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2 THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 THE COURIER / AGRICULTURE IN LOGAN COUNTY Lincoln, Illinois

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206 South Chicago StreetP.O. Box 740 | Lincoln, IL 62656

217.732.2101

BY Greenshoot Media

While not at the level of the 2011boom, farm equipment buying in 2013and 2014 has chugged along at asteady rate.

The annual business outlook surveyof the Association of EquipmentManufacturers showed a modest 2.8percent increase for the 2014 buyingseason after a 2.8 percent boost in2013.

According to a report by WesternFarm Press, the global market forAgricultural Implements andMachinery is projected to reach $122.9billion by 2017. The market is set tooffset sluggish progress in the devel-oped world with growth forecast fordeveloping economies.

Asia-Pacific represents the largest aswell as the fastest growing regionalmarket, while plowing and cultivationmachinery is expected to register thefastest growth across all segments.

So what's behind the spendingsplurge?

Farmers are investing their increasein net incomes in the premium prod-ucts they may have passed on in lessprofitable seasons. Even in the face ofexpenses in other areas, farmers areopting for GPS autoguidance packages,remote vehicle monitoring systems andheavy duty tractors equipped withtracks in place of less-expensivewheeled vehicles.

TRACTORSMost of the spending activity is with-

in the large commercial farm equip-ment sector. Large row-crop tractors,four-wheel-drive tractors, combines,sprayers, cotton harvesters andplanters and being scooped up asfarmers continue the trend of movingto bigger equipment.

The AEM reports that farm consoli-dation has required farmers to covermore acres in a season, which makes

larger machinery a valuable piece ofthe productivity puzzle. Even if laborsupply dips, large tractors and com-bines can prove critical cogs in afarmer's system.

OUTLOOKFarm Equipment's 2014 Dealer

Business Outlook & Trends surveyshows a United States farming com-munity leaning toward technology-guided equipment. Based on the per-centage of dealers who expected unitvolumes of specific equipment toincrease in 2014, farm loaders took thetop spot at 94.7 percent of dealers'choice for increasing unit sales.

GPS and precision farming equip-ment also was in the mid-90s, whilelawn and garden products, windrowersand round balers ranked highly.

NEW METHODS IN FARMINGFarming for years has been under-

Trends in Farming

SEE TRENDS P4

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Lincoln, Illinois THE COURIER / AGRICULTURE IN LOGAN COUNTY THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 3

going a progressive evolution acrossplanning, machinery and ?produc-tivity.

Climate and market challenges haveshifted farming strategies into moreefficient and cost-effective models.Such trends are evident within the2012 Census of Agriculture, which hastold the story of American farmingsince 1840.

At the base of many new farmingmethodologies is technology, as point-ed out by the 2012 Census:

o Farms with Internet access rosefrom 56.5 percent in 2007 to 69.6percent in 2012

o 57,299 farms produced on-farmrenewable energy, more than doublethe 23,451 in 2007

o 474,028 farms covering 173.1 mil-lion acres were farmed with conserva-tion tillage or no-till practices.

TRENDSPrecision Planting: Automatic row

shut-off and variable-rate seeding are

two of the main factors driving farm-ers' decisions to trade in their older,smaller planters for newer onesequipped with the latest in precision-planting technologies.

Vertical Tillage: This relatively newmethod of tillage is centered upon siz-ing and optimizing crop residue withlight incorporation at high speeds.

DIVERSITYNon-technically speaking, one of

the largest driving factors in newmethodologies can be found in ananalysis of the farming age shift.Young, beginning principal operatorswho reported their primary occupa-tion as farming increased 11.3 percentfrom 36,396 to 40,499 between 2007and 2012, according to the 2012Census.

Principal operators were on average58.3 years old and were predominant-ly male, while second operators wereslightly younger and most likely to befemale. Cultural diversity also issweeping the farming industry, withall categories of minority-operated

farms increasing between 2007 and2012. Hispanic-operated farms had asignificant 21 percent increase.

SMALL ACREAGE Approximately 294,000 U.S. farms

operated on 10 or fewer acres in 2007,according to the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture, catalyzing

what is labeled by experts as thesmall-farming revolution.

Many of these small operationsmake up the approximately 144,530farm operators who reported sellingproducts directly to consumers. In2012, these sales totaled more than$1.3 billion (up 8.1 percent from2007).


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TRENDS from P2_________________

BY Metro News Service

Mother Nature provides plenty togrow healthy lawns, gardens and land-scapes. But as many homeowners know,some lawns sometimes need a littleextra boost to complement nature. Soilsometimes must be amended so plantscan thrive. Only after the right composi-tion is created can plants take root andperform to the best of their abilities.

The Colorado State UniversityExtension defines a soil amendment asany material added to soil to improve itsphysical properties. The goal is to pro-vide a better environment for roots.Depending on what you are startingwith, any number of ingredients mustbe added to the soil recipe. Water reten-tion, permeability, drainage, aeration,nutrients, and water infiltration aresome of the things amendments canimprove when added to soil.

Before homeowners add anything to

the soil in their yards, it is first impor-tant to determine what that soil needs.Homeowners may notice if soil is overlysandy or full of clay, but further testingcan confirm what the soil is lacking. Soiltests are often available through localcooperative extension offices or privatelaboratories. Speak with a nursery orgarden center about where you can getyour soil tested. A comprehensive testmay cost between $5 and $10 and canprovide invaluable information thatsaves you hundreds of dollars in wastedplants and materials, not to mentioneffort. Some labs also can tailor theirrecommendations based on the type ofplanting you will be doing. For example,a vegetable garden may need differentamendments than a row of azalea bush-es.

Organic matter is a preferred soilamendment used by professional andnovice gardeners alike. The decaying

remains of plants release nutrients thatare absorbed into the soil and used bymicroorganisms and bacteria, creating ahealthy environment for plants. Organicmaterial may break up compacted soilto increase drainage. In sandy soil,organic material serves as a sponge tokeep water from washing away.Compost and manure are two examplesof frequently used organic materials.Both of these materials are readily avail-able at little cost.

Compost can be produced at homefrom food and plant scraps. Rakedleaves and small amounts of grass clip-pings can be added to compost. Overtime, the decomposition process willturn scraps into a nutrient-rich, darkbrown substance that provides manyplants with all they need to thrive.Compost is particularly useful in veg-etable gardens.

Manure should come from herbivores,

or those animals that sustain themselveson grass and other plants. Carnivorescan produce harmful bacteria in theirwaste, which is not safe to use in gar-dens, particularly food-bearing gardens.Manure can be commercially pur-chased, or avid gardeners can work outarrangements with nearby livestockowners and farms. These people may bemore than willing to give you manurefor little to no cost if you cart it away.Dried manure is preferred because itwill have minimal odor.

Additional forms of organic amend-ments include wood ash, sphagnumpeat, wood chips, sawdust, and wormdroppings.

Inorganic amendments also may beused, and are usually relied on toimprove water retention and drainage.Vermiculite, perlite, pea gravel, andsand are examples of inorganic amend-ments. A combination of organic and


Amendments can help produce healthy soil


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inorganic amendments can create theperfect mix for your needs.

Soil amendments typically are addedto new and unplanted beds. Peat mossand shredded bark take years to decom-pose and will serve as long-termamendments in the soil. Compostbreaks down quickly and may need tobe worked in more frequently.

Experts recommend spreadingamendments on the planting bed andthen using a rake or tiller to work it into a depth of about nine inches.Particularly sandy soil or soil with a lotof clay may need more amendments.

Permanent plants, such as trees orshrubs, also can benefit from the extranutrient boost amendments provide.Sometimes it is sufficient to spread thematerial over the soil surface and letrainwater and wildlife help distribute itto the plant roots. Otherwise, work itinto the top inch or two of the dirt witha hand cultivator.

Soil amendments can be the differ-ence between a thriving garden andhealthy landscape and one that has seenbetter days.

DIGITAL VISION


BY Metro News Service

Lawn and garden enthusiasts know ahandful of items are essential to main-tain a healthy landscape. Water, sun-shine and the proper nutrients all workin concert to promote a healthy lawn.Although nutritional material is inher-ent in the soil, many gardeners feel soilmust be amended with some sort of fer-tilizer to give plants a healthy boost.

All-natural fertilizers are growing inpopularity, and home gardeners have avariety of such products at their dispos-al. Ambitious homeowners can evencreate their own all-natural fertilizersfrom items around the house. Organicfertilizers, or those that are derived fromliving organisms and not manufactur-ered through chemicals, can provide

sufficient nutrients and minerals togrow healthy plants.

BONE MEAL

In order to store energy and reachmaturity, plants need phosphate. Thismineral is released over a long period oftime from finely ground rock. However,a faster way to supply it to the land-scape is through bone meal. Bone mealis a mixture of finely and coarselyground animal bones that are a wasteproduct from meat-processing plants.Adding bone meal to soil is one of themost effective ways to increase phos-phorous levels.

MANUREThe waste from herbivores (animals

that feed on grass), including rabbits,horses and cows, can make super fertil-izers. Some gardeners shy away frommanure because they believe it to be anodoriferous, dirty product. The best pro-duced manures are allowed to compostfor at least nine months and are mixedwith hay or straw. They should not pro-duce an offensive odor and will provideplants with a host of nutrients. Neveruse manures from meat-eating animals,like dogs, cats or humans. Feces canharbor a lot of bacteria, which can betransfered to the garden soil.

Natural fertilizers loaded withnutrients and minerals

206 South Chicago StreetP.O. Box 740

Lincoln, Illinois 62656

217-732-2101www.LincolnCourier.com

Lincoln, Illinois THE COURIER / AGRICULTURE IN LOGAN COUNTY THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 9FISH AND SEAWEED

Improving soil nutrients may be assimple as looking to the ocean or otherbodies of water. Fish emulsion, a mix-ture of ground fish and water, is a goodnitrogen source. Nitrogen gives plantsthe energy to grow. Seaweed, which isactually a type of algae, contains the pri-mary nutrients that plants need in orderto thrive, including phosphorous, nitro-gen and potassium. It also serves as afood for natural bacteria that breakdown nutrients into the soil, makingthem easier for plants to absorb.

WORMS

Earthworms are vital to soil health.They burrow and wiggle around in thedirt, helping to aerate the soil. But thecastings, or waste, of the worms alsoprovide valuable nutrients to the soil.The castings contain beneficial microor-ganisms from the worms' digestive sys-tem that help break down organic mat-ter into a form that plant roots can use.Many gardeners participate in vermi-

composting, or farming worms in orderto use their castings as fertilizer.

COMPOST

Compost can also be used as fertilizer.Gardeners can make their own compostfrom discarded materials. Compost isone of the most widely used soil amend-ments in vegetable gardens. Yard refuse,fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells,coffee grounds, and other items can beadded to a compost pile. Natural bacte-ria will slowly break down these materi-als into a product dubbed "black gold."Compost can be mixed into soil beforeplanting and used as a dressing afterplants have been established.

Gardeners can experiment with differ-ent ratios of fertilizer to create a mixthat enhances the soil. Test the soil todetermine which, if any, nutrients thesoil is lacking so the fertilizer can beadjusted accordingly.


BY Greenshoot Media

Where's the beef ? It's at the top ofthe list. In 2012, the largest ?catego-ry of operations was beef cattle, with29 percent of all farms and ranchesspecializing in cattle, according tothe government.

If you own enough land and areinterested in beginning a cattleoperation, there are some factors toconsider.

Land, labor, feed and managementare the primary expanses for anyfarming entrepreneur looking toraise cattle, according to the PennState University College ofAgricultural Sciences. The type ofoperation you choose to oversee alsois a main factor to consider, as thereare major differences betweenbreeding stock or commercial cattlefor market.

Just as with founding any other

business, it is critical to sit downand map out your strategy.

Put together your business plan.Consult with a lending professionalto cover any financing needs. Theresearch you put in on the front endwill pay off.

TYPE OF OPERATION Before you get started in the beef

business, you will need to ask your-self what type of operation you feelcomfortable managing. You probablyhave some general knowledge onfeeder calves or feedlot operations.

If not, set up a meeting with yourlocal agricultural extension centerand ask any questions you may have.Their advice can be crucial to settingyou up on the right path.

FACILITIES & EQUIPMENTFacilities for beef operations can

How to Raise Cattle

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Lincoln, Illinois THE COURIER / AGRICULTURE IN LOGAN COUNTY THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 11vary in price and size. Your require-ments will depend on if your opera-tion will be seasonal and what typesof equipment you will need.

Penn State recommends that alloperations contain some type ofhandling system that allows a pro-ducer to easily catch and restrain ananimal for routine health care pro-cedures.

Smaller equipment you will needincludes syringes, needs, halters andstorage options.

Do you plan on growing your ownfeeds? Then you will need a tractor,as well as planting and harvestingequipment.

A brush hog and mower clip arevital pieces of equipment if youroperational plans include a pasture,which is made mostly of plants thatstop growing once they have pro-duced seeds for the year.

Keeping the seed heads clippedwill keep them growing in a vegeta-tive state.

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BY Greenshoot Media

Every five or six years, farmers waitwith great anticipation for a criticalpiece of legislation: The AgriculturalAct.

Known more simply as the U.S. FarmBill, the Act is a comprehensive statutethat covers most federal governmentpolicies related to agriculture in theUnited States. The Farm Bill is typical-ly renewed every five years but was twoyears late in 2014.

The bill is broken down into a varietyof categories, including energy, com-modity programs, trade, nutrition,credit, rural development, crop insur-ance and disaster assistance. Originallycreated in 1933, it has grown to its cur-rent $956 billion iteration.

EARLY FARM BILLS President Franklin D. Roosevelt's

1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act pro-

vided subsidies to U.S. farmers in themidst of the Great Depression.

The federal government paid farmersto stop the production of seven maincrops to reduce their supply andincrease prices.

The Agricultural Adjustment Act,which was later deemed unconstitu-tional by the Supreme Court, also con-tained several provisions related toconservation, Dust Bowl support andsurplus harvest storage regulations. Itsbasic features were included in laterAgricultural Adjustment Acts andserved as guidelines for future farmbills that have been regularly passedsince 1965.

2014 HighlightsThe main provision within the 2014

farm bill replaces direct crop paymentswith an insurance program and trims$8 billion from food stamps over thenext decade. Now, instead of receiving

a regular annual government check,farmers will pay an insurance bill everyyear and will only receive support fromthat insurance in years when they takea loss, according to the USDA.

Other key points highlighted by theUnited States Department ofAgriculture are:

■ A 30 percent reduction in tradi-tional commodities subsidies, and a 50percent boost in funding for fruits, veg-etables and organic programs;

■ An increase in funding for growersmaking the transition from conven-tional to organic farming (from $22million to $57.5 million); and

■ Large bumps for programs thathelp food stamp recipients pay forfruits and vegetables.


The U.S. Farm Bill

For more on the 2014U.S. Farm Bill, visitwww.usda.gov/farmbill

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BY Greenshoot Media

Among the key reasons consumers arebuying more organic foods is the positiveimpact on the environment. They alsomay contain more anti-oxidants andfewer pesticide residues.

The British Journal of Nutrition foundthat organic crops contain 17 percentmore anti-oxidants than non-organicallygrown crops, meaning more of the keyagents crucial in fighting cancer and pre-vent heart disease are preserved.

Such reports are igniting increases inproduct revenues, as organic farmersreported $3.12 billion in sales in 2012,up from $1.7 billion in 2007, accordingto the 2012 Census of Agriculturereleased by the U.S. Department ofAgriculture.

GROWING ORGANIC For growers of organic products, it's all

about the soil. Farmers build healthy

soils by nourishing the living componentof the soil with various natural materials.Organic matter can be built with com-post and cover crops.

Weeds can be controlled without theuse of harmful chemicals through vari-ous methods. The Organic FarmingResearch Foundation identifies these asviable options: crop rotation, mechanicaltillage, hand-weeding, mulches andflame weeding.

RAISING ORGANICCertified organic meat, dairy products

and eggs must be produced from ani-mals that are fed organic feed andallowed routine access to the outdoors.Their living conditions must be up to parwith specific standards that accommo-date the natural behavior of the animal.

Organic livestock and poultry may notbe given antibiotics, hormones or med-ications, unless afflicted with an illness.

They may, however, be vaccinatedagainst disease, which is generally con-trolled through preventative measuressuch as rotational grazing, balanced diet,sanitary living conditions and stressreduction.

FROM FARM TO TABLE One way organic farmers have capital-

ized on their craft - especially operatorsof smaller farms - is by monetizing theirproducts via direct sale. Customersacross America have taken notice of theorganic food market as they attempt toimprove the overall eating habits ofthemselves and their family members.

If you grow organic fruits, for exam-ple, you may consider turning it into ajam, jelly, cider or butter. You may needa certified kitchen for this purpose, socheck in with your local health depart-ment.

Additionally, many organic farmersalso are able to offer tourist-like attrac-tions. Some options may be a generalstore with crafts and goods, a pettingzoo or a pumpkin patch with cornmazes.

Organic Farming

BLEND IMAGES


BY Greenshoot Media

Would you guess that farming isthe most hazardous industry in thenation? You would be correct,according to the National SafetyCouncil.

Every year, thousands of farmworkers are injured and hundredsmore die in farming accidents -most of which involve machinery.

Other health and safety hazardson farms include chemicals, pesti-cides, dust, electricity, grain bins,hand tools, livestock handling,ponds, heat and toxic gases.Creating, maintaining and commu-nicating clear policies regarding allaspects of your farming operationis a great start to ensuring farm-wide safety.

VULNERABILITY FACTORS Age is the most critical factor in

the occurrence of farming accidents.Hazards that may affect children andthe elderly are the most important tohave under control for any principalfarm operator.

You can start by making a con-scious effort to increase your aware-ness of farming hazards and preparefor emergency situations. These dan-gers include fires, vehicle accidents,electrical shocks from equipmentand wires, and chemical exposures.

OSHA TIPS The Occupational Safety and

Health Administration offers the fol-lowing tips on how you can foster asafer farm environment, which willlead to higher morale and productiv-

ity in your workforce. ■ Read and follow instructions in

equipment operator's manuals andon product labels;

■ Inspect equipment routinely forproblems that may cause accidents;

■ Discuss safety hazards andemergency procedures with yourworkers;

■ Install approved rollover protec-tive structures, protective enclosures,or protective frames on tractors;

■ Review and follow instructionsin material safety data sheets and onlabels that come with chemical prod-ucts; and

■ Be aware that methane gas, car-bon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogensulfide can form in unventilatedgrain silos and manure pits, causingexplosions or suffocating workers.

Safety in the Field

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