The Defenbaugh family cuts a ribbon to signify the opening of their new 2,496 head wean-to-finish pig barn outside of Blackstone.

This week’s farm and rural news roundup offers information about Rep. Cheri Bustos’ appointment to a key Democratic leadership position, along with news of a new U of I publication detailing results of all of their 2018 crop research. For these and other key agricultural and rural news items, please read on …

Bustos named to House Appropriations Committee

BLOOMINGTON — Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos is no longer a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, due to her being named to the House Appropriations Committee, during the new 116th U.S. Congress. Though her departure may seem like a key legislative loss for Illinois farmers, the Illinois Corn Growers Association pointed out in a recent post that Bustos’ new role could allow her to serve Illinois’ agricultural community in ways she was unable to as a member of the House Ag Committee.

In a letter, Bustos said she would still be representing farmers, but at the highest levels of Congress. “To renew the promise of our region, one of my top priorities will be major investments in our infrastructure, ranging from our roads and bridges to our locks and dams. We also need to work harder to meet the needs of rural hospitals that provide critical care to families in small towns while adequately funding agriculture priorities like the research at the Peoria Agriculture Lab.

“As a former reporter, I also uncovered stories of greed and corruption in government — and in Congress, one of my top priorities has been to clean up the mess in Washington and make sure Congress is a better steward of hard-earned taxpayer dollars. With this committee assignment, I plan to help cut through red tape, rein in wasteful spending and make government work for the people of our region again.” (ICGA news)

U of I releases 2018 crop research

URBANA — The University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has published the field research results conducted by Extension specialists during 2018. The report, “Applied Research Results on Field Crop Pest and Disease Control,” includes evaluations of plant varieties, management practices and products for combatting insects, nematodes and crop diseases, and the results of statewide pest surveys. It is available online.

“It is a repository for applied disease and pest management studies and data,” says report author Nathan Kleczewski, a plant pathologist and Extension specialist in the U of I Department of Crop Sciences. “Too often, we see applied research trials go unpublished for various reasons, or data disappear into the ether.”

The report also includes information on management practices that didn’t work out well, according to its author. “In applied research, the lack of an effective management practice is just as important as if a practice has an effect. Why? Because management costs money and we want our producers to be as profitable as possible.”

Among the highlights of the report are the first year’s results from a two-year corn nematode study that examines nematode-protectant seed coatings, and insect control evaluations for western corn rootworm and Japanese beetles. The team plans to release an annual report of their research findings from here on out, according to a U of I news release.

The report can be accessed at www.go.illinois.edu/PestPathogenReport_2018.

Illinois Farm Fact:

The livestock sector in Livingston County contributes $144.7 million to the economy and provides more than 515 jobs in the county. (ILDG, IPPA)

‘Annie’s Project’ to empower Peoria County women

PEORIA — The Peoria County Farm Bureau auditorium will host a six-session course designed to help farm women develop their management and decision-making skills in the dynamic, complex world of agriculture. “Annie’s Project — Empowering Women in Agriculture” is being co-sponsored by the U of I Extension Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit and the PCFB. the meetings will occur on Tuesday and Thursday in March, with each session running from 9 a.m. to noon. Contact the PCFB at 309-686-7070 for more information. (PCFB news)

Farm Aid grants go to three Illinois ag groups

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — 2018 Farm Aid grants were distributed recently, with almost $700,000 distributed to 78 family farm, rural service and urban agriculture organizations in 36 states and the District of Columbia, including three Illinois ag organizations. They include the Illinois Stewardship Alliance of Springfield, which was awarded $6,000 in order to lobby for their legislative priorities in Springfield, engage members and develop leaders.

Also receiving grants from Farm Aid, which was started in Champaign-Urbana in 1985 by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and other performers, were Food Works of Carbondale and The Land Connection of Champaign. Food Works received $5,000 to improve viability for sustainable farmers in southern Illinois, while The Land Connection received $5,000 to offer training courses to beginning and sustainable farmers in Illinois. (Farm Aid Foundation)

First pig barn open house of ‘19 held

BLACKSTONE — As the farm economy continues its downward spiral, farmers are still diversifying their operations at a fast pace in Illinois, most notably via livestock expansion. The first open house for a pig barn — something we reported on quite frequently in this column the past two years —  of the new year was held earlier this month at the Kevin and Tabitha Defenbaugh farm outside of Blackstone in Livingston County. Like many of the farm families who have chosen to diversify or expand their operations to include livestock production, the Defenbaughs have young children and built their barn to better prepare their farm for the future.

The open house, held by the Illinois Livestock Development Group and Illinois Pork Producers Association, allowed visitors to get a look inside a modern pig barn before the pigs move in. New technologies featured in the 2,496-head capacity barn include automatic fans and ventilation, 24/7 access to feed and water and a controlled environment that contributes to safer living conditions for the pigs.

–R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS: Bustos named to Appropriations Committee, Annie Project and more–