A Mossville (Peoria County) farmer prepares to unload freshly harvested corn last week. Some areas are wrapping up their 2016 corn harvests, while some– particularly in northern Illinois– are just getting into their fields. (Photo by Tim Alexander)

This week’s farm and rural news roundup top story is the record Illinois wheat yield forecast by USDA; we’ll tell you how high the estimate soared. Also, livestock producers and other rural landowners can sign up for NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in November and January, the state conservationist announced. We also have news from the corn and soybean fields, along with an update on the Illinois Harvest Dinner. For more, read on …

Illinois farmers to reap record wheat yield

SPRINGFIELD — “Illinois is forecast at a record high for winter wheat yield in 2016,” announced Mark Schleusener, Illinois State Statistician for USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Schleusener reviewed the just-issued Illinois Small Grains 2016 Summary via phone last week with this reporter, along with the Sept. 30 Illinois Grain Stocks report.

Though harvested area for 2016 winter wheat is down 10 percent from 2015, to 470,000 acres, the winter wheat yield is estimated at 74 bushels per acre, up nine bushels. If realized, this will be a new record high yield, beating the previous record of 67 bu./acre. Production is estimated at 34.8 million bushels, 3 percent above last year.

The grain stocks report was widely anticipated by farmers hoping for a boost in prices moving forward. “A lot of people are looking at the supply of corn and soybeans to finalize the ending stocks of last year. It is an important factor,” said Schleusener.

Old crop corn stocks in all positions on September 1 totaled 216 million bushels, down 30 percent from September 1, 2015. This indicates a disappearance of 463 million bushels of corn from June through August 2016. Old crop soybean stocks both on and off-farm totaled 27.5 million bushels, down 2 percent from September 1, 2015. 112 million bushels were consumed between June and August of 2016, according to the report.

Livestock producers can apply for EQIP

CHAMPAIGN — Accounting for 60 percent of its total allocation as mandated by the farm bill, livestock farming is a national priority for the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Though producer signup is continuous, Illinois NRCS State Conservationist, Ivan Dozier, sets batching and ranking cutoff deadlines throughout the year. Last week, Dozier announced that Nov. 18, 2016 and Jan. 20,2017 will be the next two EQIP application deadlines in Illinois.

“To compete for the upcoming funding periods, I encourage producers with resource concerns to submit an application by one of the application deadlines,” said Dozier, in a Sept. 29 news release. The NRCS announcement was followed by a letter issued by the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) urging members to consider submitting project proposals to their area NRCS office, especially if they have completed Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs).

“Livestock producers get major points in the ranking for having their CNMP completed in the state’s technical review process, before they sign up for other EQIP practices. If you don’t have a CNMP for your farm, or it is out of date, contact a technical service provider to get a CNMP completed as soon as possible,” the IPPA letter read, in part.

EQIP provides funding for the development of plans such as CNMPs, grazing plans and drainage water management plans, along with conservation practices that address soil erosion and water quality on cropland, grazing land, confined livestock operations, and more.

Illinois Farm Fact:

100 Illinois farms participated in the N Watch and Keep it for the Crop Program in 2016.

Illinois Harvest Dinner enjoys positive feedback

ELKHART — The second Illinois Harvest Dinner, which brought together food professionals, farmers and consumers on an Elkhart pig and row crop farm last month, received high marks from the 100-or-so in attendance. “We received very positive feedback from event attendees,” said Katie Pratt, Illinois Harvest Dinner co-chair, in an email. “On the post-event survey we asked ‘Do you feel you have a better understanding of where your food, fuel and fiber comes from?’ 92 percent of respondents answered yes. Eighty-four percent replied they were able to establish a relationship with an Illinois farmer.

“This is one comment received from an attendee: ‘The entire evening was just lovely! We didn’t want to leave! We met such knowledgeable and friendly people and had great dinner conversations, and the food was so good!”

Pratt and other organizers are slowly making plans for a similar fete in 2017. “We are happy to see so many of these types of events popping up around the state and want to be sure the interest to meet Illinois farmers at the dinner table doesn’t lose its appeal,” she said.

Virtual on-farm experience available

BLOOMINGTON — One doesn’t necessarily have to lace up their boots and head to the country to see for themselves how farmers operate. Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) Vice President Justin Durdan, of Utica, is sharing his multigenerational farm story with others via 360-degree video technology, enabling visitors to www.watchusgrow.org/corn to see all around his farm. ICGA’s series of “#360corn” videos are made to help non-farmers better understand planting, maintaining and harvesting a corn crop in Illinois. They also offer insight into precision agriculture, spraying and fertilizing, crop scouting, and more. Future videos will cover harvesting and marketing a corn crop. (ICGA Daily Update)

ISA soy ambassadors selected

BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has selected nine applicants to represent its newest leadership class of Soy Ambassadors. Those selected are Zach Bailey of Louisville (Ill.), Maria Cox of White Hall, Luke Crawford of Arenzville, Scott Gaffner of Greenville, Kent Lock of Avon, David Murphy of Dunlap, Matt Pence of Milford, Andrew Roselius of Onarga and Court White of Jacksonville.

“This is our fifth class of Soy Ambassadors and each year we have gotten more interest from experienced and eager applicants,” said Daryl Cates, ISA chairman. “It is great to know that Illinois soybean farmers are interested in taking on leadership roles and shaping the soybean industry not only in Illinois, but nationally.” (ISA news)

–R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS–