MIDWEST AG EXPO
January 24-25
Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
2205 County Rd. 3000 N Gifford, Illinois
Welcome to the Midwest Ag Expo
On behalf of the North American Equipment Dealers Association, representing your local agricultural, outdoor power and light industrial equipment dealers, we welcome you to the 2024 Midwest Ag Expo at Gordyville USA in Gifford, Illinois, on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 24 and 25.
hand to provide you with information to assist you in your decision-making process for the upcoming year.
Midwest Ag Expo, in its 29th year, features the latest in technology, products and services for the agricultural, outdoor power and light industrial industries.
Agricultural producers across the Midwest will attend to see the latest innovations and compare products side-by-side.
This ye ar, over 170 exhibitors representing over 440 products are on
Any questions about the Midwest Ag Expo, or wish to make a suggestion, we invite you to stop at the Midwest Ag Expo Show Office, at the south end of the exhibit hall, and visit with the show staff. We always welcome your comments and appreciate your feedback.
Thank you for your interest and attending this year’s Midwest Ag Expo. We hope you enjoy your visit to the expo and find the experience rewarding.
Hershey
BANK OF RANTOUL 504 BASF 511
BECK’S HYBRIDS 652
BIRKEY’S FARM STORE / CASE IH PARTS 515
BLAIR’S DISC SHARPENING 718
BODIN SOLAR 752
BRENNEMAN ENTERPRISES 654
BRUMLEVE INDUSTRIES 155
BRUNS’ PAINT SHOP 762
BURRUS SEED / DONMARIO 269 BUSH HOG / SHAFF IMPLEMENT 412 CARLE HEALTH 372 CASCADE AG 383
CASE IH / BIRKEY’S FARM STORE 415
CENTRAL ILLINOIS SCALE CO. 708
CENTRAL PETROLEUM COMPANY 610
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 721
CLAUSS SPECIALTIES 518
COACH HOUSE GARAGES 701
COMPASS INSURANCE PARTNERS 607
CONKLIN AGROVANTAGE 153
COUNTRY FINANCIAL 665
COWELL AG INC. 561
CRAMER SIDING & WINDOW 709
CY CONSTRUCTION INC. 758
DAY DRAINAGE COMPANY 257
DEPKE WELDING SUPPLIES INC. 101
DONMARIO SEEDS 376
DOUBLE Y SALES & SERVICE 315
DUST & SON AUTO SUPPLIES 105
EASTERN ILLINI ELECTRIC COOP 213
EDGE AG INC. 410
PARKLAND COLLEGE 617 PAYLESS INSULATION 602
PHILO EXCHANGE BANK 716
PIONEER / CORTEVA 719
PIVOT BIO 753
POWER EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTORS 616
POWERLIFT DOORS OF ILLINOIS 601
PRAIRIE HYBRIDS 657
PRAIRIE PAVEMENT PRESERVATION 104
PRAIRIE STATE BANK & TRUST 157
PRECISION AGRONOMICS 622
PRECISION PLANTING 204
PREMIER COOPERATIVE 109
PRO AG CONSULTING 400
PROHARVEST SEEDS 307
PROSPECT BANK 260
PUDIK ENTERPRISES 655
PURPLE WAVE AUCTION 278
RAGLAND BUILDING & SUPPLY 705 RENEWAL BY ANDERSON 375 ROVENSA NEXT 261 S.I. DISTRIBUTING INC. 217
SCHAEFFER OIL COMPANY 158
SCHEID DIESEL 710
SCHMID AG TECHNOLOGY 702
SEALTITE INSULATION 202
SHAFF IMPLEMENT / NEW HOLLAND 454
SOLARCAM 620
SPRAYTEC FERTILIZERS 552
STINE SEED COMPANY 401 STOLLER 550
STOR-LOC 162
STOUT’S BUILDING SERVICES 304
STRATEGIC FARM MARKETING 707
SUITS AG SERVICES 210 SUN PRAIRIE SEEDS 108
SUPERIOR COACH SALES INC. 276
SUPERIOR GRAIN EQUIPMENT 382
TERRAMAX INC. 506
TIMPTE INC. 667
TREFFLER 656
TRUSTBANK 122
UNCOMMON USA 403 UNITED RENTALS 254
UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING CO. 414
360 Yield Center — 272: 360 Bandit, the simple, safe solution for banding nitrogen with your planter. 360 Bandit puts bands of liquid nitrogen in the sweet spot for early root interception and uptake. It streams nitrogen on both sides of the seed, three inches away from the seed. And nitrogen is placed just three-quarters of an inch below the soil surface, perfect for reducing volatilization and for rapid movement down into the root zone. The simple application tool mounts to the closing system where it uses row unit and closing wheel pressure to maintain depth without interfering with gauge wheels or depth settings. A specially-designed, springloaded poly tube follows a slot created by a mini-coulter. That assures precise placement.
Aerus — 760: Electrolux vacuums, central vacuums, air purifiers and water softeners. Ag Water Management —
259: Farm drainage contractor; field tile installation.
Agricultural Soil Management LLC — 409: Soil testing, agronomic consultation and precision fertility.
AgriNews Publications / Shaw Media — 503: Agricultural newspapers.
AgVenture D&M — 501: Seed corn hybrids, soybeans and foliar in-season treatments.
Altorfer Inc. Ag Products — 118: Literature on Lexion combines, RoGator, Terra-Gator, Challenger tractors, AgLeader, Topcon, Trimble and Cat compact equipment.
American Family Insurance — 706: Farm insurance; crop insurance; home, auto, life and annuities.
Arthur’s Repair Shop — 419: Keltec Bale Slicer.
B & D Chemical — 754: EnduraPlus storage and transportation tanks; Smucker weed
wiper kits; LanD skids; agricultural herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.
B & H Buildings Inc. — 201: Britespan buildings, fabric covered steel frame buildings; Pole buildings; Borkholder buildings.
BASF — 511: Credenz soybeans; Revytek fungicide; Veltyma fungicide; Obvius Plus seed treatment.
Beck’s Hybrids — 652: Corn; soybeans; wheat; alfalfa; FARMserver.
Blair’s Disc Sharpening — 718: Disc blades and sharpening.
Bodin Solar — 752: Community solar developers looking to lease a bit of land for solar arrays.
Brenneman Enterprises — 654: L-shaped concrete blocks for retaining walls and foundations for hoop buildings. Also steel connector brackets to interlock the blocks. Various heights and lengths available.
Brumleve Industries — 155:
Tarps; tarp parts; electric tarps; aluminum boxes.
Burrus Seed / Donmario — 269: 4C16 Q 108-day hybrid; 6A38 SS 112-day hybrid.
Bush Hog / Shaff Implement — 412: Bush Hog 4115 FlexWing Rotary Cutter; RT84GR tiller; RT72GR tiller; PVs-842 Pulverizer; PVs-722 Pulverizer; 160-10 rear blade; 3D96 disc; HDRG84 Road Grader; BH217 7-foot rotary cutter; HDTH7 Finish Mower.
Central Petroleum Co. — 610: Lubrication products; roof coating and paint.
Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District — 721: Cover crops, seed selection and application. Services your local CCSWCD provide: Fish sales, tree sales and tractor and drill rental program. Benefits to in-season N application.
Clauss Specialties — 518: CM flatbeds; BOSS snowplows.
Coach House Garages — 701: New garages; remove old garages; driveways.
Compass Insurance Partners — 607: Farm insurance products.
Conklin AgroVantage — 153: World-class fertility program.
Country Financial — 665: Insurance policies, life insurance policies, agribusiness insurance policies; personal insurance policies; commercial insurance policies, umbrella policies.
Cowell Ag Inc. — 561: Carbon 375; automatic waterers; Vita-Ferm minerals; TRC grease, oil, hand cleaner.
Cy Construction Inc. — 758: Farm building construction and finishes; Smidley and Tarter livestock equipment; Fastener sales. Dust & Son Auto Supplies — 105: Val-6 infrared sun heaters; Sea Foam fuel and lubricant products; Karcher pressure washers.
Eastern Illini Electric Coop — 213: Standby generators.
Edge Ag Inc. — 410: Crop insurance tools and marketing tools.
Facet Technologies Inc. — 564: 2024 Cybersecurity Suite — managed services, cybersecurity and compliance for ag companies.
Falcon Equipment & Supply Company — 225: Bad Boy mowers; Bad Boy tractors, implements and handhelds; LandMaster UTVs; Louisiana Grills; EGO battery-powered handhelds; Dog Guard fencing; Grasshopper mowers.
FASSCO Equipment Company — 517: Fertilizer equipment; spraying equipment; liquid handling equipment.
Fast Ag Solutions — 453: Fast Nutri-Placer NH3 toolbar; Fast DuraSpread 10-ton fertilizer spreader.
FBi Buildings — 624: FBi Build-
Exhibitors | Products & Services
ings Inc. has dedicated crews that work exclusively on building repairs. Renovations can be complex jobs, especially if you’re planning to incorporate a pole barn connection or building addition. It is critical to have the plan reviewed by experienced engineers, such as FBi has on staff; it ensures structural integrity.
Foster’s Mechanics LLC — 211: Sukup grain bins; Fastir stirring machines; centrifugal fans; axial fans; heaters; dryers; grain legs; powersweeps; commercial and farm service and repairs.
Friends of Green — 103: John Deere toys and raffle tractor.
FS Construction Services — 452: Lester Eclipse roofing. Garage Force — 262: Garage Force coats concrete with multiple products and makes concrete beautiful one slab at a time. The coatings protect the concrete, make the concrete pretty and reduce slips.
Gordon Farms Seed Co. — 214: Seed.
Heads Up Plant Protectants — 759: Heads Up is the only Environmental Protection Agency-registered seed treatment for suppression of both sudden death syndrome, Fusarium virguliforme, and white mold, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, in soybeans. Gowers across the United States and Canada trust Heads Up to complete a superior seed treatment program. When combined with other seed treatments and inoculants, Heads Up helps growers achieve stacked modes of action against the toughest diseases, putting them on the right track to achieving higher yields by suppressing soilborne disease and contributing to overall plant hardiness.
Hoover’s Farm Supply — 112: Weldy livestock equipment; Mirafount waterers; seed. Free chainsaw sharpening while at the show.
Hotsy Equipment Co. — 513: New! 797 Machine; full line of detergents and cleaning accessories; infrared heaters; part washers.
I-Beam Sliding Doors — 405: Heavy-duty, lightweight sliding doors and swing doors for the building industry.
Illiana Insulation Inc. — 714: Cellulose spray-on insulation; open and closed cell foam system. We provide quality insulation for your home, agricultural and commercial buildings.
Illiana Truck Parts — 662: Truck parts.
Illini FS — 301: New to Illini FS this year is the myFS Solution Center. This new digital platform will allow customers to connect with their Illini FS adviser whenever, wherever and however they choose. Customers will be able to complete many tasks, including viewing statements and paying invoices, viewing product pur-
chase history, and accessing your FS Agri-Finance account. Stop by Booth 301 to learn more and to sign up for your myFS Solution Center account.
Illinois Grain & Seed Equipment — 615: Miniature sealed grain system; site pictures; project information.
Illinois State Treasurer’s Office — 505: Ag lending products.
Insurance Providers Group — 715: Insurance for farm, ag business and crop.
Ken’s Oil Service — 219: Fillrite fuel pumps; diesel exhaust fluid equipment; fuel contracting solutions.
Kentland Seeds — 501: AgVenture seed corn and Soybeans; Spectrum Non-GMO seed corn; seed treatments.
Kimball Sales Co. — 651: Patriot seed tenders; Soaring Eagle drive over belt conveyor; Loftness grain bagger, rock
picker, ditcher.
Landoll Corporation — 451: Landoll tillage equipment; seedbed preparation equipment; seeding equipment.
LeafFilter Gutter Protection — 666: The experts at LeafFilter Gutter Protection are ready to provide you with the best service by offering gutter replacement, cleaning and repairs in addition to installing gutter guards. From its innovative design and award-winning technology to its professional installation, LeafFilter protects the value of your home and is the perfect complement to your roof with installation available on new or existing gutters. Contact LeafFilter to schedule a free estimate. Senior and military discounts available.
LeafGuard — 271: Information and display booth only. No sales. Display of our patented water management system.
Exhibitors | Products & Services
Legacy Equipment — 418: Tile plows; tile stringer carts and trailers; trench closer.
Linco Precision LLC — 417: LeafTech Ag plant tissue analysis; Augmenta Mantis.
Load Redi Inc. — 712: Trailer parts, lights and accessories.
Loman-Ray Insurance Group LLC — 116: Insurance: farm, crop, hail, commercial, home, auto, life and health. LomanRay Farmers Association. Information about farm perpetuation.
LSI Equipment Leasing — 619: Lease terms: 3 to 7 years new equipment; 3 to 6 years used equipment; semi-annual and quarterly payments; minimum 15% down payment; flexi-
ble lease terms and residuals.
M & M Pump Co. — 208: Alkota pressure washers; hot/ cold; radiant heaters.
Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes LLC — 613: Legal services in the following areas: agriculture, estate planning, farm succession planning, real estate, family and guardianship, contracts and employment, civil litigation, probate and small estates, immigration and personal injury.
Mansea Metal — 262: Post frame building packages; metal roofing and siding; multiple profile options including premium rib, standing seam and wall batten.
Martin-Till — 385: Row clean-
ers; UMOs; closing wheels; closing systems; WTS; Concave’s Thrash Master.
MetLife Investment Management — 621: Longterm fixed or adjustable rate mortgage financing for farm and agribusiness loans.
Midwest Agri Sales — 212: Handlair grain vacuums; VacBoss grain vacuums; Seedvac planter filling.
Midwest Agriscience LLC — 554: SRE, Soybean Reproductive Enhancement, designed to increase flower retention from aborting, in addition to synergetic suppression of soybean cyst nematodes, resulting in higher soybean yields.
Midwest Application — 222: Apache Sprayers.
Midwest Grass & Forage — 115: Cover crop seed; pasture seed; CRP seed.
Morton Buildings Inc. — 382: Current Morton Buildings new construction innovations; repair and renovation services to existing Morton Buildings and non-Morton Buildings.
Nu Ag Technology — 264: Ag Leader; Soil-Max; SD Drain; Agrimatics Libra Cart; Hopper Walker electric auger mover.
Philo Exchange Bank — 716: Deposit products; loan services.
Exhibitors | Products & Services
Power Equipment Distributors — 616: Exmark commercial mowers.
PowerLift Doors of Illinois — 601: Hydraulic doors.
Prairie Pavement Preservation — 104: Asphalt parking lot and driveway maintenance.
Precision Agronomics — 622: Agronomy services; precision ag apps.
ProHarvest Seeds — 307: ProHarvest lineup of corn hybrids has been researched and developed for outstanding results. From SmartStax Pro RIB Complete to conventional hybrids, this year’s wide range
of options will produce top yields on your farm. In addition ProHarvest soybean lineup is more comprehensive and diverse than ever. Every bag is selected with you in mind.
Pudik Enterprises — 655: APSA-80 water management; Nutriplant SD, SG, SL micronutrients to be applied to seed prior to planting; Nutriplant AG foliar micronutrients to be applied at various stages.
Purple Wave Auction — 278: No-reserve online heavy equipment auctions.
S.I. Distributing Inc. — 217: Martin Planting attachments;
Keeton Seed Firmers; Precision Planting CleanSweep System; S.I. finger-till wheels; PPS parallel linkage arms flanged bushing rebuild kit; Hydra-Maxx Down Pressure System; Norseman gauge wheel arm kits; SeedRight cover crop and small grain plate solutions; Wearparts seed disc openers; Acra-Plant V-Shots; Exapta Valion seed tube guards; Exapta Uniforce; Low Mu Tech Dust; May Wes poly products; Montezuma toolboxes;
Schumacher EasyCut II cutting systems; Radura OEM replacement parts; Tailboard trash blower tube; Vision Works cameras; Schuck hitches; AccuVac update kit; Air Design planter scrapers; Lockease hitch pins.
Scheid Diesel — 710: Scheid Diesel offers services such as diesel fuel injection pump rebuilding. We are also able to test and rebuild common rail injectors, offer a wide variety of exchange turbos and make high pressure fuel lines. Now
offering DPF cleaning and Department of Transportation inspections. Don’t forget you can get more power and better economy out of your tractor or combine with our Steinbauer performance modules. Stop by Booth 710 and see us.
Schmid Ag Technology — 702: Granular Agronomy services; Ag Leader Steer Command Z2 autosteer; Ag Leader SteadySteer; Ag Leader SureDrive and SureForce advanced planter control.
Sealtite Insulation — 202: Spray foam insulation; slabjacking concrete lifting and foundation lifting; blow-in insulation.
Shaff Implement / New Holland — 454: New Holland CR8.90 combine, T6.180 tractor, PowerStar 90 tractor, Workmaster 75 tractor, PowerStar 75 tractor, Boomer 50 tractor with loader, C332 track loader, E37C mini excavator, RB460 round baler, T8.410 tractor and L328 skid steer;
Exhibitors | Products & Services
Versatile DT580 track tractor; Walker H37i mower, R21 mower and B23 mower.
SolarCAM — 620: Solar systems having a tiltable design that make more kilowatts than a fixed mount design. Built with Heliene solar panels and Enphase or APsystems microinverters. Creating the ultimate solar system you can purchase.
Stine Seed Company — 401: Enlist E3 soybeans; outstanding weed control; MX Series
corn.
Stoller — 550: CrustBuster deep banding system.
Stor-Loc — 162: Stor-Loc makes heavy duty tool cabinets, workbenches and storage units and CNC tool caddys. 100% USA made.
Stout’s Building Services — 304: Epoxy concrete coatings.
Sun Prairie Seeds — 108: Seed corn; soybeans.
Timpte Inc. — 667: Grain hopper trailers; electrical tarp
paver system.
Treffler — 656: Treffler tine harrow.
TrustBank — 122: Stop by and get to know TrustBank, the No. 1 ag lender in Illinois. Discuss our products from farm management, succession
plans and investing for your future to loans, lines of credit and leases.
Uncommon USA — 403: Flagpoles; flags; light kits; solar lights; flagpole accessories.
United Rentals — 254: Bobcat
skid steers, small excavators; John Deere skid steers, small excavators; Genie boom lifts; JLG boom lifts, telehandlers, reach forklifts, skyjack boom lifts, aerial scissor lifts; Honda generators; Wacker generators.
GROW YOUR OWN WAY
You have options. With a vast seed portfolio and a wide variety of trait packages, grow your own way with Illini FS.
CIMply CIMICO … We’re your insurance company!
CIMply CIMICO … We’re your insurance company!
To simplify your farm insurance program, contact a Central Illinois Mutual agent today!
To simplify your farm insurance program, contact a Central Illinois Mutual agent today!
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www.CIMICO.net
“Grinnell Mutual” is a registered trademark of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. © Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, 2022.
“Grinnell Mutual” is a registered trademark of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. © Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, 2022.
Crop Insurance Guide
Deadline — February 15
Issue — February 23
Planting Guide
Deadline — February 15
Issue — February 23
Farm & Home Fix-Up Deadline — February 23
Issue — March 1
New Technology Guide Deadline — March 15
Issue — March 22
Exhibitors | Products & Services
Unverferth Manufacturing Co.
— 414: Unverferth grain and seed handling, tillage and wheel systems and applicator system; Brent grain handling; Killbros grain handling; Parker grain handling; Top Air sprayers.
Unzicker Equipment — 324: Used forklifts.
Wallace Land & Auction — 306: Farmland auctions; farmland appraisals.
Walters Buildings — 268: Post frame buildings.
Warner Farm Equipment
— 413: Kinze 1121 grain cart; Kinze 3605 planter; Kinze 4705 planter.
Waters Equipment — 502: Winco generators.
Wease Equipment — 305: AaLadin pressure washers and accessories.
West Lafayette Agri-Sales
— 350: J&M; Westfield; Bush Hog; Schulte; AGI. Wingfield Manufacturing LLC
— 224: Wingfield American Harrow; Nitrogen Sealing Systems; Agritek Driveway Scraper.
Yard Stor Inc. — 450: Brandt grain belts and augers.
Yield Profit Challenge — 150: Yield Profit Challenge represents Pro Soil Ag, Atlantic Pacific Ag, Ocean Blue Ag, Kugler Fertilizer, Calcean and Sea 90 product lines. We focus on higher yield and profit through a complete systems approach that includes nutrient management, overall efficiency soil and plant health and carbon sequestration. The Yield Profit Challenge 4 Pass Full Program has shown a 30- to 68-bushel increase in corn the past five years. The starting point of the program is all about below ground management of the soil biology, stimulating the native bacteria and fungi to reproduce and release more nutrients and build more roots. University trials have shown up to 14,000 pounds more roots and up
to 47% more phosphorus released. Mid-season foliars that can take the place of fungicide are used to not only protect yield, but also add yield through gains in seed size and plant health. Power Pro Nitrogen stabilizer is used during nitrogen applications to keep nitrogen in
the root zone in an amino acid form and has been shown to add a 1.5x multiplier to any nitrogen put down with it and lab testing has shown that it can take ammonia volatilization to zero after one minute of adding to tank mix. Stop by and find out what we can do for your program.
Illinois NLRS Conference in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —
The 2024 Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Partnership Conference will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jan. 25 at the Illinois Department of Agriculture, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., Springfield.
Session topics will
include the 2023 Biennial Report, nutrient research, strategic goals for 2025, and the NLRS working group structure. The conference is being held in person as well as online for remote participants. Register at http:// tinyurl.com/h9bzxrvc.
2019 MacDon FD145 $82,900 45’ Flex Draper, John Deere Hookup, Double Drive, Hyd. Fore-n-Aft, Poly Skid Shoes, Stock #1825 2015 MacDon FD75, $67,900 30’, CIH Hookup, Hyd. FA, Poly Skid Shoes, Stock #1996 2018 John Deere 640FD $66,900 40’ Flex Draper, Hyd. Fore-n-Aft, Poly Skid Shoes Stock #1854, Stock #1854 WHEEL LOADERS, EXCAVATORS, SKID LOADERS, SEMIS
2015 Cat 926M Wheel Loader $79,900 w/ bucket, Auto Lube, 4 Spd Auto Shift Trans, Quick Tach Bucket, Radio, Heat/AC, Rear Camera, 13,227 Hrs 2007 Volvo EC160CL Excavator, $39,900 Volvo D6E EBE3 Eng, 90% Sprockets, Geith Hyd Thumb, 48” smooth bucket, Pattern Control Changer, 10,800 Hrs., Stock
Updates in nutrient, weed and soil management at Agronomy Summit
FREEPORT, Ill. — The Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Highland Community College Conference Center in Freeport.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Updates in Nutrient, Weed and Soil Health Management,” with University of Illinois and University of Wiscon-
sin-Madison specialists discussing strategies for weed, nutrient management and plans to build soil health.
Topics for the day include Practical Nitrogen Management for Corn, Understanding Biologicals for Row Crops, Navigating the Inevitability of Herbicide Resistance, and Building Soil Health in Northern
Climates.
Justin Ebert, Highland Community College agriculture instructor, will be on hand to talk about the HCC research plots and the results from this past growing season.
Cost is $25. To register or for more information, visit go.illinois.edu/jsw or call U of I Extension at 815235-4125.
Anchor
309-723-2091
Bellflower
309-722-3216
Cabery
815-426-1231 Campus
815-426-1230 Charlotte
815-426-1232
Colfax
309-723-2611
Cropsey 309-377-2141
Cullom 815-426-1233
Gibson City 217-784-4284
Herscher 815-426-2231
Melvin 217-388-2261
Roberts 217-395-2292
Saybrook 309-475-3361
Sibley 217-745-2336
1306 W. 8th St., Gibson City, IL 60936 Ph: 800-222-2451 www.alliance-grain.com
Illinois Stewardship Alliance honors four members
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —
The Illinois Stewardship Alliance recognized four members for their leadership skills at its annual meeting:
• Cliff Schuette, Soil Health Caucus Leader of the Year — Schuette, who raises beef and is a seed distributor in Breese, champions soil health solutions by being a knowledgeable and steadfast presence in the Soil Health Caucus, building relationships with policymakers at lobby days at the state capitol, and by sharing his story as an experienced farmer by writing op-eds for local media outlets.
• Robin Rank, Local Food Caucus Leader of the Year – Rank, a beginning farmer in Chrisman, honed in her advocacy skills by participating in member training work-
shops, and the alliance’s first Equity Learning Circle. Rank championed local food and soil health policies in the caucuses and took countless actions on state and federal policy to urge legislators to prioritize local food production.
• Derek Ervin, Farmer Leader of the Year 2023 — Ervin of Glacier’s End in Johnston City has been a champion for farmer-led change. Through his leadership of the Soil Health Caucus, he has inspired others to find their voice and empowers them to be a part of creating systems-wide change. By leading through example, he and his wife, Libby, hosted a southern Illinois soil health symposium and a roundtable with state Sen. Dale Fowler to discuss the importance of building local food infrastructure.
• Kevin Atchason, (L)
Eater of the Year 2023
— Atchason of Springfield, representing the nonfarmers in the community, hit the ground running as a new member of the alliance. He at-
tended all of the leadership training events, and dove into racial equity in agriculture in the first Equity Learning Circle. Atchason also served on the Harvest Celebration host committee.
Stewardship Alliance marks 50th year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. For more information, visit https://www.ilstewards.org.
Biodiesel production hike impacts soybean markets
By MARTHA BLUM mblum@shawmedia.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —
There is a boom occurring for renewable diesel with several plants under construction in the United States.
“The scale of the renewable diesel boom is really something to behold,” said Scott Irwin, professor and Laurence J. Norton Chair of Agricultural Marketing at the University of Illinois.
“Up to 2020, U.S. renewable diesel production was very small, under 1 billion gallons per year,” said Irwin during a presentation at the Farm Assets Conference, hosted by U of I Extension and the farmdoc team.
“We’re building renewable diesel plants at an impressive pace with the total number of plants at about two dozen,” he said. “It’s a huge increase going from 1 billion gallons of capacity annually to potentially, after 2025, 7.4 billion gallons.”
In 2023, Irwin said, renewable fuel production capacity was estimated to increase by 1.5 billion gallons and another 1.4 gallons of capacity is scheduled to come online in 2024.
“That includes one of the world’s largest renewable refineries in California that will have 680 million gallons of renewable diesel production capacity,” he said.
Renewable diesel is made from waste fats and vegetable oil by crude oil refineries.
“It is goes through the
same production process as petroleum diesel,” Irwin said. “It is chemically indistinguishable and a 100% substitute for petroleum diesel.”
This compares to FAME biodiesel, a mixture of different fatty acid methyl esters, that is also made from waste fats and vegetable oil.
“But the production and what comes out are entirely different,” the U of I professor said. “Chemically it is not the same as petroleum diesel or renewable diesel so it has to be blended with petroleum diesel.”
Historically, soybean oil has represented about onethird of the value of the soybeans in the crush and soybean meal about twothirds, Irwin said.
However, since renewable diesel production has been increasing, soybean oil prices have exploded.
“About half of the value of soybean is coming from the oil,” the professor said. “That’s a big impact of renewable diesel and a huge change in the pricing dynamics.”
Although not all of the increase in the price of soybeans has been due to renewable diesel, Irwin said, it has been part of the “wind behind the sails since 2021.”
“Because all of the renewable diesel plants need feedstock and one of the biggest ones is soybean oil, we’re in the process of seeing a substantial increase in soybean crushing capacity in the U.S. if all the plants get built in the next four years,” he said.
Therefore, there will also be a need for an increase in acres of soybeans produced by U.S. farmers.
“It could be as many as 18 million acres of additional soybeans to provide
that soybean oil,” the agricultural economist said.
The growth of the renewable diesel fuel market is a result of policy.
“It’s a policy market because without policy incentives, none of this sells,” Irwin said.
“The renewable fuels
standard which provides minimum mandates for biofuel use has been around for a long time,” he said. “It is still the most
important foundation of the policy stack for renewable diesel.”
See BIODIESEL, Page 19
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Winter Meeting
Jan. 23rd - 10:00am
Lunch Provided!
Seasons Gastropub
149 S. Main St. - Morton, IL
Midwest Ag Expo Jan. 24th - 25th
Stop By our booth! Gordyville, USA Gifford, IL
Irwin
The U.S. blender’s tax credit gives $1 per gallon credit for each gallon of renewable diesel and FAME diesel blended with diesel.
“We have very high import tariffs to provide duties on the biggest U.S. import competitors for FAME biodiesel,” Irwin said.
There are also state FAME biodiesel blend mandates in a variety of forms.
“State vehicles in Illinois are mandated to use biodiesel blends,” Irwin said.
“The real wild card is the low carbon fuel standard that started in California,” he said. “It offers credits for supplying low carbon fuel into a state’s fuel market.”
Oregon and Washington also have a LCFS, Irwin said.
“And there’s a significant effort to get one added in Illinois,” he said.
“Our capacity to produce biodiesel is currently far outweighing the demand ceiling established by the RFS, so something has to give,” the economist said.
“Some of these renewable diesel plants are not going to come online or they’re going to operate below capacity,” he said.
“Or, FAME biodiesel plants will be driven out of business or produce at rate below capacity and, in my opinion, in the next two years there is a major reckoning that has to happen.”
Sustainable aviation fuel is another market that may develop for biofuels.
“The current U.S. jet fuel market is 24 to 25 billion gallons, so it’s a big market potential for replacement by biofuels in the sky,” Irwin said.
