dekalb county ag mag winter 2014

Winter 2014

magagDeKalb County

A Publication of

Marking Ag Achievements

State historical markers celebrate area’s contributions

See Page 5

2 | DeKalb County AG MAG | Winter 2014 Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG MAG | 3


magagDeKalb County

Table of Contents

Published by Shaw Media Publisher: Karen Pletsch

Project Manager: Lisa Angel

Design & Layout: Allison LaPorta

Articles and advertisements are property of Shaw Media. No portion of DeKalb County Ag Mag may be produced without written consent of the publisher.

magagDeKalb County

5 Cover Story: Marking county’s agricultural history

Local agriculture leaders dedicate series of

markers around DeKalb County

7 Calendar of Events

10 Corn takes a tumble Falling per bushel prices could lead to more

soybean planting

12 Soybean farming history The crop has a rich history that the Illinois

Soybean Association is focusing on.

14 Wineries boost tourism Growing cold-weather hardy varities, local

wineries are drawing people and making great wines

20 Raising top cattle Feeds and feeding are key to raising top

quality show cattle, a junior exhibitor writes

22 The Troubles with Old Iron A look inside the process of restoring Engine

No. 110, a steam-powered tractor originally built in Sycamore

27 Cover crops: Worth the cost? Some local farmers have begun using cover

crops, with positive results

30 Heck of a harvest All things considered, the elements were

kind to farmers harvesting their crops this year. Results were bountiful.

33 New board members The Illinois Corn Marketing Board has seated

two returning and three new members

On the cover: Danielle Guerra - [email protected]

Allan Aves, past president of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, unveils a historical marker recognizing the bureau’s standing as the first of its kind in Illinois and one of the oldest in the country.


The DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association, Inc. (DAAHA) has dedicated three historical markers in DeKalb County and is working to create three more. The organization spent more than two years researching the history behind the first historical marker before it was validated as historically significant by the Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS).

“The two big goals of creating the markers are to raise awareness of the history and legacy of agriculture in DeKalb County and to help foster an appreciation of the area’s heritage of innovation,” DAAHA Board President Larry Mix said. “We hope that by teaching the community about DeKalb County’s agricultural history, it will inspire the next generation.”

Dr. David Smith, a plant pathologist and geneticist who formerly did research at DeKalb/ Monsanto, wrote the 1,000-word justification for the first historical marker.

“Creating a marker is a multi-step process that includes a lot of research,” Smith said. “First, you need money committed to help fund the maker. Then you have to justify its statewide or national significance. You also have to have a location.”

The first historical marker, dedicated on Sept. 8, commemorates

DeKALB – In pirate lore, “X” marks the spot for buried treasure. In DeKalb County, a different kind of marker is used to indicate the location of some of the most treasured agricultural gems in the area.

Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG MAG | 5

Honoring historyBy Katrina J.E. Milton

[email protected] commemorate DeKalb Co.’s history of ag innovation

Photo Above: Monica Synett/Shaw Media

Warren Holdridge and Millie Sulaver, who both worked with innovative plant breeder Charlie Gunn, unveil a historical marker noting the location of an experimental field where the first hybrid corn was bred in Illinois. The plot was set up in secret by Gunn and Tom Roberts in 1925.


the first DeKalb Brand hybrid corn breeding plot. The marker honors Charlie Gunn, a corn breeder, and Tom Roberts, a manager, both of the DeKalb County Agricultural Association, who began a hybrid corn-breeding program in secret in 1925 on the J.J. Kingsley farm in DeKalb. The marker is located on Nelson Road, just north and east of where it intersects with Lincoln Highway, two miles west of DeKalb.

Persuading the state historical society to recognize the significance of the plot was one hard part, but before that could happen, DAAHA members had to find the actual location of the plot. That was no easy task because the half-acre plot was originally kept secret.

Researchers relied on an oral history interview with Gunn, as well as his personal notes from the time, County historian Sue Breese said. Their research led to some surprising discoveries.

“We knew [the plot] was out [there], but we thought it was on the opposite side of the road,” Breese said at the time the marker was unveiled. “Through researching Gunn’s notes, we found that it was here.”

Roberts and Gunn tested their hybrid corn for a few years before disclosing the program to their board of directors in 1928. They found the hybrid out-yielded the open-pollinated variety by 35 percent.

The second marker, commemorating the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, was dedicated on Sept. 29. In 1912, farmers, businessmen, and bankers formed the DeKalb County Soil Improvement Association. The organization, which became the DeKalb County Farm Bureau in 1926, was the first farm bureau in Illinois and is among the oldest in the United States.

The marker is located at the farm bureau’s Center for Agriculture building at 1350 W. Prairie Drive in Sycamore. It recognizes the group’s forward-thinking founders and the DeKalb Farm Bureau’s standing as one of the oldest in the country.

“Originally dedicated to improving crop production, this farmer-led organization has evolved, finding solutions to challenges posed by America’s progressing agriculture and offering a wide variety of assistance to farmers, rural families, and their communities,” the marker reads.

As farm bureau President Mark Tuttle said at the marker’s unveiling, DeKalb County’s agricultural tradition is “a way of life. It’s important that we keep it a way of life.”

The third marker was dedicated on Oct. 11, honoring William G. Eckhardt, a soils professor at the University of Illinois.

Eckhardt was hired by the DeKalb County Soil Improvement Association, a forerunner of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and the DeKalb Agricultural Association (DAA), and became the organization’s first farm adviser. The marker states that his job was to establish permanent and profitable agricultural practices, to improve farming practices in the county, and to oversee farming operations.

Eckhardt, who was also an inventor, helped solve the problem of seed corn rotting. In 1920, he patented a technique of forced-air drying that is still used today. He also designed drying

Top Photo:Local officials at the unveiling at the unveiling of a historical marker recognizing the DeKalb County Farm Bureau included (left to right) DeKalb Mayor John Rey, DeKalb Area Heritage Association President Larry Mix, past farm bureau President Allan Aves, William Furry, director of the Illinois State Historical Society, and State Rep. Bob Pritchard.

Bottom Photo:Forrest Troyer, 85, of DeKalb, dons a DeKalb winged-ear hat and T-shirt at a dedication ceremony to recognize the first DeKalb-brand hybrid corn breeding plot north of the intersection of Illinois Route 38 and Nelson Road in DeKalb. Troyer was a corn breeder for more than 50 years.

6 | DeKalb County AG MAG | Winter 2014

Photo taken by: Danielle Guerra • dguerra@ shawmedia.com

Photo taken by: Monica Synett • [email protected]


bins and storage silos that were built and used on his farm.

The marker states that “both the DAA and Eckhardt were innovators in researching and developing high quality corn seed; their competitive and collaborative efforts fueled rapid advancements in the field of hybridizing corn.”

The marker was placed at the site of Eckhardt’s home and seed house, 339 W. Roosevelt St. in DeKalb.

DAAHA is working to create three additional historical markers: one for the Marsh Harvester that was manufactured in Sycamore, one for Jacob Haish, an inventor of barbed wire and machines and library benefactor, and one for the world-famous winged ear logo of DeKalb Brand corn.

To help inspire the next generation, DAAHA is partnering with the DeKalb County Future Farmers of America for Ag Innovation Challenge 2014. The challenge, a speech contest that is a judged competition, will be part of the FFA Prepared Public Speaking CDE.

In their speeches, high school students will address a specific agronomic challenge faced by farmers. The winner will be awarded scholarship funds to use at an accredited college or university of his/her choice.

“What I’ve found is that one inventor or invention leads to another,” Mix said. “The inventors learned from each other and are all linked together. There are not only one or two things that are significant about DeKalb County and Northern Illinois; it’s a whole series of events and progress over time.”

Calendar of Events

Dec. 15University of Illinois Farm

Economic SummitFaranda’s, DeKalb

8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

www.regonline.com/2014IFES

$65 in advance, $75 at the door

Dec. 17 Farm Bill Meeting by USDADeKalb County Farm Bureau Center

for Agriculture • 2 p.m.

Dec. 18Farm Bill Meeting by USDADeKalb County Farm Bureau Center

for Agriculture • 6 p.m.

All meetings held at the Center for Agriculture unless otherwise noted. For most meeting reservations contact the

DeKalb County Farm Bureau office, 815/756-6361



DeKalb Lawn & Equipmentunderstands what it takes to

get the job done!With a wide variety of products, we have the tools

to tackle many tough projects.

• Toro and Hustler zero-turn mowers

• Grasshopper front-mount mowers

• Stihl chainsaws, trimmers, and blowers,

• Blizzard snow plows & accessories, and

• Ritchie livestock waterers and fountains

• New Equipment Financing offered throughGE Capital and Sheffield Financial

• Toro® Equine Savings Programs

We are a full service dealer providing Sales, parts and servicefor all the products we sell as well as those we do not.

Call or stop in today for details.Let our knowledgeable

staff lend a hand!

DeKalb Lawn & Equipment219 N. 7th StreetDeKalb, IL 60115

(815) 756-5722Store Hours:

8 A.M. - 6 P.M. (Mon. thru Thur.)8 A.M. - 5 P.M. (Friday)

8 A.M. - 2 P.M. (Sat. & Sun.)

adno=0291217


adn

o=02

6863

4


Katrina J.E. [email protected]

This year was a good year for both corn and soybean crops, which means declining soybean and corn prices.For now, the drop in the soybean price has not been as great relative to corn. Many observers are expecting farmers to plant more acres of soybeans next year.

“There is that potential,” said Darrel Good, a retired agricultural professor from the University of Illinois. “The market will have to answer the question: Do we need more soybeans at the expense of corn this next year? If farmers were to plant today, the market calls for more soybeans. The question is, how will those prices change when the planting decisions are finalized?”

Soybeans, he said, are seeing great demand, part of which is seasonal.

“Whether that can be maintained or not depends on how the South American crop unfolds,” he said.

Mike DeSchepper of Cortland, the president of the DeKalb County Corn and Soybean Association, said that the price of corn falling probably will lead to more farmers planting soybeans next year.

“I am in chemical and seeds retail, and I am seeing more sales in beans right now,” DeSchepper said. “There could be not as much of a demand for corn, but it’s hard to say at this time. … Many farmers are still undecided due to the always-changing prices.”

He said that the Chicago Board of Trade lists corn just around $3.75 per bushel, which is approximately half of what it was a year ago. Soybeans are listed around $10.25 a bushel. He said that in general, seed pricing is about the same as last year.

Seed giant Monsanto, part of whose operation is based in Waterman, has already cut its profits forecast for next year. With corn prices down, the company told the media, it will be harder to raise seed prices, especially when farmers are expected to reduce corn planting next year.

Not surprisingly, John Deere is already reporting declining sales of farm equipment.


PlantingPlans Falling corn price could lead

some to plant more soy

Photo Above:Monica Synett • [email protected]

Farmer Ray Heinisch maneuvers his combine to harvest his soybean crop in DeKalb this fall.

10 | DeKalb County AG MAG | Winter 2014 Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG MAG | 11 “From everything I can see, farm equipment sales are slowing down,” Good said.

“Farmers have made a lot of purchases the last couple of years. A lot of them are saying that there is no urgency to invest.”

Ben Drake, a farmer from Sycamore, said that he was impressed with the soybean crop this year and was not expecting such high yields.

“With a lot of rain in early spring, and again in June and July, the soybean yields are better than what we anticipated,” he said.

DeSchepper said that most farmers in DeKalb are pretty happy about their yields this year, which are an improvement over last year.

“It was a very good year for both corn and soybean crops,” DeSchepper said. “We’ve had a very good harvest as well. It was an average to above-average crop.”

Although Drake sees that a lot more farmers are growing soybeans due to the drop in corn prices, Drake will choose to simply divide his acreage 50-50 between soybeans and corn.

“Every year, I rotate between corn and beans,” Drake said. “The price of corn has dropped tremendously, and I would need to plant more. It’s hard to spend more money in order to get more yield because the return will be so much less.

“Soybeans are holding out a lot better than corn, but it’s still down. … You have to ride out the market. Farming really is a gamble. You have to take the highs with the lows.”

David Giuliani contributed to this story.

Corn Iowa Illinois2014* 13.2 12.02013 13.1 12.02012 13.7 12.2

Soybeans Iowa Illinois2014* 13.2 10.02013 9.2 9.42012 9.3 8.9

Crop aCreagea look at corn and soybean acreage in Illinois and Iowa (in millions):

* estimated


Photo Above:Monica Synett • [email protected]

Farmer Ray Heinisch maneuvers his combine to harvest his soybean crop in DeKalb this fall.

All photos by Monica Synett • [email protected]

Top Photo: Soybeans fill up the combine’s container during harvesting.

Middle Photo: Unlike corn, soybeans require dry weather for harvesting.

Bottom Photo: Ray Heinisch, who’s been farming for 37 years, harvests his soybean crop in DeKalb this fall. Heinisch was one of the first farmers in the area to harvest this season.


I had the pleasure recently of being part of the Illinois Soybean Association’s 50th anniversary celebration, also honoring the past 100 years of soybean production in Illinois.

By Sharon Covert

Certainly, Illinois soybean farmers have much to be proud of and look forward to in the future.

ISA’s focus for the last year has been on embracing the past – our legacy of leadership, market development and soybean production in Illinois.

Our history has been marked with many successes in helping Illinois soybean farmers improve production. From helping craft legislation that protects our freedom to farm, to creating new markets for soy products and for overseas buyers, to funding research and promotion activities that increase profits and build demand, that has long been ISA’s mission. Here are some interesting milestones from Illinois’ 100-year soybean production history:

• In 1936, the Northern Regional Research Laboratory in Peoria, Ill., was established to develop industrial uses for soybeans and soy products like plastics, paints and varnishes.

• The Land of Lincoln Soybean Association (LOLSA) — as ISA was originally known — was created in 1964 to develop the Illinois soybean industry and conduct variety testing.

• During the 1970s, Illinois farmers helped market soybeans from Mexico to North Africa. Illinois soybean farmers were a big part of the financial power behind opening nine international marketing offices and programs in 76 nations.

• At the same time, Illinois farmers turned attention to emerging markets that included development of petroleum printing inks containing soybean oil. The Soy Mark logo identified publications printed with soy ink. The Peoria lab helped develop soy ink, and St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Ill., was the first to use it for baby footprints.

• Illinois soybean volunteers began to educate consumers about the many benefits of soy during the 1980s. Dozens of people trained to become “Bean Boosters” and cooking demonstrations and product displays blanketed the state.

• New soybean uses accelerated during the 1990s. University students created candles from soybean oil and soybean oil-based crayons. Illinois transit systems tested a biodiesel fuel blend and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new soy health claim that stated soy protein included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Today our strategic plan focuses on five key areas: Animal agriculture; transportation; yield, composition and profitability; freedom to operate and organizational excellence. Not only do we want to help our top livestock and poultry customers consume more, higher quality and nutritious soy products, we want to make sure we can efficiently transport those products around the world and do so in a manner that allows us to operate freely and sustainably.

As part of the anniversary celebration, we also have been envisioning our future during the last year with a goal of using 600 million bushels of Illinois soybeans by 2020.

The volume of Illinois soybean production has grown exponentially from less than 100,000 bushels at the start to more than 460 million bushels today. Illinois has the climate, cropping systems and ready access to domestic and global markets to continue growing production for the future. Illinois soybeans generate more than $6 billion per year in direct sales alone. Our economic impact on the state is multiplied by processing, livestock and transportation industries.

Attaining our goal of using 600 million bushels is critical to Illinois soybean farmers’ long-term competitive and comparative advantage. I invite you to learn more about Illinois soybean farmers and our organization and programs by visiting www.ilsoy.org/anniversary.

• Sharon Covert is director of the Illinois Soybean Association and a soybean farmer from Tiskilwa.


A legAcy of leAdership


SawickiROCH E L L E

• Up to $1,000 in GM Accessory upfit cash on select New Models.• National Vehicle Locator• Only GM Dealer in Ogle County• Full Service Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - All Manufacturers• Full Service Autobody Repair - All Manufacturers• GM Certified Preowned Includes Maintenance and LimitedBumper to Bumper Warranty

FREE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION.ARE YOUR TRUCKS READY TO WORK?

Please Come In And Tour Our New Facility.

www.Sawickimotorcompany.com • 815-562-8787 • 800-472-9425

S i n c e 1 9 5 3


&&

By Katrina J.E. [email protected]

When thinking of agriculture in Illinois, corn and soybeans usually come to mind. But when it comes to the kind of agriculture that can attract tourists from outside the area, the real growth crop is grapes.

Debbie Armstrong, executive director of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that over the past five years, local vineyards have played a growing role in “agritourism” – tourism associated with agriculture.

“It isn’t just visiting farms,” she said. “It includes farmers’ markets, agricultural museums and exhibits, pumpkin and apple patches, farm tours, animal farms and petting zoos, Christmas tree farms, and wineries,” Armstrong said. “We do offer all of the above in DeKalb County.”

According to the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association (IGGVA), the 105 wineries and 1,107 acres of grapes in Illinois earned nearly $700 million in 2012, a 120 percent increase in five years. The organization also states that by 2012, the number of tourist visits to the state was more than 500,000, more than double the number of five years earlier.

There are three wineries in and around DeKalb County: Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park, Prairie State Winery in Genoa, and Waterman Winery Cellars in Waterman.

Bunches of Grapes

Boost Agritourism

in DeKalb County


Katrina Milton – [email protected]

Waterman Winery co-owner Alexa Tuntland in the vineyard at Waterman Winery.


www.kishwaukeecollege.edu

Explore the Careers in Agriculture at

Kishwaukee College began as anidea planted and nurtured bylocal farmers and is still the bestchoice for area young people whowant a career in the many fieldsof agriculture:

• Ag Transfer degree• Horticulture• Diesel Power Technology• Aviation• CDL/Truck Driver Training

WE DID IT AGAIN. AGAIN.For the third year in a row, Forbes named us one of the Best Banks in America. As always, we appreciate the recognition of our strong, stable financial position. That foundation allows us to pursue our mission of outstanding customer service, diverse products and continuing a long history of safe, secure banking.

Stop in to a branch today and see what it means to bank with one of the best.

800.990.5713 | castlebank.com | Member FDICForbes Logo © 2013, 2012, 2011 Forbes Media LLC. Used with permission.

“You really don’t have to travel to California to find good quality wine anymore,” Armstrong said. “We have award-winning wines that come from Illinois.”

Making DeKalb County a destination location for tourists has become increasingly important for vintners such as Joe Brandonisio, the general manager of Acquaviva vineyard and winery.

“People try to save their whole lives to go to Italy,” Brandonisio said. “But we’re right here in their backyard. We have that Old World feel, that vineyard experience, and a winery setting where you feel like you’re somewhere else.”

Brandonisio said that giving visitors that getaway feeling is what led Acquaviva to plan on opening a bed and breakfast in Maple Park in spring 2015.

“We want to show people that you can have that Napa Valley experience and see a working vineyard,” Brandonisio said. “Most people are surprised to learn that grapes can grow here, and the process of Illinois grape-growing intrigues them.”

Illinois GrapesTerrie Tuntland, the vice president of the IGGVA and one of the owners of Waterman Winery and Vineyards, Inc., said that people often are surprised to learn that grapes can be grown in Illinois. The vineyard in Waterman was the first vineyard in DeKalb County, with grapes first planted in 1998.

“In the beginning, people said that we couldn’t do it,” Tuntland said. “But we’ve always been the type of people that go out and prove them wrong.”

Grapes grown in Illinois are different from those grown in California and Italy. Wine produced from Illinois grapes tastes different from other wines, due to the use of new and different varieties of grapes.

Prairie State Vineyard grows 3.5 acres of cold-hardy grapes for Prairie State Winery and is located in rural Kingston. The winery relies heavily on grapes grown in other vineyards around the state, with many varieties used in their wine grown in central and southern Illinois

Katrina Milton - [email protected]

Grapes on the vine at Waterman Winery.


The 12-acre vineyard in Waterman grows 40 varieties of grapes, mostly French-American hybrids, such as Frontenac. The winters in Illinois can be too cold for many types of grapes, and the owners of the vineyard chose to plant variations that can withstand cold temperatures.

“It took five to seven years for our first grapes to mature, and it will take some time to see what other types of grapes will grow best in our colder climate,” Tuntland said.

Brandonisio said that grape-growers in Illinois have concerns that vineyards in Italy and California do not, such as high humidity levels and mildew or fungus growth. He said that he grows 19 varieties of grapes on 20 acres, choosing hardy grapes that survive in temperatures as low as minus-35 degrees.

The cold weather does have some benefits, however. During the process of cold stabilization, cold temperature naturally removes some of the tartaric acid, which provides some of the tartness in the wine. Cold stabilization keeps tartaric acid crystals, also known as wine diamonds, from forming after the wine has been bottled.

To help with cold stabilization and environmental sustainability, the Waterman Winery uses a barn from the 1800’s that is heavily insulated, keeping the temperature cool in summer and warm in winter. Instead of putting grape skins and pits not used in the winemaking process into a landfill, the vineyard spreads the remains on the farm’s fields as a compost fertilizer.

Both the Acquaviva and Waterman wineries have another aspect of sustainability: everything from the growing of the grapes to the bottling of the wine happens at the vineyard.

“We do everything on the farm by hand,” Alexa Tuntland, Terrie Tuntland’s wife and business partner, said. “We pick the grapes by hand, we crush the grapes by hand, and we even wash the wine bottles by hand before bottling.

“… And I think people like knowing that everything is done by hand. When buying a big-name brand, there’s no knowing what chemicals or sprays are added or used. It’s not like that with a family-owned business.”

The Future of VineyardsPeople from all over the world have visited the Waterman winery. Tuntland said that the vineyard’s family farm atmosphere is part of what makes it a tourist destination.

“Visitors love being on a farm,” Tuntland said. “They like to sit and take pictures in the tractor tire. They see that we’re an actual farm with 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans and that we’re located in a rural setting. … To them, it’s a huge thing and a unique experience. They love experiencing and seeing the things we take for granted.”

Brandonisio said there is no question that vineyards are a tourist destination. Acquaviva has recently expanded to include a restaurant in Sycamore, Ristorante di Acquaviva, in addition to its winery in Maple Park and Acquaviva Tasting and Wine Bar in St. Charles.

“People are interested in learning about wine and pairing wine with food,” Armstrong said. “They also find this to be a great way to relax and spend quality time with friends and family.

Armstrong said that she believes that the popularity of vineyards in the area will continue to increase. “We continue to see more wineries expand in Illinois and the demand has increased with the amount of festivals and events that are related to the wine industry,” Armstrong said. “We are getting more calls about tastings and winery tours from visitors now.”



Terrie (right) and Alexa Tuntland prune away a bunch of grapes from a vine at Waterman Winery.


Award-winning wines don’t only come from California. Some are for sale here in DeKalb County, including these on display at Waterman Winery Cellars.


© 2014 United Rentals, Inc. For terms and conditions visithttp://www.unitedrentals.com/en/customer-care/terms/ur1disclaimer

Quality Used Equipment For Sale

UnitedRentals.com800.UR.RENTS

UNITED GUARD™

• Warranted repairs on select components

• No co-pays on any covered repairs

• Free equipment inspections

• Service at any of our 800+ stores in North America

EASY FINANCING

• Up to 100% financing

• 1 to 5 year terms

• Fixed rates

• Leases & Loans

2007 Sullair 185DPQ-JD Air CompressorsStarting at 7999.00

2009’ JD Backhoe – Cab/EXT/Air/4WDStarting at 49,900.00

2010 Takeuchi TB175 – 3700 hours, cabStarting at 55,900.00

2007 Lull 944E-42 – Cab/Heat/9k CapacityStarting at 52,999.00

2006 JD544J Wheel Loaders7800 hours/cab - Starting at 56,900.00

2010 JD318D Skid Loader – Cab/1800 hrsStarting at 19,900.00

Shawn McCoy - Territory Manager1845 East Lincoln HighwayDekalb, IL 60115

(815)758-3551 phone

(815)758-3208 fax

(815)739-6193 cell

[email protected]

adno=0291219


October 30, 2014 Page 1 of 1 UnitedRentals.com800.UR.RENTS

© 2014 United Rentals, Inc. For terms and conditions, visit http://www.unitedrentals.com/en/customer-care/terms/ur3disclaimer

Equipment Guide

768930RA2008 AMIDA AL4060D-4MH

DEKALB, IL$3,053 (USD)

9600422007 UPRIGHT TM12


818371RA2010 TOWMASTER T-10T


674573RA2007 SKYJACK 3226


806422RA2010 CLUB CAR XRT 1550G W/CAB


590385RA2005 JLG 600SDEKALB, IL$37,249 (USD)

811840RA2010 STONE SB1600

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL$4,361 (USD)

694629RA2007 MILLER BIG BLUE 300D

CHANNAHON, IL$3,964 (USD)

826559RA2010 ADVANCE FOCUS S28ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL

$5,707 (USD)

adno=0291220

2007 SKYJACK 3226DEKALB, IL

CLUB CAR XRT 1550GDEKALB, IL

2005 JLG 600SDEKALB, IL

20 | DeKalb County AG MAG | Winter 2014 Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG MAG | 21 20 | DeKalb County AG MAG | Fall 2014

Show Cattle

By LAUREN McMILLANFor DeKalb County AgMag

Every fall, junior cattle exhibitors and their families search far and wide for that perfect heifer calf. They can travel thousands of miles and look at hundreds of calves trying to find “the one” that they believe has the best shot to bring home the championship banners.

While this is a fun and exciting adventure, I believe it is what you do AFTER you find an animal that can make or break your show ring success.

Today I would like to talk to you about the importance of feeds and feeding as it relates to developing show heifers. I believe that what and how you feed a heifer is as important as the heifer you select.

Don’t get me wrong, daily rinsing and hair care is critically important, however, that is only the hide and hair of the animal. Have you ever heard the saying, “The truest beauty comes from within?” I believe this statement could not be truer in life but also in developing show heifers.

I have been taught that to excel at feeds and feeding, the best place to start is by understanding the INSIDE of the animal. Think of it like this, feeds and feeding are the knowledge and tools you can use to build your heifer from the inside out.

Two areas I will focus on are the stomach and the brain. Let’s start with the stomach. Contrary to popular belief, cows only have one stomach; however, that stomach has four different compartments.

The first compartment is the rumen. It is designed for the storage of food and is where fermentation occurs. Believe it or not, the rumen of a full-grown cow can hold up to 50



Schaeffer Lubricant DiStributor

aLL farM anD fueL LubricantS

buDGet PLanS aVaiLabLe

SPeciaL DiScountS on

tranSPort DeLiVerieS

Call Toll-Free1-877-522-3521

401 W. Main, Kirkland • 1-815-522-3521www.blakeoil.com

We offer DEF in package and Bulk Delivery

gallons of feedstuffs or water.

Also, the rumen is home to billions of microbes, and they are responsible for the fermentation of the feedstuffs. Keeping the microbes inside the rumen “happy” is one of the keys of feeding show heifers.

The second compartment is called the reticulum. It is a pouch-like compartment, and the tissues inside are in a honeycomb shape. The reticulum traps larger feed particles.

Once trapped, these particles are regurgitated, re-chewed and re-swallowed – otherwise called chewing their cud. This allows for further fermentation and digestion of those larger particles.

The third compartment is called the omasum. It is a globe-shaped chamber that acts like a filter. The many folds of the omasum serve to squeeze out the water from the feed, so that it doesn’t escape into the rest of the digestive tract.

And the fourth and final compartment of a cow’s stomach is the abomasum. This compartment is similar to our stomach. It has a low pH and enzymes to digest the proteins in the feed.

The second area inside the show heifer that I’d like to talk about is the brain. So you are probably wondering — what does a cow’s brain have to do with feeds and feeding? Well believe it or not, cattle are creatures of habit. As a creature of habit, their brains are programmed to benefit from consistency.

Show heifers tend to thrive on two types of consistency. The first type is what they eat, and the second is when they eat. So, you should really try to feed your show heifers the same feed, at the same volume, at the same time each day.

There are times when you need to make adjustments to what you are feeding. When doing so, you need to make those adjustments slowly, or it will throw them off feed and could take up to two weeks to get them back in track.

While each show heifer doesn’t come with a feeding manual, by understanding their stomach and brain, I believe you can be on your way to success. Other areas that are important to not overlook when developing a feeding approach are age, genetics, physical structure and when specifically do you want her looking her very best.

Overall, feeds and feeding can be a difficult and confusing area to master, however, there are a lot of great people out there willing to share their knowledge and experience with you. Reach out for advice and guidance early on as it is far easier to start them off right then try to fix mistakes down the road.

• Lauren McMillan is an eighth-grader at Logan Junior High School in Princeton and works on the family cattle farm in Tiskilwa.


withOld

TheTroubles

Story and photos by Liam Dancey

Iron

Restoring a vintage vehicle is no small task. It takes dedication to breathe new life into a rusting hulk.

The restoration process is not only one of fixing the obvious problems with a vintage machine – it also involves discovering the hidden problems and fixing those, too.

Fortunately, there usually are numerous resources available to assist in the process of a restoration.

For instance, those who restore classic cars can retrieve documents from the manufacturer’s archives. Missing parts can be found in flea markets or on the Internet, and it is not uncommon to consult individuals who once built that type of car for a living.

In the world of steam power, though, things aren’t so simple. Most manufacturers of steam traction engines in the United States simply ceased to exist, and all of the abyss companies’ documents, workers, blueprints, and buildings faded into the limelight of history.


Part II


hbtAgServices.comDerek Fetzer815-875-4444 606 S. Main St., Princeton

Lisa Anderson815-498-2396 128 S. Depot St., Somonauk

Farm Management Sales Trust Asset Management

In the field and in your corner,we can help you get ahead!

Get ahead. Call today!

AGMag_NCentral_November_BC-DeKalb.indd 1 9/29/2014 3:53:38 PM

8

In other words, there simply is nothing left. The restoration of steam machinery is not for the faint of heart. Bringing life to an old traction engine is about bringing joy to the faces of the younger generation, so they may experience a bit of a bygone era.

This is why the Northern Illinois Steam Power Club (NISPC) decided to rehabilitate its 1916 steam tractor, built in the club’s hometown of Sycamore.

In part one of ‘The Troubles with Old Iron,’ from the Fall 2013 issue of this publication, I acquainted readers with the history of the Illinois Thresher Co. of Sycamore, and its founder, William Rumely.

When Steam Traction Engine No. 110 left the factory aboard a railroad flatcar, it was a typical agricultural engine of the time. Now, though, Engine No. 110 is one of only six Illinois Thresher traction engines in existence, and one of only three in operable condition.

That is why it was deemed necessary to rehabilitate the engine after nearly 100 years of use. A full teardown at a machine shop in Naperville countless problems were discovered with the machine. For starters, the engine’s cylinder was so worn out that it was oval-shaped, the main crankshaft had to be completely rebuilt, and the rear axle was bent.

That last discovery opened a window to the machine’s past amongst the restoration group. Back when steam traction engines were used across the United States, they would travel from worksite to worksite. Utilizing the rough-hewn roadways of yesteryear was the only way to travel these distances.

More than a few times, though, the frail wooden bridges that were found on these roads could not support the weight of a lumbering steam tractor, and the resulting bridge collapse would

Paul Andermann pours a stream of molten Babbitt to form bearings for the engines crankshaft. This process has changed little over the past 200 years.


Work continues late into the night as yellow pinstripes are added beneath the beams of floodlights.

cause injuries both to the operators of the engine and the machine itself.

It is theorized that Engine No. 110 was a victim of such an accident, resulting in the bent rear axle. It is unknown whether the operators from that time escaped unharmed. The bend went unnoticed for decades until the machine was parked on the concrete floor of the machine shop, where it was easy to see that the wheels were bent outwards.

There is no way to repair the axle, which will eventually require replacement.

In the winter of 2013, after the engine’s individual components were re-machined and the engine re-assembled, the next step in the rebuild was to pour the Babbitt bearings for the main crankshaft.

Although some of the techniques used in the restoration were as modern as using a 3D printer to make casting patterns, the process of pouring Babbitt bearings has changed little in 200 years. Babbitt bearings are used to surround the crankshaft; the soft metal is easier to replace than an entire iron casting.

As the Babbitt metal was heated to a molten state, the bearing caps of the engine were heated with numerous blowtorches. When the caps reached the correct temperature (about 400 degrees Fahrenheit) the crankshaft was lowered into the desired spot, bearing caps secured, and edges sealed off with a clay-like substance known as “Monkey Stuff.” The molten Babbitt was then poured into the hollow space around the crankshaft, effectively creating brand new bearings using an age old process. Now, the crankshaft is truer than when it came new from the Illinois Thresher Co. 98 years ago.

The day before the beginning of the annual Sycamore Steam Show & Threshing Bee, Engine No. 110 arrived at the show grounds upon a lowboy trailer.

Being able to see the restoration from start to finish was a rewarding feeling. When the freshly painted red wheels touched the soil for the first time, the

dirtiness seemed appropriate. The engine was meant to be covered in mud and soot, not polished, stuffed and mounted on a showroom floor.

Engine No. 110 was home again for the first time in three years.

That night, the final details were addressed in preparation for the morning. Pinstripes were detailed upon the machine, and her newly constructed water bunkers attached to the operator’s platform. The work lasted well past midnight beneath the glow of several floodlights.

Smoke began to pour from the chimney of Engine No. 110 early the next morning. The boiler warmed for the first time in a long time, and the steam pressure gauge’s needle crept groggily up from zero.

Once enough pressure was raised, the engine whirled to life. Success! Engine No. 110 had been reborn, and all of the work seemed worth it as we saw the smiles on the spectators’ faces.

Although problems did arise during the show, resulting in two more late nights, they were soon corrected and the engine performed like it was brand new.

Nothing has ever brought people together more than the spectacle of a working steam engine, and we have ensured that Engine No. 110 will continue to bring people together for another 98 years.

Liam’s love of all things steam began when his parents took him to his first Northern Illinois Steam Power Club show when he was 3. From then on he has been fascinated by and passionate about any type of steam- powered machinery. Liam runs several types of steam machinery for other steam power clubs in Illinois and Wisconsin, including a 1912 Heisler Locomotive and a 1925 Erie Steam Shovel. Engine No. 110 will always be his first love, as it was the engine on which he learned much of what he knows today. Liam is currently a high school senior and plans to study Civil Engineering with a rail systems emphasis beginning in the fall of 2015.



$

SAVE $400 on a pair of 3-Series 30’sor SAVE $150 on one 3-Series 30.

Reserve your appointment time today.

1-815-758-0157 ext. 87-697

INSTANT DISCOUNT COUPON

OFFER EXPIRES

12/15/14

Four hundred dollars and 00/100 400.00Instant Starkey 3 Series discountPAY TO THE ORDER OF:

Amount:

MEMO: Authorized by:

Customer Care Center1300 South 7th StreetDeKalb, IL 60115

Discover OPEN-EAR HEARING –the more natural way to hear!

Dear neighbor,

You, like many others, may want to improve your hearing.

You’d like to stop asking your friends and family members to repeat themselves. You want to listen to TV withoutupsetting others and blaring the TV. You want to follow and understand conversation without exhausting yourself. Youwant to go to restaurants, to meetings or to church and hear and understand what people are saying.

However, you probably don’t want to wear a hearing aid.

Now there is a solution to your dilemma!Introducing Starkey’s lightweight and ultra-discreet Starkey 3-Series 30.

This revolutionary hearing device is unlike traditional unsightly, uncomfortablehearing aids. Its tiny shape fits discreetly over your ear and only an ultra-thintube is visible. A tiny eartip disappears in your ear leaving your ear open.

The “open ear” sound from the Starkey 3-Series 30 provides you with amore natural sound quality. No plugged up feeling. No feeling like you aretalking inside of a barrel. You will enjoy comfortable, natural sound quality the way nature intended!

Most open ear hearing aids on the market today cost well over $2,000. With the attached coupon you canpurchase a pair of Starkey 3-Series 30’s for only $1,099 per ear! But, hurry ... this low price won’t last long.

Sincerely,Keith Taylor, Manager, Customer Care Center

P.S. This special offer is only available at our Customer CareCenter located in DeKalb, Illinois.

Looks good. Feels good.Sounds amazing!

Typicalretail price

$1,800each

Our every daylow price

$1,299eachHurry, offer expires 12/15/14.Not valid with any other offer.

Starkey 3-Series 30Limited

time offer

SAVE $400on a pair of 3-Series 30’s

1300 S 7th Street • DeKalb, IL 60115www.hhecenters.com

©Hearing Help Express®, Inc.

adn

o=0290824


In Illinois and Iowa, known for their high-quality, deep topsoil, cover crops are not used as often as in some other states.

In recent years, however, farmers in DeKalb County have begun using cover crops, with positive results.

Nationally, cover crops, which include cereal rye and clover, are only planted on a small fraction of farmland, but their use is increasing. From 2012 to 2013, cover crop acreage jumped by 38 percent nationally, according to a survey funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Jim Hoorman, a cover crop specialist and professor at Ohio State University, said such crops are gaining steam in Ohio, where state officials are advocating them. He counted the cover crop acreage numbers in multiple Ohio counties, a couple of which are closing in on 10 percent of farmland.

“You have the best soils in the world [in Illinois and Iowa],” Hoorman said. “Guys are happy with their results. We have a lot less organic matter in our soils. We have a lot of heavy clay soils. Guys are worried about compaction and soil structure.”

For more than a half century, farmers have been encouraged to plant cover crops between growing seasons as a way to manage soil erosion, preserve soil fertility and quality, and help ward off diseases.


Some runningto cover crops



Even in areas with great soils, Hoorman said, the need for cover crops will eventually become evident.

“At some point, they won’t have that soil,” he said. “People who are really hurting try to find ways to make it better. Farmers who are struggling tend to find solutions.”

Farmers, he said, should know they can’t plant a cover crop for only a year and see benefits. It takes at least three years, he said.

“I started planting cover crops three years ago, and they planted have helped aerate the soil, loosening it up and making it less tight,” Ben Drake, a farmer in Sycamore, said. “Planting cover crops let the seed come through the soil better in the springtime.”

Drake has planted over 150 of acres of cover crops for three years. He uses airplanes to drop radish seeds into standing fields of corn to penetrate the ground and aerate the soil. Drake does not harvest the radishes that he plants. Instead, he lets winter kill the radishes and plants directly over the cover crop in the spring without doing any tilling.

Mark David, an environmental sciences professor at the University of Illinois, said cover crops are used more as “you get out of mainstream agriculture.”

“When I drive around Illinois, how often do I see green fields [after harvest]? Almost never. Cover crops are not embraced,” he said. “There is a cost to having a cover crop. You have to plant it. You have to kill it in the spring. You have to till it. It’s not something that happens for free. You may get some benefits like less erosion, but it’s hard to make the absolute argument that you should use it.”

It costs about $30 or $40 an acre to plant cover crops, he said.

“Planting cover crops can be rather expensive, especially for not receiving any harvest money,” Drake said. “It’s not inexpensive to do, but there are programs that local soil and water conservation offices offer that help lower the prices.”

Although cover crops can be expensive, Drake said that he will continue to grow them because he has noticed a positive change in his soil’s condition.

The Long-Lasting Benefits of Cover CropsAccording to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) a cover crop can reduce soil erosion by as much as 50 percent. Cover crops keep ground covered, conserve moisture, add organic matter to the soil, trap nutrients, improve soil tilth, and reduce weed competition. Cover crops have also been shown to improve water quality and minimize and reduce soil compaction.

Trent Sanderson, a farmer in Claire, has been using a wide range of cover crops in his corn, soybean, and wheat fields for three years. He uses mixes of radishes, Austrian winter peas, oats, crimson clover, triticale, dwarf rape seed, annual rye grass, and turnips on over 600 acres. He seeds the cover crops together in several different combinations and seeding rates, using different planting methods throughout the year.

“Cover crops help recycle nutrients, add biodiversity to the soil, conserve and promote soil health,” Sanderson said. “All of these things help us be good stewards of the land leaving a legacy to our future generations. Our soils feed our world.”



Frank McConvilleMcConvilleInsurance AgencyMendota & Tonica, IL815-539-9714815-442-3116

Ryan HarveyGonetInsurance AgencyPeru, IL815-223-1782

Richard Bend& Beth WhiteBendInsurance AgencyWaterman, IL815-739-6687

Bart HartauerHartauerInsurance AgencyLaSalle, IL815-223-1795

Mike GonetGonetInsurance AgencyGranville, IL815-339-2411

Alan Peters & Timothy PetersAlan Peters Insurance AgencyLaSalle, IL815-224-3497

Pete MangoldPrincetonInsurance GroupPrinceton, IL815-875-4464

PERU WALTHAM SERVING YOUR HOME& FARM INSURANCE NEEDS SINCE 1878

Visit us online at www.perumutual.comCall an agent today!Suburban . Commercial . Agricultural . Horse Barns & Arenas

Contact Dan Fritts 312. 502. 9585 or Toll Free 800. 558. 7800Quality Buildings Since 1958 waltersbuildings.com

Ask About

Our Winter

Discounts

If it matters to

it matters to us!

DeKalb County

Print - Online - Mobile - TabletCheck us out...

Cover Crop HurdlesOne hurdle for cover crops is that seed companies haven’t done much in the way of breeding them, said Tom Kaspar, an agronomy professor at Iowa State University.

“There’s no incentive or economics for the big seed companies to get involved in cover crops. Right now, we’re using whatever is available. The future of being able to use improved plants designed specifically to be cover crops has a lot of potential that we’re not seeing today. It’s one of those chicken-and-egg things.”

Heinsohn said that one disadvantage to growing cover crops is that they deplete nitrogen in the ground, which can cause a corn crop to suffer if it is not managed.

“It’s easier to follow a cover crop with soybeans because the soybeans are not as susceptible to that early season nitrogen depletion in the soil,” he said.

To combat nitrogen and other nutrient depletion by cover crops, the USDA’s NRCS advises growing long-season crops or a cover crop following a short-season crop, since living roots provide the easiest source of food for soil microbes that provide nutrients and other compounds to the plant.

A Time to Reap, a Time to SowIn Illinois, David said, farmers have a short window for planting cover crops, and they won’t see much growth if they are

planted in November. They are easier to establish in central Illinois than either northern Illinois or Wisconsin, he said.

Last year, Jeff Heinsohn a farmer in Kirkland, planted more than 700 acres of wheat and oats that he harvested to feed his dairy cattle. This year, due to planting late in the spring and harvesting late in the fall, Heinsohn did not plant a cover crop.

“The biggest issue is time,” Heinsohn said. “You have to make sure to plant the cover crop on time, but they are planted in the fall when farmers are usually busy harvesting crops. You need to plant them early enough so that they will have enough vegetation growth to last the winter. …In the spring, another challenge is terminating the cover crop. You have to kill the cover crop early enough and correctly so that there is not too much growth.”

Even though Heinsohn was not able to plant a cover crop this fall, he said that plans to plan Austrian peas next spring.

“I plan on continuing planting cover crops in the spring,” he said. “Cover crops help break down root residue, lead to better water infiltration in the roots, and they help keep microbial life in the soil going. …The benefits of cover crops outweigh the bad.”

• David Giuliani contributed to this article.



Temperatures and rainfall totals have were fairly typical this fall, which has lead to a productive harvest season for farmers in DeKalb County.

“It’s been a pretty normal fall harvest season,” farmer Jeff Wielert said. “It’s been quite nice fall harvest. But weather has definitely been an issue this year.”

Wielert and his wife Kim own Bountiful Blessings Farm Produce in Hinckley. They grow over 35 different vegetables on their farm.

“Everything was about two weeks late this year due to the snow and frost on the ground in spring,” he said. “It was a real good, long growing season, though. The first killing frost occurred after mid-October. ... I remember two years ago, the first frost was in mid-September, killing all of our sweet corn. So this year has been a pretty good year.”

Gilbert Sebenste, a staff meteorologist at Northern Illinois University, said that the weather in September and October was very close to average.

“At times, the heavy rains made it a bit frustrating for farmers, but it was not as horrible as it could have been,” he said.

In DeKalb, the average temperature in September was 62.7 degrees, which is .7 degrees cooler than the 30-year average of 63.4 degrees. The average

Leads to an Above-Average

Harvest

Temperatures and rainfall totals have were fairly typical this fall, which has lead to a productive harvest season for farmers in DeKalb County.


AverageFall Weather



temperature in October was 51.2 degrees, very close to the 30-year average of 51.4 degrees.

During the month of September, DeKalb County received 3.13 inches of rain, which is slightly under the month’s 30-year average of 3.25 inches. The first half of September was quite wet, with over 90 percent of the month’s rainfall total occurring in the first 13 days.

“Farmers usually harvest their crops in September and October,” Sebenste said. “The rainy beginning to September meant that the farmers were off to a slow start. But the dry back half of the month allowed farmers to start catching up.”

The 30-year average of rain for the month of October is 2.85 inches. DeKalb County’s October rainfall totals were considerably under the average amount, with a total of 2.20 inches and only two days of rainfall. October 3 saw 1.4 inches of rain, and 0.8 inches fell on Oct. 14. Sebenste said that areas north of Interstate 39, including Kane and McHenry counties, received much more rain due to large storms that narrowly missed the DeKalb County area.

Although the growing season has come to an end, harvest does not mean the end of work for farmers. Wielert said that there is always some type of work to be done on the farm, even after he has finished harvesting his crops.

“We are constantly doing something in the

greenhouse from February to the end of October,” Wielert said. “During the winter, we plan and advertise for community supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions, order fertilizer, plan crop rotation and tilling, and maintain and winterize equipment. We are already looking at seed catalogs for next year.”

Based on the warm temperatures of ocean waters in the North Pacific, Sebenste predicts a cold and snowy winter similar to last year. Last year was the second coldest and ninth snowiest winter in DeKalb County since record-keeping began in the 1880s. The warm ocean waters in the North Pacific push air north to Siberia. The jet stream then drops southeast to the United States, producing cold weather.

Wielert welcomes the snow, saying that more snow on the ground during winter leads to more moisture in the ground come springtime.

However, he was not happy to hear that DeKalb County is expecting yet another cold winter. The colder temperatures make running greenhouses and keeping them warm more expensive. A dry, cold winter could leave a deep frost that might delay planting in the spring due to low soil temperature.

“There’s not much you can do to prepare for winter, just make sure that you have good drainage and that your soil is tilled properly,” Wielert said. “You have to let it sit. You have to let weather take its course.”



Channel Seed

Seed Treatment Services

Custom Strip-Till

GPS/Mapping Services

Data Management

…and more!

Farmer Trusted.

Family Owned.

27128 Malta Rd. Clare, IL 60111Visit us on the web at: http://SandersonAg.com

Trent, Kurt, Jerry, Dale & Dan

adno

=02

9121

8


By DeKALB COUNTY AG MAG

BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois Corn Marketing Board has seated two returning and three new members to its board.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture recently announced the results of the farmer elections. IDOA Director Robert Flider congratulated the farmers on their election and said that it’s an honor to be chosen by one’s peers.

The farmers elected to ICMB invest corn checkoff dollars as they are assessed and levied at the first point of sale. State law sets the assessment for corn at 5/8 of 1 cent per bushel.

The newly-elected board members will serve three-year terms. New to ICMB are Pat Dumoulin from Hampshire; Mark Wilson from Toulon; and James A. Reed from Monticello.

Dumoulin will represent District 1 which covers Boone, McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall and Will Counties. District 4 will now be represented by Wilson. It covers Whiteside, Lee, Bureau, Stark, Marshall and Putnam Counties. Reed will represent District 7 which encompasses Woodford, McLean, Dewitt, Macon, Piatt and Moultrie Counties.

Incumbents Bill Long of District 10 and Donald Duvall of District 13 will maintain their seats. Long’s district includes Scott, Morgan, Sangamon, Greene, Jersey, Calhoun and Macoupin Counties. District 13 will have Duvall representing Marion, Clay, Richland, Lawrence, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash and White Counties.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board was established in 1982 to manage the voluntary checkoff investment that corn farmers in the state agreed to implement that year. The farmers that make up ICMB are elected by their peers to serve unpaid, three-year terms. The ICMB farmer leaders are tasked with developing and maintaining markets for corn which is Illinois’ highest valued agricultural commodity. Find out more about ICMB at www.ilcorn.org and the family farmers who contribute to the checkoff at www.watchusgrow.org.


Corn marketing board seats 5 members


This Shaw Media publication will be direct

mailed to farmers in DeKalb & Ogle County.

magagDeKalb County

Limited Availability ... reserve your space today.

Contact your sales representive.

Lisa Angel at 815-756-4841 ext: 2236

OR email to: [email protected]

Bill Braksick at 815-756-4841 ext: 2216


Rob Dancey at 815-756-4841 ext: 2251


Dustin Davis at 815-756-4841 ext: 2263


Shawn Lowe at 815-756-4841 ext: 2225


Deadline Date: October 16th Mail Date: November 2013

Dont Miss out on the spring eDition of

Deadline Date: february 16thMail Date: March 2015

DeK

alb M

agazine

Due to

the pub

:11-1-14

4” x 10.25”To

day’s d

ate:O

ctob

er 27, 2014 2:27 PM

Acco

unt Service:

GE

NU

TY

032414P001S

R3

Acco

unt Co

ord

inator:

Art D

irector:

Pro

ductio

n:

Pro

ofing

:

Trait and Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers

Do not export Genuity® Roundup Ready® Alfalfa seed or crop, including hay or hay products, to China pending import approval. In addition, due to the unique cropping practices do not plant Genuity® Roundup Ready® Alfalfa in Imperial County, California, pending import approvals and until Monsanto grants express permission for such planting.

Vistive® Gold soybeans have received full approval for planting in the United States but have not yet received import approval in all key export markets. For 2015, Vistive® Gold soybeans will be available as part of a stewarded introduction only to growers who have signed a 2015 Vistive Gold Soybean Grain Production Grower Agreement and agree to follow the stewardship requirements.

Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state.

IMPORTANT IRM INFORMATION: Genuity® RIB Complete® corn blend products do not require the planting of a structured refuge except in the Cotton-Growing Area where corn earworm is a significant pest. See the IRM/Grower Guide for additional information. Always read and follow IRM requirements.

For more information regarding the intellectual property protection for the seed products identified in this publication, please see www.asgrowanddekalb.com.

Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Tank mixtures: The applicable labeling for each product must be in the possession of the user at the time of application. Follow applicable use instructions, including application rates, precautions and restrictions of each product used in the tank mixture. Monsanto has not tested all tank mix product formulations for compatibility or performance other than specifically listed by brand name. Always predetermine the compatibility of tank mixtures by mixing small proportional quantities in advance. Acceleron and Design®, Asgrow and the A Design®, Asgrow®, Bollgard®, Bollgard II®, DEKALB and Design®, DEKALB®, DroughtGard®, Genuity Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup®, SmartStax®, Vistive®, VT Double PRO® and VT Triple PRO® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Deltapine® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. Channel® and the Arrow Design® and Seedsmanship At Work® are registered trademarks of Channel Bio, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Monsanto Company. 2014R3


adno=0290823

36 | DeKalb County AG MAG | Winter 2014 Winter 2014 | DeKalb County AG MAG | PB

Details of these practices can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. ©2014 Monsanto Company.

dekalb county ag mag winter 2014

Documents

dekalb county ag mag

dekalb monsanto

dekalb county farm bureau

rich history

illinois soybean association

sycamore27 cover crops

series of markers

illinois corn marketing