EPA Rolls Out E15 Labeling
BLOOMINGTON - Illinois’ largest organization for corn producers is lauding the EPA’s newly-released E15 label for gasoline pumps, while expressing concern that information on the label could mislead the public regarding ethanol’s suitability for older vehicles.

“The E15 label released today shows that the U.S. EPA really listened to the comments of U.S. farmers and ethanol producers as they created the label. It is a label that informs instead of instills fear,” commented Jim Reed, president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. “We appreciate the U.S. EPA’s participation in the public comment process, weighing the comments of all interested parties and creating a label that ultimately benefits our country as a whole.”
Reed, a farmer from Monticello, continued that once the public is introduced to E15 at the pump, consumers will see the price benefits of ethanol-blended gasoline. The ICGA issued a statement declaring that farmers question the arbitrary cutoff date for E15 use and do not agree that E15 will harm older vehicles, as the EPA label states. (ICGA News Release)

Pork Producers Envision Future
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) will hold their annual Visioning Session July 19 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ill. Corn Growers Association office in Bloomington. The meeting will allow IPPA staff to update farmers on current programs and allow attendees the opportunity to to discuss their goals and priorities. The input will help shape IPPA’s 2012 budget.
Two guest speakers, Tom Hebert, an environmental consultant with the National Pork Producers Council, and Dr. Chad Hart, Iowa State University Extension economist, have been booked for the event, according to Mike Haag, IPPA president.“To make the best use of producers’ time, we are offering two excellent educational seminars, along with the input session, plus attendees can participate in a special pork promotion that IPPA is sponsoring at the Normal CornBelters baseball game,” Haag stated.
Those attending the visioning session will be given free tickets the game, along with food and beverages as part of the IPPA’s “Pork Power” outreach program to take place at the game the evening of July 19. (IPPA News Release)

Spring Rains Manifest in Statewide Pooling
SPRINGFIELD - The week of June 21-27 brought little relief to farmers affected by flooded or pooled crop fields, with an average statewide precipitation of 1.66 inches, or .75 inches above normal, according to the June 27 Illinois Weather & Crops report issued by the NASS-Illinois Field Office.
Spring’s heavy rains are taking their toll on many crop fields across Illinois in the form of excess topsoil moisture, making pooled water in crop fields a significant problem for farmers-- including many in the Tri-County area. Topsoil moisture levels topped 90 percent in one district in southern Illinois, according to Brad Schwab, director of the NASS-Illinois Field Office.
“Just last week, topsoil moisture (averaged) two percent short, 38 percent adequate and 60 percent surplus (statewide). A lot of the state’s soils have been in that surplus category throughout most of the spring, especially in the southern part of the state. There is certainly standing water in those areas (that are) reporting surplus topsoil moisture,” Schwab commented during a phone call last week.
He added that 60 percent average topsoil moisture in Illinois in late June “is a really high number,” led by the southeast district’s report of 90 percent surplus topsoil moisture. Also reporting extremely high topsoil moisture were the state’s west district (86 percent) and west-southwest district (83 percent). The state’s northwest (30 percent) and east (33 percent) districts reported the lowest average topsoil moisture estimates.

Illinois Farm Families Launch “Farmers Feed Us”
BLOOMINGTON - Illinois Farm Families-- consisting of the Illinois Soybean Association, Ill. Corn Marketing Board, Ill. Farm Bureau, Ill. Pork Producers Assoc. and the Ill. Beef Assoc.-- launched their “Farmers Feed Us” campaign on July 5. Featuring a sweepstakes for consumers with a grand prize of free groceries for a year, the promotion allows consumers to take a virtual tour of a farm to learn more about all facets of animal and row crop agriculture in Illinois.
As part of the 90-day campaign ending on October 2, advertisements featuring Illinois family farmers will be placed in media and in County Market grocery stores. Additional prizes include an Illinois Fall Getaway to a bed-and-breakfast and a Family Harvest Day with an Illinois farm family including lunch and a ride in a combine. Go to www.watchusgrow.com to take the virtual farm tour and enter to win. (Ill. Soybean Assoc. Weekly Update)

FMCSA Extends Comment Period
BLOOMINGTON - The Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA) announced last week that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the public comment period pertaining to the applicability of FMCSA regulations for operators of certain farm vehicles and off-road agricultural equipment from June 30 to August 1. Instructions on how to submit comments can be found on the IFCA’s website, www.ifca.com, or by calling Jean or Kevin at the IFCA office in Bloomington.

Illinois Farm Fact:
Corn planted in Illinois this year is estimated at 12.5 million acres, down 300,000 acres from the March Prospective Plantings report and 100,000 acres less than last year’s plantings. An estimated 8.9 million acres of soybeans have been planted in Illinois, down 200,000 acres from the March prospective report and by the same amount from last year’s plantings, according to NASS-Illinois’ June Acreage and Grain Stocks Report issued June 30.


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