SVM_Today's Farm_071322

Sauk Valley Media/ ShawLocal.com • Wednesday, Jul 13, 2022

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Today’s Farm WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022

COVER STORY

Soybean farmers are poised to see a diesel-powered demand for their product

ALSO INSIDE ... Crop-dusting drone helps farmer stay on top of crop health Dairy industry starts to see a rebound after rough patch | More monarchs are on the move In this ag class, students look forward to pop quizzes | Come this fall, state will pay students’ way into FFA

Micro-managing crop health Farmer’s fields get a helping hand from crop-dusting drone that drops fungi, bacteria Left: Brady Holst’s drone is equipped with an eight-gallon tank that he uses to apply foliar feeding and fungicides to his crops.

AgriNews photo/ Martha Blum

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BY MARTHA BLUM | AgriNews Publications AUGUSTA, Ill. — In addition to planting corn and soybeans seeds, Brady Holst applies a mix of bacteria and fungi with his planter.

“We’ve been putting biologicals on with the planter for about five years,” said Holst, who farms with his dad and brother. “They are a little different than a lot of biologicals because they are live when we put them on.”

The fungi help with root uptake of nutrients, Holst explained during the Soy Around the State media tour in June, organized by the Illinois Soybean Association.

CROP HEALTH cont’d to page 20

SHAW MEDIA Sauk Valley Media/ ShawLocal.com • Wednesday, Jul 13, 2022

TODAY’S FARM IN THE FIELD

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Sauk Valley Media/ ShawLocal.com • Wednesday, Jul 13, 2022

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TODAY’S FARM IN THE FIELD CROP HEALTH cont’d from page 21 “The bacteria convert nutrients into what the plant is going to use,” he said.

The microbes are in a pretty stable state until the food source is added.

“Once the food source goes into it, we have about 24 hours to put it on because the microbes will start multiplying very fast,” Holst said. “They will take all the oxygen out of water so they won’t be able to breathe.”

Microbes applied to the Holst fields are specific to the region.

“Some are ones that are already here naturally, so we add to increase the numbers, and others are different strains that are added for the benefits,” he said.

Adding the microbes in furrows, Holst said, benefits the worst fields the most.

“We’ve seen the biggest results in areas that are not the best farms and also in years that are very wet or dry,” he said. “When conditions are perfect, the natural microbial activity is very high, so we don’t see as much benefit.”

Holst is also experimenting with foliar feeding on his farm, where he grows 1,600 acres of corn and 1,600 acres of soybeans.

AgriNews photo/Martha Blum

Brady Holst uses a drone to apply a mix of bacteria and fungi to his fields, giving his crop’s natural microbial activity a helping hand.

“I put silica on the soybeans, which helps with stress relief,” he said. “And we put amino acids on to help with root growth and plant stress.”

The products were applied with a drone equipped with an 8-gallon tank.

“We bought the drones for fungi-

cide passes when the corn is tall, but it was convenient for the foliar passes because we were doing small strips,” said Holst, who is an at-large director for the ISA. “I applied two gallons per acre, which is the same as what a plane puts

on,” he said.

“I am spraying 32 acres per hour,” he said. “It is advertised to do 40 acres per hour. I haven’t hit that yet, but I think I will be able to once I get more use to it.”

Evaluation of different products and practices on the farm is important to Holst.

“We do soil testing and tissue tests on our plots once a week to watch closely for nutrient deficiencies in the plants,” he said “We want to see what’s in the ground and in the plant to see how the microbes are working.”

In addition, test strips are included on almost every field on the whole farm.

“Last year we did a lot of Y-drop trials with different nutrients,” Holst said. “We leave strips to make sure it’s still working every year.”

“We use Ag Leader for our maps, so all our applications and yields are recorded,” he said. “We take the data layers and use that to create maps for variable rates the following year.”

Martha Blum can be reached at 815-4102254, or mblum@shawmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at: @AgNews_Blum.

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Mexican officials report increase in the winged members of the nature’s pollination patrol, but experts caution that the insects could still be at risk

BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek

More monarch butterflies spent the winter in Mexican mountain forests compared to the previous year, Mexico’s Commission for Protected Areas reported recently.

Known as the eastern monarch population, the monarchs that overwinter in Mexico migrate north through Texas and the Southern Plains, up through the Northern Plains, Illinois and the Midwest before moving into the Great Lakes region.

Mexican officials reported a 35% increase in the forested area where the butterflies stayed. The population covered 7 acres of trees compared to 5.2 acres the previous year. The annual butterfly count doesn’t measure numbers of individual butterflies, but the area they cover when clumped in trees.

Monarch expert David Zaya, a plant ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, reported

seeing his first monarchs of the season May 25.

“The overwintering monarch butterfly numbers each year should be viewed with an eye to the recent past. Not only should we be looking at the 2.8 hectares (7 acres) from this year, but also at the trends in the last 10 or so years,” Zaya told FarmWeek.

“My takeaway from the reports out of Michoacán (Mexico) is that monarch numbers this year are ‘average’ for the last seven years — actually the median, not exactly the average,” Zaya continued.

“If we’re hit with another extreme year like 2012, or even worse two extreme years, the species could be on the brink of extinction. For that reason, conservation efforts along the migration route and especially here in their summer breeding range are urgently important,” he said.

Illinoisans can support monarchs by planting flowers, such as coneflowers and black-eyed Susans, for adult butterflies. Their larvae depend on milkweeds and grow on only plants in the milkweed family.

In Zaya’s view, farmers and rural landowners have an opportunity to make an impact because of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and other large-scale conservation programs, which he described as “game changers for pollinator conservation in Illinois.”

“CRP and other programs like that are going to have a huge impact on conservation of pollinators and other creatures in Illinois,” he continued.

“When you create habitat for monarchs and other pollinators, it helps larger wildlife and plants.”

Experts projected this year’s monarch increase could reflect the butterflies’ ability to adapt to more extreme bouts of heat or drought by varying the date when they leave Mexico, according to the Associated Press.

Traditionally, the monarchs arrive in the Mexican forests in early November and leave for the U.S. in March.

Last year, the butterflies left in February and escaped the heat and drought that came in April and May just north of the border. This year, they stayed until April.

Next year’s numbers might reflect whether the delay proved beneficial, according to a government commission spokesman.

Monarch butterflies west of the Rocky Mountains overwinter on the California coast. This year, their numbers rebounded to more than 250,000 butterflies.

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

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More monarchs flutter back to the Midwest

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TODAY’S FARM COVER STORY

Sauk Valley Media/ ShawLocal.com • Wednesday, Jul 13, 2022

It’s like money in the tank Soybean farmers poised to see a diesel-powered demand for their product

BY DANIEL GRANT | FarmWeek

Soybean growers could see demand growth from the biofuels sector in the next decade, reminiscent of the ethanol boom that shifted into high gear in the early 2000s and pushed corn use to new heights.

The key product set to take off is renewable diesel, not to be confused with biodiesel.

Both fuels use any oil or fat, mostly soybean oil, as feedstock. But the processing for each product differs, with renewable diesel generated from more high free fatty acid feedstocks, which produce better carbon intensity scores.

“Renewable diesel has emerged. It’s all about reducing the carbon intensity of fuel blends,” James Fry, founder and chairman of LMC International, said during a webinar hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

Mac Marshall, vice president of market intelligence for USSEC and the United Soybean Board, reported current production totals about 2.4 billion gallons of biodiesel and

nearly 1 billion gallons of renewable diesel nationwide each year.

But, with proposed plants all over the U.S., particularly along the Southern coast and Pacific Northwest, potential new capacity for renewable diesel production could skyrocket to 5.97 billion gallons by 2024.

“What makes it exciting is the partnerships forming [between soy crushers and the petroleum industry],” Marshall said. “When you see the private sector investments coming in, it makes this seem more tangible.”

One partnership to accelerate renewable diesel production announced in the fall involves a 50/50 joint venture between Chevron U.S.A. and Bunge North America.

The venture aims to establish a reliable supply chain from farmer to fueling station for both companies. Bunge is expected to contribute its soybean-processing facilities in Cairo on the southern tip of Illinois and in Destrehan, Louisiana, while Chevron contributes $600 million. The two companies anticipate doubling the combined capacity at the two facilities by 2024.

SOYBEANS cont’d to page 23

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Demand for vegetable oil is expected to grow worldwide, but production of Indonesian and Malaysian palm oil could fall due in part to declining production area and environmental constraints, Fry noted.

That puts soybean oil in the driver’s seat as the key feedstock to fuel renewable diesel.

LMC projects global vegetable oil production could increase 2% annually, but growth of soy output could reach 3.5% a year while sunflower and canola oil production increase just 1.5% and palm oil production possibly stagnates.

“The one oil that’s going to meet this demand growth is soybean oil,” Fry said. “By 2030, soy oil will be significantly ahead of palm as the leading oil (worldwide).”

With soybean production on the rise in South America and the U.S., Scott Gerlt, economist with the American Soybean Association, believes there will be plenty of supply to meet expanding soybean demand for renewable diesel production. He does not expect the new market to resurrect the food-versus-fuel debate sparked by the introduction of the Renewable Fuels Standard in 2005.

“There’s plenty of supply. We’re seeing increased crush capacity,” Gerlt said. “And, we have to remember that for every pound of soy oil, we get 4 pounds of meal.”

As for the near future, Gerlt doesn’t anticipate a large increase in U.S. soybean plantings in 2022.

“In the U.S., a lot of planting decisions are driven by rotation, so we don’t usually see wholesale changes in acreage,” he added. “I’m not expecting a wide swing on acres at this point.”

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

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Sauk Valley Media/ ShawLocal.com • Wednesday, Jul 13, 2022

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TODAY’S FARM DAIRY

The land of milk and money Dairy industry starting to rebound after rough patch

BY DANIEL GRANT | FarmWeek

Things are generally looking up for milk producers this year after a long stretch of economic challenges.

The USDA recently forecast average milk prices for 2022 at $25.75 per hundredweight for all milk, $22.75 for Class III and $23.80 for Class IV. If realized, the prices would be up from $5 to $7 per hundredweight compared to last year.

“Stronger prices are starting to come back,

so, that’s certainly helpful to our dairy farmers in Illinois,” said Tasha Bunting, Illinois Farm Bureau associate director of commodities and livestock programs and manager of the Illinois Milk Producers Association (IMPA). “We have definitely seen a shrinkage of the number of dairy farms the last several years.”

The number of licensed dairy farms in the U.S. contracted from 70,375 in 2003 to 31,657 in 2020, the American Farm Bureau Federation reported. Following a multi-year stretch of consolidation, Illinois now has about 450 Grade A dairy farms, with a total herd of nearly 81,000 milk cows.

“Fortunately, our cow numbers aren’t shrinking quite as drastically,” Bunting said. “What that tells us is our farms are getting a little larger. And with that comes different efficiencies and ways to utilize those scales of economies to maybe get a better price for feed or inputs they need.”

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DAIRY cont’d to page 25

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TODAY’S FARM DAIRY The tour will be held at Beer’s Robo Holsteins Dairy Farm near Mascoutah.

“That farm uses robotic milkers and, from what I understand, they were one of the first in the state to put robotic milkers in place,” Bunting said. “We’re going to talk to them about what they’ve learned the last 11 years and how that experience has gone.

“The dairy tour is always a great time for our dairy farmers and those in the industry to connect,” she said.

Dairy output, export opportunities grow While the number of U.S. dairy farms decreased the past 20 years, the amount of milk produced by the industry actually increased 37% since 2001 due in part to improved efficiencies and genetics.

That not only reduced the industry’s footprint, but also positions it to meet growing demand around the world. Long-term global dairy consumption is projected to rise while the two largest suppliers, the European Union and New Zealand, face struc-

SHAW MEDIA Sauk Valley Media/ ShawLocal.com • Wednesday, Jul 13, 2022

DAIRY cont’d from page 24

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tural constraints that could limit the ability to significantly increase milk output in those places.

The U.S. is better positioned than any other country to grow its milk and dairy production in a sustainable manner that meets rising global demand, if the industry continues to invest in exports, said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

The U.S. is the third-largest dairy exporter in the world, with about 17% of its production shipped to other countries. The USDA projects the industry could produce 226.7 billion pounds of milk this year, up from 226.3 billion last year.

The U.S. dairy industry also managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% during a recent period of increased output (2002-17) and remains committed to reducing water use, improving water quality and achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050.

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.

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TODAY’S FARM EDUCATION

It’s a pop quiz students don’t mind Professor promotes kernels as a way to teach science

BY LAUREN QUINN U of I College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences media specialist URBANA, Ill. — In Kirsten Wyatt’s agriculture science classroom in Paxton, in east-central Illinois, an unusual piece of equipment helps high schoolers learn more about genomics. It’s not a microscope or a computer — but a popcorn popper.

Wyatt’s students learn popomics — popcorn genomics — from Tony Studer, associate professor and popcorn breeder in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois.

The lessons, which involve popping Studer’s specialty orange and blue kernels and observing attributes of the popped corn, make concepts of genomics and breeding much more memorable than standard lectures.

“From a teaching standpoint, anytime we can start making connections with objects that students see or use on a daily basis, or at least have some background knowledge of, it’s always good,” Wyatt said.

Studer sends packets of popcorn kernels from

his breeding trials to the high school, then Zooms into the classroom to explain the foundations of genomics before asking students to fire up the poppers.

“Because of COVID, I had to get better about hands-on activities because Zoom sessions aren’t super captivating,” Studer said.

For example, Studer has students shuffle decks of cards to illustrate genetic recombination.

“Pulling cards from a deck at random shows how the slightest change can make a big difference,” said Kailyn, a sophomore at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School and member of Wyatt’s class.

But the students aren’t the only ones learning. As soon as the popping begins, Studer starts analyzing the students’ data to guide his research.

“The students collect data on the popcorn I send them, and I make breeding decisions on their observations.

The students really enjoy that because it’s not just doing a standard lab exercise a thousand other people have done before them. They’re popping corn no one’s popped before. And I can make actual scientific decisions off their information,” Studer said.

POPCORN cont’d to page 27

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TODAY’S FARM EDUCATION Students take notes and measurements on everything from kernel type, color, volume of popped vs. unpopped kernels, popped shape, and more.

“I give them 200-kernel sets, and they score a bunch of different variables along with any notes they might feel are important,” Studer said. “If they’re really into it, I watch them fly through the notes column. They’re telling me everything. When I start to see that, it’s super helpful, and makes the quality of the data better.”

The collaboration with Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School is an outgrowth of Studer’s Illinois Popcorn Outreach Program, or I-POP. When he started at U of I in 2015, Studer knew he wanted to connect audiences with agriculture in a way almost everyone could relate to. Popcorn was the obvious answer.

Studer developed his curriculum initially for two summer programs in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences: Discovering STEM in ACES and ACES Family Academies.

When a student from Family Academies enrolled at U of I and started working in his lab, Studer knew he

was onto something.

I-POP made the leap into schools after another one of Studer’s students graduated and became a teacher at Paxton High School. Now, Studer wants to expand the curriculum throughout the state and beyond.

“I have been in contact with some Extension STEM Educators to formalize some of the curriculum around the Next Generation Science Standards to see if we can really make a module that can go out widely,” he said. “We’ll tie it to those key curriculum points to reinforce what the students are learning in a fun way.”

Ultimately, the goal is to connect the next generation with agriculture and potential careers in the field.

“I think having outside scientists like Dr. Studer coming in helps students realize they might be interested in science careers in the future. Making those networking connections has been really beneficial. If we can continue the trend in agriculture, I think is going to be really awesome to see,” Wyatt said.

High school students interested in related programs can visit the Crop Sciences future students page at tinyurl.com/ms878jv8 or the ACES future students page at tinyurl.com/ bdcryk9u.

Ag students get their dues State will pay their way into FFA beginning this fall SHAW AGRINEWS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — FFA dues for every student taking agriculture education classes across the state will be covered starting this fall, thanks to more than a half-million dollars from the state.

The elimination of dues makes Illinois an FFA affiliation membership state, ensuring every student enrolled in agricultural education will have FFA membership dues automatically paid, making them a FFA member.

In Illinois, FFA membership is offered to students in seventh through 12th grade. Currently, more than 350 schools across the state have a FFA chapter.

Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, spearheaded the effort to appropriate $550,000 for the dues.

“The more bright minds we can bring in to help solve the agricultural problems of tomorrow, the better we all will be in the future,” she said.

The news couldn’t come at a better time, said Illinois FFA Executive Direc-

tor Mindy Bunselmeyer.

“Illinois’ No. 1 industry touches so many beyond traditional family farms. FFA continues to expand its mission to prepare our ag leaders for tomorrow,” she said.

In 2022, nearly 37,000 students across the state were enrolled in ag classes, but the state’s FFA membership was only 23,000 members, said Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. “By removing the cost barrier, this opens up the doors for thousands more students to benefit from what FFA provides, which goes well beyond what can be taught in the classroom,” he said.

Ag education also got a boost from a pair of bills signed by Gov. JB Pritzker last year: House Bill 3218 and Senate Bill 1624, which add agriculture education to the list of acceptable electives that qualify a student for admission to state universities and agricultural sciences to the list of acceptable science courses for admission.

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POPCORN cont’d from page 26

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