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Crop Insurance That’s Born In The COUNTRY Founded by farmers in Illinois, our roots lie in the values born of hard work, integrity and compassion. Farmers who trust COUNTRY Financial® for Crop Hail insurance and Federal Crop Insurance find solid coverage at an affordable price. Talk to a local financial representative today. Jim Scruggs, Princeton 815-872-3333
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INDEX Publisher Dan Goetz Editor, General Manager Jim Dunn Page Design Jim Dunn Reporters & Photographers Dave Cook, Goldie Rapp, Pam Eggemeier, Rachel Rodgers
Farmers hit with record flooding, late planting................6 Unwelcome trip back to the ’80s........................................9
Cover illustration Alex T. Paschal
The littlest livestock — honeybees.................................. 12
Published by Bureau County Republican 526 S. Bureau Valley Parkway, Suite F Princeton, IL 61356 815-875-4461
A passion for the pork industry......................................... 16
Articles and advertisements are the property of Bureau County Republican. No portion of the North Central 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.
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Farmers hit with record flooding, late planting Story by Rachel Rodgers & Dave Cook Photos by Dave Cook For North Central Illinois Ag Mag
B
eing stuck in a rut took on new meaning this season for farmers. A tractor could be spotted sunken into about a foot of mud in a flooded field in rural Dixon, cropland normally filled with corn instead was filled with water. Thousands of acres across the region were left unplanted, and farmers faced difficult choices amid the record rain. Statewide, the average precipitation for May was 8.43 inches, about 3.83 inches above the long-term average, marking 6 consecutive months with above-average statewide precipitation, and ranking as the third wettest May in state history. Continued on page 7
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Spring 2019 is estimated to rank within the top four wettest springs, and North Central Illinois reported rainfall 5 to 8 inches above the norm, with 200 to 300 percent of average monthly rainfall. The resulting oversaturated grounds gave way to the slowest start to a planting season on record. In mid-May, when typically two-thirds of corn should be in the ground, only 10 percent had been planted. In early June, corn planting reached 50 percent, marking the latest date for reaching the midpoint of planting progress in the past 60 years, according to Scott Irwin and Todd Hubbs, agricultural economists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Too much water means fledgling crops aren’t getting as much oxygen as they would normally, which can result in root damage, crop disease and plant mortality. U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos recently traveled throughout the 17th Congressional District to see firsthand the impact flooding had on farmers. While here, she met with Whiteside County farmers in Prophetstown at the farm of Jeff Brooks, who estimated that at least 300 to 400 acres out of 2,850 would likely go unplanted. In early June, only 35 percent of his corn, soybeans and hybrid corn was
planted, and he echoed the concerns of other farmers about crop yields and the tariff war between the U.S. and Mexico. “As I travel across our district, I see farmland literally under water and visit with farmers who are unable to plant their crops,” said Bustos, a member of the House Agriculture Committee. “From Mother Nature to the president’s tweets, ag producers are feeling a great deal of uncertainty.” This year’s prevent plant U.S. Rep. acres are estimated to be Cheri Bustos four times the norm, and will likely beat the 2013 record of 3.6 million acres by a wide margin. Prevent plan insurance can be an attractive option as expected corn yields decrease the later the crop is planted and costs increase with needing to dry the corn. However, the longer the wait, the more the insurance coverage declines, creating tough choices for farmers. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, acting director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said the flooding has had an “unprecedented reach” to farmers, residents, business owners and entire communities. “This is one of the worst floods to inundate our state in more than a quarter of a
century,” Tate-Nadeau said. “The flood of 2019 has impacted more than 40 percent of state’s population, outside of Cook and the collar counties. In the weeks to come, as the water recedes, we will begin to see the damage of this flood.” The state is taking several steps to secure federal aid for farmers and others affected, including a $400,000 cover crop incentive program for farmers, flood assistance resources centralized on a new state website — illinois. gov/2019floods — as well as looking to improve logistics concerns for farmers, such as disrupted shipments along the Mississippi River. “Agriculture is the backbone of our state and to see our grain and livestock farmers and farming communities having to make these tough decisions is heartbreaking,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “I know farmers have had to make difficult planting decisions this year due to extreme weather conditions — I’ve instructed my staff and agencies to provide assistance to help ease the pressures felt by farmers across Illinois.” The federal government approved a $16 billion aid package for farmers hurt by the trade conflict with China, but only those who have planted a crop are eligible to make a claim. Continued on page 8
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There’s also been a $19 billion disaster relief bill that included more than $3 billion for those who lost crops, or were prevented from planting their crops this year. Some are forecasting that fewer acres planted and a smaller yield could eventually cause grain prices to rally, even as unfavorable weather continues to provide challenges to the region’s agricultural community. The federal crop insurance planting deadline was June 5, but Bureau County Farm Bureau President Evan Hultine said his family had set their own deadline of June 20 to get their crops planted. Evan “It’s been an emotional Hultine year so far, and that decision has really weighed on us,” Hultine said on the morning of June 12, just hours after they had finished planting in their fields after a brief respite from rain. “That date was what we settled on as being worth the risk of planting and still being able to get a yield that’s worth it.” Hultine is the sixth generation to work his family farm. That morning he was speaking to a group of educators who were there as part of an effort to
increase agricultural education in Illinois classrooms. “Beans would’ve been a much easier crop this year, but the soybean market is abysmal, and we made the decision last summer to plant corn,” he said. Putnam County farmer George Mattern shared the frustration he has felt this spring while working his family’s Centennial Farm. “The biggest challenge has been trying to make good decisions when the variables are constantly changing, such as the weather, prices, insurance, and calendar. What may seem like the best decision today may not be the best decision tomorrow,” Mattern said. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s June 17 Illinois Crop Progress and Condition report, the average statewide temperature for the previous week was 66.2 degrees, 5.7 degrees below normal. Corn planted was reported to be at 88 percent, up from the 73 percent of the previous week. Only 74 percent of the planted corn had emerged, up from 51 percent the week before, but a year ago during the same time, nearly all corn had been planted and emerged. It was also reported that as of June 16, only 6 percent of farmers considered their corn crops to be in excellent condition. Only 45 percent thought they were
Wet fields plagued the 2019 planting season, which will have far-reaching effects on the agricultural economy. in good shape, and 34 percent rated their corn as in fair condition. Fifteen percent said their crops were in poor or very poor condition. Only 70 percent of soybean crops were reported as having been planted, up from the 49 percent of a week before. Only half of soybeans had emerged at this point, up from 25 percent during the week ending June 9. As of June 16, 2018, 99 percent of beans had been planted, and 93 percent had emerged.
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Unwelcome trip back to the ’80s Stress mounts as uncertainties drag on
Story by PAM EGGEMEIER & GOLDIE RAPP For North Central Illinois Ag Mag Steadily declining commodity prices have sent farmers into a long down cycle during which they’ve seen farm income drop by 50 percent in the past 5 years. This year, add trade wars, tariffs, historically wet weather and growing debt and it’s easy to see why farmers believe they are facing the most uncertain times since the farm crisis of the 1980s. As was the case in the 1980s, record production has led to the precipitous drop in commodity prices. After the 1979 U.S. grain embargo against the Soviet Union, U.S. exports dropped more than 20 percent between 1981 and 1983. Combined with the oversupply situation, farm debt soon doubled from 1978 to 1984 — hitting $215 billion. Continued on page 10
Goldie Rapp/North Central Illinois Ag Mag
Bureau County farmer Donna Klostermann of Sheffield, who is also a grain originator at Michlig Grain in Manlius, is keeping close tabs on the impact China’s tariffs have made on the grain market. While she credits tariffs for poor market prices, she’s also firm on her stance that low commodity prices, especially soybean prices, are due to having huge carry-outs. “I think a huge misconception is when we fix this tariff problem that beans are just going to go up in droves, but there’s more to the story than that,” she said.
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Continued from page 9
Interest rates and oil prices were high, and with a strong dollar, the perfect storm was created, leading to a record number of farm foreclosures nationwide. Evan Hultine, a Bureau County farmer, and president of that county’s Farm Bureau, wisely paid attention to his father’s recollection of the 1980s crisis. “Ever since the conversations about trade wars and tariffs started, my dad talked about how they would take a lot longer than you thought at the beginning, so I prepared for the long haul,” said Hultine, who grows corn and soybeans northeast of Princeton. A combination of the relentless rain and trade uncertainties took farmers to the brink in deciding whether and what to plant this spring. Many farmers who didn’t get their anhydrous in early enough for corn opted for soybeans at the last minute, as anticipated. The rush into soybeans has lifted corn prices of late. Hultine usually goes half and half or 60/40 corns and soybeans, but the unusual circumstances took him in a different direction this time — one away from the soybean traffic flow. “We had some stressful and tough decisions to make, but I decided to go
all corn with the implications of the trade war and I found an opportunity to plant in June,” Hultine said. “I switched to short-season hybrids and put in a lot of long hours from about June 8 to the 12th.” Hultine said he was one heavy rain away from not getting anything planted, but a few days with higher temperatures made a big difference in opening that small planting window.
Trade war casualties The trade war has been particularly difficult for soybean and hog producers. China is the largest consumer of U.S. soybeans, buying nearly 60 percent of America’s exports, valued at $14 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Chinese have threatened to slap a 25 percent tariff on soybeans as part of its retaliation for $50 billion in tariffs threatened by the Trump administration. China has put a 62 percent levy on U.S. pork, making it nearly cost-prohibitive for Chinese consumers. American pig farmers stand to lose about $8 a head and a total of $1 billion in exports from the trade war. While many farmers still say they are willing to absorb some short-term pain in exchange for fair trading practices
in China, they fear losing market share. Another lesson learned from the farm crisis of the 1980s is that when export opportunities are lost to other countries, it can take a long time to regain them. “After this has become a yearlong process, China already is going other places and investing in other countries as suppliers — and that’s a big concern,” Hultine said. Because to the tariffs, the hog situation in China is a lost opportunity for making progress in fixing the U.S. trade imbalance. China can’t come close to meeting its own demand for pork, and an African swine fever epidemic has reduced its pig population by half. China’s pork exports are projected to rise by more than 40 percent, and that extra business is going to competitors like Mexico, Canada and Germany. The length of the trade dispute is trying farmers’ patience, and the president should be feeling a sense of urgency to strike a deal with an election year looming. The general consensus among farmers, however, is that as long as a good deal is hammered out before year’s end, their political support that went a long way in carrying Trump to the White House should continue in 2020. Continued on page 11
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Bureau County farmer Donna Klostermann of Sheffield, who is also a grain originator at Michlig Grain in Manlius, has kept close tabs on the impact China’s tariffs have had on the grain market. While she credits tariffs for poor market prices, she’s also firm on her stance that low commodity prices, especially soybean prices, are due to having huge carry-outs. “I think a huge misconception is when we fix this tariff problem that beans are just going to go up in droves, but there’s more to the story than that,� she said. “Everyone wants to blame it (on) the tariffs, but there’s also a component of excess supply.� Klostermann said farmers are split on their views when it comes to the trade war with China. “About half of them are OK with this, because they think we need to hold China accountable, and the other half say we just need to get this taken care of so we can get on with our lives,� she said. “But most certainly, we’re taking it on the chin throughout this whole tariff thing.� Klostermann said there are some schools of thought that China will drag its feet going into the next election
cycle, especially with their ability to buy soybeans from Russia, but she added that one has to remember, “No socialist country will outproduce capitalism.� Klostermann is apprehensive about the next summit between the two world powers, which takes place in July, uncertain that any kind deal will be made between the U.S. and China. “The market is not going to react until we see something, because we’ve been through this song and dance already,� she said. “We almost had a deal and then it didn’t go through. Hopefully, China won’t drag it out through another election cycle, because I think Trump wants to get this done. It’s part of what he ran on, so he needs to get it done.�
Lawmakers’ views “When it comes to China, most farmers still support what the president is doing,� said U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon. “There has been a cost to themselves, but they see the bigger picture.� Farmers have been more concerned about the trade situations in Mexico, Canada and Europe, and progress has been made on those fronts, Kinzinger said. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, has been reached as
a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement, but the administration will be challenged to move it through Congress. There are many layers of the agreement to sift through before it could have a chance to receive bipartisan support. “The trade ambassador is meeting with a lot of people, trying to get to a point where we get a suitable U.S. Rep. replacement for NAFTA. Adam It must protect workers, Kinzinger and we’re looking at getting drug prices down and addressing environmental concerns,� said U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline. Critics of the USMCA say that the agreement in its current form would protect big pharmaceutical companies from generic competitors, which would lead to increased prescription drug prices. The congressman said that while he doesn’t have a crystal ball, he expects to see major progress with China before the end of the summer. He also believes that the U.S. is negotiating from a position of strength. “Neither side wants this, but China is impacted much more than we are — they have to feed more than a billion people and keep them happy, “ Kinzinger said.
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The littlest livestock — honeybees Beekeeper shares his knowledge with group of local educators
Story & Photos by Dave Cook For North Central Illinois Ag Mag
P
RINCETON — The word “livestock” brings to mind images of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats, but there are other, much smaller creatures that also qualify for this term — honeybees. Tim and Paula Anderson of rural Princeton, owners of Miss Paula’s Pure Honey, recently shared what they’ve learned as beekeepers with a group of local educators. Teachers visited the Andersons’ home as part of a week-long Agri-Science Educator Institute intended to help integrate agriculture into local classroom lessons. Teachers from Bureau, Whiteside and Lee counties participated, and the event was hosted by the Farm Bureau organizations of those counties. Continued on page 13
The entrance of a hive is filled with bees, either leaving or returning from their industrious work.
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Beekeeper Tim Anderson shows local educators the smoker he uses while harvesting honey. Continued from page 12
The Andersons are selftaught and began their journey into the world of bees with the purchase of two hives in 2012. “Which I then promptly killed,” Tim said. The death of honeybees is a popular topic in the news, and the decline and collapse of their colonies the subject of much study and speculation. Pesticides, disease and pests have all been targeted as possible causes for the failure of hives. However, Anderson placed most of the blame on beekeepers themselves. “I have more issues with stupid beekeepers,” he said, an opinion that was also shared at another stop on the teachers’ educational tours when the subject of bees came up. “People think bees are fascinating, and they are, but they’re not pets. They’re livestock, and that’s how you have to treat them. They need food, water and shelter. The rest of it is figuring out how to keep stress off of them, and that’s not always an easy thing to do,” he said. Anderson works for an agri-chemical company, and his interest in beekeeping was piqued after his colleagues kept forwarding him the “angry soccer mom” phone calls the company would occasionally
receive in regard to bees. “I figured if I was going to be discussing bees with people, I should know more about them,” he said. Anderson said when people now challenge him about “not caring about the bees,” he can say he does, because he personally cares for several hundred thousand of them. “I usually don’t get any more calls from them after I tell them that,” he said. Anderson added that, on average, homeowners use 10 times more chemicals than a farmer applies. The Andersons currently have about 40 hives. Each hive is home to roughly 50,000 honeybees, 99 percent of which are female. The harvest from their first year gathered about 30 pounds of honey. While the total amount harvested is very dependent on weather — “More blooms mean more honey” — the Andersons said they can now harvest anywhere from 30 to 120 pounds a year from each of their hives. “We extract honey three times a year, and the honey from each extraction has a different color and taste,” Tim said. He said the first extraction is lighter in color and taste because it’s mostly from dandelions and clover. Continued on page 14
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Continued from page 13
Later extractions are darker and are partially created from the pollen of asters and golden rod. The third batch of honey is left for the bees during the winter. “Bees only live about six weeks, and they basically work themselves to death,” he said. Smith showed the educators the different components of beekeeping and explained how the bees live within their hives. He said the best time to harvest honey is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the time “when most of the bees will be out working.” He said harvesting at night results in angry, defensive bees. “They probably think I’m a bear,” he said. However, he also showed the politeness of bees and demonstrated how they’re not angry creatures intent on stinging. Smith took the group of educators outside to his hives and stood in front of their flight paths back home. Rather than creating an angry group of pollinators, the bees hovered behind him and, for the most part, waited patiently for him to move. “If you’re around bees and feel a bump on the back of your head, that’s a bee who’s politely asking you to move
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Beekeeper Tim Anderson offered his guests a sample of a fresh, honey-filled honeycomb, the product of thousands of bees.
your big, clumsy body out of its way,” he said. Once Anderson took a step to the side, the bees calmly flew forward and began dropping onto their landing area at the entrance of the hive. He explained it takes two million flowers to make a pound of honey and that each bee is responsible for creating onetenth of a teaspoon of that. Anderson also shared how there can be no such thing as “organic honey.” “There’s no way of knowing exactly where the bees are going to feed, and
you can’t follow all of them, so there’s no way anyone can legitimately say their honey is organic,” he said. However, Anderson did say he believes local honey can help allergy sufferers, and he also had good advice for those wanting to support their local bee populations. “If you want more bees, there needs to be more demand for local honey,” he said. Miss Paula’s Pure Honey is available locally for $8 per pound and $22 for three pounds. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
The Andersons have approximately 40 hives on their property, and each is home to roughly 50,000 honeybees. INSET: The difference between these new and pollen-stained beekeeper gloves is only two weeks.
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A passion for the pork industry Youth ag programs inspire a firstgeneration farmer
Story & Photo by Goldie Rapp For North Central Illinois Ag Mag
C
ooper Secker of Smithton knew he wanted to be a pig farmer at the young age of 5 years old. It was a visit to the Piglets on Parade Birthing Center at the Illinois State Fair that piqued his interest that year. And when he started kindergarten and the teacher asked all the students what they wanted to be when they grew up, Secker proudly answered, “A pig farmer.” Secker stood by that same career choice as a kid, as a teen, and even now as a young adult. As a first-generation farmer, he credits youth ag programs like 4-H and FFA for giving him the lessons and experiences needed to become successful in the today’s industry. Continued on page 17
Cooper Secker, pork producer and summer intern for the Illinois Pork Producers Association, speaks to area teachers about his industry during the Bureau, Whiteside and Lee County Farm Bureaus’ Agriscience Educator Institute.
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Continued from page 16
Secker raises and sells Berkshire show pigs. He sells his pork to restaurants and individuals in the St. Louis, Mo. area, which is about 35 minutes away from his hometown. He said it is his way to be competitive in a “very competitive” market. Secker is also a senior at the University of Arkansas, where he is working toward a degree in ag leadership, and a summer intern with the Illinois Pork Producers Association. With the association, Secker gets to help run the Piglets on Parade Birthing Center each summer — the same one that inspired him as a young boy. Secker was recently a presenter during Bureau County, Whiteside County and Lee County Farm Bureaus’ week-long Agriscience Educator Institute where he got to talk about his life’s passion and the industry that is so near and dear to his heart. Secker said today’s pork is 75 percent leaner than it was in 1950. Through improvements in genetics, nutrition and technology, pork farmers have figured a way to optimize an affordable meat put on today’s grocery shelves. Illinois is ranked fourth in the U.S. in pork production, behind Iowa, North Carolina and Minnesota.
North Central Illinois Ag Mag file photo
Hogs are shown in a confinement facility in Bureau County. The pork industry is a passion for Cooper Secker, a young Illinois pork producer who recently spoke during an Agriscience Educator Institute in Walnut. “Pork production employs a lot of people in Illinois. It’s crucial to their livelihood, as well as the farmers that use that help. ... Those jobs offer a little bit more
in the economical boost in Illinois’ agriculture side beside soybeans and corn,” Secker said. During his presentation, Secker touched on a controversial topic within pork production, that often times makes headlines, which is the use of antibiotics in pork. He explained how antibiotics are not something farmers like to use on pigs unless really needed, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has put extremely stringent restrictions on farmers when it comes to the use of antibiotics. When antibiotics are used to treat a sick pig, they come with a withdrawal date that tells when all medical residue is cleared from the animal and it is safe to take to market. “It’s a farmer’s responsibility to pay attention to those withdrawal dates of when they’re given antibiotics and when they’re able to go to market,” Secker said. “If (USDA) finds any medical residue inside the meat, they will shut that farmer down.” Secker said farmers can’t afford to have that happen, which forces them to do what is right to offer the healthest product. “I can assure you, when you put a pork chop on a plate, it’s healthy, nutritional and safe for you to eat,” he said.
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A lesson on dairy for teachers
They learn Illinois has 609 licensed dairy herds, and much more
Story & Photos by Goldie Rapp For North Central Illinois Ag Mag
I
n early June, Bureau County, Whiteside County and Lee County Farm Bureaus hosted a week-long Agriscience Educator Institute for area teachers interested in learning more about the industry in order to integrate lessons into their own classrooms. On the first day of the program, the teachers heard a number of presentations given by ag leaders from around the state. Kendra Anderson of the Midwest Dairy Association led a presentation on the Illinois dairy industry. The association represents more than 7,000 farmers. She said there are 609 licensed dairy herds in the state, and Illinois is the 22nd largest milk-producing state in the country. Continued on page 19
Kendra Anderson of the Midwest Dairy Association speaks to area teachers about the dairy industry during the Bureau, Whiteside and Lee County Farm Bureaus’ Agriscience Educator Institute.
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Anderson said in 2018, Illinois dairy farmers produced an average of 124 million gallons of milk. More than $350 million in milk sales is generated annually. “We’re big drivers of the milk economy,� she said. In Illinois, the average dairy cow produces more than six gallons of milk per day, which totals more than 2,400 gallons of milk per year. With the large amounts of milk being produced each year, Anderson also talked about how the dairy industry has modified operations to become more efficient. More than ever, farmers are focused on “cow comfort� to ensure good health and milk production. Through the use of newer technology, better monitoring of a cow’s health can be achieved by using a device similar to a Fitbit. The device is worn by the cow and can track its movement and overall well-being. If the cow is sick, medical attention can be sought much quicker. Anderson said dairy farmers work closely with veterinarians, animal nutritionists and other professionals to keep cows healthy and comfortable. Cows receive periodic checkups, vaccinations and proper treatment of illness. In recent decades, the dairy community has reduced its carbon footprint by 63 percent through improvements with animal breeding, animal health, cow comfort and overall better
Kendra Anderson of the Midwest Dairy Association compares the nutritional value and ingredients between fat-free milk, lactosefree milk, soy beverage and almond beverage.
Cool off with a dairy dessert
farm management practices, Anderson said. “The dairy industry is on track to meet a goal set in 2008 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020,� she said.
How the Dairy Checkoff Program supports the industry Dairy farmers in the Midwest invest 15 cents for every 100 pounds of milk they sell. Midwest Dairy receives 10 cents of this mandatory funding for regional programs that help promote the industry. The remaining 5 cents goes to the National Dairy Board to fund national promotional, research and export programs carried out by Dairy Management Inc.
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To grow lettuce, just add water Silver Creek Farms uses aquaponics to grow a successful niche farm Story & Photos by Dave Cook For North Central Illinois Ag Mag
S
PRING VALLEY — Tony Stirling, owner of Silver Creek Farms LLC, knew he needed a solid idea for a niche farming operation on his 10 acres of land. He settled on a form of organic farming that’s not often seen on the rolling fields of the Midwest — aquaponics. Aquaponics is a system in which the waste from fish, or other aquatic animals, is used to feed plants before being returned to the original source. Forms of aquaponic agriculture date back to ancient China, as well as with the Aztecs. At Silver Creek Farms, the fish are tilapia, and the plants being grown are varieties of lettuce. Continued on page 21
Tony Stirling, owner of Silver Creek Farms LLC, shows the cubes of rockwool where he germinates his lettuce seeds. By using an aquaponic system, Silver Creek Farms can grow lettuce year-round and without soil.
Sales • Farm Management • Market Evaluations Bureau County:
120 +/- acres in Bureau Township. 119 +/- acres tillable. 39 +/- acres in Macon Township. 38.7 +/- acres tillable. 94 +/- acres in Mineral Township. 91.7 +/- acres tillable. 189 +/- acres in Gold Township. 182 +/- acres tillable. 163S+ +/acres in Manlius Township. Dc O/-La 130 +/- acres in Gold Township. 125.96 acres tillable.
Knox County:
309 +/- acres in Lynn Township. 307.9 +/- acres tillable. 231 +/- acres in Cedar Township. 210.8 +/- acres tillable. 160 0S+ +/a acres c in Cedar Township. 136.7 +/- acres tillable. O/-LD 45 +/- acres in Cedar Township. 44.2 +/- acres tillable.
Stark County: Dc 100S+ +/acres in Osceola Township. 99.9 +/- acres tillable. O/-La
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Stirling plants a variety of lettuce seeds every three to four days. Approximately 50 to 60 days later, the lettuce is ready to be harvested. The plants receive all of their nutrients from the gravity-fed water system that originates with the tanks of tilapia (inset). Continued from page 20
“It took about three years of research, and about three years of convincing my wife, before we were ready. There was a lot to learn,” Stirling said with a laugh. He was sharing what they’ve learned with a group of local educators who visited Silver Creek Farms as part of a weeklong Agriscience Educator Institute intended to help integrate agriculture into classroom lessons. Teachers from Bureau, Whiteside and Lee counties participated, and the event was hosted by the Farm Bureaus of those areas. Stirling said they decided to purchase a complete kit from Nelson and Pade Aquaponics, so there would be no doubt they had everything needed. According to the Nelson and Pade website, their systems use one-sixth of the water used by conventional farming methods to sustainably grow eight times more food per acre, without the use of pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. They can also grow crops year-round, and in any climate. While tilapia is a popular choice on many restaurant menus, Stirling said the fish are essentially a byproduct of the lettuce operation. Regulations regarding the processing of animals make it difficult for Silver Creek Farms to sell the fish.
“I’m not allowed to process them here, but very few restaurants want them without being filleted first,” he said. The process begins with tilapia that weigh only a few grams. They are placed into high-density holding tanks where they are fed twice a day until reaching approximately two pounds or more in about nine months. “Their business feeds the whole system,” Stirling said. The water from the holding tanks is fed into a tank where bacteria has been allowed to grow on a submerged length of netting. There the bacteria feed on the toxic ammonia waste and convert it first into nitrites and then into nitrates. The water is then routed below the planting area where the young lettuce plants can feed off of the nitrates. Stirling places his pelletized lettuce seeds into rockwool seed starter cubes, and the nutrient-laden water is drawn up as it passes below. He said he plants every three to four days and that depending upon the variety of lettuce being grown, he can harvest after roughly 50 to 60 days. The lettuce varieties grown include romaine, summer crisp, and red and green bibb, and approximately 200 head are harvested each week. Silver Creek Farms’ lettuce is highly desired among
a number of local and Chicago-area restaurants. The lettuce is also available at the Ladd Farmers’ Market. Nearly all of Silver Creek Farms’ aquaponic system is gravity fed. The only mechanized portion is a small 1/4-horsepower pump. After arriving at the final tank, the water is aerated and pumped back into the tank with the fish. “I check the pH levels daily, and the rest of the levels weekly. Once everything is established, it’s pretty stable,” Stirling said. For those restaurants desiring the whole tilapia, Stirling takes steps to ensure they receive a fish of the highest quality. He first places them into a cooling tank that slowly lowers their temperature and slows their activity. “If you take a fish out of a warm tank and put it on ice, it’s going to thrash around and it won’t end up being a nice fillet. By cooling them down slowly, it lowers their stress levels and allows what’s going to happen to happen more gently,” he said. With a successful initial operation, Stirling is now expanding at a larger site, and is also considering ideas for other crops. As the market for organic, sustainable food operations continues to grow, the future of Silver Creek Farms looks swimmingly prosperous.
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Tony Stirling is shown with the aquaponic system that helps him harvest approximately 200 head of lettuce a week. The plants are grown without soil, and they organically receive all of their required nutrients from the fish. INSET: The nutrient-dense water can be seen flowing below the young lettuce plants at Silver Creek Farms. After nurturing the plants, the water is aerated and pumped back into the holding tanks with the fish.
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