Farmers are wrapping up what is expected to be one of the state’s largest soybean harvests ever. The Illinois transportation system will be put to the test with roughly half the crop destined for export markets.

The 35th Greater Peoria Farm Show invades the Peoria Civic Center this week and we have the details. Also, the Illinois Soybean Association Is concerned that the large harvest will put the nation’s transportation system to the test. In addition, farmers north of Illinois Route 16 have the “green light” to apply fall anhydrous, according to weather conditions. For these and more news headlines for Illinois farmers and rural dwellers, please read on …

Farm show invades Peoria Civic Center

PEORIA — More than 350 companies representing more than 1,000 product lines are out in force at the 35th annual Greater Peoria Farm Show, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 at the Peoria Civic Center. Show manager Ron Bormaster of FarmShows USA said organizers expect upwards of 20,000 Illinois farmers and their families to attend the GPFS, which is the first major farm expo occurring after harvest and one of the premier agricultural showcases in the nation.

“The GPFS is one of the biggest events of the year at the Peoria Civic Center. Along with the great show, there are a lot of exciting new things to do in downtown Peoria,” Bormaster said of the show, which features free admission, daily door prizes, and complimentary coffee and doughnuts courtesy of Peoria-Bloomington Chevrolet Dealers.

“This is going to be a great show. Along with exhibitors and events, there will be daily seminars scheduled with expert presenters,” according to Bormaster. “With all the support from the community, exhibitors, farmers and sponsors, the 35th annual GPFS is sure to be the best show yet.”  Admission is free. For more information and an interactive floor plan for the show, visit www.GreaterPeoriaFarmShow.com.

Illinois Farm Fact:

Illinois is home to more than 76,000 farms and 28 million acres of farmland. (Ag Census)

Will soybean crop test transportation limits?

BLOOMINGTON — With one of the state’s expected largest soybean harvests now largely in the bins, the focus turns to logistic issues such as how to best transport the expected 623 million bushels of Illinois soybeans — roughly half of such destined for export markets — to buyers. The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff program, which makes transportation issues a priority, says the state’s transportation system will be put to the test with this year’s predicted bumper crop.

“Farmers depend on the availability and condition of roads, bridges and waterways to keep soybeans moving efficiently. Our transportation system is what makes Illinois soybeans competitive in the international marketplace. We can move soybeans from farm gate to a wide range of end users more cost effectively and reliably than our competitors,” said Paul Rasmussen, a Genoa grower and ISA director.

The transportation system is so far proving equal to the task of moving harvested soybeans to market in 2016, added Scott Sigman, ISA transportation and infrastructure lead. “Our infrastructure is under pressure with large corn, soybean and wheat crops all needing to move this fall, but we should not experience too many hiccups,” Sigman predicts.

ISA credits the ability to move such large volumes of grain to Illinois’ large rail, interstate and inland waterways network. “No other state in the heart of soybean country has this kind of transportation infrastructure,” Rasmussen said, in an ISA news release dated Nov. 16.

Some farmers cleared for fertilizer apps

BLOOMINGTON — “Green Means Go” for Illinois farmers located north of Route 16 wishing to apply anhydrous ammonia with a nitrification inhibitor, according to a map created for Illinois Corn’s website (www.ilcorn.org) by Agrible, a Champaign-based tech company. The Green Means Go campaign is designed to answer corn farmers’ concerns about when it is environmentally responsible to make fall anhydrous applications to their fields.

“Agrible was founded on the idea that site-specific data, such as rainfall and soils, can help growers make make better decisions for their acres,” said Mike Hirschi, Agrible senior sustainability advisor. “We provide the best science available to farmers, so they can make the best possible decisions for their specific fields on nitrogen application timing, logistics planning and field operations.”

Illinois Corn Growers Association President Jeff Jarboe said protecting water quality by reducing nutrient loss, which can occur when N applications are made at the wrong temperatures, should be “top of mind” for Illinois corn farmers. (Illinois Corn daily update)

Grazing workshop scheduled in Quincy

CHAMPAIGN — The 2017 Heart of America Grazing Conference is scheduled for Jan. 18 and 19, 2017, at the Quincy Holiday Inn, the USDA Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service announced last week. The event serves to gather livestock graziers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky for topics of discussion including soil health and grazing, adaptive high stock density grazing, tall fescue research and management, genetic testing for tall fescue toxicosis, nutrient management, and cover crops and grazing.

“If you are a grazier in the Midwest and you want to stay on top of the latest issues and research, I encourage you to consider attending this event,” said Ivan Dozier, Illinois NRCS state conservationist. “The conference is not just for current livestock producers. Row crop producers can learn about benefits and use of cover crops as well as cover crops and grazing options.”

Contact your local USDA-NRCS field office or visit the website for more information. (NRCS news)

Social media interns sought by ICMB

BLOOMINGTON — Know any tech-savvy college students aspiring to become social media advocates for corn growers? The Illinois Corn Marketing Board is currently accepting applications for spring 2017 interns. Interviews will be held Dec. 5-8 at the Illinois Corn headquarters outside Bloomington-Normal, and social media intern applications can be accessed at www.ilcorn.org/education/higher-education. (Ill. Corn daily update)

–R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS–