Beetles & Celebration

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Partners,

Fireworks with Friends

We just finished celebrating the birthday of our country last week. What a time to pause and reflect and give thanks to the many who have sacrificed in order for us to enjoy the freedoms we now enjoy. It was good to spend time with family and friends and count the blessings.

Japanese Beetles

Delivering Grain

On the farm we are busy battling weeds and bugs. The dry weather has limited the effectiveness of some of the herbicides used and now we are under pressure from a rather large infestation of Japanese Beetles. There are some trees and shrubs they think are absolutely delicious. They have been in the area for about two weeks and are now moving into the crop fields. We are concerned, now that the corn is tasseling and shooting silks, that they will dine on the sweet tender ear silks. They are also stripping leaves on the outside of the soybean fields and without significant rain we are wondering what the effect on yields will be. We are also delivering grain, sweeping out bins, and still working on drainage projects that can be addressed without harming the growing crop. So for the month of June we recorded .7 inch of rain at Marcus's place, and 1.47 where Phyllis & I live. Forecast for next two weeks looks dry.

State of Illinois budget is making progress, although it is disappointing to see the governor was steamrolled and none of his proposals were included in the package. Democrats say not to worry, we will take them up later--right! American beef is now being sold in China after a 13 year hiatus. 

Ali on left

Softball Moms

Family is doing well. Alison had her last club softball weekend--sad to leave that stage of life. The crew (we managers included) are trying to get some time off in the summer for some fun relaxation. Next week is the 4-H show so time for bucket calves to make their debut.

Fall prices:

Corn 3.65

Soybeans 9.71

Keep in touch and stay cool! Comment & Like below.

Steve

Last Time

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Partners,

Things are slowing down a bit at Hess Family Farm. This past Wednesday Marcus replanted, for a second time, 40 acres of flooded creek bottom. We have not had rain since the last time the creek flooded. We'll now spot plant in some drowned out areas in a few bean fields--not as bad as the corn but we'll plant to keep a crop growing in the field and keep weeds at bay. We finished side dressing NH3 a week ago and the corn fields have really responded to the opening of the ground with the anhydrous knives. We still have the potential for some good yields but the weather for the next 4 weeks will make or break the crop. Some of the lighter timber soil that struggled to emerge is showing unevenness of stand and not growing very fast or even. We got our grass hay for the heifers baled this week along with the second cutting of alfalfa. I attended the Illinois Forage Expo and entered a first cutting alfalfa sample that won its class! We have been keeping the excavator busy repairing tile lines. We are also regularly delivering corn to the local feed mill for processing into hog feed. The never ending job of spraying weeds and mowing are also underway.

The commodity market is heating up with the weather issues on the horizon--corn is at an 11 month high. The new administration stance on several issues is causing a lot of apprehension in the ag sector. Determining what the path for immigration, infrastructure funding, ag trade, and the funding for the next farm bill are looming large. It is evident that our political clout is shrinking and we must use our ammo wisely. The story here in Illinois is the same.

Family is doing well and running full speed into summer activities. There is softball, camping, college visits, summer camps, and squeezing in some vacation days all on the docket. As usual it seems summer will be over before we know it and school back in full swing.

Fall prices:

Corn 3.74

Soybeans 9.23

Keep in touch and stay cool! I'll try to update more regularly about how the weather is progressing.

Steve 

Just in Time

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Partners,

It started raining here this past Wednesday about 6:00 in the morning.  We had pulled out of the final corn field at 3:00 that morning with the corn planting completed. We've received a little over 4 inches since then. Overall the field conditions were very good to plant into, and the first corn we planted on the 8th of April is up and looking good.

We have all the bean burndown (which we put on the field to prevent weeds from growing) sprayed on the fields that we're switching over to beans, so we feel good about planting progress. We hope to resume planting later this week, weather permitting--early soybean planting has helped increase bean yields. While planting we have been repairing tile, tearing out fences, preparing CRP ground for seeding, shipping corn and soybeans, and keeping the yards mowed. The season is off to a good start.

The Secretary of Agriculture was finally confirmed on the 100th day of the new administration. Hopefully he can hit the ground running and catch up the time lost in the confirmation process. There are lots of posts to fill in the department and plenty of stress and issues to deal with in the country. We have been supporting efforts to help the victims of the tragic fires in the western states. There are 18,000 miles of fences to rebuild, 12,000 head of cattle were killed, and seven people lost their lives.

In the family we are seeing the end the of school year in sight. Alison has a full load of AP testing and completed her ACT test a few weeks ago. Harper and Finley are having school music programs and Shanna is looking forward to summer vacation from WIU. Phyllis and I were able to attend Parents Weekend and see Ali play a lot of softball--fun time. Had a great Resurrection Day celebration at grandparents' house and lots of fun hunting baskets.

Fall bids:

Corn 3.55

Soybeans 9.05

Stay safe and keep in touch! Comment and "Like" below.

Steve

Spring Break

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Partners,

The recent warm dryer weather has allowed us to work on some significant spring projects this month. We completed a 40 acre tiling project that we have been trying to accomplish since the wet year of 2013 when we had to replant and side dress NH3 on this half of an 80. Our goal is to drain 80 acres a year and we have been sticking pretty close to that the last 5 years. The last nice day this week we were able to get some brush removed from fences, along creeks, and taking out some long unused fence. All the waterway work from last fall is looking good with lots of green as the rye and grass are really growing with the warm weather, and with the light rains there has been very little washing to the vulnerable dirt work. All this taking place while Alison is on spring break from school, so she and her friend Ellie get to be part of the crew!

National scene: we are wondering why, after finally getting a nominee for the Secretary of Agriculture position, now the confirmation process is dragging on forever. After rural America played such a big part in this presidential election it is very frustrating that we have no leadership in the Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile the State of Illinois proves how spineless our legislature is by not even being able to vote on a state budget. Oh well--it is only costing us $11 million a day.

Family is doing well. Marcus and family went to see all the princesses at Disney World. We are eagerly awaiting spring planting to arrive so we can put all this planning and budgeting into the real world and await mother nature to show us who is really in charge.

Fall Prices: Corn 3.53 / Soybeans 9.71

Keep in touch! "Like" and comment below.

Steve

Changing Times

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Partners,

Phyllis and I attended the annual meeting of the Association of Agricultural Production Executives (AAPEX) this past week.  

The keynote address was given by Marci Rossell, PhD (Former Chief Economist at CNBC & Leading Financial Expert). She is currently the Senior Economic Advisor for Delphin Investments. I will bullet-point some of what she shared so you can have a quick read about her observations and opinions about developments in the world.

  • Since the November election there have been great returns in the stock market because of anticipation of tax cuts and deregulation in financial sector -- this is probably not going to happen 
  • There will be a lot more volatility in the stock market
  • A Border Tax Adjustment (tariff) will strengthen the dollar which will cripple ag exports even more
  • The European Union is not an 'Optimal Currency Union' (she had several points about this), and the euro is failing (Brexit only the beginning)
  • Mass communication is contributing to the breakdown of commonality of the US
  • China is giving way to India economically -- India is the "fasting growing economy on the planet"
  • India has a youthful and entrepreneurial population and is accepting of the West
  • Over the next 15 years, the Boomer generation will give way to the Millennial generation because they (Millennials) outnumber the GenXers.  Millennials are generally laid back/not in a hurry about life; tend to be risk adverse, and typically have not chosen to vote. Their generation was hit hard by the downturn in 2008 and have experienced unemployment in a way the GenX generation has not.
  • one key question is will the millennials become more conservative as they age (like the Boomers have)

Her presentation was excellent, and very fast-paced so it was challenging to jot notes. This is just an overview of what I heard.

On the farm we are taking advantage of the open weather to cut brush, haul grain, prep equipment for spring, paint a tractor, relax the pace a bit before spring, get inputs delivered, and finalizing field operation plans for 2017.

Families are doing well. Marcus is taking a leadership development class and planning a family trip during spring break. Phyllis and I are appreciating our 40th year of marriage.

Fall prices:

Corn 3.64

Soybeans 10.17

Keep in touch,

Steve