R. F. D. News & Views, February 19, 2014

Ammonia Accident Victim Passes Away

PEORIA – Anthony Tiemann, 50, of Peoria, passed away February 12 at OSF Saint Francis Hospital due to complications from injuries sustained in a December 2013 vehicle crash involving ruptured anhydrous ammonia tanks near Edelstein. The Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA) issued a statement to members last week, calling Tiemann’s death “a tragedy that we must all reflect on” and extending “heartfelt condolences to his family.”

IFCA called on Illinois ag chemical retailers to help promote an online farmer ammonia safety training video the association hosts on its website at www.ifca.com. The online program, which is free to users, addresses ammonia transportation, personal protective equipment, in-field application and emergency response. In addition, IFCA is working with the Ill. Dept. of Agriculture (IDA) and Ill. Farm Bureau to promote ammonia safety awareness and the availability of ammonia safety training for farmers. IFCA and IDA are offering ammonia training classes to farmers– though many are full and others are filling up fast. Contact Bloomington-based IFCA asap for more information on the classes, or visit their website.

 

Ag Awaits Waterways Bill Approval

BLOOMINGTON – A new Waterways Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) is currently treading water in conference committee as conferees work out key differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill. Conference committee members from each chamber, including Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), have insisted since November that they are confident a bill will be forthcoming. But after missing their goal of passing a waterways bill before January 1, the committee is under pressure from agricultural commodity groups and other waterways stakeholders to work together to move the long-delayed WRRDA forward– especially now that a bipartisan, comprehensive farm bill has been signed into law by President Obama.

“I don’t think anything will happen before March, and it’s possible it could be May” before a compromise is struck and WRRDA is approved by the committee, said Rodney Weinzierl, executive director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and Illinois Corn Marketing Board. Weinzierl said he based his statement on feedback Illinois Corn had received from sources close to the issue in Washington, D.C.

“WRRDA is about ports, it’s about flood control and levy issues, environmental restoration issues and inland waterways,” Weinzierl said of the bill, which is estimated to contain around $8.2 billion in provisions, though no actual money is mentioned in either the House or Senate versions. “I’m pretty sure (Illinois Corn will) be supportive of whatever comes out (of conference committee), only because we supported both the House and Senate bills. Obviously there are aspects of each bill that we like better than its counterpart.”

 

IFCA: Transportation Issues Behind Propane Shortage

BLOOMINGTON – Limited mainstream media news articles are charging that ethanol is behind the current spike in domestic propane prices and propane shortage, prompting Illinois Corn’s communications director Tricia Braid to publish a rebuttal on the corn growers’ website, www.ilcorn.org, on Valentine’s Day. The news articles claim that due to a combination of a large corn crop last year– ostensibly grown for no other reason than to sate the ethanol market– and a late, wet harvest, more propane was used in the Midwest to dry the record-setting yield. While that aspect is true, there was a significant reduction in propane inventory before that event took place, Braid pointed out.

“The real cause of this problem is not the use of propane to dry a large corn crop late in the season, but numerous transportation issues, some caused by the cold weather itself. One of the biggest reasons cited is the fact that the Cochin Pipeline, which carries propane to the Midwest from Canada, was shut for maintenance from late November to late December. This pipeline provides 40 percent of Minnesota’s propane,” Braid stated. “Worse news for propane consumers: this pipeline will be reversed to deliver light condensate to Canada from Illinois, as early as July 2014, which could cause a repeat propane issue next year in the northern Corn Belt.”

Braid said that in addition, US exports of propane have increased from 168,000 barrels per day in January 2013 to 408,000 barrels per day by last October, according to the US Energy Information Administration. (ICGA Daily Update)

 

Show to Explore Drone Use in Ag

DECATUR – AgEngage and Penton Farm Progress Group have teamed up to launch a new outdoor agricultural exhibition that will be the first to explore the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture. The Precision Aerial Ag Show will be held July 9 and 10 at Progress City USA in Decatur, the companies announced last week.

Manufacturers and suppliers of UAVs– also known as drones– and related equipment for agricultural application will demonstrate their products during the two-day show. Exhibitors will provide drone flight demonstrations, including control and programming of units and digital displays of their output capabilities. In addition, university researchers will discuss UAV agricultural applications and speakers will discuss current regulations, liabilities and other aspects of drone uses in ag.

For a full listing of show events, visit www.paas2014.com. (Farm Progress Events news release)

 

Cover Crops Conference Coming to ICC

EAST PEORIA – A Cover Crops Conference will be held at Illinois Central College’s East Peoria Campus on Thursday, March 20, offering presentations for area farmers and Certified Crop Advisors interested in the benefits of cover cropping. The event runs from 9 am to 3 pm and includes a continental breakfast and lunch; the cost for the conference and meals is $20.

 

Illinois Farm Fact:

Cover crops have proven to increase farm profitability through increased yields, but also are an important nitrogen management opportunity, fixing nitrogen in the soil before it is lost. (Lindsay Mitchell/ Illinois Corn)


(Tim Alexander is a freelance reporter who writes agriculture, news and feature articles for the News Bulletin, Farm World and many other publications.)