Rains Washed Away Valuable Soils

PEORIA – When record-setting, late April storms caused flooding of the Illinois River that damaged structures and rural properties along the river, the rushing waters robbed some farmers of their operations most valuable asset: its soil. “With as much as farmland is selling for these days, some farmers were watching their rich topsoil– worth $10,000 to $15,000 per acre– wash down the river,” said Patrick Kirchhofer, manager of the Peoria County Farm Bureau. “That was money leaving the farm that’s not going to come back.”

Though some farmers reported damage resulting from the storms– which led to record water levels in the Illinois River at Peoria and other measuring points– Peoria County was mostly spared of the extensive damage reported upriver at Marseilles (where over 200 homes were rendered uninhabitable) and Utica, among other communities. “As far as farm damage, it was primarily focused on waterways, dry dams and terraces. Several washed out or were heavily eroded. In some cases, farmers will have to go in and repair those structures,” Kirchhofer reported. “There was the small (Spoon River) community of London Mills near the Knox County border that was flooded out, but other than that in most of Peoria County the flooding was not too bad.”

Farmers with properties along the Illinois River were kept busy after the storm gathering debris such as branches, tree trunks and refuse that washed up onto their properties for burning or other disposal. “But the erosion was the primary factor that farmers hate to see,” Kirchhofer said. “With six inches of rain falling in such as short time (on April 18) it was hard to combat.”

Flooded Farmers Face Planting Dilemma

SPARLAND – Jim Rumbold, a Sparland resident who farms in Peoria and Marshall counties, said planting timing, crop selection and conservation structures on his farmland were all affected by the flood. “We’ve got a 100-acre pond” for a crop field in the Chillicothe area just off Rome West Road, Rumbold said. “We usually get to farm (the property) every year. Now and then you would get a couple of acres with water, but this is the most we’ve seen in quite some time.”

Losses would have been greater for Rumbold– and many other area farmers– if a persistently soggy spring hadn’t kept him out of his fields and from planting crops before the flood came. But the rains have washed away any choices Rumbold would have had as far as crop selection, planting schedules, etcetera. “What’s really going to cost us is planting timing, waiting for the water to (recede). So there will be no corn; we’ll have to go to beans on that field,” said Rumbold.

After Rumbold can finally get into the field and plant his crops, he’ll have to turn his attention to damage control. “We had a lot of erosion control structures sustain damage– it was just too much water at one time. We’ll have to push the dirt back where it belongs and put them back together again,” he said.

Corn Planting Lagging Across State

SPRINGFIELD – The USDA- NASS Illinois Weather & Crops Report for May 6 shows that corn planting progress is historically slow across the entire state. “Farmers planted corn if they could last week with 7 percent being planted across the state now compared to 88 percent last year and 48 percent for the five year average,” the report stated. “Reports of yellowish corn emerging were received from areas where corn was planted one month ago. Many fields were too wet to even apply chemicals and are greening up with weeds which will require additional tillage or chemical burn down before planting can be accomplished.”

EPA Budget Calls for Nutrient Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the control and regulation of farm chemicals such as fertilizers and herbicides in the national spotlight, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting $15 million in additional Clean Water Act grant funding to boost nutrient management efforts as part of its $8.15 billion Fiscal Year 2014 budget. “Nutrient pollution in our waterways is one of the nation’s most widespread and challenging environmental problems,” said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe, in testimony before the House Appropriations Committee last week. “EPA is requesting an increase of $15 million…to support states, interstate agencies and tribes that commit to strengthening their nutrient management efforts.”

The funding request appears to be in lockstep with EPA’s recent willingness to work with states like Illinois to develop their own, self-regulated nutrient management plans for farmers, rather than impose sweeping new regulations across the board. The budget request also included $686.2 million to allow EPA to continue to manage “the potential risks of new chemicals entering commerce, without impacting progress in assessing and ensuring the safety of existing chemicals,” according to Perciasepe. Another $176.5 million was requested to support the agency’s work with partners and stakeholders to address greenhouse gas emissions and their impacts.  (US EPA news release)

USDA: Last Call for Ag Census Response

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Agriculture Director Tom Vilsack issued a statement to American farmers last week: if you haven’t already, you must complete and return your 2012 Census of Agriculture form so that your area receives the benefits it is entitled to based on its current number of farm operations. “Our nation needs your help to ensure that decisions about U.S. agriculture accurately represent you, your communities and your industry,” said Vilsack, in a USDA news release issued May 6. “For every 158 people in America there is one farm. I urge you to take action today and respond to the Census– your country is counting on the information to help ensure a continued supply of food, fiber and fuel for generations to come.”

Conducted only once every five years, the Census of Agriculture looks at farmland values, production market value, farm practices, expenditures and other factors of agricultural production. The data is used by agribusinesses, town planners, local governments, policymakers and others when crafting farm programs or considering boosting rural services. It was first introduced in 1840 and remains confidential to farmers. Federal law requires those who receive the Ag Census to respond by May 31.

“Agriculture in America is an industry built on tradition, honor and pride,” stated Vilsack. “Only you can provide the facts straight from the farm.”

Illinois Farm Fact:

Illinois farmers are projected to produce around 50.4 million bushels of winter wheat this year, 24 percent more than last year’s production. (USDA-NASS Illinois Field Office)

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