SVM_Today's Farm 011222

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12, 2022

A

call farms A national coalition has gathered its ground forces to help veterans find their place, and a purpose: Feeding America

to

Demand is soaring for ag pilots 16 Couple gives young farmers with special needs their very own place to grow 20 According to a USDA report, farming is still largely a family affair 22

SHAW MEDIA Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

Today’s Farm

15

Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

SHAW MEDIA

16

TODAY’S FARM

Soaring demand

Kris Petersen, aerial application pilot with Pontiac Flying Service, says he loves the freedom of flying and being able to make precise applications to fields using advanced technology.

Photo courtesy of Scott Anderson

Ag pilots put on a lot of air miles as a growing number of farmers look to the sky to tend to their fields

BY TAMMIE SLOUP | FarmWeek Kris Petersen grew up at the airport.

His parents, Scott and Sarah Petersen, started Pontiac Flying Service in 1997, and their young son was often in tow at the Livingston County facility.

“I was at the airport every day, riding my bike, playing with airplane toys, and I started helping on the loading pad, washing windows, scrubbing wings, as soon as I could reach up there to do it,” Petersen said.

SOARING cont’d to page 17

We have protected area farm families for over 150 years and will continue to do so for many more.

Find out how important local, hometown insurance can be. Call one of our friendly agents today!

First Class Insurance Agency Milledgeville 815-225-7777 Dixon 815-284-7070 SM-ST1948110

Hugh F. Miller Insurance Agency, Inc. Rock Falls 815-626-1300

Scholl Insurance Agency Polo 815-946-2324

Leffelman & Associates Inc. Amboy 815-857-2125 Sublette 815-849-5219

Harrison Insurance Group Dixon IL 815-284-7737

TODAY’S FARM

17

Today, the University of Illinois graduate is an aerial application pilot and personnel manager for the family business, which has expanded with a second facility in the Cooksville area and services near Champaign.

While in school, Petersen studied crop sciences and agribusiness, an education he believes is essential to his success.

Earning his wings may have been a lifelong dream, but Petersen remembers a time his body wasn’t on the same wavelength.

“I had a big problem with air sickness and motion sickness,” he said. “Eventually I got that worked out of my system when I got a little older.”

Petersen’s father earned his pilot license in 1980, and has been an integral part of his son’s journey, serving as instructor and mentor.

Few agricultural flight schools exist in the country; Petersen estimates a national pool of about 1,500 ag pilots.

“It’s not for everybody. ... It’s a very niche market.”

An antiquated term, “crop duster,” can conjure up images of pilots haphazardly flying old fighter planes, plotting their course on paper maps and plat books, but the industry has come a long way since those daredevil days.

“Definitely that’s been a stigma with the aerial application business for a lot of years — the crazy crop duster cowboy-type flying under power lines, buzzing people, just out there having a good time,” Petersen said. “The industry has done a good job getting that image out of people’s heads.

Photo courtesy of Scott Anderson

Pontiac Flying Service has 14 pilots who fly Air Tractors for aerial applications. The planes can hold up to 800 gallons of liquid. Together, the pilots can cover as much as 30,000 acres in a day.

“The (National Agricultural Aviation Association) works very hard to present our industry as professional across the nation and world.”

Petersen said the rules are firm with his operation: No crazy flying.

That’s not to say Petersen doesn’t like the adrenaline of being in the sky.

“The freedom of the flying is great, you can go anywhere you want. I enjoy the ag part, to make good applications and we get to be precise with the GPS equipment we have.”

The increase in fungicide jobs this season is not unique to Pontiac Flying Service.

Strong demand for fungicides due to disease pressure and insect pressure, as well as a positive return on investment, have all contributed to fungicide applica-

tions nearly doubling from past years, said Jeff Bunting, crop protection division director at Growmark.

“There’s a broad spectrum of diseases being controlled, from gray leaf spot, Southern rust, and others,” Bunting said. “Tar spot is showing up in some areas too.”

Bunting said that with increased demand, some farmers struggled to find available pilots.

“I am hearing that some aerial applicators are turning away business because they just can’t get to them or won’t have the window to make the application in time,” he said. “Also, with the increase in demand we are getting a lot of questions about what’s going on, why are planes flying and what are they applying?

This is about how we work together with the public and the importance around IPM (integrated pest management) principles and the need for the application.”

The Pontiac Flying Service crew was busy in Cooksville the first week of August, with a handful of staff arriving just as the sun peeked over the horizon on a Wednesday morning.

Standing in front of one of the five Air Tractors, Petersen said the planes carry 500 to 800 gallons of liquid, which equates to an hour-and-a-half of spraying before a pilot needs to land and reload.

The pilots can cover 30,000 acres together in one day, with planes traveling 130 to 160 mph.

As his plane was being filled and prepped, Petersen slipped away to grab his lunch box. It would be a long day, but he hoped to wrap up the fungicide applications by the weekend.

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association.

For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.

EXPERIENCED • RESPONSIVE • TRUSTED

Brandt Hutchcraft • Mike Urish • Doug Vanderlaan • Garett Plumley • Bart Ottens • Luke Larson • Bill Dale • Steve Taets

Farmers National Bank Ag Lenders Serving Northwest Illinois Since 1902

For All Your Ag Banking Needs • Operating for Crops and Livestock • Equipment and Irrigation • Buildings, Livestock and Grain Facilities • Farm Land • Prompt and local decisions with access to as much as $10 million per farm customer

PROPHETSTOWN

TOP

100

Ag Bank in the U.S.

www.FarmersNationalBank.bank

114 West Third Street

(815) 537-2348 GENESEO

700 US Highway 6 East

(309) 944-0580 MORRISON

1100 East Lincolnway

(815) 772-3700

SHAW MEDIA Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

SOARING cont’d from page 16

Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

SHAW MEDIA

18

TODAY’S FARM COVER STORY

A call to farms A national coalition has gathered its ground forces to help veterans find their place, and a purpose: feeding the world

BY KAY SHIPMAN | FarmWeek

For two decades, Amy Hess always had an evacuation bag packed with essentials.

“I was always ready to leave,” the former Army Reserve major told FarmWeek.

It wasn’t until she was standing in the middle of her Mercer County pasture — seven years post-retirement — that she finally realized she didn’t have to go anywhere.

“I retired at 40 after 22.5 years of service. I had no idea how tired I was until I left the service. This gives me rest and also a purpose,” Hess said, looking over the rolling fields of her farm in Aledo, about 60 miles southwest of Sterling. “If you had told me in 2012 where I was going to be, I wouldn’t have dreamed it. I needed time to find what gives me joy.”

She also needed a helping hand, and she got it thanks to the Farmer Veteran Coalition, the nation’s largest nonprofit assisting veterans and active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces who’ve embark on careers in agriculture.

VETERANS cont’d to page 19

PROTECT YOUR LEGACY

WHERE FAMILY AND FARM GO HAND IN HAND

Kay Shipman of FarmWeek

Retired Army Reserve Maj. Amy Hess said she took a “giant leap” and bought a new tractor for her diversified Mercer County farm. To Hess, the equipment means she will be more self-sufficient.

Agriculture Loans We focus on your finances, so you can focus on your farm.

• Operating • Equipment

• Livestock • Real Estate

www.commstbk.com Morrison • 815-772-4011 Fulton • 815-589-9090

Sterling • 815-625-4300

Rock Falls • 815-625-1110 Dixon • 815-284-8500

Meet Our Ag Lenders:

www.hughmillerinsurance.com

(815) 626-1300

Dean Zuidema SM-ST1948240

Kevin Schisler

Don Beswick

Greg Nickrent

Larry VenHuizen

Brandon Belt

TODAY’S FARM COVER STORY The coalition was officially formed in 2009, but its roots go back a few years earlier, to 2007, when its founder, Michael O’Gorman — himself a farmer — read a study by the Carsey Institute documenting zip codes of those killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. It showed that America’s veterans came disproportionately from rural America.

According to the group’s website, He thought “maybe those coming home from war would like careers on our nation’s farms, and maybe I could help,” and he did. He met with three gold star mothers — Mary Tillman (mother of Pat Tillman), Dolores Kesterman and Nadia McCaffrey — who had all lost their sons in Iraq or Afghanistan. Together they helped create a campaign to offer viable careers and places to heal on our nation’s farms for service members.

Today, the group boasts nearly 25,000 farmer-veteran members, with 13 chapters across the nation. The group also funds Fellowship grants and more than 2,000 of its members are certified as Homegrown By Heroes.

With a grant from the Farmer Veteran Coalition, Hess bought a cabinet

PROTECTION FOR YOUR FARM. AND YOUR FARM'S FUTURE.

incubator and started incubating 200 eggs Nov. 1. “Now I won’t have to rely on a hatchery anymore,” she added.

Today, Hess finds joy in a small, diversified farm with heirloom breeds of pigs, chickens, ducks and turkeys; a few acres of hay and pasture; large garden; and big future plans. “I’m working toward self-sufficiency. It’s a lifestyle for myself and my family,” she said.

She said she took a “giant leap” late last year when she added a New Holland tractor with blade and mower to her operation. Now Hess won’t have to miss a third cutting of hay again, like she did before when she had to rely on others to help. “That (missed cutting) was the catalyst to buy,” she said, adding that the equipment also brings opportunities for custom mowing and snow removal.

With a commercial license, Hess delivers an “eggscape” of colors that ranges from rusty red to soft greens and blues to customers across Mercer County. By the fall, she hopes to have spring turkey eggs, and birds available for Thanksgiving meals. For now, though, she’s plans to offer customers starter eggs or poults to raise. When their birds mature, those customers may return to Hess for help processing

the mature MORE INFO birds.

Other plans include completing a small on-farm stand with a roof. The “farmers market of one” will Online: farmvetco.org offer a variety of E-mail: supsupport@ vegetables from farmvetco.orgport@ her two garfarmvetco.org dens, cut flowe r s , e g g s a n d Phone: 530-756-1395 meat birds.

“It’s a lot of work, but if you love what you do … ” she said, her voice trailing off.

“I credit the Farmer Veteran Coalition for helping to fund my dreams, for understanding what it takes, giving me opportunities to pursue my dreams and for giving veterans a mission to serve a purpose,” Hess said. “It’s very important to be part of something bigger than yourself.”

Farmers seeking hard-working employees should consider hiring veterans, Hess said. Veterans are “equipped to handle and manage stress and remain calm. Until the job is done, our (veterans’) workday is not over. That’s the parallel to serving in

uniform and farming,” she explained.

While Americans owe much to veterans, they also owe those serving today. “We can never lose our awareness and appreciation for a volunteer force,” she said. That awareness applies to Hess’ twins. Her son, Ben, serves in the Marines and daughter Rebecca is in the Air National Guard.

Their younger sister, Sarah, is a freshman at Mercer County High School.

On Nov. 11, the nation’s thoughts turned to those who serve and sacrifice. While thanking a veteran on Veterans Day is a kind gesture, it’s also important throughout the year.

Hess said she’d like to see more people take time to recognize those who serve throughout the year, and not just on holidays — and don’t just thank them for their service, talk to them, ask questions, and tell them how much their duty means to you.

“If you really want to thank a veteran, appreciate the freedoms you have,” she said.

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.

You’ve got big plans for the future and at American Family Insurance, we understand what it takes to make your dream a reality.

Let’s talk about the protection your dream deserves.

Robert Maltry, Agent 709 N Brinton Ave Dixon, IL 61021 Bus: (815) 288-4206

American Family Mutual Insurance Company S.I. and its Operating Companies, American Family Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison Wisconsin 53783 ©2019 016630 – 04/19 – 14796427

SHAW MEDIA Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

VETERANS cont’d from page 18

19

Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

SHAW MEDIA

20

TODAY’S FARM

Specialty crops

Couple gives junior farmers with special needs a place to grow

BY TAMMIE SLOUP | FarmWeek FRANKFORT — Gathering supplies in the tool shed at Navarro Farm, the small group talked excitedly amongst themselves.

One man made the rounds, giving hugs and pointing to where a bee had previously landed on his forehead.

Group leader Amy Stanislawski announced their first activity: picking tomatoes.

Grabbing their tools and towing a wagon for their haul, the group set out on their adventure, passing the vineyard and small orchard of apple, pear, peach and plum trees, making their way down the stone pathway to the 84 planting beds, where they’d get to work harvesting vegetables and pulling weeds.

NAVARRO cont’d to page 21 Left: Sherri Navarro owns Navarro Farm in Frankfort with her husband, Damion. The couple provides people with special needs, like their son, a place of their own where they can learn about life on the farm. Inset above: Navarro gets a hug from Tommy, one of the special needs farmers.

Tammie Sloup of FarmWeek

“Community banking since 1934…We understand the importance of experience, growth, local decisions and longevity in your farming business.”

Susan Gomez NMLS# 1027602

Mandy Sandrock NMLS# 1393799

David Lloyd

Chas Cross

Todd Muur

Sarah Wiersema

NMLS# 1609858

NMLS# 591637

OVER 95 YEARS OF GREAT DEALS AND GREAT SERVICE

NMLS# 1846547

NMLS# 2041883

The First National Bank in Amboy

Amboy • Dixon • Franklin Grove • Monroe Center 220 East Main Street, Amboy, Illinois 61310 (815) 857-3625 | www.fnbamboy.com

“Great Deals, Great Service, Since 1926”

Rt. 52 N. Sublette, IL Ph. 815/849-5232 or 1-800-227-5203

WWW.VAESSENBROTHERS.COM SM-ST1948099

NAVARRO cont’d from page 20

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.

Since 1869 Providing insurance coverage for local homes and farms

Adami Insurance Agency 712 First Avenue, Rock Falls 815-625-6220 tracey.adamiagency@gmail.com

Hugh F. Miller Insurance Agency, Inc. 801 First Avenue, Rock Falls 815-626-1300 hughmillerinsurance.com

HanfordSchuneman Insurance Agency 312 Washington St, Prophetstown (815) 537.2301 www.hanford-ins.com

Kaczmarzyk Agency Inc. 1022 S IL Rt. 2, Oregon 815-732-3148 kaczins@outlook.com

B V-A

Stenzel Insurance 102 N. Elm, Franklin Grove 815-456-2319 roxy@stenzelinsurance.com

Miller Insurance Group

427 N. Main Street, Rochelle 815-561-9911 fax: 815-561-9912 email: insure10@frontier.com

Query Insurance Agency 330 May Mart Drive, Rochelle 815-562-4152 tbecker@crumhalsted.com

Cornerstone Insurance Agency 102 W. Main, Morrison 815-772-2793 lsandrock@2cornerstone.com

Sauk Valley Insurance Services 109 6th Street, Dixon 815-288-2541 www.saukvalleyinsurance.com

Leffelman & Associates Amboy 815-857-2125 lisa@leffelmanassoc.com LaMoille 815-638-2171 lexi@leffelmanassoc.com Sublette 815-849-5219 chris@leffelmanassoc.com

Baylor Insurance Agency

Mel Saad Agency

Lee Center 815-857-2716 rbaylor1@gmail.com

928 8th Avenue, Erie 309-659-2470 saad@mchsi.com

BRADFORD VICTOR-ADAMS

MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY Member Owned and Operated

Our Contact Information 120 W. South Street, Franklin Grove 815-456-2334 www.bradfordmutual.com SM-ST1948118 SM-ST1791864

21 SHAW MEDIA Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

The farm was humming with activity. Nearby, five Nigerian dwarf goats darted around their pen while nearly 40 chickens clucked inside their coop.

Sherri Navarro, who owns the farm with her husband, Damion, looked around the 5-acre property in Frankfort, a village on the southern edge of Chicago’s suburbs, still amazed at the transformation.

The couple purchased the farm in September 2020, intending to tear down the barn and erect a pole barn for their company, NES Environmental. That plan was quickly scratched.

A friend suggested they plant a communal garden for special needs kids. The Navarros’ 17-year-old son, Carter, was born with Down syndrome, and the Navarros recognized the potential benefits of such a project.

And then a light bulb went off for Sherri.

“I said, ‘Damion! A place to grow!’”

The phrase, which ultimately became their slogan, meant not only a place to grow food, but to grow friendships and learning experiences for those with special needs.

“And we took that idea and started running, and haven’t stopped,” Sherri said.

Today, the nonprofit provides a farming experience for children and young adults with special needs. Through the farming program, visitors, who are called “farmers,” plant and harvest all the food, including peppers, onions, eggplant, pumpkins, fruit and more. They care for the goats and chickens and harvest eggs.

All the food is either sold at their farm stand, Carter’s Corner, or donated to local restaurants. Bee boxes have also been installed for honey, and Avery’s Flower Farm grows and cuts flowers in a garden on the property.

The project is a big endeavor for a couple with no farming experience.

But through word of mouth and the generosity of volunteers — many of whom are former special education teachers, occupational therapists, farmers and master gardeners — the program and offerings continue to grow.

Kim Warning’s son, Steven, is part of the program, which she said has been “amazing” for her More info son’s socialization skills.

Navarro Farm “I’ve never seen him so 22155 S. 104th Ave., Frankfort, IL 60423 invested in a place,” she Contact: 815-270-2010 or hello@navarrofarm.org said from inside the renoOnline: navarrofarm.org/ and on Facebook vated barn that also serves as a break room — complete with a full-size arcade game, craft supplies and tables.

Program Coordinator June Hoops dubbed Warning one of the “core moms” who’s always willing to lend a hand.

“When you have someone doing anything for your kid and making their life better, you’ll do anything for them,” Warning said. “It’s like a family here.”

The farming program is offered a couple times a week, with two sessions a day.

The program is open to those 14 and older with special needs. Participants must meet certain criteria, which can be found at navarrofarm.org.

Because transition services and programs for students receiving special education typically end at age 22, Navarro Farm offers a unique experience for those who otherwise wouldn’t have many opportunities to socialize.

Aside from the farming experience, participants also make crafts and play sports — kickball is their favorite. On Friday nights, the farm often offers social events such as barbecues and movie nights. Special monthly events are also planned through the year.

Seeing the impact the farm has had in just a short time, the Navarros hope to expand — not just their program offerings but the farm itself. Plans are in the works for a greenhouse so the farmers can continue growing and harvesting through the winter. The couple hopes to one day build housing at the farm for those with special needs, complete with bike paths and other amenities, creating a community for the residents.

“There’s endless opportunity,” Sherri said.

22

TODAY’S FARM

SHAW MEDIA

Report: Farming still a family affair

Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

USDA digs into the makeup of farms, finds most of them are still family operations A LOOK AT THE REPORT

BY TOM C. DORAN AgriNews Publications | Shaw Media WASHINGTON — Family farms remain the primary source of food production in the United States, according to a report by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.

“We find that 98% of U.S. farms are family farms and they account for 87% of farm production. This has remained largely unchanged when compared with 2011 data,” said Christine Whitt, who co-authored America’s Diverse Family Farms report with Jessica Todd and Andrew Keller.

Data for the report comes from the 2020 Agricultural Resource Management Survey conducted by ERS and the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

“The 2021 edition of this report describes characteristics of the 2 million U.S. farms in 2020. Specifically, the report examines what farms produce, how much they profit and their participation in federal agricultural programs. The report also looks more closely at farm household well-being,” Whitt said.

USDA defines a farm as any place that, during a given year, produced and sold — or normally would have produced and sold — at least $1,000 of agricultural products.

Farm size is measured by gross cash farm income (GCFI), a measure of the farm’s revenue that includes sales of crops and livestock, government payments, and other farm-related income, including fees from production contracts.

U.S. farm size

Number & percentage in 2020 SMALL FAMILY FARMS — GCFI LESS THAN $350,000 • RETIREMENT FARMS: 219,288 — 10.9% (Small farms whose principal operators report having retired from farming, though continuing to farm on a small scale).

• OFF-FARM-OCCUPATION FARMS: 779,767 — 38.8% (Small farms whose principal operators report a primary occupation other than farming).

• FARMING-OCCUPATION FARMS LOW SALES: 683,514 — 34% MODERATE SALES: 110,865 — 5.5% (Farming occupation farms are small farms whose principal operators report farming as their primary occupation. These farms are further sorted into two classes: low sales, with GCFI less than $150,000, and moderate sales, with GCFI between $150,000 and $349,999).

MIDSIZE FAMILY FARMS — GCFI BETWEEN $350,000 AND $999,999 • 112,122 — 5.6%.

LARGE-SCALE FAMILY FARMS — GCFI BETWEEN $1,000,000 AND $4,999,999 • 51,708 — 2.6%.

VERY LARGE FAMILY FARMS — GCFI OF $5,000,000 OR MORE • 6,124 — 0.3%.

Matt Hermes

Designated Managing Broker 1254 N. Galena, Dixon 815-288-4648 80+/- Acres. Excellent producer S NW of Amboy OLD 160+/- Acres. Irrigated farm w/excellent S yields.

OLD 38+/- Acres. Excellent location to build or develop.

SOLD 45+/- Acres. 85% tillable, great location near Amboy.

445+/- Acres. Palmyra Township, 429+/- tillable.

SOLD

Your farm. Your passion.

Our protection.

Policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL., an equal opportunity provider.

SM-ST1942365

La Salle Co:

715,000 bu grain storage setup in great Sterling location!

• Approximately 89% of all farms were small family farms. Compared with 2011 — the earliest year using the current farm typology — the share of land operated by small family farms fell from 52% to 48% and the share of the value of production on small family farms declined from 26% to 20%.

• Large-scale family farms accounted for 46% of the total value of production in 2020, an increase from 35% in 2011. These farms also

Representative Dixon, IL 61021-9139 (815)284-7790

Lee Co:

43+/- Acres. Prime location on Rt 34 ES ofO Mendota.

LD

Production, farmland

accounted for an increased share of total land operated, up from 16% in 2011 to 24% in 2020.

• In total, family farms accounted for about 98% of total farms and 87% of total production in 2020.

• Non-family farms accounted for the remaining 2% of farms and 13% of production. Among non-family farms, 18% had a GCFI of $1 million or more.

Such farms accounted for 90% of non-family farms’ production. Examples of non-family farms include partnerships of unrelated partners, closely held non-family corporations, farms with a hired operator unrelated to the owners, and publicly held corporations.

REPORT cont’d to page 23

Larry Farley

Specializing in Farm Sales & Management

Whiteside Co:

NON-FAMILY FARMS • 47,275 — 2.4% (Any farm where an operator and persons related to the operator do not own a majority of the business).

1218-500HC-03984-9/1/2020

COUNTRYCrop.com

TODAY’S FARM Farm operating expense

• A large share of total expenses on field crop farms went toward fertilizers and other chemicals: 26% in 2020, which was slightly less than the 27% share spent in 2011. Spending on seed and plants accounted for another 14% of expenses on field crop operations in 2020, which was slightly more than the 13% in 2011.

• Feed expenses made up 48% of all expenses on dairy operations, 19% on cattle operations and 29% on other livestock operations in 2020. The share of expenses allocated to feed on dairy and other livestock operations was similar in 2011. Livestock purchases accounted for a greater share of all expenses on beef cattle operations than did feed at 28% in 2020.

Pandemic and direct sales

• Direct sales amounted to almost $10.7 billion, a nearly $2.8 billion (35%) increase from the value reported in the 2019 survey. Only 27% of total direct sales were direct-to-consumer, whereas the remaining 73% occurred through

intermediary supply chains. Among farms rants increased by 11% and 13%, respecwith less than $75,000 in GCFI, 85% of all tively, whereas sales at farm stores, CSAs direct sales were direct-to-consumer in and other DTC channels, as well as sales 2020. to regional distributors, • Changes in direct sales increased by 79% and 73%, varied across farm-size caterespectively. However, sales gories. Farms with less than to institutions declined by $75,000 in GCFI had $2.5 mil86% in 2020 relative to 2019, lion less in overall direct sales which was likely due to panin 2020 than in 2019. These demic closures or restricted smaller farms accounted for operations.

8% of all the direct sales in Government payments, 2020, down from 10% in 2019. Farms with direct sales federal crop insurance and a GCFI between $75,000 • Small family farms and $350,000 increased received 81% of all payments The report their direct sales by $0.4 bilfor USDA’s Conservation Go to ers.usda.gov/ lion — which accounted for Reserve Program.

Environpublications/pub-de11% of all direct sales — mental Quality Incentives Protails?pubid=102807 whereas farms with direct gram and Conservation Stewand click on the sales and a GCFI greater than “Entire report” link at ardship Program payments $350,000 increased their were more likely received by the bottom of the direct sales by $2.4 billion, midsize, large-scale and page to read the which accounted for 81% of non-family farms, with 68% America’s Diverse all direct sales.

Family Farms report. receiving payments in those • The overall increase in categories overall. direct sales in 2020 occurred • Midsized and large-scale family across most direct sales marketing chan- farms along with non-family farms nels. Sales at farmers markets and restau- accounted for 80% of the total value of

production and received 78% of commodity-linked, agricultural disaster programs and other federal, state and local farm program payments.

• Small family farms received 16% of all farm-level pandemic assistance from USDA and 22% of all other government payments — excluding pandemic assistance and conservation program payments — which was consistent with the smaller production scale. Large-scale family farms received 52% of all farmlevel pandemic assistance and 44% of all other payments.

• Additionally, 64% of all farm-level pandemic assistance reported as having been received from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Programs — programs 1 and 2 — in 2020. Another 21% came from loans from the Small Business Administration under the Paycheck Protection Program and advances from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

• Overall, 40% of all farms reported receiving some type of government payments in 2020.

Tom C. Doran can be reached at 815410-2256 or tdoran@shawmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at: @AgNews_Doran.

VandeVoorde Sales Inc Curious about carbon farming?

FOR ALL YOUR GRAIN BIN & DRYER SALES AND SERVICE 18854 E 2750th Street Annawan IL 61234 309.935.6382

11399 Maple Grove Road Lanark IL 61046 815.493.2210

Partnering with Agoro Carbon Alliance makes it easy to get paid while improving your soil health and water quality through carbon farming practices. Our customers never have to go it alone with built-in support from local agronomists. Contact Roy today for a complimentary custom quote for your farm.

Roy Zellmer,

Agoro Regional Sales Manager

(608) 393-4120 agorocarbonalliance.com

SHAW MEDIA Sauk Valley Media/ SaukValley.com • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022

REPORT cont’d from page 22

23