R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS: For Illinois Farmers & Rural Dwellers

By Tim Alexander for Chronicle Media
The Illinois Soybean Association and State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) donate soy candle-making supplies to Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. The students will make the eco-friendly soy candles and sell them for $3.50 in the Farm Stand to support agricultural programming. Pictured from left to right is soybean farmer Rob Shaffer from El Paso, Ill., State Rep. Frances Ann Hurley (D-Chicago), Cunningham and CHSAS Principal Bill Hook. (Photo courtesy of the Illinois Soybean Association)

The Illinois Soybean Association and State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) donate soy candle-making supplies to Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. The students will make the eco-friendly soy candles and sell them for $3.50 in the Farm Stand to support agricultural programming. Pictured from left to right is soybean farmer Rob Shaffer from El Paso, Ill., State Rep. Frances Ann Hurley (D-Chicago), Cunningham and CHSAS Principal Bill Hook. (Photo courtesy of the Illinois Soybean Association)

There was shocking news in the world of agribusiness last week when the U.S. Dept. of Justice nixed the proposed purchase of Tremont-based Precision Planting to the Moline-based John Deere Company. We’ll take a look at what happened. Also: August rainfall and July-August rainfall records in Illinois were smashed this year — how is crop development being affected? For the latest on these and other news items for Illinois farmers and rural dwellers, please read on …

Record rains delaying corn maturity?

URBANA — Illinois experienced its wettest August (6.89 inches) and wettest July-August (13.74 inches) on record, the Illinois Water Survey reported Sept. 1. August rainfall was 3.30 inches above normal for the month, with the highest amount reported in Sterling (14.01 inches). The old record of 6.86 inches was set in August of 1977.

Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel noted that the statewide temperature for August was 75.9 degrees, 2.3 degrees above normal and tied for the 15th warmest August on record. Though temperatures peaked in the mid-90s during the month, “high humidity levels did not allow temperatures to cool off at night,” Angel reported in his weekly weather blog. “As a result, nighttime temperatures were 3 to 5 degrees above normal.”

High nighttime temperatures may be a factor affecting kernel development in some corn fields, according to farmers around the state, including David Droste, a southeastern Illinois grower. He said his corn’s development hit a wall a few weeks back when high nighttime temperatures inhibited plant nitrogen uptake. Droste’s comments seem to have been supported by the Aug. 29 Illinois Crop Progress and Condition Report, issued by USDA-NASS, which estimated that just 7 percent of corn statewide had reached maturity, compared with the five-year average of 16 percent.

Corn condition was rated 58 percent good and 27 percent excellent. Soybean condition was rated 56 percent good and 22 percent excellent. Pasture and range condition was reported as 56 percent good and 25 percent excellent.

Deere, Precision Planting deal nixed

MOLINE — The John Deere Company is contesting the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) legal action seeking to block Deere’s $190 million acquisition of Precision Planting LLC, a conservation tillage equipment company originating in Tremont (Tazewell County). According to the DOJ, the deal could lower competition and raise costs for farmers. But Deere officials insist the company, along with co-purchaser The Climate Corporation (TCC), a Monsanto Company subsidiary, cooperated fully with DOJ’s antitrust review after signing the agreement last November.

“DOJ’s allegations about the competitive impacts of the transaction are misguided and the companies intend to defend the transaction vigorously against those allegations. Deere has long been focused on helping American farmers become more efficient and productive so that they can remain globally competitive,” Deere and TCC stated in a joint news release issued Aug. 31. “The proposed acquisition benefits farmers by accelerating the development and delivery of new precision equipment solutions that help farmers increase yield and productivity.”

In a legal filing released the same day, DOJ asserted the merger of Deere and Precision Planting would constitute a monopoly, considering the two companies’ market positions comprise 86 percent of all high-speed precision planting sales in the U.S. “Overall, farmers have benefitted from the innovative product offerings, aggressive discounts and promotions, and lower prices that have resulted from the intense head-to-head competition between Deere and Precision Planting to sell high-speed precision planting systems,” according to the DOJ.

“When the transaction is finalized, Deere will preserve Precision Planting’s independence in order to ensure innovation and speed-to-market and will invest in additional innovation efforts at Precision Planting to benefit customers,” Deere countered in the joint statement with TCC.

Illinois Farm Fact:

There are around 43,000 soybean farmers in the state of Illinois. (Illinois Soybean Association)

Chicago ag science school gets gift of soy

BLOOMINGTON — Did you know that there is a Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences? Or that soybeans can be transformed into soy wax for use as candles? The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) does. In fact, the ISA checkoff program recently donated materials for students at the public four-year magnet high school, which opened in 1985 in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood, to make more than 1,500 soy candles. The candles, available in 10 different scents, will then be sold at the school’s Farm Stand. “Not only are the … students learning how to grow and make the wonderful products that are sold at the Farm Stand, but they’re also raising valuable income for educational programming,” said State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago).

The soy candle donation is part of the ISA Soy in the City campaign (#SoyintheCity on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter). “Soy candles are an eco-friendly, clean-burning candle,” said the ISA’s Rob Shaffer, a soybean grower from El Paso in Woodford County. (ISA news)

SHP to receive $5 million for nutrient loss efforts

BLOOMINGTON — The Midwest Row Crop Collaborative (MRCC) has committed to raising $4 million over five years to help fund the Soil Health Partnership (SHP), a farmer-led initiative of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) established two years ago to help achieve a 45 percent nutrient loss reduction by 2035 across the upper Mississippi River Basin. Those partnering with SHP, including Illinois Corn and other state ag commodity associations, are committed to educating farmers about voluntary decisions they can make to comply with the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.

The funding pledge was announced last week by officials of MRCC, whose members include Cargill, the Environmental Defense Fund, General Mills, Kellogg Company, Monsanto, PepsiCo, The Nature Conservancy, Walmart and the World Wildlife Fund. More than 65 farm sites in nine Midwestern states are already enrolled in the SHP, employing cover crops, conservation tillage and advanced, science-based nutrient management techniques.

“Through healthy soil, farmers can play a major role protecting water quality and the environment — while also optimizing their crop yields and economic returns,” said SHP director Nick Goeser. (Illinois Corn news)

–R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS: For Illinois Farmers & Rural Dwellers–