Corn Caucus Tabs Gingrich As Ag-Friendly President
BLOOMINGTON - The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) contributed to a recent project sponsored by Iowa corn growers grading presidential candidates on issues important to corn farmers, known as the Corn Caucus Presidential Report Card. Serving as a reference guide to presidential candidates’ agricultural policies, the project solicits and grades agricultural policies via a questionnaire responded to by the candidates or by using candidates’ public policy information.

As reported by the ICGA on December 21, Republican candidate Newt Gingrich topped the overall candidate grade with an “A” rating. Topics included on the survey concerned eight legislative issues important to corn farmers, including ethanol, farm programs, EPA regulations, trade and transportation. Republican candidate Rick Santorum earned an A-minus grade, followed by President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney with “B” grades, respectively. Earning “D” marks were Republican candidate Ron Paul and ex-candidate Herman Cain.
Survey responses are available online at www.iowacorn.org/corncaucus. (ICGA Daily Update)

Illinois Wine Industry to be Measured
SPRINGFIELD - In order to assess the current size and scope of Illinois’ grape and wine industry, the Illinois Filed Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct a statewide census of vineyards and wineries beginning in early January. Working in conjunction with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, NASS will mail some 500 questionnaires next month, followed by a second mailing in early February. NASS announced they will follow up with personal interviews at selected sites during the month of March.
NASS-Illinois said the study’s purpose is to increase “competitiveness of specialty crops.” It serves as a follow-up to a similar study conducted in 2007. Growers with questions about the survey are encouraged to call the NASS-Illinois Field Office at (800) 622-9865 and ask for David Ward. (NASS-Illinois news release)

Pork Producers Announce Convention Agenda
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) will bring their annual Pork Expo back to the Peoria Civic Center January 31 and February 1, though their popular banquet honoring the state’s top farmers will be held across the river at Four Points Sheraton in East Peoria due to the renovation of Peoria’s Hotel Pere Marquette. Expo chairman Pam Janssen, a pork producer from Minonk, said the temporary change of venue reflects the new, modern look the Pork Expo has sported for the past two years.
“The new Expo format over the last two years has been great! And now another change...we are calling the Four Point Sheraton our new headquarters for 2012. You don’t want to miss all the great speakers, great exhibitors and great friends at this year’s Expo,” stated Janssen.
Speakers and topics announced for Wednesday, February 1, include Dan McManus of Land O’ Lakes (Vitamin D Deficiency in Pigs), large animal veterinarian Dr. Larry Coleman (Exceeding 30 P/S/Y: Less Science, More Leadership), Brett Stuart, Global AgriTrends (Global Pork Update & Outlook), Joe Kerns, International AgriBusiness Group (Not in My Backyard: Looking Beyond our Borders in the Industry) and keynoter Emery Morehead, a former Super Bowl champion with the 1985-86 Chicago Bears. In addition, Jeff Holste, Illinois EPA inspector, will inform producers “What to Expect From an Ill. EPA Visit,” and Jim Kaitschuk, IPPA executive director, will follow up with more on preparing for a successful IEPA visit.
A purebred seed stock and showpig symposium will also be held Feb. 1, led by newly-retired Illinois Dept. of Agriculture director Tom Jennings with an Illinois State Fair update. Other topics include joint infections in showpigs, fat pockets and flank swelling, and drug residue testing for exhibition. For more information on the Expo and an opportunity to register visit www.ilpork.com.

ISA to Study Transportation Issues
BLOMINGTON - With transportation issues including rail, highway and maritime infrastructure repair affecting all of agriculture, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) announced they will host a Strategic Soy Transportation Solutions Focus Group on January 17. Though the ISA has not announced the participants for the round table at press time, transportation coalitions and agricultural organizations will be invited to share perspectives and to help ISA develop a strategic transportation plan. Discussion topics may include containerization, weight limits, infrastructure, sustaining product quality and identifying efficient and cooperative means of shipping. Those wishing to participate in the round table may contact the ISA’s Nancy Gargano at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by January 10. (ISA Weekly Update).

Illinois Hogs, Pigs Report Issued
SPRINGFIELD - The amount of hogs and pigs on Illinois farms rose five percent from December 1, 2010, to 4.6 million head, according to the NASS-Illinois Field Office’s Hogs and Pigs Report. Breeding hogs were estimated at 480,000 head, steady with last year, while market hogs also registered a five percent increase, to 4.12 million head.
2.48 million pigs were counted in Illinois during the quarter of Sept.-Nov., down slightly from last year’s count. 250,000 sows farrowed, or four percent less than last year. An average of 9.9 pigs were saved from each litter, up from 9.6 during the same quarter of 2010. Producers intend to farrow 245,000 sows during the Dec.-Feb. 2012 quarter, down 5,000 from last year, according to the report.
The Dec. 1 U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs was 65.9 million head, up two percent from last year at this time but down one percent from September’s inventory.

Illinois Farm Fact:
In 2011, the row width of corn for grain in Illinois averaged 30 inches, down 0.2 inches from the row width recorded in 2010. Correspondingly, Illinois farmers broke the 2010 record for plants per acre with 30,400, and 2009 record for ears per acre with 29,550. (NASS-Illinois 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.)