By Carrie Muehling
BLOOMINGTON – Low commodity prices, variable weather and continued uncertainty in Springfield challenged farmers in 2015.
Many found optimism in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s appointment of farmer Philip Nelson as Illinois Director of Agriculture early in the year. Nelson led Agriculture Day festivities at the state level for the first time in many years.
“I think any time you can highlight the number one industry in this state, it’s a good thing,” said Nelson, during a March ceremony at Brandt Consolidated in Springfield.
Spring brought the opening of a new office building for the McLean County Farm Bureau. Most farmers were able to plant in a timely fashion, but June and July brought too much rain. Weed pressure was soon not the only concern.
“I’ve got an intern that was just out last week scouting some fields and told me there was almost no gray leaf spot pressure. Came back a week later and there was a lot of gray leaf spot pressure,” said A.J. Woodyard, a technical service representative with BASF based near Champaign.
With the crop growing in the field, some area farmers took an opportunity to connect with consumers at the first ever Illinois Harvest Dinner. Pontiac farmer Mary Mackinson Faber helped organize the event.
“You could sit down, have a good conversation and learn from each other,” she said of the dinner, which included community influencers and farmers seated together outside with farm fields and equipment surrounding them.
Farmers also focused a great deal on nutrient loss reduction plans this past year.
“The ultimate goal would be to see a reduction in the size of the hypoxic zone down in the Gulf of Mexico, but we have local water quality issues that need to be addressed, as well,” said Lauren Lurkins, director of natural and environmental resources with the Illinois Farm Bureau.
Youth exhibitors at the McLean County Fair could participate in a livestock sale for the first time in many years.
“Thank you so much for coming out and supporting us and buying our animals and our premiums,” said Joe Mohr, 15, of Carlock.
Agriculture was brought back to the front and center at the Illinois State Fair, only to see Ag Director Nelson and State Fair Manager Patrick Buchen resign from their posts amid controversy a few weeks later.
September brought the Farm Progress Show back to Decatur, and with the anticipation of another harvest. McLean County Farmer Fred Grieder said this year’s harvest weather was outstanding.
“We can’t remember a year when you had more consecutive days of operation,” said Grieder, who actually wished for a rain day to get some other tasks accomplished during harvest.
Yields were variable across Central Illinois.
“In 50 yards you could go from zero to fifty bushel,” said Rob Shaffer of El Paso, speaking of combining corn. “Our crops overall were good, for what I expected them to be.”
The end of the year brought another appointment from Gov. Rauner, this time making Springfield lawmaker Raymond Poe the next state agriculture director.
Carrie Muehling can be reached at carrie@wjbc.com.
