A SPECIAL

PUBLICATION OF THE

s i d e :
SPRING 2017
InPhotos of

FARM
amilies
Farm F Year
of the 017
1993 - 2

&FIELD CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

Farm Family
of the Year
The Starr family
demonstrates commitment
to community and agriculture

Ag Educator Agribusiness Politics, prices, Growers look

of the Year: of the Year: policy among to science
Mike Roegge U.S. Wellness farmers’ to bolster
Meats challenges margins
INSIDE
4 Meet the Starrs
The 2017 Farm Family
FARM
&FIELD
of the Year

6 In the
community
Starrs see value in
community projects

8 Meet the judges

A look at how judges
selected the Farm

A
Family of the Year
n old adage tells us that the more They’re not the only Farm Families we are rec-

10 They mean
business
U.S. Wellness Meats’
“leap of faith” pays off
things change, the more they stay ognizing in this silver anniversary publication. We
the same.
So while farming practices
change and the livestock land-
also take a look back at the previous 24 families we
honored.
For the first time, too, Farm & Field is recogniz-
scape evolves, it’s not the least bit ing the Agribusiness of the Year and the Ag Educa-

10 Ag educator
Mike Roegge
loves being paid
to learn
surprising that agriculture still is a powerhouse
industry in West-Central Illinois and Northeast
Missouri.
Our annual Farm & Field publication is a recog-
tor of the Year in the same publication. They’re
both deserving winners with strong and long com-
mitments to agriculture and its consumers.
This recognition, of course, isn’t all that Farm &
nition of that industry and the people Field is about. We also take a look at

14 Expanding
education
Schools help students
prepare for careers
behind it.
Twenty-five years ago, The Herald-
Whig decided to recognize the efforts
of an area farm family as part of an
many of the issues farmers face today.
In these pages, you can read about
how area high schools are introduc-
ing the high-tech aspects of agricul-
in agriculture annual special section that focused ture to students and how farmers
on agriculture and its roots in our continue to improve their efforts to be

16 Rise to the
challenge
Farmers prepare for
struggles expected
community. This year, that tradition
continues, though in a different for-
mat. We offer this publication for the
first time as a magazine, bringing the
good stewards — and good neighbors.
With spring planting not far away,
we are reminded of the words of the
legendary Willie Nelson, who said,
in the year ahead benefit of better quality and longer- “As long as there’s a few farmers out
lasting recognition of our annual there, we’ll keep fighting for them.”

19 Thinking
generationally
Efforts hope to
continue push for
Farm Family of the Year.
Still, though, we sought a fam-
ily that rented or owned a grain,
livestock or grain-livestock farm, that
Ron Wallace
Vice President/
G eneral Manager
We all should take a moment to
stop and appreciate the commitment
shown by farmers and farm families.
National Agriculture Day falls on
sustainable farming involved one or more generations, used conserva- March 21, so introduce yourself to a farmer and
tion practices on the farm and was active in the say, “thank you.” You will eat well tonight because

21 Tough market
Tight margins on crops
are expected in 2017
community or farm-related organizations.
Selecting a single family is a difficult task each
year for a panel of judges, who look for families
who are successful on and off the farm. But just
of them.
We’re glad you’re joining us as we highlight the
vibrant and varied impact agriculture has in the
region.

23 Weed control
A new herbicide
is available to
soybean farmers
selecting a winner helps those in agriculture “to
educate people on what family farming is and how
these families contribute to their local economies,”
one of this year’s judges said.
And to farmers and producers near and far,
thank you.

This year we congratulate our 25th annual hon-

24 Balancing act
Making money in
livestock takes some
careful choices
orees, the Starr family of Hancock County.

27 Fair trade Published by EXECUTIVE EDITOR STAFF WRITERS COPY DESK

Many are concerned by Don Crim, 221-3361 Matt Dutton SUPERVISOR
possible changes to U.S.
The Herald-Whig dcrim@whig.com Steve Eighinger Nancy Hadler, 221-3371
130 S. Fifth, Quincy, IL 62301 Matt Hopf nhadler@whig.com
foreign trade policy Phone: 217-223-5100 NEWS EDITOR Deborah Gertz Husar
Fax: 217-221-3395 Jason Lewton, 221-3321 DESIGN

30
Edward Husar
Celebrating jlewton@whig.com Ashley Szatala Cody Bozarth
25 years VICE PRESIDENT/
PRODUCTION Doug Wilson Andrew Drea
A look back at Farm GENERAL MANAGER Ben Levin
Ron Wallace, 221-3381 MANAGER
Family of the Year Karen Hull, 221-3380 PHOTOGRAPHY
rwallace@quincyinc.com Phil Carlson
winners of the past khull@whig.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Michael Kipley
Tom Van Ness, 221-3309 Jake Shane
tvanness@whig.com

2 FARM&FIELD Th e h er al d -w h ig
Wo rk ing t o g

The Starr family, from left, Matthew Starr, holding Evan Starr, Lester Starr, Gene
Henderson, Dean and Marge Starr, seated, Ron and Patti Starr, standing, Susan
Starr, Kaitlyn Starr and Abigail Starr pose in front of a 1931 Rumley 6 tractor at the
family’s farm in Hancock County. H-W Photo/Jake Shane

4 FARM&FIELD Th e h er al d -w h ig
g et h er Starrs’ commitment to farm,
community makes them
Farm Family of the Year
| By Deborah Gertz Husar
dhusar@whig.com
S
even-year-old
Kaitlyn Starr has
it all figured out.
She wants to
be a farmer like
her dad, a banker
like her mom and a teacher.
Farming was the choice
for her dad Matthew, follow-
ing in the footsteps of four
generations of the Starr fam-
ily and paving the way for
his children — Kaitlyn, Abi-
gail and Evan —
to be the sixth
generation of “Farms are
the family on
the farm north
big enough
of Hamilton. that none of
“I bring them
to the farm ev-
us farm by
ery chance I get ourselves
just to help them
learn to like it,” anymore.
Matthew said. We have to
“I don’t know
that any of them be working
will want to do
that part of it,
together,
but I intend that cooperating
they’ll have the
opportunity.”
more.”
The commit-
ment to farming
and to commu-
nity made the Starrs stand
out as the 2017 Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the Year.
“The Starr family stands
out among others in the way
they have selflessly been
involved and continue to be
involved in their communi-
ties,” the nomination said.
“It is obvious that they were
brought up learning to give
back to the communities and
the agricultural industry that
have made them so success-
ful.”
Matthew farms with his
parents, Ron and Patti Starr,
his uncle Gene Henderson
and seasonal help from his
grandfather Dean Starr and
great-uncle Lester Starr. They
raise corn, soybeans and pigs
on farmland they rent and
own in Hancock County.
“We always looked at it
as we needed to grow so it
didn’t become the business
Th e h er al d -w h ig FARM&FIELD
of my grandfather,” Ron said.
Maintaining success on
the farm takes a good busi-
ness plan, borrowed capital,
a desire to change and, above
all, a willingness to work
together.
“You have to be able to
work with family members,
which is different than
working with employees
or bosses,” Matthew said.
“Potentially you could have
a bad day at work and two
hours later go to a restaurant
with the same people. I’m not
going to say I
haven’t yelled at
anybody before
or been upset,
but we realize it
has to work for
a long period of
time.”
The younger
generation
needs to respect
the experience
of their older
counterparts,
while the
older generation
needs to accept
new ideas or
take a risk on
Ron Starr the next genera-
tion.
“What really
helps is sometimes to say,
‘You were right. I apologize,’ ”
Matthew said. “If you have a
value on the whole opera-
tion working in the end, you
swallow your pride.”
Taking pride
The family takes pride in
its farming history.
After living near Bentley
for several years, Matthew’s
great-great-grandfather
George moved to Sonora
Township in 1912 and rented
a farm.
By 1924, he bought the
farm where Matthew’s par-
ents live.
Matthew, his wife Susan
and their three children live
a mile away on another of
the family’s farms.
“I sometimes put 4 miles on
my truck if I go home for lunch
Co n tin u e s o n 6
5
Co n tin u e s FRO m 5
and come back,” Matthew said.
“My dad gave me the opportu-
nity to farm. I took it and enjoyed
it. I’ve been blessed,” Ron said.
“He also wanted me to go to col-
lege as we did with Matthew and
look at other options, but I never
worked off the farm.”
Like his father, Matthew
always wanted to farm, but after
graduating from the University
of Illinois, he spent five years
working at Dow Agrisciences “as
close to farming as I could be” in
the corporate world.
“I got to the point where if I
stayed much longer, it would
have been hard to leave,” Mat-
thew said.
Family conversations brought
him back to the farm in 2007, but
the time away provided valuable
perspective, along with skills, for
Matthew — and the rest of the
family.
“It was an opportunity for
him to grow up and to grow up
in our eyes,” Ron said. “It was
important for him to have that
transition.”
Matthew came back to the
farm just after his grandfather
and great-uncle stopped day-to-
day farming, stepping into what
his mother said is not just a job.
“It’s a lifestyle, a culture. It’s
Starrs ‘see the value’ in community efforts
Family members have served on public boards, in agricultural organizations
| By Deborah Gertz Husar
dhusar@whig.com
T
he Starr fam-
ily’s commitment
reaches beyond
the farm to their
Hancock County
community.
Just as his dad Ron and
grandfather Dean did, Matthew
Starr serves as president of the
Hamilton School Board. He’s in-
volved with the Hancock County
Farm Bureau and active in
Western Illinois Pork Producers
and Western Illinois Threshers,
while Ron serves on the Sonora
Township Board and the board
of a cooperative sow center.
The reason is simple.
“Somebody has to do it,” Mat-
thew said. “If you want some-
thing to be the way you think it
ought to be done, you should be
6 FARM&FIELD
being together,” said Patti, who
transitioned to farm life after
growing up in Naperville.
“Urban, off-farm people don’t
understand what farming really
is today. We need to encourage
people to understand our way of
life,” she said.
Machinery horsepower
Farms that once relied on
horses now use machinery
horsepower. At harvest time, “we
can do in an hour what it took
my grandfather to do in 20 days.
We can shell 2,000 bushels an
hour. A very good hand corn-
picker could do 100 bushels a
day of ear corn, which still had
to be scooped into the crib and
shelled. Ours is shelled and in
the truck,” Ron said.
“Farmers used to farm because
there weren’t a lot of other jobs
available. You lived and died,
failed or were successful on your
own,” Ron said. “Farms are big
enough that none of us farm by
ourselves anymore. We have to
be working together, cooperating
more.”
In the early years of Ron and
Patti’s marriage, they raised pigs
in the timber, farrowing outside
and sitting up at night making
sure coyotes didn’t steal the
baby pigs.
Today they’re part of a cooper-
part of it. One way is to get your
voice heard, and that’s be at the
table.”
But just as important for both
men is mirroring what they’ve
seen others do.
“Not everybody grows up see-
ing that as a thing that should be
done, but because we did, it kind
of impresses on you a way you
should follow too. You see the
value in it,” Matthew said.
“Once you become rooted in
the community with farmland,
you stick with it,” Ron said. “You
have an interest in making your
community better because you
have children and now grand-
children growing up and are
going to be there if the next
generation takes an interest in
farming.”
Being involved in the com-
munity also adds the interaction
with others that can be lost on
ative producing baby pigs, which
they then raise and market on
their own.
“It’s changed drastically, but
it’s better for us as producers,
better for the pig individually
and actually better for the envi-
ronment,” Patti said.
“The consumer also gets a
more consistent product,” Ron
said. “Retailers, and, ultimately,
the consumer, wanted a consis-
tent product.”
Both father and son under-
stand the value of working
smart, not just working hard.
“I can work hard, but if I don’t
make good decisions, it will
gobble me up,” Ron said. “I can
produce 200-bushel corn, but if I
don’t market it well, I don’t make
any money.”
Conservation is key
Working smart also means
focusing on conservation efforts.
“We have spent a lot of time
improving the properties we
have, to make them as good as
can be,” Ron said. “We’ve done a
lot of conservation work, a lot of
drainage work, waterways and
filter strips to try to make what
we do have as productive as pos-
sible. When you didn’t have the
opportunity to expand, you did
better with what you had.”
Technology helps the pair do
the farm.
“You don’t have a workplace
with five, 25 or 105 people gath-
ered together. You have to work
on relationships,” Ron said. “Just
meeting other people — build-
ing friendships — is a big benefit
of getting involved whether at
church, township or School
Board.”
Especially in rural areas with
smaller populations, neighbors
have close ties — and often
shared interests.
“When you see a group that
needs help or is doing a good job
for the community, you want to
encourage that because that’s
opportunities for your family
and your neighbors,” Matthew’s
mother Patti said.
Patti’s latest project hopes to
preserve a piece of the past, the
circa-1884 Bolton Barn built
by her husband’s great-great-
a better job of soil testing and
fertilizing. “We’re treating the
soil the way each particular tract
needs to be,” Ron said.
“That comes from Grandpa a
little bit. His philosophy always
has been leave it better than you
found it,” Matthew said.
Things slow down slightly
on the farm in January and
February and usually again in
August, which offers opportuni-
ties to catch up on projects, but
the rest of the year often means
long days balanced with as much
family time as possible, usually
in the mornings instead of the
evenings.
“It does still take a level of
dedication, especially for live-
stock guys. It’s twice a day, every
day, seven days a week. Not all of
us have to be here, but the sched-
ule is arranged so somebody is
here on the weekends,” Matthew
said.
“If you’re going to be suc-
cessful, you have to make hay
when the sun shines. We don’t
make hay anymore, but when
the weather’s right for harvest,
we have pushed pretty hard. We
have lights. We have our own
storage system here. It’s not like
the elevator closes and we have
to quit, but we have to do this
again tomorrow, the next day,
the next week,” Ron said. n
grandfather Alexander Bolton.
The Starrs hope to move the
mortise-and-tenon barn to the
Western Illinois Threshers
grounds north of Hamilton to
educate people on farming’s past
and serve as a venue for wed-
dings and other special events.
Patti has raised more than
half of the money needed for the
project, with her husband and
son providing much of the labor
to take down and store the barn.
“Both of us kind of like old
barns. You see so many have lost
their purpose on the farm today,
so the opportunity to preserve
this one is good,” Ron said.
“Our hope is to have something
there by August when Thresh-
ers has their 50th,” he said. “I
don’t anticipate it being up and
finished, but I hope something is
showing up to make it look like
the project is still moving.” n
Th e h er al d -w h ig
How we picked the Farm Family of the Year
Judges cite community involvement in choosing 2017 honorees
Choosing just a single farm family of the
year is never an easy task.
This year’s judges — Natural Resources
Conservation Service district conservationist
Mitch Krueger (Marion and Shelby counties),
University of Missouri Extension livestock
specialist Daniel Mallory (Ralls County),
Adams County Farm Bureau Manager Shawn
Valter, Farm Service Agency Executive Direc-
tor Tom Weisenborn (Pike County, Ill.) and
Herald-Whig staff writer Deborah Gertz Krueger Mallory Valter Weisenborn Husar
Husar — say the Matthew Starr family stood
out because of a commitment to agriculture Weisenborn said. communities.”
and to the community. Simply recognizing a farm family beneÿts One family’s success on the farm may serve
“There’s a lot of community involvement those involved in agriculture — and those who as an inspiration to others.
there, good history of being on different aren’t. “If we can highlight things one operation is
boards and involved in the community. I re- “It speaks a message of conservation, doing, what they did, how they made it work,
ally like that part of it,” Krueger said. community involvement and lets our non-ag maybe we can improve other operations in the
Judges emphasized the need to select a rep- neighbors, partners and friends know what area as well,” Mallory said.
resentative family from West-Central Illinois we’re doing and how we’re trying to conserve “The reason people are in farming is it’s a
and Northeast Missouri. natural resources and produce a product,” way of life. They’re not doing it for recognition,
“We’ve gotten so far away from ag as con- Krueger said. so if it wasn’t for groups like The Herald-Whig
sumers that most people are hard-pressed to “It allows those involved in agriculture to to take a step back and recognize them with
name 10 farmers. This is an opportunity to educate people on what family farming is and an award like this, they would go unnoticed,”
pick somebody to introduce them to every- how these families contribute to their local Valter said. “It’s a good opportunity to once a
body and say here’s a local farmer in your communities,” Weisenborn said. “These fami- year kind of showcase, highlight a family and
neighborhood producing food for your table,” lies are tops in their profession and in their thank them for their work.” ■

8 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

U.S. Wellness ‘Blessed to d
Meats’ ‘leap of Extension expert
faith’ pays off named Educator
of the Year
H eath-minded company is Chamber | By Deborah Gertz Husar

O
dhusar@whig.com
of Commerce’s A gribusiness of the Year
nce a reluc-

| By Doug Wilson
dwilson@whig.com
ognizes a business with strong
ties to the agricultural commu-
nity, community involvement,
tant stu-
dent, Mike
Roegge
John Wood, founding mem- a record of good customer turned into
ber and CEO of U.S. Wellness service and modern business a lifelong
Meats in Canton, Mo., has practices. learner ea-
dedicated the last 16 years of Wood operates U.S. Wellness ger to share
his life to winning Meats out of a his knowledge with others.
the United States 45,000-square- Roegge’s efforts helped
over to the health “To actually foot building at thousands of people in a 36-year
benefits of grass-
fed beef and other
build a the west edge
of Canton. It
career with University of Illinois
Extension that stretched from
livestock. warehouse includes a walk-in presenting programs and confer-
“Basically, we’re shopping area, a ences to on-farm research work
rolling back the and a warehouse and a and writing a weekly newspaper
clock a little. Most storefront large cold-storage column.
beef was grass-fed area. The business “The best part of my job was
until about the was a big ships about 40,000 they paid me to learn, and I
1960s,” Wood said.
The company
step and big pounds of product
each week, kept
shared that information with
others,” the Quincy farmer said.
doesn’t stop with investment.” cold with gel ice. “I enjoyed my time spent in
beef. Custom- In addition to agronomy with corn and soy-
ers also can buy Amy Looten beef, the com- bean guys. I truly enjoyed fruit,
grass-fed bison Quincy A rea Chamber pany ships pork, vegetable and local farms. I was
of Commerce
or heritage pork executive director chicken, bison, blessed to do the things I really
that is naturally lamb, clarified enjoy doing.”
healthy without butter, pork rinds, Roegge retired April 15, and
the need for hormones, antibi- raw honey, duck stock and a his long-standing commitment
otics or steroids. host of other products. to education made him the 2017
The company’s motto is “Our Chamber Executive Director Ag Educator of the Year.
animals eat right so you can, Amy Looten said the com- The third annual award,
too.” pany’s progressive ideas about presented by the Quincy Area
U.S. Wellness Meets has won managing livestock and making Chamber of Commerce Agri-
the 2017 Agribusiness of the healthy food choices impressed business Committee, recognizes
Year Award from the Quincy members of the Agribusiness someone who helps others learn
Area Chamber of Commerce. Committee. about agriculture.
The 18th annual award, “U.S. Wellness Meats took “While his work focused more
sponsored by the chamber’s on existing producers for much
Agribusiness Committee, rec- Co n tin u e s o n 12 of his career, he spent a lot of earned a degree in agriculture
time working with new farmers education from Southern Illinois
or those wishing to explore a ca- University-Carbondale, but
reer in agriculture,” the nominat- didn’t think teaching high school
ing form said. “Undoubtedly his ag was something he ought to
Banquet for winners set for March 15 work with 4-H and FFA members
led to young people pursuing an
do. So he looked around at other
options, and an interview with
The First Bankers Trust Ag Ban- p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. ag-related career.” Extension led to a career still
quet will be Wednesday, March 15, at and a program at 7 p.m. teaching — just to a different
Town and Country Inn and Suites. Featured speaker will be Mike Teach, or not? clientele.
The annual event will recognize Dreith, whose career has been in Working with Extension was Roegge’s career in Extension
The Herald-Whig Farm Family of education and radio broadcasting. never a goal for Roegge, who began in March 1980 in Hancock
the Year, the Quincy Area Cham- Tickets are $20 per person, with grew up on a farm in Jackson- County as assistant ag adviser
ber of Commerce Agribusiness tables arranged for eight people. ville where his father raised working with the 4-H program.
Committee’s Agribusiness of the Reservations and more infor- corn, soybeans and hogs while A move to Brown County in 1982
Year and the chamber’s Ag Educa- mation are available by calling the his mother taught. led to him meeting his wife, and
tor of the Year. chamber at 217-222-7980 or email- Reluctant to continue beyond in 1987 they moved to Monroe
A social hour will begin at 5:30 ing amy@quincychamber.org. n high school, Roegge nevertheless County. In 1993, he moved to the

10 FARM&FIELD Th e h er al d -w h ig
o do the things I enjoy’
Edwardsville Extension Center,
then came to Quincy as a crop
systems educator in spring 1994.
As agriculture changed, so did
Extension, with a shift from crop
systems to local food and small
farms where Roegge could draw
on his own experience.
Whether working in Exten-
sion, with the Tri-State Local
Foods Network or with his wife
Theresa at their Mill Creek Farm
raising asparagus, strawberries,
sweet corn, pumpkins and other
crops, Roegge focuses on telling
agriculture’s story and helping
people understand it.
“By and large, farming is
Th e h er al d -w h ig
foreign to most people. If you
ask kids what the corn crop is,
they all think it’s sweet corn.
They don’t know why farmers
are important or what they do,”
Roegge said.
Spreading the word
He emphasizes he’s not alone
in the effort to spread the word
about agriculture and that plenty
of other people are deserving of
the chamber award.
“We’re all trying to bring
people’s attention to knowledge
of ag, why it’s important, why we
need to focus so strong on it and
be proud of it,” he said.
FARM&FIELD
Roegge posts on social media
during the growing season to
explain how things are done on
his farm, and provides plenty of
informal learning as children
and families come to the farm
during pumpkin season.
“There’s so many rumors, so
many falsehoods about agricul-
ture that it’s good to tell the true
story ... to help improve people’s
livelihoods and lives,” Roegge
said. “A lot of people don’t realize
how dependent this whole area
is on ag. How much of the nation
suffered in 2008 with recession?
We didn’t. Why is that? We had a
strong agricultural community
Mike Roegge picks spinach at Mill
Creek Farm near Quincy. Roegge has
been named the Ag Educator of the
Year by the Quincy Chamber of
Commerce’s Agribusiness
Committee. H -W Photo/Phil
Carlson
to support necessary infrastruc-
ture to prevent those type of
problems from happening in the
rural area.”
Trying to better understand
issues faced by area farmers
led to research work, done in
cooperation with Mike Vose at
the Orr Research Center, on top-
ics ranging from grape colaspis,
an insect that damages seedling
corn and soybean plants, to
wireworms to specialty grains.
“The best way to learn is by
doing,” Roegge said. “I tried to
find answers to questions they
had.” n
11
CONTINUES FROM 10

a leap of faith by opening up the facility at

Canton. They had handled online orders for
meat for quite a while, but to actually build
a warehouse and a storefront was a big step
and big investment,” Looten said.
Now 63, Wood heard during the 1990s
that grass-fed beef could be as €avorful as
corn-fed animals and that the meat was a
healthier food choice. He experimented with
managed grazing on his own land and found
that if cattle are turned into new pasture on a
frequent basis, they grow and thrive at about
the same rate as animals that are ÿ nished
out in a feed lot. He also learned that the
€avor and texture of the beef are good.
U.S. Wellness Meats was established in
November 2000, shipping meat to people who
sent in orders via the internet. The business
initially operated at Wood’s farm, moved to
Monticello and then to the Canton building
in late 2015. The company is owned by four
families.
About 33 employees cut meat, ship John Wood founded U.S. Wellness Meats and the Grassland Market in Canton, Mo. U.S. Wellness Meats is the Quincy Area
products and handle online orders at the Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Agribusiness of the Year. H-W Photo/Michael Kipley
business. The jobs were especially welcome,
because wages paid at the facility are higher ing through the cold storage area, a wall was customers. Computers keep track of what is
than the Lewis County average. And the constructed that would allow crews to open stored in the freezer area.
business is growing with the possibility of a drawers in order to obtain frozen products Wood feels honored that U.S. Wellness
second shift starting soon. for pick-and-pack orders. Meats won the Agribusiness Award, he said,
Wood had to ÿ nd new ways to handle Not all of the cold storage area is needed because of the large number of quality busi-
challenges and efÿciently accomplish tasks. for current operations, so space on seven dif- nesses in the area. ■
Rather than having people constantly rotat- ferent levels of shelves is rented out to other

12 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

Expanding education
H igh schools offer more hands-on agriculture classes
| By Ashley Szatala
aszatala@whig.com

Q
uincy High
School was the
only high school
in Adams County
without an agri-
culture program
until recently.
This school year, the agri-
culture program returned to
QHS after a more than 30 year
absence by enrolling about
50 students in related classes,
agriculture teacher Kelly Wei-
man said. Weiman has plans
to grow next year’s academic
offerings. In August, she will use
an on-campus greenhouse in the
curriculum.
Students participating in the
school’s construction courses
will help build a new greenhouse
on an existing foundation, and
Weiman expects construction to
be completed by the next school
year.
At that time, students will
take horticulture and agronomy
classes, and use the greenhouse
every day. They will grow differ-
ent plants and test the soil’s pH
balance, among other things.
“What they learn is vital to
living in a rural area,” Weiman Quincy High School student Alex Stratman, left, talks with agriculture teacher Kelly Weiman during a plant science class at the school.
said. “It’s important to gain QHS students will be able to use a new greenhouse starting next school year. H -W Photo/Phil Carlson
knowledge now and utilize it in
the future. I think it (the green-
house) helps lay the foundation of
Using a GPS makes it more ef-
ficient to apply the fertilizer.” It’s important Students have been raising
money for five years to build
their knowledge.” Four students in the class to gain knowledge the greenhouse on an existing
started out using a handheld GPS greenhouse foundation. A recent
Mapping from the air and then progressed to flying the now and utilize Pikeland Foundation grant and
Central High School has for
the last year incorporated the
drone in later classes.
“I think students need to be
it in the future. donation from alumni helped
students and Heavner reach
use of drones in its agriculture exposed to resources used by I think it (the their monetary goal. Although
curriculum.
“Agriculture has changed so
professionals,” Knorr said. “We
need to prepare students to use
greenhouse) helps cold weather has halted work,
the greenhouse is under con-
much with technology,” agricul- those resources.” lay the foundation struction, and Heavner expects
ture teacher Sharon Knorr said. students to be able to use it in the
“It’s just about being able to use Preparing for ag careers of their knowledge.” spring.
that technology.” Like Quincy and Camp Point, “We’ll use ours for research for
Kelly Weiman
Knorr explained that stu- Pittsfield High School has been QH S agriculture teacher agriscience projects for fairs and
dents use drones to learn more expanding on hands-on agricul- personal projects,” she said. Both
about precision agriculture and ture opportunities. Students at the drone and the greenhouse are
geospatial technologies such the school also have been using a way to introduce her students
as global positioning systems, drones, and there are plans to help students learn about im- to careers in agriculture.
mapping products, geographic incorporate a greenhouse into its proving crop production, crop “They offer hands-on learn-
information systems and remote curriculum later this year. scouting to assess possible insect ing that all students can benefit
sensing. Through mapping, data “(Drones are) an emerging infestations and other problems from,” Heavner said. “Agriculture
can be overlaid across a field. technology that teachers like and improving the accuracy of is important in Illinois, and they
“You can see what issues are in myself want to introduce to stu- treatments. want well-qualified people. We
a field using drones,” Knorr said. dents,” agriculture teacher Jody As for Pikeland’s imminent as ag teachers need to see stu-
“Maybe you need more fertilizer Heavner said. greenhouse, it has been years in dents through and help them (for
in an area more so than another. She explained that the drones the making. college and careers).” n

14 FARM&FIELD Th e h er al d -w h ig
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THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 15

From left. Jason Thomas, Dana Lewis and Jeremy Thomas work on a piece of machinery recently at Thomas’ farm in Pittsfield, Ill. Thomas said farming is a difficult ­— yet rewarding —
profession. H -W Photo/Jake Shane

Challenges on the farm

Farmers reflect on how they battle yearly concerns
| By Deborah Gertz Husar
dhusar@whig.com
Farmers face a variety of
challenges heading into the 2017
Thomas wouldn’t have things
any other way.
house every day, even though it’s
work, it doesn’t seem like work.

If
only farming were
as simple as putting
a seed in the ground
and watching it grow.
growing season thanks to ques-
tions tied to politics, crop prices
and new rules for livestock
producers.
Still, Pittsfield farmer Jeremy
“I have several friends that
work a quarter of the hours and
make a lot more money, but for
me it’s the lifestyle,” Thomas
said. “When I walk out of the
You’re outside most of the time
doing different things every
day, and minus Mother Nature,
it’s rewarding to see your hard
work come about and see re-

16 FARM&FIELD Th e h er al d -w h ig

wards from your hard work.”
Low commodity prices meant little reward
for area farmers in 2016 — and likely not again
in 2017.
“It just seems like these days it’s kind of a
struggle anymore. We’ve come off of not just
this last year but three or four good crops, and
it seems like our supply/inventory is built up
pretty good right now,” Thomas said. “You don’t
ever want to put a negative on anybody, but
somewhere, (somebody) has got to have a bad
crop. Everybody can’t raise a good crop.”
Thomas rotates his crop ground between
corn and soybeans, a decision driven by prices
and soil quality.
‘Marginal ground’
“A lot of our ground is marginal ground. It
Th e h er al d -w h ig
“I have several friends that
work a quarter of the hours
and make a lot more money,
but for me it’s the lifestyle.”
Jeremy Thomas
Pittsfield farmer
just seems like you can raise a little better crop
off it if you do rotate it,” he said.
His father, John, plants about 65 percent
corn and 35 percent soybeans.
“He’s got a little bit better ground than us.
Typically on some of those better soils, you
can raise continuous corn and still come out
ahead,” Thomas said.
“Every year’s different and has its own
challenges,” he said. “We just hope we get a
good spring, get a good start and make good
progress through the season.”
Thomas, as are many farmers, already is
focused on the upcoming growing season. He’s
locked in the fertilizer, chemicals and seed for
spring planting and has his planting plans in
place.
“We don’t slow down too much during this
time of year. If we’re not working with live-
stock, we’ve got something in the shop,” he
said. “We’re servicing equipment and getting
everything ready for the spring. Some days it’s
book work, getting ready for tax season.”
Thomas contract feeds hogs in confinement
and is heavy into calving season with his
cattle.
“With the weather fluctuating between rain
and back and forth warm days and cold days,
it’s a challenge with animals getting sick,” he
said.
Regulation a concern
Beyond weather and price concerns, Illinois
Farm Bureau members in a survey ranked
priority issues for 2017.
The top concern was fighting intrusive and
costly federal regulations, followed by keeping
federal crop insurance viable, cutting the small
business tax rate and eliminating the death
tax, modernizing the nation’s transportation
infrastructure and preserving the Renewable
Fuel Standard.
Issues such as weather, weed resistance,
falling livestock prices, trade and being good
stewards of the land also concern farmers.
“Regardless, with a third straight year of
slumping commodity prices and a faltering
farm economy, farmers will need to take these
concerns into account as they make decisions,
which affect the long-term viability of their
farms,” Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard
Guebert Jr. said in a news release.
A new presidential administration has
raised as many questions as answers about
issues important to agriculture.
“With the new administration, it’s going to
be interesting to see who President Trump
appoints to some of the positions and how the
regulatory things will change for us over the
next coming years — not just the regulatory
stuff but maybe trade and, for us as farmers,
health care, too,” Thomas said. n
FARM&FIELD
Weather experts
feel nothing
‘extraordinary’
on the horizon
| By Steve Eighinger
seighinger@whig.com
N
o extraordinary winter
weather developments
are expected in either
West-Central Illinois
or Northeast Missouri,
and the overall mild conditions
should continue into the spring.
Those are the feelings of both Jim
Angel, state climatologist for the
Illinois State Water Survey, and Pat
Guinan, who works for the Univer-
sity of Missouri Extension.
“It’s not a big deal in winter
terms,” Angels said about putting
together an agricultural game plan
for the next few months. “A lot can
change between now and summer,
but nothing serious appears to be
coming down the pike right now.”
Illinois is coming off its fifth-
warmest year ever, and the trend
likely will continue into 2017.
Angel said 2016 would have seen
worse drought conditions in Illinois,
particularly in the Quincy and Ad-
ams County areas, if it had not been
for above-average rainfall in July
and August.
The statewide average tempera-
ture in Illinois for 2016 was 54.7
degrees, 2.4 degrees above normal.
The statewide average precipitation
was 39.63 inches, 0.33 inches below
normal.
“Quincy and Adams County in
general were drier than the rest of
the state in 2016,” said Angel, who
is headquartered in Champaign.
“There may be a little more snowfall
this year, but nothing catastrophic
... I think things will be mild for the
most part.”
Guinan, who is based in Colum-
bia, Mo., said he wishes “the crystal
ball was more clear” when plotting
seasonal outlooks, but, like Angel, he
has no foreboding forecasts.
Guinan feels the first quarter of
the year probably will be a little
wetter because of more snowfall
than 2016. Most of that additional
moisture may show up in the east-
ern half of the state.
Like Illinois, Missouri is also
coming off an above-average dry
year. Guinan said 2016 was the
third-warmest on record. Only 2012
and 1921 were dryer, he said.
“Most of the state (remains) ab-
normally dry this winter,” he said. n
17
18 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG
David Gay visits one of his nitrogen test fields in Rockport, Ill. Gay has set up a demonstration plot for Four R For You, a cooperative sustainability effort of the Illinois Farm Bureau and
Growmark. The program is funded locally by the Pike County Farm Bureau, Scott County Farm Bureau and Prairieland FS. H -W Photo/Jake Shane

Thinking generationally
Program aims to educate farmers about sustainable efforts
| By Matt Dutton
mdutton@whig.com
or better condition to the next
“We farmers tend
generation. We want to make our
demonstrate we are looking for
ways to improve.”

R
to think long term.
ockport farmer
David Gay rec-
ognizes that “the
land is forever”
and he is only
period of time.
here for a short
Gay is one of a growing num-
ber of those involved in agricul-
ture who are taking steps toward
incorporating sustainable meth-
ods into his farming practices.
Gay’s family has tended the same
plot of land between Rockport
and New Canton, Ill., for six
generations.
“We farmers tend to think long
term,” Gay said. “We’re interest-
ed in leaving our farms in good
mark and make it better. We tend 4R4U promotes “using the right
to think generationally.” nutrients at the right rate, in the
The legacy of his land, which right place, at the right time,” Pike We’re interested
Gay describes as his “heritage,”
is one of the reasons he opened
County Farm Bureau Executive
Director Blake Roderick said
in leaving our
up one of his fields to the Four R about the “Four R” aspect of the farms in good or
For You program, a cooperative
sustainability effort of the Il-
program’s name.
“Agriculture has been under
better condition to
linois Farm Bureau and Grow- assault for several years,” Roder- the next generation.
mark. Locally, 4R4U is an educa- ick said, describing the program
tional pilot program funded by as a response “to societal con- We want to make
Pike County Farm Bureau, Scott cerns on the use of nutrients.” our mark and
County Farm Bureau and Prai- Both Roderick and Gay
rieland FS. Gay’s demonstration described a consumer who in make it better.
plot is one of many set up in the
two counties.
recent years has become increas-
ingly interested in knowing
We tend to think
“The issue of nutrient loss is where food comes from. generationally.”
kind of on the forefront right now “Consumers are asking a lot of
for farmers,” Gay said. “I think David Gay
it’s important right now that we R ockport farmer
Co n tin u e s o n 20

Th e h er al d -w h ig FARM&FIELD 19
CONTINUES FROM 19
questions of farmers,” Gay said.
“It’s up to us to let them know
what we’re doing and that we are
being good stewards of the land.”
The program is seen by many
as a preemptive measure, an
attempt at self-regulation before
governmental measures are
imposed. A universal blanket
measure, Gay said, would hinder
progress and yields. Instead, the
issue must be dealt with locally
to ÿgure out the best approach,
he said.
“Regulating yourself volun-
tarily is always better,” said
Prairieland FS Hiring Manager
Rich Archer. “At the end of the
day, I want everybody to get on
board. If everybody doesn’t, we
are going to have a mandate.”
The USDA’s 2015 Producer
Survey indicates conservation
and nutrient management strate-
gies have become increasingly
popular in Illinois since 2011.
Maximum Return to Nitrogren,
an application guideline used
as an indicator in the survey,
jumped from 70 percent in 2011
to 81 percent in 2015. The survey
BUILT FOR WHAT’S NEXT
Western Illinois Agri-Systems
217-746-2144 • www.wiasinc.com
20
also notes more than half of all
surveyed farmers consider them-
selves knowledgeable about the
aspects of the 4R4U strategy.
“This survey is proof that our
agricultural community has a
good story to tell,” Illinois De-
partment of Agriculture Deputy
Director Warren Goetsch said
in a news release discussing
the survey. “Illinois farmers are
taking ownership of these uses ...
and they are willing and able to
meet the challenge.”
Farmers also have more than
doubled their use of cover crops “Regulating yourself voluntarily is always
in the ÿve-year period of the
survey, the release said. better. At the end of the day, I want
“We are just now getting trac-
tion,” Archer said. “We are going
everybody to get on board. If everybody
to continue with this and prob- doesn’t, we are going to have a mandate. ”
ably be a little louder about it.”
Gay intends to use the data Rich Archer
he gains from his test plot to Prairieland FS hiring manager
improve his farming practices
overall, which is the core pur-
pose of the program.
“I think the trend is going in the right direction.
“I think the trend is going in There’s no substitute for experience, but as
the right direction,” Gay said.
“There’s no substitute for experi- we look down the road, farmers will have
ence, but as we look down the good data to make good decisions.”
road, farmers will have good David Gay
data to make good decisions.” ■ Rockport farmer
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FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG
Margin squeeze
2017 outlook low to negative profits with current prices
| By Deborah Gertz Husar
dhusar@whig.com
the crop unproÿtable, even with
some of the better yields in
exceptionally good yields for
soybeans, and prices for soy-
Financial tips

F
armers are caught
in what’s called a
margin squeeze
brought on by low
prices for corn,
soybean and wheat,
coupled with production costs
that haven’t adjusted to the
price realities.
“The margins are very tight,
especially with those price
levels, but farmers are optimis-
tic, as always, hoping that price
will get closer to that $4 mark
to make corn more proÿtable,”
Adams County Farm Bureau
President Rick Edwards said.
Edwards also is a farm man-
ager at First Bankers Trust.
Low corn prices in 2016 made
area ÿelds and some declines in
fertilizer costs.
Heading into the 2017 grow-
ing season, “we will be looking
at low to negative proÿts if we
take prices we’re looking at now,
particularly for corn,” said Gary
Schnitkey, University of Illinois
Extension farm management
specialist.
“If you’re looking for one
bright spot, it’s proÿtability of
soybeans versus corn,” he said.
“The ÿ rst set of decisions farm-
ers have to make is whether to
plant more soybeans. Last year
soybeans were more proÿtable
than corn by a pretty large
margin, and that has been the
case for the last couple years.
In 2016, in particular, we had
beans haven’t fallen as much as
for corn.”
Expect some shifts
Edwards expects to see some
shifts from corn to soybeans.
“I think farmers will be look-
ing to plant more beans and less
corn, especially on marginal
acres we see in certain areas of
Western Illinois and Northeast
Missouri,” Edwards said.
“We had good corn yields.
Missouri corn yields were
probably some of the best ever,”
he said. “But on the bean side,
people had really good yields on
both sides of the river. Especial-
ly in Missouri, bean yields were
CONTINUES ON 22
University of Illinois experts
offer some inancial suggestions
for 2017 at farmdoc.illinois.edu,
including:
• Assess working capital and
determine how to “use” it.
• Re inance if positive projected
cash low can be obtained.
• Lock in low interest rates.
• Consider switching to more
soybeans.
• Evaluate N, P and K.
• Ask if seed costs can be lowered.
• Switch to less tillage, particularly
if there is need to replace trac-
tors or tillage equipment.
• Don’t buy machinery.
• Evaluate high cash rent farms.
• For cash rents that are too high,
think about a variable cash rent
or terminate lease. ■

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THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 21

CONTINUES FROM 21
just outstanding.”
Illinois regained the title of
top soybean-producing state
in 2016 with a harvest of 593
million bushels, up from 544
million in 2015, and an average
yield of 59 bushels per acre.
Strong export demand for
soybeans, especially from
China, helped support prices,
combined with a stronger oil
market tied to biofuels.
But bean prices aren’t
enough to turn around the bot-
tom line for many farmers.
“That’s going to have to
result in some cost-cutting,”
Schnitkey said. “The ÿ rst thing
you need to be looking at is
cash rents, having those come
down some more. If you can’t
get rents down, maybe not
farm that land anymore.”
Schnitkey also suggested
that farmers look at fewer or
no capital purchases, continue
to look at fertilizer costs and
the possibility of cutting back
on phosphorus and potassium
in particular and maybe mov-
ing nitrogen into the latter part
of the year.
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After that, look at generating
some cash off the farm.
Already negotiated
“A lot of cash rents have been
negotiated already, and they
are down a little bit,” Edwards
said. “Farmer purchases have
decreased. They’re not buy-
ing the machinery they were a
couple years ago when they had
the cash to do it.”
Schnitkey said the situation
is similar to the late 1990s and
early 2000s when commodity
prices declined after a run of
very good prices.
“We didn’t see a lot of bank-
ruptcies, but it wasn’t the best of
times,” he said.
“It’s a cycle, and we just hope
this low cycle doesn’t last too
long,” Edwards said. “There’s a
lot of demand for soybean meal
to feed livestock. World demand
for animal protein is continuing
to increase due to people having
more income on a worldwide
basis, which is good for our
grain market. It takes bean meal
to raise chickens, cows, hogs
— and that demand has been
strong.” ■
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FARM&FIELD
Presidential boost
Nearly 81 percent of Illinois Farm
Bureau members surveyed about
the farm economy have the same
level of optimism or less for 2017
as compared with 2016.
As a result of their concerns
over the farm economy, 81 percent
of respondents said they plan
reductions in 2017, such as:
• 93 percent will delay equipment
purchases.
• 44 percent will buy cheaper seed.
• 40 percent will negotiate lower
cash rents.
• 38 percent will delay or cut back on
chemical and fertilizer purchases.
• 24 percent will implement cost-
saving technology, including
GPS or ›ield mapping.
• 9 percent will choose less crop in-
surance or give up rented ground.
A recent DTN/The Progressive
Farmer Ag Con›idence Index
showed the overall producer
con›idence index for December
returned to neutral territory, rising
to 98 compared to a value of 72 in
the August survey. Values higher
than 100 indicate optimism, while
values below signify pessimism.
But the numbers behind the
index are “unprecedented.”.
The attitudes of farmers sur-
veyed in late November and early
December were at historic lows of
44.2. But when asked about their
con›idence for the coming year,
farmers’ answers revealed a huge
jump in optimism to 126.6.
“That swing, from record pes-
simism and signi›icantly more pes-
simistic than any other time in our
index history, to a record level of
optimism simply de›ies logic,” DTN
Editor-In-Chief Greg Horstmeier
said in a news release.
“While most farmers have ad-
justed to lower commodity prices
and are working on strategies to
see them through tougher times,
there is nothing on the horizon, not
world grain supplies, not weather,
not signs of new commodity
demand, that would justify such
optimism. To the contrary, from
the standpoint of global grains and
livestock price expectations, prices
look ›lat at best for 2017,” he said.
“The only thing we can put our
›inger on is the presidential election.
Farmers and rural America played a
large role in Donald Trump’s victory,
and farmers must feel he’s going to
make the world right for them.” ■
THE HERALD-WHIG
Horseweed is one of the weeds that farmers have had trouble eliminating with herbicides . Submitted photo
Protection from weeds
New herbicide weapon available for soybean control
| By Matt Hopf
mhopf@whig.com
A
new option in weed control
will be available to soybean
farmers in 2017.
The herbicide dicamba
will be able to be used with
dicamba-resistant soybean.
The ability to use dicamba will allow many
farmers to attack weeds that have become
resistant to other types of herbicides.
University of Illinois weed scientist Aaron
Hager said dicamba has been used on corn
and other cash crops for decades, but soy-
beans have been extremely sensitive to it.
“Obviously, we could never use a corn
herbicide directly on soybeans,” Hager said.
“What allows that to happen is the trans-
formation of the soybean to have a gene
that rapidly metabolizes the dicamba. So,
in other words, the transformed soybeans
Th e h er al d -w h ig
break down the active ingredient so quickly
it doesn’t cause any damage to them.”
He believes the change will be effective
for glyphosate-resistant horseweed, or
marestail, that does not respond to the tra-
ditional tank mix of glyphosate and 2,4-D.
“It certainly can help if you’ve got a
problem with some of the annual morn-
ing glory species, and it will probably help
you in terms of control of resistant species,
for example, things like waterhemp, where
resistance has evolved to many of the post-
applied herbicides that we use in soybean,”
Hager said. “It’s a new tool, but it’s not a
standalone material whatsoever in soybean.
For those with enough memory using it in
corn, it was never a standalone product in
corn either.”
Dicamba can be used only on two types
of soybeans. The Environmental Protection
Agency approved the new labels of soybeans
from Monsanto in November and BASF in
FARM&FIELD
December.
The labels allow the soybeans to be plant-
ed immediately after dicamba is applied,
but Hager recommends farmers wait a few
days following application before injuring
the weeds with planting.
He also cautions that farmers read labels
carefully for restriction on the new di-
camba, as there are several requirements
related to the spray-application procedure,
including boom height and sprayer speed.
Another limitation prevents tankmixing
of dicamba with other herbicides, meaning
it must be applied singularly.
Although dicamba could lead to improved
soybean weed control, it is expected weeds
eventually will become resistant to dicamba
as well.
“When you speak on the subject of the
evolution of resistance, it’s usually more
appropriate to say ‘when’ and not ‘if,’” Hager
said. n
23
Dr. Grant Holst, left, and Tommy Wetzel tag a calf at Holst Cattle Co. in Augusta, Ill. Declining cattle prices have forced producers to focus on improving herd quality to maximize the return
Balancing act
on their investments. H -W Photo/Jake Shane
Farmers work to raise best animals while keeping costs low
| By Deborah Gertz Husar
dhusar@whig.com
C
attle producers are
trying to perfect
what Cody Holst
calls a balancing
act with their bot-
tom line.
“The main thing is to try to
figure how to cut costs without
cutting corners and still do-
ing what’s necessary to raise a
premium animal or a quality
animal. That’s a balancing act,”
the Augusta farmer said.
Farmers can cut out equip-
ment purchases and scale back
expansion plans, “but there’s only
certain things you can cut out of
the equation with livestock,” he
24
said. “Certain things are required
no matter what to produce a qual-
ity product.”
Maintaining quality is key in a
marketplace where prices peaked
in 2014 and continue to decline.
“Good livestock is always going
to sell as good as it possibly can,”
Holst said. “It’s important to buy
good bulls, have good genetics.”
But Holst cuts down on any
extra spending, searches for
cheaper feed options and keeps
his cattle as healthy as possible to
minimize losses.
“Every one counts this year for
sure,” he said.
“Four years ago, nobody could
make a mistake in the cattle busi-
ness. No matter what you did, you
were making money,” Holst said.
FARM&FIELD
“Now almost no matter what you
do, you can’t make money.”
Busy with calving, produc-
ers also seek to control feed
costs and, with bull sale-season
coming up, buy the right type of
genetics to sire a calf crop that
will demand a premium price.
‘Knowing your market’
“It’s not the same for every
farm. Knowing your market is
extremely important,” Travis Me-
teer said. Meteer is a University
of Illinois Extension commercial
ag educator based at the Orr Beef
Research Center.
“Sometimes we as producers
get all wrapped up in numbers
and try to pick the perfect bull
and may overlook simple things,”
he said. “The most return on
investment for producers is a
breeding soundness exam every
year on a bull to make sure that
the bull is fertile. The worst thing
that can happen, no matter what
the calf or cattle prices, is to end
up with a pasture full of open
cows.”
Prices are approaching
break-even cost for established
producers — just as they are for
row crop producers — and may
dip even lower as cattle numbers
continue to increase nationwide.
“These markets are cyclical.
Producers who put pencil to paper,
lock in costs, make smart market-
ing decisions, those producers are
Co n tin u e s o n 26
Th e h er al d -w h ig
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THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 25

CONTINUES FROM 24
going to get better and be more proÿt-
able even when those good markets come
back,” Meteer said.
“When prices are really good, we
probably got a little bit used to increased
revenue and maybe bought a new imple-
ment, a new tractor, a new pickup, and
now prices have fallen so drastically we
have to make payments on a lot lower
revenue,” he said. “The hardest thing
for producers to do is we may have
budgeted this purchase on prices that
just aren’t here right now. Making sure
the family budgets and the overhead
cost match up to what the revenue is on
the farm side, that’s pretty important
right now.”
Back to the farm
The record cattle prices brought
people back to the farm, a new genera-
tion that now is learning some tougher
economic lessons.
“It teaches those farmers how to
handle these times and safeguard our
agriculture industry for years to come,”
Meteer said.
Holst, 32, has seen good years and
not-so-good years in the cattle business.
“It is very risky. You might as well go
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to Vegas — but it’s just what I love, what
I’ve been around my whole life,” said
Holst, who runs Moss Rock Ranch with
THEY SAID IT
his wife, Erin, and their daughter, Reese.
“You have to love cattle to be in the cattle “It is very risky. You might as well go
business and probably half crazy. It’s a
lot of work.”
to Vegas — but it’s just what I love,
It’s also a long-term investment ÿ lled what I’ve been around my whole life.
with uncertainty.
Cows bred this spring or early sum-
You have to love cattle to be in the
mer will calve in late winter or spring cattle business and probably half
2018. Calves generally are marketed af-
ter 200 to 280 days, then go back out on crazy. It’s a lot of work.”
pasture to grow for another 365 to 400
Cody Holst
days, or are sent to a feed yard for ÿ nish- Augusta farmer
ing over 300 to 325 days before entering
the food supply in 2019 or early 2020.
Producers can cut some costs by ex- “Maybe the one bright spot for cat-
tending the grazing season and planting
cover crops. tle producers right now is the corn
“One popular system that is advanta- price is moderate, not too
geous to producers is cover crops after
corn silage. Something as simple as an expensive, and that’s pulled
oat-turnip mix will provide opportuni-
ties for grazing in late fall,” Meteer said.
feed costs down. Most farmers
“Maybe the one bright spot for cattle that have cattle are also grain
producers right now is the corn price is
moderate, not too expensive, and that’s farmers and probably still prefer a
pulled feed costs down,” he said. “Most little more price increase on corn.”
farmers that have cattle are also grain
farmers and probably still prefer a little Travis Meteer
more price increase on corn.” ■ University of Illinois Extension commercial ag educator
Custom
Butchering
&
Processing
FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG
Farmers from Illinois were taken on a tour of an agriculture distribution center in Hong Kong during a recent trade mission to China. Submitted Photo
Trade barriers
Illinois farmers concerned about possible hurdles, changes in policies
| By Edward Husar
ehusar@whig.com
I
llinois farmers are wor-
ried that to trade could
adversely impact the
nation’s agricultural
exports.
“I think farmers are
concerned,” said Adams County
Farm Bureau Manager Shawn
Valter.
“We’re already facing low com-
modity prices right now, and we
have a pretty large surplus of grain
on hand in the United States. The
only way we can get rid of that,
and market it, is to other countries.
So any time we hear that trade is
going to be restricted, or markets
will possibly be shut off from us,
that’s going to get into your local
Th e h er al d -w h ig
wallet at some point in time.”
The American Soybean Associa-
tion also is concerned about pos-
sible changes in trade policies. In
a recent letter to President Donald
Trump and Vice President Mike
Pence, the ASA and 15 other farmer
organizations called on the admin-
istration to protect and enhance
the positive impact of agricultural
trade on jobs and growth in rural
America.
“We know that securing positive
benefits for American farmers,
ranchers and workers in trade will
be a priority of your Administra-
tion,” the letter said. “This includes
enforcing existing agreements so
that other countries abide by their
commitments, as well as expand-
ing market access for U.S. produc-
ers through new agreements.”
FARM&FIELD
The ASA pointed to the “special
importance” of trading relation-
“We’re already
ships with China, Canada and facing low
Mexico — the top three buyers
of U.S. farm commodities. In the commodity
2016 fiscal year, the U.S. exported prices right now,
$27 billion worth of agricultural
products to China, $24 billion to and we have a
Canada and $19 billion to Mexico.
Valter said farmers worry
pretty large surplus
that the flow of exports could be of grain on hand in
disrupted if trade barriers are put
in place. the United States.
Valter said farmers in West- The only way we
Central Illinois are keenly aware
of the importance of exports and can get rid of that,
feel fortunate to have convenient
access to the Mississippi River, a
and market it, is to
major shipping route for ag prod- other countries.”
ucts going to world markets.
Shawn Valter
Co n tin u e s o n 29 A dans County Farm Bureau manager
27
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CONTINUES FROM 27
“Here in Adams County
and the surrounding area, we
have the river right here at our
doorstep, and that’s our direct
route to the rest of the world,”
he said.
Valter said farmers would
like to see the U.S. expand its
trading opportunities to new
global markets.
“There is some concern here
locally that it could come back
to affect the local economy
if we shut ourselves off from
trading with certain countries
that we currently are and not
pursuing new markets, like
Cuba.”
Illinois Farm Bureau’s Se-
nior Director of Commodities
Tamara Nelsen also is hoping
the Trump administration will
put a high priority on fostering
trade agreements that beneÿt
American farmers.
Nelsen said Farm Bureau
ofÿcials were hoping the Trans
Paciÿc Partnership would be
approved as a way to keep ag
products ƒowing to key export
markets.
THE HERALD-WHIG
The U.S. withdrew from the
12-nation deal in late January.
“We have not given up hope
THEY SAID IT
that all trade agreements will “We know that securing positive beneÿts for
cease to be negotiated,” she
said. “We’re continuing to talk American farmers, ranchers and workers in trade
to the transition team and
work with our congressmen
will be a priority of your Administration. This
and our senators to make sure includes enforcing existing agreements so that
they know how important
trade is to agriculture. We’re
other countries abide by their commitments,
not giving up on anything.” as well as expanding market access for U.S.
Nelsen said the U.S. agricul-
ture industry produced a $25 producers through new agreements.”
billion trade surplus in the last
American Soybean Association letter to President Donald Trump
year alone because of its abil-
ity to export food products to
world markets. “Here in Adams County and the surrounding
“We will continue to beat the
drum on trade,” she said. area, we have the river right here at our doorstep,
Nelsen said she is hopeful and that’s our direct route to the rest of the world.”
last year’s Brexit vote will not
lead to a reduction in exports Shawn Valter
for farmers dealing with the Adams County Farm Bureau manager
European Union.
“At ÿ rst it made us re-
ally nervous,” she said. “But “We’re continuing to talk to the transition team
England and the British Isles
have always been close and
and work with our congressmen and our
good allies and customers of senators to make sure they know how
Illinois and the United States,
so I don’t think we’ll see an im-
important trade is to agriculture.”
mediate disruption there.” ■ Tamara Nelsen
Illinois Farm Bureau’s senior director of commodities
FARM&FIELD 29
 The Paul and Norma
Hildebrand family of
Plainville, Ill., was the first
Herald-Whig Farm Family
of the Year in 1993. Family
members are Cheryl and
Norma, and back, from left,
Bradly, Alan, Kent, Paul and
Patrick. Daughter Debbie
Cramsey was not pictured.

30 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 The Knoche family, of
Warsaw, Ill., named The
Herald-Whig Farm Family
of the Year in 1994, was
determined to rebuild
after the previous year’s
šlooding. From left are
Tara, holding newborn son
Kody, Jennifer and Ron.

THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 31

 The Charles and Norma
Koch Family from
Mount Sterling was the
1995 Herald-Whig Farm
Family of the Year. Family
members include, front
from left, grandchildren
David, Daniel, Patrick
and Keith and, back,
daughter-in-law Mary,
son Ken, Charles, Norma
and son Phil. They stand
with Missy, part of the
family’s dairy herd.

32 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 Pat and Melvin Genenbacher, of
Fowler, Ill., were the 1996 Herald-
Whig Farm Family of the Year.

THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 33

 The Don and Diana
McCleary family, of Liberty,
Ill., was the 1997 Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the Year.
Family members included,
clockwise from top left,
Diana, Don, David, Deborah,
Darin, Doug Johnson
(Deborah’s then-—iancé), Joe
Ormond holding Tyler, and
Dawn Ormond, center.

34 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 The 1998 Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the Year
was the Doane Family of
Barry, Ill. From left are Jim
and Esther “Bunnie” Doane,
son Phil, daughter-in-law
Sharon and son Jeff.

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THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 35
 The Lawrence and Dolly
Schreacke family of Burton,
Ill., was the 1999 Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the Year.
Front, from left, are daughter-
in-law Sue, son Dale,
Lawrence with Lucky the
dog, Dolly, daughter-in-law
Ann and son Marvin. Back,
from left, are grandchildren
Melissa, Erica, Shawn, Brian,
Linda and Matt.

36 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 The Dan and Mary Jo
Obert family of Liberty, Ill.,
was the 2000 Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the Year.
From left are Brandy with
Tyra the cow, Ješ , Eric,
Dan and Mary Jo, Todd
and Jason with Tammy,
another cow in the herd.

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THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 37

 The Herald-Whig Farm Family
of the Year in 2001 was the
Waner family of Loraine, Ill.
Front, from left, are Lucas
Waner and then-†iancee
Kelly Moon and Neil and
Louise Waner. Second row,
from left, are Lyle and Janice
Waner. Third row, from left,
are daughter Jennifer Mowen
and her husband Darrell, as
well as the blue heeler, Sissy.

38 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 Larry and Sharon
Donley and sons of
Mendon, Ill., were
the 2002 Herald-
Whig Farm Family
of the Year. Front,
from left, are Larry
and Sharon Donley;
grandchildren Jill,
Tom and Adam;
daughter-in-law
Beth and son Alan.
Back, from left, are
son Gary, daughter-
in-law Sarah and
granddaughters
Deanne and Denise.

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THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 39

 The 2003 Farm
Family of the
Year was Stan
and Becky Frese
of Fowler, Ill.
Becky and Stan
are surrounded
by their children,
from left, Nick,
Abby and Blake.

Congratulations to the
STAN FRESE family
of Fowler!

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40 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 The 2004 Farm Family of
the Year was the Taylors of
Hannibal, Mo. Dan and Debbie
Taylor, back, along with their
sons Chris, Ben and Matt
raised cattle and hogs on their
farm west of Hannibal.

THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 41

 The Marvin Meyer
family, the 2005
Farm Family of
the Year, stand at
their farm east of
Quincy, Ill. Family
members are, from
left, Ryan Marvin’s
then-fiancee
then-“iancee Laura
Cramsey, Ryan,
Torri, Ty, Marvin,
Brenda and Tana.

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42 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 Chrissy, Matt and their daughter
Abby Plenge of Kahoka, Mo.,
were the 2006 Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the Year.

THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 43

 The Speckhart
family was the
Farm Family of
the Year in 2007.
They farm in
rural Quincy.

44 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 The Bob Koch family
of Mount Sterling, Ill.,
was the 2008 Farm
Family of the Year. Bob
Koch, center, is flanked
†lanked
by his two sons and
their families. From
left are Anna, Glen,
Amy, and Ethan, and
Nolan, Rhonda, Alan,
Gretchen, and Nick.

THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 45

 The Sutter family,
from left, Shelby,
Roger and Dianne,
Mitchell, and
Cooper, was The
Herald-Whig Farm
Family of the Year
in 2009. They
farm near Taylor,
Mo.

46 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 Bill and Kate Smithers, center,
are pictured with their family,
from left, Greg Smithers, Pam
Smithers, Travis Smithers,
Jess Smithers, Tracy Smithers
with son Drew Smithers,
Jason Smithers, Noelle
Smithers, Raegan Smithers,
Kameron Smithers, Isaac
Smithers, Schae Moore,
Mike Smithers, Eli Smithers,
Teija Smithers, Reid Allen,
Heather Allen with son Ryne, Tori Allen,
Clint Allen, Debbie Bruner, Mark Allen, Cindy Allen,
Jake Allen, Wyatt Smithers, Konner Allen, Tammy
Smithers, Tracy Allen, Anna Allen and Chuck
Smithers. The Pitts–ield, Ill., family was the 2010
Herald-Whig Farm Family of the Year.

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THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 47

 Terry and Gayle Pope
were The Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the Year
in 2011. Their farm near
Burnside, Ill., includes their
red barn, which had been
used by four generations
of the family.

48 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 The Lovelace family
of Palmyra, Mo., was
the 2012 Herald-
Whig Farm Family
of the Year. Seated
from left are Emily
Hoelscher, Janet and
Kenny Lovelace, and
Kelly Broughton.
Standing are Kenneth
Hoelscher, left, and
Jerry Broughton.

THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 49

 The Herald-Whig 2013
Farm Family of the
Year was the Duncan
family of Mendon, Ill.
From left are Dillon
Duncan, Doug Duncan,
Taylor Duncan, Cassie
Rosson, Brad Duncan,
Linda Duncan, Dave
Duncan, Mike Jansen,
Donna Jansen, Mark
Jansen, Luke Jansen,
Andrew Jansen, Debbie
Reed, Brennan Reed
and Landon Reed. Not
pictured is Tanner Reed.

50 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 The 2014 Farm Family
of the Year was the
Dean Dedert family of
Quincy. From left are
Jason Harms, Sarah
Harms, Aubrey Harms,
Elly Harms, Bryan Harms,
Amy Harms, Dean Dedert,
Carolyn Dedert, David
Dedert, Matt Phillips, Joy
Dedert, Megan Phillips,
Dallas Dedert, Constance
Roberts, Bryson Roberts
and Corey Roberts.

THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 51

 The 2015 Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the
Year was the Mike
Boylen family of Mount
Sterling, Ill. From left are
Jill Boylen, LeighAnn
Boylen, Matt Boylen,
Kent Boylen, Nena
Boylen, Carol Boylen,
Mike Boylen, Alec
Boylen, Jon Boylen,
Rachel Boylen, Thomas
Boylen, Colin Boylen,
Beth Boylen, Curt
Boylen, Faith Boylen
and Grace Boylen.

52 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

 The 2016 Herald-Whig
Farm Family of the Year
was the Knorr family. From
left are Todd and Sharon
Knorr, Lauralyn, Ashley,
Avalee and Dallas Caron,
Jersey Hesse, Amanda
Hesse, Madison Garcia
and Curt Hesse at the
Knorr farm near Golden.

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THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 53

 We Salute You!

Thank you, farmers,

for all you do.
HERALD-WHIG

CONGRATULATIONS!
TO THE FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR
STARR FAMILY OF NAUVOO, IL

54 FARM&FIELD THE HERALD-WHIG

| ADVERTISER INDEX
Archer Daniels Midland Co. 3 Farmers Livestock Sale Inc. 40 Pioneer-Earl Boone 30
Altorfer 15 Farmers National Co. 25 Poage Auto Plaza 45
B&B Livestock Supply & Trailers 33 First Bankers Trust Co. 50 Prairie View Insurance Agency 44
Bank of Springfield 18 First Farm Credit Services 55 Quincy Medical Group 31
BASF Corp. 34 Golden Good Shepherd Home 53 Quincy Siding & Window 25
Beck Insurance Agency 39 Great River Economic Development 36 Quincy Tractor 9
Bleigh Ready Mix Co. 21 Hannibal Regional Medical Group 43 Shottenkirk Chevrolet 22
Brown County State Bank 52 Homebank - Quincy 15, 46 SIU Center for Family Medicine-Quincy 54
Brown Drug Co. 22 J.J. Nichting Co. 28 State Street Bank 29
CareLink 15 Jason Deters 51 Sydenstricker 8
Carol Sha—er Realtor 38 John Wood Community College 18 The Country Butcher Shop 26
Carthage System Professional Swine Mgmt. 21 KHMO AM 1070 41 The Farmers Bank 18, 35
Central State Bank 28 KICK FM 97.9 37 Timewell Tile 13, 22
Charles L. Crane Agency Co. 54 Marine Bank & Trust 25 Titan International Inc. Back
Consolidated Grain and Barge 21 Memorial Hospital 7, 48 Ursa Farmers Co-Op 25
Country Financial 12 Midwest Land Sales 47 West Central FS 21
Crop Production Services 28 Morton Buildings 26 Western Illinois Agri-Systems 20
Davis & Frese Inc. Realtors 40 North Adams State Bank 39 WGEM 54
Diamond Residential Mortgage Corp. 22 Palmyra Young Farmers 49 Zanger & Associates Inc. 36, 51
Ed Kabrick Beef Inc. 30 Payson Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. 42 Zanger Appraisal and Consulting Services 42
Farm & Home Supply (Quincy) 55

THE HERALD-WHIG FARM&FIELD 55