Source: Good Jobs Will Remain at Decatur ADM

PEORIA – A possible motive behind Archer Daniels Midland’s announcement it would move its global headquarters from its longtime base in Decatur after 44 years involves travel and access logistics, according to published reports confirmed by independent sources.  A highly-placed source in the state and national agricultural community with knowledge of the situation said that in addition to rumors of ADM global headquarters relocating in Chicago or St. Louis, other potential locations have not been leaked. “There has been plenty of (media) coverage surrounding the tax relief bait that Illinois is offering. Sounds like just the key members of the upper management team who run their global operations are in play, around 100 people, because they need an airport hub,” said the source, who preferred to remain anonymous in print. “Sort of makes sense.”

Most of the plant’s daily workforce of more than 4,000 are expected to be retained by ADM after upper management departs, meaning the sky is likely not to fall on Decatur’s economy and unemployment rate. “ADM in Decatur is not just about processing corn and turning it into building blocks for thousands of products, including ethanol, but they also have a huge grain buying and trade operation there that looks like a mini-Chicago Board of Trade,” the source continued. “They also have high-end scientists and researchers based on the premises. They are a business with many layers, so there are a lot of good, high-paying jobs that will remain in Decatur.”

Nitrogen Webinar This Friday

BLOOMINGTON – A webinar offering an update of critical nutrient stewardship and management issues will be offered this Friday, October 11 at 8 am, offered by the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices. The goal is to help reduce environmental impact, optimize harvest yield and maximize input utilization. Topics to be covered include:

* Guidelines for fall nitrogen applications: timing, stabilization, rates

* Results of the N WATCH soil nitrate testing program from fall 2012 and spring 2013 sites

* New incentives to promote on-farm N rate trials

* Showing the value of an N management system with N WATCH

The webinar will be conducted by Dr. Harold Brown, CBMP’s interim director of nutrient utilization and research programs. C-BMP is a coalition of ag industry organizations working together to promote crop production and protect water quality. The coalition is comprised of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Illinois Corn, Illinois Soybean Assoc., Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers, Syngenta, Growmark and Monsanto.

Sparland Woman “Changing Face” of Agriculture

BLOOMINGTON – Students from Sparland and Carthage will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to benefit their agricultural education from Illinois AgriWomen as part of their “Women Changing the Face of Agriculture” program. Elizabeth Koehler, of Sparland, is a student at the University of Illinois in Champaign majoring in Agriculture Communications with a minor in Environmental Economics and Policy. She also is an active member of 4-H House, Ag Communicators of Tomorrow and ACES Council. She hopes to find employment in ag communications.

“I have a special interest in policy and therefore would like to specialize my reports in agriculture policy on the state and national level,” Koehler said.

Taylor Hardy of Carthage indicated she intends to pursue a degree in agricultural law and will use the scholarship money to further that goal. (Ill. AgriWomen news release)

George P. Bush to Speak at Com-Con

BLOOMINGTON – Connecting with the evolving demographics of the American voter and boosting agriculture’s profile among the changing demographics is the topic of a presentation by the keynote speaker at this year’s Illinois Commodity Conference, to be held November 26 at the downtown Normal Marriott. That speaker will be none other than George P. Bush, the multi-racial son of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and grandson of elder President George Bush. The theme of the presentation is “The New Face of Uncle Sam.”

“We’re really excited about this session,” said Lindsay Mitchell, special projects coordinator for Illinois Corn, a sponsor of the conference. “Mr. Bush is working significantly with the Hispanic population in Florida trying to help the Republican party reach out to that population and get a better grasp of what some of their issue points should be, and convert that demographic to the Republican way of thinking.

“The reason why (Bush’s appearance) is important to us is because the demographics of America are changing drastically. It used to be that agriculture had pretty significant representation in Congress. We had a great lobby, and, to a sense, what the public thought of us was irrelevant– our focus was on educating Congress so we could get what we needed (politically).”

Bush will seek his first public office next year, running as a Republican for land commissioner of Texas. He has raised more than $3.3 million for his campaign so far, although no Democratic candidate for the position has announced their intention to run for the position.

Illinois Farm Fact:

Illinois crop progress remains below the five year average for harvest, with only 13 percent of corn harvested as of September 30, compared to the five year average of 34 percent. Soybeans are 10 percent harvested, compared to the five year average of 15 percent. (Sept. 30 USDA-NASS Illinois Weather & Crops Report)

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