News for the Week Ending on May 17, 2013
Welcome to the
Friday Leader
News from the
Champaign County Farm Bureau
News for the Week Ending Friday, May 17, 2013
(Happy 91st Birthday to my mother-in-law, Rosella Harbaugh!)
A FOCUS ON HORTICULTURE
was the topic for the evening as the Young Ag Women hosted a
“Mother-Daughter Night” on Monday in the CCFB Auditorium.
Dinner was catered by L.A. Gourmet followed by a
Hands-on session on making the perfect flower arrangement from ready-to-go bundles of fresh flowers led by Jan from Schnuck’s Floral Department.
Young Ag Leader Emily Moorehouse demonstrates above.
The ladies enjoyed the Illini FS Farm Town team who taught them about potting plants in unusual containers that they were able to take home and enjoy.
A good evening all ‘round……Many THANKS to all of the contributors for the event!
A TIP OF THE FARM BUREAU HAT TO RANTOUL HIGH SCHOOL FFA for a GREAT visit and program tour for CCFB Manager Bradley Uken and Susie Harbaugh on Thursday! There are 132 students in this very active chapter that just wrapped up a Mother’s Day plant sale through their state-of-the-art greenhouse that is actually attached to the ag room where classes in landscaping are also offered. “Students have the opportunity to earn science credits toward graduation with classes that help mold them into responsible future homeowners,” says Advisor Roman Fox. Uken and Harbaugh were treated to a visit to their Tilapia tank and examined a wind turbine that students are constructing in the shop. Currently, the chapter has plans to plant 2 acres of sweet corn and watermelons that will be tended by members this summer and provide an opportunity for business education in the process as the crops are harvested and sold. GREAT JOB, RANTOUL!
ETHICAL BUYING - A Wall Street Journal blog from Tuesday looked at how consumers react to ethical campaigns regarding “fair trade” or origins of products. “There is a wild misapprehension that consumers actually care,” says Iain Davies, an associate professor at the University of Bath School of Management in England. Consumers are more sensitive to price tags than to product origins, studies show.
IN A CONFERENCE CALL WITH CONGRESSMAN RODNEY DAVIS TODAY, participants on his Ag Advisory Committee from Illinois urged him to get a farm bill on the floor for a vote as early as possible. “We’re here four straight weeks in June,” said Davis from the steps of the Capitol. “There’s talk that we could get it done then. In the meantime, I urge Farm Bureau to educate the non-ag areas on how important it is and welcome any push that they could give us.” On the topic of crop insurance, Davis said it should never be weakened….only strengthened. Davis also commented on recent developments between some ag groups and conservation / environmental groups for conservation compliance linked to crop insurance. “The House chairman is opposed to attaching conservation compliance onto crop insurance,” said Davis. “He views this issue as a private property issue and another attempt at outside groups to dictate how we operate our farms and how we used our own property.” Davis believes there are a large number of members opposed to attaching conservation compliance to crop insurance and expects it to be a struggle as we move forward.
OUR FOOD IS SAFER THAN EVER! Did you know? According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, the number of foodborne disease outbreaks in 2009-2010 declined 32 percent compared with the preceeding 5 years. Farmers take seriously their responsibility of growing safe food. They have the same desire as other consumers to have a safe, abundant and affordable food supply. They also have an important economic interest because the demand for their products is determined by consumer confidence. Many people don’t realize there are five federal agencies that administer at least 30 laws related to food safety. Consumer education is also on the uptick but there is much more work that Farm Bureau volunteers can do! Contamination of food can occur at any stage in food production but a high level of foodborne illinesss is caused by foods improperly prepared or mishandled at home or in restaurants. There’s a need for Farm Bureau volunteers across the country to educate consumers to enhance their food safety knowledge!
TAX SCHOOL FOR FARMERS PLANNED (News-Gazette, 5/16) – The University of Illinois tax school will offer a daylong seminar on estate and succession planning June 24 at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal. Seminar and registration information is available at http://www.taxschool.illinois.edu.
Graphic above: SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO GLOBAL ISSUES AND BASIC NEEDS
DID YOU KNOW THAT MAY IS BURGER MONTH??? Cows consume 2.3 million metric tons of soy meal each year! That adds up to the meal from 108 million bushels of soybeans, according to the United Soybean Board.
THE ANDERSONS 2013 GOLF BENEFIT FOR KIDS
Benefiting Crisis Nursery and Earth Partners
Is coming up SOON on
TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013, at 8 A.M.
(Range balls available at 7 a.m.)
Shotgun Start / Scramble @ Stone Creek Golf Course
“Last year, over $12,000 was raised to benefit
Two GREAT organizations. Please consider joining us for a
GREAT opportunity! Need more information? Call me!”
Brian Stark: 217-352-7011
Brian_stark@andersonsinc.com
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING: For FREE disposal of all your electronic or battery operated devices! Bring all your recyclables from batteries of all types and sizes, cameras, cables, clocks, computers, dryers, dishwashers, fax machines, freezers, hot water heaters, power strips, printers, radios, refrigerators, washers and MORE! The date: MONDAY, MAY 20! The time: 8 a.m. till noon (or till the trailers are full!) The place: CHAMPAIGN COUNTY SWCD PARKING LOT on the south side. Need more information? Go to: www.Com2recycling.com
WEED SCIENCE FIELD DAY SET FOR JUNE 26 (News-Gazette, 5/16) – Farmers interested in weeds and the effectiveness of herbicides can learn more at a field day sponsored by the University of Illinois. The UI’s annual Weed Science Day is scheduled June 26 at the UI Crop Sciences Research and Education Center. For more information, contact the Department of Crop Sciences at 217-333-4424.
IT’S A NEW CHAMPAIGN COUNTY FARM BUREAU MEMBER BENEFIT!!!!!!
Is it the right time to protect yourself or a loved one with a medical alert system?
Peaceof Mind Alert (www.peaceofmindalert.com) is offering ONE FREE MONTH OF MONITORING from this family-owned business with their system that is manufactured, assembled and monitored in the USA! Consider this: one out of three Americans age 65 or older fall at least once a year with the chances of surviving being SIX TIMES GREATER if you are found in one hour. Approximately 350,000 Americans die from heart attacks each year because they don’t get help quickly enough. PeaceofMind Alert is competitively priced at $27.50 to $29.95 a month, guaranteed to never go up with no contracts or long-term agreements required. Need more information? Call toll free: 855.872.8404
AND THE AWARD FOR THE HAPPIEST PHOTO OF ALL THIS WEEK IS:
“FINALLY….. DUST!”
An ON THE SPOT REPORT from CCFB LEGISLATIVE CHAIRMAN
MARK PFLUGMACHER
as he started planting the 2013 corn crop
in northern Champaign County on Monday!
We’re glad the auto steer was working on the Deere so he could focus on
sending us this photo of
PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE IN ACTION!!!
THANKS, MARK!!!
