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AG Mag

NorthCentral Illinois

Field trips Agritourism brings visitors, revenue, to NorthCentral Illinois farms GLASS HALF EMPTY? Local farmers aren’t as pessimistic as those in a national survey FAIR WARNING: State’s fiscal mess puts county fairs in peril

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

A Publication of Shaw Media

Summer 2016 AG Mag

1

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AG Mag

3

Index

AG Mag

NorthCentral Illinois

Publisher Sam R Fisher Advertising Sales Development Director Jennifer Heintzelman Editor Terri Simon Magazine Editor Jeff Rogers Page Design Jeff Rogers Reporters & Photographers Dave Cook, Pam Eggemeier, Eric Engel, Lyle Ganther, Alex T. Paschal, Philip Marruffo, Jermaine Pigee, Goldie Rapp, Rachel Rodgers, Shannon Serpette, Terri Simon, and Mike Vaughn 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.

COVER STORY PAGE 10

Destination places

Kids, and adults, are having fun on NorthCentral Illinois farms as agritourism options continue to grow.

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AG Mag

5

Index PHOTO STORY PAGE 20

The good, old days Bureau County farmer Bob Erickson has the same love of the land – and the simpler machines – he had when he and his brother started in the business many years ago.

Drones help 13 farmers maximize yields, and wage war against threats in the field.

16

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AG Mag

7

Index LOCAL IMPACT PAGE 28

County fairs keep on pedaling

Despite a lack of state funding as the government continues to operate without a budget, local county fairs are going full steam ahead, sort of.

Andy Anderson’s passions for agriculture, and fixing things, started at an early age.

8 Summer 2016

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AG Mag

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Along with fresh produce, Boggio’s Orchard and Produce in Granville offers family friendly activities, craft shows, seasonal decorations, bedding plants, school tours and a wide variety of other products.

Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

‘THE FARM EXPERIENCE’ From the ground up: Agritourism grows in the region with the resurgence of farming 10 Summer 2016

BY RACHEL RODGERS AND DAVE COOK For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

F

amily farms aren’t being replaced by only large-scale operations.

Agritourism is working its way into the void, as well, as people look to have a “farm experience” they might have once been able to have by visiting friends or family.

The seeds of agritourism have taken root throughout the region, with some maturing over decades and others just sprouting.

■■■

The agritourism concept was first defined as any operation or event that draws individuals to a farm or ranch site, but the term has evolved in the past several years to encompass a wide range of activity.

Expanding from farm tours and inter-

active visits, the term can also apply to off-site features such as farmers markets and restaurants that incorporate local produce.

The theme that connects all of these practices together is the common goal of sowing a degree of the “farm experience” onto others.

Keith and Denise Boggio are no strangers to agritourism. They’ve owned Boggio’s Orchard and Produce in Granville since 1992. The Putnam County location has become a regular summer stop for many area families.

Along with the fresh and hand-picked sweet corn and produce, Boggio’s offers a family oriented array of fun activities, including a petting zoo, play area, gift store, bakery, pumpkin patch, apple orchard, corn mazes, pony rides, hay rides, tours, craft shows, wedding events and more.

CONTINUED ON 11

4CONTINUED FROM 10 Kathy Tarmann, who has been with Boggio’s for 20 years, said, “There’s something added every year, and we just keep getting busier. We used to jug cider in our cooler, and now it’s done 250 gallons at a time. So there’s a big difference from how it used to be.”

The orchard’s biggest challenge, Denise explained, won’t be unfamiliar to more traditional farmers.

“Weather. ... We’ve been praying for rain lately so we don’t have to irrigate,” she said. “Irrigation costs take a lot out of your pocket when you hand pick sweet corn.

People don’t understand the costs involved; they’re used to the grocery store, where everything has been handled by machines.”

Diane Bausman, executive director of Blackhawk Waterways, said farm tours aren’t especially prevalent across the region because adding tourism elements can be challenging for farmers on top of their daily operations and insurance liability issues, but the demand for agritourism has increased.

“I am finding that the more our area moves away from being dominated by family farms – which are being replaced by mega dairy, hog or beef production Diane facilities – the more Bausman interest there is in having the farm experience, whether it’s by visiting the [farmers market] or attending the county fair to see the farm animals,” Bausman said.

The agritourism boom began about 10 years ago with the local food movement to connect consumers with producers in their region and focus on feeding into the local economy, said Diane Handley, agritourism specialist and affiliate association manager at Illinois Farm Bureau.

From 2007 to 2012, net cash income of farming operations increased in Bureau (71.6 percent), Putnam (15 percent), LaSalle (32 percent), and Henry (50.8 percent) counties, according to the latest Census of Agriculture data.

CONTINUED ON 124

Boggio’s Orchard and Produce in Granville sells not only the produce grown on the Granville farm, but also fresh fruit, such as peaches and cherries imported from other small growers.

Photos by Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Fragrant, large onions are just one of the many vegetables available for customers seeking locally-sourced produce at Boggio’s Orchard and Produce in Granville. Boggio’s also offers, depending on seasonal availability, jams, salad dressings, pickles, cider, caramel apples, baked goods, fudge, pasta, soup mixes and much more.

AG Mag

11

4CONTINUED FROM 11 The jump in income could be attributed in part to a resurgence in agriculture growth following the local food movement during the past decade, Handley said.

“I honestly think that agritourism is only going to continue to grow along with the local food movement hand in hand,” she said. “It’s all come down to this snowballing effect from the local food movement.”

The agritourism industry has resulted in farmers adding more features and events to draw visitors, whether they have owned property across generations or are just starting out, Handley said.

Lisa Ayres, co-owner of Lincoln Way Inn Bed and Breakfast in Franklin Grove, said people are becoming more educated on local agriculture practices and generating more of an investment with where their food comes from.

“People are seeking that holistic farm-to-table experience, whether it’s at a restaurant or at farm events,”

Alex T. Paschal/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Lisa Ayres greets one of her hens as she gathers eggs in the pen, something she does every morning at Lincoln Way Inn Bed and Breakfast in Franklin Grove in Lee County. she said. “The agritourism dynamic is very much embedded in our daily lives.”

When visitors stay at the inn, which celebrated its 1-year anniversary July 11, they can participate in a variety of immersion activities with community agriculture. They include beekeeping or picking apples on Ayres’ farm, or exploring

the area’s nature sites like Nachusa Grasslands or Franklin Creek State Park.

Ayres and several others in the area began forming a tourism co-op group in January with farmers, business owners, organizational leaders and local government officials to cross-promote events and develop a community support system.

“We may be from towns and villages throughout the area, but we are all connected,” she said.

Agritourism allows farmers to open a line of communication with consumers about the role of agriculture in the past, present and future, said Matt Lillpop, executive director of Whiteside County Farm Bureau.

“People want that connection with farmers, and agritourism builds that trust factor, which is crucial,” he said. “It goes beyond the financial reward you may gain; it reflects positively on the industry as a whole.”

At Boggio’s Orchard and Produce, Denise Boggio said it’s hard to predict agritourism’s future.

“I think it will continue to become more family-oriented as we go,” she said. “We’ve recently added a pedal train for children, and we’ll soon have our camel trained for riding. We’ll also probably cut some of our vegetables out, because if we can’t make money off of them, there’s no sense in growing them.”

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12 Summer 2016

What Are You Waiting For?

Bird’s-eye view Drones can assist in maximizing yields, identifying problems

M

BY DAVE COOK For NorthCentral Illinois AgMag

arketing firms, aviation insiders and the Federal Aviation Administration have all predicted the sales figures of unmanned aircraft systems, more commonly known as drones, to be in the millions, and for market growth to continue to be in the double digits.

This explosive growth in the technologically-driven fields of drones, cameras and GPS systems has also proven to be of great assistance to agriculture and the men and women who farm the land.

■■■ Before the arrival of drones, if farmers wished to have an aerial view of their crops, they had to rely on hiring a pilot to fly an airplane or helicopter overhead, or obtaining satellite imagery. But with the combined advances in cameras and drones, farmers now have more options with which to monitor growth and pinpoint problem areas.

Matt Denton, sales agronomist with Hefty Seed Co., shared his knowledge of drones and how his company uses them to help customers maximize yields.

“It can be tricky; there are a lot of regulations with the FAA, so you have to be careful with their use,” Denton said.

“We provide drone monitoring as a complementary service to our customers.”

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AG Mag

13

4CONTINUED FROM 13 Denton said the drones and cameras he uses provide basic overhead images. There are much more advanced imaging systems on the market, but at a much higher cost. Cameras are now capable of filming crops in multiple spectrums, which helps highlight levels of photosynthesis and other issues, and of providing 3-D imaging.

Although the camera Denton demonstrated is basic, differences in crop coloring were easily seen from several hundred feet, as were areas damaged by wind and lightning strikes, and areas of water retention. After the flight, recorded video can be downloaded.

“We’ll take it up to about 400 feet and take a 360-degree view of the field to see where we need to take a closer look,” Denton said.

“We can go out and take periodic looks throughout the season to help identify problem areas for our customers. For example, we can spot nitrogen deficiencies

and areas of water retention.

Then we can ground truth it and find out what’s going on and help them address it.

“They can also be used to document damage for insurance. We’ve had a very positive response to the help drones provide; they can save farmers a lot of time and help increase yields.”

Drones range in price from less than $100 for the smallest and most basic, to more than $30,000 depending on size, features and imaging systems.

A professional drone system, similar to the one Denton uses, costs $1,000 to $1,500.

There are multiple failsafes built into the operating systems. Flight plans can be preloaded, so the drone follows a desired path and returns on its own. If the drone is being controlled and loses signal for any reason, it will hover in an attempt to regain its connection. If that doesn’t work, it will elevate to 400 feet to rise above any obstructions and then return to the take-off point on its own.

CONTINUED ON 154

Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Matt Denton of Hefty Seed Co. shows the small, lightweight drone used to perform complementary inspections of customers’ fields. By being able to easily locate and treat problem areas, farmers can maximize their yields for the greatest profits.

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4CONTINUED FROM 14 With the United States having the busiest airspace in the world, the FAA is concerned with drone use and has been incrementally enacting rules and regulations. New operators, both hobbyists and professionals, want to fly safely, but many don’t realize that just because you can easily acquire a drone doesn’t mean you can fly it in any location or for any purpose.

For those new to drones, the educational program Know Before You Fly provides guidance to fly responsibly. It was founded by two organizations with a stake in aerial safety, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Academy of Model Aeronautics. The FAA has partnered with the founding members to help educate drone pilots about responsible flight.

In February 2015, the FAA released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for small, unmanned aircraft. An NPRM is a public notice issued by law when an independent agency, such as the FAA, wishes to add, remove or change rules or regulations as part of rule making. It doesn’t change any existing guidelines, rules, regulations or policy. Instead, it opens the door for public comment and the beginning of the rule-making process. As rules are implemented and changed, it’s important to be informed.

To learn more, continue to track further developments at knowbeforeyoufly.org or on the FAA website, faa.gov. To discuss the benefits of drone monitoring with Denton and Hefty Seed Co., call 815-879-8720 or email matt.denton@heftyseed.com.

Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Denton turns on the drone, and within moments the control program has been loaded and it’s prepared for take-off. If the signal is lost during flight, the drone will hover momentarily in an attempt to regain contact.

If the signal remains blocked or lost, the drone automatically rises to 400 feet and returns to the point of take-off.

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From tractors to bicycles: One Eleven Coffee embraces its clientele

BY SHANNON SERPETTE For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Agriculture has long been big business in Stark County, and that valued tradition is highlighted by a service offered by one of the county’s restaurants, One Eleven Coffee.

Many restaurants have drive-thrus to accommodate their customers. But One Eleven Coffee takes it a step further, welcoming tractors in its drive-thru lane. “We welcome tractors and semis,� said Melissa Nagode, who co-owns the restaurant with Stacy Unhold.

One Eleven Coffee, at 111 N. Seventh St. in Wyoming, welcomes all kinds of unconventional traffic. Bicyclists make up a sizable portion of the restaurant’s customer base.

As a nod to that important clientele and Wyoming’s location on the Rock Island Trail, where most of the bicycle traffic comes from, bicycles are the main decorative motif in the restaurant.

The restaurant marked its first anniversary in June.

Seeing their business thrive in the county where they were both born and raised brings Nagode and Unhold immense satisfaction. “We’ve been embraced,�

Unhold said.

Since One Eleven Coffee has opened its doors, several other businesses have been started in Wyoming – a change that is good for the whole community. “There were never people parked on this side of the street,� Unhold said.

Downtown revitalization, as well as wanting to showcase all Wyoming and Stark County have to offer, was one of the reasons One Eleven Coffee was opened in the first place. Nagode and Unhold, who were both stay-at-home moms with some time on their hands, have a deep love for their small community and the residents who live there.

CONTINUED ON 184

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Shannon Serpette/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

ABOVE: Stacy Unhold (left) and Melissa Nagode are co-owners of One Eleven Coffee, a restaurant that serves sandwiches, soups, salads, coffee and desserts in downtown Wyoming in Stark County. ON PAGE 16: The Wyoming eatery features several desserts patrons can choose from after they’ve had a satisfying meal.

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AG Mag

17

4CONTINUED FROM 17 They noticed a need in Wyoming for new businesses, and they wanted to open a restaurant, a gathering place for both locals and visitors.

The building where One Eleven Coffee is located was constructed in 1886, and Nagode and Unhold have kept and restored a lot of the historic touches. If those walls could talk, they would have quite a story to tell – the building was once a meat market, a hardware store and a bar before becoming a restaurant.

The banquet room, cozy and intimate, gives patrons a private spot for parties or get-togethers.

One Eleven Coffee is open seven days a week and can be reached at 309-6069004.

One Eleven Coffee shares some of its recipes

CHEESEBURGER SOUP 1 pound ground beef 1 1/2 cups chopped onion 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots 1 1/2 cups diced celery 2 teaspoons basil 2 teaspoons parsley flakes 6 cups chicken broth 8 diced potatoes 4 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup milk

16 ounces Velveeta 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup sour cream In a large pan, brown meat and onion, drain, add vegetables and broth. Cook until tender. In a large skillet, melt butter, add flour, cook and stir until bubbly. Stir in milk and heat until thickened. Add mixture to soup. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low.

Add cheese, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat and add sour cream.

BANANA BREAD 1 cup granulated sugar 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature 2 large eggs 3 ripe bananas 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt Preheat the oven to 325°. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan.

Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In

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ORIENTAL DRESSING 1 1/2 cups honey 3/4 cup rice vinegar 2 cups mayonnaise 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon sesame oil Blend together all ingredients.

Oriental Salad 1 chicken breast sliced in strips One handful of romaine or lettuce mix One handful of cabbage mix 1/4 cup mandarin oranges 2 tablespoons almonds 2 tablespoons cranberries 1/4 cup wontons Oriental dressing Arrange lettuce and cabbage, then add chicken. Sprinkle on almonds, oranges, cranberries and wontons. Drizzle dressing on top.

CONTINUED ON 194

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another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.

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butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the cranberries, orange juice, cream and egg. Add to flour mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.

On a floured surface, gently knead 6 to 8 times. Pat dough into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 10 wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with cream and sprinkle with remaining sugar.

Bake at 400° for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack.

Shannon Serpette/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

These cranberry orange scones are snapped up quickly at One Eleven Coffee.

4CONTINUED FROM 18 CRANBERRY ORANGE SCONES 2 cups all-purpose flour 10 teaspoons sugar, divided 1 tablespoon grated orange peel 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup cold butter 1 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup half and half cream 1 egg 1 tablespoon cream In a large bowl, combine the flour, 7 teaspoons sugar, orange peel, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in

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A step back in

Bureau County farmer still appreciates

B

PHOTOS BY MIKE VAUGHN For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

ureau County’s Bob Erickson, who will be 89 in August, is the last living sibling of 10 children.

To say he has an appreciation for the past is an understatement.

One look at some of the items he finally decided to part with in an auction tells the story of days gone by on the farm – simpler times when machines chugged noisily through the fields without the luxuries most farmers have today.

Instead of GPS, stereo systems and new technology in the cabs of these machines, Erickson – like all farmers from yesterday – was alone with his thoughts as he planted, tended to and harvested his crops. While the machines and gadgets have changed dramatically since Erickson and his brother, Art, first started farming many years ago, the same love of the land exists today for Erickson and those like him – who still appreciate what it takes as they respect the land and all it has to offer.

20 Summer 2016

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AG Mag

21

Things are looking ... down?

W

BY JERMAINE PIGEE AND LYLE GANTHER For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

hether area farmers are optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the farming industry, one thing is certain.

“People have to eat,” said Chris Lower, who farms near Chadwick in Carroll County.

According to a national agriculture confidence index, American farmers were more pessimistic about the industry’s future when the year began than at any point since the survey began in 2010.

According to the DTN/The Progressive Farmer Agriculture Confidence Index, low commodities prices, continuing high input costs, and low

income projections have shaken farmers’ confidence in the industry.

“Farmers have never felt worse about their current financial situation in the history of the DTN Ag Confidence Index,” said the index’s creator and agriculture economist Robert Hill. “It’s declined precipitously from where it was at this time last year, and it was at a low point then, too.

■■■ “Not only have crop producers reached these new lows this year, but now the livestock producers have joined them. It’s ugly all around, and not expected to turn around within the next 12 months.”

CONTINUED ON 24

Chuck Read, a longtime farmer in Bureau County, said agriculture’s future is “exciting” with new technology and fresh ideas like cover crops.

Lyle Ganther/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

22 Summer 2016

Local farmers more optimistic about the industry than those surveyed nationally

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Evan Hultine of rural Princeton “I am definitely optimistic about ag’s future for two reasons: The world’s population will be 9 billion, and all those people need to eat; and today there are fewer people my age who are trying to farm and less supply of young farmers than there were 40 years ago when my dad started farming. There are a lot of opportunities for younger farmers or people in agriculture.”

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technology is getting bigger and better.”

Dave Bohm of rural LaMoille “I am extremely optimistic about the future of agriculture. We have the responsibility to feed people with increasing population, domestically and globally. With the growing appetite for protein, livestock needs to be fed with a decreasing land base. A lot of money and resources in improved and better technology are used in agriculture.”

Jared Frueh of rural Princeton “I am very optimistic. There are huge opportunities for the next generation.

Somebody has to continue to feed and educate the world.”

Nicole Wheeler of rural Tiskilwa “I worry about the financial future of farming. I am very optimistic about the family farm continuing to go on with the advancements in technology.”

James Swanson of rural Wyanet “I wish more kids would be interested, so we can have more people in farming, since

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4CONTINUED FROM 22 DTN surveys 500 agricultural producers before planting, and before and after harvest each year to gauge farmers’ attitudes at key times in the crop cycle. The latest reading of the index was 92.7, compared to 99.4 in August 2015 and 103.4 in December 2014. An index value of 100 is considered neutral, while higher values indicate optimism and lower values reflect pessimism.

A majority of those surveyed said input prices were bad, and more than 50 percent said they think inputs and incomes will be the same in a year.

“Farmers are facing some hard economic realities,” Hill said.

However, longtime Bureau County farmer Chuck Read of rural Princeton feels there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the farming industry’s future.

“I don’t share those national concerns,” he said. “I am optimistic. I am excited about the new technology and new cover crops. I feel ag has an exciting future.”

That said, Read has some worries.

“I am concerned about agriculture bowing to the almighty dollar versus being a way of life,” he added.

“Although prices are down, agriculture’s future is good.”

Cautiously optimistic would describe the feelings of another longtime Bureau

Lyle Ganther/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Larry Magnuson of rural Tiskilwa said the political climate will impact the farming industry’s future, but he still is confident younger farmers will move agriculture forward.

County farmer, Larry Magnuson. farming industry’s future.

Magnuson, who plans to retire from “Bureau County is blessed with male farming in several years after four-plus and female young leaders in farming,” decades, said he feels the political clihe said. “I am still optimistic if these mate will have a lot to say about the younger people are willing to carry on.”

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Not quite time to go hog wild Expansion plans up, but market necessitates ‘wait and see’

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A piglet tries to get some rest at a new hog facility at McCune Farms near Manlius.

Philip Marruffo/ NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

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The market is sending some mixed signals for hog producers considering expansion.

At the beginning of the year, intent-to-construct filings for swine were slightly ahead of the previous year’s pace. Producers were optimistic about prospects for increased demand in China.

“In 2014, Chinese pork producers reduced herds due to poor margins, and now there is a pork shortage, resulting in record-high retail prices,” said Chris Hurt, an agricultural economist at Purdue University.

China is on pace to unseat Japan as the world’s top pork producer, a distinction held by Japan since 1989.

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4CONTINUED FROM 25 In 2013 and 2014, high feed prices and the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus further reduced herds, and pork prices peaked at $4.21 a pound in September 2014. Prices have leveled off since, and about $3.80 a pound is expected throughout the rest of 2016.

Pork margins had improved last year to the point where many producers were at least able to break even. Just when the prospects for increased demand had producers optimistic about turning a profit this year, input costs started rising.

“In April, feed prices started going up from reduced South American corn and soybean production, and weather concerns for 2016 U.S. crops,” Hurt said. “Now, pork producers are caught between the good news of potentially higher pork prices from growing exports and the bad news of higher feed prices.”

Those dueling dynamics will ultimately determine profit margins for the rest of this year and 2017. At this point, 2016 looks like another wash. In the first quarter, corn prices averaged $3.60 a bushel, while high protein meal was about $276 a ton. Corn is now about $4 a bushel, and meal futures have eclipsed $400 a ton.

Prices in 2016 are expected to be about $52 per live hundredweight, a $2 increase

Philip Marruffo/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Harry McCune looks over his hogs at his newly constructed facility near Manlius.

McCune is in his first year of contracting with JBS in Brazil, and is doubling his operations from 2,500 head to 5,000. from last year. The bad news, however, is that production costs are also supposed to rise by $2 per live hundredweight.

Hog prices tend to be higher in warmer weather, so profits of $10 a head are projected in the second and third quarters, but losses of $16 a head are expect-

ed in the last quarter of 2016 and first quarter of 2017.

“We’re in a wait-and-see mode – a lot depends on the weather over the next 90 days,” Hurt said.

CONTINUED ON 274

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4CONTINUED FROM 26 “Producers are fearful of more adverse dry weather that could further elevate feed prices.”

The intent-to-build applications are just the first step in receiving project approval from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Site plans for construction and manure handling must be submitted to the state, and a minimum of three on-site inspections are done. Public meetings can also be part of the process.

Fear of higher feed prices could have some producers reconsidering the timing of expanding.

“With the outlook a bit uneasy, this isn’t the best time to go to a lender and say you need another $1 million for expansion,” Hurt said.

Caution in the pork industry, however, is tempered by intense pressure to grow.

Illinois has dropped from second to fourth in U.S. hog production. From 1985 to 1996, the state lost half its hog farmers. In 1996, there

Philip Marruffo/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Harry McCune raises the screens at his new hog facility near Manlius. The new building features new technology that controls feedings, waterings and temperature. were 9,600 producers, and last year that number was down to 4,700.

The producers that remain are running larger operations, and scrambling to stake their claim in the glob-

al marketplace.

“The hog industry is dominated by large corporations, and many of those operations had been family farms,” Hurt said. “The expansion we see is mainly

from the big corporations.

Harry McCune raises hogs in Bureau County near Manlius. He recently decided to produce for corporate operations.

“This is my first year of being a contract producer for others,” McCune said. “I produce for JBS in Brazil.”

JBS is the largest meat processing company in the world by sales. It entered the pork market after its 2007 acquisition of Swift & Company.

Now McCune plans to take advantage of the enormous scale of such a huge multinational corporation.

“I am going to double my operations, and go from 2,500 to 5,000 head,” McCune said. “I have a 10-year deal and I get paid per space per year.”

There are other benefits to economies of scale. The deal even includes travel expenses and other incentives.

“The only expenses I have are electricity, water, and general labor,” McCune said.

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Visitors to last year’s Lee County 4-H Fair watch swine judging.

Alex T. Paschal/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

The shows will go on

But county fairs feeling the impact of state’s fiscal mess

C

BY TERRI SIMON AND JERMAINE PIGEE For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

arol Ramer grew up at the Tri-County Fair, held annually during Labor Day weekend in Mendota and encompassing Bureau, Lee and LaSalle counties. She remembers attending the fair as a small child, through her teenage years, and now as an adult, she is the secretary of the Tri-County Fair Board.

While the annual fair used to be the highlight of the summer for many in the area, Ramer said times have changed. nnn “I think we have been pretty stagnant the last five years,” she said. “It’s a different mindset these days. If [people] can sit home in the air conditioning, they will do that. People are less mobile, physically. It’s just a very different attitude toward the outdoors, unless you are in their face entertaining them every minute.

CONTINUED ON 294

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4CONTINUED FROM 28 “Now if we had a charging station [for cellphones], or WiFi or a dark area where kids could just sit there and play video games, then maybe that would help,” she said.

Fairs everywhere are feeling the pinch, from societal changes and, increasingly, funding shortages. The state government hasn’t helped.

Like social service agencies, school districts and contractors, county fairs and 4-H programs have been directly impacted by the state fiscal crunch and, for the past year, the absence of a state budget.

Diminishing state funds have put an even tighter squeeze on county fairs, which already were dealing with increased operating costs and aging physical facilities.

While local organizers say the county fairs will go on this year, they say it’s hard to determine how they will look in the future without state funding.

How important is state money to county fairs?

“We used to get roughly $33,000 from the state [to pay premiums], but last year that was all the way down to $9,000,” said Paul Vock, a member of the Whiteside County Fair Board. And that was before the state was in a yearlong budget stalemate.

“At this point, we are holding our own,” said Dan Heusinkveld, also a Whiteside County Fair Board member.

“We will have to see how the fair turns out this year.”

County fairs are not the only ones who are struggling. Area 4-H fairs are also feeling the crunch.

Janice McCoy, head of the University of Illinois Extension office in Carroll, Lee and Whiteside counties, said the budget impasse also is affecting the Lee County 4-H Fair.

“Because there is no state budget, we have not recovered premium allocations for 4-H,” McCoy recently said. “When students receive a certain rank in their projects, there is a premium assigned to that, which is money.

CONTINUED ON 304

Mike Vaughn/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

What is the long-term future of area county fairs? Carol Ramer, secretary of the Tri-County Fair Board, said county fairs will probably always exist, but they will be different from those of yesteryear.

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4CONTINUED FROM 29 “If a young person has many projects, it can add up to anywhere between $50 to $100,” she said. “We are still moving forward with this summer’s 4-H fair, but winners won’t get a payout.”

Her office, which is owed $7,638 in premiums for the current fiscal year, hasn’t discussed seeking donations, and is concerned only with keeping 4-H afloat, she said.

“Right now, we are more focused on our unit and making sure we have the staff to continue to run the program.”

Steve Wald, director of communications at the University of Illinois Extension, said the budget uncertainty has created a large drain on the entire extension system.

“We are working hard behind the scenes to keep our program going as we enter the second state budget year without funding,” he said. “4-H as a whole is about so much more than fairs in the summer. We put together extension programs, which helps to deliver educational programs based on research from U of I.” For Tri-County Fair Board Secretary Carol Ramer, county fairs have been a life changer. She helped her dad man a booth in fairs past. She met her husband at the fair, and their children met their spouses there.

“I have lived and breathed the fair for the last 50 to 60 years,” she said. “I’ve seen the evolution of the fair; I have a unique advantage. ... I know what it’s like to sob over our finances.”

Besides her role as the Fair Board secretary, Ramer promotes the area demolition derbies, so she gets to see how other fairs are doing as well. Attendance at the fair is always an obstacle at the Tri-County Fair, since it falls just two weeks after Mendota’s Sweet Corn Festival, which always offers a free gate fee.

Consequently, the fair obliges with the same non-existent gate fee.

CONTINUED ON 314

Mike Vaughn/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

With the state of Illinois not helping area county fairs with financial assistance, most fairs receive their revenue from grandstand entertainment, donations, sponsorships and the space the fairs rent out to vendors selling refreshments and other items.

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4CONTINUED FROM 30 She said fairgoers often encourage the Fair Board to book a country western act, as it did in the past.

“It’s like everything else. It’s sure easy to be an armchair quarterback, but we just don’t have an extra $150,000 to $200,000 laying around,” she said.

Ten years ago, Ramer said, the state of Illinois kicked in between $40,000 to $60,000 to help with premium reimbursements and the upkeep of the fairgrounds. Five or six years ago, that amount was cut drastically, and the local fair got around $20,000.

“But the last two years, it’s been a big zero,” she said of the state’s input.

Now, the fair is on its own, and money is earned by renting the facility, grandstand entertainment ticket sales, and the vendors who set up shop hoping to sell enough corn dogs and lemonade to make it worth their while.

Now, the premiums for those who win by exhibiting at the fair are paid for by donations and through sponsorships.

On the flip side of that expensive coin, the number of people entering exhibits has also dwindled dramatically.

“You can really nickel and dime yourself to really put the things on that people expect,” Ramer said. “Local sponsorships and donations are what keep us going. Even if it’s just $20, or

Alex T. Paschal/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Grace Thompson, 18, of Amboy shows her swine during the 2015 4-H Fair and Youth Show in Amboy. you come out and buy a corn dog to support those vendors who rent space from us – those are the things that keep us going.”

So what about the future of the fair?

“Well, I think there are enough of people like me who have raised kids at the

fair who will continue to make it work some way,” Ramer said. “They won’t be the fairs you remember as a kid because people want to be entertained, but there will still be a fair.”

The Tri-County Fair runs Sept. 1 through Sept. 5.

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No farmer wants to see damage to crops. To help them protect their investment, the University of Illinois Extension office is assisting with a statewide pest survey program.

Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Unwelcome guests U of I Extension helping farmers keep crops healthy

BY DAVE COOK For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

F

armers face many challenges throughout the year. Control over the weather might be out of their hands, but others can be managed.

Invasive species, insects, plants or disease can significantly lower yields,

and agronomists with the University of Illinois Extension office are constantly working to help farmers combat the relentless spread of the most unwelcome guests to area crops.

Extension educator for commercial agriculture Russ Higgins has been working with the Northern Illinois

Agronomy Research Center to monitor the proliferation of crop-harming pests in the area. A series of insect traps have been installed on the field edges in the area of Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby in LaSalle County.

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4CONTINUED FROM 32 The traps are part of a corn and soybean survey conducted through the University of Illinois Department of Crop Sciences as part of a USDA-NIFA grant. It is looking for potential insect threats including the Old World Bollworm, Egyptian Cottonworm, Asiatic Rice Borer, Cucurbit Beetle, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, and Kudzu Bug. The discovery of any of these pests would impact corn and soybean yields. Also, after the discovery of Tar Spot in Northern Illinois corn fields last year, including Bureau and LaSalle counties, the USDA is requesting it be included with the survey list.

Higgins explained which invasive threats he considers the most threatening to crop production.

“I’m going to hedge my answer a little and include pests that are expanding their territory as well as those considered invasive,” Higgins said. “On an annual basis, I would consider weeds competing with cash crops for nutrients, water and light to be the greatest yield robbers.

Given the right conditions, diseases can cause significant injury. I think potential insect damage is the hardest to predict but certainly cannot be ignored.”

Some pests have been problems for many years, but others have become threats more recently.

Higgins said, “One of the challenges of an invasive or new pest that moves into an area is the fact that often little research has been conducted on how the pest will spread or behave in this new environment.

“An example is Tar Spot, a disease on corn found in Indiana and Northern Illinois in 2015. Prior, the disease had never been confirmed in the continental United States. There is research that tells what to expect from Tar Spot in areas where it is commonly found, areas in Mexico

Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Kelly Estes, a state survey coordinator, installs one of three traps in a soybean field to monitor local pest activity near Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby in LaSalle County. The traps will be inspected every two weeks to track the spread of invasive species. and Central America that experienced cool and humid conditions, but if it will establish again in an Illinois growing season and its potential

yield impacts are unstudied.”

For more information, call Higgins at 815-942-2725 or email him at rahiggins@ illinois.edu.

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Putnam County Conservation District helps provide both for residents and local FFA

BY DAVE COOK For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Ask people in the Illinois Valley, or more importantly, people traveling to the valley, about where they like to hike, fish, camp, or just get outside and experience nature, and the likely answers will be Starved Rock or Matthiessen Park. However, there’s another area that, while not featuring the dramatic landscapes of Starved Rock, offers nature without the big-city crowds – the Putnam County Conservation District.

According to district President Dan Kotecki, the PCCD began around 40 years ago and is composed of about 750 acres over two sites, one east of Putnam and one west of McNabb.

The district offers programs and activities, including field trips, fishing, horseback riding, camping, hiking, day camps that include art and field classes, and new hunter safety programs which have proven successful.

The trails are maintained, marked and provide the occasional bench on which to sit and enjoy the surroundings. The presence of wildlife is abundant, and it’s not unusual to come across several deer or other animals during a hike.

“We try to provide a nice place for people,” Kotecki

Dave Cook/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

The trails are well cared for, marked and offer the occasional bench to rest upon, but their lush surroundings offer a more natural experience than the highly-groomed and developed trails of the valley’s larger and more well-known areas. said. “We’ve had large astronomy groups travel here and cross country teams run meets at the sites. We’ve also donated two small plots, about four to five acres, to the Putnam County FFA to farm, and they use the profits made there to fund different projects.”

According to Putnam County Ag Science teacher John Heiser, the Putnam County FFA farms 5.8 acres at the west site and 3.5 acres at the district’s east site, growing corn and soybeans.

“The money generated goes to a lot of different things, from helping to pay for the national and state

conventions to sending students to the FFA Leadership Camp, the 212 Conference and much more. Along with these plots helping to fund the chapter for the next year, there’s also value in the experience of the work,” Heiser said.

The Putnam County FFA also farms three additional plots that a few local communities and businesses have allowed the club to farm, and it receives support from throughout the area.

“Ag View FS, Sun Ag and Helena spray and fertilize our fields,” Heiser said. “We also get seed from local dealers such as Renk Seed,

Quaker Lane, Pioneer, Sun Prairie Seeds, Dekalb, Ag View FS and NK Seeds.

“KSR out of Lacon has helped us on our plots as well. They gave us a tractor last year to pull our planter, and our alumni also helps us plant, till the ground and harvest the crop each year.

“We have a lot of support from the local community and the agriculture industry.

Our students’ success would not be possible if it was not for all the groups.”

Kotecki explained the district would like to pave the main roads, add a boat landing at Lake Senachwine, and acquire land when available, but those types of projects are usually out of the question because of funding.

“We’d like to find a corporate sponsor in the $5,000 to $10,000 range for a shelter and other projects,” Kotecki said. “We’ve got a very nice spot for a shelter, but not enough money to get it off the ground yet.”

So what attracted Kotecki to begin working for the district?

“The only real public ground in the county, other than the village parks, is our two sites,” he said. “I’m an outdoorsman; I love everything outdoors, and I thought this was something I could do to further the improvement of Putnam County.”

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All the working parts Photos by Eric Engel/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

The mechanics at Anderson Enterprises are well-versed in the nuts and bolts of tractor repair, and they are always studying trends to keep up with the advances in their field.

Annawan tractor repair shop builds business on honesty, trust

BY ERIC ENGEL For NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

W

orking for yourself, doing what you love, surrounded by friends you trust while making good money to support the family you cherish. … It’s no wonder Andy Anderson tells everybody he’s living the American dream.

When Anderson was 8 years old, he borrowed a few coins from his dad and bought his first push lawnmower. He planted his roots in the lawn trimming business, and by the time he was in high school, he “mowed a lot of yards” – with the peak of his grassroots expansion leaving his team responsible for more than 300 acres of yard to mow.

“With that business growth, by the time I was in high 36 Summer 2016

school, I started buying and selling lawnmowers, and that got really interesting because it started as a project with one lawnmower and grew through the Future Farmers of America,” Anderson said, recalling he eventually moved into buying 200 to 300 lawnmowers a year.

“I actually took my first small engine class when I was in sixth grade, and no one man sent me in a better direction than my ag teacher; that’s really why I’m pretty passionate about agriculture,” he said.

Anderson said he wanted to be a farmer, but that just wasn’t an option for him; so he bought a few mowers, fixed them up and developed the humble origins of his business.

Mechanic Zac McIntire (left) joins owner Andy Anderson (center) and mechanic Reid Peterson at Anderson Enterprises, where attention to detail and a relaxed work enviCONTINUED ON 374 ronment make for many great accomplishments.

4CONTINUED FROM 36 After a two-year John Deere program for mechanics expanded his knowledge and abilities, Anderson worked days, nights and weekends for a decade to save money for his next leap of faith in life. He left the cliff without any wings, and Anderson Enterprises took flight.

“In 2006, the building we’re in started as lawnmower storage, and it was a little shop where it was all you could do to keep the water from freezing,” Anderson said with a laugh. “We fixed the shops; everything got bigger; and I did some work for locals on the side.”

The mowing business expanded as Anderson put his heart into it instead of just spinning the wheels, and he added, “It’s hard to fail when you’re really passionate about something, so we rolled on from there.”

Anderson hired his father, who handles the full-time duties of the mowing business, and his younger brother to work in his shop,

Eric Engel/NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag

Anderson Enterprises in Annawan is filled with tractors of every variety, and the shop is always full these days. along with two of the best mechanics in the state in his opinion, Zac McIntire and Reid Peterson. Anderson’s wife, Denelle, puts her heart into all the book work.

“Together, we can do anything on a tractor, from a wheel bearing to a complete transmission overhaul on a brand new tractor today,” Anderson said, noting he

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reunited with McIntire after a 10-year professional absence, and Peterson gives the team all its knowledge on the red tractor side of the fence. “The bigger the machine the more complex it is with its technology. It is hard to keep up with the upgrades, but if you have a good common knowledge, it’s not impossible.”

Anderson said their following in the area continues to grow, so the shop has been super busy. Anderson’s guys are loyal shop hands, and customers return because they are pleased with the result of the work, done at a lower cost than competitors.

“Our labor rate is $60 an hour, whereas most dealers run close to $100, but I pay my guys well, and they work hard – up near 60 hours a week – not because they have to but because they want to,” Anderson said, noting if there’s work to do, he doesn’t care if they stay.

The future looks bright for expanding to the combine sector, but the businessman is moving slowly.

“A good mentor of mine said building a business is like walking with a sheet of plywood in the wind. If you turn the wrong direction you’re just going to keep going back and back,” he said, adding that if you constantly analyze the past you’ll see only what you missed out on. “Take the skinniest path, and you’ll get there.”

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Illinois soybean farmers launch ‘Soy from Illinois’ brand

A

s consumers, we all have our favorite brands of food, detergent, cars and many other items we regularly buy. The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff program hopes to start building a similar brand loyalty among Illinois soybean customers, both here and abroad.

Why is this important to you?

Because Illinois is one of the top soybean-producing states in the country, and is a leading state in ag-related industries, such as soybean processing, meat packing, dairy manufacturing, feed milling and vegetable processing. Government statistics show 1 million Illinoisans work in the food and fiber system. More agriculture means more jobs.

Furthermore, the Illinois Department of Agriculture reports ag commodities produced in Illinois generate more than $19 billion per year for the state. Illinois

soybeans represent one-quarter of that total. Illinois ranks third nationwide in agricultural commodity exports that are worth more than $8.2 billion per year, which is about 6 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports. Illinois also is the second-leading exporter of feed grains, soybeans and soy products.

To maintain and even grow the economic support Illinois farmers generate for the state and to help Illinois farmers be profitable, ISA plans to competitively position the Soy from Illinois brand around the world. Our goal is to increase use of Illinois soybeans to 600 million bushels by 2020. In 2015, Illinois soybean farmers produced 544 million bushels.

The Soy from Illinois program provides a platform for farmers to tell their stories in a positive way throughout the supply chain, from farmers to foreign and domestic soybean buyers, to soy-

Sharon Covert Director, District 4 Illinois Soybean Association bean processors, food companies, legislators, business leaders and other consumers in Illinois and beyond. Soy from Illinois brochures inform prospective foreign buyers about the advantages Illinois and Illinois soybeans have over competitors. Several Illinois farmers appear in on-farm interviews for Soy from Illinois videos. Other future materials also will help tell the stories.

Included in these messages is the fact that Illinois farmers offer a dependable and consistent supply of high-quality soybeans backed by exceptional crushing and processing capabilities, and a central location that provides easy access to multiple transportation options. And Illinois produces more non-GMO soybeans than any other state to meet that specific market’s needs.

CONTINUED ON 394

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4CONTINUED FROM 35 In addition, we share that Illinois soybean farmers have a long history of being sustainable, or producing larger crops per acre with less environmental impact.

In the past 20 years, government statistics show land use per soybean bushel produced has dropped 35 percent. Since 1987, energy use per bushel has dropped 65 percent. More than half of Illinois soybean acres are farmed with conservation tillage practices, which have contributed to a one-third reduction in soil erosion. Illinois farmers have converted more than half a million acres along Illinois streams

and rivers from farmland to wetlands, which leads to better water quality and water protection.

As one of the leading U.S. soybean states, ISA farmer leaders hope Soy from Illinois will instill a sense of pride among our state’s 43,000 farmers and the consumers who directly and indirectly benefit from the hard work and commitment Illinois farmers deliver to be the best soybean producers in the world. To learn more about the Soy from Illinois effort, visit ilsoy.org.

Sharon Covert is the Illinois Soybean Association director and a soybean farmer from Tiskilwa.

29 new industrial products open new markets for soy NorthCentral Illinois Ag Mag staff

Last year, the soy checkoff partnered with researchers to develop 29 new soy-based products that replace petrochemicals and help manufacturers meet sustainability objectives. These products, and hundreds of others developed with checkoff support, add value to U.S. soy and expand its market potential.

“At a time when prices are low, it’s more important than ever to increase demand for U.S. soy,” said checkoff farmer-leader Jim Domagalski, a soybean farmer from Columbus, Mich. “Part of that is finding new ways to use it.”

Products developed with checkoff support in 2015 include an insulating foam that helps green building contractors earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, soy-based adhesives that replace formaldehyde without compromising quality, lubricants and solvents that reduce reliance on petrochemicals, and rubber belting that farmers can use in their equipment.

New uses have helped farmers increase demand for U.S. soy from 14 million

bushels in 2003 to more than 111 million bushels in 2013. This sales trajectory is expected to continue as a result of the soy checkoff’s ongoing commitment to support the discovery of new soy technologies and share previous research findings that companies use to create more sustainable products.

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S.soybean farmers.

These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy’s customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit unitedsoybean.org., or you can visit them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter or view their YouTube channel.

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Steve Hamm

Atkinson, IL. • 309-936-7282 steve.hamm@mortonbuildings.com

309-936-7282 mortonbuildings.com