Interns

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Pennycress Harvest

Partners & Friends,

Once again this summer, we have an intern spending a few weeks here at Hess Family Farm. Cadence Monson, a senior from Washington State, has been experiencing the many tasks involved in operating a Midwestern corn and soybean farm. Her family raises wheat on the rolling Palouse hills. We appreciate her vigor and get-it-done attitude. We are always looking for intern team members who want to experience farm life and explore whether it might be a future career path.

The crops are growing fast. We are wrapping up post-emergence corn herbicide applications. First-crop hay is in the barn. NH₃ side-dressing is complete. Planting equipment cleanup is mostly finished, and we are beginning to tackle some summer projects. We also checked in on a neighbor's pennycress harvest. We are down to shipping the last few loads of soybeans. A good rain would sure be welcome.

Phyllis's knee is healing nicely—there's almost no limp in her stride. We celebrated a first birthday in Milwaukee last weekend. Our oldest granddaughter visited and worked for a week (kind of like an intern 🙂). We also took in a couple of Little League games and decorated graves for Memorial Day.

Fall Prices:
Corn — $4.19
Soybeans — $11.04

Steve

Seed Beans

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Partners & Friends,

We received a quarter inch of rain just a few hours after finishing corn and soybean planting. Temperatures are finally rising, along with Growing Degree Days, so crop emergence prospects are looking good! There is a chance of rain in the forecast for each of the next 12 days…not great news for haying prospects. 🙁

Spraying behind the planters is complete. We have replanted about 300 acres of soybeans due to poor emergence and frost damage. The team has put in some big days to get everything ready before this rain delay.

This year, more than two-thirds of our soybean production is dedicated to raising seed beans for Beck's Hybrids. Seed production requires extra management and close attention to detail. The planter must be thoroughly cleaned between varieties. Each seed field must be specifically identified and recorded. The seed receives special treatments to protect against disease. Spray applications are documented, and only approved chemicals may be used.

Before harvest, bins must be cleaned. Harvest can begin only after receiving field-by-field clearance from the seed company representative. The combine, trucks, grain carts, and wagons are cleaned between varieties. We try to match bin capacities with expected yields, but sometimes we overestimate or underestimate. That can leave unused bin space or excess production that must be delivered through regular market channels with no premium. There is a lot of management and attention to detail involved, and if harvest moisture isn’t just right, the payoff can be small. With last year’s crop, only about 30% of our production was actually called. High risk—just like farming overall. 🙂

The China visit was a real letdown in terms of trade agreements. E15 legislation in Congress is not progressing as it should. Politics seem to seep into many parts of our lives.

The school year is coming to a close. Our two oldest granddaughters are home from college for the summer. Little League season has begun. Goat show season is in full swing. And I hear the Chicago Cubs are leading their division!

Fall Prices:
Corn: $4.60
Soybeans: $11.38

Soak up summer!

Steve

Blue and Gold

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Partners & Friends,

This past Saturday was our Bushnell–Prairie City FFA chapter banquet. Blue blood runs deep in our family. Grandpa Harvey Doll and Grandpa Charles were both FFA members back in their high school days. I participated in FFA all four years of high school and married the chapter sweetheart.❤️ Phyllis tried to join her junior year, but the high school principal wouldn’t allow girls in FFA back then.🙁 This year, and last, all the chapter officers are female. 😀

Marcus served as Greenhand President, Chapter President, and Illinois State Star Farmer. Marcus, Stephani, and Steve all earned American Farmer Degrees. Now the next generation is carrying it forward, using their leadership abilities and taking full advantage of the opportunities FFA provides. Finley is serving as Greenhand President. Harper was installed as Chapter Vice President last week…52 years after I held the same office. And our local ag teacher, Steve Seargant, has retired after a teaching career that helped launch several vocational agriculture teachers. FFA has developed many leaders, statesmen, stateswomen, engaged citizens, teachers, and agricultural business and production professionals.

We have not planted any crops over the last two weeks due to wet conditions. Instead, we’ve been finishing repair and maintenance projects, shipping more corn, seeding waterways and completing yard projects, spraying all ground intended for beans, and taking delivery of the last of our seed. The soil profile is full of moisture, and at the next dry weather window we are ready to roll at full speed with corn and soybean planting.

Fuel and fertilizer prices remain very elevated. Commodity markets aren’t paying much attention to the Iranian war. The drought in Florida still hasn’t broken. Here in Illinois, we’re still holding out hope for new estate tax legislation and an end to eminent domain authority for CO₂ pipelines during this legislative session.

As we look ahead to planting, here are a couple of short videos worth watching on soybeans, frost concerns, and tillage vs. minimal tillage:

Soybean & Frost Considerations
https://youtube.com/shorts/JeHw2M730Z4

Tillage vs. Minimal Tillage
https://youtube.com/shorts/STMw8r73gko

FFA chapter banquet is now behind us. Track season is in full swing. Lindsay and family made a trip to Florida to celebrate Prisca. Goat show season is heating up.

Fall Prices:
Corn: $4.39
Soybeans: $11.19

Steve

Spring Is Here

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Partners & Friends,

It may not feel like it today with a high of 45, but things are turning green and the grass is ready for its first mowing. This past week we received nearly 4 inches of rain, and judging by the state of our basement, the soil profile is full of moisture.

About two weeks ago, we planted roughly 350 acres of soybeans. It was a good opportunity to test the bean planter and get some of the farther-out fields done (those that take a bit more time to access). None of the beans have emerged yet. Over the past few years, we’ve leaned toward planting beans early when soil conditions allow. It’s usually better to plant in ideal conditions now than risk getting pushed into fields that are too wet later if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

We’ve started applying biologicals and burndown to those first planted fields. The next two weeks look fairly wet, so we’ll see how much progress we can make. In the meantime, we’re continuing to deliver corn, and the remainder of our seed beans have now been released for commercial delivery. All remaining seed and chemicals are on hand as well.

Goat kidding for this round is complete, and our last calf has been born. The cows will be heading out to pasture soon. We ended up with two bull calves and two heifer calves. Last year’s calf crop is on feed and doing very well—we’ll begin delivering them in July.

On the broader front, the war in Iran has created quite a bit of disruption in agriculture. Energy and fertilizer prices have risen sharply, and interest rates continue to climb. Political gridlock in D.C. is slowing progress on a new Farm Bill, and it’s becoming clear the U.S. isn’t entirely energy independent. On a more positive note, the governor in Springfield recently mentioned estate tax reform, which would be a welcome development. The bill to eliminate Eminent Domain for CO₂ pipelines (SB2842) is also still alive in the Illinois Senate.

On the home front, Marcus and family made it to Indianapolis to watch the Illini in the Final Four. 🤩 This week brings local FFA chapter elections—good luck, Harper! Phyllis continues to do well in physical therapy; she’s now walking with just a cane and needing fewer pain meds each day. 😍 Easter was a wonderful time with family, full of egg hunts, candy, and plenty of good food.

Fall Prices:
Corn — $4.53
Soybeans — $11.19

Enjoy spring and the renewal of the earth!

Steve

Fire!

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Partners & Friends,

We had a bit of unexpected excitement Saturday afternoon. A neighbor from the Checkrow area called to ask if we were burning anything. Occasionally we do burn CRP acreage, but this time it wasn’t us. It turns out another neighbor was trying to expand a food plot for deer hunting, and the fire got away from him.

Two fire departments and a few hours later, things were under control. Thank goodness the wind wasn’t any stronger, and Praise the Lord for the rain and snow last week that helped moisten conditions. We are extremely grateful for the Bushnell Fire Protection District, our neighbors who stepped in to help, Uncle Phil, and the quick response from everyone involved.

We’re gearing up for spring planting. Seed is being delivered, and we’re wrapping up the last equipment repairs. Several building projects are nearing completion, with a few larger ones set to come together later this summer. Grain is moving out as quickly as local terminals can handle the large volumes currently in storage. We’re still hoping to get a few more days of tile installed.

We also have an early planting crop insurance option for soybeans, so we may take the planter out soon just to make sure everything is field-ready. And it’s kidding season for one group of goats, which is always a fun (and cute) time of year!

On the broader front, the war in Iran is creating major disruptions in fuel and fertilizer markets. Fuel prices are up more than 30%, and we’re facing fertilizer increases of up to 40% for what we’ll need in the coming months for planting and side-dressing—more margin squeeze. Commodity prices have firmed some, but most bids are still at best break-even.

Work on the Farm Bill in D.C. is slowly progressing, but if nothing gets signed until a new voting rules bill passes, it could stall things out. Locally, the primary election saw a few incumbents lose their positions. And as of today, another burn ban is in effect. 😬

On a brighter note, the FFA State Proficiency Awards were held yesterday…congratulations to Harper on being a state winner! 🏆 Phyllis is recovering well from knee surgery. We’ve been keeping an eye on the Illini and Boilermakers in the NCAA tournament, and Easter is quickly approaching, a time to celebrate our risen Savior.

Fall Prices:
Corn — $4.64
Soybeans — $11.08

Enjoy spring and the renewal of the earth! 🌍

Steve