kayla Langmaid, Mike Mendenhall, Jamee A. Pierson, and Anthony Victor Reyes
COVER STORY PAGE 6
Published by News Publishing Co. 200 First Avenue East Newton, IA 50208 641-792-3121
Ag in the classroom Locally and nationally, the numbers of students and the offerings in agriculture education are on the rise.
Articles and advertisements are the property of News Publishing Co. No portion of the Central Iowa Ag Mag may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of News Publishing Co. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, News Publishing Co. cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. News Publishing Co. cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.
FARMERS NATIONAL COMPANY Farmers National
FNC sold over $2.44 billion of land in the last five years.
Kathy Van Zee
Company has been
Real Estate Sales Mitchellville, Iowa
named A Top Auction
(641) 521-0151 or (641) 521-5305 KVanZee@FarmersNational.com
House in the United States as well as
www.FarmersNational.com/KathyVanZee
a Best Brokerage Company by The Land Report, the Magazine for America’s Landowners
John Van Zee
Thinking of selling? We have qualified buyers.
Real Estate Sales Mitchellville, Iowa
(641) 521-5305 or (641) 521-0151 JVanZee@FarmersNational.com
www.FarmersNational.com/JohnVanZee
If you are considering buying or selling, call Kathy and John today for all your real estate needs!
www.FarmersNational.com
Real Estate Sales • Auctions • Farm and Ranch Management • Appraisal • Insurance Consultation • Oil and Gas Management • Forest Resource Management National Hunting Leases • Lake Management • FNC Ag Stock AG Mag
3
For All Your Concrete Needs! cia l
m Co
64 1-5
ricultural
Driveways Patios Sidewalks Floors Foundations Retaining Walls Decorative Concrete Skid Loader Work Demo & Removal
Ag
sidential e R
P
n Concrete, In o i s i c. mer rec
• GSI Grain Bins • GSI Bucket Elevators & Conveyors • GSI Dryers • MC Dryers • DMC Stir-ators • CALC-U-DRI • Air Systems • Bin Unload Systems • Westfield Portable Augers
• Bin Remodeling • Continuous Flow Dryers • NECO Bin Equipment • Vinyl Fence & Deck • Bin Foundations • Commercial Bins • Shivvers Systems • Kahler Controls • Temperature Cable • Harvest International Augers
We service all brands of equipment.
5 10-011
Your Investment, Our Pride... Free Estimates! Competitive Rates! SM-NE4449513-0228
641-594-2931 sullyfarmssupply@netins.net
Rural Water –
An Untapped Value Tap into quality, reliable, affordable rural water! www.bankiowa.bank
4 Spring 2017
For more information call 800-400-6066 or visit us at www.ciawa.com
Index 2017 Forecast
Yields have been high and prices low in the past few years. What’s in store this year?
COVER STORY PAGE 15
12
What can farmers expect from new leadership in Washington, D.C.?
17
High school junior relishes the responsibility of raising livestock.
Farmers Forum WITH CENTRAL IOWA AG MAG
How have lower commodity prices changed your approach to planting in 2017?
Ben Jahnke
Gordon Wassanaar
Beck’s Hybrids Practical Farm Research Agronomist Ben Jahnke, Colfax: “The threat for climbing interest rates could be an issue. Farmers in 2016 struggled to make a profit with commodity prices being more unfavorable. They may have to borrow money to put in crop. Operating loans could cost more, and land values have fallen for the third year in a row.” Gordon Wassanaar, Prairie City: “I think there are a lot of
Dean Taylor
variable factors with exports, especially Mexico. That’s the biggest concern. If we do have a big crop this year, it’s going to depress prices all nationally. There is plenty of grain sitting around. But I don’t think they’re be any acreage changes here. Dean Taylor, Prairie City: “We had an excellent crop last year, I don’t know if there’s a lot of changes at this point. Because we are both corn and soy, we can stay with that rotation.”
AG Mag
5
MORE STUDENTS CROPPING UP Ag students in healthy supply, while teachers in demand locally and nationally BY JAMEE A. PIERSON AND CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN For Central Iowa Ag Mag
G
rowing, growing, growing. That is how Newton Community School District’s agriculture teacher, James Horn, described his classes during the past decade. “Newton is growing tremendously; we’ve grown by almost 400 percent in the past nine years,” Horn said. “We’re at about 135 students; and state and
6 Spring 2017
nationwide it is growing, with more than 14,000 members in the state of Iowa. We’re at record highs.” The diversifications and technological advances in agriculture have helped create a boon in ag education. From tech companies to the lawyers who represent them, its umbrella covers 300-plus career tracks, more than ever before. You can get a 4-year degree in myriad fields, get an associate degree at junior colleges, including Southwestern Com-
munity College, or fulfill an apprenticeship or internship. The Newton district offers a wide variety of ag-related subjects for students, including agricultural science 1-4, horticulture, ag sales marketing class, and welding. Two college credit classes were also introduced for this school year – animal science and introductory horticulture. CONTINUED ON 7
4CONTINUED FROM 6 “There is a lot of different interest all across the ag spectrum,” Horn said. “Our kids are probably drawn a little more towards the animal science, agronomy and ag mechanics area.” Horn said he has seen a shift in the demographics of who is taking his courses. Currently, he has 52 percent girls in class, a change from the once male-dominated subject. He said he also has very few kids who come from full-time farms, with most students living in town or on a small acreage. “Our kids are super involved, super excited about it,” Horn said. “Our numbers kids of reflect that. They keep signing up.” Amber Sampson, ag teacher at Prairie City-Monroe High School, has seen a similar shift in her classrooms. Participation had dipped after a turnover at the instructor position, she said, but now are starting to rebound in the two years she’s been on the job. “We went from a really long-term teacher to two different teachers in three years, but we are seeing the numbers come back up,” Sampson said. “The biggest dip is because we don’t have as many freshmen taking ag classes. We don’t know if that is because they aren’t getting information about what the classes are at sign-up, or if it is because we are getting a little more urban that we used to be.” So locally, as is the case nationally, the number of ag students is on the rise. All that’s missing, really, are the ag educators. The conundrum: Ag programs in high schools are on an upswing. Iowa Farmer Today reported there were 16,935 high school students enrolled in agriculture education courses in Iowa in the 2014-15 school year, compared to 15,789 in the 2001-02 school year. Across the nation are 7,800 ag programs. Imagine if there wasn’t a teacher shortage. Why is that the case? “Industry is seemingly hiring them away,” said Gary Ochs, a 38-year-old teaching associate in agricultural science education at the University of Illinois. “We have school districts that are unable to fill ag positions. The demand is there. The push is to try to get ag in those schools.” Ochs said the upward trend in ag programs and participation is pretty consistent through the Midwest. He has a unique perspective, having taught ag for 13 years between Paris High School and Redhill High in Bridgeport in Illinois. When he’s not in his classroom, he’s often in high school classrooms preaching the ag career gospel, explaining to many freshmen sim-
Photos by Jamee A. Pierson/Central Iowa Ag Mag
Newton Community School District agriculture teacher James Horn works with horticulture students preparing their greenhouse for the coming growing season. The students are among the 135 who are taking ag classes this year at Newton High School. That’s up by 400 percent from nine years ago, Horn said. ply what modern ag is, while recruiting upperclassmen to U of I. He was at Sterling High School in Whiteside County, Illinois, on Nov. 22, visiting the first-year ag program run by Elise Baker at the high school and Julie LeFevre at Challand Middle School. Before Sterling’s program was resurrected, Prophetstown’s ag program was the only one in the county. In picking the kids’ brains about what sort of field they’d like to pursue, he learned that Baker, who doesn’t come from a farming background, is doing a fine job telling her kids that’s perfectly fine – preferred in some cases, really. “She’s branching out to a lot of nontraditional students – kids who don’t come from farms,” Ochs said. “Once she establishes herself, she’ll help students realize the skills and opportunities ag can provide them will benefit them down the road, even if they don’t go into an ‘ag’ field.” Sara Conner, 30, took over the Prophetstown ag program in 2012, and is excited to see the Sterling program
grow – after all, she had LeFevre as an ag teacher when she was in high school. Since then, a background in farming, let alone getting dirt under your nails as a production farmer, has become less of an emphasis. “Ag is not just production farming,” Conner said. “You don’t have to come from an ag background. You just have to have an interest in one of those careers, and we can find you a niche.” The teaching jobs, the opportunities to be part of those upstart programs are out there, ripe for the picking. Ochs points out that ag education is anything but limited to a classroom. It’s the “people side” of his department, he said, and includes folks working sales or college extensions, or at farm bureaus or corporations as trainers. “We ... are pushing to get students into our ag education programs. We have a great product, and there’s such a demand for graduates. We just need to identify people, those high school students, who want to go into teaching,” AG Mag
7
Preserving heritage
Century farmers maintain history amid changing times
A
BY ANTHONY VICTOR REYES Central Iowa Ag Mag
s anyone who was brought up on a farm can attest, the livestock they raise always has a special place in their heart. From the snorting pigs to the curious cows, people who grew up working the land have countless memories about the livestock they were raised with. “In the old days, we were fairly self sufficient. We had chickens, milk cows, sheep, pigs – pretty much all the livestock lived on our farm,” farmer Frank Faidley said. Faidley is a fourth-generation farmer. He and his sisters, Maggie Jennings and Gaylene Otto, own four century farms that belong to their family. Faidley lives
on his childhood farm near Prairie City that was owned by his father, Clarence Jr. Faidley, and passed down from his father, Clarence Sr. Faidley. The farm was originally purchased by Levi Faidley, Clarence Sr.’s father and Frank’s great-grandfather. “I was born and raised in this house and lived here all my life,” Frank said. “I can almost see the faces of my ancestors when I look out at the fields and farm. I hear the voices of my grandfather, father and uncles.” Frank and his siblings were raised doing chores around the house, working the land and taking care of the animals. But like any child, they also found time to play.
Farmer Frank Faidley looks out at the farm near Prairie City that has been in his family for more than 100 years. Faidley still grows row crops on the farm, but has given up raising livestock. “Livestock is a young man’s thing,” he said.
CONTINUED ON 9
Frank Faidley’s grandparents, Clarence Sr. and Vera Clymer Faidley, pose on a couch in the 1960s.
Recover in Comfort & Style • 24 Hour Skilled Nursing & Medical Care • Hospice & Respite Care • Restorative Nursing • Pain Management • Wound Care Treatment • Private Suites 208 S. 8th Ave. E. Newton, IA Call for a tour today! (641)) 792-7440 (6 SM-NE4449792-0228
We’ll Get You in, Rehabbed, & Home Again
8 Spring 2017
Rob Weuve Sales/Finance Manager
SM-NE4449979-0228
916 West St Grinnell, IA 50112 Dealer: 641-236-3172 Ext 211 Cell: 641-521-9408 Fax: 641-236-4281 Rob.stevelinkfordlincoln@gmail.como www.Steve-Link.com
4CONTINUED FROM 8 “In country, unless you had a neighbor that you could play with, you were more isolated and you had to be creative,” Gaylene said. “I dressed my chickens up into doll clothes. I dressed kitty cats into doll clothes.” According to the siblings, there are no farmers left in the family. Frank said due to the intense labor, he decided to stop raising livestock on the farms and focus on growing row crops. “Livestock is a young man’s thing. There is a lot of hand labor in livestock. If you are an older guy, you are taking a risk,” Frank said. “I miss going up in the barn and tossing hay down to the livestock. You would have gloves on during the winter time and they would smooth the handle on the fork. During the summertime it had this silky feel to it, which is pretty cool.” According to the family, raising livestock requires a lot of hard work and dedication. “If you have cattle or hogs, or something like that, you are tied down,” said Frank’s wife, Meg. “Dairy farmers, I don’t envy them. That would be non-stop.” The family said this was not an uncommon decision for family farms. “It’s not an easy life, either,” Meg said. “It is not guaranteed. Each year is different. You don’t know how much you are going to make every year. The prices on cattle always are fluctuating.” Much as livestock are thinning on family farms, so, too, are the number of farm-raised young people learning about agriculture and taking up the family’s mantle. “There aren’t that many farm kids anymore,” Frank said. “During the tough times, some of them came back and couldn’t make money. So they left.” Despite this major change, the siblings are happy their family’s century farms are still in their name. They said this allows them to preserve the heritage that has been passed down for more than 100 years. “It is important to preserve the family
Frank and Meg Faidley live in Frank’s childhood home, shown on the left in 1917. The house, with some modifications, still stands after more than 100 years. This is one of four century farms Frank Faidley and his siblings help manage.
Gaylene Otto and Meg Faidley share stories about the Faidley family history. heritage,” Gaylene said. “To teach the next generation how hard our former generation worked. They did it for us.” Although they are concerned that none of the younger generation are farmers, they know they will always have a love for their farm and the lifestyle that comes with it. “There is a love for this area,” Meg said. “Gaylene’s son talks about coming back here and buying a place if he
can. Our daughters like it. One of our daughters would like to build a home and come back here. I encourage them to learn as much as they can about agriculture. It’s their home.” The family said they are confident their younger generation will keep the land in the family and preserve their family’s heritage. “I told them, if they sell (the farm), I would come back and haunt them,” Frank said.
We’re here to help you be successful! Come in and visit with our ag loan officers about your financial needs.
Custom Metal Fabrication Farm Equipment Repairs Bale Rings - Gates - Horse Hay Savers Welding Gases & supplies
809 North Mechanic
100 N. 2 ND A VE . W., N EWTON 641-792-3010 1821 F IRST A VE . E., N EWTON 641-792-9420
641-259-2952
WWW . FNNBBANK . COM
AG Mag
9
WINTER PHOTOS BY MIKE MENDENHALL For Central Iowa Ag Mag
During the winter months, Iowa farmers are either out selling and hauling grain or hunkered down indoors doing the bookkeeping and planning for upcoming spring planting. But the fields are still. This is especially evident after a fresh blanket of snow. Hay bales sit with a white dusting, and combines are parked in cold barns and under overhangs. The only life is cattle grazing in bare acres and farm cats huddled together to keep warm. The following is a series of images which show the stillness after a 2-inch February snowfall on three farmsteads in Polk and Jasper counties.
10 Spring 2017
CALM
AG Mag
11
SEEKING CLARITY A
Is there a unique opportunity for farmers in Trump’s atypical transition?
BY PAM EGGEMEIER AND JUSTIN JAGLER For Central Iowa Ag Mag
griculture lobbyists would have every right to expect cooperation from President Donald Trump, but whether they can count on it remains to be
seen. In November, nearly two-thirds of the rural vote went to the Republican, including big wins in Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio and Indiana. A narrow win in Wisconsin was key to Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton. While Trump did little on the campaign trail to specifically address agriculture policy, much of his tough talk on business issues also resonated with farmers. Agriculture is big business, so it’s no surprise both have some of the same top legislative priorities and expectations for the new administration. While uncertainty is a given during a presidential transition, this one goes beyond party politics. “This is not your typical transition, where you’re looking at Democrat versus Republican,” said Tony Michaels, CEO of Midwestern BioAg, a fertilizer producer and soil consultant based in Madison, Wisconsin, with facilities in six Midwestern states. Michaels was returning Jan. 27 from an agribusiness conference in the nation’s capital, where he had lunch with Newt Gingrich, one of the speakers. Gingrich said that because the Trump administration isn’t likely to adhere to obvious partisan-driven changes, there is unique opportunity in the uncertainty.
CONTINUED ON 13
Quality Service You Can Trust A Family Business All About Your Family. Marshalltown, IA 641-753-9595
Newton, IA 641-791-9093
Pella, IA 641-628-1344
Des Moines, IA 515-270-1917
Knoxville, IA 641-842-2011
www.mccallmonument.com
12 Spring 2017
Light or Heavy Duty Truck & Trailer Repair Call or visit today 2 miles south of I-80 on Highway 14
Cell: 515-250-6572 5221 Hwy 14 South, Newton, IA 641-792-0242
4CONTINUED FROM 12 “At the core, I think a lot of things said in this election will be re-evaluated with the biggest consideration being what keeps jobs in this country,” Michaels said. Gingrich called the opportunity the “white space on the canvas” amid the unknowns. “He told us to recast things according to how they create jobs and wealth, pitch them, and start painting in the canvas,” Michaels said. Michaels said Midwestern BioAg certainly won’t be making any changes based on perceived policy changes. “The key from our perspective is that we work with more professional farmers who aren’t wedded to a lot of government rules,” Michaels said. “If there is demand and the price of grains are driven up, we’ll be fine.” nnn Historically, presidential candidates tend to speak favorably about the agriculture industry when making campaign stops in Iowa. With Iowa’s central role in the nation’s farming business, it makes perfect political sense. Trump broke the political mold in many ways during his ascension, but he did not break from the normalcy of praising agriculture during his stops in the heartland. How will his agricultural policy decisions reflect his campaign rhetoric? Jasper County elected officials weigh in. State Rep. Wes Breckenridge, D-Newton, said the country needs to focus on creating new jobs in the areas of renewable energy and expanding wind and
Justin Jagler/Central Iowa Ag Mag
State Rep. Wes Breckenridge, D-Newton, and state Sen. Chaz Allen, D-Newton, meet with the public at a legislative coffee in January. solar industries. “President Trump has made a commitment to creating and bringing jobs back to America,” Breckenridge said. “I hope his policies fall in line with making this a reality.” Breckenridge is concerned, however, that some of Trump’s policies negatively impact the United States’ relationships with other countries and will hurt the economy. He said citizens need to continue voicing their concerns and work toward a better future for Iowa and the country. State Rep. Greg Heartsill, R-Columbia, said that as a candidate, Trump was a vocal supporter of agricultural issues.
Vanderwaal Insurance Owner Randy “Slim” Vanderwaal • Commercial • Automobile • Home Owners • Farm Hall
641-259-3076 slimvan@iowatelecom.net PO Box 692 • 102 S. Jasper St. Monroe
That support was loud and clear at the 2016 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, when he promised to stand by the industry and protect the Renewable Fuel Standard. Some renewable fuels industry leaders are concerned about Trump’s Cabinet picks and their history of opposing the RFS, but it remains to be seen how the industry will be impacted. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has long been considered an ally to agriculture and renewable fuels to industry leaders. The governor will take on a new role in the Trump administration as the U.S. ambassador to China. State Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, called the appointment “an indication of how he intends to move agriculture forward through the trade process.” Sen. Chaz Allen, D-Newton, said he is hopeful the president will maintain the nation’s commitment to wind energy, solar energy and other forms of renewable energy. “We need to keep creating jobs in the United States that can’t be shipped overseas,” Allen said. nnn Business and agriculture
rallied around Trump’s promises to spur growth through an overhaul of regulatory restraints. He said he plans to cut burdensome regulations by 75 percent, and during his first week in office, he put a freeze on new and pending regulations in all executive departments and agencies. Farmers say the promise to make it easier to do business was Trump’s strongest selling point to the agriculture voting bloc. Because the president is a businessman, they are optimistic about positive changes being made to the regulatory structure. “There is excitement about the president’s comments about scaling back some overreaching regulations that have been hard on agriculture and business across the country,” said Evan Hultine, a Bureau County, Illinois, farmer who serves as chairman of the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Young Leader Conference Committee. Farmers historically have pointed to the Environmental Protection Agency as the agency that concerns them most, and that hasn’t changed. CONTINUED ON 144 AG Mag
13
4CONTINUED FROM 13
How Trump carried rural America
“A lot of work the EPA has done the last 8 years has gone far beyond public safety concerns,” Hultine said. “We’ve also seen times where some scientific facts were ignored in making their decisions.” Hultine cites use of the herbacide atrazine as a prime example of the regulatory constraints that loom large for producers. Atrazine is a weed killer that is commonly used, primarily on corn. EPA wants to reduce its use, and possibly ban it altogether because of environmental and health concerns. Farmers say an atrazine ban would drive up production costs and reduce yields. “A lot of these regulations do more harm than good, and they paint farmers as enemies of the environment when most of us are good stewards of the land,” Hultine said. As with all new administrations, it will take some time to cut through the campaign rhetoric and get a clearer picture of policy directions. An Agriculture Department leader has been nominated, likely removing one unknown. Pending Senate approval, former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue will become ag secretary. The former secretary, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, resigned before Perdue was appointed. Ag groups, for the most part, have expressed support for Perdue, but some have questioned why it was the last Cabinet post filled. Perdue has received strong backing from large farm organizations, including American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “I have known Gov. Perdue for years, and I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to the business of agriculture as we worked together on issues facing farmers and ranchers in our home state of Georgia,” Duvall said in a news release. As is the case with Trump, much of agriculture’s optimism about Perdue stems from his business background. “He understands the challenges fac-
www.i80farms.com I-80 Farms 8647 Hwy F-48 W Colfax, IA 50054
• Told voters he’d get rid of 75 percent of burdensome regulations • Promised to dismantle the Affordable Care Act • Pledged to protect Renewable Fuel Standard • Specifically addressed Waters of the United States Rule while Clinton did not • Hope that Trump would get rid of estate tax • General dissatisfaction with the Obama administration • Downturn in the farm economy ing rural America because that’s where he was born and raised,” Duvall said. “He is a businessman who recognizes the impact immigration reform, trade agreements, and regulation have on a farmer’s Sonny Perdue bottom line and ability to stay in business from one season to the next.” Perdue, who also has a background in veterinary medicine, would be tasked with leading efforts to get a new farm bill passed in 2018. While Perdue owns several ag-related businesses, there is concern about his lack of experience with ethanol or biodiesel. nnn Farmers are also anticipating cost-cutting measures from a GOP administration and the new Congress. “We’re out there asking Farm Bureau members how the farm bill is working for them, but we’re telling them that we sense there could be less money to spend in the next one,” said Adam Nielsen, director of national legislation and policy development for Illinois Farm Bureau. While farmers are upbeat about prospects for progress on the regulatory front, early signs on another key issue haven’t looked as promising. With commodities in a down cycle, farmers are also fixated on trade policies. Both Trump and Clinton had stated their opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement negotiated for many years by the U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim nations. Trump signed an executive order Jan. 23 that took the U.S. out of the deal that
I-80 Farms is a growing operation, producing quality crops using environmentally sound practices.
515-674-9682
farm interests had lobbied hard for, in the hope it would open new markets for farmers. Trump said trade deals like TPP have hurt American manufacturers, and taken jobs out of the country. Trump’s signature was largely symbolic at this point because U.S. inclusion in the controversial trade deal was likely to be killed in Congress anyway. Farm organizations, however, including Iowa Farm Bureau, didn’t miss the opportunity to issue the president of reminder of their stance on trade. Adding to farmers’ worries, Trump has also said he plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. “It’s disappointing because TPP would have been a big benefit to farmers, but now with talk about opening up NAFTA, it’s becoming a bigger concern,” Hultine said. Hultine said it takes some farmers back to the grain embargo instituted during the Carter administration. “The embargo had a big impact for a long time, and that fear lingers with a lot of farmers,” Hultine said. Jimmy Carter enacted the embargo against the Soviet Union in 1980, in response to the Soviets’ invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Although Ronald Reagan lifted the embargo a year later, Midwest grain farmers suffered much longer. The Soviets had turned to other grain exporters during the embargo, and continued to buy cheaper grain deal from those nations, mainly in South America. Grain prices crashed, farm credit dried up, and for the first time in history, the U.S. was forced to import grain.
Specializing in Farm, Crop, Hail Life, Home and Auto
Melanie Umble, AFIS S Agribusiness & Farm m Insurance Specialist st
515-994-2446 Toll Free • 888-994-9344 Fax • 515-994-9344
email: mumble@shomo-madsen.com SM-NE5142936-0228
14 Spring 2017
SPRINGING INTO ACTION
Despite uncertain markets, Iowa farmers move forward into planting
A
BY MIKE MENDENHALL AND CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN For Central Iowa Ag Mag
sk any farmer in the field about their outlook for 2017 and they’ll likely give you one word — uncertainty. A new presidential administration is bringing changes in export trade which will affect grain market. A near record warm winter has brought good subsurface soil moisture but the possibility of a hot and dry summer. Corn prices are causing some growers to be more conservative.
But for row crop farmers like Dean Taylor in Prairie City, the uncertainty is not going to bring big changes to the 2017 planting program. “Farmers are eternal optimists, but we’re always seeing the cloud over the horizon,” Taylor said. Taylor, a past president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, said the biggest change he sees in his crystal ball is related to low grain prices. The record low market prices, he said, will cause farmers to be more conservative with chemical treatments in 2017.
“I’d say there’s a little more conversation on assets this year. We might pace out how much fertilizer we put on,” Taylor said. “That’s what everybody starts to do when the money gets a little tighter.” Even a farmer in Prairie City keeps a close on on federal government transitions and is sensitive to changes at the federal level. Foreign affairs, particularly with trade policy, affects Iowa farmers because so much of what they grow is shipped oversees. CONTINUED ON 16
AG Mag
15
4CONTINUED FROM 15 Taylor said that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is something that ag industry professionals have been working toward for a long time, and the U.S. decision not to enter the free trade agreement will be felt at the ground level. He did not want to go as far as questioning President Donald Trump’s urge to negotiate bilaterally with export markets, but many Iowa farmers have been proponents of free trade deals like the TPP and the North American Free Trade Agreement. Farther down the road in rural Prairie City, Gordon Wassenaar is a corn and soybean farmer and a former member for the U.S. Grains Council. He agrees with Taylor that exports markets could tell the tale of 2017. “There are a lot of what-ifs here,” Wassenaar said. “Mexico is a good customer. A lot of people don’t know this, but they are our No. 1 corn customer in Iowa, and we sell a lot of soybeans to China. I hope they don’t tinker with NAFTA too much.” Despite the uncertainty, Wassenaar said he doesn’t plan any acreage changes. Wassenaar worries the renegotiating of NAFTA could make it more difficult for Iowa farmers to get their corn into Mexico. China, he said, is a question. The world’s second largest economy has been trying to build an ethanol industry of its own, and the U.S.not ratifying the TPP could cause other Asian countries in the agreement to look to China for goods. “If we keep a robust ethanol industry, we’ll be able to suck up a lot of corn (surplus). But if that should falter, we’re going to have a lot of excess grain,” he said. Wassenaar, like other Central Iowa farmers, expects grain prices to remain low. He thinks that could lead to an increase in soybean acres outside of the U.S. corn belt, as soybean prices have been a bit higher than corn. Old habits die hard, though, and corn is less demanding when harvest time arrives. Whereas corn can be harvested
Historical yields (in millions of bushels) Corn Year Illinois Iowa Nation 1997........... 129.......... 138......... 126.7 1998........... 141.......... 145......... 134.4 1999........... 140.......... 149......... 133.8 2000........... 151.......... 144......... 136.9 2001........... 152.......... 146......... 138.2 2002........... 135.......... 163......... 129.3 2003........... 164.......... 157......... 142.2 2004........... 180.......... 181......... 160.4 2005........... 143.......... 173......... 147.9 2006........... 163.......... 166......... 149.1 2007........... 175.......... 171......... 150.7 2008........... 179.......... 171......... 153.3 2009........... 174.......... 181......... 164.4 2010........... 157.......... 165......... 152.6 2011........... 157.......... 172......... 146.8 2012........... 105.......... 137......... 123.1 2013........... 178.......... 164......... 158.1 2014........... 200.......... 178............ 171 2015........... 175.......... 192......... 168.4 2016........... 197.......... 203......... 174.6 anytime, soybeans are temperamental – sensitive to moisture and liable to cost the unwary or reckless farmer who brings a water-logged crop to the elevator. Corn is more expensive to produce, but farmers have banked on knowing they could always grow it. The tide it turning, though. The USDA projects the average corn price to be at $3.30, and soybeans at $9.35. Corn is expected to yield 90.49 million acres, down 3.5 million compared to 2016. Soybeans? Up 5.2 million, to 88.65 million. Buyer beware to the farmer who doesn’t listen to the market. “If a grower can shift to more soybeans, profitability tells you to do so,” said Scott Stoller, grain merchandiser with the Dixon, Illinois-based, family-owned grain consulting firm AgPerspective. “Corn used to be king, but now it’s definitely not there. It’s highly on edge, as we’ve not really seen an opportunity to sell the 2017 harvest and make a profit.” Farmers know it and, perhaps more forebodingly, so do lenders.
Iowa rain G ystems
Soybeans Year Illinois Iowa Nation 1997............. 43............ 46........... 38.9 1998............. 44............ 48........... 38.9 1999............. 42......... 44.5........... 36.6 2000............. 44......... 43.5........... 38.1 2001............. 45............ 44........... 39.6 2002............. 43............ 48.............. 38 2003............. 37......... 32.5........... 33.9 2004............. 50............ 49........... 42.2 2005.......... 46.5......... 52.5.............. 43 2006............. 48......... 50.5........... 42.9 2007.......... 43.5............ 52........... 41.7 2008............. 47......... 46.5........... 39.7 2009............. 46............ 51.............. 44 2010.......... 51.5............ 51........... 43.5 2011.......... 47.5......... 51.5.............. 42 2012............. 43............ 45.............. 40 2013............. 50......... 45.5.............. 44 2014............. 46............ 51........... 47.5 2015............. 56......... 56.5.............. 48 2016............. 59......... 60.5........... 52.1 “It’s a concern, and there are quite a few lenders whose antennae are up,” Stoller said. No matter their crop, farmers need to be aware that scrutiny on the industry trickles all the way down to the farmer. “I don’t want to be Debby Downer, but commercial ag and production ag on the lending front had a big spotlight on it from the former [presidential] administration,” Stoller said. “From an oversight standpoint, they’ve spent a lot of time the past 12 months under a lot of scrutiny and regulation. That means it’s coming down onto the grower. The buck stops on the grower.” The Midwest is coming off its second-largest crop in history, including a 197-bushel-per-acre soybean crop in Illinois that was 23 bushels above trend. Nationally, the 174.6 bushels per acre were 10 bushels above the trend line. A lot of farmers are still sitting on a considerable amount of their 2016 crop. Some of the storage resulted from holding on to the 2015 crop, but a lot of it came from gambling on corn rallying – and losing.
MOORMAN CONSTRUCTION, INC. CUSTOM HOME BUILDER
S
• GSI Grain Bins, Dryers, Bucket Elevators & Conveyors • NECO Dryers & Unloading Equipment • Hutchinson Portable Augers, Grain Pumps & Conveyors • DMC Air Systems & Equipment • Sentinel Steel Buildings
1230 Pinder Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112 Office: 641-236-0752 • www.iowagrainsystems.com• Email: igs@netins.net
16 Spring 2017
KENDALL MOORMAN
MOORMANCONST@PARTNERCOM.NET
7181 181 HWY F17 W - BAXT BAXTER, BAX IOWA 50028 641-227-3650
SM-NE5142984-0228
RISE AND SHINE C-M student wakes early to live his passion for raising livestock
R
BY ANTHONY VICTOR REYES For Central Iowa Ag Mag
aising livestock is not an easy job. From the intense manual labor to the immense responsibility for caring for multiple living creatures, it takes a special type of person to overcome this complex challenge. Colfax-Mingo Jr/Sr High School junior Calvin Schlosser does this on a daily basis, all while balancing his school work and the challenges of being a teenager in 2017. “In this day and age, a small percentage of kids have the opportunity to do what Calvin gets to do,” said Mike Rupert, the school’s agriculture teacher. “Since he was a little boy, he has been involved with that, and he enjoys it.” Calvin was raised on a farm with his two sisters, Camilla, 16, and Katie, 13, and brother, Kenny, 13. He helps his father and grandfather take care of the livestock and work the land. Calvin said his main responsibility, and the project he takes most pride in, is taking care of the cattle. “The thing is, these are our cattle, not our dad’s,” Kenny said. Calvin and his siblings began this project when he was in sixth grade. They purchased bottle calves from a sales barn in Wisconsin. They then raised and fed calves to market weight for 200 days, then sold and bred the cattle. The four have loved raising calves ever since. “In the morning, I’ll leave (my house) at around 4:30 to 6 a.m. ... Then I’ll go to our main place where we feed our cattle at. Then I’ll go down the road to a lot that we have and feed that cattle. Then I go to class,” Calvin said. “I
Anthony Victor Reyes/Central Iowa Ag Mag
TOP: Colfax-Mingo Jr/Sr High School junior Calvin Schlosser explains his daily routine for taking care of his cattle. Calvin wakes up at 4:30 in the morning to feed cattle on multiple properties. ABOVE: Schlosser was raised on a farm with his three younger siblings. The 17-year-old helps his father and grandfather take care of the livestock and work the land. get out of school at 3:17 p.m. and go feed the calves I got at my grandpa’s and then do whatever else needs to be done. I’ll check cows to see if I have any new calves. It is a little different every day.” According to Calvin’s agriculture teacher, the 17-year-old has an unmatched dedication toward the science of agriculture and a true passion for raising livestock. “Quite honestly, out of the 60 kids I have in our chapter, I don’t have that many kids that have any type of livestock that they own, and very few have much experience actually working on a farm,” Rupert said. “He actually shows more interest in those areas. A lot of times in class, he will have a discussion
about what is going on with this farm or what this farmer is doing out there on the field.” Calvin is a true farm kid. After he graduates from high school next year, he plans to continue to follow his passion in agriculture. “I like the cows. I like working with the cattle,” Calvin said. “I want to go on the wheat run, or the silage run.” After spending some time away from his home, Calvin said he would eventually want to work with his father, Greg Schlosser. “I would like to coincide with him,” Calvin said. “Our dad supports us with whatever we do. Our mom supports us with whatever we do. They both want us to get away and get a different experience than just what is here in Jasper County.” Calvin and his siblings said they could not imagine living a life not centered around agriculture. “I love doing this, and sometimes I hate it, but I couldn’t imagine anything any other way because this is all I know,” Camilla said. “You know everybody (growing up on a farm). If Calvin is going somewhere and he sees someone out, he’ll stop and go talk to them.” Calvin said despite all of his hard work and effort, raising livestock is one of the most rewarding experiences. “To be able to think that you had a snowstorm, negative digits and you still got livestock that is alive. You took care of it that well through that kind of conditions,” he said. “I made it through it all this stuff that way these animals would be able to survive. That is the most rewarding thing about this.” AG Mag
17
Connecting food with the farmer BY KAYLA LANGMAID For Central Iowa Ag Mag
O
ver the past 28 years, Hometown Meats & Deli has been a staple in Knoxville by providing locally grown meat and serving as a popular pit stop for lunch. The historic name has survived three owners, and the business now sits freshly renovated by owners and brothers Josh and Adam Beal. The market reopened Dec. 21 on Robinson Street in the downtown. Josh Beal said the building has always served as a meat market. H. LaVerne Steinick was the first
18 Spring 2017
Hometown Meats & Deli has served Knoxville community since 1989
to establish the Hometown Meats & Deli traditional name in 1989. “My grandfather was real good friends with the fellow who owned the place – my grandfather, C.R. “Dick” Northcote, who also ran a local restaurant named Piggy’s Stadium Drive In,” Josh said. Northcote also opened a meat locker in Melchner called Northcote Meats in 1972. Josh said Northcote now, 89, still works 60-plus hours a week. “LaVerne bought meat from us for years,” he said. “Every year, we win the best of Marion County tenderloin award. My grand-
father started that in 1972.” Steinick owned the restaurant until 2005, and another couple took it over until 2014. That’s when Beal saw the opportunity to take ownership. “There is a sentimental attachment to my grandfather here,” Josh said. “It was always a spot when we were in high school we would come in and have a quick lunch. There is a lot of nostalgia in the community for the meat market in general, so we thought it’d be a good opportunity to revitalize it.” CONTINUED ON 19
4CONTINUED FROM 18 Josh said another big reason he wanted to preserve the tradition was to give people who have worked at the meat market for more than a decade the opportunity to continue their employment. One of those longtime employees is Theresa Koons, who is described as spunky and outgoing. Koons has been employed at the meat market for 23 years, and engages with everyone who walks through the door. Beals also described Koons as the “staple” and “face” of the business. “We don’t do things the same as Lavern or previous owners that she worked for, but she has adapted and she loves her job,” Josh said. “She knows everyone. The times have changed, but she hasn’t.” Josh said one of the man goals of the business is to connect people with their local farmers. The market buys most of its meat and pork, and it also comes from the Swift Plant in Marshalltown and the plant in Tama. Other meat options include, chicken, rabbit, duck breast, lamb, beef, and alligator. The market also offers vegetable pairings and other essentials needed for cooking. The market houses a separate room for cutting meat. It is self-contained, easily cleaned and accessible to the equipment needed. “We cut specialty meat in-house and in Milchner. We make our own ground beef and sauces in house,” Josh said. “We also offer a full kitchen, catering, take-out, specialty recipe making, as we get going along, we would like to offer some butchering and cooking classes.” The Beals believe in teaching youth at a young age how to get hands-on in the kitchen.
Adaily Photography
Hometown Meats & Deli offers locally grown meat, recipe assistance, lunch specials and a friendly atmosphere. The meat market is located at 111 Robinson St. in Colfax. ON PAGE 18: The meat market was being renovated for more than a year before reopening in December. The owner, Josh Beal, said the market is known for its breaded tenderloins and taco salads. “It also bridges that gap of how an animal was raised on a farm to how it gets to (being) on your plate,” Josh said. Most important to him and his employees at the market is to do anything they can to support local businesses and the community. “We partner with The Coffee Connection here in town. They also have a deli, they serve sandwiches and salads, and we try not to do an overlapping menu that competes directly with them,” Josh said. “But we also want to bring them in, so we buy coffee from them. We’ve only been open for a month now, and
it has been a very supportive community.” Some lunch options include breaded tenderloin, burgers, chicken strips, grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, ribeye steak, Reuben, taco salad, breaded cod, soup, salad, build-your-own sandwiches, and a number of appetizers, such as, french fries, onion rings, jalapeno poppers, cheese balls and breaded mushrooms. “We want to carry on tradition. It’s something that people are comfortable with and familiar with,” Josh said. “A place they can remember from their childhood experiences.”
Delicious Chuck Roast Ingredients 3-5 lbs Hometown Meats & Deli roast Salt and pepper 2 tbs olive oil 2 onion 6-8 carrots Beef broth Directions: In a dutch oven stove (medium high) Add oil and saute onions to caramelize. Add carrots, salt and pepper and roast. Brown in pan, add beef broth to deglaze. Place lid on dutch oven, cook in oven at 275 for 4 hours.
Homemade bacon
Stop in Hometown Meats & Deli to purchase 4 to 6 fresh skinless pork belly, make a mixture of kosher salt, 1/2 cup cane sugar and a dash of pink curing salt. Apply mixture to thawed pork belly in a container or a bag. Refrigerate for seven days, flipping once daily. Pork belly will firm to touch. Rinse with cold water and pat dry. Smoke the meat at 225 degrees until pork belly reaches 155 degrees; refrigerate, slice and cook.
AG Mag
19
In Jasper County, we are...
Feeding people
Keeping them healthy
Helping our community to prosper and thrive
Turning the world over to the next generation in better shape than we found it
JOIN US WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/JASPER www.extension.iastate.edu/howard