USDA: Swine Disease Spreading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The number of states with confirmed cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) grew to twenty last month when the United States Department of Agriculture announced the virus had spread into Nebraska. More than 1,500 cases have been reported throughout the Hog Belt, according to a December 20 Reuters report.

PEDv causes diarrhea, vomiting and severe hydration in pigs, though the virus does not affect humans. Piglets are more susceptible to the virus than older animals. USDA is exploring the possibility the disease is being spread by interstate truck transportation. Biosecurity guidelines have been issued to trucking companies regarding proper cleaning and disinfecting of livestock trailers before hauling.

“PEDv could be a major problem for producers and take away some of their profitability,” Illinois Pork Producers Association President Dereke Dunkirk said during the recent Illinois Commodity Conference.  (USDA news release)

FCFI Seeks Washington Cleanup Volunteers

LEXINGTON – Dennis Schlagel, director of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers, International (FCFI) said the organization is actively searching for farmer-volunteers able to travel to Washington, Illinois to help with local cleanup efforts there as part of an FCFI/Global Compassion Network relief mission. 1,082 structures were declared uninhabitable following the November 17 EF-4 tornado that swept through the heart of the Tazewell County community of 15,000, displacing thousands of residents who lost everything to the storm, according to Schlagel.

“(Volunteers) can come for one day, two days or three days– we’re real flexible. We just need to know when you are coming so we can work out details like lodging and assignments. Crews of ten to twelve are ideal,” said Schlagel, adding that after a short break FCFI plans to resume their debris removal efforts in Washington on or around January 7, 2014. Volunteers traveled from several neighboring states to join the FCFI relief effort in the days following the storm, along with those who drove from locations across Illinois.

“We need guys who know how to run skid loaders and excavators. If they own a (machine or work vehicle) they can bring them. Bring winter gear. Needs change from day to day. The only things that remain static are the need for warm clothes and a willing heart,” he added. Schlagel, the executive director of the FCFI, can be contacted by phone or text (309-530-7004), email (fellowship@fcfi.org), fax (309-365-7023) or US mail at PO Box 15, Lexington, Ill., 61753.

2014 Corn & Soy Classic Programs Announced

URBANA – Jim Angel, Illinois State Climatologist, will open the 2014 Corn and Soybean Classic program with a report on the unusual weather of 2013 and the outlook for 2014 when the annual University of Illinois-sponsored event comes to East Peoria’s Par-A-Dice Hotel Monday, January 13. The one-day conference, which brings farmers together with U of I crop scientists, entomologists and economists, will also feature Emerson Nafziger (By Force or Finesse: Getting Soybeans to Produce High Yields), Brian Diers (Managing Soybean Diseases and Pests With Genetic Resistance), Aaron Hager (Marestail: A Surprising Weed Species in 2013), Adam Davis (Palmer Amaranth: A Looming Threat to Soybean Production?), Ken Olson (Effects of Conservation Tillage), Carl Bradley (Fungicides for Corn and Soybeans), Gary Schnitkey (Machinery, Farm Size and Profits) and Mike Gray (Results From Statewide Insect Surveys).

The Classics will begin January 6 in Champaign before moving to Mt. Vernon (Jan. 7), Springfield (Jan. 10), East Peoria, Moline (Jan. 14) and Malta (Jan. 15). Times are 8:30-5:30.

For more information and registration, visit www.cropsciconferences.com or call (800) 321-1296. (U of I Bulletin)

GROWMARK FFA Essay Contest Theme Unveiled

BLOOMINGTON – The GROWMARK FFA essay contest theme has been announced: “Promoting Sustainability and Conservation of Natural Resources.” Open to all high school FFA members in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, the contest is in its 21st year of helping young people to develop writing skills while learning about current issues affecting agriculture. Students submitting 2014 entries are being asked to focus on three aspects of the theme: What does sustainability mean, why should farmers be concerned with conservation and sustainable practices, and what role do cooperatives play in this effort?

“Conserving our natural resources is important for the future of agriculture,” said Karen Jones, corporate relations and cooperative education specialist for GROWMARK said, in a company news release. “We are looking forward to reading the thoughts of the next generation on how our industry can become more sustainable.”

Essays need to be around 500 words, typed and double spaced. Illinois entries must be postmarked by March 14. Winners receive $500 and $300 for their FFA chapter. More information can be found at www.growmark.com under “Our Commitments/Youth & Young Farmers/Essay Contest.”

Advances in Fuel Economy Heighten Gas-Ethanol War

BLOOMINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in December that the average fuel economy of vehicles sold in the United States continued to increase in 2012 to an all-time high of 23.6 mpg. As with most Americans and many U.S. industries, the increase in fuel economy that has occurred in seven of the last eight years matters to corn farmers and the ethanol industry. A late December Daily Update from Illinois Corn pointed out that because cars are using less fuel, there are fewer gallons to blend 10 percent ethanol into, bringing the oil industry’s self-imposed “blend wall” that much closer.

In response, Illinois Corn is working to create policy that supports higher blends of ethanol by transferring Illinois’ E10 incentive to E15. They are also working with Detroit automakers to increase the number of flex-fuel vehicles produced and with Washington, D.C. lawmakers to create better ethanol policy. In addition, Illinois Corn is  fighting to overturn EPA’s recent proposal to decrease the amount of ethanol retailers must use in 2014 under the nation’s Renewable Fuels Standard.

Illinois Farm Fact:

The National Clean Car Program doubles fuel economy standards by 2025; this reduction in gasoline demand could initiate a similar decrease in ethanol demand. (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.)