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Monday, December 14, 2009 Two sections Volume 37, No. 49

FarmWeek on the web: FarmWeekNow.com Illinois Farm Bureau®on the web: www.ilfb.org

ILLINOIS HUNTERS andfishermen will pay slightly more toparticipate in their choosen sportsnext year following action by Gov.Pat Quinn. .....................................13

THE BRAZILIAN forecast-ing agency, Conab, is projecting arecord soybean crop for Brazil of1.76 billion bushels — an increaseof nearly 13 percent. .................16

FA R M E R S W H O S T I L Lhave corn in the field were dealta n o t h e r s e t b a c k b y M o t h e rNature last week as winter-likeweather set in. ............................14

IFB challenges climate proposals, assumptionsBY MARTIN ROSSFarmWeek

Last week in Chicago, Illi-nois producers challengedcongressional “cap-and-trade”proposals while taking a swipeat the credibility of the sciencebehind them.

At Illinois Farm Bureau’sannual meeting, delegates reaf-firmed their “strong oppositionto cap-and-trade provisions infederal legislation.” Membersalso mailed postcards andsigned letters urging the U.S.Senate to block the measure.

House-proposed caps onannual utility and industrialgreenhouse gas emissions“will hit families hard,” gener-ating an energy shortage,reducing food production, andcausing “higher food costs athome and more hunger over-seas,” a “sense of the delegatebody” resolution stated.

IFB President Philip Nel-son warned cap-and-trade pro-posals long term would resultin an $11,000 to $15,000 dropin average annual Illinois per-farm income, a likely end toU.S. soybean and meatexports, and a potential 40percent reduction in cornexports.

Nelson last week toldreporters a new carbon market

could lead to a massive con-version of cropland to treeplantings, raising questionsabout how U.S. agriculture canfeed the world when growingtrees instead of food and feedcrops. For all that, the measurewould have a “negligibleimpact on climate,” even byU.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency projections, he said.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, aPeoria Republican and annualmeeting guest, argued policy-makers can reduce carbonemissions and create greenjobs through incentives for“what we want more of, with-out taxing the heck out of theindustries we want less of.”

If the Senate, which cur-rently is embroiled in healthcare debate, fails to take up cli-mate proposals this session,Schock said he hopes Democ-rat leaders will “revisit” alter-native energy developmentand use proposals.

He believes Republicanswould back Democrat energyproposals, “but it’s going totake them being willing to giveup on the ‘cap-and-tax’ bill.”

“You don’t have to put thecoal business out of businessin order to help build wind-mills or hydroelectrical damsor more nuclear power, all of

See Climate, page 4

Social issues raise emotional FB policy debateBY KAY SHIPMANFarmWeek

Illinois Farm Bureau dele-gates grappled with some ofthe most challenging issuesfacing society as they devel-oped policy last week in Chica-go.

Debate covered issues rang-ing from political reform tonuisance lawsuits and fromcrime to drunk driving.

At times, delegates’ com-ments were riveting andpoignant. However, an occa-sional witty comment helpedbreak the tension during thecondensed, one-day delegatepolicy action.

Delegates didn’t shy fromcontroversial issues, includinga proposal for legislative termlimits.

“You want (legislative)tenure? We already have it; it’scalled an election,” said MikeCampbell, Madison Countydelegate.

“If this (a term limit pro-posal) passes, it would be apoke in the eye of the verypeople who hold the mostpower in Illinois government.This is a noble thought, but avery bad idea,” added Lin War-fel, Champaign County dele-gate.

Delegates defeated the pro-

here during the electionprocess,” quipped Terry Fer-guson, DeWitt County dele-gate.

Delegates voted againstopen primaries, but added newpolicy to support consolida-tion of elections to streamlinethe process and reduce taxpay-

See Social Issues, page 3

posal to limit the terms ofstate constitutional officers,members of Congress, and theIllinois General Assembly to12 consecutive years. Howev-er, delegates passed new policythat supports capping statelegislators’ pensions regardlessof length of service or statepositions held.

Political reform also fla-

vored debate on a proposal tohave open primary elections inIllinois. Several delegatesraised concerns that thechange could result in moreproblems.

“The purpose of a primaryis a (political) party function.Having an open primarywould be like if Farm Bureauinvited Farmers Union people

Winnebago County producer Earl Williams discusses policy concerns withChampaign County’s Robin Cruse under a banner highlighting IllinoisFarm Bureau’s opposition to House “cap-and-trade” legislation. Membersat IFB’s annual meeting in Chicago signed letters and postcards indicatingFarm Bureau’s opposition. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

The top leadership of Illinois Farm Bureau willremain the same for the next two years.

Philip Nelson of Seneca inLaSalle County was re-electedin a contested race to hisfourth two-year term as presi-dent. Richard Guebert Jr. wasunopposed in his re-electedbid for a fourth term as vicepresident.

Nelson, 52, faced competi-tion from Doug Wilson ofGridley. The weighted vote

was 74,383 (93.93 percent) of the membershipcasting ballots for Nelson to 4,581 (5.78 per-cent) casting ballots for Wilson.

Nelson and his wife, Carmen, operate afourth-generation grain and livestock farm. Theyhave a son, Kendall, and a daughter, Rachel.

Nelson said he was “very pleased” with the

chance to lead the organization for another twoyears.

“They (delegates and members) like whatwe’ve done over the last six years and that willcontinue over the next two.”

He cited as two key issues the “death tax” onthe federal scene and efforts to turn around the

business climate in Illinois onthe state level.

He will journey to Wash-ington, D.C., this week toparticipate in resolutionsdevelopment for the Ameri-can Farm Bureau Federationannual meeting Jan. 10-13 inSeattle, Wash.

Guebert, 58, and his wife,Nancy, live in Ellis Grove.

He and his son, Kyle, operate a cash grain farmin Randolph County.

Philip Nelson

Rich Guebert Jr.

Nelson and Guebert electedto fourth two-year terms

Illinois Farm Bureau leaders at the 2009 annual meetingreported on progress made this past year on a sense of the del-egate body passed by delegates at the 2008 annual meeting. Themeasure called on IFB to appoint a task force to address thelack of convergence between cash grain and futures prices.

The IFB Profitability Advisory Team was given the task. Anupdate on the issue and steps taken by IFB in 2009 were pro-vided at last week’s meeting by IFB Director Kent Schleich,chairman of the Profitability Advisory Team, and Doug Yoder,IFB senior director of marketing and affiliate management.

The team, after investigating the issue, recommended theChicago Board of Trade adopt variable storage rates and elimi-nate Chicago and Toledo as deliverable markets for the wheatcontract and move to a Mississippi Waterway delivery system.The IFB board adopted the recommendations.

Yoder also was appointed to the Commodity Futures Trad-ing Commission’s 18-member subcommittee on convergence.

Meanwhile, the team continues to focus on transportation mat-ters, input/supply pricing, and the status of the livestock industry.

***IFB Young Leaders for the fourth year in a row ranked in the

top two nationally in the Harvest for All program. The goal of theprogram is to collect and donate food and money to needy Ameri-cans through Feeding America, the nation’s largest food bank.

Illinois Young Leaders this year raised more money for theprogram than any state, $66,978. Young Leaders in Illinois alsoranked second nationwide in the amount of food collected, 1.7million pounds, and volunteer hours donated, 1,817.

Young Leaders’ goal for the program in 2010 is to eclipse 2 mil-lion pounds of food and 2,000 volunteer hours and to raise $72,000.

***A Vermilion County Farm Bureau member was given

celebrity status last week by a Chicago woman who was excitedto meet a “real farmer.”

Brian Andrews of Rossville was waiting to check in at theHyatt Regency Hotel when a woman asked him, “Are you realfarmer? I hear there is a farmer convention in the hotel.”

Andrews replied that he was, indeed, the real article. Theexcited woman waved her husband over and said, “Honey, thisguy’s a real farmer. Just like in the movies.”

***Ag literacy efforts received an early Christmas gift from

attendees of the three-day Illinois Farm Bureau annual meetinglast week in Chicago. Several activities helped the IAA Founda-tion raise more than $32,000 to support the Illinois Agricul-ture in the Classroom (IAITC) program.

The first events, a live auction and an ice cream social, raised$12,020 and nearly $1,000, respectively. A silent auction of 154items of donated goods and services raised nearly $12,000.

A trivia contest generated more than $7,150 for IAITC.Teams from Fulton County Farm Bureau and the IFB govern-mental affairs and commodities division won the competitionin their respective categories.

FarmWeek Monday, December 14, 2009

(ISSN0197-6680)

Vol. 37 No. 49 December 14, 2009

Dedicated to improving the profitability of farm-ing, and a higher quality of life for Illinois farmers.FarmWeek is produced by the Illinois FarmBureau.

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© 2009 Illinois Agricultural Association

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ANNUAL MEETING

Nelson: TRUST critical in challenging timesBY DANIEL GRANTFarmWeek

TRUST (teamwork, respectfor consumers, unselfish lead-ership, steadfast faith, andtenacity for the future) arecritical as farmers and ag orga-nizations look to survive thechallenging times and prospergoing forward, according toPhilip Nelson, the 14th presi-dent of Illinois Farm Bureau.

Nelson, a grain and live-stock producer from Seneca,discussed the challenges andopportunities facing farmersduring his keynote address lastweek at the IFB 95th annualmeeting in Chicago.

“The main thrust of thisorganization has not changed.It’s the grassroots” that are thebackbone of IFB, said Nelson,who was re-elected during lastweek’s meeting. “But we knowthe challenges won’t go away.”

The extraordinarily wetweather and historically highinput costs were among thetop challenges this year.

“This has been a challeng-ing year from spring to fall andeverything in between,” saidNelson, who noted somefarmers as of last week stillhad crops in the field.

USDA recently reportedtotal farm expenses in 2008and 2009 are the highest andsecond-highest on record at$290 billion and $278.1 billion,respectively.

Nelson said the IFB Prof-itability Advisory Team, whichwas formed four years ago,will continue to investigate is-

sues related to farm incomeand expenses.

He met earlier this year withAg Secretary Tom Vilsack andrequested USDA provide mar-ket loss assistance, waive feesfor restructuring loans, andmake additional pork purchas-es for the school lunch pro-gram to assist the hog indus-try.

Profitability could remain amajor issue in the year aheadas USDA projected the grainand livestock sectors couldcontinue to face losses, Nelsonsaid. Earlier this year, Nelsonreported he lost about $6,000on every load of hogs shippedfrom his family farm.

Other major challenges toagriculture in 2010 includethreats from animal activistsand proposed cap-and-tradelegislation.

“The animal care debate hasbeen one of the most chal-lenging issues I’ve work on,”Nelson said. “We have to stepup to the plate.”

IFB this year under Nel-son’s leadership worked withother commodity groups todevelop a unified image cam-paign, teamed up with 30other organizations to estab-lish a Vision for Illinois Agri-culture, and lobbied againstlegislation that could harm ag.

Cap-and-trade proposals inparticular could be harmful tofarmers. Nelson told IFBmembers current climate-relat-ed proposals could boost ex-penses by $11,000 to $15,000per farm.

Meanwhile, U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency Ad-ministrator Lisa Jackson hasindicated the House version ofcap and trade could have a“negligible impact” on the cli-mate while creating a gapinghole in the nation’s energysupply, Nelson said.

“We need to build a coali-tion and send signals on thisimportant piece of legisla-tion,” he noted. “Farmerswant to be part of the solu-tion, but we need sound sci-ence before we move for-ward.”

But whether the challenge isproposed legislation or threatsfrom animal activists, Nelsonsaid the key for continued suc-cess at IFB is for its membersto be involved in all aspects ofthe industry.

“It’s important we under-stand the consumer,” Nelsonadded. “And we must have thetenacity to get more involvedas an organization.”

McLean, Greene County farmers join IFB boardDavid Meiss of Gridley in

McLean County and ChadSchutz of White Hall inGreene County were elected atthe Illinois Farm Bureau annu-

al meeting lastweek toreplace retir-ing membersof the IFBBoard ofDirectors.

Meiss, 49,producescorn, soy-beans, wheat,and specialty

crops. A 1978 graduate ofGridley High School, Meissserved as vice president of theMcLean County Farm Bureauboard for two years and as amember of the board for eightyears.

He and his wife, Debbie,have three children, Derek, 25,Jordon, 22, and Chloe, 15.

He served on the schoolboard in Gridley and as a Gri-dley Township trustee andsupervisor.

He is a member of the Illi-nois Soybean Association, theIllinois Corn Growers Associ-

ation, and the Illinois PorkProducers Association, andthe Apostolic ChristianChurch.

Meiss will represent District7 on the board, which encom-passes Marshall, McLean, Put-nam, Tazewell, and Woodfordcounties. He replaces GeraldThompson of Colfax, whoserved 10 years on the board.

Schutz, 31, and his wife,Stacy, havetwo children,Lana, 7, andBridget, 5.

A graduateof NorthGreene HighSchool in1996, Schutzoperates a2,300-acrecash grain andlivestock farm with severalfamily members.

For the past four years, hehas served as president of theGreene County Farm Bureauand is a 2008 AgriculturalLeaders of Tomorrow(ALOT) graduate.

He serves as chairman ofthe administrative council of

Christ United MethodistChurch in White Hall and is amember of the Illinois BeefAssociation and the IllinoisWalking Horse Association.

He replaces Henry Kallal,who retired from the boardafter 10 years of service, andwill represent District 15,which encompasses Bond,Calhoun, Greene, Jersey,Macoupin, and Madison coun-ties.

Re-elected to the boardwere:

Michael Kenyon, SouthElgin, District 1; WayneAnderson, Geneseo, District 3;Scott Halpin, Gardner, Dis-trict 5; Terry Pope, Burnside,District 9; Troy Uphoff, Find-lay, District 11; Richard Ochs,West Liberty, District 13; andJ.C. Pool, Broughton, District17.

Jason Bunting of Cabery inLivingston County was re-elected chairman of the IFBYoung Leader Committee andthus will serve as an advisorymember on the board, as willBill Lindenmier, president ofthe Illinois Extension Agricul-tural Association.

David Meiss

Chad Schutz

Philip Nelson

ANNUAL MEETING


Continued from page 1er expense.

A PROPOSAL for stricterpenalties for drivers convictedof driving under the influence(DUI) prompted compellingdebate on both sides of theissue.

Delegates spoke eloquentlyabout family members who havestruggled after DUI convictions,while others focused on the suf-fering of victims injured bydrunk drivers.

In the final vote, delegatesmaintained IFB policy to sup-port vigorous enforcement of

current DUI laws and legislativeefforts to improve them.

EQUALLY SERIOUS dis-cussion emerged over newlyapproved policy supporting statelegislation to allow permits forqualified citizen to carry con-cealed handguns.

Delegates supporting con-cealed carry mentioned residentsof neighboring states alreadyhave that right; there is broadsupport among county FarmBureau members for the right tocarry concealed weapons; andpolice response times are longerto arrive at rural crime locations.

Knox County Farm Bureaudelegate Ted Mottaz was one ofthe few speaking against theproposal: “I was trained as aninfantryman to kill a humanbeing ... Are you ready to be thatperson to kill a human being?Because if they’re going to comeafter you, they’re not going towound but kill.”

“It’s my God-given duty toprotect my family,” counteredButch Ferrell, Peoria Countydelegate. “Let’s give people theright to defend themselves.”

FARMERS’ ABILITY toprotect themselves from expen-

sive nuisance lawsuits alsoresulted in new Farm Bureaupolicy.

Delegates passed policy seek-ing legislation to require plain-tiffs to pay reasonable costs andlegal fees incurred by a farmerwho wins a nuisance lawsuit incases involving a proposed farmor expansion of an existingfarm.

IFB attorney Laura Harmonexplained current law coversprevailing farmer defendantsin cases involving existingfarms only. “The purpose ofthis resolution is to fill in the

gap,” Harmon said.FINANCIAL MATTERS

also were the focus of policydebate on property and incometaxes. Delegates voted to deletefrom existing Farm Bureau poli-cy a guideline seeking dollar-for-dollar property tax relief shouldthe state income tax beincreased.

But Farm Bureau policy con-tinues to support property taxrelief through a combination ofstate revenue surpluses and vari-ous statewide taxes, addedKevin Semlow, IFB director ofstate legislation.

Social issues

TINY BUBBLES ON TRIVIA NIGHT

Members of the Williamson County Farm Bureau trivia team blow bubbles during a break in the triviacontest fundraiser that generated $7,150 for Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom at the IFB annualmeeting last week. Clockwise from left are Marion Kennell, Maria Farris, Lenny Farris, Duane Witten-born, Joann Wittenborn, James Tanner, and Myrtle Tanner. Barbara Kennell is at bottom center. (Pho-to by Ken Kashian)

IFB takes upredistricting BY KAY SHIPMANFarmWeek

Illinois soon will have newlegislative districts, and FarmBureau leaders last weekdebated who should determinethe new maps and how theprocess should unfold.

In policy debate during res-olutions consideration andstudy group discussion, IllinoisFarm Bureau leaders mulledproposals and timelines of theupcoming legislative redistrict-ing process.

Delegates passed policy tosupport a redistricting processthat will be conducted by anunbiased third party, will notbe based on political affiliationand prior election results, andwill create districts that arecompact, contiguous, andimpartial to party or incum-bency.

Knox County Farm BureauPresident Ted Mottazexplained his county FarmBureau submitted the proposalbecause some current congres-sional districts fit a Webster’sdictionary definition of gerry-mandering.

“We have to do somethingto show the people who dothese things that this is notright,” Mottaz said.

“We want to see compactand contiguous (districts),”added Jay West, another KnoxCounty delegate.

Champaign County delegate

Lin Warfel countered, “Thedifficulty will be to find anunbiased third party in Illinois,and to find (someone with)nonpolitical affiliation will bedifficult, too.”

Those difficulties werevoiced earlier by members ofthe IFB Legislative Redis-tricting Working Group.

Warfel, also a member ofthat group, compared effortsto reform the state’s redistrict-ing process to herding cattle.

“It’s like trying to movesteers out of the barn andinto a chute,” Warfel said witha chuckle. “It’s important tokeep the pressure behindthem and keep moving for-ward.”

IFB Director Terry Pope,who chairs the workinggroup, explained the group isto study the issues and pro-posals and make a recom-mendation to the IFB board.

In addition to Pope andWarfel, Redistricting WorkingGroup members include: IFBDirector J.C. Pool; Jim Bran-dau, Cook County FarmBureau; Robert Hemer, Shel-by County Farm Bureau;David Erickson, Knox CountyFarm Bureau; and DonaldDuvall, White County FarmBureau.

Kevin Semlow, IFB direc-tor of state legislation, cau-tioned working group mem-bers that changing the redis-tricting process will not beeasy: “The reality is changingthe state Constitution is goingto be difficult.”

Delegates, working groupdiscuss redrawing maps

Illinois Farm Bureau has new policy dealingwith wind energy projects as a result of countyFarm Bureau delegate action last week in Chica-go.

Policies supporting windenergy as a component of thenation’s energy portfolio anddevelopment of statewide stan-dards for industrial-scale windenergy facilities weren’t ques-tioned.

However, delegates were divided on whethera state fund, paid for by wind energy producers,should be established to help cover deconstruc-tion costs of abandoned turbines.

Terry Ferguson, a DeWitt County delegate,raised concerns that the state government couldtake money from a state turbine fund and spendit on something other than turbine dismantling.

“We’ve concluded to protect landownerssome type of statewide effort should be made,”said Jerry Quick, IFB attorney.

Members then deleted the wording “stateindemnity” from the policy proposal and vot-ed to support efforts to establish a fund,financed by wind energy producers, to payfor turbine decommissioning. New policyalso supports continuation of the currentproperty tax assessment method and rate for

commercial wind turbines.In other policy action, delegates:• Voted to seek legislation to pre-empt antici-

patory nuisance claims against pro-posed livestock facilities orexpansion of existing ones thatcomply with laws and regulationsand whose construction wasapproved by the Illinois Depart-ment of Agriculture under the

Livestock Facilities ManagementAct.

• Voted to support humane harvesting as anend-of-life option for horses and to seek legisla-tion allowing equine harvesting in the state.

• Supported the pooling of resources by allcommodity groups for a concentrated con-sumer education effort that will focus on factsabout production of livestock and other agri-cultural commodities using best managementpractices.

• Supported an exemption by the NaturalResources Conservation Service to allow Envi-ronmental Quality Incentives Program moneyto be used for streambank stabilization beforethe adjacent land expires from a ConservationReserve Program or a Conservation ReserveEnhancement Program contract. — Kay Ship-man

Wind energy, natural resources issues debated

FarmWeekNow.com

Additional stories and videosfrom the annual meeting arefound on FarmWeekNow.com.

Western I l l inois Uni-vers i ty ’s School of Agri-cul ture has establ ished i tsf i rst board of advisers.

“It i s v i ta l that the edu-cat ion provided by theSchool of Agricul ture at

WIU ref lects both thecur rent and future needsof ag r icul ture,” sa idWil l iam Bai ley, ag schooldirector.

Visit the school online at{www.wiu.edu/ag}.

WIU ag school creates its first advisory board

ANNUAL MEETING


Continued from page 1which I support,” Schock argued in a Farm-Week-RFD Radio interview.

“After the 2007 energy bill, the United Statesbecame the fastest-growing wind energy pro-ducer in the world. In one year, we grew 40 per-cent in wind energy. Why was that? Because weincentivized what we wanted.”

Members at the annual meeting signed 44letters urging Democrat Sens. Dick Durbin ofSpringfield and Roland Burris of Chicago tooppose House proposals, as well as nearly 300“Don’t Cap Our Future” postcards addressed tolawmakers. Questioning climate conclusions

Delegates also stressed the need for “honestscientific research, utilizing scientific method,not consensus” in determining causes and con-sequences of purported global climate change.

DeWitt County’s Terry Ferguson noted“there’s been a lot of new information put out”as policymakers have embarked on cap-and-trade policies, and he suggested some has been“possibly falsified.”

Delegate action came in the wake of allega-tions that the British University of East Anglia’sClimatic Research Unit suppressed data thatquestioned assumptions about “manmade” cli-mate change.

The so-called “Climategate” scandal hasrevived larger questions about the validity ofscientific theories touted by cap-and-tradeadvocates.

“We’re always in favor of science, but wewant to make sure it’s really good science,” Fer-guson said.Carbon creditworthiness?

Delegates supported additional research todocument the regional value of ag practices insequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide, withUSDA as lead research agency. House provi-sions would grant greenhouse credits to pro-ducers and others who reduce or sequester car-bon emissions.

But IFB keynote speaker Lowell Catlett, aNew Mexico State University economist, ques-tioned supposed ag benefits under cap and trade.He noted the House plan gives a significant shareof credits in advance to a number of regulatedinterests, ostensibly to win their support.

“The market needs to be this: You’re a pol-luter and you need a carbon credit. Who pro-duces most of the carbon sinks that suck upcarbon? Farmers.

“Who should have the credit to sell to thepolluter? Agriculture. We can prove how muchcarbon we suck out of the atmosphere,” he toldFarmWeek.

Climate

EPA greenhouse gas ruling designed to spur lawmakers? A landmark ruling by the

U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) likely will pro-vide the “push” necessary to

that greenhouse gases pose athreat to human health andwelfare.

EPA’s “endangermentfinding” argues carbon diox-ide and other greenhouseemissions should be regulat-ed under the federal CleanAir Act. That position poten-tially strengthens congres-sional efforts to pass emis-sions cap-and-trade legisla-tion, as well as supportingpossible EPA climate regula-tions.

“This will set the stage forthe U.S. EPA to begin theprocess of regulating carbondioxide emissions,” GROW-MARK Governmental AffairsDirector Chuck Spencer toldFarmWeek.

“That’s going to impactbusinesses across the UnitedStates and also bring addi-tional pressure to legislativeactivity. There are many busi-nesses across the UnitedStates that are very concernedabout what a regulatoryframework produced solely byEPA could look like vs. onethat would be legislativelycrafted, with input from avariety of interests.”

Appearing at the UnitedNations-sponsored Copen-hagen conference, EPAAdministrator Lisa Jacksoninsisted “the endangermentfinding and the work here areseparate.”

She maintained EPA’sefforts to classify carbon diox-ide emissions as a threat “hadbeen sitting for years.“

American Farmland TrustPresident and former EPA agadviser Jon Scholl nonethelesswarned producers “to not takelightly the importance of thisEPA announcement, to watchcarefully the information andglobal response to the meet-ings in Copenhagen, and toengage in finding a legislativesolution to one of the definingsocietal resource issues of ourtime.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep.Mike Pence (R-Ind.), chair-man of the House Republi-can Conference, chargedEPA’s ruling was “nothingmore than an attempt by theadministration to buildinternational support for abinding political agreementin Copenhagen.” — MartinRoss

restart Senate cap-and-tradeproposals next year, a GROW-MARK policy specialist sug-gests.

As nearly 200 world leadersconvened in Copenhagen toaddress global climate changeconcerns, EPA formally ruled

Delegates favor IDOA authority for animal careBY KAY SHIPMANFarmWeek

The Illinois Departmentof Agriculture (IDOA)would gain responsibilities ifpolicy approved last week byIllinois Farm Bureau dele-gates comes to fruition.

After debating animal carepolicy, delegates voted in

favor of IDOA having theauthority to administer ani-mal care laws and rules forlivestock and companion ani-mals.

“We thought the IllinoisDepartment of Agricultureshould be the one to control(animal care), not the legisla-ture,” Stark County delegateJamie Schaffer said of hiscounty’s policy proposal.

Several delegates raisedconcerns about IDOA’sexisting authority over ani-mal care issues, especiallygiven recent Ohio voterapproval to craft state ani-

IDOA has authority to inspecthoneybee colonies for diseasesand pests. Beekeepers also arerequired to register theircolonies with IDOA.

New IFB policy supports

legislation or administrativerules for Illinois beekeepersfor harvesting and marketingof honey that are not morestringent than the laws orrules of neighboring states.

mal care rules.Mark Gebhards, IFB

director of the governmentalaffairs and commodities divi-sion, explained IDOA cur-rently administers severalanimal-related laws, includ-ing the Livestock Manage-ment Facilities Act, and hasauthority over livestock.

Delegates also want eco-nomic factors considered inlegislation or regulationsdealing with the humanetreatment of animals.

New IFB policy willoppose federal, state, or locallaws or regulations forhumane animal treatmentwhen those laws or ruleswould adversely affect thehealth, longevity, or produc-tivity of livestock or the eco-nomic viability of the opera-tion.

“We need to consider theprofitability of an operation tocontinue,” explained Terry

Ferguson, a DeWitt Countydelegate.

Delegates also passed newapiculture policy for beekeep-ers and honey production.Under a state apiary law,

‘We thought the Il l inois Depar tment ofAgriculture should be the one to control(animal care), not the legislature.’

— Jamie SchafferStark County producer

BY MARTIN ROSSFarmWeek

Illinois Farm Bureau delegates backed awayfrom encouraging even voluntary premises regis-

tration amid heated debateover national animal identifica-tion and fears by some thatpremises enrollment couldprove a “first step” towardmandatory animal identifica-tion.

After lengthy discussion,annual meeting delegates notonly rejected a Clinton Countyproposal urging required

premise registration through the National AnimalIdentification System (NAIS) but also deletedprevious policy provisions that encouraged volun-tary NAIS registration.

Past Illinois Beef Association President CliffSchuette argued Clinton County’s proposalwould ensure “everybody in Illinois would beregistered” in the event of a major disease out-break while continuing to emphasize voluntaryanimal ID/”tracing” programs.

He maintained comprehensive and “cost-effective” premises ID would bolster global con-

fidence in U.S. products. Schuette’s Southern Illinois county is one of

the state’s leading dairy/pork-producing regions,“We all know what happens when push comes to

shove,” Vermilion County’s David Sadler warned,however, suggesting required registration wouldgrant federal officials expanded authority overindividual operations in an emergency situation.

Pike County’s Kim Curry maintained manda-tory registration “cannot be done economically,”and Calhoun County’s Robert Reed questioned“why this organization would ask to have regula-tions placed on it.”

The IFB Resolutions Committee (RC) earlierhad rejected Clinton County’s submission asbeing in conflict with IFB policy supportingstrictly voluntary premises ID.

Fulton County delegate Lance Tarochionedisputed the RC’s decision to strike policy provi-sions that had encouraged all Illinois livestockproducers to register premises via NAIS, warn-ing “we’ve got a voluntary program we’re goingto lose if we don’t get more participation.”

As of Nov. 29, Illinois reported roughly 50percent of the state’s premises were registeredvs. nearly 100 percent enrollment in neighboringIndiana and Wisconsin.

Premises animal ID stancesparks heated IFB debate

Cliff Schuette

ANNUAL MEETING


COOL KIDS

Maddie Hanson, 9, left, and Isabella Hanson, 3, daughters of Doug and Lisa Hanson, Danforth,snack on ice cream donated by Prairie Farms Dairy for the ice cream social during the Illinois FarmBureau annual meeting last week in Chicago. Donations for the frosty treats totaled nearly $1,000 tohelp support Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom. (Photo by Al Hasty)

FFA AUCTION ACTION

Amie Burke, FFA state president from Fithian, signals a bid duringthe live auction to raise money for the IAA Foundation during lastweek’s Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in Chicago. FFA officersand 4-H Council Youth representatives assisted state Sen. John Sulli-van, who again served as auctioneer. (Photo by Al Hasty)


Lowell Catlett insists the“dream” for agriculture is notdead nor even dimmed,despite the rude awakening ofrecession. The proof is in theretail receipts, he said.

American producers thusremain primed to explore —and capitalize on — what theNew Mexico State Universityeconomist calls the consumer“dreamspace.”

Even amid an economicdownturn, Catlett arguedlifestyle and social goals con-tinue to drive domesticdemand. In remarks at IllinoisFarm Bureau’s annual meetinglast week, he noted “a luxuryto one generation is a necessi-ty to the next.”

Agriculture continues toevolve into an “omniculture,”catering to niche consumertastes while servicing the envi-ronment, providing renewableenergy, and, down the road,supplying “prescriptionfoods” tailored to individualhealth and physiologicalneeds.

“We own this space,”Catlett advised. “Get ready forit — it’s the most phenomenalrevolution on the planet.”

The economy remains“fundamentally sound,” hestressed. The U.S. has experi-enced 13 recessions over thepast 80 years, and Catlettemphasized that despite aslight dip in 2008 gross

domestic product (GDP) anda current 10 percent-plusunemployment rate, “we pro-duce more every year.”

Catlett believes the U.S. ison track for recovery andGDP growth in 2010, thanksin part to federal stimulus andconsumer incentives such asthe “cash for clunkers” pro-gram. In fact, he suggestedthe consumer appetite for val-ue-added groceries hasremained hearty throughoutthe recession.

“People are still willing topay for white asparagus,”Catlett told FarmWeek andRFD Radio.

“We still cannot produceenough prime beef in thiscountry — only about 3 per-cent of each of the weeklyslaughters is prime. We couldsell 6 percent — we just can’tproduce enough. Don’t tell methere aren’t consumers outthere who still want that primesteak.”

Despite public challenges tocapturing the potential ofdreamspace — the “food vs.fuel” debate, isolated resis-tance to GMO food and

“pharmacrops” — Catlettbelieves most Americans“don’t have a problem with theomniculture.”

With global daily per-capitacaloric intake more than dou-bling over the past 15 years, hesaid the U.S. should continueto enjoy a “strategic advan-tage” in meeting the diversifieddemand.

That isn’t to say fortuneswon’t vary from sector to sec-tor. Catlett acknowledged“agriculture’s too broad,” andrecognized that what benefits asoybean grower may notalways please a livestock feed-er.

“Agriculture, in total, hadthe highest income ever earnedin history last year and the low-est debt-to-equity ratio. Mostof the farms in this countrycarry no debt.

“I’m not making light of thehog situation. We have a largedairy sector in New Mexicothat’s been struggling. Thosetwo sectors are restructuring.We’re just producing more thanthe market can absorb rightnow. But in 18 months, myguess is we’ll be back again.”

Economist: Ag potential still exists in ‘dreamspace’

In action on other federal and national policies, IllinoisFarm Bureau delegates last week voted:

Livestock health• Support for a “modern, biosecure” animal base research

center. The proposal comes with the federal decision to ceasestudy of hazardous animal diseases at an isolated facility atPlum Island, N.Y.

Crop insurance• A push to require automatic extension of the Risk Man-

agement Agency’s (RMA) crop insurance acreage reportingdeadline in the event Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) acreagecertification deadline is extended. Joint extensions shouldmaintain existing time periods between RMA and FSA dead-lines.

• Support for requiring individual county yield averagesneeded for group risk income protection and group risk planpolicies be released a month prior to the crop insurance salesclosing date. That date should be uniform for all states, dele-gates stated.

Specialty crops• Support to provide program, legislative, and marketing

assistance for growth and development of various specialtycrops that are not defined in and thus eligible for federal sup-port under the 2008 farm bill.

Floodplain protection• Efforts to expedite approval and permitting for flood-

plain protection projects under the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers Upper Mississippi/Illinois River comprehensivemanagement plan, which currently is under congressionalreview (more details will be available in next week’sFarmWeek).

Delegates also sought to streamline permitting of leveerepair and construction and greater uniformity in floodplainstandards between states.

• Support for the Corps having the lead role in all flood-fighting efforts and urged that dewatering of ag land berequired as part of flood recovery efforts.

Energy• Support for construction of nuclear power facilities and

repeal of Illinois’ moratorium on nuclear plant construction.Delegates were concerned congressional cap-and-trade pro-posals could lead to reduced coal-based electrical generation,and argued nuclear power would be the next most inexpen-sive means of producing electricity.

Other national policy matters

‘We own this space.’

— Lowell CatlettNew Mexico State University economist

ANNUAL MEETING


IFB revises prescription

Senate pushing pre-Christmas health planBY MARTIN ROSSFarmWeek

Amid concerns over theU.S. House’s “public option”for extending health coverageto the nation’s uninsured, Illi-nois Farm Bureau delegates inChicago last week supportedproviding “insurance throughthe marketplace” via increasedportability of individual cover-age between carriers and cov-erage for those with pre-exist-ing health conditions.

Delegates opposed effortsto expand Medicaid eligibilitythat would shift health costs tothe states. “If the feds aregoing to put a new program

unnecessary ‘defensive medi-cine’,” Schock toldFarmWeek and RFD Radio.

“Those are reforms thatdon’t raise taxes, don’t createdebt, and could get bothRepublican and Democratsupport.”

Schock believes the Senatewill reject attempts to revive apublic option, citing opposi-tion among influentialDemocrats such as BlancheLincoln of Arkansas and BenNelson of Nebraska and inde-pendents such as Joe Lieber-man of Connecticut. Thequestion will be whether con-ferees can find middle ground.

If they cannot, Schocksees the president and Con-gress focusing on cost-con-tainment measures that wouldhelp reduce insurance premi-ums.

As the Congressional Bud-get Office worked to put aprice tag to the current Senatecompromise, American FarmBureau Federation (AFBF)analyst Pat Wolff suggestedMedicare expansion would be“a little bit better” than thepublic option. While AFBFwelcomes system reform,Medicare currently “doesn’tdo much for rural areas,” shesaid.

on us that’s going to cost theState of Illinois hundreds ofmillions of dollars, we need tobe concerned,” DeWitt Coun-ty’s Terry Ferguson argued.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, aPeoria Republican, “fullyexpects” the Senate to approvea health plan by Christmas.Senators last week touted a“compromise” that wouldexpand Medicare eligibilityand access to cheaper import-ed prescription drugs.

If it passes, the Senatepackage must be reconciled inconference with the Houseplan, which, Schock noted,“passed by two votes.”

He said he “adamantly”opposes the House bill, com-paring government-run care toSocial Security and Medicare— “the two largest unfundedliabilities facing our country”— and decrying the idea of “atrillion-dollar health care bill ata time when our country hasrecord deficits.”

“There are a number ofreforms we can make in healthcare — regulatory reform thatallows insurance companies tocompete across state lines;reform when it comes to pre-existing conditions; (legal) tortreform, which will cut downon duplicative costs and

ADOPTED LAWMAKER CHAT

State Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) met with her “adopted” Clinton County Farm Bureau lead-ers, left to right, Cliff Schuette, Michael Poettker, Ray Krausz, and Philip Rueter, during policy debateat the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in Chicago. Garrett, who participates in the Adopt-a-Leg-islator program, was among the lawmakers who were recognized on the delegate floor. (Photo cour-tesy Clinton County Farm Bureau)

Schock: Obamaneeds trade-basedstimulus push

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock found a key component lackingfrom a recent White House Jobs Summit, and he hopes to puttrade — and its potential economic benefits — back on thecongressional docket.

The Peoria Republican has called on President Obama toimmediately submit pending free trade agreements (FTAs)with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea for congressionalapproval.

During a November tour of Asia, Obama noted the exportvalue of the South Korea FTA and stated his desire to resolveissues that have blocked its approval with South Korean Presi-dent Lee Myung-bak.

Schock applauded Obama’s support for the pact, but urgedthe president to “add Colombia and Panama as well, so ourmanufacturers and agriculture industry can compete in thosemarkets.”

In a FarmWeek-RFD Radio interview during Illinois FarmBureau’s annual meeting, the congressman argued Obama todate “hasn’t been successful on the No. 1 issue — the econo-my.”

“The first 10 months of his administration has been spenton cap and trade, which is going to kill jobs, and health care,which by his own economic adviser’s estimate will kill 5 millionjobs,” Schock said.

“Everything we’re doing in Congress is counterproductiveto creating jobs. But there are three bills out there — (FTAagreements with) Colombia, Panama, and South Korea —which will create jobs that don’t cost money, that don’t raisetaxes, don’t add to our nation’s deficit.”

South Korea and the U.S. signed an agreement in 2007, butratification has been delayed because of opposition fromSouth Korean farmers and U.S. autoworkers. Controversy overKorean acceptance of U.S. beef also has figured into the delay.

South Korea and the European Union (EU) signed a similarFTA in September.

In late November, Schock and 34 colleagues asked HouseSpeaker Nancy Pelosi for an up-or-down vote on the ColombiaFTA. Colombia also is developing a trade pact with the EU,and a Canadian-Colombian FTA is near ratification, raisingconcerns among U.S. wheat growers.

The president himself has estimated a 1 percent increase inexports would create 250,000 jobs. Economist and annualmeeting speaker Lowell Catlett noted that because the U.S. dol-lar currently is down, “the things we’re manufacturing arecheaper to the world.”

“Export demand is through the roof — it’s going to drive aphenomenally good recovery in 2010,” Catlett toldFarmWeek. — Martin Ross

Illinois farmers surveyed at last week’s Illi-nois Farm Bureau annual meeting are slightlymore optimistic about the farm economy in2010, but they remain concerned about thestate’s financial woes and rising crop inputprices.

Fifty-five percent of those surveyed said2010 “should be a profitable year,” while anoth-er 31 percent said they expect next year to bebreakeven at best.

Among the top five concerns for producersin 2010:

• State budget woes (76 percent)• Rising crop input prices (75 percent)• Increased environmental regulation (73 per-

cent)• Attacks on livestock production (72 per-

cent)• Volatility of grain markets (68 percent)Most of the respondents said they expect to

plant the same number of acres of corn andsoybeans as in 2009 — with a 50-50 rotation themost popular option.

A somewhat optimistic outlook for next yearalso was evident in their predictions for spring-time corn and soybean prices. Nearly half ofthe respondents expected corn prices between$3.50 and $3.75 a bushel, and soybean priceswere projected between $9 and $9.50 perbushel.

Eighty-six percent of producers said the cur-rent credit crunch has not impacted their abilityto obtain operating loans. But 70 percent ofthose surveyed said they have no plans to buynew farm equipment in 2010.

Virtually all respondents said they wouldrecommend that their children take an ag-relat-ed job, while seven out of 10 said they wouldrecommend farming as a career for their chil-dren.

Survey reveals farmer optimism

ANNUAL MEETING


Jason Bunting, left, of Livingston County was selected chairman of the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Com-mittee for the second year in a row at last week’s annual meeting in Chicago. He will be assisted in 2010 by,left to right from Bunting, Bryan Stevens (Hancock County), secretary; Matt Lynch (Edwards County), chairmanof the achievement subcommittee; Tom Flack (Stephenson County), chairman of the governmental affairs andcommodities subcommittee; Sean Arians (Woodford County), chairman of the education and recruitment sub-committee; and Alan Chesnut (Vermilion County), vice chairman. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

Young Leaders: Farmers must maintain consumer supportBY DANIEL GRANTFarmWeek

Farmers must engage and educate consumersabout food quality and production issues or risklosing their support in the future, according toIllinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders.

The question of how ag producers can reachout to the public to gain support on importantag issues was discussed last week by YoungLeaders Shawn Clapp (McLean County), KurtRange (St. Clair County), Grant Strom (KnoxCounty), and Matthew Starr (Hancock County)during the finals of the Young Leaders Discus-sion Meet at the IFB annual meeting in Chica-go.

“If we don’t reach out to our base (of con-sumers), we will lose because our competition(such as animal activist groups) already is reach-ing out to them,” said Clapp, who won the Dis-cussion Meet.

A key message for consumers to understandis U.S. farmers produce a safe and affordablesupply of food, according to Clapp. And thatcould be challenged in the future as the popula-tion increases and the amount of farmlanddecreases, he said.

Currently, about one in every 10 householdsin Illinois faces hunger issues, according to theYoung Leaders.

“It’s one of the most important issues weface today,” Range said.

“Building their trust is critical and the bestway to do that is through value-based educa-tion.”

But many farmers must change their mindsetabout public relations before they can maintainor in some cases regain the confidence of con-sumers, according to Strom.

“As an industry, that is something we’ve beenguilty of — keeping the doors closed to whatwe do,” Strom said. “That’s not good enoughanymore with a growing urban population.

“We have a good story to tell,” he continued.“But if we don’t (tell) it ourselves, someone elsewill.”

Starr agreed that farmers have a good storyto tell but maintained consumers won’t under-stand it without proper education.

“Farmers are the original conservationistsand environmentalists,” Starr said. “We don’thave a reason to be ashamed of anything we’redoing.”

And farmers in the process of educatingconsumers can clear up misconceptions aboutthe industry, according to the Young Leaders.

“We fail to advertise the good news we do inour industry,” Strom said. “Instead, we waituntil a problem arises.”

Range suggested farmers and farm groupsmust collaborate with other industries to spreadtheir message to as many consumers as possi-ble.

New member, secretaryelected to IAAA board

Jim Lynch of McLean, president of Stanford Grain Co., waselected last week during the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meetingin Chicago to the board of the Illinois Agricultural AuditingAssociation (IAAA).

Lynch will replace Duane Haning of Minier, who retired afterserving on the board since 1990.

Robert Phelps of Rockton (Winnebago County) was re-elect-ed as the GROWMARK Inc. representative on the board andwas named secretary of the association, a position Haning hadheld.

Gary Luth of Allerton in Douglas County was re-electedpresident, a position he has held since 2004.

Ron Fehr, Baldwin (Randolph County), was elected vice presi-dent, and Terry Pope of Burnside in Hancock County was re-elected as the IFB representative on the board.

Also re-elected was Stanley Grebner of Washburn in Wood-ford County.

IAAA provides auditing services to agribusinesses throughoutthe Midwest.

Lenders and regulators use its services, and its personnel arerecognized as experts in audit and taxation of agricultural coop-eratives and non-for-profit organizations. It is the only certifiedpublic accountant firm that specializes in agribusiness.

GREAT BIDS FOR AG LITERACY

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson, right, congratulatesRock Katschnig of the Henry County Farm Bureau for successfullyplacing winning bids on two major auction items during the liveauction to raise money for ag literacy during last week’s IFB annualmeeting in Chicago. Katschnig bought Green Star navigation piecesdonated by Deere and Co. and Sloan Implement. Katschnig andother bidders contributed a total of $12,020 to the IAA Foundationto be used to promote ag literacy. (Photo by Ken Kashian)SHOPPING AT THE AUCTION

Susan Vonk of Peoria County looks over some of the 154 items donated for the silent auction at lastweek’s Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting in Chicago. Nearly $12,000 was raised for the IAAFoundation to promote ag literacy. (Photo by Al Hasty)

EMERGING ISSUES


ADOPTED CLASSROOM VISIT

Schuyler County Farm Bureau members visited their adopted classroom at St. Mary’s Star of the Seaschool in Chicago last week following the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting. The fourth gradersheard Schuyler County Farm Bureau President Kent Prather and his wife, Sandy, speak about soy-beans. The soybean book, “From Seed to Plant” by Gail Gibbons, was read, and the students thenwere given the chance to ask questions. Soybean Ag Mags supplied by the Prathers were studied.Later a “Beanie Baby” was made to show the students how a soybean germinates. (Photo submittedby Schuyler County Farm Bureau manager Kelly Westlake)

work with Democrat Sens. DickDurbin of Springfield andRoland Burris of Chicago toraise the exemption and index itto inflation.

But with only a few weeksremaining in the 2009 session,AFBF’s Pat Wolff fears Senatefocus on health care could allowthe estate tax and a variety ofkey tax breaks to lapse. Allowingthe estate tax to expire for twoor three weeks, only to reinstateit, would be “horrible policy,”argued Wolff, who urged theSenate to approve estate tax andHouse-approved “tax extender”provisions.

Reinstituting the estate taxeven at current levels is “a bigmistake when people are losingtheir jobs,” Schock toldFarmWeek at the Illinois FarmBureau annual meeting. As it is,the tax “takes away money that

would be invested otherwise tokeep people employed to payUncle Sam,” he said.

Schock said he hoped theSenate would target an $5 mil-lion to $7 million exemption,with inflationary indexing.

“I’m fundamentally opposedto the estate tax,” Schock said.“But if there’s going to be one,we need to make sure it doesn’ttax middle Americans.

“What the Democrats passedin the House was just that: a$3.5-million exemption, perma-nent, not indexed to inflation,that continues to affect moreand more people.

“The average family farm isover 500 acres. Given what farmground’s going for now, you addin your property plant andequipment, and almost everyfamily farm’s over $3.5 millionin terms of assessed value.”

Clock running on Senatebiodiesel credit action

Soybean growers and biofuels producers are awaiting 11th hourSenate action to ensure crucial biodiesel tax breaks remain avail-able to a still-evolving industry.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) hailed last week’sU.S. House approval of “tax extender” legislation which wouldextend the current $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit through 2010.

However, the fuel blenders incentive is set to expire Dec. 31,and ASA President Rob Joslin warned it was “unclear when, or if,the U.S. Senate will address tax extenders legislation before theend of the year.”

ASA and National Biodiesel Board (NBB) board member Dar-ryl Brinkmann of Carlyle thus will participate in a Senate biodiesellobbying effort this week.

Joslin cited the measure’s impact in providing “a significantmarket opportunity for U.S. soybean farmers as well as jobs andeconomic development for rural communities.” A new NBB studyestimates loss of the credit would cost 23,000 jobs, and ASA pre-dicts production “will cease” if the credit is not extended.

NBB spokesman Michael Frohlich said the credit is essential tobiodiesel competing with conventional diesel fuel in an economyin which price is the key selling point in making an environmental-ly “smarter choice” at the pump.

“Our producers and distributors are wondering if this is goingto be extended,” he told FarmWeek. “If not, they’re going tohave to change their entire business plan for 2010. And there’s awhole host of (biodiesel development) potential here. That’s whatthis gets at — helping grow the industry.

“The ethanol industry has been receiving tax incentives formore than 30 years. The petroleum industry has been receivingthem, really, for as long as we’ve been using petrol-based fuel.

“This is a dollar tax credit for a rather nascent industry to pro-duce a low-carbon replacement fuel — really the most advancedfuel available today in the world.”

The extenders bill also provides breaks for private research,college tuition deductions, and property tax breaks for homeown-ers who don’t itemize deductions on federal returns.

It would extend five-year depreciation for farm business equip-ment, the expanded deduction for conservation easement dona-tions, deductions for producer food donations, and a track main-tenance credit for short-line railroads.

American Farm Bureau Federation policy analyst Pat Wolffstressed the extenders package is “must-pass” legislation, and theSenate thus is pressured to act on it. However, she was concernedsenators could use the urgency of the measure to attempt toattach pet provisions rather than quickly passing the measure or,worse, allow tax provisions to expire and approve them retroac-tively next year.

“Next year is the year half of the (federal) tax code expires,”Wolff told FarmWeek. “So next year, you’ve got biodiesel again,you have all the income tax rates, you’ve got the (alternative mini-mum tax). All that stuff comes due at once. Next year could be abig train wreck.” — Martin Ross


In U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock’sview, the federal estate tax caus-es a drain on farmers and othersmall businesses.

The Peoria Republican warnsit’s now up to the Senate toensure the tax doesn’t suck thelife out of farm families. Or, as

an American Farm Bureau Fed-eration (AFBF) analyst warns, toensure Congress doesn’t imposean even greater burden on farmheirs in 2010.

Because of a congressionalloophole, the estate tax is due toexpire at year’s end, with rein-statement in 2011 at pre-2002levels. That would include a $1

million individual tax exemption— less than a third of the cur-rent exemption.

The House voted to extendthe existing $3.5 million exemp-tion without annual adjustmentsfor annual inflation.

Illinois Farm Bureau Presi-dent Philip Nelson called themove “troubling,” pledging to

Federal estate tax reform and extension in Senate’s court


Pike County farmer wins IFB Distinguished Service AwardPhilip E. Bradshaw, a grain

and livestock producer fromGriggsville, was named recipi-ent of the 2009 Illinois FarmBureau Distinguished ServiceAward — IFB’s highest honor— at last week’s annual meet-ing.

A member of the PikeCounty Farm Bureau, Brad-shaw has grown corn and soy-beans and raised hogs formore than 40 years as part ofan operation that is now runby his son.

Bradshaw has traveledextensively to promote the useof soybeans, representing theUnited Soybean Board (he waselected chairman of the boardearlier this month), the WorldInitiative for Soy in HumanHealth and the World SoyFoundation Board — amongother organizations — inTrinidad and Tobago,Bangladesh, Mexico, Romania,

Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela,Germany, Italy, China, andRussia.

He has served in leadershiproles for the Illinois Pork Pro-ducers Association, the stateFFA Sponsoring Committee,and the Illinois SoybeanBoard. Bradshaw has receivednumerous honors and awardsfor his efforts in promotingsoy, for conservation efforts,and for his community ser-vice.

Bradshaw has been marriedto Linda for 48 years. Theyhave three children, fourgrandchildren, and one great-grandson.

IFB’s Distinguished ServiceAward honors the memoryand service of Charles Shu-man, a Moultrie County farmleader who served as presidentof both Illinois Farm Bureauand the American FarmBureau Federation.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson, left, presents Philip Bradshaw and his wife, Linda, the Distin-guished Service Award during last week’s IFB annual meeting in Chicago. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

Three win Illinois Farm Bureau Eagle Award for ExcellenceA retired community col-

lege vice president, a promot-er of biofuels, and a grain andsoybean farmer all were recip-ients of the Illinois FarmBureau Eagle Award forExcellence at IFB’s annualmeeting last week in Chicago.

Larry Fischer, Quincy,was recognized for his contri-butions to agriculture throughhis employment at John WoodCommunity College. Fischer isa retired vice president forinstruction at the college.During his tenure there, theswine management and agri-culture programs bothreceived national recognition.

Fischer is a long-time com-

been a visiting scientist at uni-versities in Germany and Nor-way, has written or co-authored69 scientific papers, and is theholder of two U.S. patents.

Suella “Sue” Mowery,Tamms, was recognized forher life-long dedication toagriculture. She farms withher husband, Dale, on theMowery family’s sesquicenten-nial farm.

Mowery has been involvedon the county Farm Bureau lev-el since the 1960s and wasinstrumental in establishing thePulaski-Alexander CountyFarm Bureau Women’s Com-mittee.

She was the second woman

to serve aspresident ofthe Pulaski-AlexanderCounty FarmBureau andwas a leaderon the Ameri-can FarmBureauWomen’s

Committee. The IFB Eagle Award for

Excellence provides IFB withan opportunity to recognizeindividuals or organizations forexcellence on issues or pro-grams important to FarmBureau and agriculture on astatewide and/or national basis.

munity leaderand volunteer,having servedEast PikeHigh School;FFA; 4-H; theWestern Illi-nois RuralDevelopmentTask Force;and numerous

local, regional, and state eco-nomic development organiza-tions. He is the recipient ofnumerous awards for hisinvolvement with FFA and asan agriculture teacher.

Peter Johnsen, Peoria, wasrecognized for his influenceon the direction of agriculture

research in the United States.Johnsen is the founder andchief technology officer ofBiofuels Manufacturers of Illi-nois, an organization focused

on the devel-opment ofbiofuels froma once little-known plantcalled penny-cress.

Johnsenpreviouslyserved in lead-ership roles

for USDA research facilities inNew Orleans and Peoria. Hewas named federal laboratorydirector of the year in 2004, has

Larry Fischer

Peter Johnsen

Sue Mowery

IAITC honors top education volunteers of 2009Agricultural literacy leaders

and volunteers with the Cal-houn, Bureau, and WoodfordCounty Farm Bureaus werenamed Illinois Agriculture inthe Classroom (IAITC) volun-teers for 2009 at the IllinoisFarm Bureau annual meetinglast week in Chicago.

The honorees were JaneBrangenberg, Pearl; BethSchultz, Tiskilwa; and CherylPfanz and Dana White, both ofWashburn. The IAITC award isgiven for outstanding individualleadership and commitment toteaching nonfarm childrenabout the importance of agri-culture.

Schultz starts planning forthe March event in Septemberby contacting teachers and sendsout letters in December, seekingvolunteers and supporters tostaff 14 stations. Schultz also isactive in other Farm Bureau ageducation efforts and theWomen’s Committee.

Pfanz and White, a mother-daughter team, are known as thedynamic duo of county FarmBureau ag literacy efforts. Theyhave volunteered for the pastseven years, making monthlyvisits to district classrooms.

They make sure their presen-tations and materials relate tothe teachers’ lessons being

taught at that time. Their effortshave provided students in onedistrict their only exposure toag-related education.

Pfanz and White also areinvolved with the annual AgExtravaganza for county fourthgrade students. White co-chairedthe event last year.

Brangen-berg, a Soil andWater Conser-vation Districtemployee, hasserved on thecounty AITCCommittee for12 years andchaired thegroup for the

past eight years. She has usedher knowledge and expertise torecruit other professionals tojoin the committee.

Brangenberg regularly teachesclassroom lessons and has inter-acted with more than 1,000 stu-dents and teachers over the past

several years. She coordinatesthe programs given to all fourschools in the county andensures the volunteers haveproper supplies for their presen-

tations.Schultz has

been a drivingforce at thecounty FourthGrade Ag Fair,which she hasco-chaired andchaired. Dur-ing her threeyears of lead-

ership, more than 105 volunteersand 1,175 students have partici-pated in the daylong event.

Jane Brangenberg Cheryl Pfanz and Dana White

Beth Schultz

acres of corn and soybeans on a fourth-genera-tion farm, and Carey farms 80 acres on a crop-

share basis.“Growing up as a kid (stay-

ing close to the ag industry) issomething I always wanted todo,” he said.

Carey received $1,000 fromIFB; a digital camera courtesy ofthe IAA Credit Union; andexpense-paid trips to the Ameri-can Farm Bureau Federationannual meeting in Seattle, the

2010 GROWMARK annual meeting courtesy ofGROWMARK, and the 2010 Young Leader StateConference in Springfield.

Jay and Sheryl Solomonson of Coal Valley inHenry County were the runners-up in the com-petition.


Josh and Jody Curry of Alpha in Henry County were namedrecipients of the 2009 Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Achieve-ment Award last week at the IFB annual meeting in Chicago.

The award recognizes efforts in farming and ag leadershipachievement. The Currys will represent IFB Jan. 10-13 at theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting inSeattle.

“It was a goal (to compete for the award) when we got mar-ried, and since the first time I brought her (Jody) up here” tothe IFB annual meeting, Josh said. “What an honor. Any one(of the finalists) could have won it.”

The Currys are part of a diversified family farming opera-tion in Western Illinois. They produce corn, soybeans, andwheat, they have a farrow-to-finish hog operation, and theyhave a crossbred cow/calf herd.

“This (award) is kind of the culmination of all our YoungLeader activities,” said Josh, 34, who has been involved inYoung Leaders since he was 18.

“I competed in the Discussion Meet when I was 20, and whatan eye-opener,” he continued. “That’s when I saw Farm Bureau inaction at the state level and I thought ‘I want to be part of this’.”

Jody works off the farm at a local bank and also is a childbirth educator and Lamaze instructor. The couple has a son(Owen) and two daughters (Carsen and Hadaly).

They will receive 150 hours use of any two-wheel-drive Case IHtractor courtesy of Case IH; $1,000 from IFB; a one-year member-ship in the Illinois Corn Growers Association; and expense-paidtrips to the AFBF annual meeting, the 2010 GROWMARK annualmeeting courtesy of GROWMARK, and the 2010 Young LeaderState Conference in Springfield.

Joe Zumwalt of Warsaw in Hancock County was the runner-up in the competition.

Carey receives Excellence AwardMichael Carey of Kinsman in Grundy County

received the 2009 Illinois Farm Bureau YoungLeader Ag Excellence Award last week in Chicago.

The Ag Excellence Award recognizes countyFarm Bureau Young Leader Committee memberswho may not be full-time farmers for their effortsin agriculture and leadership achievement.

“It definitely was worth all the work,” saidCarey, who received the award with his wife, Kate,and their 8-week-old son, Logan.

Carey is an ag banker at the Standard Bank inMorris. He manages the day-to-day operations ofan ag loan portfolio comprised of about 70 pro-ducers with about $30 million in total loans.

“One thing I’ve noticed is our ag clients are in alittle more favorable position (than some privateand commercial borrowers),” Carey said. “They(farmers) are a little less of a credit risk.”

Carey’s father and uncle grow about 4,000

Michael Carey

Clapp captures YL Discussion MeetShawn Clapp, LeRoy, will represent Illinois

Farm Bureau in the Young Leader DiscussionMeet finals at the 2010 Ameri-can Farm Bureau Federation(AFBF) annual meeting Jan.10-13 in Seattle.

Clapp, a member of theMcLean County Farm Bureauwho produces corn in FordCounty and works off-farm inagribusiness, won the 2009Discussion Meet at last week’sannual meeting in Chicago.

The Discussion Meet is an exchange of ideasand information in which contestants must ana-lyze problems and develop solutions in a coop-erative manner.

“You’ve got to have a good grasp of the issuesand the ability to go into it with a sense of coop-

eration,” Clapp said of his strategy for the Dis-cussion Meet. “It’s not a debate, it’s a discus-sion.”

Clapp and three other finalists discussed howproducers can reach out to the public to gainsupport on issues that impact agriculture.

As winner of the Discussion Meet, he willreceive $1,000 from IFB; a 100-hour lease of anAgco four-wheel-drive tractor courtesy ofAgco; and expense-paid trips to the AFBFannual meeting, the 2010 GROWMARK annualmeeting courtesy of GROWMARK, and the2010 Young Leader State Conference in Spring-field.

The runner-up in the Discussion Meet wasGrant Strom of Knox County. Kurt Range ofSt. Clair County, who was the runner-up in thecompetition last year, and Matthew Starr ofHancock County received honorable mentions.

Shawn Clapp

Jody and Josh Curry

Alpha couple named YL Achievement winners

Doug Bentson, a crop adviser from Coal City inGrundy County, was named the 2009 Illinois Cer-tified Crop Adviser award winner at the IllinoisFarm Bureau annual meeting last week in Chicago.

Bentson provides advice for about 200,000acres on many agronomic issues, including seedplacement, seed treatment, and fertilizer and

Bentson named top certified crop advisernitrogen recommendations forGrainco FS.

He was nominated by CashBiros, Grundy County FarmBureau president.

Bentson has 25 years of cropconsulting experience. He wasone of the first certified cropadvisers to talk about variablerate applications.

“Doug’s work is exceptional,and (he) has always pushed agriculture to be at theforefront of evaluating new agronomic practicesand ideas,” according to his nomination letter.

Bentson has volunteered with the Ag in theClassroom program and the local 4-H fair andlivestock auction. He also volunteers with CoalCity schools and is a former member of hislocal township board.

In addition to winning the Illinois CropAdviser award, Bentson recently was named the2009 International Certified Crop Adviser ofthe Year through the American Society ofAgronomy. As the state crop adviser award win-ner, his name was submitted for the internation-al award by the Illinois Certified Crop AdviserBoard and the Illinois Farm Bureau.

The state crop adviser award is given by IFBand the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Board torecognize an individual who has performed supe-rior service for his farmer clients in nutrientmanagement, soil and water management, inte-grated pest management, and crop production.

Doug Bentson

Ryan Henke, IFB Young Leader Committee member from Madison County, checks out the details of a toy semi tractor trailer that wasfeatured at the YL Harvest for All booth at the IFB annual meeting in Chicago. Details of the truck include the IFB and Harvest forAll logos on each side of the trailer and on the mudflaps. Joe White of Kane County won the truck in a drawing of names of peoplewho contributed to Harvest for All through penny wars. A limited number of the trucks may be purchased for $60 apiece by con-tacting Jennifer Smith at [email protected] or 309-557-2536. Proceeds from the sales go to Harvest for All. (Photo by Ken Kashian)


County Farm Bureaus recognized for outstanding program awardsThirty-two county Farm Bureau programs achieved the

designation of “Most Outstanding Program” last week atthe Il l inois Farm Bureau annual meeting (see page 12).

Some of the winning programs alr eady have been f ea-tur ed in FarmWeek or ar e the subject of upcoming f ea-tur es. The fol lowing r epor t provides a brief synopsis of oneaward-winning program in each of the eight categories.

The spokesmen, while integral to the projects r eviewedher e, ar e r epr esentative of what in many cases wer e numer-ous volunteers r esponsible for the program’s success.

AG LITERACY“Farmer Stanley Goes to Adopted Classrooms”Randy Farr, Fulton County

The Fulton County Farm Bureau modified the popularelementary-school project/character “Flat Stanley” into“Farmer Stanley” and this year found it to be a tremen-

dous tool to help urban children learnabout agriculture.

Farmer Stanley is a two-foot-tallfoam-board cutout that wears a FarmBureau hat and FS jacket. A differentcounty Farm Bureau director tookFarmer Stanley home each month andphotographed it in various farm scenes.

“My wife (Sue) was aware of the pro-gram Flat Stanley, so she put the bug inmy ear, and I took it to a monthly meet-ing of directors,” Farr said. “We

renamed it Farmer Stanley and it went from there.”Each photo of Farmer Stanley was accompanied by a

diary and description of numerous farm-related activities.Children from the adopted classroom of Fulton Countytracked Stanley’s movements and wrote letters to thefarmers involved in the project to learn more about ag.

“We have an adopted classroom in the suburbs ofChicago,” Farr said. The program “was a model to showkids what Farmer Stanley did.”

Members of the Fulton County Farm Bureau last weekmet with students from a new adopted classroom inChicago. Farr believes the first-year Farmer Stanley pro-gram will be used to teach the new class about ag.

COMMODITIES & MARKET-ING“Mini Farm Progress Show Addresses Residue Management”Matthew Starr, Hancock County

Farmers in Hancock and surrounding counties whoattended a “Mini-Farm Progress Show”likely have a much better handle onresidue management options.

The Farm Bureau partnered withstate and federal agencies to host aresidue management farm show thatattracted about 250 farmers and repre-sentatives from eight equipment dealers.

“It’s a unique program, especially atthe county level,” Starr said. “A lot ofeffort went into it from different groupsin the county.”

Farmers at the event witnessed atleast a dozen different field demonstrations, and volun-teers with the Soil and Water Conservation District tookresidue measurements after each demonstration.

“Guys got to see all the tools run in the same field inmatching conditions,” Starr said. “And speakers werethere to tell you how to use the different types of tools.”

Certified crop advisers also were able to pick up creditfor continuing education at the event, which generatedcoverage from two television stations, four newspapers,and a dozen radio stations.

HEALTH & SAFETY“Grain Bin Engulfment and Extraction Class”Tom Harris, Clay County

Grain bin rescues can take three to four hours tocomplete if a person is partiallyengulfed in grain. A person fullyengulfed in grain may have only afour- to eight-minute window betweenlife and death, according to MichaelBrink, CEO of the Safety and Techni-cal Rescue Association.

The Clay County Farm Bureau andother local groups, therefore, hosted agrain bin engulfment and extractionclass to educate volunteer firefightersand first responders about the difficultyand risks involved in such a situation.

“People just take for granted what’s going on in a grain

bin,” Harris said. “If an auger is running, it can pull youdown quickly.”

The program featured a classroom training session fol-lowed by a hands-on training exercise completed in amodified grain bin.

“We had a gravity bin and did some training” on rescu-ing people who were engulfed up to their knees in grain,Harris said.

Next year, the Clay County Farm Bureau is consideringincluding farmers in the class and training exercise, whichthis year was held in August prior to the start of harvest.

LEGISLATIVE/POLITICALPROCESS“Legislative Steak Fry”Jim Koeller, Pike County

The Governmental Affairs Committee of the PikeCounty Farm Bureau continued a long-standing tradition of honoring andthanking elected officials by hosting asteak fry in August.

The event was open to all county,state, and federal officials.

“In this day and age, we’ve switchedto so much digitized information thatface to face (communication) seems lessfrequent,” Koeller said. “This always isa good way to interact with elected offi-cials and show them our appreciation.”

The annual event, which has been held for more than20 years, according to Koeller, also was used to recognize“Friend of Agriculture” award recipients from Congressand the Illinois General Assembly.

“This represents us as an organization, and it’s a goodconnection for our county officials to meet with state andfederal officials,” Koeller said.

The committee developed the invitee list, cooked themeal, and emceed the program. The Young Leaders Com-mittee also provided assistance.

LOCAL AFFAIRS“National Flood Insurance Program”Dennis Green, Lawrence County

The Lawrence County Board opted to join the Nation-al Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)after severe flooding in June 2008 dam-aged or destroyed homes, outbuildings,and crops, among other items.

However, some residents of thecounty were surprised after the decisionthat they would be required by theirbanks to take out flood insurance. Somepremiums for the insurance reportedlyranged from $8,000 to $40,000 a year.

“Some individuals started gettingnotices that they would have to pay pre-

miums, and they were looking at thousands of dollars ayear,” Green said.

So the Farm Bureau researched other alternatives.“We wanted to see what would be the impact if the

county got out of the (National Flood Insurance) pro-gram,” Green said.

As it turned out, some Lawrence County residentsalready had flood insurance prior to the 2008 floodwhile others could opt to purchase private insurance.

The county board, therefore, voted to get out of theNFIP so residents could make their own flood insur-ance decisions without getting stuck with mandatorypremiums.

COMMUNICATION & PROMOTION“Annual Farm Visit Day”Jim Sheaffer, Lee County

Farmers need to do more to educate consumers aboutfood safety and where their food comes from, particularlyas each generation becomes more removed from produc-tion agriculture, according to Sheaffer.

And the Lee County Farm Bureau responded bytweaking its annual farm visit program over the years toinclude more educational material.

“Originally (the tour) was to showconsumers farm equipment and whatwe do,” Sheaffer said. “Now, it’s a lotmore important to educate people onthe very basics so they realize we’reproducing wholesome products. And itgives them a chance to see a realfarmer.”

Attendance at the 15th annual farmtour this year reached a record-high 370visitors. Tour guides not only taught vis-itors about production ag, but they also

hit on hot button issues such as cap and trade, H1N1, andanimal activism.

“It has evolved into telling our story of food produc-tion,” Sheaffer said.

The event received coverage from local media, whichspread the message about production ag to a broaderaudience.

MEMBER RELATIONS“Harvest Treat Bags”Gary Luth, Douglas County; Rod Kennel, Moultrie County

Farm Bureau increased its presence in both counties bydelivering “goodiebags” to farmersduring harvest.

The farm visitsserved as a way forFarm Bureau staffand leaders to inter-act with farmers andto gain valuablefeedback.

“It’s difficult tohave personal con-

tact with all the members, so this was a great way to initi-ate that contact,” Luth said. “And the program doesn’tfocus only on Farm Bureau members. We talked to anyfarmers who were active (during a recent harvest win-dow), so it was good publicity.”

In fact, a few farmers even decided to join FarmBureau as a result of the visits, according to Kennel.

“It was complicated getting to harvest (because ofthe late crop and wet fall),” Kennel said. “But we founda good window when farmers were very busy” in thefields.

More than 300 bags, which were prepared by theYoung Leader Committee and staff, were delivered tofarmers. Country Financial assisted the program in Moul-trie County.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT“Coffee Shop Survey Card Program”Kevin Yohnka, Kankakee County

The Kankakee County Farm Bureau found a new wayto generate feedback from members andeven non-members by seeking them outat local coffee shops.

A survey program was conducted bytaking three-by-five cards that containeda handful of survey questions to coffeeshops and restaurants in the county thatare frequented by farmers.

And the participation rate was signif-icant: 168 of the 190 cards were com-pleted and returned to the FarmBureau. Each survey card contained

questions about biofuels, the cost of food, and character-istics of Farm Bureau.

“It’s a good way to get a survey across the county,”said Yohnka. “And we were able to find out if we aredoing the job consumers want us to do.”

The program not only provided valuable feedback tothe Kankakee County Farm Bureau board, it also generat-ed some publicity. One local farm broadcaster did abroadcast from one establishment and discussed FarmBureau activities.

“I think we’re going to consider doing it again,” Yohn-ka said.

Daniel Grant compiled information for this report

Randy Farr

Matthew Starr

Tom Harris

Jim Sheaffer

Jim Koeller

Rod Kennel

Kevin Yohnka

Dennis Green

Gary Luth

GOVERNMENT


Hunting fees, licenses to cost more; deer hunting totals dropBY KAY SHIPMANFarmWeek

Illinois hunters and fisher-men will pay slightly more toparticipate in those sports nextyear now that Gov. Pat Quinnhas signed legislation toincrease some fees.

The action may generateabout $3 million annually forthe Illinois Department ofNatural Resources (IDNR).

In related news last week,IDNR reported the harvestfrom the second deer huntingseason that ended Dec. 6 near-ly equaled totals from thesame period last year, but stillabout 6,000 fewer deer overallwere shot this year comparedto 2008.

The fee increases apply pri-marily to resident hunting per-mits and licenses. The lawtakes effect Jan. 1; however,the Joint Committee onAdministrative Rules firstmust approve fee and licenseincreases before they go intoeffect, according to Tim

66,126 compared with 71,894in 2008. The preliminary har-vest totals include deer shot inall counties where firearm deerhunting is permitted, as well asat Chain O’Lakes State Park inLake County.

“Harvest during the secondseason was nearly identical tolast year,” said Paul Shelton,IDNR forest wildlife programmanager. “We did experience aslow start during the firstfirearm season.” Sheltonadded hunters still haveopportunities to hunt moredeer during muzzleloader sea-son and an expanded archery

and late-winter firearm season.In preliminary reports, Pike

County again topped the list forcounty firearm season total with3,265 deer. Other top countytotals were Fulton, 2,616;Adams, 2,480; Jefferson 2,379;Jo Daviess 2,281; Randolph,2,256; and Jackson 2,153.

A list of counties that areopen for remaining seasonsand the permit limit for thosecounties and those that areclosed for the late-winter sea-son are available on the IDNRwebsite. The site is{www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/pdf/latewintercountieslist.pdf}.

Schweizer, IDNR spokesman.When Quinn first proposed

raising hunting and fishingfees, some people expressedconcerns that IDNR wouldn’treceive the additional moneygenerated. “The director hasmade the pledge that the feesthe constituents pay will go forthe program for which they’reintended,” Schweizer said.

Proposed fee changesinclude the fishing licenseincreasing from $12.50 to$14.50 and the hunting licenseincreasing from $7 to $12.

Hunting permit changesinclude the following increas-

es: resident deer firearm per-mit from $15 to $25, residentarchery doe permit from $15to $17.50 and non-residentarchery doe permit from $15to $25.

Deer hunters in earlyDecember shot 33,293 deer,down compared to 33,701during the same period lastyear, according to IDNR pre-liminary totals. The 2009firearm season total for sevendays was 99,419 compared to105,595 last year.

Preliminary totals weredown substantially in the firstpart of the 2009 season at

IDOT, city deal clearstrack for high-speed rail

A major roadblock in thestate’s high-speed rail proposalwas removed last week.

The Illinois Department ofTransportation (IDOT) agreedto an environmental impactstudy of proposed routesthrough the City of Springfield.

In return, the city and Sanga-mon County agreed to supportthe state’s application for federalfunding for a high-speed railcorridor between Chicago andSt. Louis.

State, city, and county offi-cials signed the agreement at anews conference last week.IDOT agreed to pay up to $4million for the study of threeproposed routes throughSpringfield. The study must becompleted and published within16 months.

Illinois officials and commu-nities along the proposed high-speed rail route expressed con-cerns that the state’s proposalwould be jeopardized withoutsupport from all communitiesand counties. Until last week,Springfield and SangamonCounty opposed the plan.

PRODUCTION


Analyst: Dollar continues to influence market BY DANIEL GRANTFarmWeek

USDA last week made onlya few tweaks to crop estimatesin its December crop produc-tion report and world supplyand demand estimates.

But the main influence oncrop prices in coming weekslikely will continue to be thevalue of the dollar and itseffect on outside markets,according to Helen Pound,analyst with Penson GHCO.

“The grain markets muchmore are reacting to theworld stage than fundamen-tals of the market,” Poundsaid during a teleconferencehosted by the MinneapolisGrain Exchange. “The lastfew months the outside mar-kets, driven by the value ofthe dollar, had an enormous

impact on the value ofgrain.”

Pound believes a weak dol-lar this fall helped fuel rallies

in the grain markets, but afirmer dollar in recent weeks“gives kind of a negative biasto grain,” she said.

USDA last week left its2009/10 season average priceestimates for corn and wheatunchanged at $3.25 to $3.85

per bushel for corn and $4.65to $5.05 per bushel forwheat.

“When you look at world

supply and demand numbers,wheat is the most abundant,”she said.

USDA last week increasedglobal wheat supplies bynearly 37 million bushels,raised ending stocks of U.S.wheat by 15 million bushels,

and projected ending stocksof corn for 2009/10 at 1.675billion bushels, which isunchanged from 2008/09.USDA also lowered cornexports by 50 millionbushels.

Therefore, the crop thatlikely will continue to lead themarkets is soybeans, accordingto the analyst.

USDA last week raised soy-bean exports by 15 millionbushels to 1.34 billion bushelsand lowered ending stocks by15 million bushels to 255 mil-lion bushels.

U.S. soy export commit-ments through Novemberwere a record and up nearly60 percent compared to thesame time last year, USDAreported.

As a result, USDA raised its

season average price forecastfor soybeans by 55 cents onthe low end to a current rangeof $8.75 to $10.25 per bushel.

“I think it’s a situationwhere the U.S. is the dominantexporter (of beans) rightnow,” Pound said. “It will belate March or later beforeSouth American beans starthitting the market.”

In the meantime, traderslikely will focus on USDA’sfinal crop production esti-mates that will be releasednext month.

“In January, we’ll get betterproduction numbers andstocks numbers,” Poundadded. “But we won’t get ahandle on (final productionnumbers) for awhile. Theredefinitely is going to be cornin the field all winter.”

December crop report uneventful

‘The grain markets much more are re-acting to the world stage than funda-mentals of the market.’

— Helen PoundPenson GHCO

Winter-like storm source of latest harvest setbackThe majority of crops

finally were harvested in Illi-nois as of the first of lastweek (95 percent of soybeansand 85 percent of corn).

But farmers who still havecorn in the field were dealtanother setback by MotherNature last week as a mixtureof snow, sleet, rain, and highwinds delayed harvest andmost other types of field-work.

“There probably is 40percent (of the corn crop)still left in my area,” saidPete Tekampe, a Lake Coun-ty farmer and FarmWeekCropwatcher, who notedmoisture readings as of thefirst of last week remainedat 30-plus percent in someof his corn.

As for soybeans, he report-ed “I’m usually done (withharvest) in mid- to late-Octo-

ber, but I didn’t cut my firstbean this year until Nov. 2.”

Last week’s winter-likestorm dumped about 11inches of snow along theIllinois-Iowa-Wisconsinborder, about six inches inRockford, and three to fourinches around Chicago,according to Amy Jankows-ki, meteorologist with theNational Weather Service.

In Kane County, Steve Pit-stick reported he had to stopcorn harvest because hisequipment got clogged with

snow-covered stalks.Snowfall totals were much

lower south of Interstate 80and the precipitation south ofInterstate 74 was more of arain-sleet-snow mix.

Harvest weather could bechilly this week as anothercold front is expected tomove across the state,according to Jankowski.However, the forecast as ofFriday didn’t show manychances of precipitation thisweek except perhaps tonight(Monday).

Areas of the statewith the most cornleft to harvest as ofthe first of last weekwere in the northeast(26 percent), east (17percent), and westsouthwest (15 per-cent), according tothe National Agricul-tural Statistics Service

Illinois office.Mean-

while, 13percent ofwheat sow-ing remainedto be doneas of lastweek, andmost farm-ers antici-

pate many fewer acres dueto the late fall, weather chal-lenges, and lackluster prices.

“We did not plant any

wheat,” said Ken Taake, aCropwatcher from PulaskiCounty, who last year planted400 acres. “There’s not verymuch wheat planted in ourarea at all.”

DeanShields, aCropwatcherfrom JacksonCounty, esti-mated farm-ers in hisarea plantedone-half totwo-thirds

fewer wheat acres this fall.“Very little fall work got

done,” he said.The statewide precipita-

tion total from Januarythrough November (46.2inches) is the third-wetteston record, the Illinois StateWater Survey reported. —Daniel Grant

Dean Shields

Ken Taake

‘There probably is 40 percent (ofthe corn crop) still left in my area.’

— Pete TekampeLake County farmer

COMMODITIES


Illinois soybean leaders elected to national boardsBY DANIEL GRANTFarmWeek

Illinois, one of the top soy-bean-producing states in thenation, will be well represent-ed in the coming year at thenational level.

Phil Bradshaw of Grigg -sville this month was electedchairman of the United Soy-bean Board (USB) while RonKindred of Atlanta was re-elected secretary of the Amer-ican Soybean Association(ASA).

USB is made up of 68farmer-directors who overseeinvestments of the soybeancheckoff.

Bradshaw said one of his toppriorities this year will be thelivestock industry, which is theNo. 1 consumer of soybeans.

“The bean is 80 percentmeal, and domestically 98 per-cent of all meal goes to live-stock,” Bradshaw, who alsoproduces hogs, toldFarmWeek. “That’s wherewe’ve got to put our emphasis.”

Bradshaw is concerned

the continued success of U.S.soy farmers.

“We have to start theprocess of improving ourinfrastructure,” Bradshaw said.“It does no good to raise (asoybean crop) if you can’tmove it.”

Infrastructure and ensuringfarmers’ ability to use thenewest crop technologies alsoare important to feeding thosewho are hungry and to meet-ing the needs of a growingpopulation.

“There always will be peo-ple who can’t afford the bestprotein, which is animal pro-tein,” Bradshaw said. “We’vegot to find a way people onlow incomes can have the pro-tein they need. That will be

our market (for soy protein) inthe future.”

ASA represents all U.S.farmers on domestic andinternational policy issues.ASA’s advocacy efforts arepossible through voluntarymembership of more than22,500 farmers.

“I think it’s very importantfor Illinois, as a large soybean-producing state, to have repre-sentation on the ExecutiveCommittee of the AmericanSoybean Association,” saidKindred, who has farmed inCentral Illinois for more thanthree decades.

“Hopefully, I can have animpact on policies at thenational level that is positivefor Illinois soybean farmers.”

economic losses in the live-stock industry could forcesome producers out of busi-ness, which could translate

into reduced demand for soy-beans.

Meanwhile, USB will con-tinue to push the use of soy oilas an alternative fuel source.

“We’ve always had a large

supply of vegetable oil aroundthe world. That’s why biodieselis so important,” Bradshawsaid. “If we can make oil more

valuable, it will take pressureoff meal (as the profit sourcein soybeans).”

Bradshaw also believesmarket access and infrastruc-ture improvements are vital to

‘It does no good to raise (a soybeancrop) if you can’t move it.’

— Phil BradshawUnited Soybean Board chairman

National ag essay contest seeks entries

The Agriculture Council ofAmerica is seeking original,450-word essays about theimportance of agriculturefrom the nation’s seventh- to12th-grade students. The dead-line for submissions is Feb. 12.

The theme is “AmericanAgriculture: Abundant,Affordable, Amazing,” andwriters are expected to high-light how agriculture continuesto overcome new challenges.

Students may address one ormore of the following chal-lenges: keeping food afford-able, meeting the demands ofa growing population withfewer acres, working with leg-islative influences, and address-ing consumer concerns.

The national winner willreceive $1,000 and a round-tripticket to Washington, D.C., forthe Celebration of Ag Dinneron March 18. The winner alsowill have an opportunity tomeet members of Congressand representatives of federalagencies and industry.

State winners also will beselected, and each will receive$100.

Entries should be sent to:Ag Day Essay Contest, Agri-culture Council of America,11020 King St., Suite 205,Overland Park, Kan., 66210,or submitted by e-mail [email protected]. Contestentry applications and officialrules are online at{www.hpj.com/agdayessay}.

BRAZIL


Lots of rain, soybeans the story in BrazilI am just back from our

farms in Tocantins where myarrival broke a nine-daydrought with seven days of

rain. My farm

managerfinally askedme to go backto the UnitedStates so thatit would dryout enough tofinish plant -ing our soy-

beans. Overall in Brazil,planting has proceeded at anabove-average pace, and

biodiesel, a blend that was notscheduled to take place until2013.

Brazil consumes more than10 million gallons of dieselfuel each year, so if soybeanswere used as the main feed-stock, this would use a bitover 4 percent of the oil fromBrazil’s total crop.

However, the talk now is

about blends approaching 20percent. Using a fifth ofBrazil’s soybean oil for fuelmight seem unrealistic if itweren’t for the fact that thecountry already has a mandat-ed blend of 25 percent ofethanol in its gasoline.

So the word from Brazilthis month is “big.” Big rains.Bigger planted area. Big crop.And bigger biodiesel blends.

Phil Corzine is general managerof South American Soy, a globalproduction, management, andinvestment company. His e-mailaddress is [email protected].

planting was about 90 percentcomplete as of last week.

The good start is expectedto lead to a strong finish forsoybeans, according toBrazil’s forecasting agency,Conab. The third crop reportestimates planted area for soy-beans this year is up by 6 per-cent.

Seventy-percent of thatincreased area probably camefrom fields that were plantedto first-crop corn last year.Low corn prices andimproved economics for soy-beans in Brazil caused theswitch.

In bushels, the numbers areeven bigger, as Conab is pro-jecting a record soybean cropfor Brazil of 1.76 billionbushels — an increase ofnearly 13 percent.

In addition to producingmore soybeans, Brazil is usingmore of them as well. OnJan. 1, all diesel fuel in Brazilwill contain 5 percent

Phil Corzine

U of I Corn, Soybean Classics to address crop issuesUniversity of Illinois spe-

cialists will provide the mostcurrent information aboutcrop production, pest man-agement, and economics atthe 2010 U of I Corn andSoybean Classics.

The classics will be pre-sented at six regional meet-ings between Jan. 6 and 14.The early registration dead-

of corn and soybean yieldforecast models, managinginsect pests in refuges, andmajor crop diseases of 2009.

Registration is availableonline at{www.cropsciconferences.org/}.

The early registration fee is$60. Registration after thatdate is $75. Additional infor-mation is available by con-tacting Aaron Hager orSandy Osterbur at 800-321-1296.

line is Dec. 20.The day-long programs

will begin at 9 a.m. and endat 3:30 p.m. A lunch and aproceedings booklet, con-taining synopses of all pre-sentations, are provided toeach registrant.

Dates and locations are:Jan. 6, Holiday Inn, Mt.Vernon; Jan. 8, I Hotel and

Conference Center, Cham-paign; Jan. 11, CrownePlaza, Springfield; Jan. 12,Doubletree Hotel, Bloom-ington; Jan. 13, I WirelessCenter, Moline; and Jan.14, Kishwaukee College,Malta.

Topics will include newinformation on corn nema-todes in Illinois, evaluation

FSA payment fixeyed by lawmakersBY MARTIN ROSSFarmWeek

Amid continued farm pay-ment delays and errors, U.S.House Ag Committee mem-bers are looking to bring pro-gram control home to whereas one Southern Illinoislandowner argues USDA staffis “closer to the producer andmore effective.”

Program participantsnationwide have been plaguedby electronic deposit of someprogram payments in wrongaccounts, single lump-sumpayments for separate pro-gram farms, and thousands ofFarm Service Agency lettersinforming them that they oweUSDA money, many mistaken-ly.

Glitches in program pay-ments and paperwork emanat-ing from FSA’s Kansas Cityregional offices have been

blamed largely on achangeover in USDA softwareand procedures.

Franklin County landownerKen Bolen maintains the sys-tem “was working well” beforeprocessing was transferredfrom county FSA offices toKansas City and U.S. Treasurycontrol.

“I don’t think anyone onthe committee who knows theissue doesn’t think we need togo back to the counties,” anaide to Urbana Republican AgCommittee member TimJohnson told FarmWeek atIllinois Farm Bureau’s annualmeeting.

“We have two separate pro-gram operations,” Bolen relat-ed. “One is under individualownership by my wife and I.Our (fall) payment was madein a timely manner. We haveanother operation with twofamilies involved. Their falldirect payments haven’t beenmade.

“Apparently, (payments toadditional) ‘entity’ farms maytake longer for (the regionaloffice) to review and approve.Before, they were doing agreat job.

“Taking it back to the coun-ty office would be preferable,in my opinion. We have anexcellent county (FSA) staffand county executive director— they’re very responsive. Atthe regional office, we don’tknow who they are or how toreach them.”

FROM THE COUNTIES


HANCOCK — Areception honoring

Deb Pflasterer, HancockCounty Extension unit leader,will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Fridayat the Fitz Randolph Inn,Carthage. Call the Extensionoffice at 357-2150 for moreinformation.

LASALLE — FarmBureau will sponsor

stroke detection screeningsfrom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednes-day, at the Farm Bureau office.Stroke, abdominal aorticaneurysm, peripheral vasculardisease, and osteoporosisscreenings are available. Costis $80 for members and $120for non-members. Call 877-732-8258 for an appointmentor more information.

LEE — Lee CountyFarm Bureau Founda-

tion scholarships ranging

Auction CalendarMon., Dec. 14. 10 a.m. Farm

Close-Out Auction. Bill and PatGarrett, TAYLORVILLE, IL. Cory

Craig, Auctioneers.Tues., Dec. 15. 10:30 a.m. Farmmachinery and miscellaneous. ILDelta Farms Partnership, ONAR-GA, IL. Schrader Real Estate and

Auction Co., Inc.Thurs., Dec. 17. 10 a.m. EstateAuction. Wayne Morrow Estate,HICKMAN, KY. James R. Cash,

Auctioneer.

from $250 to $750 are avail-able for high school seniorspursuing a major in an agri-cultural field of study. Inaddition, the Larry J. GreenMemorial Scholarship of$300 and the Dean HenkelMemorial Scholarship of$750 are available. Applica-tions are available on the web-site {www.leecfb.org} or atthe Farm Bureau office.Applications are due Feb. 1.Call the Farm Bureau office at815-857-3531 for more infor-mation.

PEORIA — Orders forFlorida citrus and Terry

Lynn nuts may be picked upfrom 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.Wednesday at the FarmBureau office.

• Tickets are available forthe Bradley vs. Loyola basket-ball game at 7 p.m. Wednesday

at the Peoria Civic Center.Tickets are $4 and are locatedin section 5C or 6.

Call the Farm Bureau officefor more information.

“From the counties” items aresubmitted by county Farm Bureaumanagers. If you have an event oractivity open to all members, contactyour county manager.

Certified livestock, manure management training offered

University of IllinoisExtension is offering severalcertified livestock managerand manure managementworkshops through March toprovide new information andhelp producers comply withstate livestock rules.

Advance registration isencouraged to allow partici-pants to receive a manual inadvance, which is importantfor those planning to take awritten Illinois Departmentof Agriculture (IDOA) testafter the workshop.

The state Livestock Man-agement Facilities Act(LMFA) requires producerswith operations designed formore than 300 animal unitsto have manure managementcertification and to renewthe certificate every threeyears.

Producers with more than300 animal units mustattend an approved trainingsession or pass a writtenIDOA test. Producers withmore than 1,000 animalunits must attend anapproved training sessionand pass a test.

The U of I also offers aseries of five online quizzesat no charge. A producerwho passes all five quizzeswill meet the state require-ment of attending a certi-fied livestock managerworkshop.

To register for a work-shop or buy a training man-ual or CD with a credit card,call 800-345-6087. Partici-pants do not need a newmanual if they have a 2003or newer one.

Advance workshop regis-tration is $30 per person and$20 for each additional regis-trant from the same farm ifregistered at the same time.The walk-in registration feeis $92. Manual and CDprices, including shipping,are $62 for a manual, $32 fora CD, and $87 for a manualand CD.

For more information,contact Randy Fonner, U of IExtension coordinator, at217-333-2611, e-mail him [email protected], or goonline to{www.livestocktraining.com}.

Workshops that begin at8:15 a.m. will end at 12:30p.m. The IDOA exam will beadministered afterward. The9:15 a.m. workshops will endat 2 p.m., followed by theIDOA exam.

The January workshops,dates, and locations are:Jan. 13, 8:15 a.m., KnoxCounty Extension office,Galesburg; Jan. 14, 8:15a.m., Adams-Brown County

Extension office, Quincy;Jan. 25, 9:15 a.m., beef-dairy workshop, EffinghamCounty Extension, Effing-ham; and Jan. 26, beef-dairyworkshop, 9:15 a.m., Ameri-can Legion Post 252,Breese.

The February workshopsare: Feb. 23, 9:15 a.m.,beef-dairy workshop,Stephenson County FarmBureau, Freeport; and Feb.24, 8:15 a.m., DeKalbCounty Farm Bureau Build-ing, Sycamore.

The March workshop isMarch 9, 8:15 a.m., Sanga-mon-Menard Extension,Illinois State Fairgrounds,Springfield.

PROFITABILITY


Feeder pig prices reported to USDA*

Weight Range Per Head Weighted Ave. Price10 lbs. $32.00-$40.94 $38.9240 lbs. $40.00-$42.00 $41.3550 lbs. n/a n/aReceipts This Week Last Week

24,142 24,126*Eastern Corn Belt prices picked up at seller’s farm

MARKET FACTS

Confirmed lamb and sheep salesThis week 740 Two week’s ago 1.331 Last year 1,268Wooled Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3: 90-110 lbs, $102-$105. Goodand Choice 1-2: 60-90 lbs., $112. Slaughter Ewes: Utility and Good 1-3: $41-$43.Cull and Utility 1-2: $41.

Lamb prices

Eastern Corn Belt direct hogs (plant delivered)(Prices $ per hundredweight)

This week Prev. week ChangeCarcass $59.32 $56.67 2.65Live $43.90 $41.94 1.96

Export inspections

(Million bushels)Week ending Soybeans Wheat Corn12-03-09 58.3 13.0 25.911-26-09 46.9 16.7 29.9Last year 41.5 13.2 24.9Season total 542.6 440.6 431.0Previous season total 397.4 626.5 428.7USDA projected total 1340 875 2050Crop marketing year began June 1 for wheat and Sept. 1 for corn and soybeans.

(Thursday’s price)This week Prv. week Change

Steers 78.89 82.05 -3.16Heifers 78.87 82.14 -3.27

USDA five-state area slaughter cattle price

This is a composite price of feeder cattle transactions in 27 states.(Prices $ per hundredweight)

This week Prev. week Change93.13 93.83 -0.70

CME feeder cattle index — 600-800 Lbs.

The basics of express and implied product warrantiesBY PETE TROTTER

A product warranty is astatement regarding the condi-tion of a sold product. War-ranties can be express orimplied.

Expresswarranties arecreated fromstatements ofthe seller, andthey may beclearly statedand docu-mented inwriting, or

arise from advertising or otheractions of the seller.

Implied warranties arethose which are not clearlystated by the seller but which

are created by the nature ofthe transaction or the under-standing of the buyer.

Implied warranties mayarise under legal principlesproviding protections relatedto the condition or quality of apurchase.

Warranties also can be cate-gorized according to the typeof product, and significantvariation may occur, for exam-ple, between a warranty forseed products and a warrantyfor engine lubricants. Also, aswith all contracts, warrantiesmay vary widely depending onthe preferences of the seller.

From the seller’s perspec-tive, warranties can enhancethe seller’s image and make

the seller more competitivewith others in the industry.Express warranties also maylimit implied warranties (aspermitted by law), clarify thescope of warranties which theseller wants to provide, speci-fy claim recovery options(such as refund or replace-ment), and provide a point ofcontact and process for war-ranty claims.

From the buyer’s perspec-tive, some of the same bene-fits result (such as clarificationregarding the point of contactand process for warrantyclaims), but the primary bene-fit for buyers is the degree ofcomfort which an explicitstatement provides with regard

to the seller’s willingness tostand behind his products.

Warranties may not beoffered because they are notconsidered to be necessary oradvantageous. For example,close business relationships ora reputation for standingbehind products sold by theseller may lead the seller todecline to offer a written war-ranty statement.

In addition, the type ofproduct, the industry involved,and the potential frequency ofwarranty claims may have animpact on the decision to offera warranty.

Warranty statements typi-cally include several key com-ponents. A warranty should

state the products covered bythe warranty, the process forclaims, the recovery options,and the limitations on claims.

Buyers seeking to recoverunder claims should ensurethat they understand applica-ble warranty terms.

Most warranties limit thescope of coverage and specifyrequired, permitted, and pro-hibited actions on the part ofthe buyer.

Warranties also may requireprecise compliance with war-ranty conditions from the timeof purchase.

Pete Trotter is GROWMARK’sassistant general counsel. His e-mailaddress is [email protected]

Pete Trotter

ISA to host first soybean yield challenge in 2010The Illinois Soybean Asso-

ciation (ISA) hopes to put anyconcerns about the so-called“yield plateau” to rest throughone of its new programs.

ISA in 2010 will hold itsfirst Soy Yield Challenge in thestate. The new venture, whichis funded by the soybeancheckoff, is designed to makeIllinois soybean growers theglobal leader in soybean yieldsby developing new and innov-ative farming practices.

Soy yields the past decade(1999 through 2008) averaged44.6 bushels per acre in thestate with little variation

except 2003 and 2004 whenthe average yield went from37 bushels per acre (2003) to adecade-high 50 bushels (2004)see graphic).

ISA is promoting the newYield Challenge program atfarm shows and eventsthroughout the state this falland winter. Brochures aboutthe Yield Challenge are avail-able and more informationabout the program may beobtained by calling 888-826-4011.

Registration for the YieldChallenge is scheduled to endApril 1, 2010. Details and

team/sponsor entry forms areavailable online at{www.soyyieldchallenge.com}.

“The ISA is looking at 400to 600 plots in the 2010 YieldChallenge so far,” said JimNelson, ISA Yield Challengecoordinator. “But we are stillseeking growers, sponsors,and student teams to partici-pate.

“The 2010 Yield Challengeis not only a great opportunityfor farmers, but it is also abenefit for sponsors, who canspeak with key customers andchallenge them to utilize dif-ferent yield-enhancing strate-gies.”

The challenge allows teamsof growers and others to worktogether to improve soybeanyields and generate meaningfuldata. Program participants willreceive free soil testing fornutrients and soybean cystnematode egg and type testingas well as free protein and oilanalyses of grain samples tak-en from harvested plots.

The production strategies

and data collected from thechallenge will be available toall growers in an attempt toimprove soybean yields in Illi-nois.

Growers who currently arelooking to place their seedorders for next year also can

take advantage of the VarietalInformation Program for Soy-beans (VIPS) database.

The database, which isavailable online at{www.vipsoybeans.org} allowsproducers to compare morethan 650 seed varieties.

Tough lessons learned, ahead on glyphosate resistanceBY KAY SHIPMANFarmWeek

Scientists, agrichemical companies, andfarmers are continuing to learn how weedsdevelop resistance and tolerance to glyphosateherbicides, according to a USDA AgriculturalResearch Service researcher.

Stark County native Dale Shaner, a plantphysiologist based in Fort Collins, Colo., dis-cussed the history and future of glyphosateresistance during the recent Ag Masters Con-ference at the University of Illinois.

“Don’t just be concerned about resistance;you also need to consider (glyphosate) tolerantweeds,” Shaner warned.

Researchers speculate the traits forglyphosate resistance may have existed — inlow numbers — among weed populations, butthe increased use of glyphosate herbicides andother management practices, such as low-rateapplications, worsened the problem.

“There are probably more cases ofglyphosate resistance than we know about,”

Shaner said. Glyphosate resistance can be car-ried in the pollen and the seed, which means itcan spread, he noted.

Shaner and the crop advisers in his audienceurged farmers to be proactive and not wait untilresistant weeds show up in their fields.

General guidelines include:• Avoid continuous use of herbicides with the

same mode of action and rotate use of herbi-cides with different modes of action.

•Use other methods of weed control, includ-ing mechanical removal.

• Apply full-label rates of glyphosate.• Scout fields before and after burndown.• Clean equipment to prevent spreading of

resistant weed seed to other fields.“If you think you have (herbicide) resistance

(in weeds), do what you can to control that weedseed before it spreads,” Shaner concluded.

For detailed information to manageglyphosate-resistant weeds, go online to{www.siu.edu/~weeds}, or{www.cropsci.illinois.edu}.

PROFITABILITY


AgriVisor Hotline Number

309-557-2274

AgriVisor endorsescrop insurance by

Policies issued by COUNTRYMutual Insurance Company®,

Bloomington, Illinois

AgriVisor LLC1701 N. Towanda Avenue

PO Box 2500Bloomington IL 61702-2901

309-557-3147

AgriVisor LLC is not liable for any damageswhich anyone may sustain by reason of inac-curacy or inadequacy of information providedherein, any error of judgment involving any pro-jections, recommendations, or advice or anyother act of omission.

CASH STRATEGISTCorn Strategy

�2009 crop: Cornrebounded from its recentdecline, but it’s going to bedifficult to generate upsidemomentum with the seven-week low coming at Christ-mas. Use rallies to makeneeded late harvest sales,especially on commerciallystored corn. Further gainsmay not pay much morethan the cost of storing thecorn. If March futures rallyto $4.35, boost sales to 50percent. On farm-storedcorn, the large futures carrymakes hedge-to-arrive con-tracts for winter/springdelivery attractive. Be care-ful storing corn beyondMarch/April because ofquality issues. Check theCash Strategist Hotline oftenfor changes.

�2010 crop: We are con-sidering initiating sales ifDecember 2010 futures moveabove $4.50.

�Fundamentals: There’sstill close to 1 billion bushelsstanding in the field. Stalkissues could drive field lossessignificantly higher on thoseacres.Soybean Strategy

�2009 crop: The generallystronger dollar and improvingweather in South Americahave kept soybean prices onthe defensive. Unless Januaryfutures drop below $10, weexpect to see higher pricesreturn. If January futurespush above the $10.78 high,they should go beyond $11.Pull orders you might have toprice soybeans if January hits$10.80.

�2010 crop: We are con-sidering initiating sales ifNovember 2010 futuresapproach $11. Check the CashStrategist Hotline occasionallyfor a specific recommenda-tion.

�Fundamentals: Soy-bean and product demandremains the strength of thecomplex. Weather has beenmostly beneficial to theSouth American crops, butthe important part of theirgrowing season still liesahead.

✘Fail-safe: Get up to 50percent sold if January futures

close below $10.Wheat Strategy

�2009 crop: Speculativebuying stepped away from themarket, making prices morevulnerable to downside pres-sure. However, we see limitedprice risk below $5.17 on theChicago March contract. UseMarch futures rallies above$5.50 for catch-up sales.Hold off on making addition-al sales until after the 20-weeklow is established in early2010.

�2010 crop: Our pricetarget of Chicago July

futures reaching $6.15 tomake an initial 25 percentsale likely has been taken offthe radar. We may adjustthat target, but will wait for atrend shift before changingour recommendation.

�Fundamentals: Thelatest supply/demandreport boosted U.S. stocksprojections even more,with the carryout nowpegged at 900 millionbushels. But the driver ofgrain prices is demandfrom the investment com-munity.

Grain production increasesoutside of the U.S. and China,wheat in particular, continueto be a drag on prices. Look-ing at the fundamental struc-ture outside of the U.S. oftencan provide clues to ourexport potential.

We have started removingChina from the mix as well, asit has not been a big factor inworld grain trade the last fewyears.

However, the rise in Chi-na’s output the last two years,and the accompanyingincrease in stocks, could makeit a factor once again. Fornow, though, China seems tobe content holding largerinventories to limit the impacta production problem mighthave, especially with its steadi-ly rising demand.

Outside of the U.S. and Chi-na, production increases in Rus-sia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan,and former Eastern Bloc Com-

Basis charts

munist countries have beennotable the last two years.

As you can surmise fromthe accompanying graphic,wheat output from these coun-tries has been consistently high-er the last two years, although itwas slightly lower this year.

Abundant grain supplies inthese “Black Sea” countrieshave become significant inworld trade. During this decade,especially the last two years,they have become key players.

When they have exportablesurpluses available, as theyhave the last two years, theyare aggressive sellers, under-cutting offers from the moretraditional exporters, the U.S.included. That has had nega-tive repercussions on ourwheat and corn exports during2009 and may continue to sub-due export activity into theearly part of 2010.

The Ukrainians may exportnearly as much grain this mar-keting year as last, even thoughthey had a smaller crop. Thelarger ending stocks at the endof last year are allowing themto continue aggressive exports.Russia appears to be followinga similar pattern.

Kazakhstan’s crops wereabout 25 percent larger thisyear, leaving it with grain its tra-ditional buyers may not be ableto absorb. Kazakhstan has sig-naled intentions to ship grain toChina or other Asian countries.

Amid this, there is someearly concern for this year’swinter crops. The develop-ment of those crops couldimpact their willingness toexport grain in the latter partof the marketing year. Thatcould boost demand for U.S.grains toward the end of themarketing year.

Cents per bu.

Foreign grain supplies remain a drag

PERSPECTIVES


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dress must accompany each letter to be published.FarmWeek reserves the right to reject any letter.

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Only one letter per writer will be accepted in a 30-day period. Typewritten letters are preferred.

Please send letters to: FarmWeek Letters1701 Towanda Ave.

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Illinois Farm Bureau delegates debate policy during the IFB annual meeting in Chicago. (Photo by Ken Kashian)

DECEMBER IN CHICAGO: Illinois Farm Bureau Convention ’09(Editor’s note: Lin Warfel, a Champaign County Farm

Bureau delegate, takes a poetic look back at last week’s IFBannual meeting.)

ChicagoWhite knuckled to the taskthe delegates poured over pagesfocusing, bearing down hardcompelled by anxious harvest

Actually, anxious year!Delayed at plantingflooding againrecord rain, record coolthey hustled into harvestdelayed again by moisturein the soil (mud) and grainhigh moisture, the talk

in coffee shops and elevatorswait for sunshinewait for dryerswait in line to deliver

Still they came to IFBduty callingthree hundred forty four“Present”!

Down to businessmen used to plowingsome ladies joining tooschooled in policiesrepresenting, thinking, debatingyea! or nay!they journeyed onthirty eight new or rewritten

three hundred three reaffirmed

Concealed carry, term limits, health care moreredistricting, school tax, animal ID andGRIP and GRP, wind energy and fuelsThey knuckled down, the delegatesand knuckled on to finish!

A record yearin many waysadd one more to the listFirst time ever, a one-day finishpolicies done for a yearCongratulations to one and all!

Lin Warfel farms near Tolono in Champaign County. Hehas been involved with a variety of Farm Bureau and statepolicy issues for many years.

LINWARFEL

Do we really think that the climatologists, jour-nalists, politicians, and climate groupies that flewoff to Copenhagen can save us? Can they stopglobal warming?

They want us to believe that millions will die.Islands will be swamped. NewOrleans and coastal cities all overthe world will flood.

Drought will force global star-vation. And it will be our fault.Global warming is manmade.

First, it seems that although theEarth may have been warming forsome time, research suggests thatit has stopped and may be coolingnow.

That’s an inconvenient truththat the advocates don’t want to

hear.In fact, the Climate Research Unit at East Anglia

(considered to be the lead player in climateresearch) has been cooking the books to hide thetemperature decline.

The climate change establishment has system-atically discouraged consideration of opposingviews. So the planet may not even be warming.

The second point is that even if it is — whereis the evidence to blame it on human activity?

Climate change is not a new phenomenon.We had the Medieval Warm Period (800-1300)and the Little Ice Age (1500-1850).

What caused those changes? It wasn’t theautomobile.

The third point is, if just for a minute we assumethat our greenhouse gases are causing the climate towarm, what can we do?

We must realize the U.S. alone can never make ameasurable difference. And, don’t kid yourself, the70-plus countries in Copenhagen aren’t going to doanything of consequence, either. They’re just goingto generate a lot of hot air.

Maybe it is time to take a new look at this wholequestion before we spend trillions of dollars tryingto fix a problem that may not be a problem and maynot be fixable anyway.

If global warming is real, perhaps we shouldmake adjustments and live with it. How bad canthat be?

President Obama is promising to cut greenhousegas emissions by 2050 to the same level they were in1910. We had a population of only 92 million peo-ple then and not nearly as much economic activity.

I would submit that “cap and trade” and all thegreen technology can never meet the president’starget.

There are enough unanswered questions to sug-gest that manmade global warming may be a farce.

John Block of Gilson, a former U.S. agriculture secretaryin the Reagan administration, is a senior policy adviser withthe Washington, D.C., firm of Olsson, Frank, Weeda, andTerman, which specializes in ag issues. His e-mail address [email protected].

JOHNBLOCK

Inconvenient truth about global climate change

farmweek december 14 2009

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