BAM_02-29-2016

AG Mag

NorthCentral Illinois

The Quiet Zone The presidential candidates have had very little to say about agriculture issues on the campaign trail.

A Publication of Shaw Media

Spring 2016 AG Mag

1

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 486 PRINCETON, IL 61356 800 Ace Road Princeton, IL 61356 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Crop Insurance that’s born in the COUNTRY Farmers who trust COUNTRY for CropHail insurance and Federal Crop Insurance find solid coverage at an affordable price. Contact your COUNTRY Financial representative today.

Issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance CompanyÂŽ, Bloomington, IL. An equal opportunity provider.

Agent Name Tom Rutledge Agent Name Randy AgentHolaway Name Agent Name Jim Scruggs Agent Name City Geneseo City Walnut City City Princeton City (000) 123-4567 309-945-4800 (000) 123-4567(000) 815-379-9297 123-4567(000) 123-4567 815-872-3333 (000) 123-4567 (000) 123-4567 309-945-4800 cell (000) 123-4567 815-379-9297 cell (000) 123-4567 815-872-3333 cell (000) 123-4567

Jim Scruggs Princeton 815-872-3333

Crane Schafer Spring Valley 815-664-4145

Mike Morris Princeton 815-872-3333

Ron Behrends Tiskilwa 815-646-4121

Agent Name Crane Schafer Agent Name Agent Mike Morris Name Agent Name Ron Behrends Agent Name City Spring Valley City Princeton City City Tiskilwa City (000) 123-4567 815-664-4145 (000) 123-4567(000) 815-872-3333 123-4567(000) 123-4567 815-646-4121 (000) 123-4567 (000) 123-4567 815-664-4145 cell (000) 123-4567 815-872-3333 cell (000) 123-4567 815-646-4121 cell (000) 123-4567

Tom Rutledge Tyler Hansen Andrew Christman Agency Manager Walnut Princeton Mike Taylor Agent Name 815-379-9297 Agent Name Agent Name Tyler AgentHansen Name Agent Name Geneseo Agent Name Agent Name 815-872-0914 Princeton Walnut City City City City City City City 815-872-0914 815-379-9297 309-945-4800 (000) 123-4567(000) 123-4567(000) 123-4567(000) 123-4567(000) 123-4567 (000) 123-4567(000) 123-4567

815-872-0914 cell(000) 123-4567 815-379-9297 cell(000) 123-4567 (000) 123-4567

012013-00484AC 1114-032

2 Spring 2016

(000) 123-4567

Never know what Mother Nature will bring for the seasons, best to have someone on your side, like Alan Davis, COUNTRY Financial®Crop Insurance Specialist.

Alan has been serving farmers like you for 8 years. Before that he worked in the financial sector at a local bank. He has lived in Bureau County all of his life, including his current residence in Tiskilwa, IL with his wife and children. He is a family man and wants to help your family continue the farming operation.

He has experience with writing Crop Insurance policies for Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, High Risk Land and Contract crops such as Green Peas and Sweet Corn, Hybrid Seed Corn, Irrigated and Non-Irrigated practices and also new breaking ground.

His experience in understanding your operation and how the policies can be best suited for your needs will greatly benefit you as a producer.

Alan Davis

Federal Crop Insurance Deadline for Sign-up March 15, 2016

Crop Insurance Specialist Business Cell

815-303-3111

PO Box 59, Tiskilwa, IL 61368 Email: alan.davis@countryfinancial.com Auto, Home, and Crop policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, or COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. Life insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Life Insurance Company®and COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. Fixed Annuities issued by COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. 0116-250

AG Mag

3

AG Mag

Index

NorthCentral Illinois

Publisher Sam R Fisher Advertising Sales Development Director Jennifer Heintzelman Editor Terri Simon Magazine Editor Jeff Rogers Reporters & Photographers Dave Cook, Pam Eggemeier, Eric Engel, Dave Fox, Lyle Ganther, Kelsey Haugen, Christopher Heimerman, Tom Kocal, Alex T. Paschal, Philip Marruffo, Goldie Rapp, and Angel Sierra Published by Bureau County Republican 800 Ace Road Princeton, IL 61356 815-875-4461

Articles and advertisements are the property of Bureau County Republican. No portion of the NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Bureau County Republican. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Bureau County Republican cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Bureau County Republican 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.

4 Spring 2016

COVER STORY PAGE 24

Drought in ag politics Though there are many presidential candidates, few of them are saying anything about agricultural issues.

®

Serving Illinois & Eastern Iowa Since 1971!

EQUIPMENT COMPANY The BEST Warranty in the Business!

Hotsy 900 Series

6 Months Same-As-Cash Hotsy 842

See our compete inventory at www.hotsyofprinceton.com

Hotsy Equipment Company 17 West Peru • Princeton, Illinois

815-875-4564 or 800-553-5201 AG Mag

5

Index FIRST READ PAGE 10

Same approach

How is longtime Bureau County farmer Ted Heaton planning his planting season amid market and weather concerns? By sticking with what he knows.

Now in its sixth decade, Kory’s Farm Equipment continues to thrive in Manlius.

15

18

NEW OFFICE,

SAME ADDRESS, SAME COMPANY!

Princeton FFA members use city’s land and homegrown knowledge to harvest an education.

After 137 years of mutual insurance service to the area, Peru Waltham Mutual has built a new office building to better service their policyholders. Please stop by and see the new office, at the same great location‚ 1724 Peoria Street, Peru.

We continually strive to serve our policyholders, by providing great coverage at a great price. We are excited to share our continued efforts with our policyholders and the community.

Please call one of our great agents for a quote.

Visit us in the office, online at www.perumutual. com, or “like” our Facebook page! We look forward to serving the area for years to come!

PERU WALTHAM SERVING YOUR HOME & FARM INSURANCE NEEDS SINCE 1878 Frank McConville McConville Insurance Agency Mendota & Tonica, IL 815-539-9714 815-442-3116

Call an agent today!

6 Spring 2016

Bart Hartauer Hartauer Insurance Agency LaSalle, IL 815-223-1795

Ryan Harvey Gonet Insurance Agency Peru, IL 815-223-1782

Mike Gonet Gonet Insurance Agency Granville, IL 815-339-2411

Pete Mangold Princeton Insurance Group Princeton, IL 815-875-4464

Richard Bend & Beth White Bend Insurance Agency Waterman, IL 815-739-6687

Alan Peters & Timothy Peters Alan Peters Insurance Agency LaSalle, IL 815-224-3497

Visit us online at www.perumutual.com

WALNUT RIDGE_VALUABLE RESOURCE AD 10.32x16.eps

1

9/22/2015

10:29:29 AM

WALNUT RIDGE_VALUABLE RESOURCE AD 10.32x16.eps

1

9/22/2015

10:29:29 AM

C

C

M

M

Y

CM

Y

BHE Renewables is excited to bring the valuable resource of wind energy to Bureau County.

As part of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, we are part of one of the leading renewable energy companies in the U.S., with successful projects all over the country. Our Bishop Hill II wind project in Henry County, Illinois, has been producing wind energy since 2012, and we look forward to doing the same with the Walnut Ridge Wind Farm.

MY

CM

CY

MY

CY

CMY

K

CMY

K

We have a track record as an outstanding community member and supporter, and we look forward to demonstrating it in Bureau County. As we work to bring the value of the wind to your community, please join us and show your support for the Walnut Ridge Wind Farm.

If you would like to know how you can support the development of the Walnut Ridge Wind Farm, contact Alicia Knapp at 515-242-3988 or arknapp@bherenewables.com.

AG Mag

7

Index

AG OUTLOOK PAGE 34

Better days ahead for ethanol?

Ethanol is a big deal in Illinois. If the industry is able to break the blend wall at the pumps, it could become an even bigger, and better, deal.

To teach them about agriculture, Glen and Judy Wright bring kids to the farm.

8 Spring 2016

30

40

Co-operative Grain and Supply Co. Inc. of Troy Grove still standing after all these years.

POIGNANT BROS. FARM DRAINAGE, INC.

• No long lists! • Any size tile installation • Experienced • GPS equipped • Specializing in grid tile work • Self propelled commercial tile plow • Trencher

BENEFITS OF SYSTEM DRAINAGE HIGHER CROP YIELDS: System drainage represents greater production. It is the final step for today’s top producers to bring fields up to their full capabilities. Drainage should be strongly considered before purchasing additional land, equipment or buildings. It is the only agricultural investment that will help pay for itself every year. Whole farm drainage is taking the Midwest by storm!

EARLIER PLANTING & HARVESTING: Drainage systems remove excess water that hampers soil warm-up in the spring.

This can be particularly important when using no-till or conservation tillage practices. Consistent water table levels throughout growing season will allow faster, more consistent plant growth for quicker harvest start ups in the fall.

TOTAL FIELD FARMING: The objective is more than drying up wet areas. The goal is increased yield.

Without question though, system drainage will show some of the greatest benefits in areas of persistent excess moisture problems transforming some of your least productive land into performance fields.

CALL HAROLD TODAY! (309) 238-8625 AG Mag

9

Ted Heaton has been farming in Bureau County since 1976.

He said he has seen monumental changes in farming throughout his career, including those in hybridization of the seed and analysis of the land it’s planted in. (Photo contributed)

YIELDING TO THE IDEAL

Princeton farmer advances his industry with a level head

T

BY ERIC ENGEL AND CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

ed Heaton has seen monumental changes to the industry since he began farming in Bureau County in 1976.

The hybridization of seed and the analysis of the land it’s planted in are among those. Technology has allowed for not only bigger plantations, but better cultivation.

Yet Heaton still walks into his fields and takes in the sky above and the ground below on every occasion he can. After all, sunlight and rain have yet to surrender their reign as the premier sources of warmth and moisture.

Right now, a survey of the local ag landscape wouldn’t necessarily be a beautiful sight.

10 Spring 2016

Corn and soybean prices are at 7-year lows, and have been trending downward the past 3 years. Heaton, of Princeton, spoke of a “stocks-to-use ratio,” which correlates how much crop is grown in relation to how much is needed worldwide.

The price of corn and soybeans should be 50 cents to $1.50 higher per bushel, he said, when looking at the price of stocks-use ratios of past years.

A strong deflationary environment is also pulling crop prices lower as well.

“We’ve just got too much supply compared to what the demand is,” Heaton said, adding that a wise business practice includes selling a little bit of grain throughout the year, although no responsible tradesman wants to barter his hard work for peanuts, even though the market doesn’t care if you lose money.

CONTINUED ON 11

Photo contributed

“We’ve just got too much supply compared to what the demand is,” Bureau County farmer Ted Heaton said, adding, “You never know what kind of black swan event may occur, either in the economy or worldwide grain production. So you sell a little bit every month, but you hate to sell anything below the cost of production.”

CONTINUED FROM 10

“You never know what kind of black swan event may occur, either in the economy or worldwide grain production, so you sell a little bit every month, but you hate to sell anything below the cost of production.”

Farming veterans like Heaton have been here, seen this before. To add injury to the insult of lower commodities prices, El Niño drenched farmlands at the tail end of 2015.

But what about the young farmer who hasn’t yet lived through a 1987, 1998 or a 2001?

“Those years really teach you that you’d better be paying attention to what’s going on, because when they turn, they turn quickly, and they get ugly in a hurry,” said Jim Schielein, a 51-yearold former State Farm Board member who’s been in business for himself in Lee County since 1990, before which he worked “forever” for his dad.

“Cash is king. In this type of situation, cash is always king, and you’ve got to keep your leverage ratio as low as possible.”

In 2015, corn was planted on 11.7 million acres, down 2 percent from 2014. The yield dropped from 200 bushels per acre to 175, a drop of 12.5 percent. And farmers in eastern Lee County would love to be coming off those numbers.

Longtime farmer Craig Buhrow experienced some of the worst that 2015 had to offer, with land from Interstate 88 to U.S. Route 30 in eastern Lee County.

“It was as bad as it’s been for about the past 20 years,” he said. “If you live down where the ground’s flat, you don’t go to the coffee shop. You put on your boots, get out the spade and make little ditches for drainage.”

In the final 2 months of 2015, U.S. farmland took on more rain than it had in 120 years, a sign that corn and soybean yields will shrink.

Heaton said there are always cycles in agriculture, similar to the oil business or the stock market. What goes up must come down, and what falls should rightfully rise again.

“All you can do is continue looking down the line and stick to a certain crop rotation, varying a little depending on what you think the market’s going to do and what input costs are going to be,” he said.

He added that if you fluctuate too rapidly with one crop or another, you’ll forget where the solid ground is you’ve built your business upon. “It’s just the natural ups and downs of farming. It can’t be going up all the time.”

Heaton’s crop rotation is typically one year of soybeans followed by two years of corn, as that regiment promotes less fluctuation in yield, and yields are 10 to

20 bushels to the acre more. Hybrid and variety development has been phenomenal, he said, and fungicides and pesticides that were nonexistent a decade ago have minimized plant disease and insect damage. A healthy field makes for a wealthy yield.

“The machinery is so much more exact today; more precision-oriented,” Heaton said. He spoke like a man from the future about GPS-guided sub inch vertical and horizontal accuracy controlled by a constellation of cohesive satellites triangulating from 100 miles into the atmosphere, with tangible results offered from tractors, self-propelled sprayers and combines that drive themselves.

“I guess I’m surprised how fast technology has developed compared to the previous 25 or 30 years,” he said.

“Plant genetics are better understood, computerization has taken place as far as crop selection goes, and larger plots can do more combinations in shorter periods of time.”

Heaton noted the size of food packages has decreased, while prices have increased because when a tomato in Florida becomes ketchup in Illinois, it must be picked, processed, packed, stored and transported before it flavors up our burger.

“Everybody needs a little profit along the way, and before you know it, the price is high.”

Heaton surely appreciates a dry spring season, as he usually starts planting in late April. About an inch of rain each week and summer days that stay between 80 and and 85 degrees?

He doesn’t mind those, either, and neither do his crops. One of his greatest investments has been drainage tile, as it helps eliminate the excess moisture in the field. The drainage tile results in higher yields because corn and soybeans do not like wet feet, Heaton said.

Heaton engineers productive means to keep his crops shooting from the soil like fireworks into the sky, and after four decades in the dirt, he still knows not to push all of his chips onto any single corn hybrid or soybean variety.

History of 130 years of weather records has shown that growing seasons following record rainfall in November and December, as El Nino provided Bureau County in 2015, result in below trend line yields about 70 to 80 percent of the time. The following summers usually have some weather event that adversely affects the nation’s corn and soybean supply.

“At some point we have to get rid of the surplus, and maybe that’s on the horizon based off past historical weather records,” he said.

AG Mag

11

The most colorful corner The Corner Garden sure is a bright spot

BY DAVE COOK For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Whether it’s vegetables, herbs, flowers or more, you can find owner Lisa Barton helping customers beautify their yard and their dinner plate at The Corner Garden, located on North 20th Road near Tonica. (Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

As you leave Tonica on North 20th Road and come off the Interstate 39 overpass, your eyes are drawn to a vivid collection of colors from the almost aerial view of The Corner Garden.

As you browse the aisles of brightly hued mums, walk among the selection of produce, browse the garden decor and visit with the goats, it’s easy to forget this little garden business is tucked into the corner of an interstate.

For the past six years, owner Lisa Barton has been helping people beautify their yards by supplying them with flowers and plants grown within her vibrantly painted and adorned greenhouses.

CONTINUED ON 13

PARTS DAYS February 15 - March 31

25% OFF FILTERS 1350 Western Ave Henry, IL 61537 (309) 364-2336

25% SELECT TILLAGE 407 S East St Annawan, IL 61234 (309) 935-6768

Case IH is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

12 Spring 2016

10% OFF PARTS

CONTINUED FROM 12

She also sells indoor, outdoor and holiday decor; and seasonal produce. There’s even a bit of a petting zoo experience included with a visit to The Corner Garden.

There are nine healthy, happy and content goats living in a shady area of the garden. Some are napping; some are lazily chewing hay; and some stand patiently at the fence while waiting to be scratched behind their ears.

“I rescued them all,” Barton said. “Each one was a sick baby when I got them, but they’re all healthy now.

They’re my pets.”

Barton grows more than 200 varieties of annuals and tries hard to find and grow new and unusual plants which can be harder to find in the big box stores, such as succulents, scented geraniums, osteospermums and dorothenathus.

She also sells many different

planters and hanging baskets.

Barton also has many plants which end up helping to beautify kitchens and dinner tables.

They also provide a tasty and nutritional meal. Available during the spring and summer are a large variety of herbs; more than 50 varieties of tomatoes, including many heirlooms; 30 kinds of peppers; squash and melons.

“In late summer, we sell produce including tomatoes, sweet corn, melons, peppers, and Michigan fruits, such as peaches, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, apricots and plums,” Barton said.

Barton enjoys not only growing, harvesting and selling her produce, but cooking with it as well, and she generously provided some of her favorite garden recipes.

For more information, call 815-830-2577 or visit The Corner Garden’s Facebook page.

LISA BARTON’S RECOMMENDED RECIPES Scalloped tomatoes

“This is a great dish to use when you have an overload of fresh tomatoes coming out of your garden,” Lisa Barton said. “I prefer to use heirloom varieties, such as Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter or Oxheart, for a heartier taste, but any variety will do.”

4 medium to large tomatoes 1 cup fresh bread crumbs 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons minced green onions 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil Paprika Heat oven to 350. Slice tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices. Mix together bread crumbs, parsley, green onions, thyme, salt and pepper. In a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish, layer tomatoes, bread crumb mixture and cheese, ending with a sprinkling of crumbs and cheese. Drizzle olive oil over the top. Sprinkle with paprika.

Bake, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove covering during the last 10 minutes to allow browning.

Frozen sweet corn

“This is as close as you will get to fresh sweet corn on the cob,” Barton said.

8 cups uncooked sweet corn cut off the cob 1 1/2 cups water 1/2 cup butter 2 teaspoons salt 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar Combine all ingredients in a large kettle. Bring to a boil for 3-5 minutes. If you like your corn to have a little crunch, cook for 3 minutes. If you enjoy your corn to be softer, cook for 5 minutes.

Cool, put into containers and freeze.

GRIPP 815-454-9600 • • • • • •

Our Products & Services Fertilizers - Dry, Liquid, Starter & Micronutrients Crop Protection Products - Name Brand & Generics Application - Ground & Aerial Soil Testing Competitive Pricing & Top Notch Customer Service 360 Yield Center Dealer Our Perspective

As farmers and landowners ourselves, we seek out opportunities for farming operations. We want to see your farm succeed, and your commitment to it sustained.

Our Promise We think about your bottom line first. All sales and recommendations are based on what makes your farming operation profitable.

We are farmers too.

Get a shared perspective.

Grow your crop and your value per acre with agricultural products and farming services in one stop.

Gripp Custom Farming Corp & Gripp Farm Nutrients, LLC

Family Owned &Operated SHEFFIELD, ILLINOIS www.grippfarms.com

MORE RECIPES ON PAGE 14 AG Mag

13

LISA BARTON’S RECOMMENDED RECIPES Apple Harvest Salad

“When late summer arrives, so does the apple crop. This is so good you can serve it as a dessert,” Barton said.

1 20-ounce can undrained crushed pineapple 2/3 cup sugar 1 package lemon gelatin 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 cup diced, unpeeled apples 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup whipped cream or whipped topping 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts In a saucepan over medium heat, combine pineapple and sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved. Stir in cream cheese until well blended. Let cool, but do not let it set up. After mixture has cooled add apples, celery, whipped cream and nuts. Refrigerate until set.

Harvard beets

“Love beets, but are tired of pickling them? Here is a great alternative using traditional red beets,” Barton said. “Or, you can live on the edge and use striped or golden beets. All varieties are delicious.”

2 to 3 cups peeled and sliced beets 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt Heat oven to 350. Place beets in a casserole dish. Combine

14 Spring 2016

water, butter, sugar, cornstarch and salt in a sauce pan. Stir and cook over medium heat until mixture thickens. Pour over beets, stirring to coat. Cover and bake for 1 hour or until beets are tender.

Fresh basil pesto

“Since basil is a staple in my herb garden, pesto has become a favorite way to use it,” Barton said. “Pesto is great tossed with pasta, as a spread on sandwiches, and as a topping for cheese and crackers. You can make an ordinary grilled cheese sandwich spectacular by using thick sliced Italian bread, provolone, Asiago and mozzarella cheeses, fresh tomato slices and pesto.”

2 cups fresh basil leaves (I use sweet basil and lettuce leaf basil) 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan-Reggiano cheese 1/3 cup pine nuts 3 cloves minced garlic Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Place the basil leaves and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse several times. Add the garlic and cheese and pulse several more times. Scrape down the sides with a spatula. While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady, small stream. Adding the oil slowly while the processor is running will help it emulsify and keep it from separating. Occasionally stop to scrape down the sides. Stir in salt and pepper to taste.

Pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. Be sure to seal tight and press plastic wrap onto the top of pesto to prevent the darkening which occurs when it’s exposed to air. You can also freeze pesto, but omit adding cheese until you thaw for use.

Where tradition meets progress

Kory Farm Equipment steps up to agricultural plate

BY TERRI SIMON For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Kory Farm Equipment, LLC, in the tiny Bureau County village of Manlius might be one of the area’s best kept secrets.

But there’s no secret about the impact this unpretentious company and its employees have had on the immediate and outlying areas the past several years.

Kory Sales Manager Chris Maynard, who has been with the company for four years, said the company calls the 410 W. Maple Ave. location home, as it has for the past 40 years. While the operation there runs efficiently, he said, the company’s owners have plans to upgrade the facility in the future.

CONTINUED ON 16

Kory Farm Equipment, LLC, in Manlius manufactures a full line of running gears and gravity boxes, combine header transport trailers – both convential and high speed – seed tenders, anhydrous ammonia running gears and much more.

(Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois AgMag)

Our goal is been to provide farmers with affordable crop income protection combined with superior service and utmost integrity. It is evident by our continued growth and loyal customer base that we have met, and continue to meet, this challenge.

ADM Crop Risk Services is committed to providing our agents and customers with industry leading crop insurance services. Using our accurate information, effective tools, and timely resources, we provide products to mitigate the risk and uncertainty of loss for America’s farmers.

Farmer / Agent

ADM Crop Risk Services also has a satellite office located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, that handles MPCI underwriting. Our staff in the Council Bluffs office has more than 100 years of combined experience in MPCI underwriting.

Karl A. Schultz Insurance Call for information & Quotes

815-646-4734 Cell: 815-866-4734

AG Mag

15

CONTINUED FROM 15

The history of Kory started as far back as the 1960s with a company called Smith and Company, which made gravity boxes for M&W and the Parker Co. That company was purchased in October 1971 by Korhumel, Inc., which owned the manufacturing company until the local Kory group purchased it.

To date, 17 people are employed there.

Primarily, Kory produces a variety of agriculture-related products.

“We manufacture a full line of running gears and gravity boxes, combine header transport trailers, both conventional and high-speed, seed tenders, anhydrous ammonia running gears and much more,” Maynard said. “We have developed about 16 new products in the 40-plus years of business. Our most popular addition is definitely the anhydrous ammonia running gear.”

Maynard said the company’s products are “being received very well. We have developed some great relationships that are continuing to grow.”

Like most new products in any industry, Kory’s are developed based on customers’ needs.

“One of the benefits of being a small company is that we can adapt to change well. We listen to customer needs and develop products based on

16 Spring 2016

Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Kory Farm Equipment Sales Manager Chris Maynard, who has been with the company for four years, said the company calls the 410 W. Maple Ave. location in Manlius home, as it has for the past 40 years. While the operation there runs efficiently, he said, the company’s owners have plans to upgrade the facility in the future. those needs,” he said.

Maynard said the company is constantly looking at new products to offer to its deep customer base.

“Agriculture is an ever-changing market, and we have to continue to grow and change,” he said. “Part of that change includes a new concept seed tender, an all-wheel steer header transport trailer and increasing our anhy-

drous/fertilizer equipment lineup.”

While Maynard admits the company didn’t embrace change well during its first 30 to 40 years, that situation has been rectified by the new owners, who are focused on changing and developing products that fit well into today’s agricultural world.

CONTINUED ON 17

Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Products manufactured at Kory Farm Equipment in Manlius are primarily based on customers’ needs.

CONTINUED FROM 16

“We must continue to study our customers’ needs and manufacture products to fit those needs,” he said.

But some important things remain the same – the same running gears and gravity boxes which initially put

Kory on the proverbial map for those involved in agriculture are still topnotch and very popular – and customer loyalty is second to none.

“I think our best characteristic is that we do business like a small business,” Maynard said. “We listen to our customers’ needs and can adapt easier and faster

than our major corporate competition.”

While the company clearly has many opportunities in the future, Maynard believes the biggest are Kory’s anhydrous ammonia and seed handling lines, and also that the company offers such a diverse product line that complements all seasons.

“That is the beauty of what we are doing,” Maynard said. “We have a very aggressive ownership group that is willing to do what it takes to continue to grow our company.

“Kory is already a well-known company in the running gear and gravity box market. We are continuing to grow our name in the seed tender, anhydrous running gear and header transport market as well. We build a very heavy duty product at a competitive price.”

Maynard also said one of the perks of Kory Farm Equipment is that ownership is all within 100 miles of the company.

“They are all farmers, manufacturers and/or business people. These guys bought this company out of foreclosure and have put people back to work and are working to put Kory back on that map. We have created 15 new products in four short years, and we are marketing all over the USA and working into Canada,” he said, adding the company is considering expanding its physical operation in the future.

Enduring Strength. Uncompromising Value.

It’s no wonder our post-frame buildings last a long, long time. We only use the highest quality lumber.

We carefully shape our own steel and trusses. And our Wick-trained crews know only one way to install our designs: the right way.

Want the best quality building at a competitive price? Call us. We’ll make your hard-earned buck last a long, long time.

For more information contact: Andersen Statewide Buildings 815-343-8826 website: www.andersenbuildings.com email: andersenstatewidebuildings@comcast.net

AG Mag

17

FIELD TEST Princeton FFA members turn city-owned land into a learning ground

BY ERIC ENGEL For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Princeton High School FFA members planted, tended and harvested 20 acres this past season. After they paid for the seed, fertilizer, chemicals and expense of the equipment, they raised the crops, harvested them, got them to the bin, and then split the revenue with the city of Princeton. (Photo contributed)

18 Spring 2016

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but for three Princeton High School students, it definitely grows in the cornfield.

Cole Wright, Luke Schultz and Jacob Bickett are among the roughly two dozen members of the Princeton Future Farmers of America chapter, and last fall they approached then Princeton Mayor Keith Cain about leasing 20 acres of farmland from the city. Cain gave them the green light to plant some golden kernels.

“It’s a 50/50 lease, so we pay for the seed, fertilizer, chemicals and expense of the equipment,” said Wright, a junior at PHS. CONTINUED ON 19

Photo contributed

It’s just another day on the “farm” for these Princeton High School FFA members and a couple of their mentors.

CONTINUED FROM 18

“We raise the crops, harvest them and get them to the bin, and then we split the revenue with the city.”

All the young entrepreneurs’ revenue from the 20 acres goes into an FFA bank account, and the city uses a portion of its share to pay the property tax on the farmland and then donates the rest to the FFA chapter. Wright said this enterprise allows the students to see how everything plays out in the real world at a young age.

Schultz, a junior at PHS, said he and his friends sought the necessary industrial and agricultural components to perform their task, accepting any advice well-versed farmhands were willing to offer.

“Experiencing this really boosts our confidence heading into our senior year and gives us an understanding we didn’t have before,” Schultz said, indicating half the acres are behind Liberty Village on the east edge of

town and the other half are by the water treatment plant behind the Bureau County Republican building on the north end.

Bickett, in his final year at PHS, said you just get used to all the chores, crops and animals as you grow up on a farm, but he is still surprised by how many teachers and adults who have spent their whole lives in the area don’t have a clue about farming.

“It’s our responsibility to help people understand,” Bickett said, mentioning their adventures in the field leaves them a step ahead of the game.

The young men traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, on Oct. 28 for the National FFA Convention, and Wright said their FFA account pays for food, gas and lodging. Bickett noted 60,000 people will attend a convention that “explains agriculture, not just the FFA,” with advisers, speakers, national officers and a career center available to answer any question asked.

CONTINUED ON 20 AG Mag

19

CONTINUED FROM 19

“There are workshops, leadership training seminars and general sessions that educate us on misconceptions and community enlightenment,” Wright said, observing many people have the wrong impression about the dangers of genetically-modified organisms or the cruelty of animal confinement.

“We meet a lot of people down here at the convention, so we can go off to college with more connections,” Bickett said.

Wright is still deciding whether to pursue a career in agriculture. He would be the fourth generation of his family to do so.

Schultz said the goal will always be to expand the program year after year.

“It’s definitely a blast to do this, having fun with friends and making connections that will help us later in life,” Schultz said. “We are learning to work things out as we go, which will only benefit us in the future.”

Despite the state of agriculture in the Midwest, Bickett is hopeful.

“The farming industry is always losing people and land, so we are the messengers trying to raise awareness of what agriculture is trying to do, so everyone can help it succeed.”

Princeton High School FFA members planted, tended and harvested 20 acres this past season. After they paid for the seed, fertilizer, chemicals and expense of the equipment, they raised the crops, harvested them, got them to the bin, and then split the revenue with the city of Princeton.

Photo contributed

Helping hands with the FFA field project The following businesses and individuals were instrumental in helping the Princeton chapter of the Future Farmers of America with the acreage lease and the project.

• Ag View FS Inc. of Princeton offered fertilizer and anhydrous.

• Northern Partners Cooperative of Mendota offered insecticides and other chemicals.

• Dimond Brothers Insurance of Princeton provided insurance.

• City of Princeton accommodated the use of land.

• Crop Production Services donated pork chops for a winter FFA fundraiser.

• White Oak Ag, Inc. of Princeton donated seed and offered seed expertise.

• Princeton High School Board provided much support.

• Many local farmers contributed the use of their machinery, the efforts of their labor, and their knowledgeable support.

• • • •

Farm Vehicle Crop Hail

• • • •

Property Health Life Commercial

Mickley Insurance Agency

Sandrock Insurance Agency

102 W. Main St. • Morrison

107 Main St. • Tampico

815-772-2793

www.2cornerstone.com

815-438-3923

Our mission is to be a premier, all-lines, independent insurance agency in northern Illinois and the surrounding areas. We shall strive to be proud of our product, customer service, customer satisfaction and fair competitive pricing. We care to deal with those we can also call our friends.

20 Spring 2016

Ag land values likely to continue gradual decline For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

A softer agricultural land market will continue in 2016, with values for high-quality land holding steady and lower-quality land values declining.

Still, despite lower land values scattered across many regions, land values in general will remain historically high when compared to long-term trends, reports Farmers National Company, the nation’s leading farm and ranch real estate company.

“Lower grain and livestock prices are a major factor in the current measured decline in land values,” said Randy Dickhut, vice president of real estate operations for Farmers National. “As net farm income continues to fall from the 2013 peak, we expect to see this trend in many agricultural regions of the country.”

Price stabilization will carry into 2016 for some regions, as landowners hold on to the high-value land. The supply of land available for sale increased slightly during the last quarter of 2015, but it has remained lower than normal. The demand for agricultural land has turned more cautious.

Farmers National Company statistics indicate positive long-term economic trends, even with the current softening of ag land values. The land value trend might encourage new buyers to enter the market or existing investors to expand portfolios.

“As the land market experiences a gradual decline, values remain much higher than just five to seven years ago, due to the positive longterm demand for food and fiber,” Dickhut said.

With engineered seed, generic adjuvants, crop protection, plant food and more, Gold Star FS can help with your pursuit of maximum yield and ultimately improve your bottom line.

Whether you need propane, diesel fuel, gasoline or a bulk oil system setup, we have you covered each step of the way to help you lower maintenance costs and keep your equipment running smoothly.

Power

Efficiency

Protection

®

Regional land value report Land values in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi are lower than values seen in the past couple of years, but sporadic highpriced land sales of high-quality land make up for that slight decline, according to Roger Hayworth, ALC, area sales manager for Farmers National Company in Lafayette, Indiana.

“Values are down 7 to 10 percent from six months ago,” Hayworth said. “The majority of land is still being bought by local landowners and farmers looking to add another 80 to 100 acres.

“If high-quality farmland is for sale in a popular county, there will be a lot of local competition, especially if it hasn’t changed hands in 50 to 60 years and especially by neighboring farmers looking to expand. If it has been well maintained with proper drainage, tiling and/or new irrigation equipment, then it sells well,” he said. “Buyers will pay a premium to buy acres in an area they really want.”

Hayworth said if commodity prices do not increase in 2016, there likely will be another slide in land values toward the end of the year.

“Since grain prices are down, farm operators have less to spend on land. They will pay up for quality acres,” Hayworth said. “The marginal land, B or C ground, is not highly sought after, so there are fewer aggressive buyers for those acres and their values can be down 10 to 20 percent.”

Still, land values remain historically high compared to five or six years ago, Hayworth noted.

“Seven or eight years ago, there was a spike off the charts. There were some properties in Indiana that had been valued at $3,5005,000 that sold as high as $11,000-12,000, but now they’re back down to $8,500-10,000. That’s still very strong,” he said.

Top prices in this region can be seen in Illinois at $11,200 per acre on average for high quality land. These levels are followed

by Indiana with values up to $9,000 per acre and Ohio at $7,300 per acre.

A quality grain setup and assistance with marketing your grain can help take your operation to the next level. Rely on Gold Star FS and their trained staff to take your business one step further.

®

Cambridge 309-937-2421 Atkinson 309-936-7716 Woodhull 309-334-2111 ©2013 GROWMARK, Inc. M13849A

AG Mag

21

Looking back, and forward: Trends in the beef industry T K

his past year – 2015 – has been very interesting for many, with the wet spring that delayed planting of the crops, and the wonder if there would be any chance of recovery for the crops. The summer seemed like it was going to be just like the spring; then it was like the faucet was turned off.

This made dad scurry around for feed for the cattle, because the pasture had dried up. Then there is a warm and wet winter that has made a mess out of the cattle pastures and sloppy lots. Mother Nature has laid before us a season that may be one for the history books. Now we can say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016.

I am a senior at LaMoille High School.

Many say that your senior year is the most relaxing year of high school. I would have to say otherwise, because my senior year has been very busy.

Between preparing for college and participating in many FFA events, there hasn’t been a dull moment.

Being a senior, there is the daunting

AITLYN

HILDEBRAND

Student, LaMoille High School task of looking into the future and deciding if and what college is right for you. Some colleges give you top-quality treatment to make sure you come to their school, while there are other institutions that act like if you don’t enroll here we can always find another body to fill your spot. It’s hard to like a school if it has the attitude that you are one of a thousand.

Remember, seniors, in the long run, it’s all about whether the school is right for you or not.

In October, the LaMoille FFA chapter participated in the Western Illinois University fall livestock judging contest. I

couldn’t believe all the different states that were represented.

There were people anywhere from California to Florida participating in this contest. They had to judge four classes of cattle, three classes of swine, three classes of sheep, one class of goats, and had either reasons or questions on each species. Between 4-H and FFA, there were at least 200 students participating in the contest. The results for our chapter participants showed that our spring judging season should be successful.

Over this past year, there have been many changes and trends in the beef industry. This past year has been a roller coaster ride for market prices. Prices of feeder and slaughter cattle have dropped in the past several months, compared to the record high prices last fall and early this spring. Each year, my dad sells his feeder calves in November. In 2014, my dad averaged about $1,400 per calf.

CONTINUED ON 23

®

22 Spring 2016

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

CONTINUED FROM 22

Then when it came to sell the feeders calves this year, he averaged $800 per calf – a major drop compared to a year ago.

Buyers of feeder calves are spending more money on heavier calves to have a faster turnaround for the end product.

This way there is not a lot of money put back into growing that calf. Many buyers are cautious about how much they are willing to pay for lighter weight calves, because slaughter cattle are also dropping in value.

Many farmers selling cattle at slaughter weight are losing money on their end product. A farmer can possibly lose anywhere from $200 to $400 a market animal. The number of slaughter cattle entering the processing plant is higher than it was last year, but it is not as high as is was five or six years ago.

Many consumers say that since cattle prices are dropping, the product at the grocery store should be dropping, too.

Yet, the price of meat at the grocery store is not dropping at all, and even if it was a difference, there is not enough of a change for consumers to notice.

The reason is that the average weight of cattle coming to the processing plant has increased.

With heavier weights, it takes longer to prepare the end product, which leads to

‘‘

Many consumers say that since cattle prices are dropping, the product at the grocery store should be dropping, too. Yet, the price of meat at the grocery store is not dropping at all.

a higher price of meat because it costs more to process. The price of processed meat then must stay high to offset the higher cost of processing. It might be a while before the prices of beef will cost less in the grocery store.

With the need to be more responsible to the consumer, beef producers are becoming BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) certified. There are many concerns among consumers about the safety of the beef product.

It is up to us beef producers to tell the public that the beef product they will eat is safe. This is possible because of the BQA program, which was started more than 25 years ago. This program also raises consumer confidence by assuring the public that U.S. beef is the safest and most nutritious beef available.

Many ranchers ask if being BQA-certified will make them any more money when they sell their calves. By being certified, you are ensuring the cattle have received the proper care and treatment that the industry and consumers

’’

expect. This program goes a long way at guaranteeing a demand market for the beef producer and ensures a quality beef-eating experience that starts at the ranch when the calf is born and continues until the steak is presented to the consumer as a cooked product.

Some farmers are finishing up calving season, while many are waiting for it to start. Then there are farmers saying goodbye to that finished market animal, and others are saying hello to a new crop of feeder calves. If you’re like me, you are in the process of halter breaking that new show calf for the next show season.

Finally, there are the writers of countless articles about beef and the readers of those articles. No matter what role you play, we are the voices for the beef industry. So make sure that your voice is heard, and the beef industry is promoted in the best way possible. Until I write again, please eat more beef and have a Happy New Year.

Kaitlyn Hildebrand is a senior at LaMoille High School. She lives in rural Ohio with her family.

Our family protecting your family.

AG Mag

23

A CROWDED, The many presidential candidates have had little to say about agriculture issues

BY DAVE COOK AND PAM EGGEMEIER

H

For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

arold Steele, 93, of Dover has had a long and distinguished agricultural career which has taken him all the way to Washington, D.C. A lifelong farmer from Bureau County, Steele has served in many important roles, including president of Illinois Farm Bureau and a member of the board of directors of the American Farm Bureau.

In 1987, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as chairman of the National Commission of Agricultural Finance. President George H.W. Bush selected Steele as chief executive officer of the Farm Credit Administration, the regulator of the farm credit system.

Steele was recently asked why agricultural issues don’t play a bigger role in Midwestern presidential politics.

“I think it’s very simple; farmers aren’t many

24 Spring 2016

in numbers,” he said. “A politician is looking for votes, so farmers don’t cut it unless the politician understands that many other people have jobs because of the farmer.

“It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it is. But, more politicians are going to continue in the same way because there are going to be fewer and fewer farmers, and politicians don’t look at this correctly.”

Although the presidential election kicked off in Iowa, where corn is king, candidates in both the Republican and Democratic parties have managed to dodge what’s most important to Midwestern farmers.

“If it weren’t for there being such an important early primary in Iowa, we might not hear anything about ag from the candidates,” said Adam Nielsen, director of national legislation and policy development for Illinois Farm Bureau.

Farmers say renewable fuels is about the only issue that has brought much input from the candidates because of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s November ruling on biofuel requirements.

D, QUIET FIELD “Short of the Renewable Fuel Standards, I haven’t heard any significant policy statements for ag from any of the candidates,” said Jim Schielein, a Lee County farmer.

Steele said politicians aren’t the only ones to blame for the current state of politics.

“I think we, the people, have been very shortsighted for many years,” he said. “We haven’t been helping this nation by not having a very high quality of person getting into politics.

We don’t have many good politicians who are here for one purpose, to serve the country.”

Nielsen said farmers are challenged by a cyclical downturn, and while this environment certainly isn’t reminiscent of the great farm crisis of the 1980s, lower commodities prices should merit some discussion.

“We’re just coming out of the ‘glory days’ where income was high, and farmers were able to make investments, and now income is running behind production costs,” Nielsen said.

‘‘

Plunging commodities prices, especially oil and metals, are shaking the global economy, leaving farmers wondering how low ag-related commodities could go.

“Oil has been a wake-up call for farmers, and it’s been a nervous time for any commodity,” Schielein said. “If you translate what’s happened with oil prices to corn, we’d be at $2.”

While the 2014 farm bill has brought a workable safety net, farmers fear crop insurance might fall woefully short if corn drops below $3. That scenario could have farmers calling for the return of the ad hoc disaster system that disappeared in the farm bill.

The importance of finding new markets grows as crop prices drop, pushing trade issues near the top of Farm Bureau’s legislative priority list this year. Ag leaders are strugging to find a candidate in either party who can make strides on exports.

I think it’s very simple; farmers aren’t many in numbers.

A politician is looking for votes, so farmers don’t cut it unless the politician understands that many other people have jobs because of the farmer.

Harold Steele, lifelong farmer from Bureau County

CONTINUED ON 26

’’ AG Mag

25

CONTINUED FROM 25

“There is a protectionist strain that runs through both parties now, and they are equally bad on trade,” Nielsen said.

Ag interests are pushing for the enactment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement with 12 Pacific Rim nations, that among many other things, would lower trade barriers for Midwest farmers. Negotiations between the nations that Adam started nearly 8 years ago Nielsen wrapped up in October, but the pact faces stiff challenges in Congress.

Some of ag’s top issues mirror those of business at large, so the candidates have addressed them in a general fashion. Immigration would be a prime example, and Nielsen fears the issue is one of many to have fallen victim to theatrics.

“Farm Bureau has worked hard on immigration for the last few years, and it’s obvious that we need a clearer policy,” Nielsen said. “The candidates haven’t talked about it much in reference to ag, and it’s almost turned into a competition to see who’s most anti-immigrant.”

The immigration issue also is a good example of how difficult it can be to figure out the candidates’ positions on an

Kelsey Haugen/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican presidential candidate from Texas, addresses a citizen’s question during a meet-and-greet Nov. 29 at The Windrow in Creston, Iowa. issue. Several have flip-flopped on their immigration policy stances since the campaigning began, and complicated conditions are often attached to those positions. Political analysts are struggling to find clarity, so it’s no surprise that voters are as well.

Farm Bureau doesn’t formally endorse presidential candidates, but it takes a key leadership position in smoking out candidates’ positions on their prioritized issues. That task is made more dif-

ficult by the GOP logjam that remains – 12 candidates were still in the race going into the Feb. 1 Iowa caucus. The field began to winnow soon after.

“When we have nominees, they’ll sit down with advisers and write specific positions on ag,” Nielsen said. “Then we’ll look more carefully at the candidates’ records, but now there isn’t much to look at.”

CONTINUED ON 28

We carry some of the best brand names that you want

visit us for all your agriculture and lawn & garden power equipment needs

DILLER-ROD, INC.

701 East Peru St. • Princeton, IL • 815-875-3389 Service. Knowledge. Selection. Financing. Delivery.

26 Spring 2016

Farmers Forum WITH NORTHCENTRAL ILLINOIS AG MAG

What ag issue would you most like to hear presidential candidates talk about? Why?

Paul Salander

Steve Newcomer

Paul Salander, Mendota “Candidates have discussed all the issues. Everything is economics. The government is too big and needs to be shrunk.”

Steve Newcomer, Troy Grove “For long-term agriculture sustainability. I would personally like to see our new president-elect implement legislation on educating the American public on modern farming practices and the tools we farmers use, such

Jason Engel

Lonnie Rieker

as GMOs, to sustain our ability to feed the world. Also, I believe the new president should bring back funding for the USDA’s soil conservation program and help educate farmers/ ranchers on the benefits of proper soil management.”

Jason Engel, Tiskilwa “They should discuss continued growth and development of technology that enhances crop production.”

The Team For All Your Agricultural Lending Needs

Gerald King

Lonnie Rieker, Ohio “To promote and support ethanol production and to make it more available in order to use the grain surplus, which helps the ag economy.”

Gerald King, Princeton “I wish they would talk more about agriculture and its importance to this country, and how important the ethanol industry is to us in Bureau County.”

Don’t be left in the dark!

Be prepared...

Get a Winco generator!

Member FDIC

HENNEPIN / LADD 815-925-7373

or 815-894-2386

www.ncb-ebanc.com

Call 815-643-2354 for more information or installation.

Electric 815-643-2354 HVAC 815-643-2631 Electrical Contractors Heating & A/C Contractor

• Farm • Commercial • Residential • Industrial • Maintenance AG Mag

27

CONTINUED FROM 26

Schielein said he’s hoping the tenor of the campaigning will become more thoughtful as the field narrows.

“As some candidates drop out, we should start seeing more focus on the issues,” Schielein said. “It’s the nature of the beast – there’s a lot of theater early, but at some point they have to stop with the reality-TV politics.”

The ag lobby is still well organized and wields considerable influence in both parties, but political pundits contend there are some dynamics at play that have made it riskier for candidates to line up with ag interests.

“The ag lobby is still powerful, but it has generally fallen out of favor with both parties,” said Scot Schraufnagel, a political science professor at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

The declining number of farmers who are running bigger businesses can make support of many key ag issues a tougher sell with political strategists.

“With fewer small farms, Democrats that used to identify with the family farm are less inclined to support farmers who now are running a large corporation,” Schraufnagel said.

He said the GOP is hesitant to be linked with such issues as price supports and ethanol while espousing fiscal conservativism. Political strategists

call for ignoring an issue you can’t win, and many ag issues can be painted as lose-lose propositions.

“While candidates don’t want to offend the ag lobby, openly supporting the ag lobby can be perceived as support of more government spending,” Schraufnagel said.

Regulatory pressures on farmers is a key concern every year, but the ag lobby has rallied hard against the implementation of the Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule. The rule would pinpoint the reach of the nation’s Clean Water Act, bringing some smaller waterways such as streams and wetlands into federal jurisdiction. Farmers using those areas would be forced to meet environmental permit requirements of the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The issue has stalled along party lines, with Republicans calling the rule another example of “executive overreach”, and a violation of the rights of states and private property owners.

“We’re hoping they’ll take their foot off the accelerator on regulations when ag prices are down,” Nielsen said.

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, who formed an agriculture committee in the 16th Congressional District, also has his eye on the regulatory hurdles faced by agriculture.

“I think our next president needs to empower our agribusinesses, and allow

INSURANCE FOR WHATEVER CROPS UP • • • •

Farm Property Farm Liability Crop Hail/Wind Coverage Multi-Peril Crop Coverage ERIC OLDS AGENT

815-699-2477 320 W. Main • Wyanet, IL oldsinsurance@comcast.net

28 Spring 2016

them to continue driving our economy without fear of costly and burdensome regulations,” Kinzinger said. “It will be important to keep the standards of the 2014 House Farm Bill intact, and I hope that our next president gives greater attention to reigning in the overreaching EPA.” The congressman said he, too, is disappointed in the lack of meaningful conversation about several important ag-related issues. He said he holds out hope that something of substance will come up in future debates.

Steele, the Bureau County farmer, spoke with sadness as he discussed the generation of young farmers that agriculture lost back in the early 1980s because of politics and finances, and he doesn’t want to see that happen to future generations. He also spoke of the importance of education.

“We need more young farmers, and it takes financial strength to have this happen. We also need a stronger system of education about where our food comes from, how it gets on the plate and the importance of knowing this,” Steele said.

Steele was unable, however, to favor any particular candidate for their agricultural positions.

“I haven’t heard them address this subject, so I don’t feel that I know the candidates well enough in that area to say that one is better than another,” he said.

How the candidates lean on ag-related issues How the candidates stack up on three key agriculture issues as prioritized by the Illinois Farm Bureau – immigration, environmental regulation, and trade: Republicans Donald Trump – No path to citizenship for undocumented workers; fair trade advocate, opposes Trans-Pacific Partnership U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz – Opposes letting undocumented immigrants legally remain in the U.S.; vocal opponent of renewable fuel standards, environmental regulations; opposed Trans-Pacific Partnership U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio – Work toward piecemeal immigration reform; once staunch environmental supporter, has backed off stance; supports Trans-Pacific Partnership Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush – Create a legal status, not a path to citizenship, for undocumented residents; supports environmental regulation; supports free trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership Ben Carson – Allow undocumented residents access to a national guest worker program if they leave the country first; mixed messages on environmental policies; says he supports free trade and open to Trans-Pacific Partnership Ohio Gov. John Kasich – Allow undocumented immigrants to stay in the country legally; mixed record

NEW LEADER

MULTAPPLIER

New box design allows you to apply 2 fertilizers in one pass.

Blend on the go with independent control of conveyors.

Broadcast fertilizer from 60’ to 84’. The MultApplier dual hopper insert is removable allowing for single product application.

McHenry Machine Company, Inc. 815-875-1953 1309 IL Highway 26, Princeton, IL 61356

on environmental issues; supports Trans-Pacific Partnership Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore – Strict on border security, fix broken immigration system; launched environmental initiative in Virginia; enforce trade laws to level playing field Democrats Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – Wants comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to legal status; supports environmental regulation; opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders – Offer path to citizenship, waive some deportations now; supports environmental regulation; opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership Libertarian Party Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson – Simplify legal immigration, crack down on illegal immigration; supports EPA clean air and water efforts; supports free trade, but not Trans-Pacific Partnership Green Party Jill Stein – Supports creating legal status and path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; strong advocate for environmental health; opposes expansion of free trade agreements

Serving Today’s Farmers

for Over 55 Years!

WE DELIVER: • PROPANE • MOTOR OILS • FUELS

Manlius Oil Co. Inc.

Manlius, IL, Hwy. 40 • (815) 445-3122 AG Mag

29

Farming done the Wright way

SERVING ALL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE NEEDS

It’s time to review your farm insurance

815-875-2800 Seed & Agronomy – Ashton, Buda, Henry, LaMoille, Ohio, Princeton, Toulon, Varna, Walnut, Walton Energy – Amboy, Buda, Henry, Princeton, Toulon, Varna Structures & Equipment – Princeton Technology & Precision Ag – Princeton Trucking & On Farm Delivery – Buda

Before you head to the fields, review your farm insurance needs.

Before to thetofields, your Don’t waityou until head a loss happens discoverreview you are underinsured. farm insurance needs.

Don’tCall wait untiltoareview loss Our experienced staff knows farming. us today your unique protection needs. happens to discover you are underinsured.

Our experienced staff knows farming. Call us today to review your unique protection needs.

Insurance Since 1867

245 Backbone Road East • Princeton, IL • 815-875-4404 102 North Main Street • Ohio, IL • 815-376-2954 123 S Main Street • Cherry, IL • 815-894-3310 30 Spring 2016

Tiskilwa family invites students to their farm to learn about agriculture

BY ERIC ENGEL For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Children learn about their surroundings by interacting with them, so Glen and Judy Wright thought up a way for children to learn about agriculture – have them come stand in the cornfield and watch the combine at work.

For close to the past decade, the Wrights have opened their farm south of Tiskilwa to students from Lincoln Elementary School in Princeton to help them better understand the agriculture that affects so much of their environment.

Joann Wright, daughter-in-law of Glen and Judy Wright, said the outdoor classroom started when her children asked if their classmates could come see what happened on a farm, and the event has grown like a stalk in the summer sun.

CONTINUED ON 32

ABOVE: Lincoln Elementary School students take part in an interactive workshop that teaches them the importance of agriculture at Glen and Judy Wright’s farm south of Tiskilwa. The Wrights have invited students to their farm for several years during planting and harvesting season. ON PAGE 30: Lincoln school students watch a combine mow down stalks of corn. The students traveled to the farm last fall to learn firsthand what takes place during harvest season and why agriculture is so important to this area.

(Eric Engel/NorthCentral Illinois AgMag)

ROLLO

CONSTRUCTION

Call Now for a Free Quote

Increasing yields isn’t the only

Custom Buildings for All Your Storage Needs

AGRICULTURAL • RESIDENTIAL EQUESTRIAN • COMMERCIAL Home: 815-379-9317 • Cell: 815-303-9321 Answering Machine: 815-379-2350 Email: haroldrollo@yahoo.com www.rolloconstruction.com

Agricultural Loans

Trust Services

Farm Management

hbtAgServices.com Lisa Anderson, 815-498-2396 Derek Fetzer, 815-875-4444 Agricultural Services

AG Mag

31

CONTINUED FROM 31

“This really exposes them to a rural way of life, and it’s not just the kids who learn things each year, but the adults who attend as well,” said Joann Wright, who is surprised about how little some people know about the agriculture that surrounds them.

Judy Wright voiced her concern over the lackluster efforts of the industry in educating the masses, and Joann Wright said that’s why her family is so enthused to share their knowledge during a “field trip that’s close to home and doesn’t cost any money.”

“The kids come out for both the planting and harvesting season,” said Joann Wright, indicating the full realm the students experience. “The Farm Bureau girls go inside and do projects with the kids, and they’ve always done a great job.”

Jill Frueh, Bureau County Farm Bureau manager, said the tours offer students insight on the growing season from start to finish. With four stations that each last 45 minutes, Frueh said the children get a vast education on a part of their daily lives.

Frueh said students always write a thank you note to the Wright family following their experience.

“A lot of these kids could stay around and work in the fields when they grow

Eric Engel/NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Students from Lincoln Elementary School in Princeton got up close and personal with all aspects of a farm operation. Glen and Judy Wright have been inviting kids to their “classroom in the cornfield” for many seasons now, hoping to help them better understand why agriculture is so important to the region. up,” said Frueh, mentioning the possibilities for so many children in the agricultural profession. “This is an agricul-

tural community, and a lot of kids don’t know their own backyard, so this helps them learn.”

We feel the results that matter most are yours.

While we are always happy when our hybrids perform well in trials, what’s really important to us is how well our seed, and our people, perform where it matters most – on your farm. I’d love to discuss what seed will give you the results you want.

Performance is Personal.

Stark, Peoria counties

Jason Beard 309-368-5396 jasonb@munsonhybrids.com Bureau, Henry, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam counties

Tommy Fehlhafer 815-876-7730 tommyf@munsonhybrids.com 32 Spring 2016

Skid Loader, Backhoe, Wheel Loader, Dozer & Excavator Work • Basements • Water Lines • Septic Systems

• Sewer Lines • Footings • Driveways

• Roll-Off Containers • Building Demolition • Free Estimates

Fully Licensed and Insured

Black Dirt and White Rock Custom Ag Applications • Concrete Recycling Phone:

309-364-3672

Fax:

309-364-2666

312 Jefferson • Henry, IL • edhartwigtrucking@frontier.com

Agriculture Education Area School Directory BLACK HAWK COLLEGE, EAST CAMPUS 26230 Black Hawk Road Galva, IL 61434-9476 309-854-1700, 800-233-5671 www.bhc.edu Transfer programs are designed for the student planning to transfer to a senior college or university with the objective of achieving a bachelor’s degree. Students completing these programs will receive either an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree. Some of the credits in the career programs may be transferred to a senior college or university (depending on the institution).

Associate in Science degrees with concentrations in: • Agriculture Transfer • Horticulture Transfer • Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Animal Science Transfer Career Programs are designed for students planning to prepare for a specialized area leading to employment after completing their education. Some of the credits in the career programs may be transferred to a senior college or university (depending on the institution).

Associate in Applied Science degrees: • Agribusiness Management

• Agribusiness Management — Crop Protection Technology Option • Agriculture Mechanics Technology • Agriculture Production Technology • Equestrian Science • Horse Science Technology • Horticulture Science Certificates: • Agriculture Mechanics • Agriculture Production — Animal Science • Agriculture Production — Beef Production • Agriculture Production — Swine Production • Horse Science Technology • Horticulture Science ILLINOIS VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 815 N. Orlando Smith Road Oglesby, IL 61348 815-224-2720 www.ivcc.edu College offers basic core curriculum and three agricultural courses UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 901 W. Illinois St. Urbana, IL 61801

217-333-0302 www.illinois.edu According to the University of Illinois’ College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), the college “offers tremendous opportunities for students and faculty to achieve success.

Nearly 40 organizations provide more than 2,500 undergraduate students and nearly 750 graduate students the opportunity to network, learn about careers and contribute to the life of the college.

ACES research encompasses initiatives in bioenergy, biotechnology, integrated landscapes, environmental sustainability, food and agricultural systems, global climate change, family resiliency, public policy and more.”

General ACES courses: • Agricultural and Biological Engineering • Agricultural and Consumer Economics • Animal Sciences • Crop Sciences • Food Science and Human Nutrition • Human and Community Development • Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences • Nutritional Sciences • Agricultural Communications • Agricultural Education

HANDS ON SERVICE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Plan Your Season With A Strong Ag Bank

WE’RE BY YOUR SIDE THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON.

Operating Land Equipment GENESEO

FULTON

309-944-5601 Randy Clary

800-828-8941 Brad Ottens

PRINCETON

815-875-3333 Dan McAlvey or Jason VanLanduit Call a Central Bank Ag Banker today!

Chad Hodge AgVenture Yield Specialist Office: 815-879-7333 Toll Free: 800-664-7333 Cell: 309-714-0489

124 W. Progress Drive, Princeton, IL

chad.hodge@avpinnacle.com

www.avpinnacle.com

Geneseo Fulton Princeton www.central-bank.com AG Mag

33

Corn-powered combustion

The interior workings of the CHS Annawan Ethanol Plant provides a glimpse of how farmers’ corn is turned into ethanol.

(Photo contributed)

To Find an Agent

Near You

Log on to www.bradfordmutual.com or Call

800-582-4081

Member Owned and Operated

815-456-2334

888-414-2220 815-948-2591 Maple Park, IL Hooppole, IL www.apgrainsystems.com www.vernsfarmsupply.com 34 Spring 2016

Since 1869

Breaking through the blend wall a key to future ethanol growth

BY DAVE COOK AND DAVE FOX For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Ethanol has come a long way in the American marketplace since it was introduced as “gasohol” in the early 1970s.

Then, it was a response to a gasoline shortage that had quickly driven prices of regular gas from about 25 cents per gallon to more than 75 cents. The blend of ethanol and gasoline was widely met with skepticism, as naysayers questioned the performance of engines running on gasohol.

Today, ethanol still is considered an alternative fuel but is established and popular.

Its positive impacts on the environment (cleaner emissions), geopolitics (less dependence on foreign oil), and the U.S. agriculture economy (outlet for domestic corn crops) are generally accepted.

More fuel ethanol is produced domestically now than ever – a record 14.313 billion gallons in 2014, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administra-

tion. That’s 1.02 billion gallons more than was produced in 2013. The 204 ethanol plants in the U.S. produced about 13.7 billion gallons last year.

Fourteen of those plants are in Illinois, and they used 560 million bushels of corn to produce 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol, according to the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

With 2015 seeing record levels of production in Illinois, the future for ethanol looks bright.

But, while the renewable fuels standard set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency in November was more favorable to the industry than what was initially proposed earlier last year, it fell short of the threshold set in 2007.

Challenges, and prospects Gary Anderson, senior vice president of CHS Grain Marketing North America, spoke of ethanol’s future. His company acquired the Patriot Renewable Fuels ethanol plant in Annawan last year.

“CHS supports the Renewable Fuels

Standard (RFS) because it supports American farmers, and because it is setting the U.S. renewables industry on the path to economic viability,” Anderson said.

“Ethanol creates enterprise Gary value opportunity for CHS Anderson member-and-farmer-owners, and it is an important component of our multi-faceted agriculture and energy platform.

“For CHS, the RFS does not limit what we can produce. The RFS sets the base, but we have the ability to grow the market through demand.”

Even with the industry’s production levels consistently growing, there is still room to grow, although there are obstacles.

“We believe that renewable fuels have significant growth opportunity,” Anderson said. “We expect to see our ethanol sales to grow, with significant long-term opportunity in export markets.”

CONTINUED ON 36

Farm Operating Loans

Tapping into a 7 BPA* yield increase?

Designed to meet the unique needs at any stage of your farming operation’s life cycle.

Boost your bottom line biologically.

· Labor, seed, fertilizer, pesticides and other essentials · Equipment repairs and purchases

Chandler Dry Seed Treat for Corn •Costs about $1.00 per acre on corn •1-2 days faster emergence with up to 40% higher plant sugar levels

· Feed, utility and veterinarian expenses · Family living expenses

•Higher germination rate for reduced seed costs Whether you’re looking to expand your operation, take advantage of a new opportunity or just manage day-to-day expenses, we can help you access the farm financing you need.

•Deeper root systems for less lodging and increased nutrient and water uptake

midwestbioman.com Erie, IL • 309.659.7773

Ask about early-order discounts! on average * Based farm yields, 1982-2015.

Talk to our experienced loan officers to find out if you qualify!

Seth Chambers

Sid Pieper

Denise Salisbury

The only bank you'll ever need.

700 Second St. · Henry, IL · 309-364-2302 · www.henrystatebank.com AG Mag

35

CONTINUED FROM 35

While ethanol production is at all-time highs, how does that supply jibe with demand? During the first 9 months of 2015, the EIA said, consumption of ethanol produced domestically was up 4 percent from the previous year. Total consumption in 2015 was expected to reach 13.982 billion gallons – about 13.897 billion of that being conventional ethanol made from corn.

The University of Illinois Extension reports that U.S.-produced “ethanol consumption in 2016 could be about 200 million gallons larger than projected, requiring an additional 70 million bushels of feedstock.”

That, the report said, would require a combination of a larger increase in domestic gasoline consumption, a larger consumption of higher ethanol blends, and an increase in ethanol exports.

Those increases would not only be good for the U.S. economy, but it also would improve corn markets, helping to reduce surplus stockpiles that are common to good crop years.

A better blend A “blend wall” stands in the way of more consumption of higher ethanol blends.

Now, most gas is an E10 blend – 10 percent ethanol blended with gasoline. Vehicles produced in the past 30 to 40 years run well on that blend, and exhaust emissions have been shown to be greatly reduced.

But the ethanol industry has pushed for more E15 gasoline. That would require the oil industry to invest in blender pumps, storage tanks, and other infrastructure compatible with E15and-higher ethanol blends.

Flex fuel also has gained in popularity, the most common being an E85 blend with 85 percent ethanol. E85 fuel can be burned only in vehicles with motors designated as flex-fuel capable.

Mileage per gallon drops somewhat with this type of 36 Spring 2016

Photo contributed

Tanker train cars are lined up to be filled, a common sight at ethanol plants around the state and the country. These rail cars are carrying ethanol to refineries for blending. mixture, but prices at the pump generally are considerably lower than prices for the E10 blend.

E85 proponents point to the reduced dependence on petroleum and further reductions in emissions from exhaust fumes. For the farmer, the more ethanol that is burned, the more corn is used to produce it.

Art Johnson, owner of Rock Falls-based Johnson Oil, explained why price comparisons between E10 and E85 make a difference in which type of fuel is purchased at the pump.

“Those who use E85 say they only get about 75 percent of the fuel efficiency with that as they would with gas (with a lower ethanol blend),” he said. “Because of the difference in mileage you get between both types of fuel, there needs to be about a dollar-a-gallon difference in price between the two to make it worthwhile to burn E85.”

As with any fuel, gasoline prices fluctuate, sometimes daily. “When the cost difference is a dollar or more (per gallon), there is generally an increase in the sale of E85,” Johnson said.

At the end of 2015 and into early 2016, gasoline prices had dropped below $2 per gallon, causing many Americans to wonder if the lower

prices were long term or just a temporary tweak in the system.

CONTINUED ON 37

CONTINUED FROM 36

There are many factors in gasoline pricing, including availability and supply, the world economy and petroleum markets, and the cost of crude oil in the commodities marketplace.

“Oil is a commodity,” Johnson said, “and just like any other commodity it is subject to change at any time.

I’ve been in this business since 1949 and have never had a crystal ball; no one does. Prices are always subject to change, and no one can accurately predict what the trends will be.”

That being said, it stands to reason that increases in ethanol production, and possibly an increase in the standard ethanol blend, might steady prices at the pump and provide some assurance of stability for the American consumer.

While the blend wall is largely a federal issue, states also can enact legislation to facilitate the necessary infrastructure.

“There had been talks of

Photo contributed

The CHS Annawan Ethanol Plant is located on U.S. Route 6 between Mineral and Annawan. increasing the ethanol blend to 15 percent,” state Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, said, “but then it fell back. There is some opposition to it. “... There was a push for it here last year, but it fell back because the state budget woes are kind of the dominating things [in Springfield] right now.”

Bivins pointed out that because subsidies for grain, ethanol, and fuel come from Washington, D.C., increases in the blend wall are dependent more on the federal government than

from state lawmakers.

Although he said he favors things that would help farmers, the economy, and the environment, Bivins said there are a number of issues getting in the way of increasing the blend wall.

“The increased blend is talked about and brought up by the lobbyists every so often,” he said, “and so far they’re keeping it alive in Springfield. But the state budget is the main focus of things right now, so not much else will likely get done until the budget is approved

to keep the state running.”

Ethanol “is an alternative fuel,” he said, “and just like with any kind of alternative, I don’t think it was ever meant to be a replacement for gas.”

He said, though, that he is not opposed to increased ethanol usage, citing a vehicle he used to drive regularly.

“In that car, I burned E85 all the time,” Bivins said.

“There wasn’t any difference at all in the performance, but I did get less mileage.

When regular gas prices were higher, it came out about the same cost-wise.

It was good to burn the higher ethanol because of its impact on Illinois agriculture and cleaner emissions.”

Anderson, at the CHS ethanol plant in Annawan, said federal regulations prohibiting the sale of E15 during the summer “is a disincentive that forces retailers to switch products for several months each year.”

“The EPA has repeatedly rejected calls to allow E15 to be used year-round,” Davis said.

How Experienced Is Your Farm Insurance Agent?

Farming is a world all its own - each operation is unique with insurance needs. We know farming - we are a local company with strong roots in the agricultural community. Isn’t it time you went with a company who has been around the block in farming?

These agents can provide all your Farm Insurance needs!

Sauk Valley Insurance Services Dixon 815-288-2541 Gillis Insurance Agency Rochelle 309-562-4043

Sandrock Insurance Agency Tampico 815-438-3923 Mickley Insurance Agency Morrison 815-772-2793

The Hanford-Schuneman Insurance Agency, Inc. Geneseo 309-944-5151 Van De Rostyne Insurance Atkinson 309-936-7220

AG Mag

37

Ethanol production and corn consumption prospects for ’16

For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicate that U.S. production of fuel ethanol totaled 14.313 billion gallons during 2014. That quantity is 1.02 billion gallons more than produced in 2013 and about 384 million gallons more than the previous record production in 2011.

University of Illinois agricultural economist Darrel Good provided the

analysis of ethanol production and corn consumption prospects for 2016 that follows.

For the first nine months of 2015, EIA monthly estimates indicate that domestic ethanol production was 3.6 percent larger than during the same period in 2014. Weekly EIA estimates indicate ethanol production in October and November in 2015 exceeded that of the previous year by 3.1 percent.

Production in December is expected

to be slightly smaller than the record monthly production of 1.295 billion gallons in December 2014.

For the year, ethanol production was likely be at least 3 percent larger than in 2014, reaching about 14.745 billion gallons. Production at that level will require about 5.25 billion bushels of feedstock, mostly corn, for conventional ethanol production in 2015.

CONTINUED ON 39

Cambridge: 800-808-1812 Manlius: 800-624-5593

AG SECURITY SURVEILLANCE SOLUTIONS

Your Locally Owned Petroleum Retailer WE OFFER: Premium Diesel, Gasoline, Aviation Fuel, Propane, Chevron Lubricants, Tanks, Pumps, Service 38 Spring 2016

Contact the Ag surveillance specialists at BC Tech for a free estimate. Our camera systems allow you to monitor your business, equipment and properties remotely from wherever you may be utilizing your phone, tablet, or internet connected device.

815-915-8328 • www.bctechgroup.com • office@bctechgroup.com

CONTINUED FROM 38

Estimates of domestic ethanol consumption are based on EIA estimates of the volume of fuel ethanol production, imports, exports, and changes in domestic stock levels. Consumption was a record 13.444 billion gallons in 2014. Of that total, about 13.353 billion gallons was conventional ethanol made almost entirely from corn. Consumption during the first nine months of 2015 was four percent larger than during the same period last year. Consumption for the year is on pace to reach 13.982 billion gallons, with about 13.897 billion gallons being conventional ethanol.

Domestic ethanol consumption during the year ahead will be influenced by two related factors. The first follows from the biofuels volume requirements in the EPA final rule making for 2014-16 RFS standards released on Nov. 30. Those standards require 18.11 billion gallons of biofuels consumption in 2016, 1.18 billion more than required in 2015 and 710 million gallons more than in the preliminary rule making released in May. The requirement for advanced biofuels was set at 3.61 billion gallons, 730 million more than the 2015 requirement and 380 million more than was required in the preliminary rule making. The difference between the total and the advanced requirement is the implied requirement for conventional biofuel (ethanol). The conventional requirement is referred to as an implied requirement because it can also be satisfied with discretionary blending of advanced biofuels. That implied requirement is at 14.5 billion gallons for 2016, up from 14.05 billion gallons in 2015 and 14.0 billion gallons in the preliminary rule making for 2016.

The second and related factor that will influence domestic ethanol consumption is the expected level of domestic gasoline consumption because the blending requirements are actually

enforced as a fraction of gasoline consumption. Based on EIA projections, consumption is expected to increase from 139.38 billion gallons in 2015 to 139.96 billion gallons in 2016. That expected increase of 580 million gallons follows an expected increase of 2.9 billion gallons in 2015. The conventional ethanol mandate of 14.5 billion gallons reflects an expected small increase in the E-10 blend wall and a “push� to include larger quantities of higher ethanol blends (E-15 and E-85) in the domestic fuel supply.

If the 2016 gasoline consumption forecast is correct, the E-10 blend wall will be 13.996 billion gallons. Because some gasoline is consumed without ethanol and some with higher ethanol blends, the effective E-10 blend wall is thought to be 13.856 billion gallons (9.9 percent of gasoline consumption). A portion of the 13.856 billion gallons will be provided in the form of advanced ethanol, including cellulosic, but mostly imported Brazilian ethanol.

The EPA projects consumption of advanced ethanol in 2015 at only 85 million gallons. We estimate that about 70 million gallons of that total will be Brazilian ethanol. That consumption is projected to increase to 249 million gallons in 2016 based on much larger imports of Brazilian ethanol in response to changing fuel standards in California. That would leave the conventional ethanol E-10 blend wall at 13.607 billion gallons.

In addition to E-10, however, some ethanol will be consumed in higher blends, mostly E-85. The EPA has projected E-85 consumption in 2016 at 400 million gallons. That would be equivalent to 296 million gallons of ethanol, assuming an average blend of 74 percent ethanol. Total consumption of conventional ethanol would be projected at 13.903 billion gallons, essentially the same as consumed in 2015. The difference between the RFS requirement of 14.5 billion gallons and the projected consumption of

13.903 billion gallons (597 million gallons) would have to be met with some combination of retirement of RINs stocks, additional quantities of E-85, or blending of additional quantities of advanced biofuels.

If ethanol exports in 2016 are near the level of 2015 and there is no change in the level of ethanol stocks in 2016, the projected level of domestic consumption of conventional ethanol in 2016 points to about the same requirement for conventional ethanol feedstock (mostly corn) in 2016 as in 2015. This outcome is very different from the initial reaction that an increase in the implied conventional ethanol requirement from the preliminary to final rule making for 2016 of 500 million gallons would result in a measurable increase in feedstock consumption.

The projected level of domestic conventional ethanol consumption in 2016 developed here could be conservative for two reasons. First, the projection of domestic gasoline consumption appears conservative. A more plausible scenario with continued low gasoline prices might be for gasoline consumption to be about two billion gallons larger than the current EIA projection. Second, the projection of ethanol imports may be too aggressive, depending on how California fuel policy unfolds. On the other hand, the EPA projection of E-85 consumption in 2016 may be a bit too high.

Domestic conventional ethanol consumption in 2016 could be about 200 million gallons larger than projected, requiring an additional 70 million bushels of feedstock. Still, feedstock consumption would be only slightly larger than in 2015. A larger increase in feedstock consumption will require some combination of a larger increase in domestic gasoline consumption, larger consumption of higher ethanol blends, and an increase in ethanol exports.

Source: University of Illinois Extension.

AG Mag

39

One for the

history books 40 Spring 2016

Co-operative Grain and Supply Co. Inc. of Troy Grove still operating

BY LYLE GANTHER For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Co-operative Grain and Supply Co. Inc. of Troy Grove has seen many changes during its nearly a century in business. But some things haven’t changed for the farmer-owned cooperative.

“Not many elevator cooperatives haven’t gone through a merger and acquisition by a larger company,” said Henry Kibilka III, who retired as general manager in 2015 after 37 years working there. “The trend is [for] smaller cooperatives to be swallowed up by larger companies.”

The elevator has increased its storage throughout the years to 2.2 million bushels, while maintaining its smalltown personal service.

“Many people still like coming to smaller elevators like Troy Grove because of the personal touch,” Kibilka said.

When it was incorporated in 1919, people could buy up to five shares of

On Page 40 TOP: A farmer delivers grain to the Co-operative Grain and Supply Co. Inc. of Troy Grove in the 1960s. (Contributed photo) BOTTOM: Co-operative Grain and Supply Co. Inc. of Troy Grove as it is today has increased its storage from 225,000 bushels of grain to 2.2 million today. (Lyle Ganther/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Photo contributed

A ledger of the Co-operative Grain and Supply Co. Inc. of Troy Grove shows it sells grain, coal, lumber and building materials.

stock in the cooperative, costing $100 each. Only 200 shares, or $20,000 worth, were available to be purchased.

“Farmers came together to start the co-op, since they couldn’t do it on their own,” he said.

The amount of shares was increased in the 1930s to 400. Today, there are 800 shares available, or $80,000 worth. Each

share’s value is still $100, and one person can still own only five shares.

The co-operative’s first manager was Mr. Simpson (no first name was given in minutes of the first meeting in 1919).

He was paid $125 a month. The first board members were W.H. Wylie, James Long, John Deriwechter, Charles Willshay, Levi Kreiser, James Kennedy and James Weldan.

Kibilka said the elevator held about 400,000 bushels when he first started working there in the 1970s. Two bins were added in the 1980s to hold 425,000 more bushels. In the early 1990s, a grain bin holding 170,000 bushels was added. The grain storage capacity was increased by 400,000 bushels in 1999 and by 750,000 more bushels in 2009.

In the first year, 119,000 bushels of corn were stored, along with 84,000 bushels of oats, 172 bushels of ear corn, 14,610 bushels of wheat and 5,000 bushels of rye, according to meeting minutes found by current employees.

Grain, coal, lumber, building materials and salt have been sold throughout the years, but the main product has always been grain. Kibilka remembers having to pick up coal at Maze Lumber and deliver it to three homes.

Competition from larger lumber yards around Mendota forced the cooperative to stop selling lumber in 1986. It still sells hardware items.

The current manager is Andrew Partain, who took over for Kibilka when he retired in 2015. Kibilka replaced Maxine Hamel, who worked there from 1953 to 1989 and had been manager since 1963.

Partain said there are other independent cooperatives still operating in Earlville, West Brooklyn, Newark, Seatonville, Kasbeer and Sublette.

FARMERS – LANDOWNERS If it’s on your farm …We Insure It!

REAL ESTATE • INSURANCE • AUCTION SERVICES FARMS • HOMES • CROP INSURANCE

MORTON FERTILIZER SERVICE 121 East Main Street • Wyanet, IL

815-699-7701

Johnson Agency Robert K. Johnson • Kyle Johnson • Myrene Carper

135 S. Main Street • Sheffield, IL 61361

j.agency@mchsi.com • 815-454-2840 or 800-454-2716 AG Mag

41

A 24-row Kinze crop planter sits in the middle of a cavernous garage that looks more like an airport hangar on the Wolf family farm in rural Dixon. It has 24 “brains,” each controlling a planting component, all the while relaying information back to a pulling tractor.

(Philip Marruffo/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag)

THE NEW WAVE OF FARMING

Diversification, technology are key in digital agriculture era

BY ANGEL SIERRA For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

The expanse of a long gravel driveway narrows to the front door of a brick building at the Wolf farm in rural Dixon. Inside is an office where the family meets daily.

“When you walk in, you’ll notice there are no walls in that office. We get in that office and have a cross-table every morning,” said Jeremy Wolf, 24, a Western Illinois University graduate and Precision Planting dealer.

Growing to Serve Today’s Farmer

MANLIUS 101 1st St. PO Box 347 815.445.2311

“Communication is number one. We don’t want any surprises,” said his father, Loren, 50, who emphasized diversification and family support as key components to the business.

Jeremy and his brother, Aaron, 27, also a WIU graduate, work with their father to produce corn – but that’s just the beginning.

CONTINUED ON 43

• Grain & Grain Storage • Refined Fuels • Propane • Feed • Fertilizer • Seed • Crop Protection

SHEFFIELD 15132 Il Hwy. 40 815.454.2352

BRADFORD Il Hwy. 40 309.897.7491

www.michliggrain.com 42 Spring 2016

CAMBRIDGE

Box 560, Mendota, IL • www.northernpartners.net

13429 Il Hwy. 81 PO Box 182 309.937.2435

LAMOILLE, MENDOTA, MALDEN, OTTAWA, TONICA, TRIUMPH, UTICA, VAN ORIN

866-773-6772 • 815-539-6772

CONTINUED FROM 42

They build their own farm equipment.

(It’s a pride thing, Loren said.) They raise cattle, restore tractors, and they are deep into the technology behind some of the most advanced farming rigs in the industry – some of which will be used in the field for the first time this season.

“We were always brought up to try new things,” Jeremy said. “You’ve got to be willing to change. We live in an area where farmers are very competitive, and farmers are always trying to get that leading edge.”

The Wolfs made clear that digital agriculture is in a new era. Loren joked that the days of farmers wearing overalls and carrying pitchforks are gone.

Around the corner from the office is a doorway that opens to a cavernous garage that looks more like an airplane hangar. In its center sits a blue and white 24-row Kinze crop planter.

It is a newer model, but what makes it special are its brains – 24 brains, each controlling a planting component, all the while relaying information back to a pulling tractor.

The tractor has a brain, too.

A suite of meters delivers precise planting and population management down to the seed. Each row can be finetuned for depth and speed in near realtime. Speed is sensed and varied; soil types are mapped.

“Technology has helped and given us opportunities. It has helped with some of the stress load, and makes things more efficient,” Aaron said.

The Wolfs are part of a new breed of farmers who plant, record, map, and monitor entire planting operations from germination to seed ducts.

“We’re to the point where we’re mapping every seed that goes into the ground. We control every aspect,” said Jeremy, and his company offers more than planting precision.

Older planters can be retrofit with newer technology – anything from metering devices to hydraulic controls.

Philip Marruffo/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Lauren Wolf (right), and his sons, Jeremy (left) and Aaron, stand with a Precision Planter they use on their farm. “We were always brought up to try new things,” Jeremy said. “You’ve got to be willing to change.”

In the coming season, a new insecticide metering system will be installed on the blue planter, and will take advantage of variable-rate drives. Previously, meters had been accurate at a single speed, making them somewhat ineffective on curved farmland sections.

Technology is everywhere for the Wolfs.

A technology called thermocoupling measures leading indicators of deteriorating grain health, such as excessive moisture and temperature. It has been around, but its ability to be integrated into cloud-based management systems is fairly new.

While Jeremy was at college, he monitored silo grain conditions on his smartphone through a subscription-based service for text and email updates. It kept him connected.

Companies are betting big that data harvesting and analysis will help push forward efficiency and increased production. Planting technologies remain at the forefront of farming innovation.

In November, John Deere and Climate Corporation announced plans to buy Precision Planting with plans to integrate the majority of Precision’s hardware, sensors and displays.

In 2014, the northwest Illinois region, including Bureau, Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties, led the state in several planting, harvest, yield and production categories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Competition breeds excellence,” Jeremy said. “We have to stay competitive to stay in this industry. The land is our livelihood. We have to be good stewards of the land, and efficient on every square.”

Right Product. Right Acre.

Right People.

We are dedicated to helping our customers achieve maximum success. When you meet and work with a member of the Crop Production Services team, we are confident you will see our strengths first-hand and “Profit from our experience.”

Manlius

815-445-6951

Walnut

815-379-9295

Pioneer brand products, service, Pioneer Premium Seed Treatment and PROBulk® System

MJ Seed Agency

Michael Michlig (815) 878-4430 Justin Peterson (815) 878-3496 MANLIUS, ILLINOIS AG Mag

43

Matt Denton, a sales agronomist for Hefty Seed Co., knows that technology is one of the most efficient ways to help area growers.

(Goldie Rapp/NorthCentral Illinois AgMag)

Better solutions through technology Seeking a better yield? There’s an app for that

A

BY GOLDIE RAPP For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

s a sales agronomist for Hefty Seed Company, Matt Denton, of Princeton, is always looking for ways to better serve area growers while finding the best solution to improving their yields each year.

Denton has discovered that technology is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to assist his customer needs. There are a number of online apps he uses to help with everyday solutions.

Denton said being able to pull up an app right on his iPad, rather than carrying around several binders on a service call, helps make his job easier and provides faster results.

Denton shared his top five apps he uses on a daily basis.

The apps are free and can be found through the Ag PhD website.

44 Spring 2016

Ag PhD Soil Test

This app provides a soil testing tool right at the user’s fingertips. When a customer is looking for ways to maximize yields in the crops, Denton uses the online tool to determine the right plan for optimum yield results.

Ag PhD Crop Nutrient Deficiencies

This app helps Denton determine a deficiency or fertility issue a crop might have. The app allows the user to search for the deficiencies by nutrient type or browse photos to find the image that closely matches an issue in the field. Once an issue is pinpointed, the app provides information on treatment of the deficiency, the effects on the yield and common symptoms of the deficiency.

CONTINUED ON 45

Goldie Rapp/NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

Matt Denton of Hefty Seed Co. goes through apps on his tablet, which he uses daily to enhance his business.

CONTINUED FROM 44

Ag PhD Modes of Action

This app allows growers to browse through herbicides, insecticides and fungicides and view active ingredients, labels and safety documentation. The app allows growers to compare apples to apples with generic labels. It also helps build a pest control program that is effective throughout the year.

Ag PhD Field Pest Identification and Control If growers are struggling with a pest in their crops, this app

provides a tool to help identify the nuisance. Through photos, the farmer can easily identify the pest and view solutions for treating the issue.

Ag PhD Nutrient Removal Application

With this app, a grower can figure out how much nutrients a crop is removing from the soil in order to help plan for the correct amount of fertilizer applications. The grower can simply put in a yield goal, and watch the app calculate a plan to help reach that goal.

NORWEST SURVEYING SERVICES, INC.

Farm Surveys Lot Surveys Subdivisions Elevation Surveys Construction Stakeout Located north of Geneseo - Just off IL Hwy 92 27595 E 1800 ST - Geneseo, IL 61254 Repairing all makes & models of farm equipment since 1999 Excavating & Bulldozing Services - Antique Tractor Restoration

Phone: 309-945-1440

Topographical Surveys nwsurveying.com email: nwsurverying@mchsi.com

Ph: (815) 772-7179 Fx: (815) 772-7693

301 E. Lincolnway Morrison, Illinois 61270

Fax: 309-945-1441 www.bosfarmrepair.com

AG Mag

45

Room for growth

Tom Kocal/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

State Treasurer Michael Frerichs talks with Clarence Grant (left) of Lake Carroll, while his assistant, Tyler Hanners, and Jeff Kromm, first vice president of First State Bank of Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll, look on. Frerichs visited the Carroll County Farm Bureau in Mount Carroll on Feb. 9.

State treasurer wants to spread more seed money through loan program

BY TOM KOCAL For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Illinois may be faced with a busted budget and a backlog of bills, but the state’s still ready, willing – and able – to help its farmers. Just ask the state’s chief investor.

State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and his staff made visits around the state in February to share details about improvements made to the state’s Ag Invest program and presented other ways to help Illinois farmers succeed.

“When I came into the treasurer’s

928 South Division Polo, IL 61064.

(877)569-0510

46 Spring 2016

office, one of my first questions was, ‘What can we do to help agriculture?’

What I found was the Ag Invest program,” Frerichs told the 25 farmers, and financial, economic development and insurance representatives at the roundtable discussion, hosted by the Carroll County Farm Bureau on Feb. 9 in Mount Carroll.

A former state senator, Frerichs served on the Agriculture and Conservation committee, and eventually was named its chairman before being elected treasurer in 2014.

200 North Street Prophetstown, IL 61277 (877)221-0018

Ag Invest, started in 1983, is a financing tool to help enhance Illinois agribusiness, which is the largest industry in the state and employs one in four people directly or indirectly, he said.

As treasurer, Frerichs is the state’s chief investment officer, in charge of managing $25 billion – $13 billion in state funds, $5 billion in municipal funds, and $7 billion in college savings funds.

CONTINUED ON 47

CONTINUED FROM 46

“People ask me what I do all day, since the state has no money. I tell them that although our General Revenue fund is short of funds and a backlog of bills — and without a budget passed a lot of spending can’t happen anyway — there are over 700 different state funds that have fund balances. There is money to invest. And one of the best investments we can make is in agriculture.”

Frerichs was surprised at the small number of loans the department was making when he first came to the office. With what he knew about the ag community, he saw a need to improve the program.

Rebecca Huston, Ag Invest program manager, visited with banks and farmers for several months, and returned with some recommendations. The Investment Policy committee agreed to implement many of them, and the changes took effect Jan. 1.

“For those of you with a few more gray hairs in your head, and who have been involved in farming a long time, you know that farming today is not what is was 50 years ago, not even 20 years ago,” Frerichs said. “As technology changed, and people’s diets changed, and the focus on agriculture changed, we needed to change and update the program. It costs more to do business today.”

“One of the changes that involve both the annual and long-term loan programs was to increase the amounts that can be borrowed,” Huston said.

Previously, the annual loan cap was $300,000 for a farmer, or $600,000 for a farm operation; these caps have been increased to $400,000 and $800,000 respectively.

Long-term loans also were increased tom $200,000 to $300,000.

Huston found there were concerns from the banks about their allowable interest rate spread, since they were dealing with some farm operations that were a higher credit risk, so the allowable rate was increased from 3.5 percent to 3.75 percent.

To learn more Contact your local financial institution; Rebecca Huston, Ag Invest program manager, at rhuston@illinoistreasurer. gov, or 217-558-6217; or visit treasurer.il.gov and search for Ag-Invest program for more information.

Since 2008, Ag Invest has loaned more than $1 billion in annual and long term loans, making it one of the most expansive loan programs in the nation, Frerichs said.

Ag Invest partners with more than 400 financial institution statewide, helping the banks to provide qualified farmers and agriculture professionals below-market rate loans to start or enhance their farm operations.

The reduced interest rate lowers the overall cost to enhance the farms or alternative agriculture businesses.

The loans are used to buy equipment, for construction, or for costs related to traditional crop production and alternative activities.

Ag Invest is the state’s largest “link deposit” program, meaning the money is put into banks, and linked to loans for farmers.

Right now, there is about $80 million in loans, “and we have more money that we’d like to put into the Illinois agriculture community,” he said.

“With Ag Invest, we want to make sure that farmers have access to capital, to put their crops in the ground, or if they want to make a longer term investment to make their operation more efficient. We want to be their partners.

“Recently, agriculture has seen some fat years, with $7 corn and $14 beans. Farmers were doing really well. We’ve seen these commodity prices dip lately. We may see some leaner years ahead of us, and a greater need for capital to get through planting season,” he said.

“We have some great partners who have been working with us for years. We’d like to expand that,” Frerichs said.

“We want to make sure that every farmer that wants to participate has a local lender that they can access.“ AG Mag

47

To Learn More

309-936-7282

309-936-7282

mortonbuildings.com

Buy Now and Save

309-936-7282 309-936-7282

During Building Value Days

Š2016 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuilding.com/licenses. Certain restrictions apply. The statements and opinions about products expressed here are those of a specific customer and should not be constrained to represent all buildings, materials or products sold by Morton Buildings. Ref Code 043.