0312 PON DLY B06 1
B6
WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 pontiacdailyleader.com
AGRI-BUSINESS PLANTING SEASON APPROACHES
Weather to have a limited impact on regional crops By Jacob Misener Managing Editor
With California suffering from a record drought, the upcoming farming season is on the mind of many in agriculture, as they try to plan for what may lie in store in the next eight months. Despite near-record levels of snowfall this winter, Marion Shier, an agronomist with United Soils, Inc. in Fairbury, believes it will make little difference in terms of the amount of water in the ground during the upcoming planting season. see ‘WEATHER’ page B7
The amount of agriculture-related technology has continued to grow in recent years as companies have become more adapted to offer worker-friendly products. PHOTO PROVIDED
PLANTING SEASON APPROACHES
Agriculture technology offerings grow By Kent Casson For the Daily Leader
CHATSWORTH – In order to be profitable during a time of lower crop prices, farmers are embracing the latest technology for tractors and planters. Several technology offerings were displayed during a recent open house at Nu-Ag Technology in Chatsworth, including wireless data capabilities. “We also have the new DigiFarm network which we just got fired up here. It is a cell-based RTK correction (GPS system) that can also run across many brands – whether it be John Deere, Ag Leader, Trimble and Case,” said Tim McGreal, owner and
president of Nu-Ag. Whether farmers like it or not, new technology keeps emerging and most planter manufacturers are embracing this new era. “It’s one of the things we have to learn to deal with,” said McGreal. Also at the open house, Nu-Ag showcased a yield program with custom ag mapping of yield data, variable rate planting information and tile system design. NuYield Mapping & Data Management allows secure data backup, harvest map analysis and profit/loss reports. A large tile plow was also displayed at the event. The Soil-Max Gold Digger has a tile mapping dis-
play and the national sales manager, Kurt Lanzone, was on hand to answer questions from growers in attendance. Nu-Ag is now a direct Ag Leader dealer, offering items such as the new Compass display, wireless connectivity from the tractor cab, Sure Stop clutches and hydraulic downforce. Ag Leader territory manager Matt Wolfe gave a hands-on software presentation. If farmers are looking to do any equipment upgrades, McGreal says they better do it quick, since corn planting could get underway in over a month from now. “Let’s get rid of the snow first,” he added.
B10
WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 pontiacdailyleader.com
PLANTING SEASON APPROACHES
FARM SAFETY
Four key planting tips for this spring
Anhydrous safety discussed By Kent Casson
If you're planting a garden this spring, you're going to want to brush up on some tips after a long, cold winter. There's nothing better than spending quality time in the backyard building something beautiful -- but only if you're armed with the right strategies. Here are four of them. 1. Plant at the proper time and place: Your local newspaper's outdoors or lifestyle section may let you know what's best to plant each month, especially if gardening is popular in your area. You can also refer to the instructions on the seed packets or do some research online. According to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the University of California, Davis, you should place plants expected to grow bigger on the north side of your garden and shorter plants on the southern side. This prevents taller plants from blocking the sun. 2. Water creatively: If you boil a lot of vegetables as part of your household diet, Weekend Gardener Magazine says to use that water on your plants to fertilize them and improve their color. You can mist your seedlings with chamomile tea, which serves as a natural fungicide. 3. Fertilize with egg shells: According to Backwoods Home Magazine, egg shells serve as an effective fertil-
BUDGET from Page B9
1. Make your own compost: Creating your own compost is a great way to save money, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Purchase or build a small wooden bin and add coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable waste, some twigs, grass clippings, leaves and a bit of dirt. Don't add meat or dairy products to your compost heap -- although, a small amount of used egg shells can be good for the soil. Keep your compost slightly moist and turn it with a shovel once per week. 2. Get plant seeds for free: Check out the websites Freecycle and Craigslist for free plants, and visit HeirloomSeedSwap and Seed Savers Exchange, which host seed swaps. Do some research at your public library or on the Internet to see if there's a local garden club you can join or plant exchange you can participate in. And, you can also use seeds from the fruits and vegetables you buy to eat. 3. Reduce pesticide use: Karen Bussolini is a lifelong gardener, garden photographer, writer, speaker, NOFA-Accredited Organic Land Care Professional and an eco-friendly garden coach. She says you should "plant flowers that attract beneficial insects and let them do the dirty work of pest patrol while you enjoy their beauty. Any daisyshaped flower and most herbs will feed pollinators and tiny insects that consume pests." 4. Use a rain barrel: A rain barrel is a great way to reduce your gardening water bill, according to the University of Nebraska Lincoln. However, it needs to be more involved than
just sticking a garbage can out back next to your garden. Place one under your downspout so it collects more rain, and get a spigot that you can connect to a hose. You can likely find a decent one on eBay for about $50. 5. Get your soil tested: Where I live, soil can be tested for just $3, so instead of paying $50 for a testing kit, check the diagnostic or extension services tabs on your county's website. This information can help guide you in the right direction when choosing plants for your garden. You can also find out what additives you may need to improve your soil's quality. Once your garden is up and running, give it the same love and care you did when you created it. Get the kids involved with weeding and write out a watering schedule if you don't have automatic sprinklers. Saving money on a spring garden is great, but only if you put in the proper maintenance time.
izer for your garden. They contain calcium, nitrogen and other trace elements conducive to plant growth. Run them through your food processor and sprinkle them around the base of each plant. Just be sure to clean your appliances thoroughly before using them again. 4. Spread out weeding time: If you've ever maintained a garden before, you know that weeding is one of the most important parts of keeping it in tip-top shape. Instead of doing your weeding all at once, try covering a portion of your garden every few days. Karen Bussolini, a NOFA-accredited organic land care professional and eco-friendly garden coach, says to "keep the ground covered with plants or mulch to give weeds no place to seed in. Mulch also keeps soil moist and cool." Keep yourself safe while gardening by always using gloves when handling potting soil, compost and any other type of dirt -- it could contain dangerous chemicals, especially if you use pesticides or fertilizer. Even if these things have only been used previously in your garden, they could pose a threat. If you've got dirt under your fingernails when you're done, HGTV suggests using them to scrape some soap off of a bar and scrubbing them with a nail brush. Gardening is fun, therapeutic and a great form of exercise -- just be sure you stay safe in the process.
If you know of agriculture-related stories or photo opportunities, the Daily Leader encourages you to pass them along. Send story ideas, photos and news releases to [email protected].
For the Daily Leader
FAIRBURY – Anhydrous safety, handling, technology and troubleshooting was covered during a recent meeting in Fairbury hosted by Straightline Ag Inc. Keith Fricke with the Illinois Safety Alliance was the main speaker. He has been working with ag retail safety for a number of years and shared some interesting stories. “As scary as ammonia is, the one thing nice about it is the first aid. The only thing we need is water,” said Fricke. If your skin comes in contact with ammonia, you should soak in water for at least 15 minutes, refrain from using oils or ointments and do not remove clothes right away. “Inhalation is a big concern,” he added. “Make sure you don’t wear your contact lens. If you get a shot of ammonia, it will freeze that contact lens to your eye.” Ammonia is made up of air, natural gas and water and impacts include: freezer burns or deep facial tissue burns. If a certain amount of ammonia is spilled, that spill must be reported. Calls should be made to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802, IEMA at 800-782-7860 along with your local fire department.
GARDENING
from Page B8
Sage The whole Salvia genus is drought tolerant, and there are tons of options to choose from, including some, like pineapple sage, with an amazing scent as well as colorful flowers. Be advised that sages don't handle frost well, and will need to be cut back after the winter months, although they will return. Creeping phlox This delightful evergreen plant produces delicate flowers in ranges of purple, violet, and even red. It loves full to partial sun and rock gardens as well as other rough, well-drained soil in the garden, and will blanket the landscape if it's content where it is. Panicle hydrangeas You might not expect these majestic shrubs to weather droughts well, but they do. They like full to partial sun and well-drained soil. As long as these conditions are in play, they'll produce rich green leaves which will drop in fall, along with gorgeous frothy
pontiacdailyleader.com WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014
white flowers. Lamb's ears They're soft. They're fuzzy. They're silvery gray. And they don't care one bit if it's dry. These hardy plants are ideal for borders and bedding plants in your garden, and they can also decorate your rock garden or containers. They'll also produce flower spikes! Glossy abelia In the words of the staff at Fine Gardening, this is a plant that prefers neglect. Leave it alone and it will produce lovely green foliage and delicate white flowers with a delicious smell. Pretty good deal, if you ask me! Keep in mind that "drought tolerant" doesn't mean "can be ignored." These plants should all be provided with ample fertilizer and mulch to support them, and they will need to be watered. Offer them occasional deep waterings to encourage them to root deeply in the soil and seek out their own sources of water, and as they get established, you can taper back on the watering. Be aware that extreme drought and heat can kill even the hardiest of plants.
B9
LAWN AND GARDEN
How to create a budget-friendly garden By David Scott More Content Now
Now that we've hopefully brushed the last of the winter snow off our backs, it's time to start thinking about spring. And what better way to kick it off than to create a spring garden at home? If you'd like to get your hands dirty, but your personal finances are tight, check out these five tips for creating a budget-friendly spring garden. see ‘BUDGET’ page B10
B8
WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 pontiacdailyleader.com
NINO from Page B7
develop by this summer, but that there are no guarantees. Although early signs are appearing already a few hundred feet below the ocean surface, meteorologists say an El Nino started to brew in 2012 and then shut down suddenly and unexpectedly. The flip side of El Nino is called a La Nina, which has a general cooling effect. It has been much more frequent than El Ninos lately, with five La Ninas and two small-to-moderate El Ninos in the past nine years. The last big El Nino was 1997-1998. Neither has appeared since mid-2012. El Ninos are usually strongest from December to April. Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, who wasn't part of NOAA's forecast, agreed that an El Nino is brewing. "This could be a substantial event and I think we're due," Trenberth said. "And I think it could have major consequences." Halpert said it is too early to say how strong this El Nino will be. The last four have been weak or moderate and those have fewer effects on weather. Scientific studies have tied El Ninos to farming and fishing problems and to upticks in insect-born disease, such as malaria. Commodity traders even track El Nino cycles. A study by Texas A&M University economics professor Bruce McCarl found the last big El Nino of 19971998 cost about $3 billion in agricultural damage. Trenberth said this El Nino may even push the globe out of a decade-long slowdown in temperature increase, "so suddenly global warming kicks into a whole new level." Kunkel said if this El Nino is a strong one, global temperatures, probably in 2015, could "be in near record breaking territory." Halpert, however, says El Ninos can be beneficial, and that the one being forecast is "a perfect case." After years of dryness and low reservoirs, an El Nino's wet weather would be welcome in places like California, Halpert said. "If they get too much rain, I think they'd rather have that situation rather than another year of
drought," Halpert said. "Sometimes you have to pick your poison." Australia and South Africa should be dry while parts of South America become dry and parts become wet in an El Nino. Peru suffers the most, getting floods and poorer fishing. The climate event got the name El Nino, meaning the boy in Spanish, when it was first noticed off the coast of Peru and Ecuador around Christmas time and was named after Christ child, according to Trenberth.
FINANCES from Page B7
utilized, according to Jonathan Hill, the insurance specialist on hand at 1st Farm Credit Services’ Pontiac branch. “At this point in time, it looks like farmers are going to have a decision to make in terms of it’ll be a five-year decision and they can choose between a target price program for each of their farms or a revenue-based program for each of their farms,” Hill said. “The direct payments they had been receiving in past years are no longer available. When asked whether or not this would be a positive or negative
change for area farmers, Hill said that it was still too early to tell. “A wait-and-see is probably the best way to describe it at this point in time. It will depend a lot on where commodity prices go over the next five years,” he said. “That’ll dictate how big and how frequent the payments they receive will be on their program choice.” Although a great deal of precipitation has fallen during the winter months, most of it has not creeped into the ground due to the fact that most of Illinois’ land is frozen solid. Although the snows helped to a limited degree, weather will continue to shape the industry in 2014. “Obviously, there’s a lot of risk when you start farming and enter
into the crop year, not knowing what you’re going to end up with,” said Byarley. “The weather does have a major factor and that’s going to be a large determinant in where prices are going to be this fall.” Another factor that could affect agribusinesses in Livingston County is the recovering economy. More businesses are actively seeking to hire the top students coming out of college, when in recent years, agribusiness may have been the only suitors these individuals had. “It may affect agribusinesses a little more because the people they’ve been able to hire the last couple years have been dependable. Other companies haven’t been competing as much to hire them.”
PLANTING TIPS
Tips to drought-resistant gardening this year By Katie Marks Gatehouse Media News Service
Think a drought-tolerant garden has to be all dull colors and straggly plants? Think again. If your plumbing is groaning over the miserable, dry heat, that doesn't mean your garden has to look like a wilted bouquet. Drought-tolerance doesn't mean boring, and we've got some great recommendations for plants to consider in 2014. Make your garden colorful, lively, and ready for dry weather! Parrot's beak One of my personal favorites, parrot's beak has silvery foliage and bright, BRIGHT red and orange flowers. (It also comes in other shades, like pink.) These plants will merrily grow, and
grow, and grow, even when the rest of the garden isn't so happy. They have a sprawling growth habit that makes them ideal for containers and borders. Flowering quince Another favorite of mine, flowering quince may look menacing, but it's a softie at heart. This shrub has beautiful red flowers and spikes to match, with small green foliage. It's incredibly hardy, and delightfully, it's an early bloomer, so it puts out flowers while the rest of the garden is still gearing up. Lewisia cotyledon With evergreen foliage and luscious reddish, pink, and orange flowers, this plant is ideal for rock gardens and other very dry, well-drained places. It doesn't take well to extremely cold
weather, but it handles drought just fine! Lavender You knew lavender was drought-tolerant, right? This Mediterranean plant LOVES dry weather, and it will happily keep blooming, smelling amazing, and producing its famous silvery-gray foliage. It's ideal for bedding and establishing as a large shrub. Chaste tree We know the name is silly, but the plant isn't. This evergreen shrub produces beautiful cones of aromatic purple flowers, and it's an heirloom. You'll need to prune it to help it develop and retain an even, healthy shape, but on the plus side, it will attract butterflies and birds to your garden. see ‘GARDENING’ page B9
pontiacdailyleader.com WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 B7
FARMERS LOOK AHEAD TO 2014
Financial aspects could worsen in 2014 By Jacob Misener Managing Editor
As many businesses saw their doors close and windows boarded up as a result of what has been coined the ‘Great Recession’ of recent years, the agricultural portion remained relatively strong, with
WEATHER from Page B6
“Unfortunately, the ground was frozen when we got most of the snow and it has remained frozen,” he said recently. “Because of that, as snow has melted and started running off, it’s not soaked into the ground. That’s not to say we haven’t got some benefit, but with all of the inches of snow we’ve gotten, we’ve not gotten a lot of moisture recharge into the ground.” According to data from the National Drought Mitigation Center, much of the central portion of the state is currently suffering from low-to-moderate levels of drought. The Pontiac area is currently classified as being in a period of “abnormally dry” conditions. Further south, especially near the Lincoln area, the drought is worse, and has been labeled as a “severe” drought by the center. The weather many in the area
many farmers and agribusinesses able to weather the financial downturn. According to Brent Byarley, Vice President of 1st Farm Credit Services in Pontiac, farmland sales have already slowed dramatically compared to recent years’ trends. “The activity this year compared to the last two or three years has slowed quite
consider to be harsh is something from years’ past, according to Shier, who said that 30 years ago, such winters were common. Regardless, it could have an impact on this year’s planting operations. “We’re obviously still in the frozen stage and we’re at the first of March,” he said. “The likelihood of traditional spring weather returning and it being nice and sunny and warm and seeing lots of field activity by the 15th of March is probably remote.” He went on to say that he anticipated spring tillage and planting operations will be at least two weeks later than usual, although he admitted it was hard to make a prediction with the ground still being frozen. Some have suggested that the subzero temperatures may have an impact on pests that often raise concerns with farmers, but Shier isn’t so sure. “For the most part, when we’ve had the severe cold, we’ve had a certain amount of snow at the same
a bit,” he said. “There are still a lot of farms listed for sale through realtors, but there haven’t been as many auctions. We’ve seen no sales at some of the farm auctions we’ve had the last three or four months.” When asked if he thought if land values could be lower in 2014 than in the past two years, he replied, saying it’s “a pretty good possibility.”
time, and it serves as an insulation to keep the severe cold temperatures from driving down into the soil very far.” Shier said that in order to kill insects, the soil temperature four inches below the surface must fall to 20 degrees for somewhere around 10 days. However, this winter, the soil temperature has remained in the neighborhood of 20 degrees, which he said won’t be enough to kill many pests apart from the “weakling” insects. In short, Shier doesn’t believe this spring will be much different than last year for many in the farming community. “Like I said, we’ve got a lot of moisture on top of the ground in the form of snow, probably precipitation equivalent of two to three inches,” he said. “When the ground is frozen and the snow starts to melt, it doesn’t move through frozen ground very well. That’s not to say we’ll be starting out in a drought, by any means.”
Major changes to the United States’ farm bill came in recent months, as the first long-term, comprehensive legislation on the matter in years passed both houses of Congress. One of those changes revolves around direct payments farmers had been receiving in the past, but will no longer be see ‘FINANCES’ page B8
WEATHER CHANGES LIKELY
Here comes El Nino; good news for the nation’s weather woes By Seth Borenstein Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Relief may be on the way for a weather-weary United States with the predicted warming of the central Pacific Ocean brewing this year that will likely change weather worldwide. But it won't be for the better everywhere. The warming, called an El Nino, is expected to lead to fewer Atlantic hurricanes and more rain next winter for drought-strick-
en California and southern states, and even a milder winter for the nation's frigid northern tier next year, meteorologists say. While it could be good news to lessen the southwestern U.S. drought and shrink heating bills next winter in the far north, "worldwide it can be quite a different story," said North Carolina State University atmospheric sciences professor Ken Kunkel. "Some areas benefit. Some don't." Globally, it can mean an even hotter year coming up and billions of dollars in losses for food crops. The National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration issued an official El Nino watch Thursday. An El Nino is a warming of the central Pacific once every few years, from a combination of wind and waves in the tropics. It shakes up climate around the world, changing rain and temperature patterns. Mike Halpert, acting director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, says the El Nino warming should see ‘NINO’ page B8
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WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 pontiacdailyleader.com
AGRI-BUSINESS PLANTING SEASON APPROACHES
Weather to have a limited impact on regional crops By Jacob Misener Managing Editor
With California suffering from a record drought, the upcoming farming season is on the mind of many in agriculture, as they try to plan for what may lie in store in the next eight months. Despite near-record levels of snowfall this winter, Marion Shier, an agronomist with United Soils, Inc. in Fairbury, believes it will make little difference in terms of the amount of water in the ground during the upcoming planting season. see ‘WEATHER’ page B7
The amount of agriculture-related technology has continued to grow in recent years as companies have become more adapted to offer worker-friendly products. PHOTO PROVIDED
PLANTING SEASON APPROACHES
Agriculture technology offerings grow By Kent Casson For the Daily Leader
CHATSWORTH – In order to be profitable during a time of lower crop prices, farmers are embracing the latest technology for tractors and planters. Several technology offerings were displayed during a recent open house at Nu-Ag Technology in Chatsworth, including wireless data capabilities. “We also have the new DigiFarm network which we just got fired up here. It is a cell-based RTK correction (GPS system) that can also run across many brands – whether it be John Deere, Ag Leader, Trimble and Case,” said Tim McGreal, owner and
president of Nu-Ag. Whether farmers like it or not, new technology keeps emerging and most planter manufacturers are embracing this new era. “It’s one of the things we have to learn to deal with,” said McGreal. Also at the open house, Nu-Ag showcased a yield program with custom ag mapping of yield data, variable rate planting information and tile system design. NuYield Mapping & Data Management allows secure data backup, harvest map analysis and profit/loss reports. A large tile plow was also displayed at the event. The Soil-Max Gold Digger has a tile mapping dis-
play and the national sales manager, Kurt Lanzone, was on hand to answer questions from growers in attendance. Nu-Ag is now a direct Ag Leader dealer, offering items such as the new Compass display, wireless connectivity from the tractor cab, Sure Stop clutches and hydraulic downforce. Ag Leader territory manager Matt Wolfe gave a hands-on software presentation. If farmers are looking to do any equipment upgrades, McGreal says they better do it quick, since corn planting could get underway in over a month from now. “Let’s get rid of the snow first,” he added.
B10
WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 pontiacdailyleader.com
PLANTING SEASON APPROACHES
FARM SAFETY
Four key planting tips for this spring
Anhydrous safety discussed By Kent Casson
If you're planting a garden this spring, you're going to want to brush up on some tips after a long, cold winter. There's nothing better than spending quality time in the backyard building something beautiful -- but only if you're armed with the right strategies. Here are four of them. 1. Plant at the proper time and place: Your local newspaper's outdoors or lifestyle section may let you know what's best to plant each month, especially if gardening is popular in your area. You can also refer to the instructions on the seed packets or do some research online. According to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the University of California, Davis, you should place plants expected to grow bigger on the north side of your garden and shorter plants on the southern side. This prevents taller plants from blocking the sun. 2. Water creatively: If you boil a lot of vegetables as part of your household diet, Weekend Gardener Magazine says to use that water on your plants to fertilize them and improve their color. You can mist your seedlings with chamomile tea, which serves as a natural fungicide. 3. Fertilize with egg shells: According to Backwoods Home Magazine, egg shells serve as an effective fertil-
BUDGET from Page B9
1. Make your own compost: Creating your own compost is a great way to save money, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Purchase or build a small wooden bin and add coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable waste, some twigs, grass clippings, leaves and a bit of dirt. Don't add meat or dairy products to your compost heap -- although, a small amount of used egg shells can be good for the soil. Keep your compost slightly moist and turn it with a shovel once per week. 2. Get plant seeds for free: Check out the websites Freecycle and Craigslist for free plants, and visit HeirloomSeedSwap and Seed Savers Exchange, which host seed swaps. Do some research at your public library or on the Internet to see if there's a local garden club you can join or plant exchange you can participate in. And, you can also use seeds from the fruits and vegetables you buy to eat. 3. Reduce pesticide use: Karen Bussolini is a lifelong gardener, garden photographer, writer, speaker, NOFA-Accredited Organic Land Care Professional and an eco-friendly garden coach. She says you should "plant flowers that attract beneficial insects and let them do the dirty work of pest patrol while you enjoy their beauty. Any daisyshaped flower and most herbs will feed pollinators and tiny insects that consume pests." 4. Use a rain barrel: A rain barrel is a great way to reduce your gardening water bill, according to the University of Nebraska Lincoln. However, it needs to be more involved than
just sticking a garbage can out back next to your garden. Place one under your downspout so it collects more rain, and get a spigot that you can connect to a hose. You can likely find a decent one on eBay for about $50. 5. Get your soil tested: Where I live, soil can be tested for just $3, so instead of paying $50 for a testing kit, check the diagnostic or extension services tabs on your county's website. This information can help guide you in the right direction when choosing plants for your garden. You can also find out what additives you may need to improve your soil's quality. Once your garden is up and running, give it the same love and care you did when you created it. Get the kids involved with weeding and write out a watering schedule if you don't have automatic sprinklers. Saving money on a spring garden is great, but only if you put in the proper maintenance time.
izer for your garden. They contain calcium, nitrogen and other trace elements conducive to plant growth. Run them through your food processor and sprinkle them around the base of each plant. Just be sure to clean your appliances thoroughly before using them again. 4. Spread out weeding time: If you've ever maintained a garden before, you know that weeding is one of the most important parts of keeping it in tip-top shape. Instead of doing your weeding all at once, try covering a portion of your garden every few days. Karen Bussolini, a NOFA-accredited organic land care professional and eco-friendly garden coach, says to "keep the ground covered with plants or mulch to give weeds no place to seed in. Mulch also keeps soil moist and cool." Keep yourself safe while gardening by always using gloves when handling potting soil, compost and any other type of dirt -- it could contain dangerous chemicals, especially if you use pesticides or fertilizer. Even if these things have only been used previously in your garden, they could pose a threat. If you've got dirt under your fingernails when you're done, HGTV suggests using them to scrape some soap off of a bar and scrubbing them with a nail brush. Gardening is fun, therapeutic and a great form of exercise -- just be sure you stay safe in the process.
If you know of agriculture-related stories or photo opportunities, the Daily Leader encourages you to pass them along. Send story ideas, photos and news releases to [email protected].
For the Daily Leader
FAIRBURY – Anhydrous safety, handling, technology and troubleshooting was covered during a recent meeting in Fairbury hosted by Straightline Ag Inc. Keith Fricke with the Illinois Safety Alliance was the main speaker. He has been working with ag retail safety for a number of years and shared some interesting stories. “As scary as ammonia is, the one thing nice about it is the first aid. The only thing we need is water,” said Fricke. If your skin comes in contact with ammonia, you should soak in water for at least 15 minutes, refrain from using oils or ointments and do not remove clothes right away. “Inhalation is a big concern,” he added. “Make sure you don’t wear your contact lens. If you get a shot of ammonia, it will freeze that contact lens to your eye.” Ammonia is made up of air, natural gas and water and impacts include: freezer burns or deep facial tissue burns. If a certain amount of ammonia is spilled, that spill must be reported. Calls should be made to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802, IEMA at 800-782-7860 along with your local fire department.
GARDENING
from Page B8
Sage The whole Salvia genus is drought tolerant, and there are tons of options to choose from, including some, like pineapple sage, with an amazing scent as well as colorful flowers. Be advised that sages don't handle frost well, and will need to be cut back after the winter months, although they will return. Creeping phlox This delightful evergreen plant produces delicate flowers in ranges of purple, violet, and even red. It loves full to partial sun and rock gardens as well as other rough, well-drained soil in the garden, and will blanket the landscape if it's content where it is. Panicle hydrangeas You might not expect these majestic shrubs to weather droughts well, but they do. They like full to partial sun and well-drained soil. As long as these conditions are in play, they'll produce rich green leaves which will drop in fall, along with gorgeous frothy
pontiacdailyleader.com WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014
white flowers. Lamb's ears They're soft. They're fuzzy. They're silvery gray. And they don't care one bit if it's dry. These hardy plants are ideal for borders and bedding plants in your garden, and they can also decorate your rock garden or containers. They'll also produce flower spikes! Glossy abelia In the words of the staff at Fine Gardening, this is a plant that prefers neglect. Leave it alone and it will produce lovely green foliage and delicate white flowers with a delicious smell. Pretty good deal, if you ask me! Keep in mind that "drought tolerant" doesn't mean "can be ignored." These plants should all be provided with ample fertilizer and mulch to support them, and they will need to be watered. Offer them occasional deep waterings to encourage them to root deeply in the soil and seek out their own sources of water, and as they get established, you can taper back on the watering. Be aware that extreme drought and heat can kill even the hardiest of plants.
B9
LAWN AND GARDEN
How to create a budget-friendly garden By David Scott More Content Now
Now that we've hopefully brushed the last of the winter snow off our backs, it's time to start thinking about spring. And what better way to kick it off than to create a spring garden at home? If you'd like to get your hands dirty, but your personal finances are tight, check out these five tips for creating a budget-friendly spring garden. see ‘BUDGET’ page B10
B8
WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 pontiacdailyleader.com
NINO from Page B7
develop by this summer, but that there are no guarantees. Although early signs are appearing already a few hundred feet below the ocean surface, meteorologists say an El Nino started to brew in 2012 and then shut down suddenly and unexpectedly. The flip side of El Nino is called a La Nina, which has a general cooling effect. It has been much more frequent than El Ninos lately, with five La Ninas and two small-to-moderate El Ninos in the past nine years. The last big El Nino was 1997-1998. Neither has appeared since mid-2012. El Ninos are usually strongest from December to April. Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, who wasn't part of NOAA's forecast, agreed that an El Nino is brewing. "This could be a substantial event and I think we're due," Trenberth said. "And I think it could have major consequences." Halpert said it is too early to say how strong this El Nino will be. The last four have been weak or moderate and those have fewer effects on weather. Scientific studies have tied El Ninos to farming and fishing problems and to upticks in insect-born disease, such as malaria. Commodity traders even track El Nino cycles. A study by Texas A&M University economics professor Bruce McCarl found the last big El Nino of 19971998 cost about $3 billion in agricultural damage. Trenberth said this El Nino may even push the globe out of a decade-long slowdown in temperature increase, "so suddenly global warming kicks into a whole new level." Kunkel said if this El Nino is a strong one, global temperatures, probably in 2015, could "be in near record breaking territory." Halpert, however, says El Ninos can be beneficial, and that the one being forecast is "a perfect case." After years of dryness and low reservoirs, an El Nino's wet weather would be welcome in places like California, Halpert said. "If they get too much rain, I think they'd rather have that situation rather than another year of
drought," Halpert said. "Sometimes you have to pick your poison." Australia and South Africa should be dry while parts of South America become dry and parts become wet in an El Nino. Peru suffers the most, getting floods and poorer fishing. The climate event got the name El Nino, meaning the boy in Spanish, when it was first noticed off the coast of Peru and Ecuador around Christmas time and was named after Christ child, according to Trenberth.
FINANCES from Page B7
utilized, according to Jonathan Hill, the insurance specialist on hand at 1st Farm Credit Services’ Pontiac branch. “At this point in time, it looks like farmers are going to have a decision to make in terms of it’ll be a five-year decision and they can choose between a target price program for each of their farms or a revenue-based program for each of their farms,” Hill said. “The direct payments they had been receiving in past years are no longer available. When asked whether or not this would be a positive or negative
change for area farmers, Hill said that it was still too early to tell. “A wait-and-see is probably the best way to describe it at this point in time. It will depend a lot on where commodity prices go over the next five years,” he said. “That’ll dictate how big and how frequent the payments they receive will be on their program choice.” Although a great deal of precipitation has fallen during the winter months, most of it has not creeped into the ground due to the fact that most of Illinois’ land is frozen solid. Although the snows helped to a limited degree, weather will continue to shape the industry in 2014. “Obviously, there’s a lot of risk when you start farming and enter
into the crop year, not knowing what you’re going to end up with,” said Byarley. “The weather does have a major factor and that’s going to be a large determinant in where prices are going to be this fall.” Another factor that could affect agribusinesses in Livingston County is the recovering economy. More businesses are actively seeking to hire the top students coming out of college, when in recent years, agribusiness may have been the only suitors these individuals had. “It may affect agribusinesses a little more because the people they’ve been able to hire the last couple years have been dependable. Other companies haven’t been competing as much to hire them.”
PLANTING TIPS
Tips to drought-resistant gardening this year By Katie Marks Gatehouse Media News Service
Think a drought-tolerant garden has to be all dull colors and straggly plants? Think again. If your plumbing is groaning over the miserable, dry heat, that doesn't mean your garden has to look like a wilted bouquet. Drought-tolerance doesn't mean boring, and we've got some great recommendations for plants to consider in 2014. Make your garden colorful, lively, and ready for dry weather! Parrot's beak One of my personal favorites, parrot's beak has silvery foliage and bright, BRIGHT red and orange flowers. (It also comes in other shades, like pink.) These plants will merrily grow, and
grow, and grow, even when the rest of the garden isn't so happy. They have a sprawling growth habit that makes them ideal for containers and borders. Flowering quince Another favorite of mine, flowering quince may look menacing, but it's a softie at heart. This shrub has beautiful red flowers and spikes to match, with small green foliage. It's incredibly hardy, and delightfully, it's an early bloomer, so it puts out flowers while the rest of the garden is still gearing up. Lewisia cotyledon With evergreen foliage and luscious reddish, pink, and orange flowers, this plant is ideal for rock gardens and other very dry, well-drained places. It doesn't take well to extremely cold
weather, but it handles drought just fine! Lavender You knew lavender was drought-tolerant, right? This Mediterranean plant LOVES dry weather, and it will happily keep blooming, smelling amazing, and producing its famous silvery-gray foliage. It's ideal for bedding and establishing as a large shrub. Chaste tree We know the name is silly, but the plant isn't. This evergreen shrub produces beautiful cones of aromatic purple flowers, and it's an heirloom. You'll need to prune it to help it develop and retain an even, healthy shape, but on the plus side, it will attract butterflies and birds to your garden. see ‘GARDENING’ page B9
pontiacdailyleader.com WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 B7
FARMERS LOOK AHEAD TO 2014
Financial aspects could worsen in 2014 By Jacob Misener Managing Editor
As many businesses saw their doors close and windows boarded up as a result of what has been coined the ‘Great Recession’ of recent years, the agricultural portion remained relatively strong, with
WEATHER from Page B6
“Unfortunately, the ground was frozen when we got most of the snow and it has remained frozen,” he said recently. “Because of that, as snow has melted and started running off, it’s not soaked into the ground. That’s not to say we haven’t got some benefit, but with all of the inches of snow we’ve gotten, we’ve not gotten a lot of moisture recharge into the ground.” According to data from the National Drought Mitigation Center, much of the central portion of the state is currently suffering from low-to-moderate levels of drought. The Pontiac area is currently classified as being in a period of “abnormally dry” conditions. Further south, especially near the Lincoln area, the drought is worse, and has been labeled as a “severe” drought by the center. The weather many in the area
many farmers and agribusinesses able to weather the financial downturn. According to Brent Byarley, Vice President of 1st Farm Credit Services in Pontiac, farmland sales have already slowed dramatically compared to recent years’ trends. “The activity this year compared to the last two or three years has slowed quite
consider to be harsh is something from years’ past, according to Shier, who said that 30 years ago, such winters were common. Regardless, it could have an impact on this year’s planting operations. “We’re obviously still in the frozen stage and we’re at the first of March,” he said. “The likelihood of traditional spring weather returning and it being nice and sunny and warm and seeing lots of field activity by the 15th of March is probably remote.” He went on to say that he anticipated spring tillage and planting operations will be at least two weeks later than usual, although he admitted it was hard to make a prediction with the ground still being frozen. Some have suggested that the subzero temperatures may have an impact on pests that often raise concerns with farmers, but Shier isn’t so sure. “For the most part, when we’ve had the severe cold, we’ve had a certain amount of snow at the same
a bit,” he said. “There are still a lot of farms listed for sale through realtors, but there haven’t been as many auctions. We’ve seen no sales at some of the farm auctions we’ve had the last three or four months.” When asked if he thought if land values could be lower in 2014 than in the past two years, he replied, saying it’s “a pretty good possibility.”
time, and it serves as an insulation to keep the severe cold temperatures from driving down into the soil very far.” Shier said that in order to kill insects, the soil temperature four inches below the surface must fall to 20 degrees for somewhere around 10 days. However, this winter, the soil temperature has remained in the neighborhood of 20 degrees, which he said won’t be enough to kill many pests apart from the “weakling” insects. In short, Shier doesn’t believe this spring will be much different than last year for many in the farming community. “Like I said, we’ve got a lot of moisture on top of the ground in the form of snow, probably precipitation equivalent of two to three inches,” he said. “When the ground is frozen and the snow starts to melt, it doesn’t move through frozen ground very well. That’s not to say we’ll be starting out in a drought, by any means.”
Major changes to the United States’ farm bill came in recent months, as the first long-term, comprehensive legislation on the matter in years passed both houses of Congress. One of those changes revolves around direct payments farmers had been receiving in the past, but will no longer be see ‘FINANCES’ page B8
WEATHER CHANGES LIKELY
Here comes El Nino; good news for the nation’s weather woes By Seth Borenstein Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Relief may be on the way for a weather-weary United States with the predicted warming of the central Pacific Ocean brewing this year that will likely change weather worldwide. But it won't be for the better everywhere. The warming, called an El Nino, is expected to lead to fewer Atlantic hurricanes and more rain next winter for drought-strick-
en California and southern states, and even a milder winter for the nation's frigid northern tier next year, meteorologists say. While it could be good news to lessen the southwestern U.S. drought and shrink heating bills next winter in the far north, "worldwide it can be quite a different story," said North Carolina State University atmospheric sciences professor Ken Kunkel. "Some areas benefit. Some don't." Globally, it can mean an even hotter year coming up and billions of dollars in losses for food crops. The National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration issued an official El Nino watch Thursday. An El Nino is a warming of the central Pacific once every few years, from a combination of wind and waves in the tropics. It shakes up climate around the world, changing rain and temperature patterns. Mike Halpert, acting director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, says the El Nino warming should see ‘NINO’ page B8
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