Business and Agriculture

In case you haven’t noticed, the industry of agriculture has come under assault. The media daily produces subject matter on what we produce (unhealthy meat), how we produce (factory farms), who produces (illegal immigrants), and the consequences of our production (high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gas.) Despite a catastrophic oil disaster in the Gulf, the EPA and Congress question the wisdom of expanding renewable fuels (made in America) and put off the thought of safer energy and less dependence on foreign oil. In a national recession which seems to have no end, agriculture remains a bright light with growth, innovation and new employment. Yet, predictably, the latest story is about the bad eggs coming out of Iowa produced by a single

SPRINGFIELD — Farmers and farm family members face dangers every day. Although tragedies such as tractor rollovers and grain bin suffocation receive the most attention, electrocution and electrical burn accidents are frequent on farms.

PRINCETON — A new business coming to Princeton is looking for local artisans, unique items and smiling customers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mike Rowe, the creator and executive producer of Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated series “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe,” will deliver the keynote address to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 92nd annual meeting on Jan. 10, 2011, in Atlanta, Ga.

PRINCETON — The Bob Talbot Memorial 4-H Sale of Champions was held July 24 at the close of the annual Bureau County 4-H Fair.

Only a few days ago, it seemed like we were in the middle of the dog days of summer, as the humidity, high temperatures and sunshine pushed crops ever closer to maturity. The fall, maturing crops have, in fact, progressed so well that seed corn harvest has already begun in the area. It is a much more optimistic harvest season approaching, as opposed to last year when many producers ended up completing the 2009 harvest in 2010. Most farmers had to grind through a tough and expensive harvest last year due to late-maturing and slow-drying crops.

KEWANEE/CAMBRIDGE — Five Princeton High School students recently competed in the annual Section III FFA/Vo-Ag Fair. Section III consists of Annawan, Alwood, Bureau Valley, Cambridge, Galva, Geneseo, Kewanee, Wethersfield, Orion, Princeton, Stark County and Sherrard. The horse show took place at Black Hawk College, Kewanee, and the Vo-Ag Fair was held at the Henry County Fairgrounds in Cambridge.

The Bureau County Health Department makes routine and unannounced visits each month to various food service establishments in Bureau and Putnam counties to inspect the operation.

More than 50 tractors are expected to participate in the premiere Vintage Tractor Show south of Annawan Labor Day weekend.

After the late harvest of one year ago, many producers may be anxious to start corn harvest early this year. Reports were received that the high temperatures last week provided the maturity push and drying down that some producers needed as they are in the last stages of preparing for that early harvest. The above average rainfall was very timely for some producers as it helped to fill soybean pods.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and the National FFA Organization have partnered to develop new educational tools to help promote agricultural and statistical literacy among kindergarten through 12th-grade students.

SPRINGFIELD — Willard Mott, of Bureau Valley High School, was one of several individuals or groups recognized Aug. 17 at the Ag Day luncheon at the Illinois State Fair. Mott was presented the Excellence in Teaching Award-District 1.

PRINCETON — Amanda Mansnerus of Princeton, who has always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, recently saw that become a reality when she joined the staff at Animal Care Clinic in Princeton.

If you visit the Bureau County Fair next week, you may see 4-H families volunteering to serve food in the food stand and in the amphitheater. Two of the four “Hs,” — Hands and Heart — are referenced when we discuss volunteering in 4-H.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — More than 650 youth and their families gathered at the 11th annual 2010 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo in Indianapolis July 4-10.

Tom Slutz of LaMoille (left) and Brad Slutz of Sycamore (right), owners of City Limits Sheep Farm in LaMoille, are pictured with fair officials and the Shropshire yearling ewe that received the Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe Award at the 2010 Wisconsin State Fair. The ewe was also chosen as the 2009 National Champion Shropshire Ewe at Louisville, Ky. They also brought home top honors including Champion and Reserve Champion Ram and Champion and Reserve Champion Ewe. The Slutz families exhibit their Shropshire flock at numerous county and state fairs as well as the national show in Louisville, Ky.

Hannah Williams of the Western Winning Wonders 4-H Club was the exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Waterfowl Meat Production Pen at the 2010 Bureau County 4-H Fair. Pictured are Bill Bickett (left) and Williams.

Joanna Klein of the Clarion Comets 4-H Club was the exhibitor of the Grand Champion Waterfowl Meat Production Pen at the 2010 Bureau County 4-H Fair. Pictured are Klein (left) and Don Schlund

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. farmers are on pace to produce the largest corn and soybean crops in history, according to the Crop Production report released Aug. 12 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Temperatures continued the summer long pattern of above normal last week, pushing the corn crop maturity rapidly ahead. Reports were received of producers preparing for an early corn harvest after a long week of triple digit heat indexes and high nighttime temperatures. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork last week across the state. The corn crop has advanced to 51 percent dented compared to the average of 29 percent.

HENRY — The Illinois Agri-Women board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 2 at the American Legion Hall, located at 303 Main St., Henry.