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AGMagMagMarch 30, 2016

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: • KASH FARM PAGE 4

• SCHULTZ FARM PAGE 10

AND MUCH MORE!

2 AgMag • The Shoppers Weekly Papers March 30, 2016

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March 30, 2016 AgMag • The Shoppers Weekly Papers 3

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p icture driving down the country roads, and aft er a hop skip and a jump on turns and twisty country roads you arrive at the

Kash Family Farm. Th at is exactly what it took for me to arrive at the Kash's establishment in Belle Rive, Illinois. Th e story of the Kash Family Farm begins with Bob and Darlene Kash of Chicago, parents of second generation farmers Mike and Tricia. Bob worked at Ford Motor Company and was trying to save money to farm full time while driving weekends to southern Illinois to farm. In 1966 Bob and Darlene packed up their children and moved to Ina and began farming full time. It was extremely hard to start farming in those days with no backing and it is even harder today. Th ere on the farm in the middle of nowhere, they are not immune to worldly problems.

Mike and Tricia were married and united as well as business partners

and co-workers.One thing that will stay in my

mind is something that Mike said to me before the interview got under-way. He said with tears welling up in his eyes, "I am the richest man you will ever meet and I don't mean money wise." With God, my family and my accomplishments in my life, that is more than any amount of money I could ever possess."

Mike says, "Tricia didn't come from a farm background so all she truly knows is our way and this makes me very fortunate. We purchase our farm equipment, fertilizer and seed locally and we do our banking locally, as well. We purchase our insurance for all of our needs from a local insur-ance agent. Th ey farm 7,000 acres of grain crops and have 5,000 acres in cover crops of diff erent cocktails.

Th e hardest working member on the farm is Tricia, Mike says. She is the co-owner, mother, grandmother,

caregiver to three elderly parents, bookkeeper, wife and whatever else is needed all in the same day.

Jarrod, Mike's son, works long hours with no pay to speak of; he is learning that it takes time to achieve goals. Tricia's sons Kyle, and Kole Kluck and their families work public jobs but help with the farm as needed. Gerald Haile works at the farm as well. Mike added with a chuckle, "When he runs out of things to do, he fi nds something, typically cleaning up things such as pine cones in the driveway, to keep the farmstead tidy."

While Mike's father, Bob is still a huge anchor to the farm, sadly Darlene passed away fi ve years ago but her eff orts are still seen around the farm. "Although you don't see her at the end of the fi eld digging up seed to check planting depth

KaSH FaMiLY FaRMWHERE FAMILY MEANS EVERYTHING

By Rhonda Hatcher

(L to R): Jarrod Kash, Lexy Pedkte, Tricia Kash,

Mike Kash

(Continued on page 6)


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with her head scarf on any more, she is still around."

Tara is Mike's little sister, and her husband Ryan and family help by "Letting us manage the farm the best we can without scrutiny" ac-cording to Mike. He also told a story about Tara. When she was little she would drag sacks of beans to the back end of the truck when they were planting and make supper for them when their mom was in the fi eld.

Mike and Tricia wanted to start a business from scratch together as their own. Th ey started with a plan and molded it into a business, "and that's not typical of our region," said Mike. Th at business is known as Kash Helicopter Services. They truly believe that God sent them a young man by the name of Don Pruett, who is a pilot, and has become their adopted son. Th e day will come that Don will be major-ity owner of Kash Helicopter Ser-vices. KHS has developed new farming practices from the air when the crop needs attention, rather than for the farmers convenience.

Yield enhancement has been achieved in the new methods. "We are trying to leave the land better than we found it," Mike said. KHS started with a farmer looking for a better way to reach his crops during time sensitive application windows and boost his yield by doing things like trying 5 GPA liquid application instead of 2.5. Others saw the results and started asking for the same service; since then KHS has built a reputation as a reliable applicator. Honesty, integrity and attention to details are fi rst on the list.

As I interviewed Mike and Tricia, I asked the typical questions as to

what time do their days start and end. Mike said, "Th e normal is from sun-up to sun-down as most farmers would say. Th ere have been three days at a time when there has been no sleep, you're stuck in the fi elds. You may come home and repack the coolers and hit the fi elds again, fi ghting the elements, and you have to get things done when you can. But the most humbling and loving thing is to be out in that fi eld at 3:00 a.m. and all of a sudden you see headlights coming toward you, and you're in the middle of nowhere, and it is my wife Tricia bringing me something to eat and drink. Again he said he is the richest man I will ever know.

Some of Mike's chores growing up on the farm were feeding the hogs, cutting and hauling wood and driving equipment ever since he was little. Some of the biggest changes he has seen have been in the equipment used today versus the equipment they started out with. "You think you are as big as you can get, and then it gets bigger." His dad worked the land with horses, and the proudest piece of equipment his dad and mom owned was a $700.00 disc. It had wheels on it and they could raise it up. Before that they had to raise the disc up onto a sled and pull it. Since then they have bought bigger equipment, but it is the journey they took and the goals they met that made it their biggest

Kneeling (L to R), front: Mike Kash, Pilot Sean Toomey, groundsman Ryan Webb; back: Don McKay. Standing, front: Tricia Kash, back: Jarrod Kash. inside cockpit (L to R) Pilot nichole Miner, Pilot Don Pruett.

Jarrod and Mike Kash

(Continued from page 4)


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accomplishment.Mike said he has seen many

changes with government involve-ment in agriculture in the United State. "I was raised to believe that we didn't really need the government to farm; if we couldn't make a go of it we needed to hang up our plows and planters."

I asked if they could go back in

time and work the farm like it was worked in the old days, would he go back, and if he felt like farming was more commercialized today than it used to be. He said he really doesn't feel like they have become more com-mercialized rather than being family oriented because "Around here we are still very much family oriented. Due to the way I was raised, family

values were bestowed upon me."Leaving the farm aft er meeting the

Kash family and the employees of Kash Helicopter Services, I felt a sense of old fashioned family unity and the love for what they all do. Even with the huge farm equipment and the helicopters taking off in fl ight, it is still a family invested, valued way of life. n

Kash Helicopter Services


Considering the current farm econ-omy, 66 percent of Illinois Farm

Bureau (IFB) members surveyed prior to the organization’s Annual Meeting feel less optimis-tic about the farm econ-omy in the coming year compared to 2015. The answer was in response to an email survey of 327 IFB members registered with IFB’s Legislative Action Center. “For the second year in a row, IFB members said they feel less optimistic about the coming year, and it’s no surprise as to why,” said Richard Guebert, Jr., president, Illinois Farm Bureau. “Over the last year, commodity prices have stayed below break-even levels. Input costs like cash rent, crop pro-tection and seed have not receded to follow the drop in commodity pric-es.” As a result of their concerns over the farm economy, 84 percent of respondents said they plan to reduce inputs or expenses in 2016. When asked specifically how they would do so, 91 per-cent of respondents plan to delay implement pur-chases over the coming

year, while 45 percent said they would delay or cut back on chemical and fertilizer purchases. Additionally, 38 percent said they would negotiate lower cash rent; 37 per-cent said they would buy less expensive seed; 24 percent said they would incorporate new technol-ogy; 11 percent said they would choose a lower level of crop insurance coverage; and 9 percent said they would give up a portion of rented ground for 2016. (Respondents were instructed to choose all options that apply.) Concerns over the farm economy were added to concerns regarding reg-ulatory and legislative issues. Respondents were asked to rank several pri-ority issues in terms of importance in the com-ing year. The top concern was striking down the Waters of the U.S. rule followed by tax reform; maintaining the viability of federal crop insurance; preserving the Renewable Fuels Standard and mak-ing transportation infra-structure improvements. “As we look toward the coming year, farmers are going to have to care-fully consider every deci-

sion they make to ensure they’re protecting their farms and are able to sur-vive the farm economy downturn,” Guebert said. “We’re doing our best to provide our members with the information they need to make those tough decisions that will keep their farms on secure financial footing.” Members also were polled regarding their conserva-tion and nutrient man-agement efforts. Just over 92 percent of respon-dents said they regularly test soil for potassium and phosphorus levels; 65 percent said they use variable rate technology for fertilizer applications; 56 percent split nitrogen applications; and 55 per-cent follow the University of Illinois Agronomy Handbook recommen-dations for phosphorus and potassium applica-tions. (Respondents were instructed to choose all options that apply.) Additionally, 46 percent of farmers said they have used cover crops in the past, with 76 percent hav-ing planted cover crops for five years or less. Of those who have not used cover crops, 64 percent

said they would be will-ing to do so in the future. Eighty-four percent of farmers said they have installed buffer strips along streams or ditches on their farms. Nearly 53 percent of farmers said they receive no cost share or incentives for their best management practices. “This is the fifth consecu-tive year we’ve surveyed members to gauge their feelings on key IFB issues, concerns and conserva-tion practices,” Guebert said. “It helps us as lead-ers ensure we’re tackling the issues and needs of our members and prior-itizing our resources to the best of our abilities.” The Illinois Farm Bureau is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, a national organization of farmers and ranchers. Founded in 1916, IFB is a non-profit, membership organiza-tion directed by farmers who join through their county Farm Bureau. IFB has a total membership of more than 400,000 and a voting membership of more than 82,000. IFB represents three out of four Illinois farmers. n

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one thing I know for sure is that every mom feels the way I do about what she

provides for her children. We all want to be sure we’re giving them the best this

world has to offer and that we’re passing on the best of everything we’ve learned. For us, that includes keeping our kids involved in the day-to-day running of our farm, from the time a calf

is born to the day it’s shipped off to be raised before going to market.

We truly believe the more we teach our kids and the more questions they ask, the better under-

standing they’re going to have in years to come. It’s the same with everyone; we all deserve answers to our questions. And, with only about two percent of Americans actively involved in farming, it’s natural that people will have a lot of questions about what farmers and ranchers do to put food on everyone’s table.

You raise animals for food. Do you care about their living conditions?

People who live off the farm may wonder whether farmers and ranchers care about the welfare of the animals they raise. The short answer is yes. The longer answer? First you have to understand how

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RaiSing FaMiLieS, FooD anD aWaReneSS

Sara Prescott met her husband Michael when they were both 13 years old and showing livestock in 4-H. Today, they operate Prescott Angus & Simmental in Lincoln, Illinois. That’s where they maintain a herd of 100 mother cows and where they are raising their three children, Madison, Emma and Carter. Here she answers animal welfare questions consumers have concerns about.



As I drove up to interview the Schultz family, the first thing I noticed was the horses free in the pasture

and a very old dog named Carmie walking up the lane to greet me. It took me back to my own childhood memories of life on the farm at my grandfather's and my uncle's, and just for a moment I felt like a young kid again, at peace and in touch with nature itself. It was such a humbling experience for me to meet the fourth generation of the Schultz Farm, Chuck and his sister Linda Schultz, such great people.

What some of us take for granted in our everyday lives as we drive by farmers in the fields, plowing, planting or harvesting is something that Chuck and Linda only know as hard work, dedication and the love of the land they grew up on. As we drive down the road and see farmers in front of us holding up

traffic and taking up more of the road than we want them to, just remember, without our farmers, we would be very hungry!

While our work day starts at 8:00 a.m., for others the farm life never sleeps. From sun-up to sun- down during planting and harvest seasons, sleep barely comes at times. There is always something that needs to be done: Machinery needs to be repaired and kept in working condition, livestock needs to be fed and you need to make sure your hard work will be profitable for you and your family.

Chuck Schultz and his sister Linda Schultz come from a long line of farmers. Their great-grand-parents bought their original farm in the early 1900s. Today, they farm the land that their parents pur-chased during World War II. For 70 years now the farm has been nestled in Nashville, Illinois,

growing to a prosperous 500 acres. When the farm was first established it was alive with cows, pigs and chickens. Crops were grown not only to sell to the market but to feed the livestock as well. How times have changed over the years, from planting and harvesting crops by hand to using a planter and a corn picker to pick and shell the corn, to the combine that is used today.

The second generation, August and Michelina Schultz, the grand-parents of Linda and Chuck, re-mained on the farm, introducing more livestock and using more acreage to grow crops. The farm was then handed down to the third generation, their son Lawrence and his wife Agnes Schultz. I asked Chuck and Linda, children of Law-rence and Agnes, about some of

4 Generations of Farming...It's Our Way Of LifeCHULTZ FAMIL

By Rhonda Hatcher

Chuck Schultz Linda Schultz

YS



the chores they had as kids growing up on the farm and their reply was milking the cows, feeding the hogs and chickens, hoeing volunteer corn by hand and generally anything they were told to do. Agnes raised chickens and sold the eggs to help with grocery money, as times were hard back then. Linda recalled a time when she would climb the silo every day to the top and sit up on the platform and just look out, until one day as she was climbing

down she started falling down the steps and caught herself halfway down. She really was not sup-posed to be climbing the silo. Her father saw this happen and didn't say a word to her about it, until one day he said, "I haven't seen you climb the silo lately. She said, "No, I haven't, and he then said, "I think that is a good idea." She chuckled as she told that story.

Chuck took over the farm in 1971 and is still farming the land today alongside Linda. When asked if he ever thought about changing to a diff erent career, he said he had worked a few jobs here and there outside the farm but his true roots are being a farmer. Linda, on the other hand, has owned her own hair salon, Linda's Styling Bar in Nashville, Illinois, for 38 years but is still very much involved working and helping out on the farm.

Most of the crops grown over the years have been hay, corn, and beans. One of the biggest changes they have encountered over the years of farming has been that it has become more of a business than a family way of life. It is harder for the smaller farmer to make it. Back in the earlier years, farming was a family way of life.

"It was just how most of us were raised," says Chuck. People oft en

leave the farm to seek other careers and opportunities in the business world to gain other means of income, and farming is their secondary way of life. Also, due to safety reasons, smaller chil-dren are not involved as much with the farm due to the size and advancement in the machinery used to plant and cultivate the land. But for both Chuck and Linda, farming is still their choice of lifestyle.

When asked about how the advances in technology such as machinery, genetics, or chemicals have aff ected the farm and com-peting farms, their reply was that they think it has affected the smaller farms tremendously and that's why the small community farms are making a comeback because people want to know where their food comes from. Consumers are getting educated, wanting to know just what is it they are feeding their families. I asked them if that is why they think the organic way of farming is growing so vastly, and they both said absolutely.

With all of the advanced tech-nology and genetics the Schultzes really haven't changed much in the way they cultivate their land, besides using a combine and chemicals now to fertilize and to

Linda, Chuck and Carmie alongside their 1947 tractor.


Their 1951 Caterpillar.


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control the weeds.Chuck said, "Th e hardest part

of farming these days is that every day I get older, but the duties remain and you have to deal with whatever problems arise." Linda works the farm outside of her busi-ness and her roots are still planted very deep at her childhood home-stead. Still located in the barns and

sheds are old machinery along with one of the fi rst tractors that was used on the farm when it was fi rst established, giving me insight as to how much more work it was back then compared to now with ad-vanced technology.

I asked them if there's anything else they could add to make us understand the farming way of life

and Linda left me with this: "As farmers we don't work the conven-tional hours, as many folks do. I just ask that when you see farm machinery on the road, slow down, be courteous, allow them time to get to where they need to go, and always remember, farmers do feed America." n

Linda and her brother Chuck Schultz with their 1955 tractor.


It seems you can’t read a paper or magazine, or go online without hearing more concerns about the safety of our food supply. As a mom, I completely understand why shoppers want to buy the best, safest food they can. As a mem-ber of a third-generation Illinois farm family, I wish everyone had the same understanding I do of what it takes to bring those items to your store. And, as a practicing veterinarian, it’s frustrating when our practices are misperceived. I agree with anyone who says we deserve to know all about what goes on our plates.

SOME FACTS ABOUT ANTIBIOTICS

FOR FARM ANIMALSThe simple fact is that

we do use antibiotics in treating livestock, and for the same reason your doc-tor would prescribe them: to treat an illness. There are two good reasons for

administering antibiotics to get an animal healthy:

• Raising an animal means taking responsibil-ity for its health and well-being

• A healthy animal is a better producer

To see that there are no antibiotic residues in finished animal products such as milk and meat, farmers follow strict Food & Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines that specify withdrawal times between when the animal is medicated and when its products can be used. For example, when a dairy cow receives antibiotics, she still gets milked; but, until her milk is free of any trace of medication and the withdrawal peri-od is past, the milk does not go to market.

Another important issue around antibiotics is their role in the develop-ment of drug-resistant pathogens. There are new FDA Veterinary Feed

Directive (VFD) regula-tions coming into effect in late 2016 that will require farmers to work much closer with their veterinari-ans to use antibiotics in the feed, a huge step in reduc-ing antibiotic resistance.

DEMYSTIFYING HORMONE USE IN LIVESTOCK

My family’s farm raises pigs, and hormone use isn’t an issue; regular use of hormones to increase growth is simply not a part of the swine industry. The same is true for poultry. Some farmers of both beef and dairy herds do employ hormones to promote lean growth for a higher protein and lower fat product, but the amounts that get trans-ferred to the related food shouldn’t cause concern:

• A three ounce steak from a treated steer contains 1.9 nanograms (billionths of a gram) of estrogen

• The same steak from an untreated animal has about 1.3 nanograms of estrogen

• The baked potato on the same plate has 225 nanograms of naturally occurring estrogen

I have a baby daughter, so the stories about a trend toward earlier puberty in young girls are something that catches my attention. Here’s what I’ve learned: Recent research has found that the most consistent link factor in precocious puberty is child obesity*. Kids with more body fat tend to have high levels of a protein called leptin, which can trigger the body’s release of hormones that start puberty.

MY PLACE AT THE TABLEEverything I’ve learned

from my farm background and my veterinary prac-tice makes me believe that our American food supply is safe and healthy. Does that mean we’re per-fect? Probably not. Farm practices have changed since my grandpa started Gould Farms in the 1960s, and I know they’ll keep improving as we gain more knowledge.

But right now, when I go to the store, I am 100 percent confident that the items in my cart are safe and healthy for my daugh-ter and for our whole fam-ily. And I’d like other par-ents to know what I know and to share my confidence when it comes to feeding their own families.

--------------------*Frank Biro, M.D.,

professor, clinical pediat-rics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio; Patricia Vuguin, M.D., pediatric endocrinol-ogist, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park; December 2013, Pediatrics. n

AMERICA’S FOOD SYSTEM: MY THREE PERSPECTIVES

Where antibiotics and hormonesfit in a safe, healthy food supply

Lynda Gould grew up on an Illinois grain and livestock farm. Today, she works as a veterinarian, caring for cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and pets. And since January 2015, she’s been playing a third very important role: Mom. She writes from her unique perspective about what goes into our shopping carts and onto our tables.


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The Washington County Farm Bureau will hold a “Legislative Breakfast” on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Little Nashville Restaurant beginning at 8:30 a.m. Congressman John Shimkus, State Senators Dave Luechtefeld and Kyle McCarter, and State Representatives Charlie Meier and Terri Bryant have been invited to provide comments from their respective offices and answer questions from the public.

“This breakfast is an outstanding opportunity for our members and the public to go head-to-head with their elected officials on the issues that really matter,” Gale Koelling, Washington County Farm Bureau President, said. “Taxes, energy issues, the budget—now is the time to have your voice heard.”

The “Legislative Breakfast” will include a full buffet breakfast, as well as provide a casual atmo-sphere for people of all ages to meet and discuss a wide range of topics with their elected officials.

There is no charge to attend the “Legislative Breakfast,” but RSVPs are required by contacting the Washington County Farm Bureau office at 327-3081 or [email protected]. n

wASHIngTon Co. FArM BUrEAUTo HoLD LEgISLATIVE BrEAKFAST

Representative Charlie Meier

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Senator Kyle McCarter


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Darrel Mays Agency, Inc.(618) 244-7606Mount Vernon, IL [email protected]

Darrel Mayys Aggenencycy, InIncc.(618) 244-7606

While crops might di�er and landscapes may vary, every farm requires hard work and dedication. That’s why protecting the value of everything you’ve worked for is a commitment we’re proud to make year after year.

Contact me to learn how I can help protect your hard work.

American Family Mutual Insurance Company, American Family Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 ©2015 011391 – 10/15

SALEM’S FIRST STATE OF THE ART RV REPAIR SHOP!1251 W. Whittaker Salem • 618-548-1314

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CELEBRATING 13 YE ARS IN BUSINESS!

woMEn CHAngIng THE FACE oF AgrICULTUrESix Sandoval FFA

members recently attended the Women Changing the Face of Agriculture confer-ence in Bloomington. The event hosted over 500 young women in high school and college who are interested in a career in agriculture.

Pictured: Beth Pennington, Kaylee Winegarner,Christonia Saddler, Paige Ralidak, Kaitlyn Bates, Mika Taylor


1705 St. Route 161 • Centralia

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Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the respi-ratory, digestive, and / or nervous system of many species of birds. It is caused by a Type A influenza virus. There are two types of avian influenza virus, low pathogenicity (LPAI) and high pathogenicity (HPAI). Wild birds are the natural hosts for the virus. Avian flu viruses circulate among birds worldwide and are highly contagious among birds. Human cases of Avian Influenza have been reported among per-sons who handled affected poultry. In rare cases out-side of the United States, some instances of human infection have resulted in death. If transmission of Avian Influenza from human to human begins and is sustained, a pan-

demic may result because most humans will not have antibodies to the new strain. Coordination between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Health is critical to assure effective implemen-tation of response activities and control measures.

An avian influenza out-break will require the use of much of the same infra-structure as that needed for response to other disasters in Illinois. Many local, State, and Federal agencies have developed emergency response plans, some of which apply to avian influenza contingen-cies. Effective response to a large-scale avian influ-enza outbreak will not only require the combined resources of various agen-cies, but the ability to deliv-er the support quickly.

Overview of Influenza• Avian Influenza is a

subtype of the Type A influ-enza virus.

GWild birds are natu-ral hosts of the virus, hence the name avian influenza or bird flu.

GThe virus circulates among birds world-wide.

GVirtually all of the possible influenza sub-types exist among wild waterfowl.

GWaterfowl usually show little if any signs and it can be deadly to domesticated birds, like chickens.

G15 subtypes classified as H

G9 subtypes classified as N

GDistinguished by dif-ferences in their genetic structures

GHigh pathogenic strain in poultry is H5N1

GThe following sub-types are usually found in humans H1N1, H1N2, H2N2, H3N2.

• Reassortment of the influenza virus occurs when 2 different subtypes are present in the same animal. Influenza virus has the abil-ity to change its molecular antigenic structure making previously immune animals susceptible.

• Avian influenza is also designated:

GHigh pathogenic (high path) means very high mortality among poultry

GLow pathogenic (low path) very low mortal-ity among chickens.

GThis is determined through bird testing

• Low path AI with continued spread among chickens can mutate to high path AI.

• In the US majority of low path AI infections

come from live bird mar-kets where commingling of poultry and waterfowl and/or contamination from waterfowl fecal material can occur.

Sources of Infection• Migratory water fowl• Intentional

contamination GBirds illegally

imported into the US GFighting birds G Pet birds G Fancy chickens• It spreads among birds

through nasal and eye secretions and manure.

• The virus can also be spread by equipment, vehicles, egg flats, crates and people whose clothing or shoes come in contact with the virus.

Prevention• This virus is easily

killed with routine disinfec-tants

• Poultry producers in Illinois need to use normal bio-security procedures to prevent an outbreak:

GNotify veterinarian of any suspected dis-ease.

G Stay informed about the health of neighbor-ing animals.

G Do not move birds from farm to farm.

G Keep flock away from wild birds.

G Be sure the flock has no contact with con-taminated animals.

G Isolate new birds. G Restrict unauthor-

ized people and vehicles from the farm.

G Disinfect tires, equipment and clothing when going on and off the farm.

GQuarantine contami-nated areas and flocks immediately.

Open Mon. - Fri. • 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

HEAVY TRUCKS • CARS • STATE INSPECTIONS

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AVIAn InFLUEnZA: An oVErVIEw



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GDispose of dead birds properly.

GAlthough there are vaccines available, there is not a vaccine that covers all 15 strains of the disease. Therefore, since there is no way to determine which strain will infect a flock, vac-cines are generally not practical to prevent infection.

GPractice heightened security in the live bird markets: u7 known locations

in Chicago u Consumer Safety Officer from Bureau

of Meat and Poultry to markets with recommendations on safe handling of birds

u Leaving handout/

poster to provide information

u Continued con-tacts as needed

Surveillance:• Reportable disease

(Illinois Diseased Animal Act)

• Testing of poultry pre-sented to Animal Disease Laboratories (Galesburg and Centralia)

• Knowingly bringing either infected poultry or materials into IL is now a felony.

Illinois AvianInfluenza Plan

• Quarantine facilities under the Illinois Diseased Animal Plan

• Quarantine areas sur-rounding affected flocks

• Testing of flocks in sur-rounding areas to determine

possible exposure• Depopulation of affect-

ed and exposed flocks• Coordinate with poul-

try industry and private Outreach:

• NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Plan) regis-tered flocks

• Live bird markets (7 known in Cook County)

GPoster G Visiting and edu-

cations by Meat and Poultry

• Commercial producersLicensed egg producers The following is excerpt-

ed from Pro-med 10-24-05: Very low risk to human

health from A/H5N1 avian influenza in Europe accord-ing to ECDC risk assess-ment.

The direct risk to the health of people in Europe from the avian influenza detected in Romania and Turkey is very low, accord-

ing to experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The risk is almost entirely confined to people living on farms with infected poultry or workers involved with culling (kill-ing) and disposal of infected birds.

There has been con-siderable confusion in the media about the arrival of avian influenza A/H5N1 into bird flocks in Europe and the arrival of pandemic influenza. Not only could this confusion cause unnec-essary anxiety and fear of harmless wild birds, it could undermine efforts to prepare for a pandemic, as a pandemic may not occur for several years and may not be caused by H5N1 avian influenza at all. There are many other candidate human and animal influ-enza strains. n

AVIAn InFLUEnZA(Continued from page 20)


www.kingcitychryslercenter.comYOU CAN COUNT ON US!

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Your Farm & Business

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Wildlife &Domestic

Feeds

You need to keep them healthy. Weʼve got you covered.

FARMERSMid-County Feed Co.

975 N. Mill St. • Nashville, IL618.327.8431

Tom Swoboda - Owner

Purina Chows & Health Products • Temco Farm SuppliesFlatbeds 7000 to 16,000 GVWR

The Illinois Depart-ment of Agriculture (IDOA) is now accepting proposals for federal specialty crop grants. The agency has been notified Illinois will receive more than $520,000 and instructed to begin the proposal selection process.

“This year the United States Department of Agriculture is encourag-ing projects that benefit underserved communities and veterans, improving producer capacity with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act, developing adaptation and mitigation strategies for farmers in drought-stricken regions, increasing oppor-tunities for new and begin-ning farmers, developing strong local and regional

food systems, protecting pollinator habitats and improving pollinator health, to name a few,” said Acting Director Raymond Poe. “These funds may lead to projects that help feed com-munities, encourage more participation in agriculture, or increase a farmer’s profit-ability and productivity.”

The funds will come from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in the Farm Bill. They are available for projects begin-ning in calendar year 2017, and are intended to expand the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce and strengthen the competitive-ness of our specialty crop industry.

Projects that ben-efit a particular commercial

product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual are ineligible. Farmers’ markets, roadside stands and community-sponsored agriculture programs should consider submitting proposals to the USDA’s Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Program.

The USDA’s Agricul-tural Marketing Service defines specialty crops as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops (includ-ing floriculture).”

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, more than 106,000 acres of Illi-nois farmland are devoted to growing specialty crops on more than 3,200 farms.

Illinois is the nation’s lead-ing producer of pumpkins and horseradish, and ranks in the top ten in acreage of cantaloupes, green peas, lima beans, and sweet corn. Illinois also is home to a flourishing grape and wine market, with 450 growers utilizing 1,197 acres of Illinois farmland to support the over 100 wineries in the state. Sales of all specialty crops in Illinois, including nursery and greenhouse sales, totaled almost $470 million in 2012.

The IDOA will accept grant proposals until May 13, 2016, at 4 p.m. Request for proposal packets and additional information about the program can be found online at the depart-ment’s website at www.agr.state.il.us. For more infor-mation call (217) 524-9129.n

FEDErAL FUnDS AVAILABLEFor ILLInoIS SpECIALTY Crop projECTS


Insuring What Matters Most For Over 40 Years

KochInsurance

Agency, Inc. 228 E. St. Louis St.Nashville, IL

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our farm works. We run what’s called a cow-calf farm. We have a herd of about 100 mother cows, and hopefully they each have one calf a year. We raise those calves until they are ready to be weaned from their moth-er’s milk and eat a more grain-based diet for added nutrition, just like human babies are transitioned from milk to baby food.

The thing is, it turns out doing what makes cows happy and comfort-able also makes good busi-ness sense. That’s because, just like humans, beef cat-

tle thrive and grow best when they’re not experi-encing stress or anxiety or discomfort. As people who grew up around livestock, we care about the welfare and comfort of the ani-mals we’re responsible for. And that in turn helps us to be successful, and to continue raising healthy, happy calves. If our ani-mals don’t thrive, then nei-ther can we.

What does humane treatment mean to you?

I understand why consumers want to know that farmers and ranchers practice good animal care.

To me, that means that when people go to the gro-cery store or to a restau-rant, they can feel like the treatment of the animals was ethical and humane. From my perspective, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

The way most cow-calf operations work, the animals spend a lot of their time outside, graz-ing on pastureland. We supplement that with a really nutrient-packed supplemental feed. We watch them all closely and work with our veterinar-ian to control infectious diseases and metabolic disorders along with regu-lar herd health checkups and overall guidance on animal care. Really, that’s a combination of sci-

ence and common sense. Humane treatment to me means understanding the animals as best we can and providing an environment that lets them thrive.

You know, farming is one of the toughest jobs in the world. I think it’s also one of the most reward-ing. Everybody’s life is full of ups and downs, and raising cattle is no differ-ent. We take great pride in what we do every day, and ideally we can pass this all down to our kids.

Agriculture has always been a huge part of our lives, and I feel we’re extremely blessed to be raising our children with the same values and tradi-tions we enjoyed in our own childhood. n

RaiSing FaMiLieS, FooD anD aWaReneSS



Scott’s Processing LLC

The Place to go for Quality Meat – Family Owned and Operated Specializing in Individual Processing and Dry Aging Beef for Tenderness

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1810 Franklin Street – Carlyle, Illinois. – (618)594-3921 – Monday-Friday 8-5 & Saturday 8-Noon

• We are Large enough to Suit All your Retail, Wholesale and Butchering Needs –

Yet Small enough to Know You by Name. • We take Great Pride in Our Work and Strive to Satisfy Our Customers.

• We encourage our customers to ask us questions – It is very important to know what you are getting from your processor of choice.

• “Dry Aging” is Our Specialty – We do not believe in using lactic acid or vinegar on our carcasses!

Our beef, instead, are dry aged ten to fourteen days in our controlled aging cooler– This will Produce the most Natural and Tender meat possible for the consumer.

• EVERY animal is Processed Individually under USDA Inspection– Beef, Hogs, Sheep, Goats & Deer – We welcome you to watch our process!

• We Have a Large Variety of Meat For Sale Daily in Our Store and Delivery is Available!

• We work with Local Farmers to supply our customers with Beef and Pork – Give us a Try if You are Looking to Buy and get the Best Bang for Your Buck!

Why Try Scott’s Processing? What Sets Us Apart?

O w n e r s : S a m & N i c h o l S c o t t

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Slaughter Prices: Beef $60/head H

ogs $30/head Processing: .48 cents/lb on the hanging carcass w

eight

CEnTrALIA FFACoMpETIng In SUpErVISED AgrICULTUrAL EXpErIEnCES

Victoria Phillips and Cody Bevil of the Centralia FFA Chapter have recently been competing with their Supervised Agricultural Experiences, also known as their Recordbooks. FFA Members keep records of their agricultural experiences outside of school which has a broad range of categories from home and community development all the way to livestock and grain production.

Victoria kept a record of her vegetable production with her family garden and Cody kept records on his work experience with Windler / Lehde Auction Ser-vice. Both individuals advanced out of the section and were recently interviewed at districts.

Keep a look out for these two who are scheduled to earn their State FFA Degree this June, the first for Centralia High School FFA since 1983! n


Precision Water Lab, LLC

We Make Sure Your Water Is Of The Best Quality At

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Hours: Mon. — Fri. 7am - 4 pm; Sat. 8am - Noon

M&K Insurance1443 W. Whittaker • Salem • 548-6161

www.mandkinsuranceagency.com

Serving Marion and surrounding counties for over 30 years.


Farm life hasn't changed much; at least the love of the land hasn't changed

for farm families. These folks continue to be the salt of the earth and stay grounded. They appreciate the real values of life and what's really important: God, family and hard work. It's true that modern day equipment has made life easier, but with a quick drive through any farming community you will see plowing, planting and harvesting at daybreak and, weather permitting, at dusk. So farming continues to be hard work. But what you don't see is good old country cook-ing that's still alive and well in a lot of farm kitchens. On our family farm we have some of our favorite tried and true reci-pes, from southern fried chicken to easy pickled okra. Below are just a few.

FRIED CHICKENMAKES 4 SERVINGS

Ingredients:1¼ cups all-purpose fl our1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon black pepper1 cup buttermilk1 (2½ to 3-pound) broiler fryer, cut upVegetable oil for frying

Directions:Combine fl our, salt and pepper in large bowl, stirring well.

Pour buttermilk into deep bowl; dip each piece of chicken in but-termilk and dredge in fl our mixture, coating well. Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in large cast-iron or electric skillet to 350°F. Place chicken in hot oil and cook until browned, turning to brown both sides. Reduce heat until temperature of oil is lowered to 275°, cov-er chicken and cook 20 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

APPLE BUTTERMAKES 5 -6 HALF PINTS

Ingredients:1 dozen medium-sized cooking apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped1½ quarts apple cider1/3 cup red cinnamon candies1⅓ cups sugar1 tablespoon cider vinegar1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions:Combine apples, cider and candies in Dutch oven. Bring to

boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour, or until apples are tender. Drain apples; mash by hand with potato masher, or spoon into food processor and pulse just until smooth. Return mashed apples to Dutch oven and add sugar, vinegar, cinnamon and cloves. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat 45 to 50 minutes, or until thickened, stirring often. Remove from heat; ladle apple butter into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Wipe jar rims clean, and cover at once with metal lids; screw on bands. Process in boiling-water bath 10 minutes.

ANGEL BISCUITSMAKES ABOUT 2 DOZEN

Ingredients:2 packages active dry yeast1/4 cup warm water (105° to 115° F)2 cups buttermilk5 to 5¼ cups all-purpose fl our1/4 cup sugar1 tablespoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda3/4 teaspoon salt1 cup solid vegetable shortening1/4 cup melted unsalted butter or margarine

Directions:Combine yeast and warm water in small bowl; let stand 5

minutes. Stir in buttermilk and set aside. Combine remaining dry ingredients in large bowl; cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk mixture, stir-ring with fork until dry ingredients are just moistened. Turn bis-cuit dough out onto lightly fl oured surface, and knead 2 minutes. Roll dough out to 1/2-inch thickness; cut with 2½-inch biscuit cut-ter. Place biscuits on lightly greased baking sheet and brush tops with melted butter. Cover with cloth or towel and let rise in warm place (85° F), free from drafts, for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400° F. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until biscuits are browned.

Country CookingCountry CookingCountry CookingBY LIZZIE FENTON


OKRA PICKLESMAKES 7 PINTS

Ingredients:3½ pounds small okra pods14 cloves garlic7 small fresh red or green chili peppers1 quart water1 pint white vinegar ( 5% acidity)1/3 cup pickling salt1 tablespoon dill seeds

Directions:Wash okra thoroughly. Pack okra tightly into 7 hot sterilized

pint jars; place 2 garlic cloves and a hot pepper in each jar. Com-bine 1 quart water, the vinegar, pickling salt and dill seeds in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Pour boiling vinegar mixture over okra, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids and screw on bands. Process in boil-ing-water bath for 10 minutes.

FRIED GREEN TOMATOESMAKES 6 SERVINGS

Ingredients:1 cup cornmeal2 teaspoons brown sugar1/2 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon black pepper3 large green tomatoes, sliced1 egg, beatenVegetable oil for frying

Directions:Combine cornmeal, sugar, salt and pepper in small bowl; stir

well. Dip tomato slices in beaten egg; dredge in cornmeal mix-ture, coating well on both sides. Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons oil in large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add a lay-er of tomatoes; fry 3 to 5 minutes or until browned, turning once. Remove slices and drain. Repeat procedure, adding more oil to pan as needed, until all slices have been fried. Serve immediately.

MAMA'S CRISP SWEET PICKLESMAKES ABOUT 8 PINTS

Ingredients:7 pounds small cucumbers2 gallons water2 cups pickling lime2 quarts crushed ice8 cups white vinegar (5% acidity)8 cups sugar1 tablespoon salt2 teaspoons mixed pickling spices

Directions:Wash cucumbers and slice into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Combine

cucumber slices, 2 gallons water and pickling lime in large crock-ery bowl; let soak 12 hours. Drain cucumber slices and rinse in cold water; repeat draining and rinsing procedure three times (to remove lime). Pack crushed ice over cucumbers; cover and let stand 4 hours. Drain well. Heat vinegar, sugar, salt and pickling spices in large saucepan, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to boil and sugar dissolves. Pour syrup mixture over cucumbers; let stand 5 to 6 hours or overnight. Bring cucumber-and-syrup mixture to boil; reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes. Pack into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 -inch headspace. Remove air bub-bles; wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids and screw on bands. Process in boiling-water bath for 10 minutes.


Kash Family Farm: Where Family Means Everything ............................................. 4Farm Economy Continues To Concern Illinois Farmers ........................................ 8Raising Family, Food And Awareness ....................................................................... 9Schultz Family: Four Generations Of Farming... It’s Our Way Of Life ................10America’s Food System: My � ree Perspectives .....................................................14Washington County Farm Bureau To Hold Legislative Breakfast ........................16

Women Changing � e Face Of Agriculture ...........................................................18Avian In� uenza: An Overview .................................................................................20Federal Funds Available For Illinois Specialty Crop Projects ...............................24Centralia FFA Competing In Supervised Agricultural Experiences ....................26Country Cooking by Lizzie Fenton ...................................................................28, 29Centralia FFA Places � ird At Poultry Judging ......................................................31

Business Name Phone Page Business Name Phone Page

AGMagMARCH 30, 2016

American Family Insurance — Darrel Mays Mt. Vernon ........618-244-7606 ............18

Blu� Equipment, Inc. Vandalia .............618-283-3277 ..............3

Bob’s Auto & Truck Repair, LLC Salem ..................618-548-1762 ............20

Burkdell Mulch Lawn & Garden Center Mt. Vernon ........618-242-0900 ............32

Collision Specialists Salem ..................618-548-1314 888-TOWMEOUT ...18

Community Trust Bank Centralia ............618-533-0527 ..............5 Irvington ............618-249-6218 ..............5 Nashville ............618-327-4400 ..............5

Crescent Bearing & Supply, Inc. Salem ..................618-548-0282 ............31

Duis Sales Center Salem ..................618-548-2922 800-995-2922 ............21Farmers Mid-County Feed Co. Nashville ............618-327-8431 ............24

Farmers State Bank of Ho� man Ho� man .............618-495-2225 ............17 Ho� man .............618-533-4196 ............17 Central City .......618-532-2265 ............17 Hoyleton ............618-493-6510 ............17

Ho� man Seed House Ho� man .............618-495-2617 ............25

Holz Tool Supply Mt. Vernon ........618-242-4676 ............31

Holzhauer Auto and Motorsports Nashville 618-327-8264 ............15

Hunter Law Firm, P.C. Salem ..................618-548-9949 ............13 866-548-9949 ............13Interstate Batteries Mt. Vernon ........618-244-3745 ............27

Kapp Trailer Beckemeyer 618-227-8814 ............24

Kash Helicopter Services, LLC Mt. Vernon ........844-454-2787 ..............7

King City Chrysler Mt. Vernon ........618-242-6600 ............23

Koch Insurance Agency, Inc. Nashville ............618-327-4311 ............25

M&K Insurance Salem ..................618-548-6161 ............27

Marten Portable Buildings Centralia ............618-532-2697 ............22

Mt. Vernon Elevator Co. Mt. Vernon ........618-244-1146 ............25

� e Maschho� s, LLC Carlyle ................618-594-2125 ..............2

Outdoor Power Sales & Service Whittington .......618-629-1837 ............11

Prairie Farms ............................618-526-7579 ............16

Precision Water Lab Centralia ............618-533-0758 ............27

Scott’s Processing Carlyle ................618-594-3921 ............26

Sloan Implement, Inc. Vandalia .............866-972-9420 ..............9

Southern Illinois Ag Solutions, Inc. Centralia ............618-533-0758 ............19

University of Illinois Extension ............................618-548-1446 ..............2


Centralia FFA Members recently placed third at the Section 21 Poultry Judging CDE hosted by Weber Township High School FFA. This contest is very time consuming because members have a variety of poultry products to judge. They have to judge the interior and exterior of eggs, the quality of processed poultry products, quality of hanging carcasses, quality of live birds, parts identification, and a 50 point written test.

Also, Congratulations to Cody Bevil who placed 3rd as an individual and Victoria Phillips who placed 11th out of 45 individuals competing.

(L to R) Front: Daniel Gillmore and Victoria Phillips; back: Cody Bevil,Jordan Williams, and DakotaKorzenewski. n

CEnTrALIA FFA pLACES THIrD AT poULTrY jUDgIng

Purina Chows &Purina Pet Foods

Dog • Cat •Horses • Rabbit • Wild Bird Feed

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MT. VERNONELEVATOR CO.


Burkdell MulchLawn & Garden CenterRt. 15 East, Mt. Vernon, IL • 618-242-0900

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 5:00

Sat. 9:00 - 3:00Not responsible for typographical or pricing errors in this ad.

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HOME. FARM. HARDWARE.

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•PLUMBING •HARDWARE•INSECT SPRAYS •WEED SPRAYS

•POWER TOOLS

We Have A Complete Line Of

1” X 14’ FUEL TRANSFER HOSE

$3499

1” ULTRA-HIGH FLOW NOZZLE

$78591” MANUAL

NOZZLE

$2149

LEVERPUMP

SD11

$2999

WEED AND GRASS KILLER

$5500SHOP VACS

$8900

PRO 6 GAL.

ULTRA PRO 16 GAL.

WOW!

HYDRAULIC OIL- 303$2399

$3169HYDRAULIC OIL- AW32

45%CHAINS!

OFFLOG CHAINS & BULK CHAINS • CUT TO LENGTH

SEAFOAM MOTOR TUNE-UP

$69916 OZ.

$3999KILLZALL

2.5GALLON

WOW!

$2089HYDRAULIC

JACKS

ANGLEGRINDER

$249912

TON

7/8 X 6½ HITCH PIN $459

TRUFUEL 50:1

$49932 OZ.

1GALLON

BUY6 OR MORE AND GET IT FOR $3450/EA.

the shopper's weekly papers / ag mag

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