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Courtesy of Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation

IALF diary

2001 National Travel Seminar Class Diary for March 15

The lights of understanding came on as the IALF class of 2002 entered the domain of the Department of Energy on Thursday, March 15. Passing through the most intensive security in the city of Washington, the 30 class members were welcomed by Valerie Sarisky-Reed, who outlined the department’s dedication to bio-based fuels. "Today the watchword on ethanol is grow."

Doug Faulker, DOE senior adviser and native of Maroa, discussed how the department is joint venturing with farmers and corporate America. "We are in the early stages of developing more energy research and development," he said. Could American agriculture become the new Saudi Arabia of energy? Mark Paster, team lead of Agriculture Biobased Products, talked about an array of products that could result from ag products — including a plant already in production that is producing fibers and plastics.

Paul Grabowski gave us the background on co-firing that could open up opportunities for individual producers to become involved in energy production. Eric Vaughn, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, fueled our perspectives about the tremendous future of ethanol, during a box lunch sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland Co. "Ethanol can replace MTBE and we can deliver on our promises," said Vaughn.

Challenged to look at the other side of the issues, IALF class members were treated to Dr. Margaret Mellon, food and environment program director, Union of Concerned Scientists. "We are not opposed to biotechnology, but we are being realistic. Europe’s decision to pass on biotechnology is entirely rational. The interesting thing is how long it took a market-savvy U.S. agriculture to realize people didn’t want it," said Mellon.

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Breaking into public policy study groups, the members headed out to meet with key influencers. Transportation group members Mary Auth, Jeff Brown, Steve Hawkins and Dale Clary were invited to attend two hearings related to the Upper Mississippi River System and the Corps of Engineers navigation study. The biotech committee, Tim Siefert, Matt Foes, Norm Larson, Matt Bennett and Pam Henderson, met with the "real" Starlink whistle-blower, Larry Bohlen, from the environmental group Friends of the Earth.

U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs James M. Murphy filled the group in on the new definition of fast track, now called U.S. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). He turned the tables on the group and asked how agricultural leaders would construct the farm bill.

[Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation]

[MARCH 15, 2001]   Central Illinois Ag is pleased to announce its newest team member. Fred Riley of Bushnell will be acting as the organization’s large-implement mechanic for farmers in Mason, Fulton and southern Tazewell counties and other nearby areas.

Riley has over 15 years experience serving farmers and agriculture. Riley graduated from Carl Sandberg College in Galesburg, completing their Ag Mechanics program. He began his professional career at Bedwell Farm Equipment in Bushnell and then moved to the Fayhee Implement dealership in Prairie City, where he was a mechanic for six years.

He is pleased and excited to be a part of the Central Illinois Ag team. "The transition from Fayhees to Central Illinois Ag has been a smooth one, since both dealerships handle Case IH equipment," he says. "I like working for Central Illinois Ag."

Riley brings not only 15 years experience to the business but over 200 hours of Case IH specialty training. He is proud of his computer diagnostic abilities. With the aid of a laptop computer, he can easily check electrical systems, cab switches and hydraulic pressure in the new Case IH Magnum tractors. "The computer is a wonderful service tool that helps the service department save time and money when trying to diagnose problems," Riley says.

Fred Riley welcomes all former customers of Fayhee Implement (which closed Oct. 2000), to stop by and say hi and bring any Case IH mechanic work over to him. He can be reached at the Pekin store at 1-866-655-7418 or 309-925-5550.

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Riley has an older brother who resides in Bushnell, a younger sister at Ashland, and several nieces and nephews.

Central Illinois Ag celebrated Customer Appreciation Week Feb. 19-24. Many took advantage of the numerous discounts in the parts department. Refreshments were served all week long. The winner of a grease gun holder at the Pekin store was Bill Durdle of San Jose.

Central Illinois Ag, formerly Watson International, is a family-based, full-service implement dealership offering assistance in sales, service and parts in both new and used equipment. The customer base is primarily agricultural, with some light construction and lawn and garden equipment. Major lines are Case IH and New Holland; other lines include Kinze, DMI, New Idea, Bush Hog, Brent, Woods and numerous others. Central Illinois Ag has four convenient locations: Atlanta, Pekin, Clinton and Farmer City. Their website is www.centralilag.com. 

[News release]

[MARCH 12, 2001]   There have been quite a few questions coming into the office over the past week concerning various aspects of turf management, so today I'd like to cover some of the spring basics.

First comes the fertilizer question. Fertilizers should actually be put on in May when grass is growing more actively. If you don't have soil test information, fine fescues use 1 to 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of area each year, while bluegrass needs 1 to 4 pounds. About 10 pounds of a 10-10-10 material will be adequate if applied May and September. If you have soil test information, each lawn should be fertilized differently.

Weed control has been a frequently asked question. This is the proper time for crabgrass preventative treatments. These annual grasses usually start germinating about April 1, but the date this year is probably going to be earlier. They actually start when the soil temperature hits 48 to 50 degrees. A good indicator is when forsythia is in bloom (or as one person said this week — the better indicator is when the forsythia starts dropping petals). From the notes on fertilizer, you can probably tell that it would be better to apply a straight crabgrass treatment and then come back with fertilizer next month. Broadleaf weed control should also be started in May when most weeds are present and actively growing. About the only things out now are the winter annuals such as chickweed and henbit. When choosing a weed and feed, or weed control product only, check the label to make sure that it will control what you are after. For instance, 2,4-D will not control chickweed or henbit.

[seed, spreader, and fertilizer]

We are at an opportune time for seeding grass, but the results are always weather-dependent. Normally we like to see spring seedings occur before April 1, but with cooler weather you might push that about two weeks. If you prefer to wait, start seeding this fall between Aug. 15 and Sept. 10. The fall seedings are usually more productive since they get two growing seasons before hot, dry weather comes in. Use 4 pounds of a Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue blend for "bare dirt" seedings or half that amount for overseedings.

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If you have other questions on turf management or other horticulture topics, please feel free to contact me at the Extension office, (217) 732-8289.

Grain bids for the market and futures prices are easily obtained by checking with local elevators, looking at the Farm Dayta/DTN machines or looking on the web. Prices for other commodities are a little bit harder to find and not updated as frequently.

One of the price requests most often received in the office is for hay and straw. One of the best market price sources is the "Illinois Grain and Livestock Market News," published by the Illinois Department of Agriculture on a monthly basis. If you’re interested in getting this publication, you can write to Illinois Grain and Livestock Market News at P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, IL 62794-9281.

The central Illinois hay and straw prices quoted in the March issue were $120-130 per ton for premium alfalfa ($130 in big square bales); good alfalfa sold for $100-120 per ton; fair alfalfa in big round bales sold for $60-75 per ton; and low alfalfa sold for $50 in big round bales and $50-60 in big square bales. Good mixed hay was $90-110 per ton; premium grass hay was $100; good grass $90; and fair grass $70-75. Straw prices quoted were $1.50-2.50 per bale or $75-90 per ton.

[John Fulton]

[MARCH 12, 2001]   Marty Ahrends of Lincoln has embarked on a 10-day trip with other agricultural leaders as part of the National Travel seminar for the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program class of 2002. The seminar is March 11-20 in Washington, D.C., Maryland and New York

Lincoln Daily News will be bringing you highlights of their trip as it progresses.

While in Washington, D.C., the class will be visiting with senior officials from various agencies such as Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice and Department of Energy, besides several legislators and senior management executives yet to be confirmed. Edward Gramlich, a governor of the Federal Reserve System, will also meet with the group.

The Annapolis, Md., segment will examine the Chesapeake Bay area and its issues. Visits have been scheduled with Perdue Farms and the Maryland Waterman’s Association.

The New York City segment will focus on the financial markets of Wall Street and will include visits to the New York Mercantile and Stock Exchange and the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation.

[News release]

[MARCH 10, 2001]   For the second year now there will be a special breakfast in Logan County saluting local farmers and the agribusinesses that keep them going. The focus of this year’s breakfast will be how to capitalize on foreign trade opportunities for U.S. ag products.

The Logan County Ag Day Breakfast will be at 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 21, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Lincoln. The local celebration is actually part of the National Agriculture Week observance, March 18-24.

Farmers, agribusinesses, chamber members and elected officials will be treated to a south-of-the-border and Caribbean-style buffet breakfast. The Logan County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee is also providing a carton of heart-healthy soy milk on each table for guests to sample.

Mike Adams, farm director of WLDS radio in Jacksonville, will bring home the international theme with his keynote speech. Adams has been a member of several agricultural trade missions, including a trip to Cuba, Panama and Mexico with the U.S. Grains Council, and a mission to Turkey and Egypt with the U.S. Soybean Board. His talk will focus on what the United States must do to be a competitive trading partner with countries that are considered to be emerging markets for foodstuffs.

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One of the highlights of the breakfast will be the announcement of the Ag Day Scholarship winners. This year, $2,000 in scholarships will be given out to Logan County youth who are either currently studying or plan to further their studies in agriculture, and are committed to a future career in the agricultural industry.

Marty Ahrends, Ag Day Breakfast committee chair, emphasizes that the scholarship program and free breakfast for the community would not be possible without the generous support of local businesses who serve the agricultural community. This year’s sponsors include Logan County Farm Bureau, Frontier Mutual Insurance, Graue Inc., Logan County Bank, Farm Credit, Central Illinois Ag, Cross Implement, State Bank of Lincoln, Illini Bank, Union Planters Bank, AgLand FS, R&H Farm Supply, Parker-Grieme Insurance, Woody Jones State Farm Insurance, East Lincoln Farmers Grain and Beason Ag Center.

There are still a few seats available for the event. They can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 735-2385.

[News release]

[MARCH 5, 2001]   

Customer Appreciation Week

All four Central Illinois Ag locations celebrated Customer Appreciation Week Feb. 19-24. Many customers took advantage of the numerous discounts in the parts department. Refreshments were served all week long.

The winner of the Case IH cooler at the Atlanta store was Don Heyen of New Holland. He was pretty excited when he came in to claim his prize — says he never wins anything. Congratulations, Don!

Peoria Home Show

The 2001 Official Spring Home Show presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Peoria filled the Peoria Civic Center exhibit hall Feb. 23-25. More than 200 companies occupied 450 booths attracting over 12,000 visitors. Exhibitors displayed a wide range of interior, exterior, home, building and home remodeling products and services. Central Illinois Ag’s booth at the event featured lawn mowers.

[Central Illinois Ag news release]

[MARCH 3, 2001]   Five members of the Hartsburg-Emden FFA Chapter participated in the Section 14 FFA Public Speaking Career Development Event. Kate Wrage placed first in varsity prepared public speaking and Kent Leesman also placed first in varsity extemporaneous public speaking. Both Kate and Kent advance to district competition on April 4 at Western Illinois University.

At the junior varsity level, Natalie Coers participated in prepared public speaking and Anthony Jones tied for first in extemporaneous public speaking.

Krista Ubbenga represented the Hartem FFA in the FFA Creed Speaking Contest.

[Hartsburg-Emden FFA contestants in public speaking were (left to right) Anthony Jones, Kate Wrage, Kent Leesman and Natalie Coers.]

[FEB. 26, 2001]   March 6 will be our final soybean cyst nematode clinic for the season. Herrin Fertilizer in Mount Pulaski will host the event from 9 to 11 a.m. This is an opportunity for producers to have soil analyzed for detection of the nematodes or for predictive analysis to determine whether a resistant soybean variety should be planted.

Extension will analyze two samples at no charge. Additional samples are $5 each. Samples should be taken just like soil fertility samples, and you may combine samples for analysis. Half of a small lunch bag is needed for analysis.

These nematodes have been found in over 70 percent of all soybean fields for which samples have been submitted in Logan County. Proper management can economically control soybean cyst nematode, and management recommendations will be given with the soil analysis.

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For more information, please contact the University of Illinois Extension Office at 732-8289.

With some warmer weather, thoughts are rapidly turning to the growing season. This holds true for farmers and homeowners. If you are looking to get a jump on the season, try checking out the many horticulture topics on our University of Illinois Extension website at http://www.extension.uiuc.
edu/home/homelawn.html. Have fun!

[John Fulton]

[FEB. 19, 2001]   It’s now official with the release of county yields for corn and soybeans from the Illinois/U.S. Crop Reporting Service. Logan County producers once again fared well, with a corn yield of 163 bushels per acre and a soybean yield of 47 bushels per acre. Illinois yield averages came in at 151 bushels per acre for corn and 44 bushels per acre for soybeans.

The top-yielding counties in the state for corn were Christian at 177, Pike and Sangamon with 174, Montgomery and Moultrie with 173, and Adams and Macon with 172 bushels per acre.

Top-yielding soybean counties were Coles and Piatt with 50; Carroll, Christian, Macon and Stark with 49; and 12 counties including Sangamon and Tazewell with 48 bushels per acre.

McLean County was once again the top producer of corn and soybeans, with production of 51,057,000 bushels of corn and 14,602,900 bushels of soybeans.

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Total soybean production for Logan County for 2000 was 7,646,900 bushels, for a placing of 11^th, and total corn production was 29,340,000, for a placing of 12^th in the state.

The Logan County 10-year average yields are 153.3 bushels per acre for corn and 47.1 bushels per acre for soybeans. Logan County record yields for both corn and soybeans occurred in 1994, with 181 bushels per acre for corn and 50.5 bushels per acre for soybeans.

Below is a table with year 2000 yields from Logan County and surrounding counties.

[John Fulton]

Crop yields for 2000

Honors & Awards

[MARCH 17, 2001]  The Hartsburg-Emden FFA Chapter recently won the Section 14 FFA Agriculture Sales Contest. The five members participating each received first place in their respective subject areas. Those members are Anthony Jones in product display, Natalie Coers in newspaper advertising, Kent Leesman in customer relations, Matt Duckworth in telephone skills and Kate Wrage in sales presentation. The team as a whole also received first in market analysis. These FFA members will advance to district competition March 28.

[Hartsburg-Emden participants in the Section 14 FFA Agriculture Sales Contest were (left to right) Kent Leesman, Kate Wrage, Natalie Coers and Anthony Jones. Contest participant Matt Duckworth is not pictured.]

[MARCH 14, 2001]  The Hartsburg-Emden FFA Chapter has four District III Proficiency Award winners. After being interviewed on their record-keeping project, Kate Wrage was named the winner in fruit/vegetable production, Kent Leesman in grain production, Natalie Coers in diversified horticulture production and Daniel Eeten in diversified crop production.

A major recognition for the chapter was having Kate Wrage named the District III Star Farmer.

All four FFA members will now interview at the state level on March 31 at the University of Illinois.

[Hartsburg-Emden FFA District Proficiency Award winners are (left to right) Natalie Coers, Daniel Eeten, Kent Leesman and Kate Wrage.]

Ag Announcements

[FEB. 27, 2001]  The Midwest Equipment Dealers Association (MEDA), through its educational foundation, Midwest Equipment Foundation, will provide two $1,000 and four $750 scholarships for the 2001-02 school year to people enrolled in community college training programs approved by the association.

A copy of the scholarship announcement brochure, including scholarship rules, application form and listing of approved training programs, has been provided to all high school vocational agriculture instructors and to community colleges that provide MEDA-approved training programs. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 1.

Scholarship information can also be picked up at Central Illinois Ag’s Atlanta store, 1-800-762-2325, or directly from MEDA at 1-800-236-6332.

Central Illinois Ag, formerly Schmidt-Marcotte and George H. Dunn Inc., has been a member of MEDA for many years. Locations include Atlanta, Pekin, Clinton and Farmer City.

[Central Illinois Ag news release]

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