official show program - ideag group farm shows · pdf fileofficial show program sponsored by:...

NIL

2015

THE BEST IN MIDWEST

AGRICULTURE

250 Exh

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LATESTTECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

Planting Equipment & Information

ATTENDEES

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F O R A G R I C U L T U R E . B Y A G R I C U L T U R E .

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JANUARY 7–8, 2015WEDNESDAY, 8:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.

THURSDAY, 8:00 A.M.–3:00 P.M.

O F F I C I A L S H O W P R O G R A M

SPONSORED BY:

www.IDEAgGroup.com/Illinois

Free admission, Parking $5NIU Convocation Center DeKalb, Illinois

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 79 to 10:30 a.m.: “Marketing Outlook:How Will Planted Acres Shift in 2015?”;Allendale Inc. will share its pre-reportsummary with a professional’s insightto how the USDA January Report willimpact grain prices in 2015. Presenter: Jim McCormick, seniortrading adviser/commodity broker,Allendale Inc.Sponsored by:

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: “Updates to the2014 Farm Bill”; University of Illinoisstaff will provide an update to the FarmService Agency programs associatedwith the 2014 farm bill. Presenters willprovide information to assist produc-ers in understanding the farm programand the decisions they will need tomake as a result of this new farm bill.Presenter: Gary Schnitkey, Universityof IllinoisProduced by:

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: “Weather Trends inAgriculture”; Candice King, chiefmeteorologist with WTVO-TV inRockford will discuss weather, and howit affects agriculture in the Statelinearea. King will take a look at the pastand present weather patterns and provide the attendees with a glimpseinto the future. Presenter: Candice King, First Warnchief meteorologist with WTVOChannel 17 and Fox 39 in RockfordProduced by:

THURSDAY, JAN. 810 to 11 a.m.: “Update on 2014Research Projects at the NorthernIllinois Agronomy Research Center”;University of Illinois Extension commercial agriculture educator Russ Higgins will give an update on the agronomy research projects conducted in 2014 at the center. Thecenter is the northernmost of sixresearch sites managed by theUniversity Illinois Department of CropSciences. Established in 1948 nearShabbona in DeKalb County, this 160-acre center provides land and support for campus-based researchersstudying plant breeding, soil fertilitysoil management, weed science, cropproduction, pest management andenvironmental quality. About 45 separate research projects are conducted here every year.Presenter: Russ Higgins, University ofIllinois ExtensionProduced by:

For 33 years, the IDEAgNorthern Illinois Farm Showhas brought together the area’stop producers and agribusinessrepresentatives. With close to200 exhibitors, the show is aconvenient way to meet theneeds of farmers and ranchersunder one roof.

Once again, the show isexpected to draw more than8,000 attendees from northernIllinois, southern Wisconsin and

eastern Iowa.In addition to the full show

floor, there are a number ofinformational education ses-sions, produced by University of

Illinois Extension Service, tak-ing place throughout the show.In addition, the annual PrivatePesticide Applicator Testing pro-gram will take place from 10a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 7 and from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 8.

The IDEAg Group thanks youfor your continued support andwe look forward to a great 2015show.

The IDEAg Team

2 Friday, January 2, 2015 | NORTHERN ILLINOIS FARM SHOW | Illinois AgriNews — www.agrinews-pubs.com

Welcome to the IDEAgNorthern Illinois Farm Show!

2015 Northern Illinois FarmShow Schedule of Events

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 78 a.m.: Show opens9-10:30 a.m.: “Market Outlook: Howwill Planted Acres Shift in 2015?,”presented by Jim McCormick, seniortrading adviser/commodity broker,Allendale Inc., in Allendale Inc.Multipurpose Room10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: PesticideApplicator License Testing inAuxiliary Gym11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: “Updates tothe 2014 Farm Bill,” presented byGary Schnitkey, University of Illinois,in University of Illinois ExtensionMultipurpose Room1:30-2:30 p.m.: “Weather Trends in

Agriculture,” presented by CandiceKing of WTVO-TV, Rockford, in theUniversity of Illinois ExtensionMultipurpose Room4 p.m.: Show closes

THURSDAY, JAN. 88 a.m.: Show opens10-11 a.m.: “Update on 2014 ResearchProjects at the Northern IllinoisAgronomy Research Center,” present-ed by Russ Higgins of University ofIllinois Extension in University ofIllinois Extension Multipurpose Room10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Pesticide ApplicatorLicense Testing in Auxiliary Gym3 p.m.: Show closesSchedule of Education Sessions

About IDEAgGroup, LLCIDEAg Group, LLC, delivers an

optimal experience to attendees,exhibitors and industry thought

leaders in the agricultural market.Through its established farm

show events and Feed & Grainmagazine, the IDEAg Group is

dedicated to bringing interactive,content-rich, high-value events to the marketplace, connecting

top-level producers to theproviders across the country.

The IDEAg Group offers interactive events, publications

and media products that are produced “For Agriculture. By

Agriculture.”

Dan Durheim, Executive Director,Industry AffairsRay Bianchi, Senior Director,Tradeshows and EventsAmy LaTessa, CEM, Show DirectorMarshall Brown, OperationsDirector

Samantha Castro, MarketingManagerWayne Koenig, OperationsManagerBrian Ruhl, Sales ManagerScott Odin, Sales ManagerCailey Lantz, Show Coordinator

IDEAg Group, LLC, Staff

Stop By Our Booth #411B

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www.agrinews-pubs.com — Illinois AgriNews | NORTHERN ILLINOIS FARM SHOW | Friday, January 2, 2015 3

Exhibitors | A to Z1ST FARM CREDIT SERVICES514

A & P GRAIN SYSTEMS INC.203

ACRI CO.918

ADM GRAIN CO.613

ADS BULK SEED BUGGY600

ADVANCE TRADING INC.515

AGNITION610

AGPERSPECTIVE INC.620

AGRIDRY LLC617

AGRIENERGY RESOURCES502

AGRIGOLD HYBRIDS705

AKE SAFETY EQUIPMENT624

ALPHA AG SOLUTIONS802

ALPINE BANK718

ALTORFER INC.603

AMVAC CHEMICAL126

ANDY WOLD CONSTRUCTIONLLC1409

BECK’S HYBRIDS232

BIG IRON / STOCK AUCTION352

BLAIN’S FARM & FLEET420

BLAIR’S DISC SHARPENING523

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OFILLINOIS112

BLUNIER BUILDERS INC.1201

BMO HARRIS BANK, N.A.265

BORKHOLDER BUILDINGS625

BRANDNER MAPPING & SALES326

BRITESPAN BUILDING SYSTEMS INC.619

C.S.R. BOBCAT INC.427

CABINETWORKS KITCHENS124

CADY INC.411

CAPELLO CORNHEAD / HEAVYEQUIPMENT SERVICES238

CARGILL AG HORIZONS500

CENTRAL ILLINOIS SCALE CO.120

CIT GROUP INC.1000

CLARKS AG SUPPLY320

CLEARY BUILDING CORP.713

CONSOLIDATED GRAIN & BARGE CO.522

COPPERHEAD AG322

COUNTRY FINANCIAL525

CREAM CITY STATELINESCALE CO.805

CROP IMS222

CRUSTBUSTER / SPEED KING INC.224

CSI HOMES909

CULPITT ROOFING INC.1106

CUSTOM WASH ONE INC.1419

CUTCO CUTLERY1417

DAIRYLAND SEED CO. INC..908

DECRA ROOFING SYSTEMS815

DEKALB COUNTY SOIL &WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT521

DEKALB LAWN & EQUIPMENTCO. INC.709

DULTMEIER SALES1300

NON-GMO SEED CORN100% NON-GMO AND ORGANIC PRODUCTION

PRAIRIE HYBRIDS SEEDS27445 Hurd Rd., Deer Grove, IL 61243

800-368-0124Your Source for Quality Seed Corn

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NIU Convocation Center Floor Plan Exhibitors |A to Z

DUPONT PIONEER801

DURAMAX / CUMMINS TUNER1109

ELBURN COOP209

ENERGY PANEL STRUCTURES708

ENOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES1100

FARMCHAINS.COM1313

FARMERS HELPING FARMERSCO.1309

FASSCO EQUIPMENT CO.512

FAST MANUFACTURING245

FBI BUILDINGS INC.409

FEECE OIL CO.1209

FERTILIZER DEALER SUPPLY211

GINGRICH ENTERPRISES INC.242

GRAIN MASTERS & STEVENSON SERVICE340

GREAT LAKES / METRO ROOFING PRODUCTS108

GREAT LAKES HYBRIDS355

GREENFIELD CONTRACTORSLLC404

H. I. STONE & SONS INC.226

HARMS GRAIN EQUIPMENTINC.419

HARVEST INTERNATIONAL INC.257

HELENA CHEMICAL CO.261


HENDRICKSON FLYING SERVICE INC.227

HENDRIX TOWN & COUNTRY628

HONEY CREEK SEED CO.353

HOWARD LEE & SONS INC.926

HUEBER LLC338

ILLINOIS FARMER TODAY716

ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION421

ILLINOIS VALLEY AGRI SYSTEMS, LLC508

INDUSTRIAL AIR SOLUTIONS510

INTELLIFARMS LLC806

J & R HERRA INC.1103

JET CO. INC.520

KALER FARMS DIVERSIFIEDENTERPRISES1200

KE PRECISION AG807

KIMBERLY M. BARRIOS INSURANCE AGENCY410

KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE116

KOCH’S KOMPANY402

LEAFFILTER GUTTER PROTECTION922

LESTER BUILDING SYSTEMS,LLC608

LINCO PRECISION LLC200

MAIER PRECAST726

MAPLEHURST FARMS INC.403

MARTIN IMPLEMENT SALESINC.258

MIDWEST AGRO ALLIANCE408

MIDWEST PERMA-COLUMNINC.627

MIDWEST SCALE CO.927

MIDWESTERN BIOAG INC.722

MODAL MARKETING INC.130

MOLY MFG. INC. / SILENCER226A

MONSANTO — ASGROW /DEKALB406

MOORE TIRES INC.354

MY PILLOW INC.100

NB&T414

NEXTIRE INC.416

NICOMM LLC407

NORTH CENTRAL IRRIGATION417

NORTHERN PARTNERS COOPERATIVE616

NUTRA-FLO CO.912

OHIO VALLEY AG233

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS914

PINNO BUILDINGS332

POWER LIFT DOORS729

PRAIRIE HYBRID SEEDS225

PRAIRIE STATE INSULATION1003

PRECISION AUTOMOTIVEDIESEL412

PROHARVEST SEEDS314

QED DRYER SALES & MFG.INC.334

R.J. BOWERS DISTRIBUTORSINC.324

RENK SEED CO.804

R-EQUIPMENT CO. LLC319

RESOURCE BANK, N.A.1105

Exhibitors | A to Z

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RITEWAY MFG.248

ROCKFORD DIESEL INJECTIONSERVICE INC.128

ROOSTER AG’350

RYDER TRANSPORTATION344

SALFORD BY DAMBMAN SERVICE INC.317

SCHERTZ AERIAL SERVICEINC.359

SCHULTZ’S INTER-STATE AGINC.264

SEEDBURO EQUIPMENT1101

SEEDIRECTYIELDIRECT415

SGS NORTH AMERICA423

SHEARERWORKS SOLUTIONS413

SHIVVERS MFG. INC.723

SHOW-ME SHORTLINE CO. LLC345

SILVEUS INSURANCE GROUPINC.607

SO-IL SERVICE INC.347

SPECTRUM TECHNOLGIES INC.614

SPRINGFIELD PLASTIC INC.1206

STEWART — PETERSON INC.328

STILLMAN BANK621

STINE SEED CO.212

STOLLERUSA1107

STONE SEED GROUP725

STOR-LOC812

SYNGENTA / GOLDERN HARVEST710

THOMPSON BUILDING CO.721

TIMPTE INC.330

TRACY SEEDS LLC623

TRI-STATE SPRAYING SYSTEMS349

TROUBLE FREE LIGHTING719

UNCOMMON USA401

UNITED SOILS INC.504

UNZICKER EQUIPMENT INC.511

VALENT U.S.A. CORP.626

WALTERS BUILDINGS816

WATERS EQUIPMENT707

WICK BUILDINGS LLC518

WINDOW WORKS266

WISCONSIN PLASTIC DRAINTILE CORP.316

WITMER PRECISION SERVICES250

WYFFELS HYBRIDS811

YETTER MFG CO.216

YOUNG CUSTOM CONTRACTORS706

Z AND J FARMS253

ZENZ BUILDINGS INC.920


Exhibitors | A to Z

More than 8,000 attendees are expected at the IDEAg Northern Illinois FarmShow Jan. 8-9. The event features nearly 200 exhibitors.

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Exhibitors | ServicesAG CONSULTING

504 UNITED SOILS INC.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY707 WATERS EQUIPMENT

BUILDING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

1201 BLUNIER BUILDERSINC.

625 BORKHOLDER BUILD-INGS

BUILDINGS1201 BLUNIER BUILDERS

INC.625 BORKHOLDER BUILD-

INGS708 ENERGY PANEL

STRUCTURES409 FBI BUILDINGS INC.608 LESTER BUILDING

SYSTEMS LLC920 ZENZ BUILDINGS

INC.

COMMUNICATIONS407 NICOMM LLC

COMPUTER SOFTWARE504 UNITED SOILS INC.

CONSERVATION TILLAGE EQUIPMENT

200 LINCO PRECISION LLC

CONVEYORS1101 SEEDBURO EQUIP-

MENT

COVERS/BAGS1101 SEEDBURO

EQUIPMENT

CROP PROTECTION802 ALPHA AG SOLU-

TIONS

CUSTOM APPLICATION EQUIPMENT

233 OHIO VALLEY AG

DIGITAL MAPPING200 LINCO PRECISION

LLC

DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE802 ALPHA AG SOLU-

TIONS

ELECTRICAL116 KISHWAUKEE

COLLEGE

FERTILIZER502 AGRIENERGY

RESOURCES411 CADY INC.

Product Spotlight

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FERTILIZER APPLICATION EQUIPMENT

200 LINCO PRECISION LLC233 OHIO VALLEY AG

FORAGE/SILAGE411 CADY INC.

FORKLIFTS/LOADERS511 UNZICKER EQUIP-

MENT INC.

GENERATORS707 WATERS EQUIPMENT

GRAIN BINS411 CADY INC.264 SCHULTZ’S

INTER-STATE AG INC.

GRAIN DRYERS264 SCHULTZ’S

INTER-STATE AG INC.723 SHIVVERS MFG. INC.

GRAIN HANDLING EQUIPMENT264 SCHULTZ’S

INTER-STATE AG INC.1101 SEEDBURO

EQUIPMENT723 SHIVVERS MFG. INC.

HARVESTING EQUIPMENT413 SHEARERWORKS

SOLUTIONS723 SHIVVERS MFG. INC.

HAULING & HANDLING EQUIPMENT

411 CADY INC.

HAY EQUIPMENT1101 SEEDBURO

EQUIPMENT

HOME CONSTRUCTION1201 BLUNIER BUILDERS

INC.

INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT707 WATERS EQUIPMENT

IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT417 NORTH CENTRAL

IRRIGATION

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT411 CADY INC.

MANURE HANDLING EQUIPMENT411 CADY INC.

METAL ROOFS625 BORKHOLDER

BUILDINGS

ORGANICS502 AGRIENERGY

RESOURCES

PEST CONTROL1101 SEEDBURO

EQUIPMENT

PLANTING EQUIPMENT1101 SEEDBURO

EQUIPMENT

PRECISION AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

200 LINCO PRECISION LLC233 OHIO VALLEY AG1101 SEEDBURO

EQUIPMENT504 UNITED SOILS INC.

RENEWABLE ENERGY411 CADY INC.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT1101 SEEDBURO

EQUIPMENT

SCALES1101 SEEDBURO

EQUIPMENT

SEED705 AGRIGOLD HYBRIDS908 DAIRYLAND SEED CO.

INC.

SIDING625 BORKHOLDER

BUILDINGS

SILO REPAIR411 CADY INC.

SNOW REMOVAL200 LINCO PRECISION LLC

SPRAYERS200 LINCO PRECISION LLC

SPRAYERS & ACCESSORIES200 LINCO PRECISION LLC

SPREADERS200 LINCO PRECISION LLC

TANKS411 CADY INC.

TRAILERS200 LINCO PRECISION LLC

TRUCKS & ACCESSORIES200 LINCO PRECISION LLC

WASTE HANDLING411 CADY INC.

WINDOWS625 BORKHOLDER

BUILDINGS


Exhibitors | Services

About 200 exhibitors will be featured at the IDEAg Northern Illinois Farm Show Jan. 8-9.

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By Martha BlumAGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

SYCAMORE, Ill. — Historicalmarkers now recognize the her-itage of agricultural innovationin DeKalb County.

“We’re proud to join with youto dedicate a marker recogniz-ing the first Farm Bureau inIllinois and among the first in

the country,” said Larry Mix,president of the DeKalb AreaAgricultural HeritageAssociation.

“The DeKalb County FarmBureau story is important to tellbecause it underscores not allgreat ag innovations are primari-ly technical or scientific innature,” Mix said. “Some aremore organizational and rela-

tional like bringing togetherfarmers to look at their ideas innew ways, to tackle big chal-lenges and achieve big resultswhich individuals could nothave achieved on their own.”

The new marker stands out-side the DeKalb County FarmBureau Building.

“Great technology alone cannot meet the huge challenge offeeding 7 billion people,” Mixsaid.

“Hats off to you DeKalbCounty Farm Bureau, the geniusand effectiveness of your innova-tive idea has been tested by time,and more than 100 years later,you’re still going strong andstaying true to your mission ofserving farm, family and com-munity,” he said.

On March 27, 1912, theDeKalb County SoilImprovement Association wasincorporated with the state ofIllinois. In 1926, this group offi-cially changed its name to theDeKalb County Farm Bureau.

“A group of smart people gottogether when they started thesoil improvement association,”said Mark Tuttle, president ofthe DeKalb bureau. “A lot of

things have happened over thatcentury including the advance-ment of hybrid seed corn, whichled to DeKalb Ag Research.”

The development of hybridcorn impacts farmers far beyondDeKalb County.

“DeKalb hybrids are now soldby Monsanto worldwide,”Tuttle said. “People across theworld will have a good nutri-tious meal tonight because ofthe efforts that happened 102years ago.”

Those who joined together100 years ago to focus onimproving crop production andestablish a farmer-led organiza-tion were looking forwardtoward the future, he noted.

OTHER MARKERSThe marker at the Farm

Bureau building is one of threeerected in DeKalb County thisfall.

The first marker was placedat the location of the firstDeKalb hybrid corn breedingplot along Nelson Road, off ofRoute 38.

The other marker is at theDeKalb home of the first farmadviser for the county, WilliamEckhardt.

Martha Blum can be reached at815-223-2558, ext. 117, [email protected]. Follow her on Twitterat: @AgNews_Blum.


Historical markers recognize ag innovation Mark Tuttle, presi-dent of the DeKalbCounty FarmBureau, speaks atthe dedication cere-mony of the histori-cal marker, whichrecognizes thegroup of farmers,businessmen andbankers who joinedtogether in 1912 toform a coalition thatbecame the firstFarm Bureau inIllinois.

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By Martha BlumAGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

DEKALB, Ill. — Quality soils,proximity to markets and activefarmer leadership are just a few ofthe factors that contribute to thestrong agricultural industry inDeKalb County.

A significant portion of thecounty is devoted to some type ofagricultural production.

“In this county, 88 percent ofthe land is involved in agricul-ture,” said Greg Millburg, manag-er of the DeKalb County FarmBureau. “That hasn’t changed awhole lot in the last 20-someyears.”

And, Millburg said, 98 percentof the land has prime soils.

“Our strength is the soils in thiscounty and the climate of north-ern Illinois, which has been verybeneficial to agriculture over theyears,” he said.

Policy decisions made byDeKalb County government offi-cials have been supportive of thecounty’s ag industry.

“The DeKalb County Boardunderstands the economic enginethat agriculture is for this county,and the support dates back intothe ‘70s,” Millburg said.

“In order to build a house in anagriculture-zoned area, you need40 acres.”

The rule is designed to keepgrowth in the county close tomunicipalities.

“That is not only good for themunicipalities as far as providingservices to the residents, but alsogood for agriculture by keepinggrowth from occurring in themiddle of a rural area,” Millburgsaid.

“We have access to severalmarkets through the IllinoisRiver, rail facilities, good roadsand our close proximity toChicago,” said Mark Tuttle, aSomonauk farmer who hasserved as the president of DeKalbCounty Farm Bureau sinceMarch 2012. “This county is amajor producer of hogs and cat-tle, which is rooted to Chicago,which at one time was a majormarket for cattle and hogs.”

According to the NationalAgricultural Statistics Service, in2012, DeKalb County farmersplanted 233,500 acres of cornthat produced more than 36 mil-lion bushels of corn and 92,000acres of soybeans that resulted inmore than 4.7 million bushels of

soybeans during a growing sea-son that was hurt by drought.

As of Dec. 1, 2012, the servicereported, livestock producers inthe county raised 235,000 head ofhogs and pigs and 29,000 head ofcattle and calves.

CORN, SOYBEANS, LIVESTOCK“Corn and soybeans are the top

grain commodities in the county,and we are very strong in live-stock production, as well,”Millburg said. “For pork produc-tion, we are usually the top oneor two counties in the state, andfor beef production, we arearound the top 10 county in thestate.”

“There is a unique and stronghistory of DeKalb County thatdates back to prior to our organi-zation, including some yearlyinventions,” he added.

One example is Joseph F.Glidden, who received a patentfor barbed wire in 1874. Anotherexample is the development ofDeKalb hybrid corn that beganwith breeding work in the 1910s.

The DeKalb company experi-enced several name changes untilthe late 1990s, when it was pur-chased by Monsanto Co.

“These are the types of innova-tions that have reached far out-side our boundaries,” Millburgsaid. “Over 100 years ago, agroup of farmers and communitymembers saw a need to supportagriculture and farming practices,the economic benefit of thisindustry and how it would helpcommunities in the future. Thatgroup included a variety of peo-ple like bankers and newspaperpeople, not just farmers who sawthe benefit of an organization.”

On March 27, 1912, theDeKalb County SoilImprovement Association wasincorporated with the state ofIllinois. The group officiallychanged its name to the DeKalbCounty Farm Bureau in 1926.

“Now we have county FarmBureaus throughout Illinois, stateassociations through the countryand the American Farm BureauFederation, and it all started withthe grassroots movement of amembership organization in theearly 1900s,” said Millburg, whogrew up on a grain and livestockfarm in the central part of Illinois.

“One of our strengths is thehigh-quality leadership of ourfarmers who have worked with

our organization and other com-modity organizations in the stateand country, such as the corngrowers, soybean association,pork producers and the cattle-men’s association,” he said.

“There is a lot of leadership bypeople who have a true desire tobetter this industry we call agri-culture,” Millburg said. “And theyhave contributed to not just agri-culture but to the communitiesand growth of DeKalb County.”

“Our farmers are active on thecounty board, hospital boards,school boards, church boards andlots of other groups,” Tuttle said.“We have knowledgeable peoplewilling to serve on our FarmBureau board that represent busi-ness, livestock, grain and organicoperations.”

Tuttle raises corn, soybeans,wheat, sweet corn and peas onthe family farm operation nearSomonauk.

“We also have a trucking busi-ness that is mostly involves trans-

porting ag commodities,” he said.“I grew up raising hogs, and wehad a small cow-calf operation,but for about the last 20 years,we’ve focused on grain produc-tion. I have lived within a quartermile of here — I’ve never left thisfarm.”

Tuttle attended Joliet JuniorCollege and completed his bache-lor’s degree in agronomy at IowaState University. Mark andChristina Tuttle are the parents ofKatherine, Elaine, Paula, Nelsenand Erik.

The large consumer market ofChicago provides opportunitiesfor DeKalb County farmers.

“The key for us in agriculture isto provide information and edu-cate them about farming andfarming practices,” Millburg said.“It is critical we have an Ag in theClassroom program in the countyand throughout the state ofIllinois to reach youth and devel-op their understanding of agri-culture.”


DeKalb County takes the lead in agriculture

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By Tom C. DoranAGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

ST. ANNE, Ill. — Not everyIllinois producer knows he’s eat-ing his own crops for lunch.

That’s just one way TomHoekstra is unique. Tear open abright, foil bag filled with Jayspotato chips in the next fewmonths, and chances are you’llbe eating Hoekstra’s potatoes —grown on a Kankakee Countyfarm and fried at a factory justdown the road.

While the end result is unique,the day-to-day tasks of potatofarming might not be that differ-ent from your own farm opera-tion.

Unlike most farms in Illinoisand western Indiana, HoekstraPotato Farm sits on sandy soil —just right for growing potatoes.Potatoes need plenty of water,but they also need quick waterdrainage that sandier soils pro-vide.

In fact, southern KankakeeCounty is one of the only areas inIllinois that is conducive to pota-to production. Hoekstra esti-mates that only a half a dozenother farms in the state producepotatoes.

Hoekstra Farm raises a round,white potato variety that is usedexclusively for potato chips.Within the potato chip category,the farm has raised many differ-ent varieties over the years.

But there are no potato seedsalesmen. In fact, potato-raisingis on contract — whatever quanti-ties the farm grows are alreadyspoken for. Hoekstra’s customers,including Frito-Lay, Jays, CapeCod and other regional brands,choose the varieties. Most suggestpublic varieties, but Frito-Layrequires Hoekstra to use its ownproprietary potato seeds.

The farm also is required toreceive all its seeds from a certi-fied state to ensure that they arefree from bacteria and disease.

Illinois does not have a seedcertification program, so most ofthe farm’s seeds come fromWisconsin. Like mostMidwestern farms, Hoekstrarotates the crops with potatoes

planted in a field once everythree to four years, with corn orbeans on the off years.

SLICED SEEDUnlike corn or soybeans, one

won’t find potato seed bags piledin the shop.

In fact, the “seed” is a wholepotato. A few weeks before theyplant, Hoekstra and his crew runthese “seed potatoes” through amechanical cutter to chop theminto two-ounce pieces. The cut-uppotatoes are planted.

Planting begins the first weekof April and runs through mid-May — a six- to seven-week win-dow to plant. A pick planter, amachine not all that differentfrom the units most grain farmersrun, is used. It has a large hopperthat holds all the seed pieces, andmechanical wheels for each rowthat turn to pick a seed piece anddrop it into the seed furrow.

The harvest begins in a field offlowers.

Some potato plants bloom asthe tubers grow underground.Different varieties mature at dif-ferent times — early varieties at90 days, with others taking up to120 days.

The harvested potatoes gothrough a series of quality checksbefore leaving the farm.

Tom C. Doran can be reached at815-780-7894 [email protected] him on Twitter at:@AgNews_Doran.


KankakeeCounty farm chips in forpopular snack

Tom Hoekstra (left) and his father,Bob, explain how their harvesterscoops potatoes out of the field andtransports them through a series ofconveyors to separate the soil anddebris from the potatoes. HoekstraPotato Farm, on the east edge of St.Anne, Ill., has been operating for fourgenerations to provide products forpotato chip companies.

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