Ag Mag - Spring 2014

agmag

DeKalb County

Spring 2014

What’s Inside Farm Bill

Finally removing the uncertainty hanging over the heads of American farmers

Maple Park Family

named Illinois Pork Producers family of the year

Snowy Winter

could be boon for planting season

A Publication of

2 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

agmag Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 3

DeKalb County

Table of Contents

4 Tech tools for livestock

25 Calendar of Events

9 The economics favor soybeans Soybean planting on the rise in state,

27 Early Onset of “Gardenitis”

although county bucks trend

14 From Political Science to Agricultural Science Finally removing the uncertainty hanging over the heads of American farmers

22 American Farmers: The Heart of Our Country 23 Northern Illinois Cougar

examined by wildlife pathologists

24 Grow your own

Budget, taxes, ethanol top farmers’ list of concerns

30 New Study

17 Farm Bill

28 Keeping an eye on Springfield

Gardener’s Day 2014

agmag

DeKalb County

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

Corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions

34 Snowy Winter

could be boon for planting season

36 Maple Park Family

named Illinois Pork Producers family of the year

38 2014 Illinois Farm Families® ‘Field Moms’ Selected

4 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

By Matt Mencarini and Chris Burrows For DeKalb County Ag Mag The moms couldn’t have expected the amount and kinds of modern farming innovations they saw.

“They were blown away with how the pigs are cared for and the technology that has helped with all that,” Ward said.

Like many modern livestock farmers, Ward now knows more about the condition of his pigs, and is able to better care for them because of technological advances that have led to better care, leaner market weights and decreased labor costs.

A lot has changed since his dad became a hog farmer in the early 1970s.

Last March a group of Chicago-area moms made the drive to Sycamore to tour Stephen Ward’s hog farm, Old Elm Farms, as part of a program created by the Illinois Agriculture Association.

“We used to have pigs in outdoor lots, and they’re now in controlled environments,” Ward said. “It’s all computerized, from turning the feed lines on and off, adjusting the temperature every day to make the pigs more comfortable, turning on heaters and fans -- they control everything.” It’s just one of the ways technology is giving old industries new tools.

The growing popularity of online auctions, for example, means that livestock can be bought and sold nearly every day, from anywhere, said Marshall Ruble, who specializes in livestock as an agriculture research station manager at Iowa State University.

Online auctions, including online exclusive auctions or bidding in a live auction on the Internet, has led to a more competitive market and put more eyes on cattle, he said. “Even 5 years ago, I’d go out and look at a lot of cattle, you could find a diamond in the rough,” Ruble said. “But they’re not hidden anymore. They’re all out there.”

Even sale barns can take advantage of an online auction, Ruble said, when inclement weather may keep buyers away. If they can access an auction 5, 20 or even 100 miles away, there are more eyes and bids possible.

About 3 years ago, Ruble and his students started posting pictures and videos of livestock on Facebook and YouTube. They’d get calls from California and south Texas, he said, adding that although the 19- and 20-year-old students were Continuing on page 6

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 5

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6 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014 same thing. To tell you the truth, the old DOS machines were more reliable. They were a little more bullet-proof.”

The newer computers can do more, he said, but have a tendency to crash or require a reboot more often. Not every advancement is perfect.

But while Cuvelier might be a strong supporter of computerized auctions, he said there still are risks – like power outages or computerized scales failing.

Still, the benefits of the technology outweigh the occasional drawbacks, he said, emphasizing that the mishaps were only occasional.

Cuvelier bought the Cascade sale barn about 5 years ago, he said, when it had a few computers in the office and a sign that said, “Please wait 20 minutes for your check.”

A week later, the sale barn was fully computerized without missing an auction, he said. Now, most checks are printed and ready for pickup in the time it takes a cattleman to walk from the stands to the office window.

Continuing from page 6 used to buying and selling online, it took him some time to get comfortable with it.

But each morning when he’d look, the number of YouTube views had grown, Ruble said.

A year ago, he sold some cattle to someone on the East Coast, he said, and met the buyer face-to-face only when he came to pick up the cattle. Dan Shike, an associate professor of animal science at the University of Illinois, said during the history of livestock sales, numerous developments have taken the industry from private sales to live auctions to online auctions. At each step, he said, the market widened.

“You basically have a national market rather than a local market,” Shike said. That’s great for sellers, and that’s great for buyers, too.”

Some online auctions are set up similar to eBay, with the cattle being purchased online only. Some auctions end at a specific time, Ruble said, but others add time – up to a point – with each new bid.

Selling online brings with it new risks, such as Internet connection and infrastructure issues, and unfamiliarity between buyer and seller. Those are some reasons that Scott Cuvelier, 58, who runs live barn sales in Walnut, a Bureau County town south of Dixon, and in Cascade, Iowa, has been hesitant to fully embrace online auctions.

Like most things on the Internet, there are positives and negatives to online auctions, he said, adding that those auctions are another tool, “a two-edged sword, so to speak.”

But Cuvelier isn’t opposed to using technology in his business. It’s a tool, he said, and like any tool, it’s useful only if there’s a need.

“As far as sale barns go, we’re one of the more technologically advanced – fully computerized from the auction block to the office,” he said.

The Walnut sale barn went computerized in 1991, Cuvelier said, streamlining the process, eliminating some errors, and speeding up the time it takes to print checks.

“We went from these huge Texas Instruments DOS machines, with little tiny monitors with shades of green, to ... the Windowsbased LCD flat-screen monitors,” Cuvelier said. “They still do the

Both Walnut and Cascade allow bids to be placed by phone, but not online.

“I can hear the people’s voice on the phone, and I know who they are,” Cuvelier said.

It’s not just how livestock is sold. Technology hasn’t affected just the way livestock is marketed or sold. The ability to track and analyze information, to put more precise economic values on livestock, also has developed, Shike said.

“Now, if you were to go to a pure feed stock sale, there would be so much information that you would be given, besides just looking at the bull,” he said.

“How the bull looks will make an impact, but there are tremendous amounts of info now available.”

What started with tracking weights at different ages and comparing to the rest of the herd, Shike said, has evolved to looking back at an animal’s ancestors to get a sense of how the animal should produce.

“It’s pretty amazing how technology [is playing a role],” Shike said.

“And certainly, we’re in a time period of rapid increase in that area. And I think there will be time when we will be able to take a blood sample of an animal and really be able to understand the genetic potential of that animal.”

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 7 The hog buildings on Ward’s farm are climate controlled. So even as the temperature dipped into single digits and below zero in January, the pigs were kept in ideal conditions. A modern alarm system also means there doesn’t need to be a 24-hour presence on site, but there’s still labor involved.

The health and size of the pigs is still monitored closely by workers.

“That’s still done on a daily basis when you do your chores,” Ward said.

“But as far as record keeping goes, more and more of that is getting thrown over to computers and tracked that way.”

Ward teamed up with father in the 1990s after graduating from college and soon converted the old pig farm from a farrow-to-finish operation in which pigs are bred and raised to slaughter into a wean-to-finish operation in which the pigs are brought in at a young age and raised.

This allowed the Wards to cut their overhead costs and focus on upgrading their facilities, which they did in 2001, and on raising the best, most profitable hogs.

“That’s when we started getting into the computer-controlled environments,” Ward said. “Technology has definitely helped them go to market days sooner and reach better weight gain with less feed.”

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Those advancements are becoming more essential in the livestock business, Shike said. “The only way we’ll be able to increase our food production to keep up with demand is technology,” he said.

Even for researchers and early-adopting cattlemen, predicting where technology in the industry is heading can be difficult, Ruble said from his office at Iowa State. But knowing the direction it’s going can put a farmer “in the driver’s seat.”

“I know where the hockey puck is at this exact second,” he said. “But I’d like to know where it’s going to be in 5 minutes.”

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The economics favor soybeans Soybean planting on the rise in state, although county bucks trend

By Chris Burrows and David Giuliani For DeKalb County Ag Mag

Mike Schweitzer’s farm northwest of Malta brought on a new crop last year. For the first time in a long time, soybeans were planted on 20 percent of his farmland, alongside his usual corn crop.

A lot of factors went into that decision, and the falling price of corn was among them.

“Last year was the first year we planted soybeans in several years,” Schweitzer said. “It’s a good agronomic tool to have a little longer crop rotation.”

For years, corn farmers have seen prices of $6 or $7 a bushel. In recent months, however, the price has fallen to just above $4, and some farmers are branching out into other crops or increasing existing soybean production to boost profit margins.

Paul Rasmussen, the District 1 Director for the Illinois Soybean Association and a soybean and corn farmer in north DeKalb County, says that although prices have fallen for corn and soybeans in recent years, soybean prices have fallen less.

“Last year soybeans were pretty much break even compared to multi-year corn-on-corn plantings,” he said. “This year the economics favor soybeans.”

An October 2013 report authored by University of Illinois professor Gary Schnitkey, of the school’s Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, said that while soybean prices are typically about 2.5 times that of corn, soybean prices are now nearing 3.0 times that of corn, and for the first time since 2009, soybeans are more profitable to produce than corn despite far lower yields per acre.

Schnitkey’s report also outlined the benefits of rotating corn and soybean crops. Planting a corn crop over a previous soybean crop boosted corn crop yields by about 5 percent.

That’s why Rasmussen uses a two-year corn, one-year soybean rotation on his farm.

“When I harvest the soybeans I not only have the soybean residue protecting the soil, but I have the year before’s corn crop still out there protecting it,” Rasmussen said.

That was a large factor in Schweitzer’s decision as well, along with advances that have made it more profitable to farm soybeans.

Continuing on page 10

10 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014 Continuing from page 9

“I think we’re able to raise better soybeans than we were five or ten years ago,” Schweitzer said. “It doesn’t cost as much now to put out a crop of soybeans.”

In recent years, planted soybean acreage in Illinois has generally declined, according to numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn acreage, meanwhile, has risen since the 1990s in Illinois.

In 2013, 89,900 acres of DeKalb County farmland were devoted to soybean farming, a slight dip from 91,700 acres in 2012, according to estimates released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Feb. 20, which is a departure from the rest of the state which saw a 5.3 percent growth in soybean farming. In fact, Illinois had the highest production of soybeans among all states with a production totaling $5.95 billion last year.

Rasmussen sees that trend continuing in the state in the near future.

“Last year the numbers ticked up a little bit for acres put into soybeans in Illinois, and I think they probably will this year from what I’m hearing from a lot of different growers,” he said.

Schnitkey, however, projects a rebound in the price of corn that may cut into that growth due not only to a stabilization in the crop’s price but also in lessening corn fertilizer costs.

“Near average prices, along with lower fertilizer costs, then lead to corn being projected more profitable than soybeans in 2014,” Schnitkey wrote. “... Overall, these return projections do not suggest large shifts in acres between corn and soybeans.”

Illinois corn & soybean planting Corn planting grew steadily in Illinois during the 10-year period from 1998 to 2008, with a major spike from 2006 to ‘08. However, downward pressure on corn prices has slowed that trend.

Planted corn acreage (in 1,000 acres) Year 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

acreage % chg 11,000 * 10,600 -3.6 11,200 5.7 11,600 3.6 11,700 0.9 11,300 3.4 13,200 16.8 12,600 -4.5 12,800 1.6

Meanwhile, soybean planting dropped off at the expense of corn, leaving plantings in 2012 below 1996 levels in the state.

Planted soybean acreage (in 1,000 acres)

Year acreage % chg 1996 9,900 * 1998 10,000 1.0 2000 10,500 5.0 2002 10,300 -1.9 2004 10,300 0 2006 10,100 -1.9 2008 9,100 -9.9 2010 9,300 2.2 2012 8,600 -7.5 Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 11

12 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

DeKalb Farmers’ Market

is now Accepting Vendor Applications DeKalb, Ill., March 3, 2014 – The DeKalb Farmers’ Market is now accepting vendor applications for the 2014 market season.

As in the past the 2014 DeKalb Farmers’ Market will be held in Van Buer Plaza, at North 2nd and Locust Street and will be open every Thursday June through September. Please note the new time as the market will now be open from 10 am to 2 pm. The DeKalb Farmers’ Market features over 20 vendors and provides the community with fresh locally grown produce, gourmet meats, bread, baked goods, cheese, pet treats, flowers and more.

Those interested in becoming a vendor please contact Jessica Struthers at the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce 815-756-6306 or download the application at www.dekalb.org. All applications must be received by May 1st.

About DeKalb Chamber of Commerce The Mission of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce is to serve and advance business interests of the Greater DeKalb Region.

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Jessica Struthers • Events Manager DeKalb Chamber of Commerce 164 East Lincoln Highway • DeKalb, IL 60115 815.756.6306 jessica.struthers@dekalb.org

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From

Political Science to Agricultural Science

When Vince Filicetti headed off to college at the University of Illinois, he had no idea it would lead to a career in agriculture.

A political science major, Filicetti grew up in Shabbona and spent his spare time working on farms.

“That was just the thing to do if you needed money,” he said.

“So I started working with livestock, and I really liked doing that, and I came down here [to college] and needed a job my sophomore year, and rather than sit around and swipe cards at the dining hall, I figured maybe I could do something with research.”

So, while he was looking for a job during the fall of his sophomore year at U of I, he saw a posting from Adam Davis, an associate professor with the Department of Crop Research, looking for help with a weed research project. Filicetti decided to apply, although he figured it was a long shot. “ I just thought, you know, whatever, I probably won’t get it because I’m not an agronomy student or whatever,” Filicetti said. “But I went and talked to him, and out of the 40-something applicants, he chose me and two other people.”

The project was meant to assess the role climate change has on the spread of palmer amaranth and shattercane.

Arid, southern-types of weeds – especially palmer amaranth – have been in headlines recently for making their way into the Midwest from the South. The team that Filicetti worked with monitored them in three different latitudes across Illinois (Dixon Springs, Urbana, and DeKalb) to see how the different climates would affect the weeds’ competition.

What the team discovered, in the words of Filicetti, was that as the world heats up, weeds that were once a problem only in the South will become a problem farther north.

Hands-on research opportunites at U of I changed Shabbona native’s future

BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@shawmedia.com

“They’re not a problem in places like DeKalb so much right now,” Filicetti said. “I mean, there’s some establishment in some of the southern suburban counties, but it isn’t as bad as, say, down in Southern Illinois yet. Down in Southern Illinois, the yield losses due to some of these weeds is just phenomenal. I mean, it could put someone out of business if it got bad enough.”

The experiment, which ended in 2012, was closely monitored, Filicetti explained. People inspected the fields and weeds multiple times each week to ensure that no palmer amaranth or shattercane were newly introduced to the areas.

But what started out as a part-time job opened him up to a potential career path. Filicetti, after graduating last May with a political science degree, now works for Adam Davis full time as a research technician and sees himself continuing a career in agriculture – a career path he likely wouldn’t have chosen had he not had the opportunity to work for Davis at the University of Illinois.

“If you want experience in the field, it is here,” Filicetti said.

“Because we are a research institution, there’s always something going on.”

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 15

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"U.S. agriculture is connected to one in 12 American jobs, and value-added products from homegrown sources are one important way that agriculture generates economic growth," Vilsack said. "Supporting producers and businesses to create value-added products strengthens rural economies, helps fuel innovation and strengthens marketing opportunities for producers – especially at the local and regional level."

The funding is being made available through the ValueAdded Producer Grant program. Grants are available to help agricultural producers create new products, expand marketing opportunities, support further processing of existing products or goods, or to develop specialty and niche products. They may be used for working capital and planning activities. The maximum working capital grant is $200,000; the maximum planning grant is $75,000.

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farm bill

Finally removing the uncertainty hanging over the heads of American farmers

By Pam Eggemeier and Chris Burrows For DeKalb County Ag Mag

It’s not perfect, but at least it’s finally done.

That’s the sense from local farmers now that President Barack Obama signed a nearly $1 trillion farm bill Feb. 7, finally removing the uncertainty hanging over the heads of American farmers.

“There’s some give and take,” Jamie Willrett, a farmer who raises beef cattle near Malta, said. “There’s some wins and there’s some losses.”

Members of Congress had been at odds for years over proposed cuts to the nation’s food stamps program that provides assistance to one of every seven Americans. Last fall, House Republicans had fought to approve a plan to cut $40 billion from SNAP, but it was shot down in the Senate. This farm bill will cut the program by $8 billion over 10 years – about a 1 percent reduction. Some of the eligibility requirements also will be raised.

Much of the savings in the food stamp program will come from the closure of what is known as the “heat and eat” loophole. This loophole allowed some states to artificially increase benefit levels when heating assistance is provided through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Illinois and Iowa are not among the 17 states targeted by this reform.

The most significant piece of the $956 billion Agriculture Act of 2014 for farmers is the transformation of the agricultural safety net from one based on direct payments to a strengthened crop insurance system. The heavily criticized $5 billion direct payments program that gave subsidies to farmers whether they grew crops or not was eliminated. In return, $7 billion will be added to the crop insurance program, now the key to farmers’ financial security.

“The insurance is the biggest part of [the bill],” said Mark Tuttle, a Somonauk soybean and corn farmer and President of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. “The farmers need to have a safety net in case of a crop disaster. ... We need to keep farmers on the farms, and if we don’t then we could have a real serious problem in this country.”

Two new insurance programs are included: agriculture risk coverage, which will cover some losses before more extensive crop insurance begins; and price loss coverage, which sets specific target prices for different crops. If actual prices fall below those targets, farmers will be covered.

Continuing on page 18

18 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014 Continuing from page 17

Emily Pratt, crop insurance specialist for 1st Farm Credit Services and a representative on the new Agriculture Advisory Committee of Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger, said she was happy with the bill’s focus on strengthening the crop insurance system. Kinzinger’s district includes most of DeKalb County, with the exception of eastern areas between Sandwich and Sycamore.

“We survived the worst drought in our nation’s history because farmers took it upon themselves to insure their crops,” said Pratt. “We were able to avoid a lot of turbulence in the economy without the help of ad hoc programs.”

Pratt said she was relieved to learn that the changes will not be put in until next year.

“We were getting anxious, wondering how quickly we could set up the crop insurance programs,” she said.

The deadline for corn and soybean enrollment usually is March 15, but because that is a Saturday this year, it will be extended until March 17.

It is estimated that the bill will bring $23 billion in federal spending cuts.

The three biggest priorities the Illinois Farm Bureau had set for the bill came to fruition, Nielsen said.

“We wanted to protect and enhance crop insurance, have choice in commodities programs, and see the conservation programs streamlined but maintained,” he said. “We got all of those things, so we’re very happy with this bill.”

Ending direct payments in exchange for better crop insurance was a trade-off most farmers supported. “I think most farmers are in agreement that the direct payments could go,” said Donna Jeschke, a Grundy County farmer who is a former president of Illinois Corn Producers and now serves on Kinzinger’s ag committee. “We feel that having a strong crop insurance program gives us a good risk management program.”

Nielsen said that everything except dairy and regulatory issues were a done deal before the holiday break in December. Without a deal by the end of January, decades-old milk support laws could have kicked in that farmers warned could cause milk prices to spike to $8 a gallon.

A compromise sets up a dairy insurance program that offers protection against the huge fluctuations in feed prices that have challenged dairy farmers. Small dairy farms will catch a break on premiums.

The government is authorized to address oversupply problems by purchasing dairy products for local food banks.

Paul Taylor, the District I director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and corn farmer in Esmond, said his group had hoped for increased program funding to come out of the new bill, but that they understand the need for compromise.

“Conservation and research funding are always important issues,” Taylor said. “We think it’s important that there could have been more funding, but we understand the situation with the federal budget and the deficit.”

One disappointment came in the area of federal regulatory policies. The Illinois Pork Producers Association and other livestock groups had urged Congress to change its mandatory country-oforigin labeling (COOL) law to avoid tariffs that could be imposed on U.S. pork by Canada and Mexico. The labeling law could still be dealt with, but many hoped it would be part of the farm bill.

Willrett fears that this could have a negative effect on meat packers and producers with regards to prices.

“In Illinois it’s not a great influence, because we don’t have a lot of Canadian cattle that comes into our state to be harvested, but for the industry in general, we have alienated two of our major trading partners, that being Canada and Mexico,” Willrett said. “I’m afraid of the trade retaliation that we may see as a result of this.”

The most significant regulatory win could be the creation of a permanent subcommittee within the EPA Science Advisory Board. The panel will conduct reviews of agency actions considered to have a negative impact on agriculture.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program will for the first time receive mandatory funding. The voluntary conservation program provides financial and technical assistance to producers who sign contracts of up to 10 years.

The Livestock Disaster Assistance Program was made permanent in this farm bill. Its benefits also were made retroactive to 2012.

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 19 The farm bill includes an amendment sponsored

by U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., to track the impact on agriculture of upgrades to river transportation infrastructure, including the aging locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

“Waterway infrastructure is a vital component in our agriculture markets, and this amendment will strengthen the case for investments in river transportation improvement projects,” said Bustos, a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

A bill that ends the business uncertainty for farmers is long overdue, the 17th district congresswoman said.

“While not perfect, I’m encouraged that Democrats and Republicans have finally come together to pass a farm bill that will protect our region’s economy and critical nutrition programs,” Bustos said.

Kinzinger, R-Ill., realizes that farmers must have parameters for running their businesses, and they need a strong arsenal for fighting the unknowns.

“Ask any farmer, and he will tell you that being able to plan ahead to future harvests is crucial to his business,” Kinzinger said. This bill gives Illinois farmers the certainty they need to do that, while strengthening our farm safety net, and helping protect farmers against natural disasters.”

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Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 21

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22 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com

Ameri ca n

Fa r m e r The Heart of Our Country

What began as a brief hiatus from a competitive, stressful career turned into a 100,000-mile journey resulting in a pictorial tribute to the American farmer.

Paul Mobley, renowned photographer of the coffee-table book, “American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country,” will present some of the stories behind the photos at a Thursday, March 20 presentation at Faranda’s Banquet Hall, 302 Grove St., DeKalb. The evening will begin with a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by Mobley’s presentation from 7 to 8 p.m. and a meet and greet and book signing to end the evening.

Mobley’s visit to DeKalb is being presented by Resource Bank. Although there is no charge to attend, seating is limited. To reserve a seat, contact Resource Bank’s marketing director Mary Keys at marketing@ResourceBank.com or call 815-748-1448.

“Resource is a community bank with an agriculture base,” Keys said. “We wanted to do something to support the ag community different from an educational seminar.”

Mobley said he grew up in Detroit and went to art school in New York City – and had absolutely no background in agriculture.

“The basis of my presentation is simple: Here’s this city guy who stumbles onto the farm,” Mobley said.

After working as a photographer, a business he described as grueling and stressful, Mobley said he was burned out.

“I told my agent I needed a break, to recharge my batteries,” he said. “I told her I was taking the summer off.

“She asked if I was sure. Taking that much time off is a risky business. The train keeps moving, whether you’re on it or not.”

He said his intention was to spend the summer at his cabin in Michigan and not shoot a single photograph. Two weeks into his vacation, a visit to a local coffee shop changed that in an instant.

“There were four farmers sitting there at a table talking and I thought, ‘I’ve got to photograph those faces,’ ” Mobley said.

Before he left, he had photographed every farmer in the county.

“I got their faces, their stories, lessons about life. This was a life I had never known existed,” Mobley said.

He returned to New York with his photos and showed them to a few people who suggested he do a book about farmers. He said he met with three different publishers and all three offered him a contract. He chose one and set out photograph more farmers, tell more stories.

“I was told, ‘you have 30 farmers here, we need 300 if we’re going to make something of this.’ ” With the charge to shoot in 20 states, Mobley hit 37, traveled about 100,000 miles and returned with 50,000 pictures of 300 families.

“To say this project changed my life is an understatement,” Mobley said.

“No matter what state I was in, the farmers I met were kind and gracious.

In Tennessee, one family I photographed had balloons on the mailbox and threw a party for me.

“In Nebraska, I was concerned that I was running low on gas and didn’t know how far it was to the next gas station. The farmer I was visiting asked what was wrong and I told him. He filled my tank before sending me on my way.

Meet and greet with Paul Mobley, writer of “American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country” at Faranda’s Banquet Hall, 302 Grove St., DeKalb March 20, 2014 at 6 p.m.

“They invited me into their homes, shared their stories, shared meals and often offered me a bed to sleep in. They had just met me. Who does that?”

Mobley said no matter where he traveled, he found farm families to be kind, warm and courteous.

“To me, it was a lesson in basic human compassion.”

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 23

Northern Illinois Cougar examined by wildlife pathologists

By Shaw Media Staff After a cougar was discovered on a Whiteside County farm on Nov. 20 and euthanized by a state conservation police officer, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) sent the animal to wildlife pathologists seeking some answers.

“Part of what we do as wildlife pathologists contributes directly to wildlife conservation and ecosystem health,” she said. “By investigating how disease impacts individual animals, threats to populations can be mitigated or better managed.”

Was it a healthy animal? What had it been eating? And just what was it doing so far from its typical territory?

Officials at IDNR have released some details of Terio’s report on the cougar. The animal was a male, weighing 123 pounds and estimated to be 2 to 3 years old. His recent diet consisted of native wildlife.

Additional test results, including a genetic analysis that could identify where he originated, are pending.

According to IDNR, cougars, also known as mountain lions, were extirpated from Illinois before 1870 and are not protected by the Illinois Wildlife Code. While there is no evidence that a resident breeding population exists in Illinois, occasional transient cougars have been found in the state in recent years.

Experts at the Chicago-based University of Illinois Zoological Pathology Program (ZPP), which is part of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana and its Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, were called in because they had performed a similar examination on a cougar shot in Chicago in April 2008.

“The opportunity to examine this individual allows us to learn as much as we can about the health status of cougars in our region,” said Dr. Karen Terio, a veterinary pathologist on faculty in the ZPP. Terio works on a wide variety of wild species but has particular expertise in wild cats. She conducted a necropsy – the animal equivalent of an autopsy – on the cougar.

“Cougars are becoming more common in this part of the country,” Terio said. “This individual may have been part of the normal dispersal of free-ranging wildlife. As the population in the West grows, more individuals are migrating to the East.”

24 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

Have you made a plan for your vegetable garden this year?

Join area gardeners for a morning of educational classes at the Allerton Park Visitor’s Center on Saturday, March 29, 2014. Enjoy learning through three unique sessions about Tiny Greens, Tasty Tomatoes and Growing Vegetables in Small Spaces.

The event, hosted by University of Illinois Extension will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.

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In the Secret of Growing Great Tomatoes, learn what you can do to improve the tomatoes in your garden and see how the weather can be a factor in how tomatoes develop. Next, dive into the world of Microgreens and see how these inexpensive greens are packed with big flavor. Have an opportunity to taste test some dishes prepared with microgreens in addition to planting a mini microgreen garden to take home with you. Finish up the morning with an opportunity to learn more about Vegetable Gardening for Small Spaces. Explore alternatives to large vegetable gardens including container gardens, Earthboxes, raised beds, square foot gardening, and the ornamental value of edible plants.

For questions or to register for this event, please call the Piatt County Extension Office at 217.762.2191 or register online at http://web.extension.illinois. edu/dmp/. There is a minimal registration fee for the event which covers light snacks, wonderful speakers, and essential information. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the Piatt County Extension Office at 217.762.2191.

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 25

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26 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

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Spring Spring 2014 2014 | | DeKalb DeKalb County County AG AG Mag Mag | | 27 27

Early Onset of

“Gardenitis” URBANA, Ill. - The next “bug” you catch may not be the flu bug, but rather the gardening bug that starts to infect many gardeners about this time of year, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

“There are some preventative steps to take to delay the early onset of ‘gardenitis,’”said Richard Hentschel.

“Start by taking deep breaths and thinking back on all the good things that happened last year in your garden and forgetting about the bad stuff.

Next, check your temperature by going to the patio door and looking at the indoor-outdoor thermometer to be sure it is still reading too cold to start anything indoors. Last, drink in lots of sunshine on the brighter, longer days we are having,” he said.

Having taken all the above steps, gardeners can then consider starting their vegetable and flower seeds in a timelier, controlled manner. “Read the seed packet to find out the best time to sow the seeds for planting outside in our area, normally just a few weeks before the average frost-free date. The date will vary, depending if you are planning for that early garden, the summer or fall garden,” Hentschel said.

Gardeners should start seeds at home that they cannot find as transplants or for those specific flowers or vegetables that can only be found in the seed catalogs. Hentschel recommends using fresh, packed for 2014, vegetable and flower seeds, brand new or very clean and sanitized seed starting flats; and a bag of brand new soil-less growing media for starting seeds.

“If the seed-starting media is dry, wet and stir in enough water to provide moisture for the seeds to start their germination process,” he said. “Next, fold the soil into the starting flats, being sure to adequately fill the cells using clean hands or sanitized garden tools. Once that is finished, you are ready to sow your seeds.

“If you are using individual cell packs place one or two seeds per cell at the depth recommended on the seed packet. If you are sowing in rows, place the rows far enough apart so you can later transplant them easily,” Hentschel added.

Gardeners can also sow across the flat in short rows if fewer plants are needed or to be able to sprout more kinds of vegetables of the same type. “Many gardeners will take plastic wrap from the kitchen and lightly cover the seed flat to retain even moisture during the germination process,” he said.

Some seeds prefer warmer soil temperatures to germinate, others cooler, so be sure to sow similar seeds in the same flat. Once seeds are in the flats and covered, place them in an appropriate location to provide the needed heat to warm up or to keep the soil cool.

“Instructions on the seed packet will tell you when you can expect to see the seedlings emerge and if any thinning will be needed. If thinning is necessary, use a small pair of scissors to cut the unwanted seedling off, but do not pull it out as you will damage the seedling you want to keep,” Hentschel explained.

As the seedlings continue to grow, move the flats into brighter light to keep them from reaching for the sun and getting too leggy and thin. The best conditions will be good sunlight during the day and cooler night temperatures to create the best transplant possible.

“Too much water can ruin your recipe for success by causing seedling diseases and later root rots of young vegetable and flower plants. When watering, water the soil only, not the foliage which can also cause diseases,” he said. “If your ‘gardenitis’ gets too bad, contact your support group of other gardeners and have them talk you down.”

28 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

Keeping an eye on Springfield Budget, taxes, ethanol top farmers’ list of concerns

BY CHRIS BURROWS For DeKalb County Ag Mag

Illinois corn growers aren’t happy, and they’re making sure the politicians in Springfield and Washington D.C. know it.

In November, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed to lower the amount of renewable fuels in gasoline, setting off a whirlwind of lobbying activity at the local level and in Washington. Included would be ethanol, biodiesel, and cellulosic biofuels. This concern tops the list among local farmers as the state of Illinois sets its eyes on another year of budgetary shortfalls at the state level.

“We don’t like this change,” said Paul Taylor, a DeKalb County farmer and the District 1 Director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. “We think that the other side, big oil, has pushed back against what ethanol has done to rural communities.

“The biggest thing it does is it sends the message to future investors that the government can’t decide where it wants to go with this policy.”

The proposed rule change has sent fear into grain and energy markets, and threatened the stability of investments with biofuels producers. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, along with a handful of governors from across the midwest, has come out in support of farmers by saying that the EPA should maintain current renewable fuel standards.

“There was a period for comment to the EPA that ended in January, so we had a big push from our members,” Taylor said. “There were tens of thousands of comments that went to the EPA; we sent folks from Illinois to testify before the EPA and congress.”

Other concerns for Illinois farmers persist from years past.

Ag producers are anxious to see the fiscal year 2015 budget plan that was expected from Quinn in late February.

Preliminary numbers show a budget shortfall of about $2 billion for 2015. That deficit could approach $4 billion by fiscal year 2016 if the Legislature does not make budget cuts or raise additional revenue.

In January 2011, a bill was passed to raise the income tax on individuals to 5 percent, up from 3 percent. The rationale for the tax was that it was needed in the short term to pay down a backlog of state bills. The tax has padded the state’s general fund to the tune of about $7.2 billion a year.

The increase is scheduled to decrease to 3.75 percent on individuals on Jan. 1. Lawmakers would have to vote to extend the tax, not something they would prefer to do with elections looming in November.

Making things more difficult for Quinn is that although the tax increase sunsets at the beginning of 2015, the new fiscal year begins July 1.

“The government must by law build the budget on current legislation,” said Kevin Semlow, director of state legislation for Illinois Farm Bureau. “If this sunsets in January 2015, the governor won’t have that money for half of a fiscal year.”

Farmers fear that a larger budget deficit, fueled by continuing problems with state pension reforms, could bring the governor’s ax to a variety of agriculture programs.

“I think the big picture is that [state worker] pensions need to be reformed,” said Mark Tuttle, the president of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and a Somonauk farmer. “Until that gets taken care of, all the other little programs

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 29 around it are taking the collateral damage.”

Some other issues fall into the category of private property rights, Semlow said.

Renewable fuels

“Farmers want some consistency with the regulations for energy-related property rights, especially gas pipelines and wind farms,” Semlow said.

Ethanol and biodiesel – more than anything else have helped drive the 2007-2013 rural economic recovery and the RFS continues to fall under heavy attack.

Uniformity is also sought in how commissioners set weight limits for roads, and Taylor made the point that where the state’s shortcomings are seen and felt most are in infrastructure cracks that have become emerging concerns for farmers.

The unprecedented ethanol rollback under EPA’s proposed 2014 RFS rule calls for a 1.4 billion gallon reduction in ethanol use.

“Where it really impacts farmers is the support of local roads -- to fix our roads and bridges so we can move crops to market,” Taylor said.

“Township and county roads depend a lot on state and federal funding, and that’s been one of the things that we’re really concerned about.”

Among the programs that have suffered most under the state’s ax, Tuttle said are soil and water conservation districts, which are vital to minimizing the impact of farming on land and keeping farm land productive.

“We hate to see that tampered with, and they have been cutting that back quite a bit over the past two years,” Tuttle said.

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The EPA also proposes to sharply reduce 2014 volumes of biodiesel, potentially devastating the biodiesel industry.

Iowa State University economists project corn prices will fall 19 cents per bushel in the first year and drop further in subsequent years.

In Illinois, the impact of a 19-cent-per-bushel price drop against this year’s expected statewide corn production represents a $400 million reduction in farmer revenue.

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30 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

New study: Corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions

By SHAW MEDIA STAFF Corn ethanol is emitting fewer greenhouse gases at a time that crude oil and fracking are creating a greater carbon intensity.

That’s the finding of a new study conducted by Life Cycle Associates, an independent business and environmental consulting company with experience in alternative fuels, fuel production processes, fuel certification, delivery logistics, and environmental impacts.

The study compared greenhouse gas emission reductions of corn ethanol, crude oil production and fracking. It found that carbon impacts associated with crude oil production continue to worsen as more marginal sources of fuel are introduced into the fuel supply.

According to the report, “As the petroleum is gradually increasing, ethanol is declining. Corn ethanol economics to reduce the energy yields.”

average carbon intensity of the carbon intensity of corn producers are motivated by inputs and improve product

The study, commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), found that average corn ethanol reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 32 percent compared with average petroleum in 2012. This estimate includes prospective emissions from indirect land use change (ILUC) for corn ethanol. When compared with marginal petroleum sources like tight oil from fracking and oil sands, average corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions by 37percent to 40 percent.

As more unconventional crude oil sources enter the U.S. oil supply, and as corn ethanol production processes become even more efficient, the carbon impacts of ethanol and crude oil will continue to diverge. The study predicts that by 2022, average corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions by 43 percent to 60 percent compared to petroleum.

“The majority of unconventional fuel sources emit significantly more GHG emissions than both biofuels and conventional fossil fuel sources,” according to the study. “The biggest future impacts on the U.S. oil slate are expected to come from oil sands and fracking production.” In the absence of biofuels, “…significant quantities of marginal oil would be fed into U.S. refineries, generating corresponding emissions penalties that would be further aggravated in the absence of renewable fuel alternatives.”

The study also reveals several fundamental flaws with the GHG analysis conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) regulations.

Just one example: corn ethanol was already determined to reduce GHG emissions by 21 percent compared to gasoline in 2005, according to the analysis. Yet, the EPA’s analysis for the RFS2 assumes corn ethanol GHG reductions won’t reach 21 percent until 2022.

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 31

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32 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

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Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 33

Discover Sycamore’s Farmers’ Markets

Discover Sycamore’s Farmers’ Markets will return Sunday, June 1 on the corner of Somonauk and Elm Streets in downtown Sycamore. The market will run through September 28, providing the community with a variety of goods for purchase. The market will also feature family friendly activities as well as live entertainment – music and dance groups. The market will be open every Sunday from 10am-2pm.

The market will feature both homegrown and homemade products, allowing customers to buy fresh and local. Not only will it showcase fresh, locallygrown produce but also organic baked goods, hormone-free meats, local wines, roasted coffee beans, specialty sauces, various flavor s of grape seed oils, spice blends, homemade pet treats and more. In addition to the homegrown food products – the market will feature local crafters and artists. Their work will be displayed and available for purchase.

Come out and support your local growers, crafters and artists this summer. Discover what Sycamore has to offer – for more information visit discoversycamore.com or call 815-895-3456.

34 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

Snowy winter

could be boon for planting season

By CHRIS BURROWS For DeKalb County Ag Mag

It’s caused headaches for drivers, parents and anybody who has to walk anywhere in DeKalb County, but Northern Illinois University meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste thinks this season’s endless snowfall and bouts of extreme cold may be a boon for DeKalb County farmers.

“We’re getting some much-needed moisture into the ground after all this snow gradually melts, so that will help the farmers,” Sebenste said.

In a winter that has seen chart-topping precipitation figures and bone-chilling cold, Sebenste believes the more than 40 inches of snow combined with 4 inches of rain that have fallen in DeKalb County so far this winter, combined with more precipitation expected down the road, should effectively stave off droughts like the one experienced by the region in spring 2012.

“Some of the [snow cover] will seep into the soil,” Sebenste said. “Now, a lot of it is running off because right now the frost depth of the ground is between 10 and 20 inches deep, so unfortunately for the farmers, not all of this is getting into the ground.

“Still, [farmers] are going to be, I think, in better shape come mid-March in terms of soil moisture than they were over the last two years.”

Compared to last season, which saw about half as much snowfall -- 19.6 inches through the end of last February -- the moisture totals are a good sign for the coming growing season, with perhaps more wetness on the way.

“For at least the first part of spring the chances are that it’s gong to be wetter than average, or at least trend that way,” Sebenste said. “There is uncertainty in the forecast, but at least in the short term, we see some significant storms on the horizon.”

Sebenste says it’s going to take a while for northern Illinois to escape this pattern of unseasonably cold air, but that nothing out of the ordinary appears to be on deck for summer because there are no El Nino or La Nina climate patterns developing over the Pacific Ocean.

El Nino and its counterpart, La Nina, are names given to temperature patterns that arise off the west coast of the United States and can contribute to anomalies in temperature and precipitation across the country.

“We may get into a weaker El Nino into summer, but the effects of El Nino in summer are generally very weak,” Sebenste said. “With no El Nino or La Nina effecting the United States this spring, it looks like the external factors such as snow cover and how much cold air there’s actually in place right now will affect the farmers the most.”

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 35

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36 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

Maple Park Family named Illinois Pork Producers family of the year

By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com MAPLE PARK – The Gerald and Nancy Hartmann family of Maple Park has been recognized as the Illinois Pork Producers Association family of the year.

The award recognizes a pork producer family that has done an outstanding job in promoting pork and has exemplified leadership skills at the county, state and national levels.

The main farm houses 600 farrow-to-finish hogs, and they raise weaned pigs on a second farm. They own 270 sows in a sow center, where they get about 1,000 weaned pigs bi-monthly. In total, they market about 20,000 hogs a year. They also farm 5,800 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat.

Gerald Hartmann started raising pigs on his father’s dairy farm when he was 12.

“I just thought hogs were a lot easier than dairy cows,” he said. “There was a little more flexibility there.”

He expanded the pork production with a degree in hand from Iowa State University.

He and Nancy raised hogs with the help of their sons, Jeff and Doug, who joined the operation full-time in 1985 after both had earned degrees in animal science.

“There was never any doubt I would return to the farm,” said Jeff Hartmann. “I remember riding on the tractor or in the combine when I was just 5 or 6 years old.”

Gerald Hartmann serves as a consultant, and works on budgeting and taxes. Jeff Hartmann is responsible for transportation and maintenance, and serves as crop specialist, while Doug Hartmann serves as the general manager of the farm. Their sister, Andrea Thurwanger is the bookkeeper for the operation.

The three Hartmann children have six children among them.

“We can do each other’s jobs, it just has worked out that way,” Jeff Hartmann said of the division of labor between him and Doug. “We all help out where we’re needed.”

He said he and his siblings were fortunate that their parents had planned and expanded the operation steadily, allowing them to continue in farming.

Top photo: Doug and Dan in farrowing house Top left photo: Hartmann Farms Maple Park Illinois Bottom Left: Dan and Andrea help DeKalb Area Pork Producers provide pork chops for local promotion.

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 37

“We were able to expand, not only the number of hogs we raised, but also in acreage as neighbors retired,” Gerald Hartmann said.

Fourth-generation farmer – and third-generation Iowa State graduate – Dan Hartmann, Doug’s son, joined the operation about four years ago, after his 2010 after earning his degree in agricultural studies. He is responsible for the wean-to-finish portion of the operation, as well as feed and nutrition.

Agriculture & Kishwaukee College share deep roots…

“This is all I’ve ever known,” Dan Hartmann said. He remembered fondly doing chores on Christmas morning, even before opening gifts.

“We give our employees Christmas Day off, so we do the chores,” said Gerald Hartmann.

Along with their commitment to the pork industry and various pork producer organizations, the Hartmann family has been active in the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, FFA, 4-H, their church and more.

As members of commodity groups, the Hartmann family is able to share their farm story with a wider audience. They all take that role seriously, and Dan Hartmann said sometimes they have to choose their words carefully.

“You have to pay attention to your words and use terms people are familiar with so your words don’t get twisted,” Dan Hartmann said.

Even so, they all agree it’s important to tell people about how their food gets from the farm to their table with programs like the Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom.

Kishwaukee College began as an idea planted and nurtured by local farmers and is still the best choice for area young people who want a career in the field of agriculture.

Explore the Agriculture Programs at Kishwaukee College

• Associate of Science – emphasis in Agriculture • Diesel Power Technology • Horticulture • Aviation • Truck Driver Training

“I just did an ‘Ag in the Classroom’ talk,” Dan Hartmann said. I taught third-graders about corn.”

www.kishwaukeecollege.edu

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38 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

2014 Illinois

F a r m® Families

‘Field Moms’ Selected

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the third year, Illinois family farmers are welcoming Chicago-area moms to their farms to answer the moms’ questions about how food is grown. The “Field Moms” will tour four Illinois farms and a northern Illinois grocery store between February and October this year to see how farmers care for their animals and the environment.

The Field Moms will tour a pig farm, corn and soybean farm, dairy farm and beef farm. They will ride along as crops are planted and harvested. Their first tour will be of Ultra Foods in Wheaton, Ill., February 22. While there, the Field Moms will have a chance to speak with Ultra Foods managers and staff and registered dietician Jodie Shield will answer the moms’ questions about healthy food and nutrition.

The 2014 Field Moms are:

Dina Barron, Oak Park Suzanne Batch, Rosemont Keyonda Campbell Pyles, Chicago Heather Caulfield, Mt. Prospect Linda Coyne, Palos Heights Sarah Decker, Grayslake Mysi DeSantis, Crystal Lake Michelle Follman, Carpentersville Cortney Fries, Chicago Samantha Godden-Chmielowicz, Chicago Kathy Goers, Round Lake Beach Barb Grochocinski, Mt. Prospect Heather Guido, Oak Park Amanda Hinman, Mt. Prospect Sara McGuire, Chicago Genevieve O’Keefe, Grayslake Veronica Ortega, Berwyn Lynn Prehm, Naperville Agnes Rhodes, Rochelle Judy Sutton Taylor, Chicago Jill Thurmond, Deer Park

“I am very interested in learning the facts around farming,” said 2014 Field Mom Lynn Prehm, Naperville. “There is so much conflicting information about what foods we should buy and why, and I just want to know the facts. I’m looking forward to getting the facts from the source, not secondhand from people who don’t live it.”

Illinois Farm Families will be opening their doors throughout the year, welcoming the Field Moms and answering any questions they have about animal care, pesticides, biotechnology and more.

Donna Jeschke of Mazon is a corn and soybean farmer and is one of several farm moms who will be accompanying the Field Moms on their tours during the year.

“Today, most people are at least two generations removed from the farm,” said Jeschke. “As farmers, it’s important for us to connect with those moms who maybe don’t have a personal connection to the farm and answer any questions they have about how we raise the plants and animals they feed their families.”

The Field Moms each will record their days on the farms by taking photos, videos and journaling their observations. After each farm tour, the Field Moms will share what they learned with other moms and consumers on www.WatchUsGrow.org, www.facebook.com/IllinoisFarmFamilies and http://twitter.com/ILFarmFamilies.

Illinois Farm Families are Illinois farmers who support Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Beef Association and Midwest Dairy Association through farmer membership and checkoff programs. We are committed to having conversations with consumers, answering their questions about food, farmers and farming, and sharing what really happens on today’s Illinois family farms. More than 94 percent of Illinois farms are family owned and operated. We are passionate about showing consumers how we grow safe, healthy food for their families and ours.

Spring 2014 | DeKalb County AG Mag | 39

40 | DeKalb County AG Mag | Spring 2014

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