R. F. D. News & Views, January 29, 2014

“Superweed” Coming to a Farm Near You?

EAST PEORIA – A pervasive “super weed” capable of decimating field crops is surfacing in central Illinois. Farmers’ growing inability to control Palmer amaranth in soybean fields is largely due to the weed’s evolved resistance to herbicide sites of action, including PS II inhibitors, glycines, dinitroanalines and HPPD inhibitors, according to Adam S. Davis, research ecologist for USDA-ARS Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit at the University of Illinois-Urbana.

Speaking at the recent 2014 U of I Corn and Soybean Classic in East Peoria, Davis warned farmers that Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), a native warm-season annual broadleaf plant, is able to hybridize with any of ten other weedy Amaranth species abundant throughout Illinois. Its pollen, carried by wind, is capable of traveling several miles to spread herbicide resistant traits to receptive female plants. Current research and the emergence of mature Palmer as far north as Kankakee shows that the weed is on the move throughout central Illinois.

“Climate is not going to keep Palmer amaranth out of central Illinois,” Davis said. “These seeds are going to show up at a farm near you. It’s a matter of when, not if. Prevention is the single most important thing you can do right now to combat Palmer amaranth in your field, and that starts with knowing how to identify it.”

The U of I Dept. of Crop Sciences recently published a one-sheet, “Guidelines for the Identification and Management of Palmer Amaranth in Illinois Agronomic Crops,” available for download from the U of I bulletin website. Farmers who discover a plant they suspect could be Palmer amaranth can verify or disprove its identity by sending a leaf sample to the U of I Weed Science group (tinyurl.com/k34z3yf).


Midwest Propane Stockpiles Strained

PEORIA – Midwest stockpiles of propane are at the lowest level for this time of year since the government began tracking supplies in 1993, Bloomberg news service reported last week. Supplies were reduced this year because 300 million gallons of propane were used to dry crop harvests last year in the Midwest– compared to 65 million gallons used in 2012– said Jeff Petrash, a vice president of the National Propane Gas Association. “There was a record grain harvest in the Midwest this year,” he said. “It came later than normal (and was wet).”

Compounding the strain on the propane pipeline is the bitterly cold polar vortex weather system that has settled over the Midwest. The cold front has increased demand for propane heating for homes and farm operations in the Midwest, a region that uses more propane (36 percent) than any other in the U.S.

Last week’s weather was colder than the government forecast, noted a U.S. Energy Information Administration analyst interviewed by Bloomberg. (AgWeb.com)


“Big Oil” Ringing Consumers at Dinnertime?

BLOOMINGTON – The American Petroleum Institute (API) has “robo-called” tens of thousands of people with misleading information about ethanol while offering to send a letter “on your behalf” to the EPA expressing “your” disapproval of corn-based ethanol. Illinois Corn has obtained a recording of the phone message and issued a statement regarding the calls, which are often made to homes during the dinner hour.

“Apparently the folks over at API don’t lose sleep over lying because the messages they’re leaving on answering machines across the nation are full of fibs,” wrote Illinois Corn’s Tricia Braid, in a Daily Update issued January 20. “Yes, we know that ethanol isn’t responsible for the increase in food prices. Yes, we know that ethanol doesn’t ruin car engines. But what about the other 99 percent of people receiving these calls? Do they know?”

Braid said it’s important that farmers and pro-ethanol consumers add their voice to the discussion by offering their support for ethanol to the EPA . Comments for the EPA may be made online at www.ilcorn.org/pluggedin by following the steps detailed there. “Don’t sit by and let Big Oil’s lies about your product determine your destiny,” Braid and Illinois Corn urged farmers.


ISA Soybean Yield Champions To Be Announced

BLOOMINGTON – Winners of the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) 2013 Yield Challenge will be announced during a February 5 banquet preceding the first of two 2014 Illinois Soybean Summits in Effingham (Feb. 6). A second summit will be held March 7 at the Peoria Civic Center.

ISA launched the Yield Challenge program in 2010 to encourage the use of new technologies for advancing soybean yields and profitability. Data is gathered from teams of producers enrolled in the program to help generate strategies for future production years.

Central Illinois farmers who travel to the Effingham summit  will have an opportunity to learn strategies for producing 100 bushel per acre soybeans from top producers in Arkansas who achieved the feat in 2013. Leaders from both Farm Progress Companies and Farm Futures will also be on hand, offering sessions on improving yields and the market for soy products in 2014.

Four breakout session will be featured in Effingham, including “Six Secrets to Soybean Success,” soybean fertility and seed treatments and tips for producing soybeans. (ISA news release)


Dairy Cattle Holding Up Well in Extreme Cold

BLOOMINGTON – Dairy cattle in Illinois are holding up well during the polar vortex that has gripped Illinois and the often sub-zero temperatures and wind chills that accompany it, according to Jim Fraley, president of the Illinois Milk Producers Association (IMPA). IMPA held its annual meeting last week, allowing Fraley to speak with dairy producers from all over the state. None reported any animal losses or prolonged declines in milk production associated with the cold.

“Cows are amazing animals,” he said. “They actually are much better suited to extreme cold than they are to extreme heat.” Most problems milk producers are facing due to the cold relate to machinery and infrastructure issues. One Illinois producer was forced to flush up to 40,000 gallons of cow milk after pipes froze in his barn, compromising the integrity of the product.


Illinois Farm Fact:

In an effective temperature of 17 degrees F, the energy needs of a cow with a dry winter coat are about 15 percent higher than under more moderate conditions. (University of Ky. Extension)


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