February 7, 2020
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Wetter, warmer weather
Anheuser-Busch’s Michelob Ultra Pure Gold is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic beer. The company says it is on a mission to help farmers who are interested in being certified organic actually do so.
Climate trends to have impact on Illinois agriculture By Tom C. Doran
AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — More rain and increased temperatures are projected to become the norm in Illinois, the Illinois State Water Survey state climatologist said at the recent Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable. Climatologist Trent Ford spoke of weather trends and its impact on Illinois agriculture. “Impacts related to temperature change have actually been quite minimal in Illinois, especially relative to other places in the U.S. That is probably going to change in the next few de- Ford cades,” Ford said. The statewide average temperature has increased in Illinois by about one-tenth of a degree Fahrenheit per decade between 1895 and 2018. The increase in winter and spring temperatures are much larger than that in the summer and fall. “When you look at the difference between maximum and daily minimum temperature, summertime daily maximum temperatures actually decreased over time. Mostly that is due to increased humidity,” Ford noted. An increase in the Prairie State’s average temperature will have both positive and negative impacts on agriculture. POSITIVE IMPACTS n Frost-free season has increased by nine days since 1900, projected to increase by 10 to 20 days by 2050. n Growing degree days are projected to increase by 30% by 2050, relative to 1981-2010 mean in DeKalb County, for example. n Changing temperatures are projected to result in enhanced photosynthesis and reduced crop water use — more crop water efficiency with higher carbon dioxide levels.
PROVIDED PHOTO
The Cowser family farming operation includes a breed to wean pig farm, a cow/calf herd and a corn and soybean farming operation. The members of the 2020 Illinois Pork Producers Association Farm Family of the Year are Charlotte and Steve Cowser (front row from left), Cheryl Cowser-Walsh, Andy and Carol Cowser; Marc Cowser (top row), Darin Cowser and Alan Cowser.
Family of the Year Constant improvement theme of Cowser pork operation By Jeannine Otto
AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS
BR ADFORD, Ill. — The Cowser family farming operation is many things — and many people — but underpinning all of the farm operations is family. The Cowser family is the 2020 Illinois Pork Producer Association Farm Family of the Year. “We all want the farm to be successful,” said Steve Cowser of the farming operation that his grandfather, Delbert Cowser, started in the 1930s near Laura. Today, Steve and his three brothers, Marc, Andy and Darin, and Andy’s two children, Alan Cowser and Cheryl CowserWalsh, comprise the main part of the Cowser family farm. Steve Cowser leads the pork production part of the farm and oversees the farm operation’s finances.
After almost 50 years in the pig business, some might be thinking about retiring, but Cowser is not among them. “I am having too much fun,” he said. Cowser works in the barns and is focused on ways to improve the pork operation and grow his own knowledge. “I learn something new every day I am in the barns. That’s one of the things I like about this business,” he said. RAISING PIGS SINCE 1932 The family always has raised pigs, starting with Delbert Cowser’s swine herd in 1932. In 1998, they purchased a breedto-wean barn and 1,200 sows. They increased that herd, and they wean about 1,100 pigs weekly as an independent breed-to-wean farm. The Cowsers partner with Land O’Lakes as the buyer of their weaned pigs.
Constant improvement is a constant theme for all parts of the Cowser farming operation. On the pork side, the breed-towean model is a perfect fit. “It allows us to do one thing, focus on one area of production, and hopefully become better at that,” Steve Cowser said. The biggest challenge on the pork production side is labor. The breed-to-wean operation employs nine people as a full staff. “Half of our crew are longterm employees, seasoned and experienced, and there are two or three who are newer employees and some of those don’t stay very long,” Cowser said. Biosecurity is a priority on the farm. “In 2015, we revamped our entrance, so the only way to get in and out is through the showers,” Cheryl Cowser said. See FAMILY, Page A4
INSIDE
Court orders review of refinery RFS waivers A3
AgriTrucker D1 Alan Guebert D6 Antiques D5 Auction Calendar B1 Business D7 Calendar B8
Classifieds C3 Farms For Sale C1 Jerry Welch D7 Lifestyle B6 Livestock D3 Markets D7 Opinion D6
Vol. 42 No. 50
CONTACT AGRINEWS: 800-426-9438
NEW YORK — Less than 1% of America’s farmland is organic and American farmers hoping to transition their fields to organic face monumental challenges. Michelob Ultra Pure Gold launched its 60-second Super Bowl spot featuring 6 For 6Pack, a new program that allows consumers to join the brand in helping farmers transition six square feet of farmland into organic with each purchase of a six-pack of Michelob Ultra Pure Gold. Michelob Ultra Pure Gold — the first national beer brand to be U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic — is on a mission to help U.S. farmers who have an interest in converting to organic farming by assisting them through the transition process, which can be time consuming and challenging without support. A portion of sales from each Pure Gold six-pack will go directly to farmers looking to transition to organic, allowing consumers to help drive change. “There’s an imbalance between consumer preference for organic products and the amount of organic farmland we currently have in the U.S. to support this need,” said Azania Andrews, Michelob Ultra vice president of marketing.
Corn farmers go on offense in commercial
SEE SECTION B
USMCA signing boosts farmer optimism D7
6 For 6-Pack debuts during big game
See ORGANIC, Page A2
See WEATHER, Page A4
National Farm Machinery Show preview C6
Super organic mission
AGRINEWS PHOTO/TOM C. DORAN
Huge crowds were on hand for the 26th annual Midwest Ag Expo Jan. 29-30 at Gordyville USA near Gifford, Illinois. Over 190 exhibitors representing more than 460 products were featured at the popular show.
New planter picks up speed Kinze machine to debut at farm show By Tom C. Doran
AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS
GIFFORD, Ill. — The latest high-speed planter will be unveiled at the Feb. 12-15 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Kinze Manufacturing developed the high-speed planting technology that features a new high-speed meter and seed tube to provide an accurate seed placement at speeds up to 12 mph.
The new planter technology, called True Speed, will be available for the 2021 planting season. The system was developed with support from Ag Leader Technology, which will market it as SureSpeed. The two companies will distribute the technology through their respective dealer networks. Gene Warner of Warner Farm Equipment, Rantoul, provided a preview of the new planter at his company’s Midwest Ag Expo booth Jan. 29. “The competitors go up to 10 miles per hour and Kinze has
decided they can plant at 12. The 4905 planter will have upforce and downforce in each row unit to keep it level with the ground conditions at all speeds,” Warner explained. The new 4905 also will include: n Row unit double parallel arm bushing with impregnated lubrication and double row bearing disc openers for extended wear life. n High-efficiency vacuum fans that run quieter with less hydraulic demand, utilizing 1.5 inch diameter vacuum hoses. See PLANTER, Page A4
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — During the biggest game in football, IL Corn went on offense to remind consumers around the state that Illinois runs on homegrown corn. A 30-second Super Bowl commercial, “Illinois Runs on Homegrown Corn,” showcased the Swanson family, one of the more than 100,000 farmers in Illinois who grow corn, a product that drives the state’s economy. “As farmers, we take great pride in sustainably growing a crop that can be used in so many ways,” said Krista Swanson of Oneida. “Our family enjoys sharing that pride and that story with others who might not have the same agricultural roots.” THE PLAY BY PLAY Everything that can be made from a barrel of crude oil can also be made from corn oil — like bioplastics, food packaging and clothing. Corn winds up in a wide array of products, from tennis shoes to medicines to award-winning whiskey. And it’s used to make ethanol, a renewable fuel that reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions by up to 43%. See CORN, Page A2