Free Glyphosate Resistance Test Offered
BLOOMINGTON - The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is utilizing checkoff funding to offer free testing of waterhemp samples for resistance to glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup and other herbicides), PPO inhibitors and ALS inhibitors. Waterhemp samples should be collected after the application of glyphosate.

Pat Tranel, University of Illinois professor of weed science, recommends that five samples of waterhemp plants still standing after glyphosate application should be collected for testing. Newly-emerged, healthy top-leaves from each plant should be sealed in separate plastic, zip-locked, sandwich-sized bags and submitted to Dr. Chance Riggins, 320 ERMI, 1201 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, 61801.
Tranel recommends sending the samples the same day they are cut, accompanied with contact information and the location of the field. Because this is a free service, time frames for responses are not offered. (ISA Weekly Update)

Peoria Area Farmers Wait for Rain
GLASFORD - With corn plants silking, many farmers across the state are worried that further drought-like conditions might greatly compromise their yields. Gary Rosenbohm, who farms with his son, Brett, in southern Peoria County and northern Fulton County, said on Thursday, July 21, that though his crops are “looking okay,” area fields will need to see some substantial rain in the next week to prevent further yield losses.
“Our corn is definitely going to lose some yield this week, but how much I don’t know. Our beans still have more time, but we’re going to need rain here in the next week and, hopefully, the hot weather will ease up,” Rosenbohm said. “Most of the corn looks good in our area right now, though.”
The Glasford-area farmer and his son spent the latter part of last week supervising the aerial application of fungicide to their corn and soybean fields, as many of the Rosenbohm’s farmer-neighbors did earlier in the week. “We’re trying to make a good crop better. I think we’re going to have a good crop, but whatever the good Lord wants to give us I guess we’ll take,” Rosenbohm said.
Rosenbohm described his farmland as a “garden spot” boasting highly-erodible timber soil that has been planted no-till for 30 years. “The timber soils in our area are probably the best we’ve ever seen right now. It’s unusual,” Rosenbohm added, “but we still have got to have some rain.”

ISA Recruiting for Soy Leader Task Force
BLOOMINGTON - Young adults who are passionate about the Illinois soybean industry are being sought by the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) for their new Soy Leader Task Force, the organization announced on July 20. The task force is being established “to engage the next generation of farmers and meet membership goals,” according to the ISA. The Soy Leaders, under the direction of Jason and Tasha Bunting, will help recruit new members for the ISA by participating in soy-related events throughout the state.
Also on July 20, the ISA announced they are establishing a corporate affiliate membership program directed towards businesses supported by Illinois soybean farmers. Seed companies, farm machinery dealers and grain elevators are among the first to be considered for the program. “By joining ISA, these companies and organizations will help protect the rights of their clients who are soybean farmers while making an investment in their own futures,” the ISA stated. More information about both programs can be found at the ISA website, www.ilsoy.org. (ISA Weekly Update)

IFCA in DC This Week: NPDES at Issue
BLOOMINGTON - A phone conversation with Jean Payne, president of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), late last week revealed that she and five IFCA members were about to embark on a multi-day business trip to Capitol Hill to visit with legislators about the importance of HR 872-- which eliminates the requirement for farmers to acquire an NPDES permit to apply pesticides on their waters-- to farmers and the fertilizer and chemical industries.
“We plan to visit with as many legislators as we can about this issue,” Payne told R.F.D. News & Views. “This is a very key issue to our membership and to Illinois farmers.”
HR 872, while passing the U.S. House by a significant majority, is experiencing roadblocks in the Senate, according to an IFCA “Items of Interest” e-mailing. The statement explains that two senators, both Democrats, have “joined forces” to block a Senate vote on HR 872.
“They claim the bill will weaken water quality protections. The truth is that HR 872 only eliminates the need to get two licenses to apply pesticides, and the applicator must still adhere to the label and only pesticides labeled for aquatic use can be used in waters,” reads the IFCA e-mailing, in part. “As usual, even the most simple and common sense measures get spun into rhetoric and dosed with fear-mongering in D.C.”
The bill is IFCA’s highest priority at this moment, according to Payne, who planned to be in D.C. during the early part of this week.

Fertilizer Costs May Rise in 2012
URBANA - The UoI ag producer website farmdoc.edu reports that in its July 7 report, the Agricultural Market Service (AMS) has predicted that costs for fertilizers in 2012 may eclipse prices paid by producers this year and in 2010, but will fall short of the exorbitant prices paid in 2009. According to the report, fall delivery contract prices for anhydrous ammonia will fetch $814 per ton, while Diammonium Phosphate will reach $688 per ton. Potash will sell for $627 per ton, the report stated. On high productivity farmland, fertilizer costs will average $162 per acre, according to the AMS.
A detailed analysis of the report can be accessed at http://www.farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2011/07/forward_contract_delivery_pric_1.html. (Ill. Farm Bureau News Service report)

Illinois Farm Fact:
As of July 15, retail prices for U.S. pork are averaging a record $3.35 per pound, up 14 percent from $2.93 per pound in early 2010. (Purdue University)


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