http://www.wjbc.com/wire2/Farm.rss en ©2009 Regent Communications, Inc. http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=4589 Moving sows into group pens in having mixed results. That?s according to Janeen Salak-Johnson, associate professor in animal sciences at the University of Illinois. While sow group housing works, research at the university shows the practice does not answer welfare concerns or improve sow performance. Instead, Salak-Johnson has found that slight modifications to sow gestation stalls may provide solutions to one of the most controversial issues facing the swine industry. The research showed that using flexible stalls positively influenced behavior, performance and productivity of sows in gestation. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:53:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14075 The Japanese beetle feeds on nearly 300 plant species, including ornamentals, soybean, maize, fruits and vegetables. For the ornamental plant industry alone, damages are estimated at $450 million each year. But, scientists with the Agricultural Research Service believe that geraniums could hold the key to controlling the Japanese beetle. ARS scientists have found that within 30 minutes of consuming geranium petals, the beetle rolls over on its back, its legs and antennae slowly twitch, and it remains paralyzed for several hours. The beetles typically recover within 24 hours when paralyzed under laboratory conditions, but they often succumb to death under field conditions, because predators spot and devour the beetles while they are helpless. The question now is how to utilize those geraniums to better control Japanese beetles. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:46:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14077 Women play a critical role in agriculture. Many are wives and moms, which is the inspiration behind the Monsanto Company?s America?s Farmers Mom of the Year. This new nationwide program is tied to Mother?s Day and recognizes the countless contributions that farm moms bring to their families and their communities. Applications for the America?s Farmers Mom of the Year are being accepted at www.AmericasFarmers.com. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:46:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14076 Illinois Soybean Association CEO Lyle Roberts has announced he will retire in the fall, after more than 25 years of service to the state's soybean farmers and 40 years of service to agriculture. Roberts will officially retire September 1, 2010, at the beginning of ISA's fiscal year. ISA has already begun the search for a new CEO. Roberts will help train the new association leader until his retirement date. Qualified candidates will possess a bachelor?s degree, minimum five years directing professional staff, experience developing and managing complex budgets, proven leadership success and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Association experience and knowledge of agriculture are strongly desired. The Illinois Soybean Association is affiliated with the Illinois Farm Bureau. To apply, visit www.ilfb.org. The application deadline is April 5, 2010. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:45:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=5575 The 25X25 program reports that an EPA decision on whether to raise the E10 blend level to E15 should not be expected before the end of the summer. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says the Department of Energy is scheduled to finish testing on how the fuel will affect automobile engines by April or May. EPA will base its blend level decision on those results. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters on Capitol Hill that all signals suggest EPA will approve E15. He says there is indication from the Department of Energy that in their tests of newer-model vehicles with E15, it did not create any problems. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:54:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14044 Brace yourself for what might be a huge food recall. Officials at the Food and Drug Administration believe the public health risk is low, and no one is known to have fallen ill as a result of the contamination. But, manufacturers voluntarily recalled 56 products last week, and that number is expected to balloon in the coming weeks into what could be one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history. Consumers Union Senior Scientist Michael Hansen says more than 10-thousand products could potentially be affected. FDA says thousands of processed foods, including many varieties of soups, chips, frozen dinners, hot dogs and salad dressing, may pose a health threat because they could contain a flavor enhancer that could be contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella was detected early last month in one lot of the flavor enhancer hydrolyzed vegetable protein, or HVP. The contamination is believed to date to September 2009, meaning millions of pounds of potentially tainted HVP, all of which the company has recalled, was shipped in bulk to foodmakers over five months. Federal officials says the public health risk is low because most products containing HVP are cooked during processing or carry cooking instructions for consumers, so any salmonella would be destroyed before the food was eaten. Ready-to-eat products like chips and other snack foods would carry greater risks. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:53:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=11615 USDA has confirmed an agreement between the United States and Russia that will reopen the Russian market to U.S. pork. By the end of last year, Russia had delisted virtually all U.S. pork facilities, prohibiting them from shipping pork to the country. National Pork Producers Association President Don Butler applauded the agreement. As part of the agreement, the United States has developed an export verification program for pork going to Russia. The program will provide a new veterinary certificate to ensure that U.S. pork exports meet specific Russian antibiotic residue requirements. Butler says our pork meets U.S. and international standards, so the group does not see the need for the program, but they would do it to get back into the Russian market. Butler added that China is the next country that needs to reopen its market to U.S. pork. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:52:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13962 In a survey commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom, researcher David Martosko found that most Americans think the Humane Society of the United States is a worthy charity. But very few Americans understand what HSUS really is. Martosko call it a super-rich lobbying group that puts more money into its executive pensions than in the hands of local humane societies. As an example, in 2008, HSUS distributed less than one-half of one percent of its budget to hands-on pet shelters. The survey of more than a thousand Americans revealed that 71% of Americans incorrectly believe the Humane Society of the United States is an umbrella group for America?s local humane societies. Sixty-three percent incorrectly think their local humane society is affiliated with HSUS. And 59% percent falsely believe HSUS contributes most of its money to organizations that care for cats and dogs. Martosko says HSUS intentionally uses those sad dogs and cats in its TV infomercials as props in an animal rights fundraising shell game. Meanwhile, thousands of American pet shelters are underfunded and struggling. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:43:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13963 Earlier this week, when Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, he faced a scenario that hig home with LaHood and many others. Former USDA Secretary and now Senator Mike Johanns raised the parallel of the safety of US beef going into Japan to that of the safety of Toyotas coming from Japan into the United States. Senator Johanns told LaHood there has never been a death in Japan because of the single case of a Canadian cow found with BSE in this country, and yet the Japanese have shut out US beef from their country. Their market remains closed to this day, over six years later. Johanns said maybe it?s time we tell the Japanese to allow our beef in, or we will treat Japanese produced Toyotas in the same way. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:43:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=8657 The 2010 Soybean Yield Challenge signup deadline has been extended to April 15 to allow individual growers and teams more time to make decisions in case this year?s planting is delayed. The new deadline also gives farmers and teams more time to determine what varieties they want to plant, plot locations and other factors. Illinois Soybean Association Yield Challenge Coordinator Jim Nelson says the challenge has been enhanced more interaction with team captains and participants as they?ll be able to send photos and videos to be posted on the Yield Challenge website at www.soyyieldchallenge.com and to a dedicated Yield Challenge YouTube channel. Training sessions will also be held at three locations around the state, including one March 29 at Heartland Community College in Normal. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:55:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13939 The National Corn Growers Association 2009 Corn Yield Guide, which highlights the results of the NCGA National Corn Yield Contest, is available online at www.ncga.com. This year, in addition to the details on all 525 winners, it includes detailed stories on the role of supervisors in the contest and the results of NCGA?s 2009 farmer image survey. NCGA Chairman Darren Ihnen says the National Corn Yield Contest provides a glimpse at the practices and resultant yields that growers can expect to become the industry standard in the next decade. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:55:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13911 Before this Sunday?s Oscars, the National Corn Growers Association is calling on its grower members and industry friends to get the truth about the documentary film Food, Inc. The movie, which NCGA says is filled with lies, factual inaccuracies and misrepresentations about America?s farmers and food suppliers, is nominated for Best Documentary. NCGA took language directly from the movie to conduct a fact-checking exercise using recent data from sources like the FDA and USDA, and found several examples where the filmmakers set the truth aside. They?ve developed a fact sheet to arm those in agriculture with credible and truthful information to combat the film?s arguments. You can find the fact sheet online at www.ncga.com/files/pdf/FoodIncInformation.pdf. NCGA encourages people to review the facts before the Oscars are televised this Sunday night and then help spread the information. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:57:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13910 CF Industries is making a new $4.74 billion offer for Terra Industries. The offer comes just six weeks after CF vowed to end its hostile pursuit of the Iowa-based fertilizer producer. CF Industries is a chemical maker based in Deerfield, Illinois. It is offering $37.15 in cash and nearly one-tenth of common stock for each Terra share. CF says the offer has a total value of $47.40 per share. CF?s last offer in December was valued at $4.6 billion. Terra has repeatedly rejected CF?s offers. The Sioux City, Iowa, company last month said it will be bought instead by Norway?s Yara for $4.1 billion, or about $41.10 per share. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:54:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13912 The Illinois Soybean Research Forum is coming up this Monday, March 8 at the I-Hotel and Conference Center on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign. The agenda includes updates and new information about soybean research, including what?s on the horizon for nanotechnology and agriculture, new techniques for managing weeds, the latest about the soybean yield challenge, and 30 displays highlighting soybean research. Contact the Illinois Soybean Association for more information. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:54:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13875 The 12th annual Illinois Products Expo is coming up this weekend at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. About 80 companies, including 15 new companies from all over the state of Illinois, will be on hand with free samples in many cases. Several vendors will also offer Illinois wine by the sample, glass and bottle. Area companies exhibiting at the Illinois Products Expo include Mackinaw Valley Vineyards, Ropp Jersey Cheese, Steidinger Foods of Fairbury, and Toohill Seed and Beef Service of Heyworth. Hours for the Illinois Products Expo are this Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 11-4. Admission is $4 for adults and children 10 and under are free. To learn more about the event, visit the Illinois Department of Agriculture website and click on Illinois Products Expo. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:46:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13873 A lawsuit has been filed against the Humane Society of the United States. David Martosko, Director of Research for the Center for Consumer Freedom, the group that has launched a website to analyze the activities of HSUS, says it?s going to get mighty uncomfortable for the group... Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:45:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13874 The Illinois Pork Producers Association will hold its annual Legislative Day and Legislative Reception on March 10 in Springfield. The program is again co-sponsored and attended by the Illinois Beef Association. Attendees will be briefed on legislative issues facing the General Assembly. Producers will then head to the Capitol building to meet with legislators individually and discuss important legislative issues. A reception that evening will allow producers to talk with legislators and staff members in an informal setting. Pre-registrations are requested for meal counts by March 5. Contact the Illinois Pork Producers Association for more information. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:45:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13765 Local 4-H member Allison Parks will join other 4-H?ers from all over the country for the annual National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. next month. Parks is one of eight Illinois teens who will meet with USDA staff, teens, volunteers and Extension staff to develop plans for 4-H Youth Development programming on the state and national levels. The 4-H members will also participate in issue-discussions and meetings with federal legislators. Parks belongs to both the Home Spun and Stylistics 4-H clubs in McLean County. Allison is the daughter of Sid and Jeanne Parks of Bloomington. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:52:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13766 Lead Out Loud is the theme of this year?s National FFA Week observance as members pledge to show off what makes them premier leaders in their schools and communities. More than half a million members around the nation are participating in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels. National FFA Advisor Dr. Larry Case says National FFA Week is when we recognize the achievements of FFA members preparing for careers in agriculture and making a difference in their communities. Illinois State FFA Secretary Kiersten Kasey says her team has been busy this week, and she says there is much more to do. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:51:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=13764 Students at Normal Community West High School kicked off National FFA Week with an alumni auction. Normal FFA President Amanda Kramer says the chapter had a lot of different activities planned for the week. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:49:00 GMT