Central Iowa AgMag 08-22-2013 by Shaw Media

AG Mag Magic Pill? Central Iowa

Experts differ on how health care reform will impact farmers in Central Iowa

Drought relief: Local farmers will benefit from a record number of federal crop insurance claims Future farmers: How schools are preparing Iowaâ€™s students for agriculture careers Bumper crop: The corn crop in Iowa and elsewhere is on course to hit record levels

A Publication of Shaw Media

Summer 2013 AG Mag

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Index

AG Mag Central Iowa

Publisher Dan Goetz Advertising Director Jeff Holschuh Managing Editor Bob Eschliman Magazine Editors Larry Lough, Kathleen Schultz

Page Design Jeff Rogers Reporters & Photographers Derek Barichello, Pam Eggemeier, David Giuliani, Kayla Heimerman, Dave Hon, Mandi Lamb, Kate Malott, Philip Marruffo, Matt Mencarini, Matthew Nosco, Alex T. Paschal, Larry Peterson and Ty Rushing Published by Sauk Valley Media 3200 E. Lincolnway Sterling, IL 61081 641-792-3121 Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of the Central Iowa Ag Mag may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media 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

Health assessment A look at how the Affordable Care Act will help and hurt Iowa farmers. Crop forecast Drought has not been a problem this season, but has Central Iowa received too much rain?

Look for our next edition of

AG Mag Central Iowa

November 2013 Featuring additional coverage in Jasper, Poweshiek, Marshall, Tama, Benton, Marion and Mahaska, Iowa & Keokuk Counties. 4 Summer 2013

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Index 18

Sullivan name still sticks

Seven generations of Sullivans have worked a family farm in Mahaska and Marion counties since 1848.

Where do Central Iowa farm families take vacations? Meet four local families to find out.

A demanding profession

Crop insurance program tested

Being a veterinarian has never been an easy job. But itâ€™s become tougher in recent years.

The drought of 2012 has led to a record high in crop insurance payouts.

6 Summer 2013

Time for a vacation?

Heading back to school

Prepared for life after 4-H

When Central Iowa students return, what will they learn about agriculture?

The Arrowood siblings, Morgan and Jacob, are perfect examples of how 4-H is much more than simply a group.

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Photo illustration by Alex T. Paschal for Central Iowa Ag Mag

HEALTH

ASSESSMENT What ‘Obamacare’ will mean for Iowa farmers

BY DAVID GIULIANI For Central Iowa Ag Mag

or Chris Peterson and his wife, health care is no small expense. In the average year, they spend about $20,000 – an amount that rises every year. Peterson, who farms in Clear Lake, said the Affordable Care Act – otherwise known as Obamacare – isn’t perfect, but it’s better than today’s health system. 8 Summer 2013

More than a third of farmers get insurance on the individual market – a far greater proportion than the rest of society. People who get insurance from their employers don’t have to worry about pre-existing conditions. They’re on group plans, so every member gets the same coverage and premiums. Many farm families have off-farm employment that gets them relatively affordable insurance. Others, though, don’t have that advantage. They must go into the insurance market on their own. CONTINUED ON 10

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For the Petersons, who have preexisting conditions, that’s particularly tough. Chris has diabetes, and his wife, Kristi, has a heart murmur. Combined, they pay $16,000 a year in health insurance premiums, up from $13,000 just 3 years ago. They both have $2,500 deductibles. After their deductibles, they pay 20 percent of the cost of their major surgeries. “That’s a high percentage of our income on a yearly basis. We are tapped out,” said Chris, 58. “We really are at the whims of the marketplace.” Because of the high costs, he said, they’re not getting all the care they need. “I put off doctor visits. My wife has a bad ankle. She should have surgery,” he said. “My wife and I are living for and hoping for Medicare at 65.”

Study: Health-care costs burden farmers Starting in 2014, the Affordable Care Act will take effect. Health care exchanges will be set up for each state – either by the federal government or the states themselves. The law also involves mandates, subsidies and tax credits to increase the number of insured people. Under its provisions, insurance companies no longer will be able to charge higher rates to people with pre-existing conditions.

David Derong/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Chris Peterson, 58, farms in Clear Lake. He said he spends about $20,000 a year on health care, an expense that rises annually. “That’s a high percentage of our income on a yearly basis,” Peterson said. “We are tapped out. We really are at the whims of the marketplace.” Few studies have been done on farmers and their health care. Six years ago, though, the Boston-based Access Project examined the situation for farmers in Iowa. It found that farmers and ranchers were burdened by health care costs. More than

one in six said that health care expenses contributed to financial problems, and one in eight had outstanding medical debt – despite that 93 percent reported having health insurance. CONTINUED ON 11

Tractors are big cause of farm fatalities Farm work remains among the most dangerous occupations, and tractor accidents are a big reason for that. The University of Illinois keeps data on farm-related deaths, better than what’s available in some other states. From 1986 to 2011, the university logged 801 such deaths – 44 percent of which were tractor accidents. During the 25-year period, nearly 55 percent of the tractor accidents were overturns, claiming 193 lives. The second biggest factor involved those who fell off their tractors and were run over by them, claiming 49 lives. Overall, 12.9 percent of farm-related deaths were connected to other farm equipment, 10.6 percent were roadwayrelated, and 8.2 percent were in grain bins, according to the university’s data. In 2010, two teen workers were killed at a Mount Carroll, Ill., grain bin, when they became engulfed in corn while machinery was emptying the bin. OSHA cited the company for a number of infractions, including failing to provide body har-

10 Summer 2013

Farm-related deaths The University of Illinois keeps track of farm fatalities. Here are the numbers of fatalities and type of incidents from 1986 to 2011: Tractor .................................... 353 Farm equipment ...................... 103 Roadway-related ....................... 85 Grain bins .................................. 66 Electrocution ............................. 32 Animal ....................................... 20 Power take-off (PTO) ................. 18 Manure pit/storage ...................... 7 ATV ............................................. 6 Other ....................................... 111 TOTAL..................................... 801 Source: University of Illinois

nesses and lifelines to workers and failing to ensure all mechanical equipment was shut down before workers entered the bin. The number of farm-related deaths has stayed about the same over the years. In

the case of tractor fatalities, the number ranges from 10 to 13 a year. Chris Peterson, a farmer in Clear Lake, said the agricultural industry has far too many unnecessary accidents. “The problem is the older tractors [without rollover protection],” he said. “There are a lot of them out there. Most of the guys are smaller farmers. They don’t have the financial ability to get new ones. That’s a huge problem.” Bill Field, an agricultural professor at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., said the last tractors without rollover protection were sold in the 1980s. So the agricultural tractor fleet is gradually becoming safer, he said. “There is a big number of them still without protective structures over them,” said Field, who specializes in agricultural safety. “I’ve been doing injury prevention work for years. It’s much easier to raise money to deal with a crisis. It’s easier to get people to turn up for a training program to respond to a farm accident rather than prevent one.”

Injured farmer gets harvest help BY DAVE HON For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Darrell Goodman started farming when he was 1 year old. Of course, all he could do was collect chicken eggs. A year ago, Darrell, who has now been a farmer for 74 years, fell down his basement steps as he was tying his shoes for a day’s work on his farm near State Center. He had tied his shoes like that for 45 years. “As I was falling, I reached out for the railing, and that broke off in my hand,” he said. “I got knocked out somewhere between there and where they found me at the bottom of the steps.” Darrell had seven broken ribs and a collapsed lung. He spent eight days in the hospital and almost two months on oxygen. He knew he needed help with his harvest that season. “He just couldn’t ride on the tractor with the broken ribs,” his wife, Marge, said. Insurance covered the medical expenses, but the couple relied on volunteers from Farm Rescue, a non-profit organization that helps farmers in need, to get farm chores accomplished. Despite his injury, Darrell doesn’t see himself doing anything or taking a break from his farm. He said he thoroughly enjoys his work. “If I didn’t I’d probably give it up,” Darrell said. “I like these challenges.”

CONTINUED FROM 10

According to the project’s survey, 59 percent of respondents had household incomes between $40,000 and $100,000, with their health care costs constituting between 7 percent and 16 percent of their income. In that income range, according to the project, those who spend more than 10 percent on health care are considered underinsured. The study showed that 62 percent who bought insurance in the individual market had high-premium policies, compared to about one in five who got their insurance through off-farm employment. Thirty-seven percent of the respondents bought insurance on the individual market, compared with 8 percent of the population nationally. “For many farm and ranch operators,” the Access Project concluded, “their only real choices may be to scale back their operations, so they or a family member can obtain off-farm employment in order to obtain better

Dave Hon/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Darrell Goodman sits at home with his wife, Marjorie, and daughter, Debbie (center). About a year ago, Darrell fell while putting on work boots, and sustained injuries that put him in the hospital for eight days. He received help from Farm Rescue to assist with the remainder of the farm season.

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Darrell had seven broken ribs and a collapsed lung. He spent eight days in the hospital and almost two months on oxygen. He knew he needed help with his harvest. ...

insurance coverage or dip into savings that could be reinvested in the farm or ranch in order to pay for health care.”

‘Not what the doctor ordered’ Experts differ on whether the Affordable Care Act will help or hurt farmers. Jon Bailey, the director of research at the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Neb., said his group believes the law could benefit farmers. “When you are out purchasing insurance on your own, you buy what you can afford,” he said. “If you have preexisting conditions, you are out of luck. You either can’t get covered or it’s way more expensive.” In a group plan, by contrast, the risk is spread among all members. “Where I work, we have 30 employees,” Bailey said. “That’s not a big group, but it’s bigger than a single person. Premiums are reduced.” Farmers who go on the individual

market don’t have that advantage. “A lot of farmers who we talk to get health insurance, but they call it bankruptcy insurance: It’s there so you don’t have to sell the farm,” Bailey said. “If someone comes down with a big disease that insurance has to cover, they’re not on the hook for the entire bill.” But such insurance falls short for preventive care, including checkups. To be sure, he said, the Affordable Care Act will have its kinks. Then again, Social Security and Medicare, which started decades ago, are widely popular, Bailey said, but policymakers still are finding ways to improve them. The American Farm Bureau, the nation’s largest farmers organization, opposes the federal law, saying its taxes will hurt bureau members. A tax on health insurance policies, in particular, will affect farm families and business owners. CONTINUED ON 12 AG Mag

CONTINUED FROM 11

“The higher taxes and thousands of pages of new regulations that come with ACA are certainly not what the doctor ordered for a recovering Main Street economy,” Erin Anthony, the editor of Farm Bureau News, said in a March opinion piece. She and other Farm Bureau officials didn’t return calls for comment. Bailey, of the Center for Rural Affairs, disagreed with the Farm Bureau. “The health insurance tax only applies to policies of a certain high dollar amount,” he said. “I don’t think it’ll apply to a bigger portion of farmers than other segments of the population. Middle-class farm families have policies valued like much of the rest of society.” Besides, he said, the Farm Bureau’s view on the Affordable Care Act is more ideological than anything else. “They, like a lot of organizations, have characterized it as a government takeover of health care, but the government is not going to tell you which doctor to go to,” Bailey said. The National Farmers Union, the second largest farmers group, parts company with the Farm Bureau by supporting the Affordable Care Act. “Farmers, ranchers and rural residents face significant barriers to obtaining accessible, affordable health care,” the group said in a statement last year. “The ACA contains significant, necessary

reforms that help all Americans, including those who are self-employed and purchasing from the individual market. ...” The Farmers Union said it would work with the Obama administration to ensure the law is carried out as written. The Wisconsin affiliate of the Farmers Union also came out for the law, backing its exchanges in particular. “[Farmers] often pay way too much for terrible coverage,” Darin Von Ruden, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, said in an opinion piece last year. “Some are uninsurable because of the high-risk nature of farming. ... Exchanges will broaden risk pools for these people and bring down costs of insurance and health care dollars spent.”

‘Someone will have to pay for it’ Bill Field, an agricultural professor at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., said the Affordable Care Act’s effects will be mixed. “Because of the large number of farmers who are underinsured, [the Affordable Care Act] will provide an avenue for at least catastrophic coverage,” said Field, who has long specialized in agricultural safety and health issues. “But I don’t think there is enough money in the United States to pay for everything

they [policymakers] are expecting to pay for. Someone will have to pay for it.” In other words, he said, while underinsured farmers benefit, those on the upper end who always have enjoyed good insurance will see higher bills. The problem, Field said, is that the Affordable Care Act and health care in general puts too little emphasis on prevention. For instance, much greater attention should be paid to obesity, he said. Those on the lower end, Field said, tend to weigh more and make riskier lifestyle choices. “We may cause someone who does not have those risky behaviors to compensate others with those behaviors,” Field said. “It’s a greater form of charity. We’re not going to request people to change how they live. We’ll be in crisis management.” In farmer Chris Peterson’s view, the Affordable Care Act is a step forward. But he had hoped for more government involvement in the health-care system, acknowledging that many farmers disagree with him. “A lot of farmers are propagandized by the Farm Bureau and Republicans. They thought Obamacare was a poison pill and that we were better off without it,” Peterson said. “I was for single payer and was a major proponent of the public option to give insurance companies some heartburn, but the health exchanges will help to some degree.”

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OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK

Alex T. Paschal/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

The corn and soybeans crops on Andy Pratt’s farm in Nachusa, Ill., are “the best they’ve looked in years.” This year, he said, is much better than 2012, when the days and nights were much warmer. “[The corn] never shut down, so it just drained itself,” Pratt said.

Crops planted late, but progressing at record pace BY MATT MENCARINI For Central Iowa Ag Mag

ock Katschnig is sitting behind the wheel of his red 2001 Kenworth T800 series truck, hauling about 925 bushels of corn to an ethanol plant in Annawan, Ill. He looks as comfortable behind the wheel as he would in a recliner in his living room. Driving south on Illinois Route 78, he points out fields of corn that have been damaged by weather, and others that have just started to tassel. He seems slight-

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Right now, on the first of July, this is the best they’ve looked in years. And it’s almost scary good. Mother Nature could turn its wicked hand in a hurry. Andy Pratt, farmer in Nachusa, Ill., on his corn and soybean crops

ly skeptical of the predictions of a record corn yield this year, but says farmers in northern Illinois are far better off than those in the southern part of the state. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered, by 55 million bushels, its 2013 estimate of the corn crop nationally, to an expected 13.95

billion bushels. However, that still would beat the record set in 2009 by about 858 million bushels. About two-thirds of Katschnig’s 3,500 acres is commercial corn, and all of it will, at some point, make its way to Patriot Renewable Fuel LLC, just 10 miles from his fields west of Hooppole. He’ll make the trip about twice as many times as he did a year ago. CONTINUED ON 15 AG Mag

Wet spring, late planting causes for concern locally BY LARRY PETERSON For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Just one year removed from severe drought conditions in much of Iowa, farmers encountered a much different problem in the spring of 2013. Through June 30, Iowa received nearly as much rain (24.88 inches) as it did in all of 2012 (26.49 inches), according to the state climatology bureau. With some heavy late June rains, this year edged out 2008 as the wettest first half on record. The wet spring all but erased last year’s drought. By the end of June, less than 1 percent of the state was “abnormally dry,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A year ago, that designation applied to 77 percent of the state. By the end of last summer, all of the state was in severe drought. This year’s wet spring and cool temperatures forced many farmers to delay plantings. Stalled by muddy fields, farmers planted about three weeks behind schedule, according to state climatologist Harry Hillaker. Farmers had barely started on corn by mid-May this year, while a year ago they were almost finished by then. As July arrived, some farmers still were finishing their planting, particularly in soybean fields, or busy replanting areas drowned out by heavy rains before crops emerged. Standing water in many low-lying areas continued to be a concern regarding corn and soybeans in the early stages of their development. This late schedule in the 2013 season led to concerns that crops could be hit by warmer temperatures and drier conditions during important stages of growth that would suppress yields. Fortunately, better weather conditions in mid-May and June allowed many farmers to quickly catch up. But, was it enough? “We’d like to have kind of a cool summer and occasional rain,” said Tracy Cameron, agronomist for Gavilon Grain in Creston. “You’d be surprised how much you can make up for the bad things. Time is of the essence now.” Cameron made those comments on July 1, a stage when southwest Iowa farmers normally are watching their crops flourish, rather than barely emerging. It’s been a season of chemical and seed application interrupted by frequent 14 Summer 2013

Larry Peterson/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

The effect of standing water was evident in an emerging cornfield north of Creston in late June. Yields could be affected by late planting and excessive moisture during the planting season. showers, often followed by weather too cool for prime plant growth. “The frequency of the rain has been the biggest thing,” Cameron said. “When you’re trying to spray or plant, you can’t get much done when you get a shower of six-tenths here, or another half-inch there, with no time in between to dry out.” The USDA’s crop condition report issued July 1 stated that 99 percent of Iowa’s corn crop was in the ground, and 96 percent had emerged, which is about three weeks behind normal. Warmer weather in late June helped push more of the corn into the “good” and “excellent” rating. On the same date, 96 percent of the soybean crop had been planted, with 89 percent emerged, which is 8 percentage points behind the five-year average. Farmers continued to make progress harvesting alfalfa as July arrived, with the first cutting at 89 percent complete.

Crop switches As July neared, Cameron was urging farmers who hadn’t started a field to switch from corn to soybeans, unless chemical applications were specifically designed for corn. It was just getting too late to expect any reasonable rate of return on a corn crop.

“Most of the corn-related decisions by the end of June were based on covering spots in fields, so they weren’t bare and possibly fill in with weeds,” Cameron said. “With soybeans, they could still expect somewhat of a good yield.” Mid-June planting of soybeans would generate a yield about 82 percent of optimum, according to studies cited by Cameron. That figure fell to 60 percent in the final week of June, and to 47 percent in July. Corn yield expectations would be even lower with late planting. “On June 27, we’re talking about 45 to 50 percent yield in planted corn,” Cameron said. “You really run a danger of wet corn that wouldn’t make it to the first frost. You really have to get the right hybrid to make it work. That’s why we’re encouraging soybeans at this date.” Even in emerged fields, standing water in several low-lying areas in late June threatened crop conditions. “Corn plants need air around the roots,” Cameron said, “so that standing water is not healthy. They won’t last long in saturated soil and water. You see them yellowing up. Plus, the root system doesn’t develop, so if you quickly run into a lot of heat and dryness, they don’t have the roots established to get to the [subsoil] moisture.”

CONTINUED FROM 13

Those added trips, which take him about an hour each, are the result of much better crop conditions than a year ago. The first field Katschnig planted this year had started to tassel by July 10. “Corn has been showing rapid growth in the past week as average height increased by 16 inches, up to 48 inches,” said the July 8 Illinois Weather and Crop report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. “Ample rain,” the report said, led to significant crop development, although silking and corn height both were below the 5-year average. Just over half of the state’s corn conditions (51 percent, according to the report) were rated as good, and 17 percent were rated as excellent. For soybeans, 61 percent of the state’s conditions were rated as good, and 12 percent were rated as excellent. The report reflects what Andy Pratt has been seeing on his own land. Since, 2000, Pratt has been farming full-time, with his father, Mike, and brother, Peter. They have 3,200 acres of commercial corn, 1,200 acres of seed corn, and 1,000 acres of soybeans on land about 10 miles west of Dixon, Ill. “Right now, on the first of July, this is the best they’ve looked in years,” Pratt said from the porch of his home, look-

ing out toward his grain bins and land. “And it’s almost scary good. Mother Nature could turn its wicked hand in a hurry.” Just as she did June 24, when high winds flattened four empty grain bins in Walton, Ill., also damaging roofs, outbuildings, silos and several trees of area homes and farms, including some of Pratt’s crops. But that type of outburst from Mother Nature has been an outlier in a relatively ideal weather pattern. “Last year, the problem was we had a lot of nights that were in 75 and 80 [degree weather],” he said. “[The corn] never shut down, so it just drained itself. And then that pollen, it just won’t do anything.” The dry weather caused the corn crops to “cannibalize” themselves, Pratt said. “Right now, it looks like it should be fine, as long as we don’t get a hot spell,” he said. “That 100 degrees is what we don’t want.” There’s also optimism from Darrel Good, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois, who specializes in agricultural markets, production and forecasts. “In general, I think as we stand today, prospects are for large corn and soybean crops, recognizing that there’s a lot of the growing season left,” Good said. The further into the growing season it

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gets, he added, the more comfortable he and others can be about their predictions. “For the crop that’s growing right now, the expectation is that they will be selling it for a much lower price than last year’s stock,” Good said. “Livestock is more stable.” Simply put, more corn means a lower price, but it doesn’t necessarily have to mean less profit for farmers. Gunnar Ortgiesen is a symbol of modern-day farming. The 28-year-old Dixon resident spends much of his day at a desk, looking at three computer screens. To his left, there’s a window that looks out onto Dan Koster’s farm in Sterling, Ill. Ortgiesen is the chief financial officer and general manager of Tettens Grain LLC. “I believe there’s going to be a lot of grain to go around come fall,” he said. “Some farmers knew that a few months ago, or felt that that was going to be the case with the amount of acres that were supposed to get planted, and I believe did get planted. So some farmers had sold ahead; some have not.” So far this year, Ortgiesen said, a lot of farmers have been hesitant to forward contract, but are beginning to get more comfortable as the growing season moves through July. CONTINUED ON 16

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“July and August, that’s when the grain gets made with the weather,” he added. “Hopefully, we’ll continue the weather trend, and it sounds like we will – depending on which weather guy you talk to.” Tettens Grain has smaller storage space, about 1.6 million bushels, than larger facilities in the area, Ortgiesen said. As a result, he said, they tend to “turn” their storage over often. “We know that in the fall, if there’s a big crop, we’re going to have to be trucking corn out,” he said. “So we sold some ahead, knowing that we’re always going to be trucking it out. … Price doesn’t really matter to us, because we hedge everything off on the [Chicago] Board of Trade so we don’t have the price risk.” It’s the basis levels, Ortgiesen said, that he watches more closely and that are more closely tied to demand, which can be high even when a lot of corn is expected.

“Very fortunately, we have more markets for our corn,” Katschnig said. “We have an ethanol plant in Annawan, Illinois, we have an ethanol plant in Galva, Illinois, and we have a rail load out facility in Sterling. … Previously, it was 50 miles to the Illinois River. That’s where all our grain went, the Illinois River.” Four years ago, Patriot Renewable Fuel LLC built the facility in Annawan, thanks to the town’s proximity to Interstate 80 and state Routes 78 and 6. That plant, along with Big River Resources Galva and Rock River Lumber and Grain, in Sterling, Katschnig says, has created not only increased demand for the corn in the area, but also easier and faster delivery to those facilities. And unlike 2012, when a drought greatly reduced the corn crop and drove corn prices up, this year’s biggest concern seems to be the fact that most crops were planted late. CONTINUED ON 17

Michael Krabbenhoeft/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Gunnar Ortgiesen is the chief financial officer and general manager of Tettens Grain near Sterling, Ill. He said that many farmers have been hesitant to forward contract their grain, but are beginning to get more comfortable as the growing season advances.

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Wet weather leads to Iowa farmers planting more soybeans Iowa farmers planted more soybeans and less corn than intended due to a record wet spring, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Acreage Report released in late June. The report estimates the stateâ€™s farmers planted 9.5 million acres of soybeans, up 100,000 acres from March intentions. Iowa farmers planted 9.35 million acres of soybeans in 2012. An estimated 14 million acres of corn were planted, down 200,000 acres from March intentions, according to the report. It has been a challenging

CONTINUED FROM 16

â€œOnly some of the earlier planted crops have begun to silk,â€? Mark Schleusener, census manager with the U.S. Department of Agricultureâ€™s National Agricultural Statistics Service, said in early July. â€œItâ€™s going to be behind. It doesnâ€™t mean a horrible terrible year;; it just means behind.â€? Schleusener describes NASS as the bean counters for crops and livestock, measuring and recording purchase and sale prices, crop growth, and other factors monitored by both farmers and traders. Theyâ€™re the agriculture version of baseball umpires, he said: They donâ€™t tell you where to align your fielders or when to pinch-hit, but they call balls and strikes and close plays at home plate. Because of the late planting, and some underperforming crops, Schleusener said, the yield report released in August will be highly scrutinized by the market and will have a bigger impact on this yearâ€™s corn prices than the previous weekly crop reports his office released. As Katschnig pulls up to the weigh station at Annawan to deliver a load of corn he sold about three months ago, his cellphone rings from his belt

year, to say the least. ISA board member Wayne Fredericks of rural Osage had only 60 acres of soybeans to plant out of nearly 1,000 split between soybeans and corn. He says this is the most difficult, gut-wrenching planting season since he started farming in 1973. â€œYou can see the [frustration] on peopleâ€™s faces,â€? Fredericks says. â€œYou can drive for three miles and have fields on each side not planted. Maybe the market will realize [it]. â€Śâ€? Mark Jackson, ISA president and farmer from Rose Hill, encourages farmers to remain focused on their marketing efforts.

clip. The call was from grain merchandiser for Consolidated Grain and Barge Enterprises Inc. Corn had gone up $0.18, and the basis had improved. â€œA lot or farmersâ€™ bins are empty this time of year,â€? Katschnig said after making a counteroffer â€“ which later was accepted, he said â€“ and hanging up. â€œA week, two weeks ago, corn was down to $6.60; now itâ€™s up to $7.10 [cash]. Thatâ€™s a huge swing. Thatâ€™s 50 cents per bushel. Thatâ€™s $500 per load. So itâ€™s just like rolling the dice. Itâ€™s just like rolling the dice in Las Vegas.â€? Katschnig unloaded his corn, made his way back through the exit weight station, and started the 10-mile drive back to his crops. About halfway to his land, it started to rain. â€œWeâ€™re over the hump,â€? he said. â€œWe certainly need rain [in] August, during ear-fill. But at least, at this point in time now, when we have a crop that looks like it does right now, and we have the amount of rain weâ€™ve gotten, â€Ś weâ€™re at least going to have something. â€œLast year we had a lot of fields that were nothing. â€Ś Now, we know weâ€™re going to have something.â€?

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Oldest working farm in region stays in Sullivan name BY TY RUSHING For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Ty Rushing/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

A sign outside the Sullivan Family Farm identifies each of the generations of Sullivan owners, as well as the farm’s Century Farm and Heritage Farm awards, presented by Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship. The farm has been in the Sullivans’ possession since 1848, and additional land was granted to the family by President Millard Fillmore.

Last summer, Dale Sullivan watched his grandson work on the family farm in Mahaska and Marion counties and realized he was the seventh generation of the Sullivan family to work the land. The farm has been around since 1848. “I’m very proud to say that this land has never been in anything but a Sullivan name,” he said. The D. Sullivan Family Farm Revocable Trust received the Iowa Heritage Farm Designation in 2006. Sullivan proudly has that designation.

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There also is the Century Farm Designation and the names of all of the previous Sullivan Farm owners on a sign leading up to the 150-acre plot. “I was born on this farm and farmed after high school a few years,” Sullivan said. “I was gone for a while, and then I came back.” Sullivan said he has enjoyed his return to the farm life, which occurred after his parents passed away. “Most people in their 70s go from country to town, but I moved from town to country,” Sullivan said. Sullivan said before he moved back to the farm, he managed it for his father, who was in a nursing home. When his father did pass, he bought out his sisters’ shares to ensure the farm would stay in a Sullivan name and wouldn’t be sold. The farm itself was started by Sullivan’s great-great-grandfather, Daniel, when he was granted 40 acres from the federal government. In his bedroom, Sullivan has an original grant form

‘‘

framed, complete with the signature of President Millard Fillmore. The walls also house the portraits of the previous Sullivan generations who owned the farm. Daniel, the farm founder, was said to have had 1,000 acres at one time. When he died, he divided the acres among his 10 children. Sullivan’s is the only farm left in the family, and he credits that to his greatgrandmother Alice. “When my great-grandfather, Levi Sullivan [Daniel’s son], passed away, my grandfather, John Sullivan, was only 11 years old,” Sullivan said. “Mary Alice never remarried, but kept the farm going while raising her son. That would have had to be very hard back then. She must have worked like a man.” Sullivan also has taken similar steps to ensure the farm stays in his family’s name. “The farm is in a trust and will automatically pass on to them [his children],” Sullivan said. “It only takes one person to take over.”

’’

Mary Alice never remarried, but kept the farm going while raising her son. That would have had to be very hard back then. She must have worked like a man. Dale Sullivan

By the numbers: Century & Heritage Farms in the region CENTURY FARMS (100 or more years of continuous ownership by a single family): Marshall County: 263 Jasper County: 255 Marion County: 136 Tama County: 304 Poweshiek County: 199 Mahaska County: 172 Benton County: 295 Iowa County: 202 Keokuk County: 184 HERITAGE FARMS (150 or more years of continuous ownership by one family): Marshall County: 4 Jasper County: 7 Marion County: 9 Tama County: 12 Poweshiek County: 9 Mahaska County: 8 Benton County: 10 Iowa County: 5 Keokuk County: 15 Compiled by Ty Rushing For Central Iowa Ag Mag

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MATTER OF ECONOMICS Trends show not enough food animal veterinarians BY DEREK BARICHELLO For Central Iowa Ag Mag

hey brave bad weather, drive far distances on rural roads, and risk the chance of being kicked by animals that grossly outweigh them. There is no denying that large animal – or food animal – veterinarians face a challenging job. Add low profit margins and repaying $100,000 of debt in students loans, and it can become too much, says Pat Gorden, dairy practitioner and admissions committee chairman at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. CONTINUED ON 21

Alex T. Paschal/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

FFA members help Dr. Lynda Gould round up sheep for inspection at a farm in Franklin Grove, Ill. Gould graduated from the University of Illinois in 2009 and has her own practice in Ashton, Ill.

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The American Veterinary Medical Association released market research statistics in 2010 that suggested a shortage of food animal veterinarians. The research indicated that about 15 percent of veterinarians practiced on food animals, compared to about 67 percent of veterinarians who practice exclusively with pets. The numbers have not changed much, as just short of 15 percent of veterinarians practice on food animals, according to the latest research. Government agencies are concerned with the shortage of veterinarians in comparison with the number of livestock. For example, some counties, mostly in the Midwest, have more than 25,000 food animals and no food animal veterinarians, according to the research. College officials, on the other hand, worry about the government overreacting to the trend. Gorden said the trend does not surface at Iowa State University, one of the nation’s leading veterinary colleges, until after students graduate, when economics becomes the driving force. At Iowa State, which has a heavy focus on food animal study, about 40 percent study in the food animal program, compared to just more than half of students who want to practice on pets.

Alex T. Paschal/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Dr. Lynda Gould of the Ashton Animal Clinic fills out paperwork before inspecting sheep at a farm in Franklin Grove, Ill. Students there study the same core program the first three years and choose a focused area of study in the fourth year. “Prior to graduation, most of them are interested in food animals,” Gorden said.

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‘Kind of married’ to the job ‘Doc’ Hormann still devotes many hours to career, 42 years later BY KATE MALOTT For Central Iowa Ag Mag

It’s been more than 42 years since Dr. Daryl Hormann starting practicing veterinary medicine in Monroe. “Doc” works out of Monroe Animal Clinic, located on the west side of the town square. His service area features a number of cow-calf operations, but he also works with swine, equine, dogs, cats and many other farm animals. Hormann grew up on a farm outside of Gilman and graduated from Gilman High School. He then attended Iowa State University and received a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1964. A friend encouraged him to advance to veterinary school, so he did, becoming a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1967. After college, he served in the Army Veterinary Corps before moving back to Iowa. Hormann said his practice has changed quite a bit in the past 42 years. “There’s a lot less farming,” he said. “It used to be when I came here everyone had cows, milk cows and chickens, but a lot of farms have disappeared or are a lot bigger.” He said farms are getting less cowcalves because of high grain prices, and farmers use pasture for crops instead of grazing because it’s more lucrative. “You’re kind of married to it,” Hormann said about the amount of time and commitment it takes to raise livestock. Depending on the season and the weather, there can be various challenges animals face. For example, because of the wet spring and dehydration, Hor-

CONTINUED FROM 21

That’s before they graduate. Gorden said that once graduates leave with about $100,000 of debt in school loans and have to take on a career that allows them to achieve a certain quality of life, their decision becomes more difficult. “They have a mortgage the day they graduate,” Gorden said. “It takes a substantial, competitive salary package in order to have the ability to raise a family and pay their debt. There are some areas of the country where working on 24 Summer 2013

Kate Malott/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Dr. Daryl “Doc” Hormann’s Monroe Animal Clinic features a number of supplies for small pets, as well as livestock, including veterinary pharmaceuticals. Hormann has been in practice for 42 years, and said it has changed a lot over that time. He said high grain prices are leading to fewer cow-calf operations, which made up much of his early practice. mann said, he saw much more diarrhea in baby calves this spring than in the past. “We put quite a few calves on IV back in the large animal runs, back in the garage,” he said. “I IV-ed more calves than I ever have.” Hormann works in the clinic, makes scheduled trips to farms, and provides emergency services to his clients. Recently, he went to a farm after a man called because his daughter had a preg-

nant cow that had been unable to give birth for two days. Although they tried to remove the baby, they were afraid it was going to die. “I spent about four hours on Saturday with her, but I got it out. The cow got up and walked off,” he said. “I pulled out a live calf for her. ... She’s going to show it at the fair next week. “That makes it pretty great. When I got there, she was pretty dang sad, but she had a big smile on her face when I left.”

livestock pays solid enough to provide that standard of living to allow them to pay off student loans, but not many.” As a result, many graduates of Iowa State’s farm animal program cannot find a suitable job out of college and compromise their practice. In general, Gorden said, there is a surplus of veterinary students graduating and not finding jobs out of school. “Some work in a mixed practice,” Gorden said. “Others go into clinics in cities working on smaller animals. It’s a matter of going where there are good jobs.”

At the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, another leading veterinary college, students enrolled in programs there mirror the national trend. About 15 percent of students focus strictly on food animals, compared to about 60 percent of students who focus on pets, said Jonathon Foreman, equine doctor and associate dean for academic and student affairs in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois. CONTINUED ON 25

CONTINUED FROM 24

Numbers of veterinarians by practice

At Illinois, students are given eight weeks of clinical rotations each of their four years, meaning they gain plenty of experience working on both large and small animals. Foreman is not overly concerned with the national trend. He said most farms that produce food animals are within a larger production unit, and many of them have their own veterinarians on staff. Foreman said the economy is another major factor in the national trend. “Gas is $4 a gallon, and diesel is higher than that,” Foreman said. “Transporting large animals or getting to a farm cuts into profit margins.” To offset those costs, federal and state governments have created programs to recruit veterinary students to underserved areas. Illinois is one such state. It enacted a law to create the Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program. Each student who enters

In 2012, the numbers of veterinarians by practice, according to market research and published by the American Veterinary Medical Association Private Clinical: *Food animal exclusive .................. 1,164 ,,,,,,,,,,, 1.8% **Food animal predominant ........... 3,697 ,,,,,,,,,,, 5.7% Mixed animal ................................. 4,284 ,,,,,,,,,,, 6.6% Companion animal predominant .... 6,108 ,,,,,,,,,,, 9.5% Companion animal exclusive ....... 42,695 ,,,,,,,,, 66.2% Equine ........................................... 3,821 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 6% Other ................................................ 717 ,,,,,,,,,,, 1.1% Species unspecified ...................... 2,003 ,,,,,,,,,,, 3.1% * — Food animal exclusive 1,109 1.8% in 2010 ** — Food animal predominant 3,890 6.3% in 2010

the program agreement will receive $20,000 a year to cover tuition, books, supplies and other expenses incurred in pursuing a veterinary medicine degree, as long as the program requirements are satisfied, Foreman said. The program accepts 16 students. To qualify, students must enroll in a veterinary practice that is at least 51 percent devoted to large animal medicine that enhances agricultural animal health and

AS LOW AS

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productivity, or regulatory veterinary medicine that supports public health and safety, livestock biosecurity or food animal disease diagnosis. Gorden worries that too much focus will be given to recruiting students to food animal programs, creating too much of a surplus. Veterinarian Lynda Gould, who graduated from the University of Illinois in 2009 and has her own practice in Ashton, Ill., said her colleagues talk about the issue all the time.

“There has been a big push to get large animal vets enrolled, but I almost feel like that was a false push,” Gould said. “Now we have a bunch of students in large animals, and there are not necessarily that many jobs. “There may be a need in certain counties, or certain areas, but that likely involves taking a new grad and putting them out in the middle of nowhere, and that’s not necessarily the best idea, either.” Foreman hopes that Illinois adapts its program to give a broader knowledge of all practices to hit more at the issue. “The more knowledge students have, the more flexible they are in their practice,” Foreman said. “That’s one thing we can do.” As trends go, Gorden said, a number of veterinarians always will be drawn to the world of agriculture and treating livestock. “It’s all a choice of lifestyle,” Gorden said. “Many students want that and choose it, because that’s what’s familiar to them, or what they enjoy.”

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Kevin Kurz, a junior at Ashton-Franklin Center High School in Illinois, fills the food bins for sheep at the farm of Rick Petitt, who te Agriculture eduction, Petitt said, used to be more career oriented. â€œNowadays, itâ€™s more education focused,â€? he said. â€œKids are ge

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CORN, BEANS, PIGS AND COWS Ag education programs focus on exposure, rather than job training BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Philip Marruffo/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

eaches agriculture at the school. enerations away from the farm.”

arl Erbsen hardly recognizes his students these days. “When I started teaching, half my kids came from the farm,” he said. “Now, I’m lucky if two of my students live on a farm.” The overwhelming majority of students, even in the most rural school districts, are generations removed from the family farm. School calendars once revolved around the planting, cultivating and harvesting schedule, and textbooks used to include plenty of agricultural references and examples. Indeed, farming, farm animals, and crops were a familiar part of life, even for the youngest of children. Not anymore. The agriculture education programs in schools – at least those still in existence –

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focus more on exposure, rather than vocational training. Curriculum at the elementary and middle school levels now is centered on fostering an appreciation for agriculture, while curriculum in the high schools is concentrated on building an interest in agriculture careers and preparing students for college. It is the highly technical, highly specialized programs offered by community colleges that really educate and train people to work in agriculture. Erbsen, 43, who teaches second grade at Eastland Elementary School in Shannon, Ill., is the current Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. He believes young people should have an appreciation for agriculture. “It’s important our kids know what agriculture is about,” he said. “They really need to know where things come from and the process by which those things get here.”

K-12 education Agriculture education starts in elementary and middle schools. CONTINUED ON 29

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Marshalltown Community College Entrepreneurial and Diversified Agriculture Program Director Sally Wilson (right) and Mary O’Dell, a former student who now serves as manager of MCC’s student farm, inspect rows of corn at the college’s 120-acre farm. O’Dell received from MCC an associate degree, which has allowed her to work in a number of agriculture-related jobs.

The industry has changed; so, too, have careers in agriculture BY TY RUSHING For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Times change, and along with the times, so do jobs in various industries – including agriculture. Recognizing that, Marshalltown Community College offers two associate degrees and one certification under the umbrella of its Entrepreneurial and Diversified Agriculture program. MCC Program Director Sally Wilson talked about the success of one former student of the program, Mary O’Dell. “Since graduating, she has had several different jobs,” Wilson said. “She has worked for greenhouses doing horticulture production, and she’s worked at a dairy farm, milking.” O’Dell said her experience was varied. “I’ve worked at a company that markets niche pork products to white table cloth restaurants across the United States,” she said, and she now is farm manager for MCC’s 120-acre student farm. She got her associate degree from MCC just a few years ago. “You can earn an applied science degree, which would be an AAS degree,” 28 Summer 2013

Wilson explained. “It’s kind of more like what you would consider a vocational degree. Kind of like construction technology and specific areas like that, people who probably aren’t planning on going on to a four-year [degree program]. “You can also get an associate of arts degree, which is an AA, which would allow you to continue on and finish a bachelor’s degree,” she said. “Or you can complete a certificate, which would be 16 credits.” Wilson said MCC officials like to think of the program as sustainable agriculture, which she said is profitable, ecologically sound, and community based. “All of the programs involve learning some business skills, so that you would be able to operate your own farm,” Wilson said. “We’d like that every student who graduates has a farm plan for their farm business. It doesn’t have to be a farm. It could be somebody that is going to market farm products. “It could be somebody that is going to develop a farm product into a value added product,” Wilson continued. “In other words they can buy tomatoes from

a farmer to produce salsa. Or, they are going to buy livestock production from a farmer and turn it into a restaurant product, liked corned beef or bacon. There are many, many different ways they can use their degree or certificate.” Wilson said the program at MCC can lead to self-employment or employment with other agriculture-based production facilities, as was the case with O’Dell. “We like our students to actually work on farms as a part of their education,” Wilson said. “We are interested in letting students do research here on our farm. It’s all organic practices.” Most of that 120 acres is certified organic, O’Dell added. “We encourage students to do test plots of things that they may be interested in,” she said. “Whether it be vegetables, or they would like to get into some small-scale livestock production with chicken or rabbits or beekeeping, we are always looking for students to come in and do things like that.” Class topics range from perennial crops to issues in sustainable agriculture.

CONTINUED FROM 27

The Agriculture in the Classroom program was created in 1981 to integrate agriculture with reading, writing and arithmetic and reinforce the significant role agriculture plays in everyday life. The program is known today as an easy and flexible way to supplement and enhance existing curriculum. The program still aims to expose youths to agriculture, but agriculture has come to include more than just farming, said Katie Pratt, the ag literacy coordinator in Lee County in Illinois. “We used to say it was about corn, beans, pigs and cows,” she said. “But now, we talk about food, gardens, alternative energy, and conservation [of resources], too.” The Agriculture in the Classroom program is most popular among elementary and middle school teachers. Agriculture education looks a bit different at the high school level. Most schools, at least the more rural ones, still have bona fide agriculture education programs and supplemental ag-related activities, such as FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) clubs. Although some of the largest schools in relatively rural areas in the past decade have eliminated agriculture programs. CONTINUED ON 30

Philip Marruffo/For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Members of Rick Petitt’s FFA class at Ashton-Franklin Center High School in Lee County, Illinois, work through the summer learning how to properly care for farm animals. While some of the largest schools in relatively rural areas have eliminated agriculture programs, most schools still have them.

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CONTINUED FROM 29

Schools with dedicated programs and teachers no longer offer ag classes as vocational training. They instead offer classes to engage students in a smattering of ag-related fields and prepare them for the next level, said two agriculture teachers in Illinois: Rick Petitt at Ashton-Franklin Center High School in Lee County and Sara Conner at Prophetstown High School in Whiteside County. Teachers introduce students to the stand-bys, such as plant and animal science, but also more modern applications, such as mechanics, communications and business. “The difference is, years ago, it probably was more career oriented, where nowadays, it’s more education focused,” Petitt said. “Kids are generations away from the farm. Their knowledge of agriculture is more limited. It becomes more an education about agriculture than a preparation for a career. … That’s what we have to do: try to reconnect the kids.” Conner added that the “face of agriculture” had changed. “And our programs have started to reflect that,” she said. “We’re developing their interest in potential careers. ... We’re getting them classes where they can see another side. ... It’s more 21st century agriculture, showing them

what they really have an opportunity to do.” Teachers also are preparing students for college, as many jobs in the agriculture industry require bachelor’s degrees, if not more education after high school, and as more career and technical education classes must meet college and career readiness standards. “It’s not just vocational anymore,” Conner said. Students, it seems, now demand more ag programming in their schools, possibly because they are aware of the sheer number of available, in-demand and high-paying ag-related jobs, said Pam Clodfelter, the ag literacy coordinator in Whiteside County, Ill. “We need to keep sparking that interest … and making them aware of their planet and where their food and their products come from,” she said. “And how they can be involved in that.”

Post-secondary schools Agriculture education is perhaps at its best at the community college level. Two-year colleges are equipped to train people for careers, whether in agriculture or another industry, said Andrew Larson, an agronomy professor and agriculture department co-chair at Blackhawk College in Galva, Ill., south-

east of the Quad Cities. “We really promote – in all of our career programs – applied education,” he said. “We focus on things students will need to go out into the industry and work.” Blackhawk has a robust ag program that dates back about 50 years. The college offers two tracks: one for students who intend to transfer to a major university, such as the University of Illinois or Iowa State University, to study agriculture, and one for students who want to quickly move into work in the agriculture industry. The school’s transfer degree options include agriculture, horticulture and animal science, while its terminal, career programs include management, production and mechanics. Community colleges constantly are adapting and changing their programs to reflect the needs and wants of the industry. They are able to adjust to developments in the industry because their faculty members often are engaged in their fields outside of their lecture halls and in regular contact with regional employers, Larson said. “We [community colleges] can react to industry faster than the universities can,” he said. “If Growmark says, ‘We need more people who can do this,’ then, bam, we add it to a class. “We have to. It’s our lifeline.”

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DOWN TIME: What farmers do when it’s time to get away "9 -!44(%7 ./3#/ s For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Guy Family, Jasper County Where are you from? The Guy Family Farm is located just over a mile northwest of Newton. Where did you go for vacation? Growing up, our boys learned that family vacation was the county fair and state fair since we were dairy farmers. Since the cows are gone and the boys are grown, we try to take a winter vacation and go south to find warmer weather. Last winter, we went to the inner Gulf coast of Mexico. We spent a few days on the Florida side and then the rest in New Orleans. When did you go? February 2013 Who went? Michael and Rhonda Guy, as well as family friends Curtis and Diane Claeys from Delmar. What was your favorite part of the trip? The most fun of the trip was the adventure of trying to find all the state signs as we entered on the highways and byways, and taking pictures of them from the car if possible. We traveled 3,300 miles through 12 states in 10 days.

Photos submitted

Michael and Rhonda Guy and their friends, Curtis and Diane Claeys, spent much of their vacation last winter in New Orleans. They traveled 3,300 miles through 12 states in 10 days.

McLaughlin Family, Jasper County Where are you from? Northwest of Colfax Where did you go for vacation? We visit Florida every winter around January, February. CONTINUED ON 32

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The McLaughlins from Jasper County make a trip to Florida every winter. CONTINUED FROM 31

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32 Summer 2013

When did you go? We last went in January or February of 2013 Who went? John, Regina, Sydney, and Connor McLaughlin What was your favorite part of the trip? It’s nice to get away from the Iowa cold, to enjoy the warm weather and the beach. It’s good to get a break from school and work and everything. We spend around a week down there, and we’ll usually spend a lot of time swimming, and then go shopping a little, too.

Mosher Family with Mosher Angus Farms, Marshall County Where are you from? We’re from Liscomb, Iowa. Where did you go for vacation? We don’t get to go on many vacations, so going to the county and Iowa State Fair is our “vacation.” When did you go? The last State Fair was in August 2012, but we’re looking forward to going this year. Who went? Jim, Brenda, Lauren and Lea Mosher What was your favorite part of the trip? The girls love to show their livestock along with

their fellow 4-H’ers. They compete in several events, including the Beef of Merit, which is when they show the animal and then the

Who are you? Jamie Busch-Upah Where are you from? I work with the rest of the Kopsa family at the John Ernest Vineyard and Winery outside of Tama. Where did you go for vacation? We visited Charleston, S.C. When did you go? We’ve been twice. The last visit was August 2012. Who went? My husband Lonnie Upah and myself What was your favorite part of the trip? We loved the wonderful food and the southern hospitality. It was a chance to visit an old friend who I used to work with.

Jamie Busch-Upah and her husband, Lonnie Upah, visited Charleston, S.C., last August.

The Mosher family from Liscomb doesn’t take vacations. Instead, the family goes to the county fair and Iowa State Fair.

Iowa adds factory farm inspectors BY MATTHEW NOSCO For Central Iowa Ag Mag

The 2013 legislative session in Iowa brought about some positive changes in the tax and regulatory codes for farmers. House File 512, which passed late in the session, is intended to make it easier for farmers to temporarily downsize their operations – for instance, when farmers have children who partner in the operation and go to college. The bill allows farmers to “mothball” some facilities by notifying the Iowa Department of Natural Resources they would no longer operate a unit of more than the 500 animals, which requires a manure management plan. Rep. Lee Hein, R-Monticello, said HF 512 “simplifies it and allows those buildings to remain intact in case, say, for instance the next generation comes along in a few years and wants to enter back into the hog operation.” But some groups, such as Iowa Citizens

‘‘

At the Statehouse

’’

[HF 512] simplifies it and allows those buildings to remain intact in case, say, for instance the next generation comes along in a few years and wants to enter back into the hog operation. State Rep. Lee Hein, R-Monticello, on the bill’s intention to make it easier for farmers to temporarily downsize their operations

for Community Improvement, argue the legislation allows factory farms to use buildings for long-term manure storage without being required to meet state code. The agriculture and natural resources budget bill, Senate File 545, included funding for seven additional factory farm inspectors. While a push failed to get 13 new inspectors, which would bring the service back up to the 24 inspectors of 2007, the additional positions will allow for further inspection and code checks throughout the state. Also at the end of the session, a deal

was negotiated to reduce property taxes on agricultural land. The new code will enable farmers to assess their property values more in line with residential property, enabling similar taxes paid on an acre of produce versus an acre of livestock despite the higher property value of a livestock enclosure. Looking forward to next session, there will likely be efforts to seek stronger permitting standards for factory farms. Industry groups are working on several pieces of legislation to relax farm regulations.

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Crop insurance program deals with record payouts BY PAM EGGEMEIER For Central Iowa Ag Mag

idwest farmers last year experienced the most severe drought since 1988. Most farmers didnâ€™t have crop insurance in 1988 and were forced to rely on government disaster aid payments. Since then, the agricultural safety net has gradually transitioned from reliance on direct payments to crop insurance. With whatâ€™s left of direct subsidies likely to be phased out in the next Farm Bill, the drought of 2012 may have been the first real test of a crop insurance-based disaster system.

Crop insurance payouts Iowa County Union Jasper

2012 Indemnities/ Policies $13,580,273 / 1,135 $6,726,954 / 1,964

2011 Indemnities/ Policies $3,399,826 / 1,104 $1,408,858 / 1,936

Source: U.S. Environmental Working Group

Northern Illinois farmers, for the most part, found themselves thinking it sure could have been worse in 2012. While the region was not hit nearly as hard as central and downstate Illinois, production and revenues took enough of a hit that record crop insurance payouts were made throughout the area. In Lee County, $10,425,842 in payouts were made through 1,744 policies in 2012. The droughtâ€™s effect can be gauged by comparing those numbers to only $723,689 in payouts through 1,802

policies in 2011. Whiteside Countyâ€™s numbers told a similar story. Payouts were up from $1,105,133 in 2011 to $11,656,875 in 2012. The number of policies was about the same in those years â€“ up from 1,550 in 2011 to 1,578 last year. Bureau County farmers saw crop insurance indemnities jump from about $3.5 million to more than $31 million in those years â€“ the biggest payout in the region. CONTINUED ON 36

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Bureau has much more acreage in production than Lee or Whiteside, and the drought conditions also were worse in parts of that county. Emily Pratt is a 1st Farm Credit Services crop insurance agent serving Lee, Whiteside and Carroll counties. While she said that Lee and Whiteside didnâ€™t have as many claims as surrounding counties, about 75 percent of the farmers in those counties had crop insurance. â€œWe really were lucky,â€? Pratt said. â€œThe drought was not as severe here, and we had some good crops in this area.â€? Lee County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Jerry Quinton agreed that northern Illinois held up fairly well in the drought season. â€œWe had more claims west of [state Route] 26 and south of [U.S. Route] 30,â€? Quinton said. â€œWe had timely rainfall in many areas. The lighter, sandier soils by Nelson took a hit, but the crops are looking pretty good so far, but history tells us that things can change overnight.â€? Whether or not farmers collected on premiums, Pratt said the drought has increased interest in purchasing or increasing coverage. While crops held up relatively well in last yearâ€™s severe weather, area farmers realize that the impact of a serious drought lasts for more than one year. So far, so good this planting season, but producers know that the situation can always change in a heartbeat. â€œIt was so wet this spring, it was hard to find a planting window,â€? Pratt said. â€œThings look good at first glance, but we wonâ€™t know much about yields until pollination is over in the next few weeks.â€? The drought story in Iowa seems to be similar to that in Illinois. Farmers prepared for the worst, but most were pleasantly surprised by how well crops held up. Union County farmers received a little more than 36 Summer 2013

â€˜â€˜

I would attribute it to the timely rains we received and better crop genetics. I didnâ€™t see any claims on yield, just revenues. Gary Yoder, Iowa crop insurance specialist, on not seeing as many crop insurance claims as he expected

$13.5 million in crop insurance through 1,135 policies from the 2012 drought season. That was up from $3,399.826 paid out through 1,104 policies the previous year. Jasper County producers received about $6.7 million through 1,964 policies from the 2012 growing season. That was up from just under $1.5 million through 1,936 policies the year before. In Jasper County, Iowa crop insurance specialist Gary Yoder said he thought he would see more claims, but the Newton area fared much better than the northwest part of the state. â€œI would attribute it to the timely rains we received and better crop genetics,â€? Yoder said. â€œI didnâ€™t see any [insurance] claims on yield, just revenues.â€? Farmers have 45 days after the end of a crop period to file revenue-based insurance claims. Yoder said there has been enough rain so far this growing season to cause a few problems on the opposite end of the weather spectrum. â€œWeâ€™ve gotten an abundance of rain this year, and weâ€™ve had some moisture claims, especially in the Skunk River area.â€? Congress no longer authorizes the ad hoc disaster programs that used to send billions in one-time cash payments to the nationâ€™s farmers. These days, lawmakers must find cuts elsewhere in the federal budget to pay for such programs. There still is no bipartisan Farm Bill signed into law, but the current Senate and House versions are cause for optimism about the future of federal crop insurance. Both bills have provisions streamlining conservation programs, expanding the

crop insurance program, and slashing subsidy payments â€“ including the elimination of the $5 billion a year in direct payments given to farmers regardless of whether they grow crops. Legislators on both sides of the aisle seem to have accepted the transformation from direct payments to an insurance-based system. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, a 17th District Democrat from Illinois and a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, says a strong crop insurance program must be a cornerstone of the final version of the Farm Bill. â€œWe need to keep a strong and stable crop insurance program in place so that our farmers who are at the mercy of Mother Nature can continue to provide the food our nation depends on,â€? Bustos said. â€œWith the likely elimination of direct payments, a robust insurance program is vital to the strength of our farmers, our economy and our nation.â€? While crop insurance seems to have passed the 2012 drought test with flying colors, it has come at a steep price to American taxpayers. Taxpayers cover about two-thirds of the premiums for crop insurance policies. The cost to taxpayers has grown from $1.5 billion a

â€™â€™

year in 2002 to $7.4 billion in 2011, and what is estimated to be a record $16 billion from the drought of 2012, according to USDA figures. Government estimates put the cost of crop insurance at $90 billion over the next 10 years. Plus, taxpayers foot another $1.3 billion a year for overhead costs for the insurance companies, such as administering and adjusting the policies, and examining the crop losses. Allen Buhrow farms with his father in the Ashton, Ill., area. He understands that itâ€™s a tough time to ask for federal farm programs, in light of the high cost of the drought season and the need to cut costs in Washington. But he believes that crop insurance is a good deal for producers and the nation as a whole. The Buhrows buy 80 or 85 percent group coverage every year for all of the farms they operate, which saves them money. Although they had a few underperforming fields from the drought, they decided not to file claims. But knowing that the safety net was there gave him the ability to make the right business decisions in anticipation of the next growing season. CONTINUED ON 37

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2012 Indemnity by County

USDA Risk Management Agency CONTINUED FROM 36

“It gives you the security to to know you can cover input costs for the next year,” Buhrow said. “Disaster payments were not an effective way to protect against risk. Without insurance, the uncertainty makes it so you wouldn’t know when to sell crops, how to plan for input costs, or do marketing.” Buhrow is a younger farmer who continues to buy more land. Crop insurance also mitigates risk for lenders and brings security to the people they lease land from. “The insurance program provides great value overall,” he said. “Over the long run, it moderates commodity costs, keeps folks planting crops the world needs, and gives farmers the security to make better business decisions.” Gary Schnitkey, a University of Illinois farm management specialist, believes that during the drought, crop insurance proved its worth.

No Indemnity ($0) $1 to $500,000 $500,000 to $1,000,000 $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 over $10,000,000

“People may say crop insurance is lucrative, but in a challenging drought year, no ad hoc bills were passed,” Schnitkey said. “It makes a big difference in how people plan for future years. Without crop insurance last year, we would have seen substantial shortfalls this year.” Current federal farm and food aid policy expires on Sept. 30 and failure to pass a new bill in time means another extension or American farmers will fall back to a 1949 law governing the industry, which could lead to steep price increases on items such as milk. What worries many farmers is a provision in the Senate version that introduces an income cap to crop insurance. Known as a “means test”, farmers with adjusted gross incomes of more than $750,00 no longer would qualify for subsized crop insurance premiums. The House version just passed contains no such income cap. While most farmers would not be

impacted at that level, they worry that the cap would serve as a convenient vehicle for cutting the program in the future. They also fear that the balance of high-risk and low-risk producers that any insurance system is based on also would be upset. “The problem with this cap is that it assumes larger producers don’t need crop insurance,” Pratt said. “But then the higher premiums they were paying aren’t helping to spread the risk if you take them out of the program.” In Iowa, Yoder said that farmers are voicing concerns about the likelihood that many subsidies will be taken away or reduced in the next Farm Bill. As a crop agent, he fears that the adminstration of the insurance could be returned to the federal Farm Service Agency offices. “In 1983, the insurance was set up with private companies,” Yoder said. “I believe the private sector has done a much better job marketing, selling and running it.” AG Mag

Photos by Ty Rushing/Central Iowa AgMag

LEFT: Morgan Arrowood sits atop Snickers, which she has been showing at local horse shows and cow roping contests for a few years. She also shows her 6-year-old horse at the Iowa State Fair each summer. RIGHT: Jacob Arrowood sits atop Doc, which he broke and began training when it was 2 years old. He said he shows Doc only at the Jasper County Fair and the Iowa State Fair each summer.

4-H, horses family traditions for Arrowood siblings BY TY RUSHING For Central Iowa Ag Mag

or the Arrowood siblings, 4-H isn’t just an activity. It’s a family tradition. Jacob and Morgan’s mother, Jasper County Deputy Auditor Teresa Arrowood, also was a member, and they each have been involved for nine years. “My mom started me in showing, and we had a little pony that we worked with,” Jacob said. 38 Summer 2013

The siblings specialize in working with horses. That includes riding, breaking, grooming and showing them in competition. “I got a younger horse, and just broke him and trained him since he was 2 years old,” Jacob said. “We just show them around Jasper County and up at the [Iowa] State Fair.” “I ride horses also,” Morgan said. “My horse is about 6. She’s not that old. We show around local shows and at cow roping contests and the [Iowa] State Fair.” Breaking a horse can be trying for even the most experienced trainers, but

Jacob seemed to thrive on it. “If you’re struggling, struggling and struggling to get him to work with you, and then you finally pass that after years of training, it just feels really good after that,” Jacob said. Some basic principles of breaking a horse include teaching it respect for, and being reliant on, its handler. Other aspects include safety and effective communication. 4-H is the perfect organization for the horsecrazy teenagers and affords them the opportunity to do other things as well. CONTINUED ON 40

4-H activities create career path BY DAVE HON For Central Iowa Ag Mag

Recent high school graduate Jodie DeVries has been in 4-H for nine years, but plans on staying active in the organization. While DeVries has had her share of fun in the the Jasper County Showmen as the organization’s president, she also said that it is what has driven her on her career path. The soon-to-be college freshman will study agricultural business management at the DMACC campus in Ankeny. “[4-H] got me involved in the animal side of it. It got me interested in cattle and poultry,” DeVries said. All over Jasper County, local 4-H groups are helping introduce youth to agriculture. Jasper County 4-H groups from the Newton Lucky 7’s to the Lynn Grove Hustlers out of Lynnville and Sully aim to attract kids from the ages of 4 to 12 to help them discover new talents, achieve accomplishments, and obtain new confidence. 4-H has played an integral role in preparing Jasper County youths, dating as far back as 1927. But in the 1990s, Iowa State University got involved with the local 4-H groups, providing as much assistance as possible through its Iowa

‘‘

I think a lot of people were under the impression that you had to be a farmer to be in 4-H. But that’s not the case. Stacey Wilson, 4-H county youth coordinator

State Extension program. Stacey Wilson, 4-H county youth coordinator, said that 4-H helps develop important life skills that stick with youths as they grow up. “I think it’s helpful for Jasper County or any county, because 4-H kids in general remain very busy and grow up to be very responsible kids with good work ethics,” she said. Wilson always wanted to be in 4-H when she was young, and now that she has served in her position for nine years, she said she feels like she’s finally part of the group. She said that one of the most rewarding parts of her job is seeing the youths grow and develop their selfconfidence and leadership skills. “I think a lot of people were under the impression that you had to be a farmer to be in 4-H,” she said. “But that’s not the case.” Wilson said that you don’t have to have

’’

an agriculture background to get involved, and that the creative projects are very diverse when she visits the 4-H building at the fairgrounds in Jasper County and the bigger display at the Iowa State Fair. Devries also said that the leadership skills she’s gained during her time with 4-H have been valuable. “It’s been a big part of my life for so long,” DeVries said. “Having the role of president and secretary, just being involved and having leadership roles, I think I would have a different perspective, I guess.” When the Jasper County Showmen aren’t showing off, they’re giving back to the community. DeVries said that they do some community service projects and sometimes have bake sales. “I think it’s important, because it gets people involved in their community more,” DeVries said. “It helps you meet new people and make new friends. It’s all about having fun.”

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CONTINUED FROM 38

Probably meeting all of the people,â€? Morgan said of her favorite part of 4-H. â€œWe also do a lot of work in the community, like around Newton, Kellogg and Colfax.â€? The Arrowoods, like many Jasper County 4-H members, participate in many community events. There are the Meals from the Heartland, food packing and fundraising activities, garden club, livestock fitting clinics, and the horse show. With the Iowa State Fair starting Aug. 8, Jacob and Morgan each had set their own personal goals. â€œIâ€™m just looking forward to a good time and showing my horse,â€? Morgan said. â€œIâ€™ve worked with my horse for a long time now,â€? Jacob said. â€œIâ€™m going to put him to the test, see how well he can do at the [Jasper County Fair] and then the [Iowa] State Fair and meeting new friends.â€?

4-H members raise $24,000 for Iowa 4-H Foundation Iowa 4-H members across the state participated in the 4-Hers for 4-H Campaign, the longest-running, largest fundraising campaign conducted by 4-H members for 4-H members. The campaign raised $24,063.27 to support Iowa 4-H youth programs and activities. All funds from the campaign help families across the state by providing financial assistance for program fees and for youth to attend 4-H camps, intermediate trips and state events such as the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference. At the direction of the 2012-2013 4-H State Council, 356 4-H clubs representing 79 counties participated in this yearâ€™s campaign. On June 26, at the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference, Jan Ryherd and Natalie Lord, State 4-H Council finance co-chairs, presented this yearâ€™s check along with awards â€“ for top county per member, most improved county giving, top county and top area â€“ to Iowa 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees President Deb PullinVan Auken and Iowa 4-H Foundation

Executive Director Kris Fish-Kuhlmann. The campaign challenge was $2.50 per member, but this yearâ€™s top counties raised more than $4 per member. The 2013 top county per member award went to Wright County with $4.98 per member. Webster County was second at $4.48 per member, and Worth County was third with $4.26 per member. The most improved giving county award is given to counties that increase their contributions by the highest percentage over the previous year. In first place was Oâ€™Brien County with 680 percent, followed by Delaware County with 445 percent and Fremont County in third with a 167 percent increase. The top county award is presented to the county that raises the most money, and this yearâ€™s top county, Johnson County, raised $1,610.00, the fifth highest county total in campaign history. Webster County came in second with $1,434.62, and third place went to Polk County, which raised $1,123.50 for the 2013 campaign.

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â€˜No one made them better than momâ€™ Wasson sisters continue the tradition of cooking great food BY MANDI LAMB For Central Iowa Ag Mag

One of 14 children raised on a farm near Mingo, Annie Wasson knows about hard work. She jokes that she and her siblings were doing chores constantly while her father, John Gannon, farmed and her mother, Helen, raised children, kept house, ... and baked. Annie and her husband, Dan, have farmed on the Gannon family farm in Mingo since before her mother passed away in September 2011. While the rigors of farmwork keep her and her husband busy, Annie and three of her sisters â€“ Maureen Ryan of Mitchelville, Bebe Pyle of Baxter and Eileen Gannon of Des Moines â€“ decided to take the time to do something to honor their motherâ€™s memory at this yearâ€™s Iowa State Fair. Since Helen competed in the state fair baking contests for 45 years, her daughters decided to host a special ginger snap contest during the fair in her honor. â€œWe were actually in the process of deciding where her memorial money should go,â€? Annie recalled. â€œMom won with her ginger snaps, and she was so proud of that. We thought it would be nice to honor Mom that way, and Mom would have loved it.â€? Annie, her sisters and their children have participated in various state fair competitions for years. The four sisters will be judging the ginger snap competition, and they hope to continue to organize other state fair baking competitions in their motherâ€™s memory in years to come. The sisters shared several family reci-

pes, including rhubarb custard pie, ginger snaps, pumpkin bread and chocolate brownies. While they good-heartedly disagree on the methods for creating the perfect ginger snap â€“ depending on oneâ€™s preference of chewy versus crunchy in the middle, etc. â€“ they all agreed on one thing when it came to their family recipe for chocolate brownies: â€œNo one made them better than mom.â€?

Rhubarb Custard Pie

3 1/2 cups chopped rhubarb 1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 eggs, beaten 3 1/2 tbsp. flour

1/8 tsp. salt 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 2 tbsp. butter 1 9-inch double crust pie pastry Combine sugar, eggs, flour, salt and cinnamon in large bowl. Add rhubarb and stir to combine well. Set aside. Prepare pie pastry. Line bottom of pie plate with crust. Pour in rhubarb mixture; dot with butter. Cover with top crust and flute edges. Cut slits in top crust and dust with white sugar. Bake at 375 degrees until crust begins to brown, approx. 15-20 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for 35-40 minutes. Total baking time: 60 minutes. Remove and cool before serving. CONTINUED ON 42

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CONTINUED FROM 41

Gingersnaps 3/4 cup Crisco 1 cup white sugar 1/4 cup molasses 1 egg 2 cups flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. ground cloves 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground ginger White sugar for rolling Cream together Crisco and 1 cup sugar. Add molasses and egg. Cream well. Sift together dry ingredients and spices. Gradually add to creamed mixture until all is blended well. Form into small balls and roll in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet or parchment paper. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned on edges. Makes approx. 3 dozen. Doubling the recipe is highly recommended!

Pumpkin Bread 1 cup canola oil 3 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 15-oz. can pumpkin 1/2 cup water 3 1/3 cups flour 1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1 tsp. ground nutmeg Combine oil and sugar in large bowl. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and water until well mixed. In separate bowl, sift together other ingredients. Add to pumpkin mixture; stir until combined. Pour into two greased and floured 9-by-5-inch loaf pans. Bake in 350-degree oven for 50-60 minutes. Let stand in pan 10 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool.

Chocolate Brownies Melt: 3 sq. unsweetened chocolate 1 1/2 sticks butter 4 eggs 2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 1 cup coconut (can substitute 1/2 c. chocolate chips, 1/2 c. coconut) Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes in 9-by-13 inch pan Frosting: 6 tbsp. butter, softened 1/2 cup Hersheyâ€™s Cocoa 2 2/3 cup powdered sugar 1/3 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla

Look for our next edition of

AG Mag Central Iowa

November 2013 Featuring additional coverage in Jasper, Poweshiek, Marshall, Tama, Benton, Marion and Mahaska, Iowa & Keokuk Counties. 42 Summer 2013

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Index of Advertisers Grinnell Implement ...............................................................21 Index of Advertisers ...............................................................43 ADM Grain .............................................................................40 Agri Gold ................................................................................33 Bank Iowa ...............................................................................18 Barker Implement .............................................................22,23 Baxter Oil Co. .........................................................................44 Rohrer Bros. Fertilizer ..........................................................40 Bruce Keith Trucking ............................................................27 Diamond Trail Sales ...............................................................39 Dingeman Concrete Construction ........................................18 Farm Bureau Financial .........................................................34 Farm Bureau Financial .........................................................16 Farm Service Co/New Century FS .......................................12 Farmers National Company ....................................................6 Fast Trax Sports .....................................................................30 First Newton Natl. Bank ........................................................31 Gannon Angus ........................................................................43 Goos Implement Ltd. .............................................................33 Hawkeye Mutual Ins. .............................................................26 Hazert and Nordstrom .............................................................9 Hotsy Cleaning Systems Inc. .................................................20 I-80 Farms ...............................................................................35 Iowa Family Farms ................................................................40 Iowa Grain Systems ...............................................................36 Iowa Soybean Association .......................................................5 Kellogg Lawn & Snow, Inc. ...................................................26 Key Cooperative .....................................................................17 Konek P.C. ..............................................................................31 Kubal Spraying ......................................................................19 Marshalltown Visitors Center ...............................................30 Miswest Biotech ......................................................................29 Newton Visitors Center ..........................................................35 Newton Furniture .....................................................................2 O’Grady Chemical Corp. ......................................................15 Pella Motorworks ...................................................................25 Pella Motorworks ...................................................................21 Pioneer .......................................................................................7 Shawn’s Hay Grinding ..........................................................39 S.I. Distributing ......................................................................29 Smith’s Black Herefords ........................................................27 Southard Implement Co. .........................................................3 Stayner Agency Inc. ...............................................................41 Sullivan Auctioneers, LLC. ................................................... 35 Tama County Mutual .............................................................34 Tama Livestock Sales .............................................................40 Van Ko Farms .........................................................................43 AG Mag

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