Corn Growers Represented in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – Hundreds of farmers from the state of Illinois, including many representing Illinois Corn, converged last week in Springfield at the state capitol for Ag Week and Legislative Action Day. The annual event offered corn farmers and those representing other state agricultural organizations a chance to bring their priority issues in front of the Illinois General Assembly.

At the top of the corn growers’ list was legislation to transfer the state sales tax incentive from E10 to E15, along with continuing the agricultural input sales tax exemption, proposed property tax laws and promoting healthy growth in the state’s livestock industry.

“We hope that at the very least, we reminded our elected officials that the economic backbone of our state is agriculture and that we deserve to be heard and have our concerns addressed,” said Gary Hudson, vice president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, following the event, which was attended by around 250 farmers and the same number of FFA students.

NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace visited with members of the General Assembly, commenting afterward: “You know, the first thing that many of these Senators and Representatives asked me is how that ethanol runs in my race car. I’m always happy to tell everybody my car runs great,” said Wallace, a nine-time NASCAR winner. “I’m excited to learn that E15 fuel could be coming to Illinois if this Consumer Fuel Choice for Illinois bill passes.” (Illinois Corn news release)

Illinois Lawmakers Introduce Locks Bill

WASHINGTOn, D.C. – Legislation that would establish public-private partnerships for lock and dam modernization on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers was introduced March 14 by Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk, along with Representatives Cheri Bustos and Rodney Davis. The news was greeted warmly by many in Illinois agriculture who have been lobbying for lock and dam improvements for around two decades, including Bill Wykes, a chairman with the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and a farmer from Yorkville.

“This is a win for Illinois soybean farmers and Illinois agriculture. These are exactly the efforts and actions that we enjoy seeing after we meet with legislators and advocate for key issues in Washington, D.C.,” Wykes said, in an ISA news release. “Many other groups have been working on the issue as well, and that has helped Congress come closer to understanding these challenges during the past two years.”

Under the Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act, a five-year pilot program would identify up to 15 previously authorized waterways infrastructure projects for participation. Agreements between the Army Corps of Engineers and private entities would offer an alternative to traditional financing, planning, design and construction models, the bill’s sponsors say.

Ammonia Course Open to Farmers

BLOOMINGTON – There is currently no training requirement for farmers who take possession of NH3 (liquid anhydrous ammonia), but with a recent spate of accidents with farmers in control of the product, the possibility for legislation cannot be ignored. With that in mind, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), along with the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA) and others, has developed an online program featuring an assessment farmers can take to assure their knowledge of ammonia safety. The 30-40 minute, free test that prints a certificate of completion is being offered on a voluntary basis in an effort to prove Illinois’ farmers stewardship of their lands.

“When not handled properly, anhydrous ammonia can cause serious injury and impact the environment,” stated Bob Flider, IDOA Director. “I encourage farmers who apply their own ammonia to use the program, take the knowledge assessment and self-certify that they are trained to safely handle this product.”

The program can be accessed through the following websites: www.ifca.com, www.ilcorn.org, www.ilfb.org and www.agr.state.il.us. (IFCA, Illinois Corn news) 

Stressed Beans: More Production?

NORMAL – Suggestions for overcoming today’s soybean production challenges, including “stressing” plants to produce more pods in certain situations, were front and center during a presentation by Crop-Tech consultant Ken Ferrie before hundreds of farmers at the 2013 Illinois Soybean Profitability Summit, sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). During his presentation, Ferrie predicted outstanding early production for soybeans in many regions of Illinois this year due to residual nitrates left in soils following the 2012 drought, among other factors. But the focus of his presentation centered on overcoming new and historic challenges to profitability.

One recent historic challenge to soybean growers, Ferrie noted, was the number of herbicide rescue applications farmers had to employ to control late weeds in Illinois soybean fields during last summer’s severe drought. “Knowing when you can burn a bean with a herbicide and when you can’t” made a big difference for producers in 2012, Ferrie told the farmers assembled in the Brown Ballroom of the Bone Center. Soybean yields could increase from pod stress under certain conditions, the consultant said. He explained that stressing soybeans in their vegetative stages triggers the release of a growth hormone in order to attempt to compensate for the stress. The process can actually serve to put on more nodes– and in turn more beans– and often results in a yield increase. Studies conducted since at least 2001 have confirmed the effectiveness of stressing soybeans with late rescue applications of herbicides.

“What effect does this have on yield? You can see as much as a six bushel yield advantage by tickling the soybean at the right times,” said Ferrie.

Illinois Farm Fact:

There are 45,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. (Ill. Soybean Assoc.)

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