WINNEBAGO-BOONE FARM BUREAU

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Mission Statement

Be the voice, resource, and advocate for farm families and agriculture,
while promoting stewardship for today and future generations.

NOW ACCEPTING...Peach Orders

The Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau is taking orders for fresh Southern Illinois Cresthaven Peaches from Rendleman Orchards. The peaches will be sold in half bushel boxes. The cost will be $24.00 per 25 lb. box for Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau Members and $27.00 per 25 lb. box for Non-Farm Bureau Members. Orders and payment must be received by Monday, August 4th. The delivery date depends on the peaches; however, we anticipate them to arrive around the end of August at the Farm Bureau office located at 1925 S Meridian Road, Rockford.

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Drive Out Hunger Collectable Tractor
The Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders have teamed up with Feeding America, the nation’s largest food bank to help reduce the number of households in Illinois that faces hunger this year. You can start a “collection” that will not only help area families, but also increase in value over time. When you purchase the limited-edition tractor collectable, 100% of the profits will go to Harvest for All!

The1:32 scale metal die-cast, Illinois Farm Bureau, Steiger® 450 RowTrac ^TM is fully equipped with an opening cab door, opening hood, articulated body, detailed engine, movable 3-point hitch with draw bar, movable mirrors, a detailed interior, and a GPS dome. The tractors are available for $60.00 through the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Department at 1701 Towanda Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61701. For details contact the Young Leader Department at 309-557-2536 or download an ORDER FORM. This is a limited edition of 276 tractors, so order yours today.

Picture Illinois- 2014 Member Photo Contest (June 1- November 1)
The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is once again asking its members to bring rural life into focus by taking and submitting pictures for the annual member photography contest.

Picture Illinois, the 2014 Member Photo Contest, is open to Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau/ IFB members and their families. The contest is limited to photos taken in Illinois in 2012 or after, by amateur photographers.

Entrants can submit their photos to one of three categories, including “Country Kids,” “Rural Routes” and “These Boots Are Made For…”. The grand prize winner will receive $150, while three first place winners will receive $75 each, three second place winners will receive $25 each and the photo selected as “Members’ Choice” at IFB’s 2014 Annual Meeting in December will receive $50.

The contest runs from June 1 to Nov. 1, 2014. Winners will be announced in the Spring 2015 issue of Partners magazine and in FarmWeek in January, 2015. Employees and immediate family members of Illinois Farm Bureau and its affiliated companies are not eligible. To view previous winning photos, obtain the complete contest rules and to enter online, go to www.ilfbphotos.org. For questions, or to obtain the contest rules and entry form by mail, contact Dawn Heggie at 309-557-2293 or dheggie@ilfb.org.

ILLINOIS MILK PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION TO HOST DAIRY TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE- Tuesday, July 29th

The Illinois Milk Producers’ Association will be sponsoring their annual "Dairy Technology Showcase," hosted by Dave Fischer. This is the third year for the IMPA Dairy Tech Showcase farm tour that will highlight dairy technology and dairy management on two dairy farms in Northwestern Illinois. The tours will be held on Tuesday July 29, 2014, in Stephenson County. There is no need to register for the event, and you can attend either one or both of the host farm operations. Lunch will be "on your own" between noon and 1:00 p.m.

The first farm stop is Koester Dairy, owned and operated by the Dan and Amber Koester Family. The farm is located at 1099 E. Angle Rd., Dakota, IL 61018 and the tour will be from 10:30 a.m. until noon. The Koester family farm is operating in a new milking facility built to maximize technology, management and cow comfort. The Koester family leads the state in DHIA production, with the only herd topping an average of 30,000 pounds of milk per cow.

The second farm stop will be Scheidairy Dairy Farm, owned and operated by the Doug and Dan Scheider Families. Their farm is located at 1730 West Buckeye Rd., Freeport, IL 61032 and the afternoon tour will run from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Scheidairy has incorporated many management programs to help optimize milk production and cow comfort, including sand-bedded freestalls, and modern forage storage methods.

Each farm stop will include an organized tour conducted by the dairy owners along with management discussions and Q&A sessions, which will be led by Dave Fischer, former University of Illinois Dairy Educator. Also joining Fischer will be Dr. Mike Hutjens and Dr. Phil Cardoso, University of Illinois Dairy Specialists.

Schedule will be:
    · 10:30 a.m. - noon at Koester Dairy
                                        1099 E. Angle Rd., Dakota, IL 61018
    · Lunch on your own (Freeport & neighboring towns have several places to eat)
    · 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Scheidairy
                                             1730 West Buckeye Rd., Freeport, IL 61032

For more information, contact Jim Fraley, IMPA manager, at 309-557-3109 or Dave Fischer at (618) 830-4957.

Agricultural Celebrity Starring at McHenry County Fair on Wednesday, July 30th

Greg Peterson, of Peterson Brothers, will be speaking at the McHenry County Fair on Wednesday, July 30th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Hansen Pavilion. This is a perfect chance to see an overview of the Peterson Brothers videos & performances while learning about reaching out to millions via social media. Greg focuses on the need for agriculture advocacy and will challenge the audience to take action on their beliefs.

The Peterson Brothers are three Kansas farmers who raise beef cattle and grow wheat, corn, alfalfa, milo, and soybeans. Their main goal is to promote what they do on the farm with anyone they meet. You may recognize them from the parody music videos they create about farming. Their first hit was entitled "I'm Farming and I Grow It," and was a parody to the song "I'm Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO. Listen to additional parodies by visiting http://www.youtube.com/user/thepetersonfarmbros. Be sure to stop out at the McHenry County Fair to watch this impressive and entertaining young man's presentation!

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO OFFER FREE RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR AGRICHEMICAL CONTAINERS-
August 6-7th

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to save their empty agrichemical containers. The department announced today it has arranged to recycle them.

Beginning in late July, sites throughout the state will collect the containers and recycle them into small plastic chips that will be used to make shipping pallets, fence posts, drainage tubing, plastic lumber and other useful products.

“This program offers farmers a convenient opportunity to dispose of empty pesticide containers and demonstrate their environmental stewardship,” Agriculture Director Bob Flider said. “I would encourage them to gather any containers that they may have been planning to throw in the garbage and take them to the nearest collection site.”

Metal and household pesticide containers are not eligible for the recycling program. Collection sites will accept only high-density polyethylene, #2 plastic, agrichemical containers that are clean and dry. Participants are responsible for rinsing them and removing all caps, labels, booklets and foil seals.

The program is a cooperative venture between the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK, Inc., Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Container Services Network, Illinois Farm Bureau and University of Illinois Extension.

To obtain a free brochure about the program, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture toll free at 1-800-641-3934.

The collection sites and dates for the 2014 Pesticide Container Recycling Program are as follows:

Permanent collection sites:

County Location City Contact/Phone #

Greene Illinois Valley Supply Carrollton George Staples
217-942-6991

Lawrence Klein Flying Service Lawrenceville Robert Klein
618-884-1040

McLean Randolph Ag Service Heyworth Brad Hamilton
309-473-3256

Single Day Collection Sites:

AM Site hours are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. PM Site hours are 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
*** Site hours are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Date, Time    Location                             Contact
8/6 AM            Pearl City Elevator                    Mark Wells
Stephenson    Dakota                                       815-449-2254

8/6 PM            Conserv FS                            Jeff Baxter
Winnebago     Rockford                                815-963-7669

8/7 AM            Conserv FS                            Jeff Kimmel
McHenry         Marengo                                   815-568-7211

8/7 PM             Hintzsche Fert.                       Dan Moore
DeKalb            Kirkland                                   815-522-3251

Defensive Driving Course- October 21-22, 2014

The Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau is sponsoring a Defensive Driving course on October 21st and 22nd. The class will be held at the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau Building located at 1925 S Meridian Road, Rockford, IL. The course is open to any Farm Bureau member, especially those members that are 55 years and older and COUNTRY Financial insured.

Classes start at 10 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 3 p.m. each day. The registration fee is $18.00 per person which covers the cost of the course materials and the presenter. The Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau will provide a free lunch on both days.

Those completing the course are eligible to receive a discount on their auto insurance, but they must attend both days to qualify for the discount. An examination is NOT required to complete the course or receive certification.

Advanced reservations are required and the class size is limited to 25 people. Act now to take advantage of this cost-saving traffic safety program. Call the Farm Bureau office at 815-962-0653 to make a reservation or for more information. Reservations will be taken on a first come, first serve basis. Registration fee is due by October 13th.

ASK A FARMER!

Do you have questions about agriculture and wish to know the answer? Here is your chance!

Q: When a farmer does crop dusting, does he do it or does his brother/hired guy?
A: The Farmer generally hires an outside source or company to spray (crop dusting) for them due to requirements for licenses, insurance and experience.- Cody

Q: What percentage of crops grown and sold in Boone County are organic? GMOs and non-GMOs?
A: "Short answer is no one knows... The most recent USDA Ag Census data lists Boone county as having 137,000 acres in farmland in 2007. While it may look like it, not all acres are corn and soybean fields. Of the acres planted in 2007, 59% were planted to field corn, 24% to soybeans, 3.5% to alfalfa and other forage (mainly used to feed cows, horses, and other ruminants), and 2% to wheat. The remaining acres are a diverse mix such as nursery trees, fruits, vegetables, and pasture for animals.

Seed that has been developed with a genetically modified organism (GMO) is most often found in corn and soybean seed varieties. Farmers do not have any wheat GMO seed varieties that they can buy. Most of the fruit and vegetable production is produced for local food markets and is mainly organic and non-GMO.

So that leaves corn and soybeans. I have grown both GMO and non-GMO varieties. What I plant depends on; seed variety yield, the weeds and insects that I find in my fields, and market prices. I sell my grain to two local elevators. One contracts directly with farmers to raise specific varieties of corn and soybeans depending on what a buyer such as a food processor wants. The grain buyer at that elevator estimated about 90% of the soybean seed varieties grown in the local area are GMO and 80% of the corn.

Working through the math, a good estimate would be about 70% of the farm land acres in Boone County are grown using a GMO seed variety."- Ken

Q: Why do honeybees make honey?
A: Honey bees make honey to feed the hive and store enough to get through the winter. If there is extra, that is what the beekeeper. -Phillip

Q: What starts their (honey bees) honeycomb?
A: When honey bees eat nectar and honey, they secrete wax on their abdomen (same as people grow hair). They use this wax to build the honeycomb. TRIVIA: 1 pound of honeycomb will support 24 pounds of honey. -Phillip

Agricultural Security & Terrorism Awareness

In January 2013, the Winnebago Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in partnership with Win-Bur-Sew Fire Department hosted an information meeting on “Agricultural Security & Terrorism”. The presentation was given by Steffan Nass, Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator- FBI’s Springfield Division.

Agro-Terrorism is defined as the deliberate introduction, use, or threatened use, of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive agent against one or more components of the food or agriculture sectors, with the goal of causing mortality or morbidity, generating fee, precipitating economic loss, or undermining sector stability and confidence in government.

Here are a few indicators of Agro-Terrorism.

Suspicious persons asking specific questions about a facility or process.

Unauthorized photography of processes in or around facilities or farms.

Possessions of chemicals, biological agents, vaccines, or medication with no apparent purpose

Manuals, communications, or websites pertaining to chemicals or biological agents

Attempts to rent or borrow ag-related equipment for no logical reason or purpose

Thefts of anhydrous ammonia or other fertilizer products

Thefts of livestock

Agricultural Retail Facilities should report any of the following:

Any attempted purchases of pesticides by those not authorized or those without need

ALL security breaches if applicable

Suspicious activity around anhydrous ammonia storage facilities

Suspicious attempts to purchase fertilizer (such as ammonium nitrate, or agricultural use pesticides) by unfamiliar or suspicious persons

Producers and Auction Markets should report any of the following:

Suspicious behavior around farms or ranch operations

Theft of nurse tanks containing agricultural use pesticides or hazardous materials (Report Immediately)

Unusual symptoms or behavior in livestock

Sudden unexplained death or loss in livestock

Severe illness in large numbers of animals

Suspicious illnesses among employees

Aerial Applicators should report any tampering or attempts to purchase or rent aircraft or chemicals.

Suspicious signs and symptoms of illnesses in employees should be reported to your local health department. Health officials should be made aware of the emergency, normal duties and any contact with sick animals that may have led to the illness. Details of contact with feed products, medical supplies, or chemicals that the employee may have had contact with should also be noted.

Suspicious signs and symptoms of illnesses in animals (such as blistering or ruptured blisters around the mouth, nose, teats, or hooves; central nervous system disorders that prevent the animal from rising or walking normally; loss of appetite and conditioning; swelling around the eyes and neck in poultry; dramatic drop in egg or milk production; large number of dead insects, rodents or wildlife; and unusual ticks or maggots) should be reported to your veterinarian.

If a crime is in progress, CALL 9-1-1 immediately. If you have information about a crime, or to report suspicious activity, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (217) 522-9675. The following information is needed:

Your location

What activity is occurring

If a weapon is involved

Location of the activity

Description and license plates of any vehicles involved (make, model, color and direction of travel)

Description of persons (race, age, height, weight)

Your contact information

This information was provided by the Illinois Agro-Security Working Group. The Illinois Agro-Security Working group is a partnership between frontline agricultural industry personnel and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for the purpose of preventing criminal and terrorist activities in and around Illinois agriculture and food systems. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Fertilizer Chemical Association, Illinois Pork Producers, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Association, and the United States Department of Agriculture form the Illinois Agro-Security Working Group.

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau® is affiliated with the Illinois Farm Bureau®. Illinois Farm Bureau^® is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation^®, a national organization of farmers and ranchers including Farm Bureaus in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and is responsible for Farm Bureau^® membership and programs within Illinois.

FARM BUREAU^® and FB^® are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation. More information regarding the American Farm Bureau Federation can be found at www.fb.org.

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