In this week’s farm and rural news corral, we have info on a recent nutrient strategy field day that was well attended by Illinois farmers interested in reducing their field nutrient runoff, while adding profit to their operations. We also will shine the spotlight on a number of Illinois youth who have been awarded crop science scholarships by the Illinois Soybean Association. Also: Do you know how many cattle are in your county? We’ll tell you how to find out. Please read on …

65 attend nutrient strategy field day

CLINTON COUNTY — Illinois farmers are showing they are serious about their responsibility to the environment as stewards of their lands, and doing so in serious numbers. About 65 people attended a nutrient strategy field day hosted by the Clinton County Farm Bureau (CCFB) on the Carrillon family farm near Carlyle. A bus ride to the farm led to a series of discussions, demonstrations, and expert analysis on topics including field nutrient losses, cover crops and soil health, planter maintenance and adjustments for achieving proper seed depth and soil contact, developing nutrient management plans, manure management, and cover crop termination.

The Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (CBMP) teamed with the CCFB, which had received a $12,600 nutrient grant from the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB), to sponsor the event, which was held March 25. Attendees heard from a wide variety of presenters, including Lauren Lurkins, IFB director of natural and environmental resources, Doug Peterson, Natural Resources Conservation Service regional soil health specialist, Blake Welge, Progressive Farm Solutions, Patrick Maschhoff, of The Maschhoffs, Ted Funk, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Terry Wyciskalla, Wyciskalla Consulting, and Tyler Voss, Gateway FS crops specialist.

Contact the Clinton County Farm Bureau for information on another nutrient strategy field day planned for July 25. (Ill. CBMP news)

Planting lags behind average; excess moisture reported

SPRINGFIELD — With just 1.9 days suitable for field work during the week ending May 14, corn and soybean planting continues to lag slightly behind last year’s pace and the five-year average in Illinois, according to the latest USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) ‘Illinois Crop Progress and Condition’ report. Corn planted was at 75 percent, compared to last year’s 82 percent and the five-year average of 77 percent. Soybeans planted were at 23 percent, down from 28 percent last year and the five-year average of 31 percent.

Corn condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 7 percent excellent; soybean condition was not rated. In addition, winter wheat ‘headed’ had reached 86 percent, with 7 percent rated very poor, 14 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.

Soil moisture has reached excess levels in many areas due to above-average precipitation in April and May. Statewide, topsoil moisture levels are rated at 57 percent adequate and 43 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was at 60 percent adequate and 39 percent excess, with only 1 percent described as short.

County cattle estimates published

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois USDA-NASS released its annual ‘Illinois Cattle County Estimates’ report last week, revealing that in 2016 the Land of Lincoln is home to 387,000 head of beef cows, 93,000 milk cows and 1,220,000 cattle and calves in all. Those numbers reflect 9,000 less beef cows and 1,000 less milk cows than were present in 2015, but an increase of 40,000 cattle and calves overall. Top cattle counties in Illinois were Stephenson, with 58,000 (5,600 beef, 12,200 dairy), Jo Daviess, with 57,000 (17,300 beef, 7,800 milk), and Clinton, with 53,000 (6,600 beef, 13,600 dairy) animals on farms and ranches.

Illinois livestock numbers are rising due to Illinois’ proximity to transportation infrastructure and cheap grain for feed, but are still vastly behind beef cow populations from days of old. Though Illinois farmers fed 387,000 head of beef cows in 2016, that’s down significantly from the 460,000 fed in 2005 and the 622,000 head counted in 1982, according to the Illinois Livestock Development Group.

Michael Bernard

Sarah Dintelman

Kelsey Smith

Matthew Runyon

Matthew Reuss

ISA awards crop sciences scholarships

BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) handed out five crop sciences scholarships to deserving college students through the IAA Foundation in May. Two recipients are enrolled at Illinois State University, two at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and one at the University of Illinois, and are pursuing agricultural coursework with concentrations on plant breeding, biotechnology, plant pathology and weed and crop management.

Students offered the scholarships were Michael Bernard of Mazon, Sarah Dintelman of Belleville, Matthew Reuss of Marissa, Matthew Runyon of Noble, and Kelsey Smith of Pinckneyville. Though amounts were not specified by the ISA, the students will receive their scholarship funding for the 2017-18 school year.

“Illinois soybean farmers see the scholarship program as an investment in our future,” said John Longley, ISA production and outreach committee chair. “To feed the world on the same number of acres in a continued sustainable manner, we have to educate future researchers so they can help improve soybean production.” Congratulations students! (ISA news)

Summer outlook: Warm, humid, stormy

URBANA — As for the weather, there are “no strong indicators of anything out of the ordinary for this summer,” according to Jim Angel, Illinois State Climatologist for the Illinois Water Survey. “Every summer is warm and humid with a chance of thunderstorms. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Writing in his weather blog May 18, Angel noted that there “wasn’t much exciting” to report from the latest National Weather Service monthly and seasonal forecasts, released May 17. “For June, Illinois has equal chances of above, below, and near-normal temperatures and precipitation. For summer (June-August), Illinois has a slightly increased chance of above-normal temperatures, and equal chances on above, below and near-normal precipitation,” Angel reported.

Illinois Farm Fact:

Ryegrass, used as a cover crop, can stabilize soil with roots extending down 36 inches. (Ill. CBMP)

–R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS–