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T H U R S D A Y , M A R C H 12 T H , 2 0 1 5

A SUPPLEMENT TO OGLE COUNTY N E W S PA P E R S Oregon Republican Reporter Mt. Morris Times Tri-County Press Forreston Journal

Farm Focus

Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, March 12, 2015, Page C2

Oregon father and son enjoy dairy farming

By Vinde Wells Mike Bunger has spent the last three and a half decades at a career he really loves — operating a dairy farm southeast of Oregon.

Although the twice a day milkings create a demanding schedule, it’s one that Bunger, 59, readily embraces.

“I just enjoy milking cows,” he said with a smile.

“When you’re milking you have time to think.”

Mike and his son, Brent have a 50-cow dairy herd of purebred Holsteins, along with calves and heifers destined for the operation.

Brent, 30, shares his father’s enthusiasm for farming and raising livestock.

“It’s the same every day — like the milking — but there’s always something new going on on the farm,” he said.

An event that morning proved his point.

When the two arrived in the dairy barn around 6 a.m. to start the morning milking, they discovered a newly arrived calf.

Anticipating the youngster’s imminent arrival, Mike had put the cow in a maternity pen the day before.

Attentive to her newborn, the new mother mooed softly to him as he tottered on wobbly legs soon as he was born.

The dairy herd is kept at the farm on Lighthouse Road where Mike and his wife Cindy live.

A smaller herd of heifers (young females not yet old enough to have a calf) is kept at Mike’s parents’ farm about two miles away.

During the warm months, some livestock are pastured at the farm where Brent and his wife Jennifer live, about four miles away.

Mike’s love for farming, and dairy in particular, came from his father Milford Bunger.

“My dad milked when I was growing up,” he said.

“When I was in high school I was in the co-op program and worked for Dave Hughes. I helped him milk cows.”

Brent said he expects to be a lifelong farmer as well.

“I plan to stay in farming,” he said.

Brent earned degrees from Illinois State University to

“I just enjoy milking cows.

When you’re milking you have time to think.”— Mike Bunger teach agriculture and math.

He spent a couple of years in the classroom but found farming was more to his liking.

“Being inside got to me,” he said with a grin.

Mike started milking in 1981 after he bought the farm where he and Cindy live, and purchased dairy cows.

Prior to that he worked at Case IH. He chose Holsteins, a large black and white breed, because of their high milk production.

Brent, however, had a different reason. “I like to tell people we picked Holsteins because we wanted white milk, not the chocolate milk that brown cows give,” he joked.

Milking, done at 6 a.m. and again at 5 p.m. takes about an hour and a half in the stanchion barn.

Feeding the cows and calves housed in another building comes after milking.

The calves are separated in pens according to age and size.

Brent brought the specially blended feed to the dairy barn in a large wagon pulled by a tractor.

He positioned the wagon and auger just outside the barn next to a conveyor that took the feed inside.

The conveyor is positioned over a walkway above where two long rows of cows in stanchions face each other.

The hungry cows eagerly anticipate the conveyor dropping a stream of feed in front of each row.

Brent said the feed is blended to include a mixture of corn silage, haylage, ground shelled corn, ground dry hay, ground straw and a protein supplement.

In winter the cows spend most of their time inside, Mike said, going outside just long enough for the barn’s daily cleaning.

In warmer months, the cows spend most of their time outside on pasture,

Mike Bunger dismantles part of the pipeline that takes milk from the milkers in the barn to the bulk tank in the milkhouse. Photo by Vinde Wells

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Mike Bunger washes a cow’s udder thoroughly before putting the milker on her. Photo by Vinde Wells

coming in only for milkings.

Pregnant cows and heifers are kept in a shed during cold months and on pasture when the weather permits.

The number of cows giving milk varies throughout the year but averages around 50,

Mike said.

“We’re down a little now, but in May, June, and July, about 20 will freshen [give birth] and we’ll be back up,” he said.

A heifer is bred for the first time when she is

approximately 15 months old and has her first calf about nine months later.

After freshening, typically a cow is milked for 305 days and then “dried up” (gradually milked less so she stops giving milk) to give

her 60 days to rest before she gives birth again.

Usually a cow has a calf every year.

Mike and Brent raise

Turn to C3

Just a few hours old, this calf tries out his legs under the watchful eye of his attentive mother. Photo by Vinde Wells

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Farm Focus

Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, March 12, 2015, Page C3

Bungers raise their own heifers to add to the herd From C2 heifer calves to add to their herd.

No cows have been purchased since the early 1980s when Mike bought his starter herd.

The Bungers do not keep a bull on their farm, but rather breed their cows by artificial insemination because it allows a wider selection of sires.

An expert from a mating service evaluates each cow on five areas — frame, dairy strength, feet and legs, rump, and udder.

The data gained from the evaluation helps in the selection of the right sire to breed with each cow to most effectively improve her offspring.

Mike said the expert enters each cow’s evaluation into a handheld computer which then gives a selection of several recommended sires.

For ease of record-keeping each cow has a number, but Mike and Brent call them by the names they have given them.

“I can never remember the numbers. Brent is better at that,” said Mike with a chuckle.

The Grade A milk the Bungers’ cows produce travels by pipeline from the milker to a large refrigerated 1,000-gallon bulk tank where it is picked up every other day

by Foremost Farms, based in Baraboo, Wis. The Bungers take a sample of each cow’s milk each month at two milkings, morning and evening, to determine how much milk she is giving and its quality.

The samples are sent away for testing.

Mike said the quantity of milk a cow gives is crucial to making a profit.

“Milk production is the main factor because it determines what she makes over feed cost,” he said.

At peak production, a cow may give more than 100 pounds (12.5 gallons) of milk per day.

Turn to C4

Breakfast Time Above, the dairy cows at Bungers are ready for breakfast as a conveyor drops food for them after the morning milking. At left, Brent Bunger watches to make sure the auger that sends feed from the wagon to the conveyor in the barn is operating as it should. Photos by Vinde Wells

Holstein Facts • Holstein cattle are easily recognizable by their distinctive black and white markings, but may also be red and white in color (caused by a recessive genetic trait).

• Mature Holstein cows typically weigh around 1,500 pounds and stand 58 inches tall at the shoulder, making them the largest of the U.S. dairy breeds.

• Holsteins are known for their outstanding milk production, desirable phenotypic characteristics, and adaptability to a wide range of environments.

• There are more than nine million dairy cows in the U.S., with approximately 90 percent of them being of Holstein descent.

• Holsteins can thrive in the many various management settings of the U.S. dairy industry, and can be found from coast to coast.

• Holstein cows typically calve for the first time when they are 23 to 26 months of age, with healthy calves weighing an average of 80 to 100 pounds at birth. Holsteins have a gestation period of nine months.

• Holstein cows give more milk than any other dairy breed in the U.S. The average Holstein cow produces around 23,000 pounds of milk, or 2,674 gallons, of milk each lactation.

With a standard lactation lasting 305 days, that comes out to 75 pounds, or almost nine gallons of milk per cow per day.

• The world record for milk production was set by a Holstein cow in 2010 when Ever-GreenView My 1326-ET, a cow from Wisconsin, produced 72,170 pounds of milk in a year.

• Black and white Holstein cows have claimed Supreme Champion honors, the highest recognition given for elite phenotypic characteristics, at the world’s largest dairy cattle exhibition, the World Dairy Expo (held each fall in Madison, Wis.) 32 times in the past 42 years.

From the Holstein Association USA website

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Farm Focus

Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, March 12, 2015, Page C4

AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree to feature all brands

By Chris Johnson Reporter

Three or four colors readily come to mind when you think about garden tractors.

However, a rainbow of hues, including white, blue, green, and every combination imaginable, are on display at the annual AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree.

More than 300 of these garden tractors were on display last year and more are expected for the sixth Andy Hinrichs, right, talks with one of the visitors at the 2014 jamboree. Hinrichs was annual event on Saturday, riding a 1950 Red E tractor. Photo by Chris Johnson May 16.

The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1675 South Columbian Road, Oregon. The farm is located just off Pines Road approximately 5 miles west of Oregon.

Event organizer Andy Hinrichs owns a collection of garden tractors and created the event to bring fans of garden tractors together.

Some of the tractors on display included MTDs, Case, Wheel Horse, Red E’s, White, John Deere, Ford, Morris, and Springfields.

The day is filled with

activities to keep everyone in attendance busy.

Tractors line the driveway to participate in the opening tractor parade where more than 40 participants ride around the festival grounds.

Other events included garden tractor plowing, games, rope making, and a poker run.

Small groups gather around different tractors to share stories of why they like certain brands of garden tractors and the fun they have with owning and sharing their tractors with others.

Cows must produce profit over feed cost From C3 Each cow is expected to produce a minimum average of 40 pounds (five gallons) of milk per day during her 305-day lactation.

When feed costs skyrocketed in 2012, Brent

said, they were forced to bump the minimum to 50 pounds.

Besides milking cows, the Bungers farm 700 acres, raising corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. Some is kept to feed their own livestock, and the rest is sold.

Above, Ginger, the Bungers’ golden retriever, greets milk truck operator Joe Ryan as he hooks up the power to empty the milk from the bulk tank inside the milkhouse into his truck. Ryan is a driver for Foremost Farms. At left, Ryan marks the lid of a sample of milk he took from the bulk tank. The Bungers’ Grade A milk is processed at a plant in Lancaster, Wis. Below, Ginger waits while the Bungers finish their morning chores.

Brent and Mike Bunger show the equipment they use to test the milk of each cow every month for amount and quality. Photo by Vinde Wells

One of the Bunger’s barn cats rests contentedly on a straw bale while waiting for a taste of the morning milking.

Farming community needs next generation to stay strong

By Chris Johnson Reporter Ogle County has a strong farming community but will need to grow this community in the coming years.

“We have some really good farmers and a lot of families over generations that have taken up the business,” said Ogle County Farm Bureau manager Ron Kern. “They

have learned over time how cyclic the business can be — good times and bad times.

They learn how to manage the farm operations and they learn how to overcome and navigate the bad times.”

These families are the backbone of the local farming, however young talent will need to be added to continue to grow into the future.

“How do you get young

people into production?” said Kern. “The agriculture umbrella is growing the number of jobs in research and development, but getting young people in production agriculture as a primary occupation is extraordinarily difficult.”

The costs to start a farming operation are high. It takes 2 to 3 million in equipment costs to start farming.

“It is tough to start up but we need to find a way to do it,” said Kern. “The age of operators is going up and there is going to be a time where this needs to change.”

Farmers have had the benefit of new technologies to help reduce costs, but the overall price of farming is still high, said Kern.

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Ron Kern, Ogle County Farm Bureau manager, said Ogle County needs more young farmers to take over as current farm operators retire. Photo by Chris Johnson

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Farm Focus

Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, March 12, 2015, Page C5

Ogle County has some of area’s most fertile soil

By Chris Johnson Reporter Ogle County has some of the most fertile soil in the stateline.

“Last year, looking at the numbers for the state by county, Ogle County was one of the top producing counties by bushel per acre of soybeans and corn in northwest Illinois,” said Ron Kern, manager of the Ogle County Farm Bureau.

“We are blessed with excellent soils and a good temperate climate.”

Ogle County farmers planted 235,000 acres of corn in 2014 and harvested 233,000 acres. The bushel per acre yield was 193.4.

With soybean production, there were 98,900 acres planted with 98,800 acres harvested. This resulted in 60.2 bushels per acre.

This climate and quality soil saw 323,168 acres of farmland harvested in 2012.

Fifty years ago 316,165 acres were harvested in 1964.

The number of total farms may have decreased over the years but the production and farming acres has remained relatively stable.

“You see the diversity in

the crops and in our county you get everything,” said Kern. “Corn, soybeans, peas, and sweet corn. You are starting to see organics, berries, and everything in-between on the smaller farms. We have a bit of everything. Our soil lends itself to traditional and other crops.”

The total number of farms in Ogle County in 1959 was 2,271 and that number has dropped in half to 1,148 farms in 2012.

There has been talk that this is due to megafarms and the decline of small farms, but data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service shows some interesting numbers.

The number of farms of less than 100 acres has actually increased since the 1950s. There were 430 of these farms in 1959 and it decreased to 255 in 1964.

By 2007 the smaller farms increased to 690 and in 2012 it decreased to 574 farms.

The largest change is the decrease in midsize farms between 100 and 499 acres.

In 1959 there were 1,775 of these farms and by 2012 there were only 350.

Farms between 1,000 and 1,999 acres increased from 7 in 1959 to 80 in 2012 and with the farms larger than 2,000 acres there were 3 in 1964 and 22 in 2012.

Some of the changes that allow the larger farms are improvements in technology and equipment.

“Equipment changed the makeup of farming,” said Kern. “You need to farm acres to make the equipment manageable.

You see the large farms are creeping up, but small farms are successful with the specialty crops and organics.”

Technology has also created disease resistant crops, and ways for farmers to regulate their costs.

“Before, you loaded a sprayer and applied to the fields,” said Kern. “Now you enter data and get exact amounts of what’s needed — not broad application.

Tech has changed what we do. It is a marvel.”

Complete Census of Agriculture for Illinois reports are available through the United States Department of Agriculture’s website. Visit www.nass.usda.gov/il to view these reports.

Rick Nelson unloads corn from his combine into a wagon in a field at the corner of Mt. Morris and West Grove Roads during the 2014 harvest. Photo by Vinde Wells

Historical look at farm sizes Years 2007 690 346 144 68 26 1,274

1959 Farms less than 100 acres 430 Farms between 100 and 499 acres 1,775 Farms between 500 and 999 acres 57 Farms between 1,000 and 1,999 acres 7 Farms larger than 2,000 acres Total Farms 2,271

1964 355 1,569 83 9 3 2,019

Cropland Farms with crops Harvested Acres

Years 1964 2007 1,929 940 316,165 320,851

1959 2,186 341,907

2012 574 350 122 80 22 1,148 2012 831 323,168

This data is for farms in Ogle County in 1959, 1864, 2007, and 2012.

Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

2012 Census of Agriculture, 1964 Census of Agriculture.

Soybeans expected to sell highest price in 8 years Stocks of U.S. soybeans at the end of the current marketing year are expected to be at an eight-year high, according to a University of Illinois agricultural economist.

In addition, the current South American soybean harvest is estimated at a record 6.066 billion bushels, 378 million bushels larger than the 2014 harvest and 710 million bushels larger than the 2013 harvest.

The USDA projects Sept.

1 stocks of soybeans in South America at 2.205 billion bushels, 523 million bushels more than the inventory of the previous year.

“Soybean prices have remained relatively high in the face of such large U.S. and world soybean supplies, with the unweighted average price received by U.S. producers during the first five months of the 2014-15 marketing year likely near $10.25 per bushel,” said Darrel Good.

“However, prices have declined by 50 to 60 cents per bushel over the past month.

“Increasingly, soybean prices will take direction from the prospective size of the 2015 U.S. crop and the prospects for stocks at the end of the 2015-16 marketing year.

“Expectations about the size of the U.S. crop begin with expectations about planted acreage,” he said.

U.S. soybean plantings were at a record 83.701 million acres in 2014, 6.861 million more than were planted in 2013 and 8.655 million more than were planted in 2011.

Expectations for 2015 are in a wide range. The USDA’s baseline projections show acreage unchanged from last year.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projections released last month point to planted acreage of 86 million acres.

“Other private estimates are as high as 88 million acres,” Good said.

“Those expecting a large increase in soybean acreage point to the large reduction in soft red winter wheat acreage that frees up additional acreage for spring-planted crops.

“In addition, the lower cost of producing soybeans relative to corn and the perceived price advantage of soybeans relative to corn have fueled expectations of a further acreage shift from corn to soybeans.

“The price advantage of soybeans relative to corn, however, has faded over the past month as the ratio of November soybean futures to December corn futures has declined from 2.4 to 2.33.”

Given the large increase in soybean acreage over the past three years, Good said that a more modest increase might be expected this year if crop prices remain near current levels.

“Planted acreage near 85.5 million seems a reasonable expectation,” Good said.

“The USDA will survey producer planting intentions next month and release an estimate of those intentions in the March 31 Prospective Plantings report.

“Since the beginning of the

‘freedom to farm’ era in 1996, planting intentions reported in March have provided an unbiased forecast of actual plantings.

“Over the 19-year period from 1996 through 2014, actual acreage exceeded intentions in 10 years and was less than intentions in nine years. On average, actual plantings exceeded intentions by 98,000 acres.

“However, the difference (some negative and some positive) exceeded one million acres in nine years, two million acres in four years, and three million acres once. The June USDA Acreage report will provide a clearer picture of soybean acreage,” he said.

Since 1996, the difference between planted and harvested acreage of soybeans ranged from 595,000 to 1.858 million acres and averaged 1.095 million acres.

The difference was large

in years of widespread drought and small in years with generally favorable conditions.

A combination of record planted acreage and normal weather might lead to abandonment of about 900,000 acres in 2015.

Planted acreage of 85.5 million acres would point to harvested acreage of about 84.6 million acres.

Yield expectations for 2015 are generally based on an analysis of trend yield.

“We calculate a linear trend of actual yields from 1960 through 2014,” Good said.

“That trend explains 88 percent of the variation in actual yields over that 55year period and indicates an increase in the average U.S. yield of 0.4 bushels per acre per year.

“The trend yield calculation for 2015 is 44.4 bushels per acre. The trend yield may understate expected yield

under average growing season weather conditions.

“Average weather in 2015 might point to an average yield near 45 bushels per acre. That is equal the CBO baseline projection and one bushel less than the USDA baseline projection.

“Yield at that level would point to a 2015 crop of 3.807 billion bushels, 162 million bushels smaller than the 2014 crop,” he said.

Good said that a crop of 3.807 billion bushels, along with stocks of soybeans at the beginning of the 2015-16 marketing year at the current USDA projection of 385 million bushels and imports of 15 million bushels, points to a marketing-year supply of 4.207 billion bushels, 121 million bushels larger than the supply for the current year.

To prevent a further increase in year-ending stocks next year, that level of supply would require consumption

of U.S soybeans to exceed 3.822 billion bushels, 121 million bushels larger than the projection for the current year.

“Such a large increase appears unlikely,” Good said.

“Compared with the current marketing year, expectations for the 2015-16 soybean marketing year include increased acreage, a further increase in year-ending stocks, and lower prices.

“The expected price decline is moderated by the likelihood that stocks at the end of the current marketing year will be about 90 million bushels less than projected last fall.

“That is equivalent to two million acres. Prices are not expected to be as low as the CBO baseline projection of $8.19 or even the USDA baseline projection of $8.50.

“The futures market currently points to a marketing year-average near $9.50,” he said.

Nelson to talk about agriculture in Africa Craig Nelson, who has served as Farm Manager at Africa Atlantic Franchise Farms Ltd, (Ghana) will be the featured speaker at the 2015 Oregon Rotary Rural / Urban Day program on Wednesday, March 18.

Prior to Africa Atlantic, Nelson served as a Crop Specialist for GROWMARK member cooperatives in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

In these territories, Nelson managed crop inputs and services for large grain farmers.

Working closely with his growers, he put together and executed crop plans for more than 40,000 acres every season.

This included seed selection, dry fertilizer application, soil sampling, nitrogen management, chemical application, and all applicable services provided by the cooperative.

He also played a large role in his family’s farming operation in Mt. Morris, where they grow corn and soybeans while raising both feeder cattle and market hogs.

In his spare time, Nelson enjoys working with his father, David, on their club calf herd.

Nelson is a former 4-H and Oregon High School FFA member and has served on the Ogle County 4-H judging team.

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Farm Focus

Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, March 12, 2015, Page C6

Can’t beat homemade maple syrup

By Chris Johnson Reporter Drizzling hot maple syrup over a stack of buttermilk pancakes is the final step before eating breakfast.

The syrup may have come from a store or it could have come from one of the local maple syrup producers.

John Barnhart has been making maple syrup for the Oregon Park District for four years.

“The idea was originally from a Jim Coutts [former park district director] brainstorm session,” said Barnhart. “Maple syrup is an interesting process with old world flair. It is a process that has not changed.”

Barnhart taps maples throughout Oregon to collect the sap which is boiled down to create the syrup.

He has a sugar shack at Tenth and Webster Streets John Barnhart looks through his maple syrup logs. He in Oregon where he can be keeps records of every tree he has tapped for sap. Photo found throughout the maple

by Chris Johnson

season, which is usually for 14-30 days beginning March 1.

“At 8 a.m. I am at the hut to cook the syrup,” said Barnhart. “I go out and empty the sap buckets every 24 hours in the evening.”

Visitors to the shack can enjoy a taste of maple syrup as it is being made.

“Once you have tried the real thing you are spoiled,” Barnhart said. “It is incredible. It is the same as homemade bread versus store bought.”

The trees Barnhart taps are owned by the city, county, and homeowners.

“When I started I went around to people to explain what the park district wanted to do,” he said. “I did not have anyone say no because they thought it was neat and cool. It is good honest work which appeals to people.”

Maple syrup has become a passion for Barnhart.

“It keeps me busy but I

love it and love talking to the people that stoop and visit,” he said.

Syrup made by Barnhart is served at pancake breakfasts in the community.

“The breakfast idea went hand in hand with this project so it was natural,” Barnhart

said. “If it is a good year I make sure groups, churches, and the tree owners get some syrup.”

The response from the public has been amazing to Barnhart.

Turn to C7

Peggy Doty, University of Illinois Extension, talks about maple syrup March 5. Photo by Chris Johnson

Prices for ag products set by futures market not farmers

By Chris Johnson Reporter The farming industry is one of the few businesses where the producer has no control over the price charged for the goods.

“With any industry you produce a widget with a set price,” said Ogle County Farm Bureau manager Ron Kern. “It is different in farming. I do not get to set the price of my goods.”

The price of farm commodities, such as soybeans, corn, pork, and beef, is set by the futures market.

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) is one of the largest options exchanges in the United States.

Kern said the prices of agricultural goods are set by this market as well as other markets worldwide.

“Now the trading is electronic and occurs 24 hours a day worldwide,” he said. “It is different today then 30 years ago. The

marketing has changed over 30 years.”

This 24 hours is due to the worldwide agriculture market.

“Our crops are sold worldwide. It is a global market now and you need to reliably transport your goods to compete,” said Kern “Everything is linked with agriculture.”

He said the port shutdown on the west coast has impacted farmers across the nation. Millions of dollars of meat and produce sat on the docks rotting. This was only one of many recent agriculture headlines across the county.

“The food chain is long and strong, but the weakest link will cause the problems,” said Kern. “The export market is a big deal for farmers and our goods need to be shipped.”

The Ogle County Farm Bureau has programs available to help local farmers navigate the futures market.

“We look at programs to

help with learning about the market including holding education programs on how to understand these markets,” said Kern. “You name it there is a program available.”

Understanding the market may be difficult, but several farmers have tried their hand in it to help with the costs.

“The futures market is a gamble,” said Kern.

The CBOE traders buy and sell farming

commodities that are not yet produced. They may be trading soybeans for the 2015 harvest and the farmer has not even planted the crop.

Weather impacts the prices. The drought in California will see higher prices for goods.

Kern said the drought in 2012 in Illinois is still impacting farmers locally.

“We are three years from the drought and we are still recovering,” said Kern.

“Midwest farmers had to sell herds off and now they are trying to rebuild the herds. It takes years. We are still rebounding from the 2012 drought for cattle.”

He said California will see the impact of their drought for years, but they are still in a drought. While the drought is bad for farmers in the drought zone, other farmers benefit from being able to sell their products at a higher cost.

Kern said bales of hay and

feed were shipped across the country at high prices to feed cattle in drought areas.

Agriculture production is cyclic and there will be good years and bad years.

The Ogle County Farm Bureau has links on its website to information available to help farmers understand the markets.

Visit www.oglefb.org to look up the information.

The Illinois Farm Bureau has the commodities prices listed at dtn.ilfb.org.

Next generation needed for farming From C4 “Our farmers have done an incredible job of reducing cost and improving efficiency over the years,” said Kern.

With the difficulties of farming it can be hard for a younger person to try the occupation.

“Last year and the next few years will be tough and we expect a net loss on farming,” said Kern. “It will

be a struggle but our farmers will manage and find a way.

We have good farmers and they will survive. It takes skill.”

A prospect of losing money makes it difficult for people interested in farming to commit to the job, he said.

Farmers of all ages and experience can use the farm bureau for assistance and guidance.

“The farm bureau has been

helping farmers for 97 years,” said Kern. “The organization works to improve agriculture and agriculture life.”

They offer education and information while managing nation, state, and county issues that impact farm bureau members.

“We have two membership classes,” said Kern. “Voting members are active engaged in farming and the associate members which are unable

to vote.”

Kern said the farm bureau is part of the farming community.

“There is competition among farmers but when push comes to shove you can count on your neighbors,” said Kern. “We are a community and that has not changed. Farmers all know each other and see each other at church.”

Polo farmer recognized for volunteer efforts A Polo farmer was honored last month for his extensive volunteer efforts.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) presented its 2015 Distinguished Service Award to Brent Scholl during the Illinois Pork Expo Feb. 3-4.

Described as a selfless volunteer, Scholl has been active in all aspects of the pork producer organization volunteering at the county, state and national levels.

“Whenever the association has asked for help, Brent has been there to lend a helping hand and has always been willing to give 110 percent,” said Curt Zehr, IPPA president.

“Whether he is helping tear down at Pork Patio at the state fair or helping at a Chicago Bears tailgate, Brent’s true volunteer spirit shines through. He is the type of person that enjoys helping others. It shows in the numerous activities that Brent has been involved in over the years.”

Scholl is a member of the Lee County Pork Producers.

He has held multiple offices, as currently is president.

In addition, Scholl served as IPPA District 2 director from 2004-2012, working on the youth committee, production tech committee, industrial services committee, public policy committee, and the marketing committee, which he chaired.

He also is a past IPPA president.

At the national level, he is very involved with the National Pork Producers Council and National Pork Board (NPB).

He has several times been a delegate to the National Pork Forum, and is currently serving on NPB’s Swine Welfare Committee and Animal Health Committee.

He is on the PQA+ task force and the Common Audit Task Force.

He is part of Operation Mainstreet, and has given more than 20 presentations about modern pork production to local civic groups.

Most recently, Scholl shot a television ad with Chicago Bears Tackle Jordan Mills.

The spot featured the “Tackle Hunger Campaign” in which Illinois pig farmers

teamed up with the Bears and Ultra Foods stores to address hunger in the Chicagoland area.

The ads aired in Soldier Field during the season, and encouraged fans to purchase DaBurgers.

For every DaBurger sold, pig farmers donated a pound of ground pork.

The campaign achieved more than 17,000 pounds of pork being donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Northern Illinois Foodbank.

Scholl began farming in 1980. He and his brother, Bruce, are fifth generation farmers on the family’s Centennial Farm.

They raise row crops, finish about 250 head of cattle a year and finish 6,000 pigs a year.

Scholl is also co-owner and vice president of First Class Insurance Agency.

Scholl’s wife, Kathy, is a special needs teacher for preschool children in Dixon.

They have two grown children, Samantha and Garrett, who also have helped with numerous IPPA activities.

Brent Scholl, left, receives the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) Distinguished Service Award from 2014 IPPA President Todd Dail at the Illinois Pork Producers banquet Feb. 3 at the Holiday Inn, Peoria. Photo supplied

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Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, March 12, 2015, Page C7

Tapping maple trees for sap dates back centuries From C6 “I think people have been happy,” he said. “This is something made in the community. It is my favorite thing I do. It is just above the apple cider in the fall.”

This year Barnhart has decided to try and tap only the 50 best trees to see how the results are.

“This will give the smaller trees a break,” he said. “This is an educational operation, not a commercial operation.

It is a way to give back to the community.”

How it is made Any maple tree can be tapped to collect the sap.

“You cannot make the tree give you sap,” said Peggy Doty, University of Illinois Extension. “A tap needs to be on the sunny side of the tree and the sap will take the path of least resistance which is hopefully through the tap into the bucket.”

Tapping trees does not harm them. The tree repairs the minor damage done to the tree by growing over the area with new bark.

Trees of any size may be used for maple syrup production, however there are industry standards.

“You are asked to only tap trees that are a minimum of 10 inches in diameter,” said Doty. “The taps need to be in different locations each year.”

Taps should be at least four inches away from a previous tap.

Traditionally sugar maples are used for their robust flavor.

“I utilize all maple varieties which give the flavor a lighter and sweeter quality,” said Barnhart,” But everyone has personal preferences.”

Sap runs from the roots of the tree to the branches in the days following a long winter.

On days where the temperatures get above freezing and return to freezing at night are ideal for collecting sap.

Barnhart said if the weather is too warm and stays above freezing then the sap is used by the tree to bud out. At this point the maple season ends. He prefers temperatures between 40 and

45 degrees during the day.

“Sap collecting is a balance of when to do it,” Barnhart said. “You never have the perfect weather - it can be sporadic.”

The collected sap needs to be cooked in a sugar shack to concentrate the flavors through evaporation.

The ration for sugar maples is 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup.

“This depends on the sugar content of the sap,” said Barnhart. “It can fluctuate year to year. You can not put nature in a box.”

Record keeping Barnhart has a log of his maple syrup adventure.

“When I started I decided to keep records,” he said.

“I know which trees are good and how much each produced.”

Environmental factors determine which trees can be the best producers and Barnhart knows trees can change from year to year.

“Overall the more branches a tree has the better it will be,” he said. “Twentyfive year old trees are good but I had an 80 year-old tree as a top producer.”

When Barnhart started in 2011 he made 9.5 gallons of syrup.

In 2012 he made 25 gallons over a 27-day season.

In 2013 he made 41 gallons over a 31-day season with 108 taps.

Last year he made 29 gallons in a 28-day season with 105 taps.

The seasons all started the first week of March.

Every tree in his log has a name. The ones on the courthouse square are named for presidents and Barnhart talks about the trees like they are family.

History At the Mt. Morris Public Library on March 5, the University of Illinois Extension offered a class on maple syrup production.

Twenty-five people attended to learn about the history of maple syrup production, and to visit an operational sugar shack near Mt. Morris.

“My portion of today’s program is the history,” said Doty. “Having an attachment

to history is important.”

The earliest written accounts of maple syrup go back to 1557.

“A French monk had a written account that year,” Doty said. “In 1606 an account of the Micmac Indians distillation is documented.”

Through research it was discovered that maple syrup was used in bartering by the Eastern Woodland Indians.

“There were myths from these tribes about the maple syrup and these stories were passed around the tribes,” said Doty.

Maple syrup production became more widespread in the mid 1800s.

In 1850 the first sugar shacks were built. These are dedicated buildings used to cook the sugar.

Metal buckets were first used around 1875.

Industry standards for maple syrup were created before the turn of the 20th century. This led to the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. This made it illegal for adulteration with glucose. Basically it meant pure maple syrup had to be just that, maple syrup and nothing else.

Maple sugar was seen as an alternative to cane sugar that was harvested with slave labor.

In 1880 the price of cane and maple sugar was the same price.

From 1940 to 1945 the average price of maple syrup was $3.39 per gallon.

Throughout the history of maple syrup, producers have tried other trees and varieties of maples.

“All trees have sap water but you may not like the taste of black walnut,” said Doty.

“Silver maples make a great syrup, but you need 100 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.”

The program then switched to discussing marking and how syrup was made before the group went on a field trip to Maple Lane Farm.

Nancy Etnyre was out with John Barnhart March 6 to help tap the maple syrup trees on the courthouse lawn. Photo by Chris Johnson

Family Operation The Hough family runs Maple Lane Farm just north of Mt. Morris.

Rob and Lynnette Hough along with their children, work to produce the maple syrup at their farm at 3788 N. Mt. Morris Rd. They hang blue bags on maple trees in Mt. Morris and collect them every day after school.

“Most of the homeowners have approached us to tap their tress,” said Rob Hough.

“We have more trees than we can handle to tap. It is a small town and word of mouth.”

Hough spends the night cooking down the sap to make the syrup.

About 10 gallons of sap

Rob Hough stirs the sap during a previous maple syrup season. Photo by Vinde Wells

can be evaporated per hour.

The Hough’s sugar house is state-licensed and is inspected by the USDA. “We are inspected every year,” said Hough. “To the USDA, maple syrup is considered processing. It falls under same standards as food-grade corporations.

It is not just home made.

Other states have cottage food industry laws with less restrictions.”

These rules allow Rob and Lynnette to sell their bottled maple syrup.

Lynette also uses it to make maple candies, maple sugar-coated pecans, and other sweet treats.

The syrup and candies are for sale at the state-licensed sugar house on their farm.

“Visit a farmers market or stop out to get from sugar house,” said Hough. “It is a small town business and it is fun. We enjoy it. I love being outdoors and it is food coming from nature, teaching people that food does not just come from the grocery store.”

Hough said he became interested in making maple syrup or “sugaring” to continue a family tradition.

His great-grandfather Ralph Angle owned a farm with a stand of maple trees that he tapped each year to

make syrup.

Angle’s daughter, Ginny Hough, is Rob’s grandmother.

“Grandma would tell me about it when I was little.

That’s what sparked my interest,” he said. “Their farm had a long lane with a grove of sugar maple trees about halfway down and that’s where they had their sugar camp. It wasn’t that long ago really that every farm made their own syrup.”

Rob still has about 30 of his great-grandfather’s handcarved sumac taps, called spiles, but prefers to use the modern steel ones because they are shorter and thinner.

A Heritage of Serving Local Agriculture John Barnhart has named all the trees on the courthouse lawn that he taps to collect the sap. Photo by Chris Johnson

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Farm Focus

Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, March 12, 2015, Page C8

Charbonneau takes agriculture to classrooms

By Chris Johnson

Take a handful of science, a pinch of creativity, a dash of experience, and a love of teaching and agriculture and mix it together and you have the recipe for Ag in the Classroom.

“I love it,” said Melinda Charbonneau, Ag Literacy Coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension. “It puts teaching and agriculture together, two things I love.”

Charbonneau, a Forreston High School graduate, goes into the classrooms in Ogle and Carroll Counties to teach students of all ages about agriculture in fun ways.

“We have been making bread and butter at the schools this week,” she said.

“At Polo we just learned about simple and complex machines. Every class is tailored to a specific lesson.”

When the lesson is completed, Charbonneau has heard that students went home to talk to their parents about what they learned.

“I like the bread and butter lessons because the students make something and get a finished product,” Charbonneau said. “The kids get recipes to take home. The idea is to go

Melinda Charbonneau

home and share information with their parents.”

With Presidents Day in February a popular lesson was talking about how George Washington was a farmer and did composting.

“The kids are good and they are having fun while learning,” said Charbonneau. “This is something different for the kids.”

To participate in Ag in the Classroom teachers sign up from a list of programs.

A list of programs is sent to the schools two times each year.

“Teachers can sign up for any program,” said Charbonneau. “We work with the teachers and try to add new programs every year. With the new science standards and Common Core, education is going

First and second graders made bread at Kings School last week. Photo supplied

back to hands on science.

Ag in the Classroom ties in well because it is hands on learning.”

Students work in teams to complete the projects.

Ag in the Classroom has teamwork, life skills,

science, and math.

The students also have to follow directions to complete the projects successfully.

Charbonneau is at schools five days a week and teachers work to coordinate schedules to the best use of her time.

“We try to work together to schedule multiple classes in the same area each day,” she said. “There is a morning and an afternoon class each day.”

Before a project goes into the school it is tested.

“I do the projects first but you always need to adapt,” Charbonneau said.

“The teachers help out with

changing the programs.”

One project that has not quite worked the way she envisioned was turning milk into glue.

“It just has not quite worked properly,” said Charbonneau.

Funding for Ag in the Classroom is unique.

It is a program between the University of Illinois Extension and the farm bureaus in Ogle County and Carroll County.

“The farm bureaus contribute financially to the program,” said Charbonneau.

“Private farming groups and other outside organizations that support agriculture also

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The money is contributed because of how Ag in the Classroom supports agriculture.

“I have career days where I talk to students about agriculture careers,” said Charbonneau. “Ag in the Classroom helps get the word out about agriculture.”

One concern with any food based project is allergies.

“Most of what we do is safe for allergies, but they may not be able to taste the finished product,” said Charbonneau. “We work with the schools and adapt the food projects to the needs of the students.”

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