2011 Harvest Underway
SPRINGFIELD - Although a drive past grain elevators in Eureka, Roanoke and Benson by this reporter on the afternoon of September 9 revealed no farmers unloading harvested grain, the Illinois corn harvest was three percent complete as of September 6, according to last week’s USDA-NASS Illinois Weather & Crops report. “Harvesting has started to pick up in many early planted corn fields,” the report stated. “Yield estimates looked good in some fields, but in others lack of rainfall has resulted in small and unfilled ears.”

The three percent harvested exactly matched the state’s five-year average. Statewide, dented corn was at 88 percent with a maturity level of 33 percent. However, 16 percent of corn was rated as poor and eight percent very poor. Yellowing soybeans were rated at 25 percent with four percent shedding leaves, down from eight percent normally. Just 41 percent of the soybean crop was rated as good.
Topsoil moisture was estimated at 32 percent “very short” and 38 percent “short.” Only 29 percent of topsoil was deemed adequate for growing.

ICGA Seeks Crop Insurance Changes
BLOOMINGTON - The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) recently challenged Congress and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to equalize the performance of the federal crop insurance program across all crops and regions. ICGA has asked Congress to compel RMA to offer increased coverage at reduced subsidy levels and to direct the Agency to establish a minimum loss ratio for each crop at .8, and 1.0 for the overall program. The 4,500-member ICGA would like to see direct payments transitioned into other programs which allow producers to manage risk while assuring food security, while including revenue-based insurance as a component of a safety net comprised of a combination of risk management tools that allow producers to protect themselves against uncontrollable losses.
“Our (insurance) rates are too high,” said Tim Lenz, immediate past president of the ICGA, during a phone call last week. “Corn and soybeans are paying the bill for other crops. The way the statute is written for crop insurance, our loss ratio is supposed to be .0, meaning farmers are supposed to get out what they pay in. In Illinois and the central part of the Corn Belt our loss ratios have run from .3 to .6 on corn and soybeans. Too much emphasis is put on years such as 1988. There were so few acres in the program back then.
“We finally got (RMA) to adjust the ratings a little bit and to finally acknowledge they had too much emphasis on what happened way back then. This will save 10 to 20 percent for Illinois farmers.”
The improvements in the federal crop insurance program made by RMA will kick in next year, said Lenz-- just in time to better protect producers who are expecting drastic cuts in direct payments as part of the 2012 Farm Bill. “Direct payments will be cut in the next farm bill to help balance the federal budget. Corn farmers are okay with that, but crop insurance must be made better,” said Lenz. “We applaud RMA for making improvements farmers will see for the 2012 crop year.”

Soy Seed Availability Questioned
BLOOMINGTON - Fears about soybean seed quality and availability for 2012 are premature, according to Jim Nelson, who coordinates the annual Yield Challenge for the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA). Though heat and drought have taken their toll on the state’s soybean crop, “there is no reason to panic about seed quality or availability for 2012 just yet,” according to Nelson.
While dry weather stress has probably affected Group III maturity varieties 3.0 through 4.0 the most, a sparsity of disease issues in soybeans this season probably indicates seed quality will be unaffected, he said.
Availability should also be a non-issue, Nelson stated, as seed companies cover shortfalls with “built-in cushions.” And because a greater number of seed units are treated today, late rains contributing to thinner seed coats and reductions in germination next year should not be a concern. Though some individual seed varieties may be affected, the overall soybean seed supply should be fine, according to Nelson. (ISA Weekly update)

Time Running Out for Free Groceries
BLOOMINGTON - Over 100,000 have registered to win “Free Groceries for a Year!” while meeting Illinois farmers during Illinois Farm Families’ ambitious public awareness campaign, which was launched on July 5. Those who haven’t yet registered will have until October 2 to do so at www.FarmersFeedUs.com. Entrants are allowed to register up to five times daily after viewing short videos featuring five Illinois farm families explaining how each produces safe, healthy food in the soybean, hog, dairy, beef cattle and corn production industries.
“The first two months of the sweepstakes have been outstanding, because Illinois consumers have taken such an interest in seeing the commitment of Illinois farmers to raising safe, nutritious, affordable food for our families and theirs,” said Deb Moore, a soybean farmer from Roseville. “Additionally, we’ve taken the opportunity through social media and in-person events to answer consumers’ questions about food and farming here in Illinois.”
Two additional prizes are also being offered on the website, including an Illinois Fall Get-Away package and Family Harvest Day package to visit and Illinois farm family for lunch and a combine ride. Illinois Farm Families is also maintaining a presence on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ilfarmfamilies) as well as on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ilfarmfamilies). (Ill. Family Farmers news release)

Illinois Farmers Aid Japanese Relief
BLOOMINGTON - The Illinois Corn Marketing Board, along with the Ill. Soybean Assoc., Ill. Pork Producers Assoc., Grain & Feed Assoc. of Ill. and the Ill. Dept. of Ag have joined together to offer Illinois farmers a method to assist the tsunami-stricken people of Japan by contributing grain to the Red Cross right at their local elevator. To learn more about this unique opportunity to help strengthen Illinois’ ties with agricultural trade partner Japan, see the Illinois Corn Growers’ website at www.ilcorn.org. Search for “Join the Japanese Relief Effort,” posted on September 8.

Illinois Farm Fact:
Illinois soybean farmers played a big role in bringing the LST-325 World War II amphibious vessel to Henry and Peoria this week by partially funding the biodiesel fuel used by the ship via the Illinois soybean checkoff program. (Ill. Soybean Assoc.)

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