Lawmaker tapped as Illinois ag director - AgriNews

 

Lawmaker tapped as Illinois ag director

Jeannine Otto, Field Editor

Saturday, November 14, 2015 5:00 PM

Poe

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Raymond Poe didn’t have long to pack.

“I told them, it’s better packing and going to the Department of Agriculture than it would be packing and going home,” said the Illinois agency’s new director.

Gov. Bruce Rauner announced Poe’s appointment Nov. 13. He takes over from acting Director Warren Goetsch.

“First of all, we’ve got to go in there and look at it, make sure there are not any big fires to put out. A lot of it is going to be looking, listening and seeing how we can improve on things,” said Poe, R-Springfield.

Poe emphasized the need to promote Illinois agriculture.

“I think we need to always point out, every chance we get, whenever we’re out there talking that it’s the most important industry, the largest industry in Illinois and how we’re doing our part. We have to keep bragging about that because there are a lot of people who go to the grocery store and think a truck is how food gets there,” he said.

Troubled Times

The Sangamon County grain farmer takes over an agency that has seen its share of strife.

Philip Nelson, former director and past president of the Illinois Farm Bureau, resigned abruptly at the end of September, followed almost immediately by the resignation of Patrick Buchen, Illinois State Fair manager.

While Nelson has not commented publicly on the reason for his departure, Buchen blamed Rauner’s aides for forcing Nelson out.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. referenced the department’s state of affairs in his statement on the Poe appointment.

“Based on the past relationship with Representative Poe, we are confident that his door will be open to discussing the many difficult challenges that face agriculture and the Illinois Department of Agriculture,” he said.

Guebert said the appointment continues Rauner’s commitment to putting a farmer as head of the department.

“The announcement by Governor Rauner to appoint state Rep. Raymond Poe as the next director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture continues the governor’s commitment to keep the department a viable and relevant agency. Representative Poe has proven his support of agriculture throughout his career,” he said.

The agency is operating under the constrictions caused by the ongoing state budget impasse between Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan.

“Everything is sort of bare bones,” said Poe, who is confident that department employees can keep things operating until the state has a budget.

“We’ve got a lot of people who have worked here for anywhere from 10 to 30 years, and they know how we can make things work until we get a budget passed,” he said.

Farm Roots

Poe has farmed in Sangamon County since 1967. He has been in the Illinois General Assembly since 1995 and serves on the agriculture and conservation, appropriations-higher education, personnel and pensions, and business occupational licenses committees.

“I live five minutes from the state fairgrounds. We farm out there,” he said.

His son, Lance, now heads up the family farming operation and has a cow-calf herd, Poe said.

Poe is a former president of the Sangamon County Farm Bureau and Lincoln Land Farm Supply.

Allen Entwhistle, a grain and cow/calf farmer from Riverton, is past president of the Sangamon County Farm Bureau and chairs its governmental affairs committee.

“I’ve known Raymond for years. I knew him when he was farming and was president of our board of FS when I worked there. At least he knows some ag issues and hopefully he’ll be able to help us in the ag field,” he said.

Entwhistle said he’d like Poe to continue advocating for agriculture at the state and national level.

“I hope he keeps on looking at that water deal, WOTUS, and the EPA and the interests of the livestock, chemical and fertilizer industry. Hopefully, he will look at those issues as a farmer and help us continue to grow our commodities,” he said

Lawmaker tapped as Illinois ag director - AgriNews

Dry fall yields productive harvest season in Boone, Winnebago counties - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Oct. 25, 2015 at 1:00 PM
Updated Oct 25, 2015 at 7:05 PM

BELVIDERE — For Marshall Newhouse, a dry fall is good news for him and his 1,400-acre farm in Capron.

"As far as the weather is going, you cannot ask for a more agreeable harvest," the former Boone County Board member said. "The ground is firm because it's dry. Without the mud, you're not battling with machinery. It aids in the process when everything is nice and dry. Everything works better with harvesting equipment."

A wet August and dry fall resulted in a productive harvest, allowing farmers in Winnebago and Boone counties more time in the fields, even if crop prices aren't as high as they were two years ago. The price for a bushel of corn is about $3.50, half of what it was two years ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soybean prices are about $8.60, compared with about $10 last year.

"If you take good production and depressed prices, you're hoping it will average out to an average year," Newhouse said.

Seventy-two percent of corn and 89 percent of soybeans have been harvested in northeast Illinois, according to the USDA's crop report for the week ending Oct. 18. Statewide, 85 percent of corn and soybeans and 76 percent or sorghum have been harvested, each significantly higher than the same time last year.

Newhouse was worried that a monthlong midsummer dry spell would hurt the crops, but then came "a sweet spot": a rainy late August that gave way to a dry fall.

"We were anticipating there would be a yield drag from that stretch," Newhouse said. "When we got to the August rain, it fooled me."

Richard Beuth started his combine at 7:30 a.m. Friday, hoping to get a head start harvesting corn on his 1,300-acre Seward farm before the rain.

"It's been, for the most part, a pretty good harvest," he said. "No rain for a month makes it nice for harvesting," and the yield has been "pretty good."

"With this weather, the corn's been drying in the field. (Farmers) don't have to dry it, which saves lots of money."

While yields are up, farmers are battling lower crop prices that cut into profit margins.

"With the good yields, even with the good prices, (farmers) may be able to break even," Beuth said.

With his beans harvested, Newhouse is taking care of the corn.

"I'm about 99 percent positive (Boone County farmers) will meet or exceed county averages," he said.

Dry fall yields productive harvest season in Boone, Winnebago counties - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

The suicide rate for young people is much higher in rural areas - The Washington Post

 

Suicide rates for young people are almost twice as high in rural areas as they are in urban areas, and the gap among males is widening, a team of researchers reported Monday. While the use of firearms in suicides declined, the rate of hangings and suffocations rose for both males and females.

Writing in JAMA Pediatrics, a team of researchers from Ohio State University found suicide rates of 19.93 per 100,000 for males and 4.4 per 100,00 for females in rural areas, compared to 10.31 per 100,000 for males and 2.39 per 100,000 for  females in urban areas. The study examined 66,595 suicides by people ages 10 to 24 between 1996 and 2010.

Completed suicides are much more common among males than females, even among this age group. Men commit four out of every five suicides, the new study shows. For this age group, it was the third-leading cause of death, behind only accidental injuries and homicides. Sixty percent of the suicides were committed by people between 20 and 24.

[Robin Williams was part of a group facing high suicide risk: Older white men with depression.]

Suicide rates for boys and men declined in most urban areas but remained largely unchanged in rural areas, widening the already substantial gap in those rates, the researchers, led by Cynthia A. Fontanella, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Ohio State, reported.

The report offered several explanations for the findings, emphasizing the relative shortage of mental health care in rural settings "owing to chronic shortages of clinicians." It also suggests social isolation from friends and family, the economic impact of the Great Recession and easier access to firearms in rural areas as other possible explanations.

"Suicide is a major cause of gun deaths in rural areas, and evidence suggests that firearm ownership is associated with suicide," the researchers wrote.

In the midst of such limitations, having primary care physicians do more mental health work, employing more telemedicine and intervening in school are three of the more promising solutions, they wrote.

The suicide rate for young people is much higher in rural areas - The Washington Post

U of I Extension to host farmers market marketing class - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

BELVIDERE — U of I Extension will hold a marketing class for farmers market vendors from 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 9 at the Boone County Extension Conference Room, Suite 5, 205 Cadillac Court.

Attendees will learn about booth set up, signage and staffing considerations and about the best ways to package, price and display products.

Fee: $5. For information: 815-544-3710.

U of I Extension to host farmers market marketing class - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Rent walkouts point to strains in U.S. farm economy | Reuters

 

Across the U.S. Midwest, the plunge in grain prices to near four-year lows is pitting landowners determined to sustain rental incomes against farmer tenants worried about making rent payments because their revenues are squeezed.

Some grain farmers already see the burden as too big. They are taking an extreme step, one not widely seen since the 1980s: breaching lease contracts, reducing how much land they will sow this spring and risking years-long legal battles with landlords.

The tensions add to other signs the agricultural boom that the U.S. grain farming sector has enjoyed for a decade is over. On Friday, tractor maker John Deere (DE.N) cut its profit forecast citing falling sales caused by lower farm income and grain prices.

Many rent payments – which vary from a few thousand dollars for a tiny farm to millions for a major operation – are due on March 1, just weeks after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated net farm income, which peaked at $129 billion in 2013, could slide by almost a third this year to $74 billion.

Rent walkouts point to strains in U.S. farm economy | Reuters

Kicking City Slickers Off Of The Federal Farm Subsidy

 

There’s an old saying, “When the law’s an ass, somebody has to kick it.”

With tens of millions of dollars in federal farm subsidies flowing into urban areas – where there are no farms – Congress empowered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to more-clearly define the word “farmer.”

With a new definition coming soon, many wealthy urban residents just might be booted off of their substantial federal subsidy.  It couldn’t happen fast enough.

Last year, our organization, American Transparency at OpenTheBooks.com, issued our Federal Transfer Report on farm subsidies. We studied three urban areas where there are no farms: New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C. We found they were awash in federal farm subsidies.

A “heat map” of over 10,800 entities receiving > $250,000 in farm subsidies (2008-2011).

The federal farm program was originally intended to “protect the national food supply” and “preserve the family farm.” Yet, our findings showed wealthy investors piggy-backing on a growing government program – the largess of farm subsidies had become part of their investment portfolio. Many of these wealthy investors don’t live in “rural areas,” but instead utilize “farm managers” and taxpayer dollars to maximize return on their “farm” investments.

The amounts are significant with the top 10,806 entities receiving billions. For example, just 491 entities received over $1 million in farm subsidies amounting to over $725.7 million (2008-2011) and averaged $1.734 million each.

In New York City, Wall Street financiers, Rockefellers, wealthy heirs and Upper East Side recipients all received subsidies. Even the non-profit National Audubon Society collected nearly $1 million in subsidies including New York tobacco subsidies and Minnesota lamb slaughter aid.

In Chicago, IL, the city ranks seventh out of over 1,200 municipalities in the state in the receipt of federal farm subsidies.  It’s 930 individual entities collecting the subsidy including wealthy traders at the Board of Trade and downtown duck charities reaping millions. Even Reverend Minister Louis Farrakhan, the founder of the Nation of Islam, opened up two charities and collected over $317,000 of farm subsidies and commodities loans during a sixteen year period.  Interestingly, the IRS and Illinois Attorney General have no record of either charity.

In Washington, D.C., the U.S.Department of Agriculture executives and lobbyists – the people who created and manage these transfers – participate in the subsidy largess.  Now, Congress charged them as the regulators who will write the new definition of “farmer.”

So who are the DC elite pocketing the farm subsidies? Thomas J. Vilsack- current Agriculture Secretary in the President Barack Obama administration is taking his farm subsidy check in Iowa. Vilsack is the recipient of $20,046 of farm subsidies between 2008 and 2011, most while he’s been Secretary.

The subsidies are bi-partisan: William T. Hawks- former Under-Secretary of Agriculture of Marketing and Regulatory Programs in the George W. Bush administration has received over $70,527 in farm subsidy relating to his ownership of Mississippi farm interests. Most of the subsidy related to conservation payments as well as cotton subsidies. Sen. Chuck E. Grassley received over $61,284 in subsidy collected at his Arlington, VA condo for his farm operation in Iowa.

Of course, the lobbyists get in on the action too. Using our data at OpenTheBooks.com, Susan Ferrachio at the Washington Examiner found that Van Boyette is a top lobbyist representing agricultural interests who’s received $83,194 for his farmland in Iowa. Other top lobbyists include the lobbying giant Gerald Cassady ($6,780); former twelve term Rep. Charlie Stenholm ($12,576); and Carlyle Thorsen ($8,164), a former top aide to House Majority Leader Tom Delay.

So, the big question is reform. Can the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut the rich, land invested, city slicker off of the federal government’s subsidy?

The stakes for taxpayers are high.

According to a 2011 report by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), “Subsidies of the Rich and Famous,” the IRS and USDA determined that $316 million in farm subsidies were paid to millionaires (2002-2009). The gross majority of those payments went to millionaire recipients in urban areas. In Coburn’s report, rockers Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen, media mogul Ted Turner, and former NBA star Scottie Pippen were highlighted for receiving large subsidies.

There’s billions of taxpayer dollars at stake. The ass needs a kick.

***

Note: Adam Andrzejewski is the chairman of American Transparency and the founder of OpenTheBooks.com. He is the author of the federal oversight

Kicking City Slickers Off Of The Federal Farm Subsidy

Federal Cost of Crop Insurance for Boone County

For the last seventeen years (1995-2012) the cost was $19,977,243 or which is an average of $1,175,132 per year.

 

Information below is from:  http://farm.ewg.org/cropinsurance.php?fips=17007&summpage=SUMMARY

 

County by County Comparison

Boone County has extensive amount of row crops but is smaller in terms of square miles than many other counties.  Here is how Boone County’s nearly $20 million compares with other Illinois counties. (NOTE:  The figures for Boone County are slightly different on the comparative numbers—$19,596,910 vs. $19,977,243.  This maybe due to methodology.)

Very interesting—in the case of Knox County—last on the comparison lists—the federal government actually made money on the insurance subsidy program.. See Knox County’s individual costs at the bottom of this posting-- government costs nearly equal premiums and earned interest.

Ban antibiotics for healthy farm animals | The Rock River Times

Ban antibiotics for healthy farm animals

November 12, 2014

Strep throat and pneumonia have become routine infections for doctors to treat with antibiotics. Yet, the more we use these miracle drugs, the bacteria become more resistant to the drugs.

Although doctors are taking precautions while prescribing antibiotics, more than 70 percent of antibiotics sold in the U.S. are for livestock. Animals consuming these antibiotics may or may not even be sick, yet they receive a dose as a preventive measure to fight against unsanitary conditions and for growth promotion.

While canvassing restaurants with Illinois PIRG (Public Interest Research Group), it was clear that doctors and environmental groups are not alone in their interest for limiting antibiotic-ridden livestock. I was excited to see restaurant owners eagerly sign on to our letter to President Barack Obama asking him to ban the practice of giving antibiotics to healthy farm animals. As someone who believes food is medicine, eating meat riddled with antibiotics was not quite what I had in mind. While the medical community is on the front lines of the problem, it’s also important to show President Obama that the food industry is also behind the campaign to ban the overuse of antibiotics on factory farms to keep our antibiotics effective.

Steph Wynn
Wilmette, Illinois

From the Nov. 12-18, 2014, issue

Ban antibiotics for healthy farm animals | The Rock River Times

Decision could boost use of popular weed killer By

MARY CLARE JALONICK 22 hours ago 0 shares

 

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to rule this fall on Dow AgroSciences' application to market Enlist, a new version of the 2,4-D herbicide that's been around since the 1940s. It's partly a game of catch-up for the agriculture industry, as many farmers are dealing with weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate, an herbicide commonly used on corn and soybeans now.

If approved, the 2,4-D would be used in combination with glyphosate.

An Agriculture Department decision on the company's genetically modified seeds also is expected this fall. In the department's final environmental review released last week, the USDA recommended approval. The agency said that if both the seeds and herbicide are approved, the use of 2,4-D could increase by an estimated 200 to 600 percent by the year 2020

Read more by clicking on the following:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/decision-could-boost-popular-weed-killer-071141969--finance.html

Faces of Summer: Garden Prairie grower a lifelong farmers marketer

BELVIDERE — Mary Brubach’s Saturday mornings in the summer have been the same since as long as she can remember.

Mary’s mother, Susie, ran Susie’s Garden Patch in Garden Prairie, and 31-year-old Mary said “for the past 27 or 28 years” they’ve been bringing fresh produce to the Belvidere Farmers Market, which runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday from early June to late October.

“This is all I’ve known,” Brubach said. “I don’t want to do anything else though. I love to interact with my customers. They know me, and I know them. They’ll tell me stories about how my parents sat me down ‘over there’ while they ran the produce stand.”

Mary’s father died about 18 months ago, and Mary and her husband essentially have taken over the garden patch and now they, along with Susie’s help as well as a part-time college student, sell produce ranging from asparagus to rhubarb at farmers markets on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“It’s tiring, but it’s fun,” said Brubach, who also likes to shop at other farmers markets, such as Woodstock and Beloit, Wisconsin. “I get to educate people about things they wouldn’t think about because they are used to buying food in stores.”

Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20140721/News/140729921#ixzz38A0hLRTD

Belvidere Community Farmers Market July 23 & August 20

Study Finds Herbicide in Urine of EU City Dwellers - Real Time Brussels - WSJ

Friends of the Earth International, tested the urine of 182 European city dwellers, from 18 countries, and found traces  of the potentially-dangerous herbicide glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup, in 44% of samples. The leading producer of this herbicide is Monsanto Co. MON +0.05%, a company whose name has become almost synonymous with the genetically modified organisms it produces.

Click on the following to read more:  Study Finds Herbicide in Urine of EU City Dwellers - Real Time Brussels - WSJ

Scientists say new study shows pig health hurt by GMO feed | Reuters

 

Researchers said there were no differences seen between pigs fed the GM and non-GM diets for feed intake, weight gain, mortality, and routine blood biochemistry measurements.

But those pigs that ate the GM diet had a higher rate of severe stomach inflammation

Click on the following for more details:  Scientists say new study shows pig health hurt by GMO feed | Reuters

Study reveals GMO corn to be highly toxic — RT USA

 

The study, the 2012 Corn Comparison Report by Profit Pro, was published recently on the website for Moms Across America March to Label GMOs, a group that says they wish to “raise awareness and support Moms with solutions to eat GMO Free as we demand GMO labeling locally and nationally simultaneously.” They are plotting nationwide protests scheduled for later this year.

The report, writes the website’s Zen Honeycutt, was provided by a representative for De Dell Seed Company, an Ontario-based farm that’s touted as being Canadian only non-GMO corn seed company.

Click on the following for more details:  Study reveals GMO corn to be highly toxic — RT USA

Farm Subsidies and the Minimium Wage

There were many comments on a Rockford Register Star Guest Column by Don Ellingson (http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/whatyouresaying/x1711843888/Guest-Column-Minimum-wage-has-had-a-negative-impact-on-U-S).  Mr. Ellingson is opposed to minimum wages he views such laws as a drag on the economy and recovery. 

One interesting comment on the RRStar’s website concerned farm subsidies.  Were they not the same thing as minimum wage? Did Mr. Ellingson receive any such subsidies?

I researched a bit and found these interesting statistics and facts.

First, Don and Terry Ellingson are in business together.  As noted from: 

http://illinoisholsteins.com/index_eg.html

Ellingson, Don and Terry
Ellingson’s White Hill Farm
4996 Ellingson Rd
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
Phone: Don (815) 765-2189
Terry (815) 765-3159

And then Terri Ellingson is one of the largest recipients of farm subsidies in the county.  As shown below Terry Ellingson is #26 largest recipient of farm subsidies in Boone County, $284,304.46 for period 1995-2011.  See highlighted item in yellow.

Statistics taken from: 

http://farm.ewg.org/search.php?fips=17007&regionname=BooneCounty,Illinois

Federal Farm Subsidies to Boone County Illinois 1995-2011

Subsidy Recipients 1 to 30 of 163 in zipcode 61065
Recipients in this zipcode received $21,484,334 from 1995-2006

Rank
Name
Location
Subsidy Total
1995-2011

1
Richard A Britton
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 1,508,357.47

2
Patrick Morris
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 1,153,328.28

3
Charles Morris
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 1,016,767.65

4
James R Johnson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 944,600.00

5
Frank Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 942,298.19

6
Shari L Morris
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 939,863.29

7
Britton Farms Inc
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 939,630.53

8
Joie Morris
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 934,624.76

9
Doetch Farms
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 925,136.71

10
Raymond N Morse
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 874,531.11

11
David T Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 821,357.60

12
Stanley Hullah
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 808,892.88

13
Kay F Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 727,892.34

14
Harris Farm Oaklawn Ltd
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 668,030.91

15
Thad Johnson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 646,079.24

16
Terri L Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 435,559.92

17
Michael W Meier
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 409,974.11

18
Dale Worley
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 407,584.34

19
Prairie View Grain Farms LLC
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 407,389.67

20
Gordon Kasper Est
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 387,788.47

21
Gail Worley
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 344,592.24

22
Roy Stohlquist
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 334,421.04

23
John Pepper
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 333,646.36

24
Daryl J Stohlquist
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 329,198.97

25
Scott Mueller
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 313,089.06

26
Terry W Ellingson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 284,304.46

27
Donald Bottcher
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 246,601.82

28
Robert Harold Goeddeke
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 232,679.08

29
Brian L Crull
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 226,336.05

30
Bruce Stennerson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 205,687.47

Rank
Name
Location
Subsidy Total
1995-2011

1
Terry W Ellingson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 284,304.46

2
Kris Ellingson
Geneva, IL 60134
$ 2,011.00

3
R J Ellingson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 409.20

4
John Ellingson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$ 252.00

5
Patricia A Ellingson
Mt Zion, IL 62549
Farm Owner

Below is taken from:http://farm.ewg.org/regionsummary.php?fips=17007

CLICK ON THE PHOTOCOPY TO ENLARGE:

 

Top Twenty Recipient
(* ownership information available)
Location
Subtotal, Farming Subsidies
2011

1
Mark D Priest
Capron, IL 61012
$35,876

2
Lisa L Priest
Capron, IL 61012
$35,876

3
John W Brockmann
Belvidere, IL 61008
$33,629

4
Doetch Farms ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$32,909

5
Larry D Fowler
Belvidere, IL 61008
$31,262

6
Britton Farms Inc ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$28,717

7
Roger H Miller
Belvidere, IL 61008
$28,644

8
James R Johnson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$28,613

9
Donald Fowler
Belvidere, IL 61008
$27,931

10
Robert Petersen
Belvidere, IL 61008
$27,616

11
Scott Mueller
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$27,381

12
Michael A Frank
Cherry Valley, IL 61016
$25,884

13
Kenneth Book
Harvard, IL 60033
$25,585

14
Michael Book
Woodstock, IL 60098
$25,585

15
Stanley Hullah
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$25,572

16
Cheryl Lindberg
Caledonia, IL 61011
$25,476

17
Frank Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$25,296

18
Kay F Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$25,296

19
Curt A Bottcher
Capron, IL 61012
$24,650

20
Chad Osterberg
Roscoe, IL 61073
$24,125

Rank
Recipient
(* ownership information available)
Location
Subtotal, Farming Subsidies
2010

1
Joie Morris
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$62,972

2
Patrick Morris
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$62,972

3
Shari L Morris
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$62,972

4
Charles Morris
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$62,777

5
Warren A Kelm
Genoa, IL 60135
$41,639

6
Gina R Kelm
Genoa, IL 60135
$41,639

7
Frank Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$41,261

8
Kay F Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$41,261

9
Curt A Bottcher
Capron, IL 61012
$35,215

10
Mark D Priest
Capron, IL 61012
$35,208

11
Lisa L Priest
Capron, IL 61012
$35,208

12
James Marrs
Garden Prairie, IL 61038
$34,639

13
John W Brockmann
Belvidere, IL 61008
$34,604

14
Britton Farms Inc ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$32,077

15
James R Johnson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$32,037

16
Paul Buzzell
Belvidere, IL 61008
$31,416

17
Doetch Farms ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$31,277

18
Larry D Fowler
Belvidere, IL 61008
$31,262

19
Hildebrandt Farms ∗
South Beloit, IL 61080
$31,166

20
Jeff A Lane
Kirkland, IL 60146
$30,968

Rank
Recipient
(* ownership information available)
Location
Subtotal, Farming Subsidies
2009

1
Hildebrandt Farms ∗
South Beloit, IL 61080
$92,852

2
James R Johnson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$65,584

3
Manni Farms ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$52,584

4
Family Af-ayr Farm LLC
Caledonia, IL 61011
$38,644

5
Todd Aves
Belvidere, IL 61008
$37,933

6
Mark D Priest
Capron, IL 61012
$35,208

7
Lisa L Priest
Capron, IL 61012
$35,208

8
Britton Farms Inc ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$33,356

9
Scott Mueller
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$33,075

10
John W Brockmann
Belvidere, IL 61008
$32,650

11
Doetch Farms ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$31,338

12
Larry D Fowler
Belvidere, IL 61008
$31,262

13
Brian L Crull
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$28,893

14
Roger H Miller
Belvidere, IL 61008
$28,644

15
Donald Fowler
Belvidere, IL 61008
$27,931

16
Raymond Wennmacher
Belvidere, IL 61008
$27,929

17
Dennis Gene Luckey
Caledonia, IL 61011
$27,866

18
Brent R Mueller
Garden Prairie, IL 61038
$26,060

19
Stanley Hullah
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$25,572

20
Paul Donley Jr
Capron, IL 61012
$25,531

Rank
Recipient
(* ownership information available)
Location
Subtotal, Farming Subsidies
1995-2011

1
Roger & Connie Osterberg ∗
Belvidere, IL 61008
$1,108,106

2
Larry D Fowler
Belvidere, IL 61008
$979,310

3
Mark D Priest
Capron, IL 61012
$968,526

4
Britton Farms Inc ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$934,332

5
John W Brockmann
Belvidere, IL 61008
$907,983

6
Larry R Anderson
Belvidere, IL 61008
$875,459

7
Doetch Farms ∗
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$861,123

8
Karlson Farms ∗
Belvidere, IL 61008
$841,809

9
Donald Fowler
Belvidere, IL 61008
$836,503

10
Roger H Miller
Belvidere, IL 61008
$815,866

11
Richard A Britton
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$813,303

12
Raymond N Morse
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$772,156

13
Lisa L Priest
Capron, IL 61012
$764,589

14
James R Johnson
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$743,802

15
Richard Judson Daniels
Belvidere, IL 61008
$712,798

16
Stanley Hullah
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$702,740

17
Michael A Frank
Cherry Valley, IL 61016
$694,760

18
Donald Lindberg
Caledonia, IL 61011
$691,437

19
Frank Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$683,686

20
Kay F Bullard
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
$678,573

Pink Slime For School Lunch: Government Buying 7 Million Pounds Of Ammonia-Treated Meat For Meals

Is your child eating pink slime?

Pink slime -- that ammonia-treated meat in a bright Pepto-bismol shade -- may have been rejected by fast food joints like McDonald's, Taco Bell and Burger King, but is being brought in by the tons for the nation's school lunch program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is purchasing 7 million pounds of the "slime" for school lunches, The Daily reports. Officially termed "Lean Beef Trimmings," the product is a ground-up combination of beef scraps, cow connective tissues and other beef trimmings that are treated with ammonium hydroxide to kill pathogens like salmonella and E. coli. It's then blended into traditional meat products like ground beef and hamburger patties.

Click on the following for more details:  Pink Slime For School Lunch: Government Buying 7 Million Pounds Of Ammonia-Treated Meat For Meals

Pink Slime is in 70% of the Ground Beef sold in the U.S. according to tonight’s ABC Nightly News.  Click on the following to view the video: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/pink-slime-15873068

Ag-Gag Bills, Whistleblower-Suppression : The Humane Society of the United States

In recent years, whistleblowing employees have repeatedly exposed animal abuse, unsafe working conditions, and environmental problems on industrial factory farms. The agribusiness industry’s response to these exposés has not been to prevent the abuses, but rather to try to prevent the American people from finding out about the abuses in the first place.

What exactly are ag-gag bills?

The industry has introduced “ag-gag” bills in numerous states aimed at making whistle-blowing on factory farms essentially impossible.

In 2011, four states (Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, and Iowa) introduced ag-gag bills. Not a single one passed due to public outrage over the serious threat they pose to constitutional freedoms, food safety, animal welfare, and worker rights. In 2012, seven states have introduced these dangerous ag-gag bills:

• Florida – Sec tion 6 of SB 1184/HB 1021 (Section 6 died)
• Illinois – HB 5143
• Indiana – SB 184 (bill pending)
• Iowa – SB 431 / HB 589 (bill pending)
• Minnesota – H 1369 / SF 1118 (bill pending)
• Missouri – SB 695 (bill pending)
• Nebraska – LB 915 (bill pending)
• New York – S.5172 (Take action now)

Click on the following for more details:  Ag-Gag Bills, Whistleblower-Suppression : The Humane Society of the United States

Schrader’s Auction of Funderburg Farm Properties

Owner: K-B Farms, Inc. & Funderburg Farms, Inc.

• 2,900 Acres Tillable • Productive Soils • Minutes from Rockford, IL & I-90 • Large Contiguous Tracts • Excellent Hunting • Investment Potential • Possession for the 2012 Crop Year

OPEN HOUSE/INSPECTION DATES
Monday, October 17, 5-7pm
Tuesday, October 18, 10am - Noon
Thursday, November 3, 5-7pm
Friday, November 4, 10am - Noon
Friday, November 18, 3-5pm
at the Community Building Complex of Boone County. Meet a Schrader Representative for Additional
Information and with any Questions You May Have.
PROPERTY LOCATION
See Area Map for Property Locations.
AUCTION LOCATION
Community Building Complex of Boone County. Address: 111 W. 1st Street, Belvidere, Illinois 61008 Phone: 815-547-3928 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-547-3928 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
You may bid online during this auction at www.schraderauction.com. You must register by November 11th to bid online. For information on registering for online bidding, call Schrader Auction Company at 800-451-2709 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-451-2709 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
TRACT DESCRIPTIONS
Tract 1: 82± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 2: 58± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 3: 68± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 4: 43± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 5: 41± ac Mostly Tillable with Woods in Northeast Corner and Frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 6: 142± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 7: 33± ac Mostly Wooded Acreage with Excellent Hunting and Frontage on Huber Rd.
Tract 8: 75± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 9: 4± ac Country Home with 3BR, 1-1/2 bath home with 1,480 finished sq. ft. and attached 2-car garage built in 1975.
Tract 10: 2.5± ac Potential Building Site with Frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 11: 210± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 12: 171± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 13: 59± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Reeds Crossing Rd.
Tract 14: 27± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Genoa Rd.
Tract 15: 135± ac All Tillable Productive Farm Land with Frontage on Grange Hall Rd.
Tract 16: 86± ac Mostly Tillable with Meandering Piscasaw Creek running through northwest corner and Frontage on Grange Hall Rd.
Tract 17: 21± ac Potential Building Site with Frontage on Grange Hall Road. Tillable Land
Tract 18: 2± ac Country Home - 2 story, 3BR home with 1,870 finished sq. ft. and 2 car detached garage.
Tract 19: 19± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Grange Hall Rd.
Tract 20: 93± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Russellville Rd. and Woodstock Rd.
Tract 21: 80± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Woodstock Rd.
Tract 22: 4± ac Country Home - 2 story, 5BR home with 2,010 finished sq. ft. and 2 car detached garage.
Tract 23: 156± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Woodstock Rd.
Tract 24: 40± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 25: 77± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 26: 2.5± ac Country Home - 1-1/2 story, 4BR home with 1,264 finished sq. ft. and 2 car detached garage.
Tract 27: 77± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Poplar Grove Rd.
Tract 28: 73± ac Mostly Tillable with Woods in Back. Excellent Hunting and Frontage on Poplar Grove Rd.
Tract 29: 99± ac Mostly Tillable with Some Pasture and Piscasaw Creek on west end. Frontage on Grange Hall Rd.
Tract 30: 111± ac All Tillable with Frontage on Kelley Rd.
Tract 31: 39± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Kelley Rd. and Caledonia Rd.
Tract 32: 95± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Beloit Rd. and Dawson Lake Rd.
Tract 33: 117± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 34: 20± ac Potential Building Site with 10+/- Acres Woods for Hunting/Recreation
Tract 35: 49± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 36: 40± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 37: 26± ac Country Home and Woods with Frontage on Russellville Rd. - 2 story, 3BR home with 1,344 finished sq. ft.
Tract 38: 92± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Russellville Rd.
Tract 39: 81± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Edson Rd.
Tract 40: 64± ac Mixture of Tillable Land and Woods with Frontage on Burr Oak Rd.
Tract 41: 95± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Hwy. 173
Tract 42: 70± ac Mixture of Tillable Land and Woods with Frontage on Cemetery Rd.
Tract 43: 80± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Cemetery Rd.
Tract 44: 107± ac Mostly Tillable with frontage on Wang Rd. and Mill Rd.
Tract 45: 43± ac Mixture of Tillable Land and Woods with Frontage on Wange Rd.
Tract 46: 75± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Cemetery Rd.
Tract 47: 79± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Wange Rd.
Tract 48: 40± ac Mostly Tillable with Frontage on Wange Rd.

The following is taken from:  http://www.schraderauction.com/auctions/5361

There are signs and Tract #’s across the county.

Illinois farm land pricey, and available

BLOOMINGTON (AP) – Farm land is starting to come up for sale in some parts of Illinois, and it's happening at a time of sky-high prices.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Illinois farm land is selling for $5,800 an acre. Prices have doubled since 2004. High corn and soybean prices and low investor confidence in other assets have pushed up demand for farm land.

Land brokers in central Illinois say they're starting to see more tracts on the market.

Dave Klein is a broker with Soy Capital Ag Services in Bloomington. He tells The (Bloomington) Pantagraph that his firm has 12,000 acres for sale. That's 20 percent more than last fall.

Klein believes land could continue to be a good investment if demand for corn and soy keep crop prices high

Click on the following for comments and more:  http://www.nwherald.com/2011/09/28/illinois-farm-land-pricey-and-available/a33oln8/#readcomments

Illinois steps up fight to stop megadairy - Chicago Breaking News

 

accusing the owners of polluting local waters and requiring stricter environmental safeguards before allowing it to operate.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a complaint against the owners of the proposed Traditions Dairy near Galena, in northwestern Illinois, alleging a liquid byproduct used on-site had leaked into the South Fork of the Apple River.

The site belongs to California dairyman A.J. Bos, who has proposed a dairy of about 5,500 head of cattle next to the small town of Nora, about 30 miles east of Galena.

dairy has won approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and repeated court rulings to go ahead with construction.

new civil complaint could interfere with those plans. Moreover, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. EPA are seeking more information before giving approval

respond to five counts in the attorney general's complaint, including water pollution and discharging without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

Each count seeks a civil penalty of $50,000 per violation and $10,000 for each day the violation continued.

 

Click on the following for more details:  Illinois steps up fight to stop megadairy - Chicago Breaking News