MICHIGAN FARM NEWS MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU Farmers head west to September 15, 1997 Vol. 74, No. 15 explore value-aedded Safety precautions to remember during silage-making time S ilage-making is among the most mechanized of farm harvest operations and the pressure is always on to get the job done quickly to maxi- mize forage quality. "This combination creates the potential for accidents unless equipment operators are aware of the risks around them," said Howard Doss, Michi- gan State University agricultural safety leader. But chopping silage is just one of many dangerous tasks on the farm. September is Na- tional Farm Safety and Health Month and a prime time to review the safety precautions taken on your farm. In this issue of the Michigan Farm News, you'll find several articles to make your operation a safe haven. Doss said that while making silage, farm managers should consider the potential hazards in the harvester. It has headers that aggressively pull in crops; rapidly turning feed rolls, flails and sharp knives; heavy cutter heads and blowers that freewheel after power is disengaged; and knife sharpeners that are operated while parts are moving. Doss recommends the following A delegation of Michigan farmers and representatives from Michigan Farm Bureau, MSU and the Michigan Depart- precautions: ment of Agriculture recently toured North Dakota and northern Minnesota. The region has b.een a hot spot of activity • Never try to service, adjust, hand feed or un- in forming successful value-added processing cooperatives. Above, members tour a new Ag Grow Oils specialty oil pro- plug the harvester when it is running. Shut the cessing plant under construction near Carrington, North Dakota. engine off and wait until all moving parts have stopped rotating . • The auger, fan and cutter head may continue to Michigan producers explore value-added rotate for a minute or more after the power is off. Do not open doors or shields until these potential on tour of cooperatives pans have stopped rotating. ould Michigan farmers benefit from be- the East Coast. With a lot of hustle and a little luck, serves as a spokesperson for Am~rican Crystal. • Never permit anyone behind or under the discharge spout while the harvester is operating. C coming players in food processing? Abso- lutely, says Rudy Radke, of Nonh Dakota State University . the joint venture secured a five-year contract for nearly 60 percent of their future french fry produc- tion with one fast food chain, which made financing When the cooperative was formed in 1973, sugar beet acreage stood at 200,000 acres, produc- ing a 13.5-ton-per-acre average. By 1996, acreage • Be sure everyone is clear of the harvester dis- In a meeting with a group of Michigan farmers the whole project a clear-cut choice, Radke said. had expanded to almost 420,000 acres, with produc- charge spout before starting the engine or touring North Dakota and Minnesota value.added Potato farming, once a dying business in this tion averaging 18 tons per acre. engaging power. Also check clearance between processing operations, Radke said the average re- Nonhern Plains state, has since rebounded. Potato "Suddenly, we had to begin to think and act the discharge spout and the wagon before field turn on investment for production agriculture is 2 acreage, once down to just 18,500 acres, has like a processor because we were one," Sinner said. operation. percent or less. That compares to an average return climbed back to 36,500 acres. That success, howev- "We weren't just growers, we were processors, dis- • Don't be distracted from your work on the for processing companies of 14 percent. er, hasn't come without a change in the mindset of tributors and marketers." harvester," Doss said. "Amoment's carelessness "In production agriculture, we invest about producers, says Radke. Sinner is big on value-added cooperatives can easily result in loss of fingers, hand or arm, $15 in assets for each dollar we generate each year, Once reluctant to invest in irrigation equip- seeking outside expenise to help run these new or worse. while on the processor side, they produce a dollar ment, producers now understand the role irrigation ventures. "Don't kid yourself - you can't manage • Keep people away from the self-unloading for every 65 to 85 cents they have invested in hard has in producing the bigger and whiter french fry these operations on your own. You must get quality forage wagons while they are in operation. assets," Radke said. "We've got to stan looking at demanded by consumers . outside help," he advised. • Doss said that even when the wagons are prop- processing as a base to produce more dollars per Irrigated acreage, once at 25 percent of total Sinner says it's crucial that producers understand erly shielded, they are not accident-proof. acre, rather than buying more acres to produce acreage, has now grown to nearly 100 percent for the value of meeting the needs of consumers and Some augers and beaters must be exposed to more commodities." one processor and is at nearly 95 percent for the maintaining market share. "If you don't understand do the work. Radke should know. He serves as an Exten- AVIKOplant. Radke estimates that as many as 50 these two issues, you're missing the point and you • Keep hands and feet away from all moving sion specialist in ag diversification and high-value new quarter-section center pivot irrigation systems won't be around very long," he warned. "There are no pans. Stay at the controls when the wagon is crops and was the driving force behind a farmer were installed this past spring for increased acres to small players in the food business. You had better operating, and never enter or allow anyone cooperative known as Central Dakota Growers that meet future demand when the processing plant is know who you're dealing \vith and who's buying your else to enter the wagon with the tractor engine formed in 1992 to produce and process potatoes. expeCted to double output. produa. If not, don't even attempt to get started." Continued on page 4 Faced with declining acreage contracts for fresh Michigan producers also heard a similar tale Sinner was very critical of the recent Clinton potatoes, the growers invested their own money to from members of American Crystal, a sugar coopera- veto that would have allowed permanent tax breaks conduct a feasibility study to determine if they could tive of nearly 3,300 farm families. Once on the verge to individuals selling existing processing facilities to grow potatoes for french fries. They found that mar- of closing up shop, a group of producers formed a cooperatives, saying the industry is already plagued ket demand for fresh potatoes was stagnant, while cooperative to purchase the refining plant in 1973. with excess production capacity. the demand for french fries was growing at the rate Today, the company now claims to be the "It's already an option for businesses selling to of7 percent per year. With the results of the study in lowest-cost producer of beet sugar in the world, employees through Employee Stock Option Pur- hand, the group set out to find a partner to help thanks to an extended processing season. That's chase," Sinner said. 'J\l1 we were asking was that the process and market the finished product. made possible by cold winter temperatures that ag industry be able to reap the same benefits. This They found that pannership with AVIKO,a allow an extra 100 days of storage and processing, would have been a good piece of legislation to en- food processing company from the Netherlands, according to George Sinner, a farmer who is a courage value-added cooperatives to purchase ex- and the Redmond Family, a food distributor from former governor of Nonh Dakota and currently isting facilities." • INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF THE MICHIGAN FARM NEWS News in Brief 2 Estate planning saves family farm Weed Strategies 19 Capitol Corner 3 after owners' trag ic deaths 10 Former ag secretary indicted 20 Michir.an producers like what they see Questions and answers regarding AgGrow Oils finds its niche in new on va ue-added processing tour 4 the 16th CRP sign-up 11 cooperative 22 Market Outlook 6 Farms can be hazardous to children. 12 Discussion Topic 25 Value-added processing - Weather Outlook 16 Kellogg Foundation launches $16.5 North Dakota style 8 Agricultural Utilization Research million program to manage Institute launches new beginnings .17 information with rural America ....... 28 Michi\Jan potatoes spared from repeat of major late blight outbreak 9 Sell products and services in the Michigan Farm News c/assifieds-Page 26 G'i([~~m~ September 15, 1997 Nevus Cuba alleges u.S. biological attack Consumer Reports criticizes FDA feed ban O1lsumer Reports says the new livestock The report criticized FDA for allowing • C feeds rule enacted by the Food and Drug sheep and other animals that have been known In Brief C uban officials allege that the United States is behind a plot ro infest the island nation with crop-eating pests and have called for an internation- al investigation. Administration in an attempt to head off any U.S. outbreak of mad cow disease (the most notori- ous disease in a family of ailments called TSE) to carry TSE derivatives to be used in feed for hogs, chickens and pet food. C01lsumer Reports said FDA has failed to construct a regulatory falls short of an all-out ban and contains a loop- "firewall" to prevent TSE agents from spreading Leftover antlerless The charge came to light after Cuban offi- hole that will allow the feeding of some "TSE- through the U.S. food supply. cials presented mysterious photos during a Unit- deer hunting licenses ed Nations meeting on biological weapons. Cuba infected" animal tissues and by-products to some "We think that's begging for trouble," the available Sept. 25 & 29 says the photos show a U.S. government crop- animals. report said. "The most powerful lesson that sci- ore than 160,000antlerless deer hunting "The FDA's final rules do prohibit the feed- ence has learned from the British mad cow epi- M licenses willbe availablefor sale over the counter later thL'imonth at license outlet') throughout dusting plane spraying a substance over Cuban potaro fields last Ocrober. Shortly thereafter, crop-eating insects appeared. ing of ca((le and sheep remains to other ca((le and sheep," C01lsumer Reports said in a report demic is that the agents causing TSE appear ca- pable of jumping from species LO species Michigan, according (0 Michigan Depanment of Natu- Washingron dismissed the charge, but still had issued to America Online subscribers. "We think through food ... We continue LO favor a broad ral Resources WIldlifeDivisionChief GeoIge Burgoyne. to explain why a mystery plane was emitting smoke that's a good start. But the agency allowed the ban on the use of animal remains in feed. Other To reduce crowding at license outlets and on a low flight path over a remote corner of Cuba. remains of pigs, horses and chickens - as well as countries and international organizations have avoid overburdening the computerized license Delegates at the meeting asked for more time to blood and gelatin from any animal - to be used taken that step. American consumers deserve no system, sale of leftover "genera'" antlerless deer study the nine-page U.S. explanation of details re- in animal feed." less a degree of protection." • hunting licenses will begin at 10 a.m., Wednesday, garding the plane and scientific data on the pest - September 25, on a first-come, first-served basis. thrips palmi - and its migration routes. Sales drop, but u.S. farm trade balance strong Antlerless deer hunting licenses for leftover "pri- vate land" will be available for sale beginning atlO a.m., Monday, September 29. The U.S. State Department acknowledges such a plane flew over western Cuba during a flight from Florida to the Cayman Islands in Ocrober, but F arm commodities produced by America's farm- ers and ranchers continue to be in demand worldwide, and America is importing fewer ag com- imports. The Commerce Department's monthly trade report placed total U.S. farm exports inJune at $3.996 billion, compared with $4.248 billion in A "general" leftover antlerless deer license says it emitted smoke ro identify its position to a modities. According to the latest statistics from the May. Imports inJune, however, decreased ro $2.878 can be used either on public land or on private Cuban commercial airliner. Cuba said such action is U.S. Commerce Department, the nation's agriculrur- billion, down from May's $3.187 billion. land with the landowner's permission. A "private not standard aviation procedure and that the crew al trade surplus rose in June to $1.118 billion. That's International sales of most major U.S. crops land" leftover license is valid only on a specific of the Cuban plane reported seeing liquid being up from $1.061 billion in May. fell in June. Soybean exports fell by $88 million. parcel of 40 or more acres (or 10 acres in the emitted .• Exports remain strong overall, despite some Corn sales dropped by $416 million and co((on southern Michigan DMUs) of contiguous, legally- drops for major commodities. The biggest reason exports fell by $12 million. Wheat sales rose, howev- huntable land under one ownership in the specific Ethanol bouncing back for the higher June trade surplus was decreased er, by $85 million .• deer management unit (DMU). To purchase a left- umbers compiled by the U.S.Energy Infor- over antlerless deer hunting license for use on private land, an individual must provide the prop- N mation Administration show that domestic ethanol production has fuUyrecovered from the com- Researcher retracts environmental warnings researcher who earlier suggested that mix- ago. In a letter published in the July 25 issue of erty tax number of the parcel to be hunted and the telephone number of the landowner. Once bined high grain prices and low oil prices in 1996 that resulted in a dramatic decrease in ethanol production. A tures of synthetic chemicals can disrupt the endocrine system and are dramatically more toxic the journal Science, Mclachlan said he is now unable to duplicate his initial findings. issued, a private land license is valid only on that Average 1997 ethanol production ro date ex- and potent than single chemicals is beginning to McLachlan's study initially showed that ex- specific parcel and immediately-adjacent private ceeds 82,000 barrels per day, or approximately 1.25 backpedal, according to SCO((Rawlins, a policy spe- posure to individual chemicals produced virtually land, with appropriate permission. It is unlawful ro billion gallons annually. Bur as production contin- cialist for American Farm Bureau Federation. no effects, but when two or more compounds use a private land antlerless deer hunting license ues to rise - May numbers show more than 86,000 The whole debate was kicked off last year in were combined, the mixture's potency rose dra. on public land. barrels per day were produced - 1997 production the book "Our Srolen Future," which asserted matically, to more than 160 to 1,600 times the For a copy of the map and table of leftover could exceed 1.4 billion gallons, which would hit that some synthetic chemicals can cause repro- potency of individual compounds. Mclachlan's licenses by DMU contact the DNR Wildlife Division near the record production levels of 1995, when ductive abnormalities and are becoming so prev- initial study stunned scientists by showing evi- at 517-373-1263 .• nearly 100,000 barrels per day were refined .• alent in the environment that they threaten fu- dence that low levels of mixtures of chemicals ture generations. Following the book's release, could cause serious health effects. Michigan farms lead region in computers John Mclachlan, a researcher from the Tulane "Now, all of that has abruptly reversed ichigan ranks first in the North Central with Nebraska in computer ownership or leasing at M region in farm operators having computer access, owning or leasing a computer, and having 38 percent; 31 percent of U.S. farm operators own or lease a computer. Michigan and Illinois have 17 per- Bioenvironmental Research Center, announced findings that partially supported the book's cause, according ro Rawlins. course," Rawlins said. "Much of the hysteria over endocrine disruptors has been deflated with Mclachlan's retraction." Internet access, according to the Federa!;State Michi- cent of farms with Internet access, which is the high- "Based on these two events, EPAindicated In his letter to Science, McLachlan said "it gan Agricultural Statistics Service. est in the North Central region and greater than the that they would begin to establish screening pro- seems evident that there must have been a funda- EveryJune a nationwide survey is conducted by national average of 13 percent. tocols for pesticides that may disrupt the endo- mental flaw in the design of our original experiment." the USDA'sNational Agricultural Statistics Service to The North Central region has 416,000 ofthe crine system," Rawlins said. "In addition, members Concluding from this new evidence, Mclachlan says, provide estimates of crop acres planted, grain in 916,100 U.S. crop farms. These farms with compurer of Congress were convinced, too, and included a "it is clear that any conclusions drawn from this paper storage, livestock inventories and land values. This and Internet access are 43 and 13 percent for the provision in the Food Quality Protection Act that must be suspended until such time, ifever, the data year, questions were added about the accessibility, region and 41 and 14 percent for the United States, requires EPAto investigate and to develop testing can be substantiated." Despite that obvious retrac- ownership and use of computers by farmers. respectively. The North Central region also has guidelines for endocrine disruptors." tion, Rawlins said that environmental groups, not Forry-seven percent of farms in Michigan have 396,000 of the 1,138,000 U.S. livestock farms. These The concern over endocrine disruptors, surprisingly, have said it is too early to abandon computer access, the highest percent in the North farms with computer and Internet access are 39 and however, took an unexpected turn several weeks Mclachlan's initial findings .• Central region, which comprises 12 states. The na- 11 percent for the region, and 36 and 12 percent for tional average is 38 percent. Michigan is tied for first the country, respectively.• Federal budget deficit continues to shrink ith the first 10 months of fiscal 1997 ac- deficit totaled $36.7 billion. For the same period last ORGANIZATIONAL BRIEFS W counted for, the federal deficit has sunk to its lowest level in nearly 30 years, the Treasury De- year, the deficit was $100 billion. If anyone wants to throw a party because of this news, the $5 trillion partment said. Through July, the current year's national debt should make them think twice .• MFB makes membership target and goal U."'. Membership year closes with 55 target entire insurance agency force for growing the orga- AGRO-CULTURE and 41 goal counties nization during the last year. ongrarulations go out ro all county Farm "Seeing the growth in membership reinforces C Bureaus in the state for ending another year of membership excellence. For the second the fact that our organization provides ample op- portunity to make a difference in the livelihoods of Puts the Go in Growl consecutive year, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) all members," he adds. "We will continue to look for made its membership target by gaining in regular ways ro provide opportunities for involvement and FERTILIZERS (farmer) members ending the year Aug. 30 at cost-savings for our members to keep the member- 44,847 rotal farmer members. For eight years in a row the entire organiza- ship growth on the rise." In total, 55 county Farm Bureaus made Call for your FREE tion has grown by achieving its (Otal membership their membership target by gaining in the num- CATALOG AND RESEARCH BOOKLET "96" goal and ended this year at 161,366 rotal members. "It's a wonderful accomplishment for the second consecutive year to hit our membership ber of farmer members from membership levels of a year ago. Also, 42 counties made their overall mem- 800-678-9029 target and goal," Doug Fleming, MFB's manager of bership goal by gaining in total membership, membership services stated. 'i\l1 the credit for the with Muskegon County Farm Bureau ending the land Cost Machinery membership activity needs to go to the county year as the largest county Farm Bureau in the / Farm Bureau volunteers, county office staff and the state with 7,466 total members .• \ / Best Seed Best Return \ / AGRO.CULTURE The Michigan Farm News (ISSN:0743-9962) is published twite per month except in the months of November, December, June and July when only one Issue Is printed, as a service to regular members, by Michigan Farm Bureau, 1313 West " \ / Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Michigan 48917. Member subscription price of 51.S0 is Included in annual dues of Michigan Farm Bureau regular members. Additional subscription fees required for mailing Michigan Farm News to nonmembers and outside the continental U.S.A. Periodical pos1age paid at Lansing, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Best Weed Control " ", \ / / MI!!!.. / Letters to the editor and statewide news articles should be sent to: Editor, Michigan Farm News. Post Office Box / 30960, lansing, Michigan 48909.8460. POSTMASTER - Send address changes to: Michigan Farm Bureau, Post Office / Box 30960, Lansing, Michigan 48909-8460. / Editorial: Dennis Rudat, Editor and Business Manager; Thomas Nugent, Asso<:iate Editor. Design and Production: Dan Stiles. Contributor: Sue Stuever Battel. Advertising Sales Representative: Joshua Merchant. Officers: President, Jack Laurie, Cass City; Vice President. Wayne Wood, Marlette; Third Member, Jan Vosburg, Climax; Agro-Culture Administrative Director, Chuck Burkett; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Tom Parker; Secretary, David VanderHaagen. Directors: District 1, Jim Miller, Coloma; District 2, Blaine VanSickle, Marshall; District 3, Michael Fusilier, Manchester; Liquid Fertilizers District 4, Tom Guthrie, Delton; District S, Alan Garner, Mason; District 6, Wayne Wood, Marlette; District 7, Rick Johnson, P.O. Box 150 leroy; District 8, Don Sutto, Saginaw; District 9, Joshua Wunsch, Traverse City; District 10, Margaret Kartes, West Branch; District 11, Robert Wahmhoff, Baraga. At-Large: Jack Laurie, Cass City; Faye Adam, Snover; Jan Vosburg, Climax; Judy St. Johns, MI 48879 Emmons, Sheridan. Promotion and Education, Merlann Keinath, Deckerville; Young Farmers, Jeff Horning, Manchester. lllJ~~~ September 15, 1997 Capitol For more information on legislative topics in the Keys to successful nutrient management Fundamentals for conservation tillage vat ion tillage, problems should be minimal. If Corner Michigan Farm News, call 800-292-2680. I nmaking the transition from conventional to conservation tillage, the most common mistake is using the same fertilizer program. nOl corrected, then fertilizer placement tech- niques such as deep banding or surface stripping may provide some advantage. To avoid soil ero- Prior to adopting a conservation tillage system, sion, this technique should be used on soils with soil pH and nutrient levels should be tested and ad- slopes of less than 6 percent. justed to meet recommendations (conract your local • Moniwr nutrient content of the lower portions Michigan Drain Code revisions underway Extension office for recommendations). For no-tillers of the old tillage zone. This is important in con- evisions to P.A.40 of 1956, the Michigan Drain formed if necessary. R Code, are expected to start moving through the state Legislature this fall. Currently the amend- • Drain commissioner may assess withoul pelition in particular, these adjustments are critical 10 rerain soil quality benefits while avoiding the use of full- tinuous conservation tillage, where incorpora- tion of nutrients is limited. If depletion of nutri- up to $5,000 (currently $2,500) per mile of drain width tillage in the future. ents in the lower portion occurs, deep banding ments are contained within three different bills: S.B. per year for maintenance. Conservation tillage leaves the soil cooler and or deep tillage of fertilizers can correct this prob- 122 (Sen. Joel Gougeon, R-BayCity), H.B. 4174 • Access to property shall nOl be diminished by the wetter. Cooler soils alter the availability of nutrients lem. Consider that roots feed just under surface (Rep. Mike Green, R-Mayville), H.B. 4337 (Rep. construction of a drain. as well as the plant's ability to use them. That's why residue in conservation tillage and may nOl have Howard Wellers, D-Kawkawlin). Highlights of the • Drain commissioner may enter upon property adjustments are essential. w be deep to be effective. proposed revisions include: outside of a drainage district to remove obstruc- The fundamentals • Use starter fertilizer.While the nutrient responsible Due process/administrative tions to outlet of drain with reasonable nOlice. There are seven keys to successful nutrient man- for a starter response (usually N) varies by location, • Mandatory election of drain commissioner in all District pays costs of removal and makes restitu- agement in conservation tillagesystems ( in addition to yield response is consistent throughout much of the counries . tion for actual damage resulting from the entry. timing and method of fertilizer application): eastern U.S. Phosphorus placed as a row starter may • Uniform petitioning requirement') throughout the Environmental/natural resources • Soil test on a regular basis. P, K, and lime (plus N be most effidem because it may be used by the code. Reduced number of petitioners from 10 to 5 • Require an evaluation of natural resource im- in drier regions) recommendations should be plant before being tied up in the soil.. : . or a number representing 25 percent of land area. pacts that identifies appropriate practical mea- based on realistic yield goals and accurate soil • Manage nitrogen to enhance efficiency. N man- • Explicit ability to recess the board of determina- sures to minimize adverse impacts as part of tests. The interval for soil testing varies among agement, especially in corn production, is proba- tion to acquire additional information for neces- preliminary engineering analysis for new districts regions of the U.S. and depends on crop rora- bly the key w a successful fertilizer program for sity decisions. Additional information may in- and at the time of designing the project. tion, soil type, irrigation, and other facwrs. conservation tillage. In general, N fertilizer clude an estimate of cost. • Cost') associated with evaluating natural resourc- Check with your local Cooperative Extension should be placed below the residue w avoid the • New opportunity for the drain commissioner to es and minimizing adverse impacts shall be Service agent for more information. loss of nitrogen (through volatilization or run- convene official informational meetings to receive borne by the drainage district. • Ume to neutralize soil acidity. This is important off). Studies show the most efficient time for testimony on the scope and cost alternatives. • Allow petition to enhance natural resources in conservation tillage, especially where surface applying the majority of N for no-till corn pro- • New authority for drain commissioner to aban- which costs may be included and assessed for. applications of Nand P fertilizers are used. Ume duction is at planting or after planting. Significant don proposed drain projects, if necessary, after • Specifies under what circumstances the "im- rates may need to be adjusted and applications N loss results from applying too early. nOlice and a public hearing. provement" of a county drain would require a be more frequent in no-till systems. For example, • Take credit for N from legumes. Legumes can be • Uniform, consistent nOlice and due process to all MDEQ permit. if 4 tons of lime are needed it would be better to a valuable source of N for corn and cereal crops . affected interests including the Department of • Ability for local units of government to form a apply 2 tons over two years than 4 tons at once. Many states make some credit for N fertilizer Environmental Quality and the Department of watershed commission and develop a watershed • Base P and K fenilizer rates on 6-8 inch deep soil recommendations for N contributions of the Natural Resources for all major decisions . management plan. samples. If P and K deficiencies (or other nutri- previous legume crop in the rOlation, or a le- • State-owned lands may be liable for assessment • If a Chapter 22 watershed management plan has ems) are corrected prior to switching to conser- gume cover crop or imercrop .• when receiving benefit from a drain project. been established, all drain projects within the Maintenance watershed management district shall be consis- • Expanded authority for drain commissioner to tent with the plan . Obesity research could lead to leaner pork review land-use changes and adopt rules and collect fees for inspection of discharges. Also MFB position: Farm Bureau will soon be taking a position on proposed changes as set forth L eaner pork for consumers could be a benefit of research on human obesity, according to scien- lists \vith the USDXsAgricultural Research Service. for meatier, leaner pork because growth hormone produces muscle. After the extra growth hormone has built muscle, the pig's body would break down adopt rules/fees for Land Division Act, Mobile by Farm Bureau policy. Please continue to monitor Home Act and Condominium Act. Capitol Corner as amendments to the Drain Code Scientists have been intrigued by two hor- the hormone naturally so the meat would comain • Allnew and improved drains shall be inspected move through the Legislature . mones, neuropeptide-Y and leptin. These hormones no residue. every three years and routine maintenance per- MFB contact: Scon Everett, ext. 2046 .• work both in pigs and people like a traffic light. Neu- The scientists caution that much more needs to ropeptide-Y, found in the brain, is the "green light" be learned about leptin. A group of researchers in Agricultural Statistics Service fruit report that stimulates appetite. Leptin, the red light, is in fat; ARSand the University of Georgia are trying to under- it signals the brain that the body is nourished. stand how animals process (his hormone. ARSscien- R ecord low May temperatures put Michigan fruit one to twO weeks behind normal devel- opment, according to the Federal!State Michigan quality of the fruit is very good. Picking of early varieties has begun. Pear output was set at 3,500 tons, down from 6,000 tons in 1996. ARSresearchers in Athens, Ga., have found that giving pigs leptin injections increased the growth tists in Beltsville, Md., for example, are \\'orking on treatment') to coumer leptin's appetite-suppressing hormone in their bodies and made them eat less. effects. ARScolleagues in Columbia, Mo. are looking Agricultural Statistics Service. Fruit sets were gen- The U.S.apple forecast wa~ placed by the Agri- Theoretically, this means the potemial exists at how growing piglets use leptin .• erally very good, but dry conditions in June and cultural Statistics Board at 10.6 billion pounds, up 3 July hampered fruit sizing. This dryness, however, percent from 1996. Forecasts for Washington, New kept disease levels below normal. The apple crop York,and California were 5.4 billion, 1.08 billion and MICHIGAN FARM is forecast at 1.05 billion pounds (25 million bush- 900 million pounds, respectively. The pear output \vas Serving Michigan (f !!~J els), 45 percent above last year's output. The crop set at 1.02 million tons, a 24 percent increase from potential was reduced by above average June drop 1996. California, Oregon and Washington accounted farm families is caused by late frosts. The Aug. 1 grape production forecast was 60,000 tons, down 8 percent from for 98 percent of the crop forecast. The plum produc- tion forecast was 28,400 tons, rising 42 percent from a our only business 1996. POlential plum production is forecast at year ago. These figures include production in Michi- ince its beginning in 1971, Michigan Farm Radio Network's only 4,500 tons, up from 2,500 tons last year. Michigan's predicted peach poundage rebounded to 60 mil- lion pounds, 50 percent above a year ago. The gan, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The peach crop forecast, excluding California clingstones, was 1.54 million pounds, up 58 percent from a year ago. S objective has been to serve Michigan's farm families. This dedication to serve agriculture is shared by 27 local radio stations in Michigan. Through these stations, Michigan Farm Radio Network Join our 300,000 provides the latest in market analysis, weather and news to Farm Bureau members daily on the following stations: plus satisfied customers ••. and enjoy tbe "Distinct Advantage" of owning a Morton Building! 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WION Ionia 1430 6:45 am 12:30-1 :00 pm 800-447-7436 WKZO Kalamazoo 590 5:00-6:00 am 12:00-1 :00 pm ~MOKTON WPLB FM Lakeview 106.3 6:15 am 12:15 pm ~BU)LDINGS WOAP Owosso 1080 7:15 am 12:40 pm WHAK Rogers City 960 12:15pm WMLM St. Louis 1520 6:05 am 12:20 pm WSGW Saginaw 790 5:55 am 11 :30-12:30 pm WMIC Sandusky 660 6:15 am 12:45 pm WKJC FM Tawas City 104.7 12:40 pm WLKM Three Rivers 1510 5:45 am 12:15pm WTCM Traverse City 580 5:45 am 11:10am Visit our web site at: www.mfrn.com Michigan producers like what they see on value-added processing tour '7here's no way agriculture's going to solvent extraction/extrusion system to process high- continue the way we're at it right now. Ev- protein meal. eryone's cutting each other's throat for land, Jim LeCureux, MSU Extension agriculture agent and equipment places are crazy. We definite- for Huron County, is enthused about the potential of ly have to take advantage of the value-add- value-added processing and predicts the recent tour ed concept. If young farmers want a chance at farming, the only way to continue in the will change attitudes of producers and agency repre- future is to get into value-added. You've got sentatives from the Michigan Department of Agricul- to process your commodity. II ture and Michigan State University. - Aaron Reinbold, "\Xe're not just a commodity producer anymore," 24-year-old farmer from Caro LeCureux suggested. "We need to be looking at the end produc~ and be not just a beet producer, but a T ere's Iinle question in Aaron Reinbold's sugar producer. We need to be more than wheat pro- mind about where his future opportunities ducers, we need to be quality flour producers." are. The young farmer, part of family a part- LeCureux says recent changes in federal farm nership with his father and an uncle, was one of policy and tighter profit margins at the farm level several farmers from Michigan who traveled to Min- are responsible for the growing interest in value. nesota and North Dakota recently on a whirlwind added processing. He cautions, however, that the tour of several facilities to learn about the process success of value-added processing will ultimately and the concept of value-added processing. hinge on farmers themselves. Reinbold serves on the steering committee of "We have the tailgate mentality that once we Thumb Oilseed Producers Cooperative, a 107-mem- deliver the raw commodity, we're done \vith it," he ber cooperative venture that hopes to someday be Value added tour participants visited the Carrington Research Station to look at several new said. "We're not! We should be moving in to figure our crushing Michigan-raised soybeans into soy oil and ag commodity research projects, including a cattle and bison feedlot demonstration as well how we can add value to these commodities locally, soy meal. He says average farm profits pale in com- as several niche specialty oil crops, including borage, brambe and safflower. \vith some processing. It doesn't mean that you have to parison to rates of return in the processing industry. product in an incline market or something that's "You can't eliminate anything; you have to take it all the way to the plate, but you can do some According to some estimates, the average waning and going by the wayside," Reinbold cau- look at everything," Wildner said of the steps in- contract processing for some of the l:uger companies." return on investment for production agriculture tioned. "Understanding the legal maners and the volved in organizing a cooperative. "Don't have a In addition to helping spearhead local produc- runs about 2 percent nationally, while the rates of right way to set up a co-op are also critical." closed mind about anything - be ready to interact er interest in value-added processing on soybeans, return in processing range from 13 to 15 percent. Carl Wildner, another member of Thumb with everyone else and work with other people." LeCureux is working with another group of produc- Reinbold says farmers making the trip heard Oilseed Producers' steering comminee is a part- Wildner says the Thumb Oilseed Producers' ers who are considering a cooperative to raise, pra- familiar advice at many of the stops. "You've got to ner in a cash crop operation raising about 1,800 steering committee will be meeting soon to review cess and market alfalfa pellets. He says Michigan make sure you've got the right information - what acres of sugar beets, soybeans, corn and dry the cooperative's feasibility study and decide on an sugar beet producers desperately need an alterna- your market share is, what you are going to do with beans near Unionville. He came away with a simi- appropriate course of action. Preliminary plans call tive crop to put into their cropping rotations to your product, and whether you're working with a lar message from the tour. for a soybean-crushing facility that will utilize a non- break the disease cycle .• Michigan tarlners get the green light train Michigan Securities Division S tarting a cooperative brings with it a number of complex issues. One of the biggest issues with Doherty, Rumble & Butler, he has built a reputa- tion for understanding the finer details of starting ca- new cooperative a "na-action" letter from the state's securities division. Hanson explains. "Asa Section 521 cooperative, Thumb Oilseed will be exempt from federal registra- involves the legality of a new cooperative. What operatives, particularly value-added cooperatives. "It boils down to a letter being issued by the tion. But that doesn't mean that they won't have a paperwork needs to be filed and with whom? Do Fonunately for Michigan producers, his expenise state that says, 'You have notified us that you're prospectus that looks like one, because that's what we you need a disclosure statement and a subscription has already been pur to good use in helping a group of issuing a non-voting membership interest in a coop- prepare. It fullydescribes the cooperative, the project, agreement? Should you form a cooperative or a Thumb-area farmers who are considering the forma- erative, which is going to be for so many dollars per and the associated risks to the investor." limited liability company (LLC)? tion of a cooperative, known as Thumb Oilseed Pro- member. You've told us it doesn't meet the defini- Use of a cooperative to establish a value-added When faced \\lith these questions in establishing ducers Cooperative. tion of a security. Based on what you've sent to us, venture makes good sense, says Hanson, staning ,vith value-added cooperatives, farmers in Minnesota and During a recent meeting with several producers we will take 'no action' relating to this as if it is a the main players - the farmers themselves. "Co-ops several other upper Midwest states have come to rely from Michigan, Hanson delivered good news. After security,'" Hanson explained. have been a pan of agriculture for the last 70 years," he on the expenise of attorney Mark Hanson. An attorney waiting for five months, Michigan had just granted the That authorlution, however, willallow Thumb said. "Farmers understand the basic cooperative con- Oilseecl Producers to now cash checks they have re- cepts - that is, one member-one vote, that the cooper- ceived as "seed money," from approximately 107 farm- ative is formed for the benefit of its members to help ers, to move forward with a feasibilitystudy and, if them process their products and market their products appropriate, raise equity money for the project, Han- and return the profits back to the farmer." son said. Farmers involved in a value-added cooperative "In Michigan, like any state that we go into initial- also have to adhere to a uniform marketing agreement, Iy,we always notify the state securities division and let which gives them the right and also the obligation to them know what we're doing," Hanson said. "We typi- deliver a specified number of bushels or animal units cally ask for a na-action letter, and in most of the states, every year. Hanson says that helps provide stability. that comes on a fairlyroutine basis. In Michigan, there 'The co-op knows how many bushels of soy- was a five-month period delay due to some personnel beans, for example, they're going to get from their changes and the non-familiarity of cooperatives." members every year and they can always operate at Even though there is an exemption in the securi- what we call 100 percent efficiency, because they're ties law for cooperatives issuing securities to its mem- getting all the beans they need:' Hanson said. "Typical- bers, Hanson says his firm always provides the same Iyfor a cooperative, one of the big questions from disclosure and prospectus as if it were registered. He lenders is, where are you going to get the product? says one willbe prepared for Thumb Oilseed Produc- And for a cooperative like Thumb Oilseed, they've ers, assuming the feasibilitystudy supporrs the concept already got the farmers who have lined liP, not only Ross Voelker (left) and Keith Reinbold (right) get a few pointers from attorney Mark Hanson of a soybean-crushing plant. with their commitment, but with contraCts to deliver on the finer points of cooperatives. "But you don't have to wait for state approval," the product to be processed." • Safety precautions to remember during Corn organizations combine silage-making time Continued from page 1 B oard members from the National Corn Grow- ers Association (NCGA) and the Na-tional ways to improve the structure and resources needed to enhance corn farmers' future profitabil- A'isociation because the name is nationally recog- nized, but the structure and work of the new orga- Corn Development Foundation (NCDF) voted in ity and productivity. The new organization will nization will differ significantly from the former or wagon operating. This work can be boring, favor of significant continue to be called the National Corn Growers NCGA and NCDF. • but it needs your full attention. changes that combine both organizations to • Whenever a~y work - from unclogging to adjust- create a new national corn farmer organization. ing belts or guides - needs to be done on the self- According to a news release from the group, the unloading wagon, disengage all power, shut off the change is designed to "increase farmers' profitabil- tractor engine and pocket the key. ityand influence within the corn industry by en- • Make sure that all the shields are in place before hancing farmer involvement and decision-making operating the silage blower. Never climb into the at the grass roots level." hopper or use hands or feet to force forage into Growers at the meeting said they believe the a blower. organizations are moving in the right direction by • Before lubricating, adjusting or unplugging the creating a nimble, fast-acting organization. "To- blower, always disengage power, shut off the day's vote gets the ball rolling in our transition to tractor engine, pull the ignition key and wait for new national corn organization," said Wallie Har. the blower fan to stop. die, current president of the existing National • If the blower is PTO-operated, fasten the blower Corn Growers Association. hitch securely to the tractor drawbar. Otherwise, The move follows recommendations from vibration could cause the blower to shift and two special study groups comprised of growers cause the PTO shaft to pan and rotate danger- appointed by the NCGA and NCDF boards of di- ously and/or topple the blower pipe .• rectors earlier this year. These groups explored North American Bison Cooperative caters to niche market O nce considered a cottage industry, buffa- located, he predict') the cooperative will make an Once retired, Sexhus was running a ranch three years of operating losses, but we did maintain a lo growers in North Dakota were looking announcement within the next two months. operation with two partners raising about 1,000 strong debt-to-equity ratio and we maintained the for a way to lxx)st farm income. They A modest individual, Sexhus joined the cooper- head of buffalo when he was offered the position of confidence of our lenders. We have crossed the line also wanted to develop a better structure and uni- ative a little over two years ago and is largely respon- CEO for the struggling cooperative. and are operating at a profit thanks, in pan, to in- form standards for the meat they were producing sible for the profitable turnaround at NABC.He spent "The cooperative struggled a lot the first two creased volume and just building a reputation for the and attempting to sell on their own. 28 years in management with other agribusiness years - there were a lot of start-up costs and a lot of high-quality product that we have." Their solution lay in the formation of a new companies, including International Harvester, and unknowns associated with starting a business such as The cooperative now anticipates, based on cooperative in 1993. Known as the North American then as a CEO of six different companies. this," Sexhus explained. "NABCdid record about current sales trends, to grow at the rate of 100 per. Bison Cooperative (NABC), 255 ranchers from 14 cent per year for the next four years. The facility states and four Canadian provinces joined the coop- processes 60 percent of all bison in the United erative's equity drive to raise $1.5 million for con- States and expects to account for 75 to 80 percent struction of a slaughter and processing facility near once their expansion is complete. New Rockford, N.D. A group of Michigan producers, on a value- .. •• Sexhus says bison is a lean meat with higher protein and energy but lower fat and cholesterol added tour in the region, paid a visit to the facility than beef. Bison processed through NABCmust be to learn more alx)ut NABC. guaranteed under 30 months of age and fed a free- The cooperative was formed as a closed coop- choice grain diet 120 days prior to slaughter to en- erative, meaning the facility will process animals hance product consistency. A typical two-year-old only for its members. Each member receives one buffalo, weighing 1,050 to 1,100 pounds, will fetch a vote - typical of cooperative structures. One share paycheck of $1,300 to $1,500, based on $2.35 per of equity stock entitles the producer to deliver one pound on the rail for a Grade-1 animal. animal per year to the co-op. Shares, which original- The plant processes bulls only, with the cows ly sold at $250, are now worth $400 to $450. saved for breeding. Sexhus claims that cows will The new facility began operations in February bring $5,000, while young heifer calves will range 1994, slaughtering and processing bison and selling anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000. it as a fresh meat product. The facility is expected to Sexhus pulls no punches when talking about process 6,500 to 7,000 head this year, generating past mistakes and encourages producers consider- $12 million in meat sales. A majority of the product ing a value-added venture to do their homework. is sold throughout North America, with 25 to 30 "Make sure you have the market you think you have percent exported to European markets. at the kind of price you intend to get for it, and NABCannounced plans earlier this year to seek then to know how you're going to anack that mar- a second and third plant site and is starting equity ket," he advised. "Then bring in management that's drives in those areas. Although CEO Dennis Sexhus Value-added tour participants got an up-close look at bison on the farm of Dr. Ken Throlson, capable and has the confidence and experience and declined to specify just where those plant') will be a founding member of the N.A.B.C. the capability of executing that plan.". Northern Crop Institute - providing the crucial step for Midwest producers T he world map and the clocks set to interna- tionallocations such as Moscow, Tokyo and London are the first clues that this isn't any ordinary 1981, is simple and straightforward: Educate potential customers and, ultimately, increase sales of wheat and wheat products produced in manager for MDA, agrees, calling the potential for a similar operation in Michigan very prom is- ing. "The NCI is basically focusing on four basic value-added processing." Parris says funding for a similar institute in Michigan could be shared between commodity lecture hall. The auditorium, located at Nonh Dako- the region, according to NCI Executive Director commodities - corn, soybeans, wheat and dry groups and the state, adding that the location of ta State University on the outskirts of Fargo, is also Dr. Pat Bergland. beans," he said. "In Michigan, we have 120 differ- MSU and its existing facilities would create an ideal equipped with numerous language translation In comments to 40 Michigan farmers and ent commodities to choose from in developing situation for the state to develop this concept.. booths and headphones at the 40 different seats to representatives from Michigan Farm Bureau, accommodate foreign visitors to the classroom. Michigan State University and the Michigan De- It's the centerpiece of the Northern Crop partment of Agriculture (MDA), who were tour- Institute (NCI) facility, which is used for one- and ing the region to learn more about value-added two-week courses - not for college students, but processing, Bergland said (he focus of NCI is a for food processors, merchandisers and other unique one. food industry representatives from more than "We simply don't focus on production agri- 100 countries. culture and research here," Bergland said. "Our Course selections include such topics as focus has always been on the end-user of com- Durum Wheat Milling, Marketing Wheat-Flour modities from our region and working on techni- Processed Products, Pasta Raw Materials and cal processing, as well as seeking ways to im- Processing Technology, and Grain Procurement prove the quality of our finished products." Management for Importers. The facility also con- Bergland says the facility also works with tains numerous lahoratories, including a pasta domestic food industry interests on pilot pilot lab, a grain grading lab and a processing lab, projects to test the feasibility of new products and is home to the country's only pilot durum and processing techniques before going into full- mill. scale production. Laboratories are equipped for No wonder, since the four-state area of baking. pasta processing and grain extrusion, and North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Mon- there is a durum mill and a feed mill. tana can claim bragging rights for producing 90 Would the NCI concept benefit Michigan percent of the durum wheat in the United States. agriculture? Absolutely, says Bergland, noting Those four states, along with severa] commodity that Michigan's diverse commodity mix lends check-off programs from all four states, provide itself well to value-added processing. "Your diver- the financial backing for NCI. sity gives you tremendous opportunity," she said. Northern Crop Institute's Dr. Pat Bergland shows numerous wheat milling products used in The goal of NCI, since it was formed in Vincent Parris, economic development classroom and laboratory educational sessions. DuPont expected to acquire Protein Department of Agriculture's food safety advisory uch confusion exists on how freezing Technologies International from M protects food. The Michigan Department of Agriculture offers the following advice on how to the kitchen counter or on a porch. These methods could render food unsafe to eat. There are three safe ways to defrost food: 1) in the refrigerator, 2) in cold Ralston Purina in $1.5 billion deal safely freeze food and how long frozen food may be \vater, or 3) in the microwave. Faster defrosting can D UPont and Ralston Purina Company an- nounced they have signed a letter of intent for DuPont to purchase Protein Technologies venture with Pioneer bring together the technol- ogy and know-how to deliver higher-value food and materials to a growing and more demanding safely kept. Almost any food but eggs in shells and canned be achieved by placing frozen food in a leak proof bag and immersing it in cold water. The water must food may be frozen. Food stored at a constant tem- stay cold and should be changed every thirty min- International (PTI) and its related affiliates from world population." perature of zero degrees Fahrenheit should always be utes. Food defrosted in a microwave should be Ralston for $1.5 billion comprised of DuPont In early August, DuPont and Pioneer Hi- safe. Freezing to zero degrees Fahrenheit inactivates cooked immediately after defrosting as some of the stock less certain liabilities. Bred International announced the formation of a the microbes including bacteria, yeast and mold that areas may become warm and begin to cook during The two companies are in exclusive negoti- research alliance and a separate joint venture, are present in food. After thawing, proper cooking the process. ations and expect to sign a definitive agreement Optimum Quality Grains, to speed the develop- willdestroy these microbes. Food frozen at the peak In cases of a power outage or freezer failure, a this fall, subject to due diligence and appropriate ment and delivery of new crops that benefit of freshness \villtaste better than foods frozen near freezer fullof food \ViII usually keep about two days if corporate and government approvals. farmers, livestock producers and consumers the end of their usual life. Freezing does not destroy the door remains shut. Ahalf-fullfreezer of food will PTI is a leading globa] supplier of soy pro- worldwide. In support of this alliance, nutrients and there is little change in nutrient value remain safe for about one day. In longer periods of teins to the food and paper processing industries DuPont agreed to purchase 20 percent equity in during freezer storage of meat and poultry products. outages, dry ice, block ice, or bags ofice may be placed with annual sales of $450 million. Headquartered Pioneer. Vegetables must be blanched or partially inside the freezer to retain cool temperatures or food in St. Louis, PTI has sales in 75 countries with According to William F. Kirk, vice president cooked in boiling water or a microwave oven in order may be transferred to another freezer. Food should 1,200 employees and numerous technology cen- and general manager of DuPont Agricultural to be frozen successfully. The vegetables must then never be kept outside, even if the temperature is below ters worldwide. Products, "The acquisition of PTI is part of our be chilled rapidly before freezing and storage. 0 freezing. Foods that have been warmer than 40 F for 'This represents an important step in our strategy in the feed and food ingredient indus. Food should be frozen as quickly as possible. more than two hours or that have been contaminated life sciences strategy to create shareholder value tries. DuPont and Optimum Quality Grains will Slow freezing allows large ice crystals that damage by raw meat juices must be discarded. by growing in the global food, feed and industrial develop and bring the higher-value soybeans to cells and dissolve emulsions while thawing to form in Finally, if you are concerned that food may markets with higher-value products derived market, thereby benefiting growers. DuPont and and around the product. Freezing keeps food safe have been improperly frozen, stored or thawed, through biotechnology," said John A. Krol, Du- PTI will convert that better soybean into a broad almost indefinitely. remember the first rule of food safety when con. Pont president and CEO. "The combination of range of higher-value protein applications bene. Food should never be defrosted in a garage, sidering whether or not to use the food: When in DuPont, PTI and the recently announced joint fiting food companies and consumers .• basement, car, dishwasher, plastic garbage bag, on doubt, throw it out.. ~~I~'I~~ September 15, 1997 Market Seasonal Commodity Price Trends Corn f in fact, I'm slightly bullish. World demand appears to be strong and prices reasonable. To me this indi- cates our projected use numbers may be low. I clear how many willbe coming to market anel at what weight, but cash prices in Michigan for choice steers seemed to have found a bottom of $65/cwt. That is Outlook Soybeans Wheat Hogs Cattle (explosive) f ~ 1 ~ 1 would consider having 1/3 to 2/3 of your crop priced by or at harvest if the report wasn't a jolt. On the remainder, I would consider a basis contract or likelyto hold with the market ranging between $65 and $68 through October. We should startto see some price strength in November and December, but maybe a minimum price contract, which is basically itwill be hard to break $70 before the end of the year. Index: - = stable prices: f = higher prices: 1 = lower prices: TP = topping: BT = bottoming: 1 = unsure selling your cash beans and buying a call, on a few. There isnot much to do except keep current. What if the report was a surprise for soybeans? Feeder prices, both calves and yearlings, will December futures are above $2.80, be ready to sell If so, the market has probably made most of the be strong this fall,550 weights are likelyto fallin some for harvest delivery. called-for adjustment by now. If the market shot up the $88-$93 range with 750 weights around $80. If the refX)rtwas buIlL'ih,ride the market up until significantly, be ready to price additional amounts for While this isgreat for the cow-calf producers (after by Dr. Jim Hilker, the futures approach what the fundamentals in the harvest delivery. If the market has dropped off signifi- the lasttwo years, they need it)and backgrounders, Department of new Supp(v/Demand Report would suggest. If the cantly, even if called for, consider waiting to do any itistough to pencil through in a feedlot, especially Agricultural Econom- report was bearish and the market drops rapidly, con- further pricing. If the market is still low when you yearlings. This will keep a lidon the feeder prices. ics, Michigan State sider holding off on further pricing decisions for some begin harvest, consider using basis contracts on a 1::1;r~_ University recovery. Uvestock numbers are on the increase and majority of the remaining unpriced soybeans. the lower prices may stimulate an increase in e.xportS. by Henry Larzelere ~~~ ~e biggest risk most Corn Belt producers have A s year-ta-year hog slaughter and weights have increased, hog prices have fallen, which is E gg prices in August were about 17 cents a doz- en below lastyear. Feed ingredient costs were about 19 cents a dozen eggs below the same period I at this point is what prices will do - they have a prett)' good idea of the size of their corn crop. How- A t this point, prices are near what fundamen- tals would suggest as shown in Table 2. Check to see if new wheat reports released on the what you would expect. However, cash prices have dropped faster than nearby futures. This, along with in 1996. Itisexpected that September wholesale prices ever, here in Michigan, the biggest risk our corn pro- 12th changed the situation. If the new reports are retail and wholesale prices, holding a little better in New York for Grade A large white eggs in cartons ducers face is still the weather. Michigan heat unit'i near the previous numbers, it's hard to justify hold- than cash, may mean we have already made most of willbe in the low 80s. Prices in the lastthree are way behind normal and the crop appears to be ing much of your wheat crop, if you still are. the seasonal price adjustment that is typical in the months of 1997 will probably average in the high immature for this time of year, even though much of Futures spreads are near paying on-farm storage but fall. At this point, I expect the fall low to be $44-$46/ 70s. The number of hens and pullets on farms and it l(X)ksgood from the road. What we need arc a few do not cover commercial storage. cwt. with prices fluctuating between $44 and $50. egg production has been slightlyabove 1996. hot/warm weeks - an early frost would be a disaster. Projected ending stocks are more than ade- The next USDAQuarterly Hogs and Pigs The egg-type chick hatch has been above last The USDAreleased the Sept. 1Crop Report on quate. Exports are liable to be higher than last year Report, to be released Sept. 26 based on Sept. 1 year during most of 1997. However, there may be a Sept. 12.Myguess L'ithe first 12 days of August hurt the with the lower prices we are seeing, but the world is information, may change all of this. The report will turn in the trend since the number of eggs in incu- U.S.corn crop and the remainder about made up for it. not desperate for our wheat. If you really want to be show continued expansion; the question is, how far bators on Aug. 1 was 3 percent below the same time Therefore, I expect the report said the crop was about in the market, use a basis contract or buy a call. are we into the expansion and how fast is it expect- in 1996. the same size a'i the August estimate. Table 1below L'i While call options are not cheap, they are cheaper ed to continue? The previous report indicated pro- based on that assumption. It also appears 1996-97corn than commercial storage costs, and you don't have duction would be up 6 to 8 percent in 1998. This exportS \\ill be about 20 million below last month's expectation a'i shown below. That means a little l;uger Cafl)'over into the new crop year. the downsize price risk. ~i.:i'l'4 :1 ::f':"l~~~~ would mean prices in the $40s all year, and in the low $40s by the seasonal low in the fall. What this says to me is, if we have a sharp rally D uring July, average broiler prices in truck lots were 55.68 cents a pound. This was above a year ago for the firsttime since April. May and June prices were below 1996 with chick placements 3 to If the new corn crop estimate and Com Supp(V/ Demand Rep011 \Va'isignificantly different than in Table 1 below, it probably calls for a change in our A ugust rains probably helped the U.S. soy- bean crop, especially second-crop soy- beans. However, that probably would mean only a in the futures before the report is released, consid- er pricing some portion of your production out over the next year if you have not already priced 4 percent above a year ago. However, September and later prices willbe below 1996 unless the place- pricing plans. First, if the updated Supp(v/Demand minimal change in the crop estimate. Compare some. As of early September, futures were near ment rate iswell below 1996. Report L'isimilar to the below estimate, fundamentals the updated USDAsoybean reports with Table 3 what fundamentals would project. suggest December futures should be near $2.80. If they below. If the report shows numbers about the l".:.' •• _~ are below that, consider holding off pricing with the idea to use on-farm storage ifavailable, or a ba'iis con- same, then $6.40-$6.50 November futures would be about right, given the use estimates. And the ~e last couple of Cattle-On-Feed Repol1s indi- F rozen Midwest hen turkey prices have been above 1996 since April 1997. The total number tract if not. At this point, the spreads we see in the futures are saying they will not pay storage, even I cated that we would be seeing more cattle of turkeys slaughtered has been 4 to 5 percent be- futures suggest the market is not \\illing to pay com- on-farm storage, so save that for corn. slaughtered this fall than previously thought, and this low 1996 .• mercial storage. If the situation Lsnear the same and Does this mean I am bearish on soybeans? No, caused a drop-off in fall contract prices. It is still not Cloning technology COMMODITY PRICE TRENDS expected to result in JOOO medical benefits ~e names "Dolly" and "Gene" have become Z'3O" I synonymous with the controversial technology r zaoo of cloning. Amid allof the controversy, however, ?:1f1" many are failingto recognize the tremendous po- 26()0 tentialthe technology holds for advancement'i in zsoo the medical field,according to Michigan Farm Bu- 240" reau Livestock Specialist Kevin Kirk. z:J)O 3JOO While Kirk doesn't expect the practice of clon- Corn • Dec. '91 l2O" Soybeans • Nov. '91 Wheat. Dec. '91 ing to be a widely used management tool among 3100 Sep farmers, he says the technology could be an efficient llall Jun Jill ~9 Nou IlP.r. Jan rell liar Apr llall Jon Jill ~g Sep Nou Dee Jan reb liar Apr IIav Jun Jill ~g Sep way to produce specialized proteins needed in phar- 11.50 ~.OO 1&.00 maceuticals and nutraceuticals for revolutionary new 70.50 Z40.oo 1UlO medical treatments and life-savingcures for disea'ies likecysticfibrosis,diabetes and cancer. 12.00 ~c: 68.50 I1l ''Theoretically,the abilityto mass produce a 10.00 c: i<:: '- specified protein, for example, could be tremendous &1.50 68.00 Cl1 ~ benefit to allof us medically," Kirk said."In most &6.50 &6.00 Cl:: cases itwould take a relativelysmall number of cows 65.50 zoo. 00 .c.~ &4.00 to produce the amount of a protein that isneeded." &4.50 1'tZ.00 . '.1' ll£ c: ABS Global, Inc.,a Wisconsin-ba'ied company, Live Cattle • Oct. '91 &3.50 Soy Meal. Oct. '91 184.00 Le~n Hogs • Oct. '91 62.00 60.00 e:; introduced a six-month old Holstein bull calfnamed Ikur Nou Ir.r: Jan fell liar flpr llall JOD Sl "Gene" that was produced through the company's Jill Sep Ilou Dee J .. rell nu Apr llall Jon Jill ~lf Sep proprietary cloning technology. At the same time, COMMODITY SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE SHEETS they announced formation of a new company, Infi- Table 1 - Corn Table 2 - Wheat Table 3 - Soybeans gen, Inc.,to commercialize the technology in the Estimated projected Estimated Projected Estimated Projected cattlebreeding, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and (Million acres) 199>-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 (Million acres) 199>-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 (Million acres) 199>-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 xenotransplantation fields. Acres set-aside/diverted 6.2 0.0 0.0 Acres set-aside & diverted 5.2 0.0 0.0 Acres planted 62.6 64.2 70.9 The technology used to create Gene isdifferent Acres planted 71.2 79.5 80.2 Acres planted 69.1 75.6 70.8 Acres harvested 61.6 63.4 69.8 from that used to create Dolly, the cloned sheep that Acres harvested 65.0 73.1 74 Acres harvested 60.9 62.9 63.5 BuJharvested acre 35.3 37.6 39.5 BuJharvested acre 113.5 127.1 125.0 BuJharvested acre 35.8 36.3 39.9 was introduced earlierthisyear. Rather than use a Stocks (million bushels) Stocks (million bushels) Stocks (million bushels) differentiated cellfrom a mature animal as was done Beginning stocks 335 183 120 Beginning stocks 1,558 426 961 Beginning stocks 507 376 444 Production 2,177 2,383 2,757 with Dolly, the new technique uses a stem cellfrom a Production 7,374 9,293 9,250 Production 2,182 2,282 2,531 Imports 4 10 3 fetus that has not yet differentiated to produce the Imports 16 12 9 Imports 68 92 95 Total supply 2,516 2,576 2,880 new animal. Total supply 8,948 9,731 10,220 Total supply 2,757 2,750 3,070 Use: ABS indicated that they should be able to create Use: Use: Crushings 1,370 1,425 1,490 any number of clones desired using thistechnique. Feed and residual 4,696 5,300 5,550 Food 883 892 900 Exports 851 885 955 They have been working on the development of Food/seed & Ind. uses 1,598 1,690 1,780 Seed 104 103 100 Seed, feed & residuals 112 146 145 cloning techniques for about 10 years. Total domestic 6,294 6990 7,330 Feed 153 310 275 Total use 2,333 2,456 2,590 Kirk says that in addition to economic justifica- Exports 2,228 1,780 2,050 Total domestic 1,140 1,305 1,275 Ending stocks 183 120 290 tion,producers are going to be reluctant to embrace Total use 8,522 8,770 9,380 Exports 1,241 1001 1,100 Ending stocks,% of use 7.8 5.1 11.2 ~~ the new technology for another simple reason. "Uve- Regular loan rate $4.92 $4.97 $5.26 x Ending stocks 426 961 840 Total use 2,381 2,306 2,375 stock producers generally seek to breed the best to Ending stocks, % of use 5.0 10.9 9.0 u.s. season average ~ Ending stocks 376 444 695 '1J c the best, hoping to produce an offspring that'ssupe- Regular loan rate $ 1.89 $1.89 $1.89 Ending stocks, % of use 15.8 19.3 29.3 Farm price,$lbu. $6.72 $7.38 $6.20 IV u.s. season average ing,we stop genetic progress since there isno com- Farm price,$lbu. S3.24 $2.70 S2.70 u.s. season average ~:; bining of genetic material and thus no opportunity to Farm price,$lbu. $4.55 $4.35 $l35 Sl produce an animal that issuperior to the parent." • We put a lot of ene" into farming J =-- -= -- - - - - Each day we light the way for We're proud to serve 20,000 farms- you and other farmers across the more farms than any other utility in state - providing the power that the state - and we're committed to help- keeps you in business. But our ing you succeed every step of the way. commitment to you doesn't stop there. For questions about animal contact We have a 24-hour, toll-free current, call1-BOO-252-B65B. number to answer your energy service questions. Plus, we've For other service questions, call established a dedicated, toll-free 1-BOO-477-5050. number so we can respond to your questions about c;lnimalcontact current. And, with 39 Customer Service Centers state-wide, we're ready to serve you. We're also working with key agricultural organizations like Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan FFA on issues that impact your produc- tivity and profitability. tllJ[~~~ September 15, 1997 Value-added processing - North Dakota style Michigan farmers witness economic value-added tour. potential during tour A partner in a 4,900-acre cash crop and seed S pend a few minutes talking with Harvey Pyle, and you soon learn this man isn't in- timidated by risk or opportunities. In fact. he'll operation. officially know as MacIntyre-Pyle Inc.. Pyle also operates a 1,000-head feedlot facility. In business since 1966, the operation has gradually tell you the two go hand in hand when it comes expanded, adding a second seed plant in 1976. In to value-added processing of agricultural com- 1990, the operation joined forces with Sinner modities. Pyle met with a group of Michigan pro- Seed Farms. another 4,700-acre seed farm locat- ducers recently, who were in the region on a ed on the other side of nearby Casselton, to form Unity Seed Company. Unity Seed now serves as \ the marketing arm for both farm operations which have retained their own identity and oper- ations. With a sales force of three full-time people at Unit)' Seed. Pyle says each operation can now focus on what they do best - raising wheat. bar. ley. soybean and dry bean seed. Is it working? Started just four years ago as a value-added, grower-owned cooperative, Dakota Growers Without a doubt, says Pyle. Unity Seed has in- Pasta Company is now operating around the clock, processing more than 20,000 bushels of stalled automated seed processing equipment, durum wheat into 675,000 pounds finished pasta products each day. and has established a great reputation and busi- ness, particularly in the Asian market. ProGold local feedlots. What's not fed directly is dried Unity Seed began marketing soybeans to Pyle has also been involved in. and is a mem- and marketed overseas. Corn gluten meal is used South Korea four years ago and now markets ber of, a relatively new value-added venture in the poultry market. Corn germ is shipped off 300,000 bushels annually for human consump- known as ProGold. The $260 million state-of-the- to Chicago for oil extraction. ProGold, capable of tion as soybean art corn wet milling facility, which produces 42 processing 85,000 bushels of corn per day, pro. sprouts. "It's a nice market and a much bet~er percent and 55 percent high-fructose corn syrups vides full-time employment for 120 people. return than the seed market or just commercial (HFCS) for the beverage and food manufacturing ProGold is owned by three cooperatives. North Dakota cash crop farmer Harvey Pyle beans." Pyle said. "We're working on specific industry, just began operations late last year. Golden Growers Cooperative, which is a corn grow- is involved in several value-added ventures varieties for production that are in sync with Corn gluten feed, which is a by-product ers' cooperative of about 2,000 farmers. owns 46 to boost net farm income. what their needs are." from the wet milling process, is going directly to percent of the stock. The American Crystal Sugar Company. which processes and markets sugar The Penny Check-Off Helps Michigan's Corn Producers Control Their Destiny beets, holds 49 percent of the stock. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, another sugar beet refiner, holds the remaining 5 percent of the stock. Individual producers wanting [0 invest in "We Are More PoW'e ul ProGold had to ante up a minimum of $19,250, which guaranteed a minimum entry for 5,000 bush- els of corn annually. Direct producer investments totaled nearly $52 million, according to Pyle. As One Voice Than A Bunch All of the HFCS is marketed through yet a fourth cooperative, known as United Sugar, which also serves as the marketing arm of Ameri- Of Separate Ones" can Crystal, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative and Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. Last year, United Sugar moved 30.2 million hun- dredweight (cwt.) of sweetener product. making Brand Name Com it the nation's largest beet sugar marketer. It's not all roses, however, for ProGold. Pyle Creating added value ror corn is our mission. One or lhe says the cooperative had budgeted for a two-year newesL areas or growLh is producing specialLY corn-- operating loss before generating profits in the creating a speCiFic producL wiLh speciFic LraiLs ror spe- third year. They had also anticipated a worst-case cine applications and Lhe opporlunily ror increased price scenario for HFCS of $14 per cwt. Unfortu- nately, the price plummeted to $6 since the facil- proms is very real. ity came on line last fall. Despite conducting a very thorough feasi- Genome Mapping - The Era Of Biotechnology bility study, Pyle says ProGold did not anticipate The ruLure or corn is wriLLen in ils geneLic code. Genomic the price drop. "ProGold spent a lot of money on mapping will creaLe beneFits ror producers. consumers some real high-powered people doing the stud- and assiSL in responsible environmenlal sLewardship. ies." he explained. "The worst-case scenario that they could imagine and what we were told was With corn genome mapping Lhe Uniled SLales can main- that the market would be $15 to $16 per cwt." Lain its leadership position in world agricullure produc- Pyle says the HFSC industry's processing Lion. BioLechnology will lead American rarmers lo even plant utilization, which was at 95 percent of ca- pacity when ProGold first formed, has dropped grealer producLiviLy while reducing the use or pesLi- to 75 percent. thanks to plant expansions at cides. herbicides. and rertilizers. three other major facilities. That expansion has saturated the HFCS market with excess product. Stewardship - Managing Our Resources Dakota Pasta Growers New conservation Lechniques nol only save soil and Located on the outskirts of Carrington, waLer. bULyour time and money as well. And. wilh lhese N.D.. Dakota Growers Pasta Company is nestled new meLhods. chemical use can be reduced. TogeLher. in the heart of durum wheat country. The region grows 90 percent of all durum wheat produced T he penny per bushel check-orr gives ~lichigan our errorts will improve our environmenl and allow in the United States. corn growers a powerrul voice andlhe oppor Michigan's corn rarmers lo leave a lasting legacy lo our Growth in the popularity of pasta, the main children and grandchildren. product of durum wheat. has also meant growth LuniLy lo conLrol Lheir own destiny. Who says opportunities for the farmers and local economy so? Michigan corn growers like ScoLl Miller or Elsie. We Are Stronger With One Voice of Carrington. Started just four years ago as a The Corn Marketing Program helps producers like TogeLher. we can shape the rULure or the corn indusLry. value-added. grower-owned cooperative, Dakota Growers Pasta Company is now operating around you shape the direction or the corn indusLry one The Corn ~larkeLing Program or Michigan. When every- the clock, processing more than 20,000 bushels penny aL a time. one con Lribu Les jusl one penny. the resulls really add up. of durum wheat into 675,000 pounds finished pasta products each day. To invest in the cooperative, durum wheat producers had to buy a minimum of 1,500 shares, which allowed them to deliver 1,500 bushels annually to the plan t. The $41 million facility is within weeks of completing a $15 mil- lion expansion that will increase daily pasta pro- duction to 800,000 pounds. Corn Marketing That kind of success has been financially rewarding to producers who invested in the facil. Program of Michigan ity. Shares that originally sold at $3.85 are now valued at $8 to $10 each. That success isn't likely For more information, contact the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan: - to end anytime too soon. Dakota Growers Pasta Call 888-323-6601, fax 517-323-6601 or write to: 6206 W. Saginaw Highway, lansing, MI 48917-2467 Company's plant is one of only three pasta plants still operating in the United States .• Michigan potatoes spared from House Agriculture Committee to take repeat of major late blight outbreak shot at reversing Clinton's veto Idaho hit hard with estimated 275,000 Both scenarios are possible." gion. When conditions are favorable, the fungus can acres affected Idaho hit hard spread rapidly through the foliage and is capable of W hen Congress returns to session, leaders of the House Agriculture Comminee will D uring the last three years, the prevalence Idaho, on the other hand, hasn't been so causing complete blighting of foliage within a very try to pass legislation to overturn President Clin- of late blight in Michigan's potato crop lucky. Some estimates show up to 70 percent of its short time. If no controls are implemented, entire ton's line-item veto of the provision that deferred has diminished to a half-dozen cases this acres have been stricken - totaling more than fields can be destroyed. Tubers can be infected capital gains taxes for the owner of a sugar pro- year thanks, in no small part, to the efforts of grow- 270,000 acres in the prime porato-growing valley. while they are still in the ground or in storage. cessing plant who wanted to sell the plant to an ers, seed companies and Michigan State University. "We're going to have to manage our crops in Kirk added that seed stock is the biggest Idaho farm cooperative. Rep. Charles Stenholm "We're in good shape this year in comparison eastern Idaho as though we had blight in every source of the disease. "One of the main cultural (D-Texas), the panel's ranking Democrat, will lead to the last two years," explained Dr. Willie Kirk, a field," said Phillip Nolte, University of Idaho seed methods is to make sure that we don't have inocu- the charge, backed by Committee Chairman Bob MSUcrop and soil scientist. "In 1994, it was possibly potato specialist. "The first year is the worst," he lum sources anywhere around - the main one is Smith (R-Ore.) Michigan's worSt year. In 1995, we had a few cases explained. "Everylx>dy's going to be a lot more probably seed. Farm Bureau support<; the legislation (H.R. and in 1996 we had some interesting cases where educated when it rolls into next season." "We're well on top of the seed quality pro- 1752), saying it will increa'ie ownership of processing we had late blight. "Our growers are aware of the disease," Kirk gram now," he added. A 1931 law, the Plant Growth facilities by farm cooperatives. The controversial tax "There were some people out there who de- explained. "They have attended educational pro- Act, gives the Michigan Department of Agriculture break is similar to that made availahle to owners who cided to wait until the soil diseased before they grams and know exactly what to do to control the power to remove potential sources of the disease, sell their businesses to employees .• tried to initiate control," Kirk explained. "We had disease." especially cull piles. some growers who did not see the disease coming Late blight is marked by reddish-brown lesions "We visited several grO\verson an educational and still got infected. We're not actually sure where on leaves and stems and is an airborne fungus. It is program," Kirksaid. ''The word got around that there that disease came from, whether it was from the caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans and was thL'ilegL'ilationthat could be enforced ifa grower crop in the field itself or whether it was coming in . has the potential to be an extremely destructive could not rake care of an inoculum source." • Visit us on the World Wide Web at: from spores from badly infected adjacent fields. potato disease throughout any potato-growing re- http://www.fb.comlmifb Call your independent Alfa Laval Agri™ dealer: Central Dairy Supply Lansing, MI 517 -322-2083 Van Strien Sales and Service Hudsonville, MI 616-896-9946 Great Lakes Dairy Supply 1% Iodine Barrier Teat Dip Falmouth, MI with 100/0 Dual Emollient 616-826-4143 • DELLA BARRIER Delivers More Killing Power • Contains 10-14 parts per million of Patented Stabilized High free Great Lakes 'odine. Dairy Supply • This10-14 times more Remus, MI environmental 517 -967 -8233 bacteria-killing power than other competitive barrier teat dips. Available in Great Lakes 1-,5-, 15-, 30- and 55-gallon sizes Dairy Supply Sandusky, MI 81 0-648-3333 11100 N. Congress Ave., Kansas City, Missouri 64153 @Copyright 1997, Alfa Laval Agri Inc. AL01-97 Estate planning saves family farm Michigan Dairy Memorial and after owners' tragic deaths Scholarship Foundation 40th anniversary Young farmer urges others to plan their estate. Now, he hopes his story will drive Some estate planning was still not finalized ahead others to do the same. when his mother and father died, he said, "but T he Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation L'iobserving its 40'11anniver.;ary thL'i D espite a tragic auto accident that killed "I had a neighbor come down and tell me - the major thing - the farm - was for the most year with a celebration event on Saturday, Oct. 4. The his parents at Christmas time last year, it was a farming neighbor - that his father had part taken care of. event will be held at Michigan State University in con. Kevin Dennis considers himself a fairly passed away very quickly and nothing was taken "They had just put together a living trust, junction with MSU's Homecoming weekend. lucky man. At least he and his siblings were able to care of," Dennis said. "He took me aside and said which they didn't have before. They had wills, The festivities will begin three hour.; before the keep the four-generation family farm. 'I don't know what your arrangement is and I but they were very out of date," Dennis ex- MSUvs. Minnesota football game and includes a shon With the federal estate tax laws allowing don't care, but just make sure things are taken plained. program followed by a brunch and tour of the newly just S600,000 to pass tax-free at someone's care of.' And I went to Mom and Dad about it. "Dad talked to me after the trust was made renovated Anthony Hall. death, many farmers aren't so fortunate. Often, That's what got the ball rolling." up and I knew what was in there, what was what. "The Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship they're forced to sell all or part of the business It wasn't long after the accident that killed He apparently thought I should know," Dennis Foundation has played a significant role in preparing to pay the taxes. But that didn't happen to the his parents that Dennis, his brother and three said. "I guess I was going to find out eventually students for a career in the dairy industry over the last Dennis family. sisters began worrying about how to divvy up the anyway, but I think that kind of eased my mind a 40 years," said Larry Haywood, president of the foun- Dennis, a 29-year-old farmer who milks 130 farm to pay the government. "I know we had it little bit before we went and talked to the attor. dation. "We are excited about hosting thL'ianniversary Holsteins near Laingsburg, said another family's all figured out, and there wouldn't have been a ney because I knew that the farm was going to event to showca'iC the accomplishment'i of the founda- misfortune encouraged his parents to plan for whole lot left after the estate taxes," Dennis said. remain intact. My brothers and sisters didn't have tion and reunite students, honorees and donors." "We were trying to figure out what was going to any idea." The Michigan Dairy Memorial Scholarship Foun- go and what was going to stay." The Dennis family's story has already dation ha'i provided more than 250 student'i with fi. Once the family met with their estate attor- helped other farmers realize that comprehensive nancial assistance over its 40-year history. In addition, ney, their concerns about the farm were some- estate planning is essential. "I've had a lot of more than 100 individuals who have performed distin- what subdued. "The funeral was two days before neighbors in this area come to me and say, 'We guished services to Michigan's dairy industry have Christmas," Dennis said. "We met with them the went and got our stuff taken care of or got it been honored through the foundation. day after Christmas." updated,' just since Mom and Dad died," Dennis Allformer scholarship recipients, honorees and Fortunately, appraisals of the farm assets said. "It's a good thing. donors are encouraged to altend the anniver.;ary cele- were favorable and came in lower than the "I think we were pretty lucky that Mom and bration. For more information regarding the event, $600,000 limit for each parent. Other estate Dad had a pretty good estate attorney," he said, contact Dr. Russel Erickson, (517) 355-8423.• planning tools helped keep the farm in the fami- offering advice for other farmers. "If you can, ly, as well. definitely get someone with an agriculture back- Ethanol production up "What helped us out is that Dad and I had ground." formed a limited liability company just two years ago, 18 months before the accident," Dennis Although a handshake is usually good enough for farmers, Dennis said families need to A Pproximately 74,000 barrels of ethanol were produced each day duringjuly, up 2 percent from the previous month and nearly double year- said. At that time, Dennis had recently returned work things out completely in the event that ago production rates. According to Sparks Compa- to the farm after teaching flying lessons at Lan- someone should die. "It's good to have things in nies, corn used in ethanol production for 1996-97 sing Community College. They began to expand writing. Otherwise, I can see how problems remains forecast at 430 million bushels. the operation then. could easily arise. The amount of com used in ethanol production "Since I had come back and we had gone 'Tm very fortunate; my brothers and sisters Laingsburg farmer Kevin Dennis knows is expected to rise to 500 million bushels during 1997- through this expansion, they decided they proba- all have the same goal that they want to make sure firsthand how important it is to have estate 98, up 70 million from 1996-97.Much of [he increase is bly ought to make sure things were taken care of the farm remains intacr and remains in the family, plans in place. His parents, owners of the expected to occur during the first part of the marketing before they left on any more vacations," Dennis so I was very lucky there," Dennis said. "Nobody family farm, were killed in an auto accident year. Last fall,ethanol production wa'i hampered by said of his parents. expected Mom and Dad to go like this.". last year. tight corn supplies and rela[ively high com prices. Member Vision Care Plan from Michigan Farm Bureau The Importance of Eyecare uVision was founded on the principle that great eyewear starts with professional N eyecare. That's why you'll find an independent licensed Doctor of Optometry in every NuVision office. Comprehensive eye examinations and contact lens fittings are easily arranged. Simply call ahead for an appointment. Once your eyes have been examined by a Doctor of Optometry at NuVision, your vision records will be maintained on file for your convenience .. We invite you to compare our service. You'll find that what others call speCial care, NuVision provides as standard procedure. Family Plan Benefits: • 20% to 50% off frames • 20% off lenses and lens treatments • 10%off contact lenses • 15%off non-prescription items • FREE UV protection on plastic lenses ... Don#t forget to use Don#t forget Member your Form Bureau Dental or Blue Cross / _--- VISA at NuVislon Blue Shield for more c:::..~. Optical centers health care savings. nationwIde • ... IIICIIIGAN Where BelonGinG Makes a Difference • •• - FARII BlJREAV Questions and answers regarding the 16th CRPsign-up When will the general sign-up be held? selections are made from that ranking. Rankings are volcanic and organic soils, and proximity to desig- accepted previOll'ily.The likelihood of acceptance The 16th sign-up period will be conducted based on potential environmental benefits derived nated agricultural areas that contribute to the non- could be increased by offering less than the maximum from Oct 14 through Nov. 14, 1997. from enrolling the acreage in the CRP,raking into con- auainment of air quality standards or affect Class 1 payment rate for the acreage or by enhancing the envi- When will program information be sideration the cost to the taXpayer. pristine air quality area'i such a'i national parks. An ronmental benefit'i of the offer. available in local FSA offices? What are the EBI factors? additional subfacror was added to the cost factor to If a CRPcontract has expired and the State and local FSAand Natural Resources Con- The EBI facrars are: (1) wildlife habitat bene- further encourage the CRP's cost competitiveness. acreage is not enrolled under a new servation Service (NRCS) employees will be trained fits that encourage covers on contract acreage that Other minor revisions were also made for clarity contract. must the producer follow a early in September. Detailed program information is will be most beneficial to wildlife; (2) water quality and to facilitate administration. conservation plan to maintain farm scheduled to be available in local FSAoffices by mid- benefits from reduced erosion, runoff, and leaching; What does this mean to producers bid- program eligibility if the acreage is September. (3) on-farm benefits of reduced erosion; (4) endur- ding for contracts? farmed? Will any existing CRPcontracts be ing benefits which recognize that certain practices The EBI ha.'ibeen revi.'ied to beuer mea'iure the If the acreage meets the highly erodible land extended? such as trees will provide environmental benefits relative environmental benefits on any offer. Achieving (HEL) definition, a conservation plan will be re- No. The 1997 agriculture appropriations act beyond the comract period; (5) air quality benefits an acceptable EBI rating of 259 in sign-up 15 is no quired ro retain eligihility for certain orher USDA effectively precluded the extension of any CRP con- from reduced wind erosion; (6) benefits of enroll- guarantee of obtaining a contract in the 16th sign-up. farm programs. tracts. No contracts will be extended. mem in conservation priority areas where enroll- When will contracts seleded for What are the producer's obligations if Since existing CRPcontracts cannot be ment would contribute ra the improvement of iden- enrollment become effective'? the CRPcontract has expired and the extended upon expiration, will the . tified adverse water quality, wildlife habitat, or air For sign-up 16, new contracts for acreage under acreage is not accepted for a new acreage still be eligible to be re-offered quality; and [T) cost contracts scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, 1997, could contract? under the 16th sign-up? Have any changes been made to the EBI be effective the month follo\ving the date of approval. For acreage suhject to a CRP contract only, all Yes, if the acreage is otherwise eligible for for this sign-up, compared to that used New contraCl'i for all other acreage become effective CRP obligations cease when the contraer expires. Some enrollment in the 15th sign-up held last March'? Ocr. 1, 1998. current CRP acreage is subject to ea'iements which are What are the land eligibility require- Yes. The following revisions have been made If a producer has more than one CRP in effect for up to 30 years. ments for new CRPcontracts? to the EBI to beuer protect America's natural re- contract expiring in 1997, must all Will bases, allotments, and quotas Eligible cropland is defined as land that has been source base: The wildlife habitat cover benefit'i acreage be offered for re-enrollment'? continue to be reduced as a condition planted or considered planted to an agricultural com- factor was modified to recognize the improved No. A producer may offer any eligible acreage for of enrollment in CRP? modity two of the five most recent crop years and wildlife benefits anributable to certain covers. Wild- theCRP. As a result of the 1996 farm bill, crop acreage must be physically and legally capable of being planted life species, both game and non-game, benefit most May land rejected when offered for an bases no longer exist. HO\\'e\'er, the Food Security Act to an agricultural commodity. Also, maIginal pasture from vegetation when it is planted specifically to earlier sign-up be re-offered during a of 1985, a'i amended, requires a reduClion a'i a condi- land is eligible if it is either in the last year of a Water address their habitat needs. The air quality factor later sign-up? tion of enrollment in CRP.Therefore. only quota and Bank Program contract or will be devored to a riparian was changed to more accurately refleer wind speed, Yes.Land that meets basic eligibility criteria may acreage allotments for tobacco and peanuts willl"X? buffer to be planted to trees. Eligible cropland must moisture conditions, panicle size, oIganic material, be offered during any CRP sign-up e\'en if it was not suhject to reduerion .• also meet one of the following criteria to be offered for enrollment in the CRP: • Be considered highly erodible land according to the conservation compliance provisions (por- tions of a field must have a weighted average Erosion Index of8 or higher); • Be considered a cropped wetland; • Be subject ra scour erosion; • Be located in a national or state CRP conservation priority area; or • Be cropland associated with non-cropped wet- lands. Are there any producer eligibility requirements? Yes. Land must have been owned or operated for at lea'it 12 months prior to close of the sign-up period unless the: (1) new owner acquired the land as a result of death of the previous owner; (2) only ownership change occurred due to foreclosure where the owner exercised a timely right or redemption in accordance with state law; or (3) circumstances of the acquisition present adequate assurance to the CCC that the new owner did nor acquire the land for the purpose of placing it in CRP.If a tenant, the tenant must be a par- ticipant with an eligible owner or operaror. Producers should contact their local FSAService Center for more information. What will be the duration of CRP contracts? Contracts will be for a term of nor less than 10 years. However, for land devoted ra practices such a'i riparian buffers, filter strips, restoration of cropped wetlands, h.ardwOOdtrees, shelter belt'i, restoration of rarer declini"ngh~bitat, windbreaks, or wildlife corri- dors, contracts may be for a term of nor less than 10 or more than 15-years. l How are CRPrental rates determined? The rental rare ~ based on county average dI)'- land cash or ca'ih rent equivalent rental rates adjusted for site-specific soils-based productivity factors. The same rates used for sign-up 15 will be used for sign-up 16.An additional amount, nor to exceed $5 per acre, is Take advantage of the best early-order provided as an incentive to perform maintenance obligations. Producers will know in advance what the discounts in the business! maximum rental rate will be for the acreage being offered and may offer whatever rate they choose. A It's just common sense to cut your customers a producer can offer less than the maximum rental rate deal for ordering early. to increa'ie the likelihood of acceptance through the competitive environmental benefits index. Call 1,800,331,7201 for more information on the If a producer does not agree with the Craw's early,order discount program or to locate maximum payment rate, can the rate be appealed? the Crow's Representative nearest you. While most program decisions made by USDA officials can be appealed, appeal of a CRP maximum payment rate is restricted. Only the soil types and relat- ed soil type acreage determinations made by the NRCS may be appealed. The payment rate formula and the individual soil rental rates used in the formula are uni- formly applicable to all CRP applicants and may nor be ~Iilf()rd. IL • Nevada. IA • Greenville. 011 appealed. What is the Environmental Benefits Index (EBO? Co 111 111011 Ag a i }1 . When an offer is submined, NRCS collects data for each of the EBI faerors based upon the relative environmental benefits for the land offered. Offers are then ranked in comparison to all orher offers, and Farms can be hazardous to children I ist impossible to know the exact number of consider the fact that farming L'ione of the most In addition to safety education, specific steps children who are seriously injured or killed on hazardous occupations in the United States and the can be taken to minimize risk of agricultural disease 10 ways to keep children safe our nation's farms each year. Estimates range worksite holds dangers that are comparable to con- and injuries to children: from 100 to 300 deaths and from 100,000 to 250,000 struction workers and miners. For every hazard • Create barriers on farms to prevent children and 1. Never, ever allow a child on a tractor, injuries each year. While we don't know the exact present on a farm, there should be a barrier that Olher visitor:s from emering particularly hazard- either to ride or play. This could elimi- numbers, there are many things we do know about prOlects children and Olher visitors from that hazard. ous areas. nate a full 50 percent of fatalities involv- children, production agriculture and injuries. What can farmers and parents do to protect • Work with farm organization'i at all levels to develop ing kids . • From one-third to one-half of nonfatal childhood their children from danger? First of all, it's helpful to programs that could provide adequate child care for 2. Set up rules and safe boundaries, then agricultural injuries occur to children who do not know what types of injuries occur most frequently children of farm families and farm laborers. review those rules regularly with them live on farms. to children in the area; that is, different types of • Work with safety specialists and farm organiza- and their friends. • The highest farm injury rate is among boys 14 to injuries are associated with different types of pro- tions 10 develop standards regarding age- and 3. Remove keys from machinery and trac- 17 years of age. duction agriculture. developmentally appropriate guidelines for chil- tors whenever they are parked. • Tractors are associated with the greatest number Once adults are aware of the primary agents of dren's work in agriculture. 4. Guard all moving parts with protective of deaths to children on farms. injury, decisions should be made regarding the ap- • Prohibit adolescents from operating farm tractors shields. • Nonfatal farm injuries are often associated with propriateness of having children watching or partici- and machinery before they have received formal 5. Install ROPS on all tractors and make livestock, falls, small tools, building structures pating in the work. These decisions should be made training and safety certification sure seat belts are always used. and moving machinery parts. far in adv:mce of any work requiremems that may • Never allow children to be riders on rractors. 6. Take ladders away from grain bins and For a farm to be a safe place for a child to live tempt the adult to have children observe or help with • Ensure thar hired workers undersrand rhe risk of hay piles when the job is done . or visit, the farm must first be a safe environment work. Young children are subject to potemial prob- disease transmission of chemical exposures ro 7. Don't lean large parts or tires against for adults. Allstandard safety measures and practic- lems associated \vith exposure to dusts, vibration, children if they fail to pranice cleaning proce- buildings -lay them flat or tie them so es should be in place on any farm where children noise and other physical hazards. Therefore, they dures when going home. they won't fall over. are present. should have limited exposure to the farm worksite. Farms are beginning to look more like facto- 8. Use day care or start a child-care cooper- Adults should keep in mind that they are re- As children age and mature, their presence and ries and warehouses rhan the quiet farmsteads of ative during planting and harvest sponsible for maintaining the safety of any child or participation should be adapted to their physical and days gone by. So rarher rhan lerring rhe farm be a seasons. adolescent who may be present on the farm work- cognitive skills. There are several educational resources giant playground for kids, let's think of it as an edu- 9. Lock up all chemicals. site. When assessing when and where a child should that will help farmers and parents determine if, and carional, bur pOlentially dangerous, worksite that 10. Keep young children away from livestock. be present on a farm, the owner and parent should when, their child is ready to participate in farm work. should include children in selected situations. Farm tractor rollover protective structures save lives N o maller how careful we are, things still happen. Steve Ellsworth, a farmer near LellS, Iowa, found that to be true in the summer Thus on that summer day, Steve was able to crawl out of the cab of his overturned tractor and 10 tips to be safe on tractors walk home to call the tow truck and hug his wife 1. Resist dangerous shortcuts. of ]996. Steve was mowing a roadside ditch less and son. "There is no doubt in my mind that the 2. Teach visitors and children about farm haz- than a quarter mile from his home, when the use of the ROPS made the difference, nO! only in ards and safety. tractor's front tire sank into a hole, resulting in keeping me protecred, but also by limiting the 3. Wear close-fitting clothes, tuck in shirt tails the tractor overturning onlO its side. tractor to overturning only on its side," he said. and wear shoes with good traction. Steve knew the hole was there and had 'This also resulted in minimal damage to the 4. Increase the number of break times. mowed around it numerous times before. He tractor. Being kept in the zone of protection also 5. When you work alone, tell others about where said he remembered it at aboUlthe same time he enabled me to be able to turn off the mower, you are and when you will return. If possible, felt the wheel go in. He said, "The scary thing which continued to operate as a dirt and rock carry a mobile phone. was that the instant I felt the tire sink, I knew thrower. If I would have been pinned and unable 6. Inspect your machines thoroughly and often. exactly what was going to happen, and there to do that, it would have posed a haz.ard for any- Look for loose and worn parts. Check safety wasn't a thing I could do about it. In the event of one attempting to rescue me." shields, warning signs, guards, reflectors and an orerlurn, there is no time to react and to Steve said his neighbor was mowing along a ~ transport4Otks .... ,,-ot ~ think that I'll be really a/en and careful and can nearby roadside only a few weeks later using a 7. Shut off before you get off. Disengage the react if something goes wrong." non-ROPS tractor. The tractor overturned and power and shut off the engine before you In the past, he has mowed using an open the farmer was killed. The estate auction was work on any part of a machine. station, non-ROPS (rollover protective structure) held se\'en months later. 8. Make sure everyone is clear of machines and equipped tractor for doing the maintenance type As Steve discovered firsthand, all it takes is in your view before you start them. of mowing. After doing a safety assessment of his one mistake and a fatality may occur. The use of a 9. Retrofit old tractors with ROPSand a seat belt. farm, he made the decision to use only tractors ROPS and seat belt are indeed effective in pre- 10.Read your operator's manual. equipped with ROPS. venting death or serious injury. Power take-offs are still a potential danger F all harvest is always a busy season and it (an be a safer one this year if farmers become more aware of the hazards associated with the PTO (pow- . where the PTO shaft was nOlcompletely enclosed. Piercy urged farmers 10 check areas where the PTO connect<; to the tractor. "These were areas where • enclosed by shielding and avoid contact with these areas. Avoid wearing loose-fitting c1Olhing. that are fullyshielded, have hinged-type master shields for easy access and those with recessed set screws or the sliding-lock-type couplers that will er take-off). the person most often became entangled because the • Avoid reaching across the running PTO for any reduce the risk of clothing entanglement . According to Larry Piercy, University of Ken- shielding was missing or the PTO was nOl fullyen- reason. • Be sure all workers are aware of the ha7.ardwith the tucky safety specialist, the fall harvest is always a closed," he said. In either case, loose c10lhing or a slip • In selecting new or used equipment, consider those . PTO and train them in proper work procedure. peak time for PTO injuries. or fallcan result in contact with the PTO "Aspinning PTO shaft turning at 540 revolu- Piercy pro\'ided this list of ways for farmers to tions per minute can easily entangle and tear c10lhing safeguard themselves while working around PTO at a rate of 5 to 7 feet per second," he said. equipment: Kentucky farmer Wayne Dobson knows that • Keep all PTO shields in place during operation. fact all too well. He felt a gentle lUg on his jacket • Repair or replace all broken or damaged PTO while unloading shelled corn into a PTO-driven shields immediately. auger. Before he was able 10 react, he found himself • Test integral mounted, spinner type, drive line with serious injuries to both arms, resulting in a 41- shields before staning the equipment to ensure day hospital stay. He considers himself very fonu- they are working properly. nate to still have both arms. • When possible, shut off the PTO before dis- Studies by Purdue University found the high- mounting the tractor . est rate of PTO injuries occurred in the fall, and • When using PTO equipment in stationary opera- these were often more serious if individuals wore tions, adapt work pauerns that limit exposure to Lester knows every farmer wants standard, is pre-engineered from top heavier or multiple layers of c10lhing that were the PTO buildings that look good, provide long quality materials and backed by the difficult to tear off. • In confined areas, position the equipment for term reliability, and are affordable. Uni- industry's leading warranty. Nearly 90 percent of the injuries occurred where safe movement around the traclOr and machin- Frame~ agricultural buildings from For handsome, functional agricultural the PTO shield was missing or damaged. The remain- ery without crossing the PTO. Lester ~eet the highest standards for buildings, visit your local independent der occurred when clothing became entangled in areas • Check for any areas on the PTO that are nOl fully appearance, durability and value. Lester Builder or call1-BOO-B26-4439. Every structure, custom designed or ~ESTE~ LESTER BUILDING SYSTEMS A 0Mal0n 01 BuIIIr Mwluf8d16lng ~ Shermak Bldg. & Land Development Keystone Builders Miller Construction & Equipment, Inc. Brighton Harbor Springs West Branch 810-227-8298 616-347-2010 517-345-2499 800-390-5892 Cole Construction Co. NOVA Construction Deloof Construction T&W Construction Coldwater Newport Kalamazoo Almont 517-278-6867 313-586-8528 616-375-5942 810-798-8331 We understand the financial side of agriculture better than any- one. Which is why we've tailored our Credit Line operating loan to help you manage your farm more efficiently and profitably Get the credit you need whenever you need it to finance everything that goes into operating your business. You can choose from a variety of loan options tailored to fit your needs. Call us today And let us put our 80 years of experience to work for you. 1-800-444-FARM ~~~Farm Credit Services ~~~Atthe heart of a growing AmericaSM IL'JI [III :~ ~ JL'I ::t','~'i September 15, 1997 Ed Shonsey President/ CEO Novartis Seeds, Inc. NOVARTIS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I ,-. ... Get on the cutting edge or get left behind Innovation means performance I want to introduce you to a new seed company whose Innovation must perform on your farm. Innovation innovation will ensure you will not be left behind. Take must pay for itself. Innovation must increase your for instance, the newest tool - corn hybrids protected opportunity for success. Novartis Seeds innovation from insect damage. and genetics have been tested and proven by farmers across the country for three seasons. This performance Novartis Seeds is itself an innovative hybrid, formed by data allows you to plant our innovation with confidence. the merger of Ciba Seeds and Northrup King. Novartis Seeds, part of the world's most important agricultural Innovation means listening supplier, offers a full line of field crop seeds under As big as Novartis Seeds is, we are not too big to listen. the NK@ Brand. But, size means nothing unless all I want to hear your ideas about the kinds of innovation resources focus on providing innovative seeds that and products you think will make the most difference ensure performance on your farm. Novartis Seeds has on your farm. the commitment, talent, knowledge and research that deliver products and services for you to succeed. I want your feedback about our company; our products, our services. I would like your opinion about our deal- Innovation means more than technology ers and distributors. Our employees. The way we do No industry has been more innovative than agriculture. business. What do you like. What don't you like. Hybrid seed corn was quite the innovation 75 years ago. I'll read every word you send me. And I'll get back to Today's equivalent innovation is biotechnology that you. This may not be such an innovative idea, but it is gives growers profit-making insect protected corn my promise to you. hybrids. So, while we didn't invent hybrid seed corn, we did deliver the world's first corn hybrids with corn You can reach me: borer protection. Toda~ 70% of the corn acres planted with Bt hybrids carry the NK brand from Novartis Seeds. Fax: 612-593-7218 Innovation means choices E-mail: edshonsey@nk.com Innovation means breaking new ground - offering more. nt Postal mai I: 7500 Olson Memorial Highway Hybrids with two different 8t genes (YieldGard and Golden Valley; MN 55427 KnockOut™) to control corn borers. Two entirely different lines of elite corn germplasm. Novartis offers you the broadest line of Bt hybrids - three times as many Bt hybrids as any other seed compan~ Novartis Seeds innovation, what we call Maximizer™ Technology, means you can have both Bt/Liberty Link@ and Bt/IMI corn seed, Roundup Ready@soybeans and Arrest alfalfa with potato leafhopper control. We also offer Bt/high oil and Bt/white corn hybrids. Talk about innovation that produces profit. Where Innovation Drives Performance •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• P~babiUt" of Abcv. HiCh.r PrOba.biHt.y 01 Abcv. ProbobUtt.y of B4010W HlCh9r Proba.biUty of B.low Probability of Norm~ Ht(hltr Proba.b{U1.y ot Norrn 120F, 50C) and allowing to thaw. Agroup of Michigan farmers, touring the area on marketed live to the elder- Alternately, colostrum can be thawed in a micro- a value-added processing expedition, paid a visit to the ly Asian population. Some wave oven with little damage to the Ig. It is impor- operation recently. In operation since 1959, North of the fish is processed tant to microwave rhe colostrum for short periods Dakota State University's (NDSU) Carrington Research Borage plantings are becoming more popular no\lv, thanks to the on low power. Pour off (he thawed liquid periodical- and sold to restaurants Extension Center personifies the basic philosophy of and groceries for normal new farmer-owned co-op. ly to minimize heating. It is also important to avoid Extension. "hot spots" inside (he frozen colostrum. Use of a fish consumption," Anderson said. "We're studying integrating feedlor operations into typical North Dako- Each of several ongoing projects is intended to turntable can help to minimize damage to Ig. Re- diets for these fish and how fast they'll grow using ta farm operations, utilizing commodity processing provide producers - and ultimately consumers - new many of the high-protein feed sources that we grow residues. Feeder calves are generally shipped out of searchers at Cornell reported that this method can technology, new alternatives and a better standard of here in North Dakota, including numerous oilseed state for finishing. be quite effective in thawing colostrum with little damage to the Ig molecules. meals, peas and high-pro- Wheat mids, a by-product of wheat milling, are tein wheat." abundant in North Dakota, with more than 600 tons The bottom line ... According to Ander- produced each day. Anderson says more than 5,000 Colostrum is an excellent source of nutrition and immune proteins for the calf. Treat is as a pre- son, Tllapia willgrow from tons of processing by-products are generated daily that three-quaners of an inch to could be utilized in feedlot operations. cious commodity. Protect the IgG molecules by maturity in about eight or "Our research suggests that we can generate an freezing (for storage> 1 week) and gentle thawing. Your calves will thank you .• nine months to a point additional $20,000 in ner farm income for the average where they willbe ready for North Dakota farm feeding processing by-products," market, with an astounding Anderson said. "We figure that a producer can clear 62 Farm Credit Services' feed conversion rate of2 cents per day using these rypes of residues." computer lottery pounds of grain to 1 pound Research into specialty oil crops such as crambe, benefi~s community of gain. If feasible, the fish borage and safflower share a similar tale of alternatives could provide two things the area desperately needs and new opportunities. Research at the Carrington location was the driving force behind the creation of W hen Farm Credit Services of Michiganis Heartland updated their computer sys- tems to improve efficiency and customer service - higher net farm income AgGrow Oils, a farmer-owned venture that willpro- this year, the 80 plus year old association recog- and more local jobs, duce, process and market specialty oils for the pharma- nized a unique opportunity to help community Blain Schatz, director of the Carrington ResearchStation pinpoints through the use of value- ceuticals and consumer markets. and non-profit organizations at the same time. the seed of borage, a new specialty oil crop that may become an added cooperatives. BlainSchatz, director of the Carrington Research During rhe first computer iloueryi of its kind, alternative for North Dakota wheat farmers Most research projects Station, says the oilseed crop alternatives will help FCS of Michigan's Heartland donated used hard. come directly from local diversifywhat local growers have available for the mar- ware and software to organizations throughout constituents served by the ketplace. More importandy, it will allow producers to Michigan including: Eaton County Junior Livestock, research station. In many diversify their cropping rotation. Eaton County 4H Dairy Division, Lakewood Youth cases, all or a portion of the "If we look in the central part of the state of Center, Bryant Elementary School in Owosso, St. funding comes from local North Dakota, we see that crop rotations are typi- James Church in Mason, Millville United Methodisr individuals, commodity cally predominated by spring wheat, durum wheat Church in Dansville, Easton Church of Christ in groups and local industry. and barley, all very closely relared," Schatz ex- Owosso, and Arc of Michigan in Lansing. "Farm The buffalo feeding trials, plained. "In the last five years we've had tremen- Credit Services is builr on the strength of our com- which will be used by a dous problems wi£h not only the leaf spot diseases, munities," said James E. Bremer, CEO, "we are rapidly expanding buffalo but more significantly in recent years, the Fusarium proud to support the organizations that add so processing industry, carne head blighr or scab, which has created financial much value to our communities and our lives." about thanks in large part to . hardship for producers." With 14 branch offices throughout 40 counties the North American Bison "We've seen some very positive effects by in Michigan, Faml Credit Services of Michigan's Hem- Cooperative (NABC),locat- having these oilseeds and other broadleaf or land has been financing rural America since 1916. ed nearby in New Rockford. non.related crops with cereals within the rota- Products and services include: farm operating loans, NABChas creared local jobs tions," Schatz continued. "The bottom line is we real estate loans, crop insurance, equipment leasing and over $12 million in want to see one of these minor oilseeds being services, country living mortgages, computerized farm Vern Anderson, an animal scientist with North Dakota State meat sales. interspersed berween our wheat and barley recordkeeping, appraisal services, tax planning/prepa- University, outlines several feed lot research projects that are livestock producers crops. Anything that provides a clear break in the ration, fmancial planning, retirement/succession plan- utilizing wheat processing by-products. have spurred research into crop rotation is what we're afrer." • ning and life/disability insurance .• --. ,~ r.ur~~,mr4!.0 September 15, 1997 See your dealer for details on the Fall's Great S8 Rebate. That's right! For a limited time only, of Roundup Ultra and get eight bucks you can get eight bucks back on the back. Enroll today by calling toll free best weed control money can buy. So 1-888-FALL-NOW (1-888-325-5669) whether you're bringing land out of or see your ag chern dealer or Monsanto CRE improving land for continued Local Market Manager for more details. CRP participation, or Either way, you'd you've got tough better hurry, eight perennials to bucks back on control, you can Roundup turn to the Ultra won't unbeaten last long. power Always read and follow thc la~1. Fall's Great Rebatc is only available in a limited geographical area and is void where prohibited. This offcr appli~ ro purchases of Roundup Ultra of 10 to 120 gallons ~(Wccn August 25 and Octo~r 31. 1997. Roundup Ultra- is a tradcmark of Monsanto Company. C 1997 Monsanto Company {520-478 8/97 jll RUP-76014B h'll[~:I@JJI}~h'l~W September 15, 1997 AgGrow Oils finds its niche in new cooperative W heat growers in North Dakota have specialty oil crops AgGrow "We're going to gain access to a lor more markeL'i had their share of bad luck in produc- anticipates ral'iing. "A'ian like the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and edible oils, ing a disease-free wheat crop. Since liC, the grower or the which want non-solvent oils, and it takes us our of 1993, producers there have fought a four-year bat- owner can lease or sell the head-to-head competition with the major players," tle against scab and vomitoxin. Many producers production righl'i to other Gardner said. "We want to provide a service that they' were beginning to realize that what they needed growers to produce a obviously can't provide and open up new business and was another crop to enter into their rotation to help particular oilseed crop for a market for our farmers that's not there now. In terms break the disease cycle. thL'ibusines.'i, in the event of the conventional crushers there is more than ample More importantly, producers needed a shot at the original owner can't crushing capaciry, there was no sense in us going head producing a high-value crop that could boost net farm grow that particular crop," to head, instead we're trying to complement them." income. Specialty oil crops were one possible answer, Gardner explained. The deci'iion to locate the plant in Carrington but they lacked a processing plant to market their crop. AgGrow has also was a clear-cut choice, says Gardner, noring that the Enter AgGrow Oils, a new grower-owned pro- taken a different ap- city had already witnessed the tremendous impact cessing operation to process and market special oil- proach to storage of raw value-added processing facilities could have on local seeds. Michigan farmers, in the region on a tour of commodities. Rather economies. value-added cooperatives, had a chance to tour the than invest company Carrington also happens to be home to North facilityunder construction near Carrington, N.D. funds into storage, the Dakota Pa'ita Growers, a S41-million, pr Trailer Sales tered. Call for more 1-616-396-n24 " FORD, NEW HOLLAND 1-616-698-6840 FOR SALE: New information. THOROUGHBRED 1-800-962-1495 616-396-8102, Fax tractors and equip- Holland 851 round The UamaZoo Scotch Highland- r ment from Symon's baler. Like new! Kalamazoo ers: Stock or beef. in Gaines. For 45 Kool blower 5th 1-616-372-2863 Prices vary. Call 1- years your best wheel. Golden Bell 517-272-2234. deal for the long bale trailer. New run! Idea 2-row corn LLAMAS: THREE registered Symon's picker #325, 36" North American Sit- polled hereford General 1-517-271-8445, row. 12-row bed. ting Bull and Essex breeding age bulls. Gaines Mayrath 8" grain bloodlines. Pet One AI, MSU, Opti- auger, 50' long. All males and weanling mum, Z03. Two GLEANER F Com- CLEAN WHEAT females. Reasona- MSU and Rocky HYDRAULIC CYLIN- items housed in- bine. Great grain, STRAW: Round side. Good condi- bly priced! Banner blood lines. We Buy DER and hydraulic soybean or corn bales and square. Call for more infor- Rye Hereford pump repair. Seal machine. See at Hay also. tion! Retired from farming. mation and visit. Farm Damaged kits and chrome DULL'S FARM Ferguson Farms SERVICE Almont 1-616-698-8735. 1-517-645-2719. Miller's L1amaland Rogers City 1-517-734-3005 Grain work, Strawchoppers all makes. bal- Clare, MJ. 1-810-395-7512 1-517-386-2192. FOR SALE: Regis- tered polled Gelb- Potterville, MI TOP QUALITY HOL- Buverand anced and rebuilt. Venture Tool & INTERNATIONAL CHOPPER with 2 vich bulls. One and two years old. Call MINIATURE DON- STEIN breeding age bulls, from high pro- seller 01: Metalizing Sebewaing, MI 1-616-821-2476 or ducing cow family. • Cash grains 1-517-883-9121 -row adjustable corn KEYS: Yearlings Top AI sires, $800- head and hay head. ~seedS 1-616-821-0100. and sucklings now • Feed ingredients Prefer evenings. $900. New Holland Model available. They're • Milling quality SAVE 75% ON WORK Pasch Farms #30 blower. Both in versatile, long lived, WEAR! Uniform rent- HORTON BAY LLA- 1-517-644-3519 grains good condition! Re- intelligent, guard al returns in excel- PREMIUM ALFALFA MAS has weanling tiring owner, must and yearling halter animals and com- lent condition. sell. 1-616-761- Seed. $108-130 per panions for hiking, Licensed and bonded Laundered, durable, 50# bag. Fall Triti- trained females and 3655. cale. Michigan Cer- males for sale. Su- packing, driving and With over 20 Jears very comfortable. perb wool quality. enjoying. 01 experience Money back guar- UQUID MANURE tified Wheat; Chel- Call or fax for more Young miniature antee. Free bro- SPREADERS: sea, Lowell, A.C. information. horses also availa- chure! Work wear New and used. Ron, Harus, Wake- ble. Will hold for Balzer, Better-Bilt field, Bavaria. Jack & Barbara Danly Christmas delivery! RAT TERRIER METAL ROOF COAT- 800-818-8900 express toll free. 1-800-909-9025 parts. UPS daily. B & M SEED 06300 Boyne City 1-517-463-2846. Road M&MS Farms PUPPIES. AKC INGS: Heavy fibered Michigan Also, grain dryers Williamston, MI Registered. All col- Agricultural Charlevoix, MI or white roof coat- and handling equip- 1-517-655-4267 ors and most sizes. ment. 49720 ings. H.J. Butzin. Commodities, 1-616-582-7473 Also have Decker Call anytime, early Inc. STRAW Hamilton Distributing Giant strain. Stud or late. CHOPPERS Company Fax 1-616-582-6540 services. Call 1- 1-517-n7-9815 445 North Canal We rebuild and bal- 1-800-248-8070 ~vestock PUREBRED BOER 517 -593-3405. Lansing, MI 48917 ance. Some ex- IH CORN HEAD. GOATS. MichFlock. Open 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. changes. We stock 863. Knight 17.7 Stud Service availa- Mon.-Fri. chopper parts. with 10 ton Killbros ble. l/RlMIIk ANGUS& GELBVlEH: 612 North Madison, running gear. Call ENGINE REBUILDING Breeding stock. Lapeer, MI48446. 1-616-895-6315. ~alEstate our specialty. CaUFor Free delivery! 1-810-667-0169 Auto-Truck -Tractor- Border Collie StocK' UMOUSIN BULLS: any time. Classifieds Dogs. Both red and black. Antique-Continen- tal-Kohler -Onan- Call today. FREE HOME DELlV- Registered, excel- OLDER FARM HOME: Bordner Farms ERY!Simply the Wisconsin engine lent pedigree. Good Approximately 15 BEDDING: dry kilm 1-800-968-3129 Sturgis, MI SCOTCH HIGHLAND best! Complete dealer. disposition and acres on main high- sawdust shaving. 1-616-651-8353 cattle, registered, Horse Feed. ELITE 70 years of service! E.P.O.'s. Also, black way. Reasonable 100 and 120 yard club calves. 1-616- quality stock, all +, 10% or 12%. HART'S AUTO ages, various pri- Dealer inquiries terms! Needs deco- loads. PARTS 751-5573 evenings ces. Pine Ridge rating, will consider Call for prices. welcome! For infor- Cecil, OHIO and weekends. Farms, Williamston, rent with option. 1-800-200-3571 1-6 °16-393-1069 mation or delivery, 1-419-399-4n7 MI1-517-655-3792. Mathie Energy Supply Cluse to lakes. Ad- weekdays. dison mailing ad- Co., Inc. 1-800-467-7340 dress. 1-810-727-7290. ALL FARMERS & HUNTERS FREE 28 PAGE CATALOG Contains deer processing videos. knives. E,. __ .FARMERS PETROLEIJM COOPEBAJIlIE, INC. is pleased to offer DEER HUNTING saws. grinders, seasonings. wrapping L.E.M. Products, Inc. P.O. Box 244 -MI Miamitown, OH 45041 513-353-4004 supplies, and sausage making supplies. jerky RIGHTS WANTED: Lease financing Direct-to-the-Farm 1-94 corridor tween Ypsilanti and Jackson. be- Will pay for equipment vehicles & Farm Tire Prices cash and/or shrink- wrap equipment and post signs. if We are overstocked with farm wanted. Call AL 1- HERITAGE buildings rears, fronts and implement tires 313-692-2122. BUILDING SYSTEMS 800-643-5555 and are offering special pricing FARMS AND LAND :u, x 50 x 10 55.2811 .100% tax deductible throughout Michi- ao x 00 x 10 40 x UO x 12 S8,:U)(j for Michigan Farm Bureau 50 x ()O x 10 58,a22 5 I :S.023 • fixed payments gan, agricultural 00 x 75 x I () 5 I a.04o members. Give us a call today and recreational. I ()() x 200 x 14.M I 550,OH2 • min advance payment Large parcels pre- <:ommerclal st ..el building. .. fcaturlnlll"as)' bolr-UI) asst"mbly for a price quote. ferred. We have from Amerll"a's standard I,.. gest dlstrlbulor. sizes of shop. fann. Industrial. We Jun"e o\"er 10.000 comml"rclal and mini-warehouse bulldlng. All are complete with englne .. r buyers! 800-451-6813 stamped pennlr dmwlng. 20 yeo" roof and woll rust war. ~ Call Dan VanVal- ranty. C..all Us today for a free Infonnatlon quo'e on our top quaury buildings or building package and a COml)()nl"nt TEIMARKINc. www.te1mark.com Tim Underwood or Carolyn Rhodes kenburg, Property Specialist. Rural pans. ~I i II i 'V; H'C • II CHI Sf.' I( •• I~':> S .. Ie - Ext 3307 Ext 4211 Faust Real Estate .1' , .. 1.1. 800-451-3322 Adrian 1-517-263-8666 It. " I """ IX .... t.I.,'I,'.I,.~ , .1,'1 (<1'111 '''' ,'1, Michigan Farm News Classified LGenera, ROOF, REROOF, PATCH It'S. easy to do it yourself with proven SIX BLE RESPONSI- Christian FOR DISPLAY AD INFORMATION adults wish to lease farm hunting rights. Will respect land and your wish- your CALL 1-800-292- 2680 es, will resume all (P@@II ((; ~@~J- risks and liabilities, willing to pay top _ 4.93ll,938/5.096.758/5.142,837 SELF-STICK ALUMINUM ROU ROOFING dollar, willing to take does. Let us Roof or reroof most low sJope roofs, help you with your crop damage prob- lems. Call 1-313- 692-9920. Rich. Ask for ~. ~: .... ~ -Ii .. )~ : , ' ' I patchrollroofing,asphalt or metal roofs, gutters. Just peel off release paper and stick down. Reflective surface cuts under rocl temperature. CAli ORWRITEFORFREE ~---------------------------------, Deadline for next issue is Noon, September 22, 1997 '~ SAMPLE,ORDERINFO. ~ . MFM Buiding Products Corp. STOCK-UP: P.O. Box 340. Coshocton, OH 43812. 800-882-ROOF Sheepskin mittens, hats. gloves, slip- pers, woolen gar- Call 1'-800-968-3129 to Place Your .. ments, yarn. Cata- log available! Classified Ad Today! Bellair's Hillside Farms or use the coupon below and mail or fax your and The Sheep Shed CASH, NOT OPINION ALLEGAN ANTIQUE classified ad to Michigan Farm News 8351 Big Lake for quality tractors, MARKET: Sunday, Road, Clarkston. combines. heads September 28. Rain 1-810-625-2665. and round balers. or Shine! 300 exhib- Visa/Master Card 1-517 -439-2440 itors. A great selec- Buy Line/Daily News FAX: evenings. tion of antiques. Don't miss this last I P.O. Box 6, Stanton, MI 48888 1-517-831-5063 STANDINGTIMBER TRAILERS: ANDVENEER: big show of 1997. Located at the fair- I Black River Hard- Complete line of woods,lnc. grounds right in Al- legan, Michigan. I Avenger enclosed cargo units availa- 1-81G-657-9151 ,days. 7:30 am to 4:30pm. I ble at low prices. Sizes range from Call 1-517-845-3345 evenings. AUSTRALIA-NEW Classified Ad Codes I 5x8 to 8x48. WANTED: ZEALAND-FIJI 15th Annual Dairy I TAG-A-lONG TRAILERS Old motorcycles, snowmobile and off Tour. January 30- 1. Fann Machinery 10. 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Auctions 27. Announcements 1-800-339-9350 ~ddin9S 9. Help Wanted 18. Antiques/Collectibles 28. To GIve Away 19. General 29. Vehicles 24" VENTILATOR: One phase, 115 for- Name Phone ( ward/230v. 3/4hp, low profile provides good air flow pat- Address tern with minimum restrictions. 1-616-867 -5619 City State Zip • All steel building with a 20 year warranty • Ideal for use as a workshop and storage Classified Ad Code Requested Number of Issues SUPER HEAVY STEEL FOR INFORMATION ON CANCEllED CaUFor ORDERS. CAll NOW! 3OxSO".,,'(2 LErn ;IlxSL (1 LEFT) Classifieds Desired Insertion Date(s): 40x60." .. ,(2 LEFT) ;IlxlOO (1 LEFT) I American Structures, 1-800-968-3129 Method of Payment 1-800-340-4398. Check $ (payable to Michigan Farm News Classified) Visa Card Number Exp. Date Master Card Number Exp. Date Classified Rates - $8 for up to 24 words - 30 cents each additional word Write your ad here. including phone num~er and area code 2 3 4 Wick Columns Are Guaranteed 5 6 7 8 For 50 Years. Wick pressure-treated columns are 9 10 11 12 backed for 50 years against decay and insect damage. That gives you an idea of 13 14 15 16 how Wick buildings are made. They're constructed with roof and wall 17 18 19 20 steel screw-fastenedfor addedstrengthand structural integrity. And these colored 21 22 23 24 panels are tough, full-hard base steel. To learn more about strong Wick build- 25 26 27 28 ings, contact us today. 29 30 31 32 Dick Alwood, Wick Buildings D~aler 33 34 35 36 202 Pearl, Charlotte, MI 48813 Office: (517) 543.0996, Home: (616) 623.8780 L ~ Fax: (517) 543.9475 Circulation over 47,700 In State OfMichigan August 15, 1997 II. Kellogg Foundation launches $16.5 million program to manage information with rural America T he W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle zations are those that suppon community groups that the Kellogg Foundation is trying to build Iished in 1930 "to help people help themselves Creek, Mich. announced the launching through direct services in training, technical assis- individual and community capacity for change through the practical application of knowledge of a $16.5 million initiative called Managing tance, leadership development or civic panicipation and adaptability. and resources to improve their quality of life and Information with Rural America (MIRA).The five- activities. This also willinclude organizations in rural "MIRAis about people, not technology," she that of future generations." Its programming year effon is designed to help people in rural com- communities that develop or capitalize on economic said. "MIRAwill focus on ways to help rural com- activities center around the common visions of a munities determine how technology can be used to opponunities such as workforce development, mi- munities to use technology to go beyond tradi- world in which each person has a sense of worth; address the growing concerns of rural populations croenterprise development and access to capital. tional boundaries. It also will create new partner- accepts responsibility for self, family, community, on such matters as economic development, educa- In the first year only, up to three national ships and provide support along the way. Tech- and societal well-being; and has the capacity to tion, health and leadership. policy support groups also will be eligible for nology is expected to be an important tool in be productive, and to help create nurturing fami- Each year, over the lifespan of the initiative, funding. Their effort will be expected to be di- helping to reconnect rural communities to the lies, responsive institutions, and healthy commu- five grou'ps of community teams in the United rected at helping rural communities understand larger issues of society, but it is not the only fo- nities. States, 10 to 15 community support organizations, and learn to work in the policy environment so cus of this effort. In fact we do not expect these To achieve the greatest impact, the founda- and three policy support organizations will receive the full power of citizen participation and reo grants to be used to purchase equipment, and tion targets its grants toward specific focal points grants from the foundation to effectively use elec- sponsibility can be harnessed. To do this, the one could participate on the teams without expe- or areas. These include: health; food systems and tronic communications and information systems. policy groups will receive funding to use technol- rience with technology." rural development; youth and education, and Support to the five groups of community ogy to serve rural communities and to receive Carpenter also noted that MIRAis pan of a higher education; and philanthropy and volun- teams will focus on building their capacity to information from rural communities in an effec- larger rural development program at the Kellogg teerism. When woven throughout these areas, determine their appropriate uses for technology tive, inclusive way. In the following three years of Foundation that is dedicated to preserving and funding also is provided for leadership; informa- in their locale. Specifically, the selected groups the initiative, local and regional policy support nunuring rural communities across the country. It tion systems/technology; effort to capitalize on will receive up to $200,000 to manage workshops groups will receive funding. is based on a belief that a healthy rural America is diversity; and family, neighborhood, and commu- and a pool of grants for implementation of local "We recognize that people in rural commu- essential to the long-term well-being of the nation. nity development programming. Grants are con- projects. The workshops will help them to pre- nities have reservoirs of strengths and resourc- She indicated that the Kellogg Foundation centrated in the United States, Latin America and pare proposals and to implement community es," said Caroline Carpenter, a program director would be issuing a Request for Proposals in Au- the Caribbean, and five southern African coun- technology projects. This approach will help in food systems and rural development and lead- gust. This document details how interested com- tries of Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Swazi- ensure broad community involvement in the er of the MIRAinitiative at the Kellogg Founda- munities and organizations can apply for grants. land, and Zimbabwe. process of designing the projects. tion. "We want communities to match their Additionally, she noted that there would be ori- For more information about the MIRA pro- Selected community suppon organizations also strengths and their civic commitment with uses entation sessions in Charleston, W. Va., Manches- gram, or to obtain a copy of the Request for Pro- will be eligible to receive up to $125,000 in funds to of electronic communications and information ter, N.H., Alburquerque, N.M., Lincoln, Neb., and posals, contact 888/264-6662 or visit our web site explore the uses of technology as a vehicle to deliver systems," she said. Spokane, Wash. in September. at HYPERLINKhttp://www.wkkforg .• services more effectively. Community suppon organi- In the design of MIRA,Carpenter explained The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was estab- Chemical companies join to launch pesticide safety campaign Deficit down but 1997 could be poor year E ight agricultural chemical manufacturers have combined forces to promote safety during "By utilizing the united force of eight compa- nies, we hope to have a widespread, national impact," pesticide applicator training schools and by sales representatives from each of the eight companies. T he United States' trade deficit shrank by.14.5 percent in June to $8.2 billion, marking a de- the handling and application of carbamate and he says. "If we can encourage applicators to give extra A toll-free number will be established so crease in [he trade balance for the first time in eight organophosphate pesticides through a joint effon consideration to safety when handling each of our that when the program launches in November, monrhs. BalancingJune's positive news against the called "Safety: Apply it First." This year-long pro- carbamate and organophosphate pesticides, we can applicators can call for free kits and more infor- rest of the year, however, shows that final 1997 trade gram [argets all chemical handlers and will launch help alleviate the potential risk. These are good mation about [he program .• figures could be the worst experienced by the U.S. in November 1997. chemicals, bur like all farming tools, [hey need [0 be since 1988, with an annual trade deficit a[ around American Cyanamid Company, Bayer Corpora- handled properly to minimize accidental risk." $111.1 billion if the current trend continues. tion, Cheminova Agro,FMCCorporation, Makhteshim- All"Safety:Apply it First" campaign efforts.will Despite lower figures inJune, the u.s. trade Agan,Novanis Crop Protection, Rhone-Poulenc Ag urge dealers, applicators and growers to promote defidt with China and Japan continued to expand, Company and Valent USACompany staned"Safety: safe use and handling of these chemicals. Materials while the spread with Mexicodropped dramatically. Applyit First"to reach applicators with important safe- will instruct them on the appropriate safety measures The deficit with China jumped 14.5 percent inJune to ty reminders when handling the caroamate and organ- to follow and how to order free safety awareness ki[s $4.3 billion and the gap with Japan increased 11.6 ophosphate pesticides that they manufaaure. for their application equipment. The kits will include percent to $4.1 billion. U.S.exportS to Mexico hit an a11- "Wefeel that we need to effectively'reach chemi- safety brochures and tools such as pesticide hop- time high inJune, helping the trade defid[ with our cal applicators with safety informacion about our prod- per box stickers, sealable clothing bags to hold southern neighbor drop 29 percent to $ 1.2 billion. ucts," says Don Carlson, FMC's representative on the contaminated clothes, cab window stickers Critics of [he deficit charge the Clinton "Safety:Apply i[ First"committee. "When applicators and spray boom signs that willserve as con- administration has not been tough enough on get blLc;yproteaing crops in the midc;tof the season, stant safety reminders during applications. some low-wage countries that flood American accidents are more likely.Our objeaive is to encourage The program will reach chemical markers with cheaper goods. But analysts say the applicators to take the extra minute to think about handlers through national advenising and bright spot is Mexico - without NAFTA,adminis- what they are doing so they can then protect them- direct mail. Also, the "Safety: Apply it First" tration supporters say, our trade deficit wi[h that selves as well as the crops they are treating." message will be spread through inclusion in country could be much worse .• Another important reason to Farmers pleased with "Freedom to Farm" Ie 1996 f~~ bill, also call~d [.he "Freedo~ to alter. "Freedom to Farm ~de it JX>S:Sible for you to do develop a safety plan Farm Act, IS apparently wmnmg rave reVIews among farmers, especially in the Midwest. "It's been that and not feel you were JeopardizIng your govern- ment payment." KnowIng how MIOSHA applies to your more employees willbe subject [0 enforcement of any super. Everything has been excellent." That's Iowa agriculturilll operation Is important The new law also has helped land values. Accord- MIOSHAstandard and inspections .. producer Nick Ong's opinion of [he bill. The Wash- ing to Kevin Brooks, executive vice president ofHamp- A reason for developing and implementing Most farming operations, defined under the ington lbst fea[ured an article on "Two Years of ton (Iowa) State Bank, the best land in Franklin County I an accident prevention program f you have an employee(s) and you have a fatal acciden[, you can be inspec[ed by MIOSHAcon- federal standard industrial classificationcodes 1and 2, in Michigan are exempt from regular MIOSHAinspec. tions. However, any farm must be open for inspection 'Freedom to Farm.'" Most Iowa farmers dted the freedom to exercise has increased in value by 20 percent during the past 15 months. sound agrirultural practices as the reason for their Farmers such as Showalter understand tha[ the cerning safety standard viola[ions. Employers cited where a worker (employee) fatalityhas occurred or an contentment. No longer bound [0 growing com [0 new farm program began amid almost ideal crop and for a violation of MIOSHAsafety provisions may employee complaint has been filed.However,after a ensure a government subsidy, farmers now plant what marker conditions. A dowmum in production or prices receive a citation and a monetary penalty. fatalemployee aCddent, the "general duty clause" may the market dictates. Many farmers are going to a "50/50 could dampen their optimism. Showalter, however, is If you, as an employer, have taken steps to be applied for a hazard nm covered under existing split of com and soybeans," a luxury farmers didn't willing to take his chances. He said ifgovernment does implement an effective safety and health program agricultural safetystandards when the farm "failedto enjoy before Freedom [0 Farm was signed into law. nm come oock and "dink around wVj the market," he (an accident prevention program with a written furnish a place of employment free from recognized ''I'm QI'Owinl!more soYbeans " said Tim Show- Lc;willinl! [0 l!ive the new law a shm safelYplan [hat is fully implemented), you can re- hazards." Farms are subject to [he MIOSHAregula. ceive a penalty adjus[ment from MIOSHAbased on tions; however, farms with 10or fewer employees are Wasp venom points to new pest control the level of the program as follows: Program status Written Unwritten nm subject to regular inspections. Use a qualified per- son for advise and legalopinion on MIOSHAlawscon. cerning your specific farm or orchard operation. V enom from a tiny parasitic wasp shuts down the growth of insect pests tha[ cause millions of dollars of damage to many agricultural, vegetable damage from these leaf-eating insects is done during the larval, or caterpillar, stage. A team of ARSscientists demonstrated that Fully implemented 30% 20% The definicionof an agricultural farming opera- and forage crops each year, scientists with USDA's only a small amount of the wasp venom was need- Partially implemented 15% 10% [ion is quite narrow and many features of an integrated Agricultural Research Service (ARS)repon. ed to halt development of a wide array of insect Non implemented none none farm operation Oike a farm that has a processing oper- ARSscientists have isolated and identified pests. Besides working against the Heliothis com- Size of business Penalty adjustment ation in additiol) [0 growing crops) may be outside of the active ingredient in venom produced by the plex, [he venom was also effective in stopping the 10 or fewer employees 80% the agriculture definition and subject to general indus- wasp Euplectrus comstockii. This wasp is a natural growth of the European corn borer, an insect that 11-25employees 60% try MIOSHAstandards for work done in areas mher enemy of Heliothis pests-including crop-munch. causes $350 million losses each year. Testing the 26-100 employees 40% than the growing of farm crops. ing couon bollworms, corn earworms, tobacco venom on the corn borer was imponant to show (Note: Total penalty adjustments cannot exceed 95%.) SaMytlp: and tomato budworms, fall armyworms and cab- that it works on a wide variety of pes[s, including Safetygoals define an accident prevention pro- bage loopers. those that aren'[ normally hosts for the wasp. Who IIIIBt CDIIIpIy with the mite gram. Take the time [Q write down your safetygads. Before a female E. comstockii wasp lays an Now the scientists are planning field studies oa::upationaI safety and health ... These goals state the purpose(s) of the acddent pre- egg on Helimhis larva, she injects venom into [he of an insect virus that can spread the venom ~7 vention program. Yourgoals should stress working larva. The venom stops the Helimhis larva from among the crop pests. If [hese field tests are suc- Allemployers in Michigan must comply with safely,promote conrinued job training, and acknowl- molting-shedding its skin-so it can't develop. cessful, [he venom could be the basis for a new, MIOSHA;however, only thase farms that employ 11 or edge safety standards .• That's imponant because 90 percent of the crop natural pest COntrol. • AS FARMERS MONITOR THEIR SUCCESS IN CORN, ONE NUMBER KEEPS COMING UP. RX601 beat the best from DeKalb, N.ovartis and. Pioneer - for three years straight.* It does it with strong emergence and early vigor, good leaf disease and stress tolerance, and good stalks a'nd roots to support its top yield. On top of all that, RX601 is a unique, great-looking plant that turns heads all season long. All of which is why it's become a very important hybrid for a whole lot of growers. Fifteen years ago, Asgrow made a commitment to build a corn line on par with anyone's. Today, proprietary hybrids like RX601 .are the result. So put Asgrow corn in your lineup. Then watch your yield numbers start going up. * For proof of Asgrow corn success, call 1.800.815.4545. Asgrow Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa. www.asgrow.com , III