Hog Farm Opens Near Utica
UTICA - It is not very often these days that you hear about a new grow-to-finish swine farm opening in central Illinois, and even more rare when it is supported by neighbors and regional officials. But that’s exactly what happened during an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 25th for John and Kate Hagenbush’s two new, 2,400 head swine barns near Utica in LaSalle County.

Representatives of the Illinois Pork Producers Association and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) joined more than 250 neighbors, rural residents and others who were treated to a tour of the new buildings and a pork chop sandwich lunch hosted by the LaSalle County Farm Bureau.
“The new hog farm will bring additional economic activity to our local economy,” said Kate Hagenbuch, who along with John is raising three young children. “We will also be adding additional tax revenue to the county, of which a large portion will go to the Mendota High School district.”
El Paso farmer and ISA secretary Rob Shaffer attended the ceremony. “We’re (happy) about for their community because we know a thriving livestock sector not only helps ensure a market for our soybeans, it’s also good for our local and state economies,” said Shaffer, whose ISA works closely with Illinois’ pork and cattle industries. “(The Hagenbuchs) planned proactively, reached out to their neighbors, informed the local papers, and asked their commodity organizations, including the ISA, for help early on in the process.”
Pigs will enter the Hagenbuch’s operation weighing 50 pounds and will be housed until reaching market weight of 275 pounds, according to the IPPA. (ISA, IPPA news releases)

Ackerman Farms Featured on Cooking Show
MORTON - Ackerman Farms, home of John “Pumpkin King” and wife Eve Ackerman, played host to a Canadian Food Network film crew for five days in October while the crew filmed a segment featuring pumpkin-based foods. Lead chef Lynn Crawford of the Shaw Media production “Pitchin’ In” and her five-person film crew arrived in Morton on Sunday, October 16-- just in time to shoot footage of the final rounds of Morton’s famous Punkin’ Chuckin’ competition to be featured along with their filmed visit to Ackerman Farms, 27158 U.S. Highway 150, just east of Morton.
When the crew arrived at the farm, known for its many exotic and domestic varieties of pumpkins, Chef Crawford was assigned a list of chores, as per the custom of the show, by John Ackerman. “Chef Crawford asked if she could work for me for a couple of days to learn the ins and outs of the pumpkin business. In return she prepared us a pumpkin-based feast,” Ackerman said. “She didn’t get off easy. She had to do some of the hard jobs such as lifting and loading pumpkins in the field, washing pumpkins, and scooping and spreading manure.”
The feast prepared by Crawford included pumpkin shell with lobster bisque, lobster salad with shaved “black futsu” pumpkin, and a ham-based main course that featured a maple pumpkin glaze. Dessert was a toffee-accented pumpkin cheesecake pie. “All of it was made in our kitchen,” said Ackerman. “The whole experience was fun and educational.”
Pitchin’ In is being picked up by an American food network for distribution, but no air date has been announced for the episode (13 of season three) featuring the crew’s visit to Morton and Ackerman Farms. We’ll let you know when we find out!

Soil Temps Key to N Applications
BLOOMINGTON - Illinois Corn and the Ill. Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA) have issued Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the fall application of nitrogen fertilizers to farm fields, advising producers it is still too early in the season to apply N according to the state soil temperature map. The map is accessible through the IFCA website (www.ifca.com).
“The temptation is certainly there, but the truth of the thermometer remains. It’s too early in the season to apply (N) if you are following (BMPs),” advises Illinois Corn, in a statement featured in their Corn Scoops e-newsletter last week. “Compromising the integrity of the industry at this point could very well compromise fall applied N for everyone in Illinois. Users should be aware that soil temperature fluctuations during the fall may result in periods with soil temperatures below the accepted threshold for N application followed by an extended period with soil temperatures above the accepted threshold. Therefore, users are advised to be aware of both the current soil temperature and short-to-long-term weather forecasts.”
The 24th edition of the Ill. Agronomy Handbook recommends waiting until the daily maximum soil temperature reaches 50 degrees, according to the IFCA, whose “Keep it for the Crop by 2025” (KIC) nutrient stewardship program recommends fall applied anhydrous ammonia be stabilized before application. Stabilization reduces nitrification and protects against nitrate leaching losses, the IFCA noted. For more info on proper N applications, visit www.KIC2025.org. (Ill. Corn, IFCA news)

Speakers Set For Corn & Soy Classics
URBANA - Program details have been announced for the 2012 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classics series, which includes a Monday, January 16 stop at the Bloomington DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center. The format for the Classics will embrace crop production, pest management and economics and will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 3 p.m., according to Aaron Hager, a weed specialist for the U of I. Hager will present “Move Over Waterhemp-- Make Way for Palmer Amaranth” during the series’ seven January stopovers across Illinois.
Other speakers and topics announced include Richard Cooke (“It’s Still About Yields: Developments in Drainage in Illinois”), Gary Schnitkey (“Evaluating Rotation and Other Factors that Impact Profitability and Risk”), Carl Bradley (“Wilts, Sport, Blights and Streaks: Old and Emerging”), Mike Gray (“Insect Surveys in Producers’ Corn And Soybean Fields: What Did We Learn?”), Fabian Fernandez (“Measuring Soil Fertility the Right Way”) and Emerson Nafziger (“Fixing What Ails Continuous Corn”).
Registration information is available at www.cropsciconferences.org/ or by phoning (800) 321-1296. (U of I news release)

Illinois Farm Fact:
Corn and soybean harvests in Illinois were ahead of schedule as of October 23, 2011, with 79 percent of corn harvested (five-year average: 63 percent) along with 84 percent of the state’s soybeans (74 percent five-year avg.). (USDA-NASS/Ill. Field Office)

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