by Tim Alexander

Lake Springfield Program Succeeds in First Year

BLOOMINGTON – A farmer and industry-driven campaign to reduce field nutrient runoff into Lake Springfield has demonstrated in its initial year that a systems-based approach to reducing nutrient losses can pay benefits to the environment and public health. The cooperative project, implemented last year by the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (C-BMP), partners farmers, retailers, government and private foundations. It was created in response to higher-than-usual levels of nitrates discovered in Springfield’s largest municipal water supply source and watershed.

“The water quality in Lake Springfield this spring and summer has certainly benefitted from this partnership,” reports Ted Meckes, water division manager for Springfield City Water Light and Power. “We have experienced low nitrate levels in the lake and want to thank the farmers and all the partners who are working together in this effort.”

C-BMP’s systematic approach to the management of nutrients such as nitrogen involves farmers “splitting” their N applications throughout the crop season and conducting on-farm N rate trials. The utilization of cover crops to better retain nutrients in the soil is another key aspect of the approach. Along with local farmers, retailers and City Water Light And Power, C-BMP continues to work with the Sangamon County Soil and Water Conservation District and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to reduce nutrient losses into Lake Springfield. (C-BMP news release)

Producing the USDA Crop Production Reports

SPRINGFIELD – Yield and production forecasts for corn, soybeans and sorghum will be published monthly beginning August 12 through November, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced last week. NASS-Illinois Director Mark Schleusener explained in a news release how the forecasts are determined.

“For these crops, a producer survey in which growers report their estimated yields and production is used to help forecast state yield and production. For corn and soybeans, an additional objective measurement survey is conducted. Small plots are set up in approximately 280 corn and 230 soybean fields around the state. Counts and measurements are made each month until harvest,” Schleusener stated. “Information obtained from these plots is used along with data from the producer survey to help forecast the corn and soybean yields.”

In addition to Aug. 12, USDA-NASS’ Crop Production reports will be issued Sept. 11, Oct. 10 and Nov. 10. The reports will be available at www.nass.usda.gov.

Report Portends an Avalanche of Illinois Corn, Beans

SPRINGFIELD – Speaking of USDA-NASS reports, the July 21 Illinois Crop Progress and Condition report contains no data to contradict the strong feeling farmers have here in the Corn Belt that a bin-busting harvest of corn and soybeans is on the horizon. According to the report, corn silking in Illinois reached 82 percent, ahead of the five-year average of 70 percent. Corn condition was rated at 81 percent good to excellent. Soybean blooming was at 69 percent, 14 percent above the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated at 77 percent good to excellent.

In addition, only four percent of the state’s corn and soybean crops were rated as poor or very poor. Topsoil moisture was rated at 82 percent adequate, while subsoil moisture was estimated at 80 percent adequate. In central Illinois, corn silking was at 88 percent, soybeans blooming at 75 percent and soybeans setting pods at 30 percent as of July 20, the report indicated.

U of I: Time to Renegotiate Rent?

URBANA – University of Illinois at Urbana farm economist Gary Schnitkey released a paper on July 22 questioning whether farmers should be renegotiating their cash rents downward for 2015.

“Actual cropland returns in 2013 and projected returns in 2014 and 2015 are considerably below returns from 2010 through 2012. In many cases, projected 2015 returns will be lower than current cash rents, likely requiring renegotiating for lower cash rents,” Schnitkey opined on the U of I farmdocDAILY website. The article evaluates farmers’ rent situations by identifying farms requiring adjustments in cash rents and by identifying how far cash rents must be lowered. Schnitkey offers guidance to both landowners and farmers in the article, which can be viewed at http://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2014/07/renegotiating-cash-rents-down-2015.html.

From Flying Fish to Frying Fish

BATH – Betty DeFord, founder of the Redneck Fishing Tournament in Bath, Illinois, has provided more details on this year’s “silverfin” roundup party on the Illinois River. Acclaimed Baton Rouge chef Philippe Parola will join Clint Carter from Carter’s Fish Market in Springfield and other restaurateurs to offer cooking demonstrations and promote the movement for a sustainable market for Asian carp that can produce good food and good jobs on August 2, the tournament’s second day of operation. DeFord promises that economic development officials will also be on hand to promote the development of a carp processing facility in the Peoria area that would complement another processing plant planned for Grafton, near the confluence of the Illinois, Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

“My mission is to educate people on how good this fish is to eat,” Peralta said.

The two-day tournament, which begins Friday, Aug. 1, serves as a fun way for bow fishermen and others to remove thousands of the invasive, boat-hopping Asian carp that choke the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Tournament schedules and details are available at www.originalredneckfishin.com.

Illinois Farm Fact:

USDA-NASS currently estimates the 2014 Illinois corn and soybean crop at a record 22.1 million acres: 12 million corn acres and 10.1 million soybean acres. (July 25 USDA news release)

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