Michigan
Farm News
Mistaken
identity
Hemp is not pot, should be
encouraged, AFBF says.
»»PAGE 3
Township defies Right-to-Farm, GAAMPs
Calhoun County’s Leroy Township is expected to pass a zoning ordinance in which it creates its own Generally Accepted
Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMPs). | Kim Kerr, MFB
PAUL W. JACKSON (planning and township) kept telling us they
FARM NEWS MEDIA want agriculture to remain in the com-
Protection is only as good as its threat. munity, and to be sure it and all citizens
The threat of flies in your butter, for ex- are protected. My question is who will be
ample, doesn’t require a shotgun. protected, and from what?”
But as Calhoun County’s Leroy Township While township officials won’t plainly say
prepares to pass amendments to its zoning that large livestock farms are the threat, or
ordinance purportedly designed to protect that potential lawsuits are the threat, the
“the public health, safety and general wel- zoning proposal clearly addresses “inten-
fare,” some farmers believe the township is sive livestock operation(s)” by redefining
trying to eliminate a threat that isn’t really the term and setting specific and restrictive
there. rules about what such an operation can do.
“This is clearly an overreach by a town- It also seems that the ultimate resolution
ship that is not listening to the community,” will come only through a legal battle.
said Andrea Boughton, president of the The proposed ordinance would limit
Calhoun County Farm Bureau. “The boards the number of animals allowed. It requires
INSIDE
Opinion............................. 2
Markets............................. 6
Weather............................ 8
Field Focus......................19
Farm Shop............ Section B
www.MichiganFarmNews.com
P.O. Box 30960 • West Saginaw Highway
A Publication of Michigan Farm Bureau
Lansing, MIchigan 48909-8460
VOLUME 94 • ISSUE NO. 17
COPYRIGHT© 2017, MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU
Hold your water system
Checklist can help keep your
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Hitting the road
Farm tours fast-track
ag understanding.
»»PAGE 12
farmers to submit a site plan to the zoning
administrator. It requires the “minimum lot
area for intensive livestock operations” to
be 60 acres. It requires a Comprehensive
Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP). It
requires manure applications only by “sub-
surface injection within the setback areas
prescribed ….” It requires standards and
specifications for buildings found in various
handbooks, including “all relevant publica-
tions referenced therein…”
After all that, it requires farmers to follow
Generally Accepted Agricultural Manage-
See TOWNSHIP, page 21
Syngenta settles Agrisure
Viptera suit for $1.5 billion
FARM NEWS MEDIA
If the Sept. 27 settlement announcement
between Syngenta and thousands of farm-
ers was designed to “avoid the uncertainty
of ongoing litigation,” as Syngenta said in
its announcement of the deal, uncertainty
remains for farmers.
The settlement, which reportedly will
have Syngenta set aside $1.5 billion to
pay farmers who are part of one of several
class-action suits, would “establish a settle-
ment fund for the submission of claims by
eligible claimants who contracted to price
corn or corn by-products after Sept. 15,
2013,” Syngenta said.
“In 2010, Syngenta released GMO seed
(Agrisure Viptera) before it was approved by
some export markets, most notably China,
according to Varnum Law attorney Brion
Doyle, who explained the suit in a Novem-
ber, 2015, issue of Michigan Farm News.
OCTOBER 15, 2017
Vital vitality
DNR launches forestry
education campaign.
»»PAGE 13
IN BRIEF
■■LITIGATION
Monsanto sues
Boersen Farms
PAUL W. JACKSON
FARM NEWS MEDIA
The Monsanto Company has filed suit in
U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Mis-
souri, against Boersen Farms, claiming the
farm operation owes it more than $2.3 mil-
lion for seed purchased on credit in 2016.
Monsanto claims in the court filing that
Boersen “purchased a total of $2,359,071.33
on credit under the Farmflex financing
program and was obligated to remit full pay-
ment… no later than Nov. 25, 2016, to avoid
financing charges.” Past-due accounts, the
filing said, accrues “interest at a rate of 1.5
percent per month until paid in full.”
As a result of the alleged failure to pay,
Monsanto claims that “Boersen has been
unjustly enriched and obtained profits that
in equity and good conscience belong to
Monsanto.” Monsanto also seeks a court
judgment for that total, “plus interest and
attorneys’ fees and other collection costs.”
The suit claims that for the 2016 crop
year, Boersen “purchased DEKALB, As-
grow and/or other Monsanto branded crop
seed” through Crop Production Services
(CPS) on credit.
The suit, filed Oct. 4, claims that when
Boersen entered into the “Monsanto Tech-
nology Stewardship Agreement (MTSA), he
agreed to “pay all applicable fees due to
Monsanto for the purchase of seed.”
Boersen was issued a “summons in a
civil action,” the court document claims.
The suit comes on the heels of several
other lawsuits, including the original suit
filed by CHS, which claims it is owed a
reported $145 million, and the estimated
value of the crops Boersen still has in
the field is $50 million. CHS claims in the
complaint that it is “faced with the imminent
loss of $50 million of its collateral…”
Anecdotal reports from various parts of
the state in which Boersen farmed indicate
that the crops have not yet been harvested.
To date, Boersen has not filed for bank-
ruptcy.
“That GMO corn later found its way into
the general corn supply and was loaded on
barges headed for China,” Doyle said. “Chi-
na ultimately rejected the GMO corn, but
because it was comingled with approved
varieties, all U.S. corn exports to China
were halted. Some farmers, as well as ma-
jor corn processors—including ADM and
Cargill—allege that the embargo caused a
collapse in the market price of corn.”
While the suits filed by the two pro-
cessors, as well as foreign suits, are not
affected by the settlement, it’s still not clear
how much of the $1.5 billion will be avail-
able for distribution among farmers.
“I think it all depends on which law firm the
farmer used to join the suit,” said Kate Thiel,
field crops specialist with Michigan Farm Bu-
reau. “There are a lot of different factors that
will affect the amount of money any farmer
gets. The money available will likely be dimin-
ished by many factors. If a farmer participated
See CLASS ACTION, page 4
2 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 REPORTS & OPINIONS www.michiganfarmnews.com

IN BRIEF LETTER
what you enjoy while advancing the ag
industry in a positive way. A great way to
sional committees who are starting to
write the next farm bill
■■ECONOMY start is to reach out to your county Farm • NAFTA renegotiation
from the Bureau and the volunteers in your area. You • Monitoring DEQ’s lawsuit with Michigan
Equipment business PRESIDENT can always contact the various depart-
ments at home office with a specific ques-
Sugar

up 1 percent tion or concern, too.

• Assisting with further development of the
new Blueberry Commission
Michigan is a wonderfully unique and ag-
• Updating Animal Industry Act
What is Farm Bureau
ELFA
riculturally diverse state, so involvement is
Overall new business volume in equip- never going to be one-size-fits-all. Similarly, • Health insurance tax: effort in Congress

doing for me?

ment leasing and financing for August was
$7.8 billion, up 1 percent year-over-year
from new business volume in August 2016,
according to The Equipment Leasing and
Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leas-
ing and Finance Index (MLFI-25).
The index reports economic activity from
25 companies representing a cross-section
of the $1 trillion equipment finance sector.
Volume was down 1 percent month-to-
month from $7.9 billion in July, the report
said. Year to date, cumulative new busi-
ness volume was up 6 percent compared
to 2016.
Receivables over 30 days were 1.50
percent, up from 1.40 percent the previ-
ous month and up from 1.30 percent in
the same period in 2016. Charge-offs
were 0.44 percent, up from 0.35 percent
the previous month, and flat with the year-
earlier period.
Credit approvals totaled 75.3 percent in
August, down slightly from 76.0 percent
in July. Total headcount for equipment
finance companies was up 17.0 percent
year over year, largely attributable to
continued acquisition activity at an MLFI
reporting company.
Separately, the Equipment Leasing &
Finance Foundation’s Monthly Confidence
Index (MCI-EFI) for September is 63.7, eas-
ing from 64.4 in August.
■■HUNTING
CARL BEDNARSKI
MFB
I get asked that question more frequently
than I would like.
There are many things happening every
day in agriculture, and Michigan Farm
Bureau is constantly addressing them. We
realize that farmers in the field simply can-
not do it alone. We have your back. It’s part
of our mission to represent and protect the
interests of our members.
That’s a big job. With today’s vast array
of communication tools, it can be difficult to
identify how each member would like to be
updated without being a nuisance.
I’ll admit sometimes we get so busy with
the issues that we don’t do the best job
communicating back out to the country-
side. We know you don’t want to be inun-
dated with the daily details, but we also
have a responsibility to keep you informed
on what issues are being addressed on
your behalf.
Can we be more transparent? Absolutely.
But I would also encourage members to
recognize this as your organization, too.
Member means participant, and the more
you take an active role, the less you’ll feel
like you’re on the sidelines. Find a way to
use your talents and get involved in any
way, big or small.
There are so many opportunities to do
the updates we provide to you aren’t going to get this repealed
to be either. • Working with Ag Workforce Coalition to
Thanks to our grassroots policy pro- introduce federal legislation authorizing a
cess, MFB is confident in the direction new agriculture guest worker program
from our members and is able to resolve
• Working with US House Appropria-
a lot of things before they become real
tions committee on language that would
issues. This just goes to show how im-
broaden the use of Sec 514 housing for
portant it is to make your individual voice
H2A labor
heard through involvement as a member.
• Right to Repair: Digital Millennium Copy-
When it comes down to it, you’re the one
right Act exemptions
guiding our efforts.
Just by scanning this list you’ll likely see
With that being said, let me give you
there are things that affect you and things
a small sample of things Michigan Farm
that don’t. In addition, we consistently
Bureau is working on currently:
defend our Right to Farm, fight for ap-
• Waters of the U.S.
propriate taxation of our industry and do
• Water quality & threat of more regula- our best to ease regulatory burden. There
tions: Western Lake Erie Basin efforts are many things happening, and we’ll do
• Consistent regulation & standards for our best to keep you informed on the right
application of biosolids things at the right time.
Thank you for asking what Farm Bureau
• Working with DNR and NRC to reduce
is doing for you. It’s an important question
deer numbers, mitigate crop damage
and a step toward involvement. As I’m
and spread of disease
making my way around the state to county
• Responding to USDA on deer herd
annual meetings, it’s nice to hear feedback
reduction and impact on Bovine TB
and be able to talk to so many people
• Working with townships to defend and
with diverse ag backgrounds to see how
protect your rights to grow your farm
they’re engaging in Farm Bureau. I look
businesses using the Siting GAMPS and
forward to talking with YOU!
Michigan’s Right to Farm Law
• Joined livestock organizations in petition-
ing DOT for waiver and limited exemption
from Electronic Logging Device mandate
• Farm Bill Taskforce: recommendations,
policy input and working with congres-

DNR releases 2017

Michigan deer hunting and Human Services Secretary Tommy Far-fetched?

forecast GUEST OPINION Thompson warned of food-related terrorist

DNR
The Michigan Department of Natural Re-
sources recently finalized its 2017 Michigan
Deer Hunting Forecast report, which con-
tains information about deer hunting across
Michigan. It offers helpful information for
hunters, including sections on:
• Deer breeding activity.
• Hunting prospects for regions across the
state.
• Wildlife health and regulations.
• An expanded urban area hunt.
• Where to hunt on public land.
• Other opportunities for hunters.
Archery deer hunting season begins Oct.
1, and firearm deer season begins Nov. 15.
The report is available on the DNR web-
site at michigan.gov/deer.
■■FOOD LABELS
FDA: Love is not
a food ingredient
FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has sent a warning letter to a Massa-
chusetts bakery, noting, among many other
things, that it should stop listing “love” as
an ingredient in its granola.
“Your Nashoba Granola label lists in-
gredient “Love,” the FDA wrote. “Ingredi-
ents required to be declared on the label
or labeling of food must be listed by their
common or usual name [21 CFR 101.4(a)
(1). “Love” is not a common or usual
name of an ingredient, and is considered
to be intervening material because it is
not part of the common or usual name of
the ingredient.”
Printed with soy ink
attacks. He said:
Tell that to the 751 people in Wasco
County, Oregon—including 45 who re-
“For the life of me, I cannot understand quired hospital stays—who in 1984 ate at
We’ve been warned
why the terrorists have not attacked our any one of 10 salad bars in town and were
food supply because it is so easy to do.” poisoned with Salmonella by followers of
BILL MARLER It reminded me of an op-ed I did for Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. The goal was to
FOOD SAFETY NEWS Forbes a year or so ago: make people who were not followers of the
Islamic State leaders are reportedly ask- Imagine this: At 10 p.m., a foreign TV cult too sick to vote in county elections.
ing followers to carry out terror attacks by network begins airing a video taken inside Tell that to Chile, where in 1989, a ship-
poisoning food in Western supermarkets. a facility showing someone treating wash ment of grapes bound for the United States
It’s not like poisoning our food has not water in a cucumber packing house with was found laced with cyanide, bringing trade
happened before, and we certainly have an unknown liquid. There is a claim that suspension that cost the South American
been warned. this was the terrorist act that has so far country $200 million. It was very much like a
In 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sickened 341 and killed 2 in 30 states with 1970s plot by Palestinian terrorists to inject
warned of infectious disease outbreaks Salmonella. Israel’s Jaffa oranges with mercury.
caused by pathogens falling into the wrong In the next 15 minutes, every network Tell that to the 111 people, including 40
hands and into our food. She said: news operation is playing the video. The children, sickened in May 2003 when a
“Unfortunately the ability of terrorists and broadcast networks break into regular Michigan supermarket employee intention-
other non-state actors to develop and use programming to air it, and the cable news ally tainted 200 pounds of ground beef with
these weapons is growing. Therefore this stations go nonstop with the video while an insecticide containing nicotine.
must be a renewed focus of our efforts. talking heads dissect it. Tell that to Mr. Litvenenko, the Russian
“Because there are warning signs and Coming on a Thursday evening on the spy poisoned in the UK with polonium-
they are too serious to ignore. East Coast, the food terrorism story catch- laced food.
“Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula had es the mainstream media completely off Tell that to Stanford University research-
urged brothers with degrees in microbiol- guard. Other than to say the video is being ers who modeled a nightmare scenario
ogy or chemistry to develop a weapon of analyzed by CIA experts, and is presumed where a mere 4 grams of botulinum toxin
mass destruction.”
Sound familiar? It should. In 2004 Health
to be authentic, there isn’t much coming
out of the government.
dropped into a milk production facility could
cause serious illness and even death to
400,000 people in the United States.
After 9/11, Health & Human Services
Michigan Farm News Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said: “Pub-
Michigan Farm News (ISSN:1063-5980) is published twice per month except in December, lic health is a national security issue. It must
June and July, when only one issue is printed, as a service to regular members by Michigan
Farm Bureau, 7373 West Saginaw Hwy., Lansing, MI 48909. A member subscription of be treated as such. Therefore, we must not
$1.50 is included in the annual dues of Michigan Farm Bureau regular members. Additional only make sure we can respond to a crisis,
subscription fees required for mailing Michigan Farm News to nonmembers and outside the
WINNER continental U.S.A. Periodical postage paid in Lansing and at additional mailing offices. but we must make sure that we are secure
Best of NAMA – 2003
Letters to the editor and statewide news tips should be sent to: editor, Michigan Farm in defending our stockpiles, our institutions
News, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, MI 48909-8460. Call (800) 292-2680, ext. 6540, or send and our products.”
e-mail to mfneditor@michfb.com. POSTMASTER – Send address changes to: Michigan
Farm Bureau, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, MI 48909-8460. Before Thompson’s early exit from the
Dennis Rudat, Publisher; Paul W. Jackson, Editor; Tim Rogers, Advertising Sales; Nika Bush Administration, he did get published
AFBF’s Best
Degg and Sarah Paquet, Design and Production; Steve Paradiso and Jeremy Nagel, the “Risk Assessment for Food Terror-
Contributors.
Newspaper or ism and Other Food Safety Concerns.”
Tabloid, 2006, 2013 Advertising information: Call (800) 292-2680, ext. 6543; For national advertising, call J.L.
Farmakis, Inc. (203) 834-8832. That document, now 5-years old, let the
Officers: President Carl Bednarski, Caro; Vice President Andrew Hagenow, Rockford; Chief American public know that there is a “high
Operating Officer Scott Piggott; General Counsel & Secretary Andrew Kok; Treasurer David
Baker; Executive Committee: Carl Bednarski, Caro; Andrew Hagenow, Rockford; Mike likelihood” of food terrorism. It said the
Fusilier, Manchester; Dave Bahrman, Rumely; Jennifer Lewis, Jonesville. Directors: District “possible agents for food terrorism” are:
1, Brigette Leach, Climax; District 2, Jennifer Lewis, Jonesville; District 3, Mike Fusilier,
Manchester; District 4, Jeff Sandborn, Portland; District 5, Stephanie Schafer, Westphalia;
• Biological and chemical agents;
District 6, Travis Fahley, Yale; District 7, Michael DeRuiter, Hart; District 8, Michael Mulders, • Naturally occurring, antibiotic-resistant,
Essexville; District 9, Ben LaCross, Cedar; District 10, Patrick McGuire, Ellsworth; District
11, David Bahrman, Rumely. At large: Carl Bednarski, Caro; Larry Walton, Sturgis; Douglas
and genetically engineered substances;
Darling, Maybee; Andrew Hagenow, Rockford. Promotion and Education: Cathy McCune,
St Louis. Young Farmer: Calby Garrison, Adrian. Continued on page 3
www.michiganfarmnews.com October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News 3

Bill would legalize 3530, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of

industrial hemp
AFBF
The American Farm Bureau Federa-
tion (AFBF) has sent a letter of support
for Rep. James Comer’s (R-Ky) bill, H.R.
3530, the “Industrial Hemp Farming Act
of 2017.” The bill has 17 cosponsors and
is aimed at helping facilitate the cultivation
and commercialization of industrial hemp.
The bill simply amends the Controlled
Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp
from the federal definition of marijuana.
Farm Bureau Policy (204/Industrial Hemp)
supports the production, processing, com-
mercialization and utilization of industrial
hemp, and that it be regulated by USDA.
The letter reads:
Dear Representative Comer:
We are writing to support your bill, H.R.
2017. Our policy calls for the removal of
industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) from
Schedule I of the Controlled Substances
Act. Decades of scientific research and
previous experience growing hemp, from
pre-industrialization to the advent of World
War II, support our position.
For nearly 70 years, industrial hemp
has been misaligned with its cannabis
cousin, marijuana. It’s also unfortunate
that a great deal of agricultural heritage in
hemp seed genetics, crop research, and
technological innovation have been hin-
dered or lost entirely. However, the tide is
turning, and once again policy makers in
Washington D.C., and statehouses across
the country recognize the tremendous
potential that industrial hemp can offer
farmers as an effective rotational crop with
promising economic benefits.
With the passage of the 2014 farm bill
and under the supervision of research
universities or state departments of agri-
culture, states may “study the growth, cul-
tivation, or marketing of industrial hemp.”
Since 2014, over 30 states have
passed legislation legalizing this type
of research, but full-fledged production
and commercialization are hindered by
hemp’s designation as a Schedule 1
controlled substance and by the Drug
Enforcement Agency’s historically ag-
gressive enforcement against hemp.
The United States is the only major
industrialized country that cannot legally
grow industrial hemp. Yet, according to
the Congressional Research Service, we
are the largest importer of its materials
with annual sales exceeding $600 million,
most of it coming from Canada. This is
a lost economic opportunity, not only for
American farmers but also for industrial
hemp processing and manufacturing in-
dustries. There is a market for ingredients
derived from industrial hemp in foods and
beverages, cosmetics and personal care
products, nutritional supplements, fabrics
and textiles, paper, construction and insu-
lation materials, supercapacitor batteries,
automotive products, and so much more.
We support your efforts to allow the
American farmer to grow industrial hemp
legally and tap into the current and
emerging markets.
We appreciate your introduction of this
bill and look forward to working with you
to secure enactment.
Sincerely,
Zippy Duvall
President, AFBF

Continued from page 2

• Deadly agents and those tending to
cause gastrointestinal discomfort;
• Highly infectious agents and those that
are not communicable;
• Substances readily available to any indi-
vidual and those more difficult to acquire;
and;
• Agents that must be weaponized and
those accessible in a useable form.
After 9/11, Secretary Thompson said
more inspectors and more traceability are
keys to our food defense and safety. To
date, we’ve made some, but not enough
movement to ensure this.
Would the fact of terrorists operating
from inside a manufacturing facility some-
where inside the United States bring more
or effective resources to the search for the
source of the Salmonella? If credit-taking
terrorists were putting poison on our cu-
cumbers, could we be certain Uncle Sam’s
response would have been more robust
or effective then if it was just a “regular”
foodborne illness outbreak?
Absolutely not! The CDC publicly admits
that it manages to count and track only one
of every 40 foodborne illness victims, and
that FDA inspectors miss key evidence as
outbreaks begin.
The FDA is on record referring to them-
selves as overburdened, underfunded, We need to invest in the science of And, we need to strengthen the teamwork
understaffed and in possession of no real epidemiology and the surveillance of bio- between state, local and federal health of-
power to make a difference during recalls. logical and chemical illnesses. We need to ficials so outbreaks are detected early.
If you are a food manufacturer, packer increase our laboratory capacity for biologi- Perhaps a foodborne bio-terrorism event
or distributor, you are more likely to be cal and chemical agents, and our ability to cannot be stopped, but with investments in
hit by lightning than be inspected by the quickly track patterns of potential illnesses. surveillance, it could be minimized.
FDA. You are perfectly free to continue to
sell and distribute your poisoned product,
whether it has been poisoned accidentally
or intentionally.
We are ill-prepared for a crisis, regardless
who poisons us.
So, what can we do? We inspect only
about 1 percent of imported food, which
could be tainted with biological or chemical
agents before entering the United States.
Also, given the lack of inspections domesti-
cally, toxins could easily be introduced in
food at the farm, in transit, at processing
plants or in grocery stores and restaurants.
More and better inspections by FDA and
FSIS inspectors at various points in our
food supply are absolutely necessary, as
is good intelligence work by those at the
CDC and FBI.
However, when a terrorist uses a biologi-
cal or chemical weapon against the civilian
population—in food or otherwise—how
quickly the outbreak is detected, analyzed,
understood and addressed will be the re-
sponsibility of state and local public health
officers and the CDC. Surveillance would
be the key to limiting the damage and
bringing the terrorists to justice.

NORTHERN SEED
5X7.5
4 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com
Analysis: States will lose billions in
tax revenue to internet-only sellers
AFBF
Unless Congress acts on legislation to
promote fair competition between Main
Street retailers and internet-only sellers,
states will lose more than $211 billion in tax
revenue over the next five years, according
to new analysis released by the Market-
place Fairness Coalition.
Currently, a legal loophole allows some
online retailers to avoid collecting the sales
tax due during a transaction. While consum-
ers are still liable for paying what’s owed, few
do, which gives online stores a strong ad-
vantage over their Main Street competitors.
One of farmers and ranchers’ biggest
concerns about the lack of fair competi-
tion between brick-and-mortar stores and
internet-only sellers is that local govern-
ments and schools often try to make up
for the lost sales tax revenue by increasing
property taxes, a burden that falls heavily
Class action
CONTINUED from page 1
in the suit, this might end their interest in the
case, or at least it will when they get a check.
Whether that check is to their satisfaction or
not remains to be seen.”
What also remains to be seen is how the
payout will affect Syngenta’s ability to con-
duct research on new genetic varieties.
“That’s something we can’t know now,”
Enhancing entrepreneurship
a Farm Bureau focus
AFBF
Dr. Lisa Benson, director of rural develop-
ment at the American Farm Bureau Federa-
tion, recently described to the House Small
Business Agriculture, Energy and Trade
Subcommittee the organization’s focus on
programs to enhance entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship can be a tool to
sustain economic growth, create local
jobs and improve the quality of life for rural
Americans,” Benson said. “When rural
entrepreneurs succeed, rural communities
thrive and prosper.”
Farm Bureau wanted a program where
“the rubber meets the road” and one that
highlights successful business opportunities
in rural America, Benson said. This focus led
to the creation of the Rural Entrepreneurship
Michigan AgrAbility
Grant funding available for farmers with
medical impairments to purchase custom
tractor steps or other assistive items.
spinal cord injury | chronic back pain
arthritis | stroke | respiratory impairment
joint injury amputation | visual impairment
hearing impairment | head injury
Contact us today to learn more!
1-800-956-4106 | www.michiganagrability.org
Cultivating success, one farmer at a time
on land-based business owners.
The American Farm Bureau Federation
is backing two bills, the Remote Transac-
tions Parity Act of 2017 (H.R. 2193) and
$4.5 BILLION
IN LOST REVENUE OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS MICHIGAN
the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2017
(S. 976), that would allow states to apply Antiquated policies in Washington, D.C. hurt Michigan small businesses and communities.
sales tax laws uniformly.
“The businesses that line the streets of The online sales tax loophole
our nation’s small and rural towns provide creates an uneven playing field for
essential goods and services to the farm- U.S. job creators and
ers and ranchers who work the fields that small businesses.
1.5
surround them. But hometown businesses
are at a disadvantage when they compete
Tax Revenue (In Billions USD)
$1.1
$996 Billion
with online-only retailers who don’t have to $895 Million
collect sales taxes. When this disadvantage 1.0
$726
$805 Million
Million
causes a ‘Main Street’ business to close or Million
scale back, the impact is especially hurtful
to already struggling small and rural towns,” 0.5
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a letter
to House and Senate lawmakers encourag-
ing them to support the bills. $0.0
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
It weakens spending for
Thiel said. “This legal action is not over yet,
because there are the two big grain com-
teachers, local infrastructure,
and law enforcement.
Without a federal E-Fairness solution, MI will lose more
than $4.5 billion from 2018-2022.
panies and Canadian interests that haven’t
Because Congress has failed to act, Michigan has already enacted its own legislative solution
been resolved. Settlements like this, no mat-
and Governor Rick Snyder has spoken out in favor of E-Fairness.
ter the size, are challenging for companies.”
Earlier this year, Syngenta was ordered
by a Kansas jury to pay $217.7 million
I T ’ S T IME F OR A F EDER A L E- FA IR NE S S S OL U T ION
to an estimated 7,000 Kansas famers. A
reported eight certified class action suits in
various states and regions were filed since
CLOSE THE ONLINE SALES TAX LOOPHOLE.
the initial suit.
It was initially unclear if the settlement
resolves all of those remaining suits.
Initiative and the kick-off of the Rural Entre-
preneurship Challenge. The Challenge is the
Entrepreneurs with ag tech businesses
have dominated the Challenge winners’
Agriculture Investment Summit, explained
Benson.
first national business competition focused circle, but many of them struggle with Learn more at the Strong Rural America
exclusively on rural entrepreneurs with food accessing enough capital to scale up website: StrongRuralAmerica.com.
and agriculture businesses. production. This led to the creation of the
“The competition identifies rural entre-
preneurs with unique products and strong
business skills,” Benson said.
Through the competition, AFBF has
supported more than 1,000 rural entrepre-
neurs from 37 states, providing more than
$500,000 in startup capital, mentorship,
networking with investors and publicity.
For the 2018 competition, 471 applica-
tions were submitted from 47 states and
Puerto Rico. Awards will be presented Oct.
23 for the best startup in several categories
that highlight diverse and emerging trends
How will you transfer your operation to your successor?
in food and agriculture, including agricultur- How will you protect your assets from creditors or divorce?
al technology, craft beverage, agritourism,
farm-to-table, farming and local product. How will you provide for retirement or disability?
How will taxes impact you and your operation?
Family Farm Succession & Transition Planning
Estate Planning – Wills, Trusts & Special Needs Trusts
Estate & Trust Administration
Protection of Disabled Children & Adults
Guardianship & Conservatorship
Protecting you, your loved ones, and your farming operation
East Lansing & Troy | www.FraleighLaw.com | 1-800-928-0034
www.michiganfarmnews.com October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News 5

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6 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 COMMODITIES
MARKET
OUTLOOK
Wheat planting
down substantially
DR. JIM HILKER
MSU EXTENSION
CORN
In early October, December corn futures
seemed to have settled into a fairly tight
trading range, $3.45-$3.55, even with
some significant news on Sept. 29.
Did information in the Oct. 12, 2017,
release of the USDA/NASS Crop Produc-
tion Report cause December corn futures
to break out of that range?
On Sept. 29, the USDA/NASS released
the Sept. 1 Quarterly Grains Stocks
Report. The report shows how much old-
crop corn is in storage, both on farm and
off farm, on Sept. 1, 2017. The reported
amount becomes the ending stocks for
the 2016-17 corn marketing year, which
runs from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31. It also
becomes the 2017-18 beginning stocks,
which when added to 2017 corn produc-
tion and corn imports, becomes 2017-18
total supply as shown on Table 1.
Both the Sept. 12 USDA/WASDE Sup-
ply/Demand Estimate and the average
trade estimates forecasted 2016-17 corn
ending stocks at 2,350 million bushels, the
report showed there were 2,295 million
bushels in storage September 1.
WHEAT
For wheat, the USDA not only released
the Quarterly Stocks Report, but also the
2017 Small Grains Summary, which gives
the final 2017 wheat production projec-
tions. Both reports differed from the aver-
age trade expectations. It will be interest-
ing to see how the USDA/WASDE report
released Oct. 12 accounts for the differ-
ences, although the total U.S. 2017 wheat
SOYBEANS
As of early October, soybean futures,
like corn futures, were trading in a fairly
small range for several weeks. And while
the fairly positive stocks report gave it
an 8-cent bounce up for a day, it quickly
dropped back.
It is as if the market has already decided
the crop will be huge, which it will be,
but also as if it knows just how big 2017
soybean crop will be. Did the Oct. 12
HOGS
The Sept. 1 Quarterly Hogs and Pigs
Report was released on Sept. 28 was a bit
neutral to bearish in the very short run, but
a bit positive for the future.
The day after the report, the nearby was
down, but all the other futures contracts
were up. And of this writing, December
futures on out had rallied sharply, and the
April futures at $72.00/cwt, had moved
above their previous high.
Time to consider your pricing opportuni-
ties if prices have remained at these levels
LOCAL FARM NEWS DELIVERED MONDAY-FRIDAY
COMMODITY SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE SHEETS
TABLE 1 – CORN
HILKER HILKER EST. HILKER HILKER HILKER
2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
(Million Acres) (Million Acres)
Acres Planted 88.0 94.0 90.9
Acres Harvested 80.7 86.7 83.5
Yield/Bushels 168.4 174.6 169.9
(Million Bushels)
Beginning Stocks 1,731 1,737 2,295
Production 13,602 15,148 14,184
Imports 68 55 50
Total Supply
USE
15,401 16,940 16,529
Feed & Residual 5,114 5,480 5,525
Food, Seed & Ind. 6,648 6,870 6,925
Ethanol for fuel 5,224 5,435 5,450
Total Domestic 11,763 12,350 12,450
Exports 1,901 2,295 1,850
Total Use 13,664 14,645 14,300
Ending Stocks 1,737 2,295 2,229
Ending Stocks, Ending Stocks, % of Use 5.0 7.1 10.0
% of Use 12.7 15.7 15.6
U.S. Loan Rate $1.95 $1.95 $1.95
U.S. SEASON AVERAGE
Farm Price, $/Bu. $3.61 $3.35 $3.20
While this was 32 percent larger than
the previous year, it was 55 million bushels
less than the market expected. Corn
stored on farm was up 25 percent and
corn stored off farm was up 36 percent.
There were 49.2 million bushels of old
crop corn in storage on Sept. 1 in Michi-
gan, 10 million bushels more than the pre-
vious year. This is the most since the 46
million at the end of the 2005-06 year.
The expanded ethanol capacity and
expanded hog numbers due to the new
production estimate did not differ much
from the August projection.
The quarterly stocks report showed the
amount of wheat on hand one quarter
of the way through the 2017-18 June 1
through May 31 wheat marketing year.
Through other reports, the USDA can keep
pretty good track of wheat use other than
for feed, so this report is very important
from that respect and as a double check
on other use. The report showed Sept.
1 stocks about 30 million bushels more
USDA/NASS update of the projected 2017
soybean production in their Crop Produc-
tion Report change that?
As with corn, the Sept. 1 stocks
becomes the Sept. 1 through Aug. 31
soybean marketing year ending stocks.
The USDA projected it would be 345
million bushels in the Sept. 12 supply/
demand update, and the trade on average
was expecting stocks to be 339 million
bushels. The report showed there were
301 million bushels, about 40 million less
than expected.
by the time you read this article.
All hogs and pigs on Sept. 1 were up
2.5 percent, the same as trade expec-
tations. Kept for breeding were up 1.2
percent, just below expectations. Kept-for-
marketing were up 2.6 percent, again, just
below expectations.
Hogs over 120 pounds were up 4 per-
cent, a bit higher than expectations, and
the reason futures dropped for a day. But
the first slaughter report after the report
showed less than expected, thus the rally
in the nearby.
Hogs for marketing less than 120
pounds were up 2 percent, less than ex-
TABLE 2 – WHEAT
(Million Acres)
Acres Planted 55.0 50.1 46.0
Acres Harvested 47.3 43.9 37.6
Bu./Harvested Acre 43.6 52.7 46.3
(Million Bushels)
Beginning Stocks 752 976 1,183
Production 2,062 2,309 1,741
Imports 113 118 140
Total Supply
USE
2,927 3,402 3,064
Food 957 949 950
Seed 67 61 66
Feed & Residual 149 154 120
Total Domestic 1,174 1,164 1,136
Exports 778 1,055 975
Total Use 1,951 2,219 2,111
Ending Stocks 976 1,183 963
% of Use 50.1 53.3 45.6
U.S. Loan Rate $2.75 $2.75 $2.75
U.S. SEASON AVERAGE
U.S. $/Bu. $4.89 $3.89 $4.60
slaughter plant will help use this up, but
that is a lot of extra corn. Of course the
size of the 2017 corn crop will have a
bigger effect on local basis, but the more-
than- normal Michigan ending stocks adds
up to about an extra half bushel per acre.
The less-than-expected ending stocks
means one of three things: More was fed
than expected, the 2016 corn crop was less
than thought, or a combination of the two.
For corn, it is hard to go back and adjust
production based on just this information
than the average trade expectation. I
adjusted projected 2017-18 feed use and
residual down by 30 million bushels, so this
increased projected ending stocks up by a
like amount. See Table 2.
The Small Grains Summary placed all
2017 wheat production at 1,741 million
bushels, only 2 million above the August
projection, but 15 million bushels above
average trade expectations. So there is no
real effect on the Table 2 projections. Win-
ter wheat production came in just under the
As discussed in corn, this means one of
several things. More was fed or you have
more residual than expected; the 2016
soybean crop was less than thought, or a
combination of the two. But with soy-
beans, we can track all the uses closely,
as little is fed as whole soybeans. There-
fore, the USDA immediately made some
adjustments given the stocks number be-
ing different than they thought. The 2016
production was lowered 11 million bushels
on 40,000 less acres harvested, and yield
being lowered a tenth of a bushel. These
pected. So there will likely be a lot of hogs
through this fall, and then a bit fewer than
expected through the winter.
Sept.-Nov. farrowing intentions were up
around 1 percent, as were trade expecta-
tions, These will be our spring marketings,
and remember, pigs per litter are expected
to grow 1 percent on top of that. Dec.-
Feb. farrowing intentions were up around
1 percent, as the trade expected. These
will be our summer marketings, and again,
pigs per litter are expected to grow 1
percent on top of that.
Michigan breeding numbers were
120,000 head Sept. 1, 10,000 higher than
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www.michiganfarmnews.com
TABLE 3 – SOYBEANS
Acres Planted 82.7 83.4 89.5
Acres Harvested 81.7 82.7 88.7
Yield/Bushels 48.0 52.0 49.9
(Million Bushels)
Beginning Stocks 191 197 301
Production 3,926 4,296 4,431
Imports 24 25 25
Total Supply
USE
4,140 4,518 4,757
Crushings 1,886 1,895 1,940
Exports 1,942 2,170 2,250
Seed 97 104 101
Residual 18 48 35
Total Use 3,944 4,217 4,326
Ending Stocks 197 301 431
Ending Stocks,
U.S. Loan Rate $5.00 $5.00 $5.00
U.S. SEASON AVERAGE
Farm Price, $/Bu. $8.95 $9.50 $9.20
due to the large amount fed on farm, which
is impossible to keep track of. Therefore
I adjusted 2016-17 feed and residual use
up 55 million bushels in my projections on
Table 1. This may indicate that we need to
increase the feeding rate in our 2017-18
projections. I increased projected 2017-
18 feed use by 50 million bushels in my
Table 1 projections. Check out the Oct.
12 USDA/WASDE update to see how
they made the adjustment along with the
updated 2017 production estimates.
August estimates, both hard and soft red,
but spring wheat production came in above
the August projections.
Michigan’s 2017 wheat production was
put at 33.6 million bushels, down from
last’s years 50.7 million bushels. It was
down substantially for two reasons, planted
acres were down from 610,000 to 480,000,
and the 2017 yield of 79 bu/ac was down
10 bu/ac from last year’s record yield.
How much are you all planting this fall?
changes are shown on Table 3.
Soybean stocks in Michigan were found
to be 7.06 million bushels, up from 4.8
million Sept. 1, 2016. And they were the
highest since 2006-07 when they were 7.1
million bushels. They were 109 million in
2005-06.
The large stocks are weighing on our
soybean basis. But again, the 2017 crop
size will be the main event. What did the
Oct. 12 crop report show for the size of
the Michigan soybean crop?
they have been in years. And in fact, Sept.
1, 2016, Michigan breeding numbers were
revised down to 105,000, which meant a
15,000 head, 14 percent jump to be ready
for the new plant. Michigan market hogs
were up 2 percent.
Hilker is an MSU Extension economist
and professor with Michigan State
University’s Dept. of Agricultural Food
& Resource Economics.
www.michiganfarmnews.com October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News 7

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ALLEGAN CO. EATON CO. INGHAM CO. KENT CO. MASON CO. MONTMORENCY CO. SANILAC CO.
Craig & Linda Vaughn Buchholz Todd Benjamin Dave Wolfe Freeman Creek Farms Hardies Seed Ruczynski Farms
Newland 517.256.3308 517.749.9101 616.893.4949 231.233.2883 & Ag Supply 586.634.4562 or
269.377.2638 989.464.0123 248.670.1173
GLADWIN CO. IONIA CO. LAKE CO. Acres Cooperative
Tony Brush Randy Sheehan Bill Martin, DSM Kevin Todd 231.757.2881 NEWAYGO CO. SHIAWASSEE CO.
616.836.5899 989.750.5191 989.225.6626 231.832.5510 John Petz Garry Adams
MECOSTA CO. 231.670.9956 989.277.5364
Floyd Modreske HILLSDALE CO. IOSCO CO. LAPEER CO. Pete Peterson
269.792.9419 Mark Wiley Kelby Ruckle Ruczynski Farms 231.349.4442 OCEANA CO. Levi Martindale
269.569.0955 989.240.0098 586.634.4562 or Kip Cole 989.666.4196
ANTRIM CO. 248.670.1173 MENOMINEE CO. 231.233.8335
Ellsworth Cliff Fether ISABELLA CO. Stephenson TUSCOLA CO.
Farmers Exchange 517.262.3853 Randy Recker LENAWEE CO. Marketing Coop OTTAWA CO. B & C Seeds
231.588.2300 989.330.8871 Chad Whelan 906.753.2207 Ed & Jerry Poortenga 810.656.7475 or
Dauer Farms 517.403.9497 616.262.5025 989.550.5791
BERRIEN CO. 517.398.1644 JACKSON CO. MISSAUKEE CO.
Gregory Payne Jeff & Julie Keith Anderson Falmouth Cooperative Hoekstra Bros Farms WASHTENAW CO.
269.921.2131 Whitetail Auctions Alexander 616.402.0276 231.826.3301 616.550.7764 James Bristle
517.398.6060 517.740.9981 734.915.0052
BRANCH CO. MACOMB CO. MONROE CO. SAGINAW CO.
John Sherman, Jr. HURON CO. Katz Farms Ruczynski Farms Ralph Nartker Jay Reinbold Michael Finkbeiner
517.712.4959 Robert Krohn 517.206.7056 or 586.634.4562 or 419.309.7025 989.332.4811 734.320.2043
989.551.4147 517.206.1395 248.670.1173
John Shilling Bill & Greg Stumpmier Mitch Bigelow, DSM Grant Reiff, DSM
517.639.4194 Tom Horetski KALAMAZOO CO. MANISTEE CO. 734.755.3013 989.460.7448 574.870.8226
989.551.7685 Kevin Schulte, DSM Ted Brown
CALHOUN CO. 269.303.5469 231.690.0200 MONTCALM CO. SAINT CLAIR CO.
Josh Stults Cody Tyrrell Greg Koehn Ruczynski Farms
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248.670.1173
8 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com

the state). TEMPERATURE (F) PRECIPITATION

Given the late-month heat wave (and de- MICHIGAN WEATHER GROWING DEGREE DAYS

WEATHER
Obs. Dev. from Actual Normal Obs. Normal
9/1/2017 - 9/30/2017
spite abnormally cool weather early in the mean normal Base 50 Base 50 (inches) (inches)

month), mean temperatures for September

OUTLOOK
BAD AXE 64.5 4.1 445 373 1.57 3.88
were above normal state- and region- LAKE CITY 61.1 4.0 421 317 1.49 3.63
wide, with mean departures from normal in COLDWATER 65.2 3.6 465 396 1.31 3.59
Michigan generally ranging from 3 degrees ALPENA 61.8 4.1 402 314 3.00 2.92
-6 degrees F above normal.
DETROIT 67.1 2.7 466 415 0.91 3.27

Above-normal fall Precipitation totals for the month were

generally well-below normal levels.
FLINT 63.9 2.8 466 415 0.84 3.75

temperatures?
GRAND RAPIDS 66.5 3.6 466 406 0.66 4.28
Since early July, rainfall totals in some
HOUGHTON LAKE 61.4 4.2 402 314 0.73 3.10
central portions of the Lower Peninsula
were less than 4 inches (less than 50 per- LANSING 65.6 3.7 465 396 0.94 3.50
JEFF ANDRESEN
MSU EXTENSION cent of normal), resulting in rapid depletion MARQUETTE 59.2 3.4 339 265 3.25 3.72

A strong upper-air ridging pattern
brought abnormal hot and dry weather to
Michigan and much of the Midwest during
late September, with many areas reporting
a daily consecutive string of 90 degrees F
or higher maximum temperatures from the
21st through the 26th.
Combined with below-normal rainfall totals
in most areas, the warm weather led to rapid
maturation and senescence of most annual
crops and favored early harvest activities.
Freezing temperatures have yet to occur
so far this growing season across the vast
majority of southern Lower Michigan (cli-
matological normal dates of first fall freeze
in range from the first week of October in
south-central sections to the third week in
the southwest and southeast corners of
of soil moisture and increasing levels of
water stress for many crops.
The recent dryness has delayed winter
wheat planting in some areas of the state
due to insufficient soil moisture for germi-
nation. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor
categorizes most of the southern half of
Lower Michigan in “D0 Abnormally Dry”
conditions, with south central sections now
at “D1 Moderate Drought.”
There are hints of some possible chang-
es ahead which would not be favorable for
harvest operations.
The most notable is a projected increase
in the frequency of weather systems with
precipitation in the region leading to more
rainfall chances. There is also the potential
formation of an upper-air trough during
MUSKEGON 65.4 3.4 454 362 0.82 3.89
PELLSTON 60.5 4.5 421 317 0.96 3.58
SAULT STE MARIE 62.9 5.8 354 271 1.05 3.82
SAGINAW 65.6 4.3 445 373 0.44 3.83
the middle of the month which could lead For the October-through-December
to northwesterly flow into the region and period, equal chances of above, near,
cooler, more seasonable temperatures. and below-normal categories is forecast
Regardless, the official NOAA Climate statewide.
Prediction Center long-lead outlooks
for October and the 3-month October- Andresen is a professor of
through-December period both call for Meteorology/Climatology with
increased odds of above-normal mean Michigan State University’s Dept. of
temperatures. The outlooks for precipitation Geography, Environment, and Spatial
are more complicated. Sciences; MSUE specialist and the
It is worth noting that the outlook also calls state climatologist for Michigan.
for drier-than-normal weather in areas of the
Ohio Valley just south and east of Michigan.

Michigan-made butter
wins first place
in North American Farm Bureau
Insurance Specialists
dairy product contest
MMPA
Butter made in southwest Michi-
gan by farmer-owned Michigan Milk
Producers Association (MMPA) was
awarded top honors from the World
Dairy Expo Championship Dairy
Product Contest.
First- and third-place awards were
granted to unsalted butter made at
MMPA’s dairy plant in Constantine,
Michigan. MMPA has competed in the
nationwide contest for seven years.
“Our recipe for excellence starts
with our farmers’ high-quality milk
along with the dedication of our plant
team to produce award-winning
butter,” MMPA General Manager Joe
Diglio said. “We are proud of these Marc Reinhardt
accomplishments, recognized once Brenda Szach Bay-Thumb Specialist
North Specialist (989) 450-4851
again at the World Dairy Expo.” (989) 329-7290 mreinha@fbinsmi.com
The World Dairy Expo Champion- bszach@fbinsmi.com
ship Dairy Product Contest is the
only North American judging con-
test which encompasses all dairy
products. The contest received
over one thousand entries in 75
product classes including cheese,
butter, fluid milk, yogurt, cottage Ryan Fox
West Specialist
cheese, ice cream, cultured milk (269) 313-5566
and dried whey from throughout the rfox@fbinsmi.com
United States.
A contest auction of all first-place
entries took place during the World
Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.
As a result of this contest, the Wis-
consin Dairy Products Association
(WDPA) annually funds two schol- Marc Erffmeyer
Southwest Specialist
arships for students preparing for (269) 569-1039
careers in the dairy industry. WDPA merffme@fbinsmi.com
also funds a culinary arts scholarship
Nate Gust
and donates to the National Col- Southeast & Northern
legiate Judging Contest which trains Matt Thelen Ohio Specialist
college students the art of evaluating Central Specialist (517) 605-1076
dairy products. (989) 640-0570 ngust@fbinsmi.com
In addition to a cheese plant in mthele1@fbinsmi.com
Indiana, MMPA operates two SQF
Level 3 dairy ingredient plants in
Michigan. In addition to butter,
MMPA’s dairy ingredient plants manu-
facture nonfat dry milk, condensed
skim milk, cream and whole milk
powder. MMPA sells its products to
food manufacturers who make infant FarmBureauInsurance.com/Crop
formulas, candy, ice cream, pudding,
baked goods, cheese and yogurt.
www.michiganfarmnews.com
Study might shed light
on public perception
of GM technology
BRIAN WALLHEIMER
SEED WORLD
More than three-quarters of Ameri-
cans would accept release of genetically
modified mosquitoes to decrease risk of
the Zika virus, but fewer than half accept
genetic modification (GM) of animals, grain
crops and produce, according to a Purdue
University study.
Ag economists Nicole Olynk Widmar
and Wally Tyner led the study to under-
stand attitudes toward genetic engineer-
ing in the wake of last year’s heightened
coverage of the Zika virus. The results
suggest people are far more accepting of
genetic modifications that benefit human
health but are still somewhat wary of
modifications to food.
“Whenever you have a newly perceived
health risk, there are calls for technology
to solve the problem. If you think about
the Ebola virus, everybody said, ‘Where’s
an Ebola vaccine?’ They wanted technol-
ogy to mitigate the risk,” Widmar said.
“Food is an everyday choice. In some
ways, I can understand why people may
be more cautious about
what they’re ingesting
on an ongoing basis.”
Data also show that
acceptance of genetic
modification may be re-
lated to sex, education,
income and awareness of GM technology.
Zika, a virus spread primarily through
mosquito bites, can cause severe birth
defects, including microcephaly and
fetal brain defects. The virus was espe-
cially prevalent in Brazil during the 2016
Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and
mosquito carriers have been reported in
parts of Florida and Texas.
Mechanisms developed to control the
virus include the release of GM mosquitoes
that will breed with females to produce
eggs that won’t hatch or offspring that die
before reaching sexual maturity. Widmar
and Tyner wanted to assess public opinion
of the technologies and understand what
drives acceptance of some genetic modifi-
cations but not others.
Findings are based on 964 Americans
surveyed with a goal of selecting respon-
dents that matched 2014 census estimates
for age, gender, income, education and
region of residence. The margin of error
was about 3 percent, and results were
published in the journal PLoS One.
October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News
The survey revealed that 78 percent
would support release of GM mosquitoes in
the United States. Acceptance of GM is 44
percent for livestock production; 49 percent
for grain production; 48 percent for fruit and
vegetable production; 62 percent for human
medicine; and 68 percent for human health.
Males were more likely to accept GM
across all categories. Younger respon-
dents also accepted at higher rates in ev-
erything except for human health reasons,
in which there was no significant difference
among age groups.
Higher income groups were more likely
to agree with genetic modification for grain,
fruit and vegetables, and livestock produc-
tion than lower income groups. Those with
college degrees were more accepting of
genetic modification.
Finally, the findings show that those
aware of GM mosquito technology were
more likely to be accepting of genetic
modification in all areas assessed.
Widmar said she expected respondents
to be more accepting of genetic modifi-
cation for health and medicine, and she
suspects it may have to do with how those
technologies have been released.
In the case of mosquitoes, Zika was
all over the news, as was coverage of
companies seeking regulatory permission
to release their modified insects for trials.
9
Americans were likely less informed about
the release of GM crops and found out
about them after they were already a signifi-
cant part of the food chain.
“The perception of choice matters,”
Widmar said. “If you need it to stay healthy,
you would probably use it. But if you feel
like you were given GMOs and told about it
later, that might upset you.”
Tyner says there may be a lesson in
the data for those who want to develop
future GMO technologies. While GMO
crops have often been lauded for reduc-
ing inputs and lowering costs for growers,
people may be more receptive to informa-
tion about how those same crops allow
use of less toxic pesticides.
“If we can highlight health and environ-
mental benefits, rather than just focus-
ing on the bottom line that might have a
positive effect on the public attitude toward
GMOs,” Tyner said. “If you look back,
things might have gone differently if we had
the first releases in the medical field rather
than the food field.”
Widmar and Tyner plan to continue
work related to the impacts of GMOs
on society. Widmar continues to assess
consumer acceptance, and demand for,
various technologies impacting the hu-
man condition through food production
and health care.

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pledged to support Michigan specialty

PERFORMANCE
crop growers who produce fruits,
vegetables, tree nuts, nursery plants,
and flowers, according to U.S. Senator

WITH STABILITY.
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking
Member of the Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
The USDA’s Specialty Crop Block
Grant Program will award $1,805,339
million to support 19 projects through-
out the state.
“Michigan-grown fruits and veg-
etables are not only a source of great
pride—they are also critical to our
state’s diverse agricultural economy”
Stabenow said. “This new support will
help Michigan farmers get their prod-
ucts off the farm and onto our plates.”
Each of the 19 projects are targeted
to help specialty crop growers sell more
products locally and globally, protect
crops from pests and diseases, and
market products to be competitive.
Grant recipients include the Cherry
Marketing Institute, Michigan Apple
Committee, Grow Eastern Market,
Michigan Carrot Committee, Michigan
Vegetable Council, and Michigan Wine
At Rupp, we realize stability improves when Collaborative, among others.
In 2008, Senator Stabenow au-
performance is consistent. That’s why you can count on thored the first ever fruits and veg-
us for seed that is consistently tailored to be the best for etables section of a farm bill to provide
support for so-called “specialty crops”
your fields, supported by the same people who really which includes fruits, vegetables, tree
get to know you and the needs of your farm. nuts, nursery products and floriculture.
These crops are critical to the state’s
diverse agricultural economy, as
Our team continually evaluates crop issues and adapts Michigan leads the nation in producing
a wider variety of crops than any state
our hybrid lineup to protect performance against
other than California.
ever-changing weed and insect challenges. In fact, we “Support for specialty crop produc-
ers has been a top priority of mine in the
customize seed traits to align your specific needs with
farm bill,” Stabenow said. “I will continue
the best value. to make sure that Michigan families have
better access to healthy, locally grown
food, and support our farmers with the
Protect plant health, maximize production and sustain
tools they need to succeed.”
stability with tailored hybrids from Rupp. Prior to 2008, farm bills focused
largely on traditional commodity crops
and had no section dedicated to
Putting your performance first. fruits and vegetables. The 2014 farm
That’s what good yields. bill strengthens support for specialty
crops and makes major investments in
organic crops and local and regional
877-591-SEED (7333) • ruppseeds.com food systems.
©2017 Rupp Seeds Inc.
10 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com

How to make better crop storage decisions

TODD HUBBS
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
The current price structure of corn and
soybean futures markets indicate positive
carry in both markets and raises the ques-
tion of whether producers should make
decisions about grain sales. The decision by
producers to store corn or soybeans should
be determined by the returns to storage.
The current projection for 2017-18
marketing year corn supply is 16.573 billion
bushels, 367 million bushels smaller than
last year’s supply.
The soybean supply is projected at 4.777
billion bushels, 249 million bushels larger
than last year’s supply. Total supplies (pro-
duction, beginning stocks, and imports) of
wheat, feed grains, and soybeans are cur-
rently estimated or forecast by the USDA
to be 21.780 billion bushels, 16 percent
smaller than supplies of a year ago.
The USDA estimates on-farm and off-
farm grain storage capacity as of Dec. 1
each year. Total storage capacity on Dec.
1, 2016, was estimated at 24.317 billion
bushels. While storage capacity is not
consistent over different areas or by type of
crop, storage capacity appears capable of
handling 2017 crops.
Harvest bids for corn and soybeans
possess a weak basis, although conditions price levels. Storing a crop unpriced allows one holds an expectation of prices increas-
vary over different regions. the producer to capture higher prices, but ing by more than the cost of owning and
The carry from December 2016 to July provides no protection from lower prices. storing these crops.
2017 in the corn futures market is about Basis risk could be substantial this mar-
26 cents per bushel, around 4 cents per keting year, depending on South American Hubbs is with the Department of
month. For soybeans, current harvest time crop production and U.S. export market Agricultural and Consumer Economics
bids in south central Illinois reflect an aver- competitiveness. at the University of Illinois.
age basis of approximately -3.25 cents per By storing corn and soybeans unpriced,
bushel. The basis is about 10 cents weaker
than at this time last year and about 2
cents weaker than that of two years ago.
The carry in the soybean futures market
from November 2016 to July 2017 is ap-
proximately 34 cents per bushel, about 4.3
cents per month.
A producer’s storage decision is based
on storage capacity and expected returns
from storage.
This can be accomplished through a
forward cash contract or by selling deferred
futures contracts. Using a forward cash
contract eliminates all uncertainty about the
return to storage. By selling futures to price
a stored crop, uncertainty about future
basis levels can impact the actual returns
to storage. Returns to storage can also be
captured by storing the crop unpriced in
anticipation of higher cash prices.
Forward pricing eliminates downside price Storing a crop unpriced allows the producer to capture higher prices, but provides
risk but also eliminates a return from higher no protection from lower prices. | Farm News Media

Cottonseed supply
stable despite
hurricanes
COTTON INCORPORATED
The September WASDE report that
projected a record cotton crop due to
1.54 million more planted acres and
a favorable growing season, came
out just days after Hurricane Irma hit
Florida and its remnants damaged
crops in Georgia.
“The Southern Texas and Texas
Rolling Plains region experienced
significant cotton losses or degrada-
tion,” said Darren Hudson, professor
of agricultural and applied economics
at Texas Tech University, Lubbock,
Texas. “Hurricane Harvey totally
destroyed a couple cotton gins, so
there will be some ‘shuffling of the
deck’ in the Corpus Christi area this
ginning season.”
Yet, the Texas High Plains area
stayed on track to produce a record-
breaking crop. “Gins and oil mills in
the Lubbock area have ample cotton-

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seed supplies of last year’s crop still
available,” Hudson said.
“Barring any additional severe
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in our organization’s history,” Plains
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www.michiganfarmnews.com
Deer suspected positive for chronic wasting disease
DNR
A 3 ½-year-old female deer taken during
Michigan’s youth deer hunting season is
likely to be the 10th free-ranging deer in
the state found to have chronic wasting
disease (CWD). The animal was harvested
in Montcalm Township in Montcalm County.
The hunter voluntarily took the animal to
a DNR deer check station and submitted
the animal for testing.
“We cannot thank this family enough for
bringing their deer to a check station,” said
Dr. Kelly Straka, DNR state wildlife veteri-
narian. “Without their effort, the disease
may have gone undetected in this area.
We encourage hunters from any part of the
state, especially the south-central Lower
Peninsula, to have their deer tested.”
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that
affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and
moose. It is caused by the transmission of
infectious, self-multiplying proteins (prions)
contained in saliva and other body fluids of
infected animals.
Susceptible animals can acquire CWD by
direct exposure to these fluids, from envi-
ronments contaminated with these fluids or
the carcass of a diseased animal.
Some CWD-infected animals will display
Prepared for
the season.
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abnormal behaviors, progressive weight
loss and physical debilitation; however,
deer can be infected for many years with-
out showing internal or external symptoms.
There is no cure; once a deer is infected
with CWD, it will die.
“Infected deer don’t necessarily look
sick,” Straka said. “Having your deer tested
is the only way to know if it has chronic
wasting disease.”
Since May 2015, the DNR has actively
conducted surveillance for CWD. To date,
more than 14,000 deer have been tested
since the first positive case was found, with
nine cases of CWD confirmed in free-rang-
ing white-tailed deer previously identified in
Ingham and Clinton counties.
To date, there is no evidence that CWD
presents any risk to non-cervids, including
humans, either through contact with an
infected animal or from handling venison.
However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and the World Health
Organization recommend that infected
animals not be consumed as food by either
humans or domestic animals.
Currently, there are two CWD Core Areas,
which are deer management units (DMUs)
333 and 359. To review regulations related
www.greenstonefcs.com
October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News
to those areas, visit michigan.gov/cwd.
Regarding this new suspect positive deer,
the DNR is determining next steps as out-
lined in the CWD Response and Surveillance
Plan. Proposed recommendations include:
• Creating a nine-township core area that
would include Douglass, Eureka, Fair-
plain, Maple Valley, Montcalm, Pine and
Sidney townships in Montcalm County,
and Oakfield and Spencer townships in
Kent County.
Within the core area specifically:
ƒƒ Instituting mandatory registration
of deer within 72 hours of harvest,
starting Nov. 15.
ƒƒ Removing antler point restrictions for
the restricted tag of the combo deer
license if license is used within the
nine-township Core Area.
ƒƒ Allowing antlerless deer to be
tagged using the deer or deer
combo license(s)
ƒƒ Allowing the public to pick up road-
killed deer and allow them to be
possessed with a salvage tag if the
deer head is submitted for testing
within 72 hours of pick-up.
ƒƒ Allowing disease control permits,
11
effective immediately, for landown-
ers with five or more acres within the
nine-township Core Area.
• Banning the feeding and baiting of
deer in Kent and Montcalm counties,
effective Jan. 2, 2018, and encouraging
hunters not to bait and feed in these
areas immediately.
“We are not recommending that a new
deer management unit be created for the
area at this time,” said Chad Stewart, DNR
deer specialist. “If you purchase or have pur-
chased licenses for DMUs 354 or 341, they
can be used in the new Core Area, but it’s
critical for hunters to follow the final regula-
tions related to those nine townships.”
Starting Nov. 1, several new check sta-
tions near the new core area will accept
deer for CWD testing. Archery hunters are
strongly encouraged to have their deer
checked at existing check stations during
the early archery season.
A complete list of check stations, includ-
ing locations and hours, as well as weekly
CWD updates, are available at michigan.
gov/cwd.
Ag Community Relief
raising funds for
barbed wire fencing
for Montana and the
Dakotas
FARM NEWS MEDIA
Thousands of miles of barbed wire
fence was destroyed in Montana and
the Dakotas this past summer due to
one of the worst wildfire seasons on
record. With millions of acres burned,
Ag Community Relief has established
the “Western Wire Roundup” in effort
to help western ranchers rebuild.
Having already sent 12 loads of
hay to the region, Ag Community
Relief will collect donations over the
next few months to send a full semi-
tractor trailer load of Sheffield barbed
wire fence (560 rolls), that meets or
exceeds ASTM Class 1 standards, to
the farmers and ranchers affected by
the wildfires.
Stockmen’s Feed Bunk, a ranch
supply company based in Boise
City, OK, sold fencing supplies to the
ranchers of Texas, Oklahoma, and
Kansas at cost after spring wildfires
destroyed over a million acres in
those three states. They have agreed
to do this again for the ranchers of
the Northern Rockies. For informa-
tion on how to sponsor a roll of
wire for $50 or to make a monetary
donation towards this project, visit
https://www.agcommunityrelief.com/
product-page/barbed-wire-roll-
donation. Also search for them online
at #agcommunityrelief and #farmer-
shelpingfarmers.
Ag Community Relief, a non-profit
501(c)3, was formed to bring relief
to active farmers and ranchers that
experience devastation across the
United States by assembling volun-
teers and donations to help mitigate
their suffering. Their goal is to help
them get back to where they were
before disaster struck.
For more information, or to help,
contact Matt Schaller, President, Ag
Community Relief, (810) 614-0968
12 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com
Farm tours fast-track ag comprehension
JEREMY C. NAGEL
MFB
Everyone loves a good farm tour;
they’re among the most effective means
of fast-tracking agricultural understanding.
Whether your audience is a city-boy legis-
lator, a busload of non-farmers curious to
better understand where their food comes
from, or some already ag-savvy Young
Farmers, hitting the road and visiting real
farms is as effectively hands-on as agricul-
tural education gets.
Farm tours targeting a non-farm audi-
ence are also outstanding member-involve-
ment opportunities that offer members a
chance to flex their farm knowledge and
practice engaging with folks outside their
usual farm-friendly circles.
Here’s a quick glance at some recent
farm tour activities across the state…
Midland County
“All Food Comes from the Farm” is the
theme of a Midland County farm tour that’s
been going strong for 30 years under the
leadership of Wheeler-area farmers Gerald
and Carolyn Laurenz. With help from family
members, Breckenridge FFA and Midland
County 4-H, the Laurenz family farm hosted
600 fourth-graders Sept. 19 from Midland,
Gratiot and Saginaw counties.
Similar to a Project RED, the event offers
students a day packed with learning about
the on-farm origins of the food they eat
every day.
New fresh food hub breaks ground in Flint
TERRY MCLEAN
MSU EXTENSION
The Flint Fresh Mobile Market and its
Veggie Box subscription program, two new,
innovative food access initiatives in Flint,
will have a permanent base of operations
in the form of a 26,800 square foot building
on Flint’s east side in the spring of 2018.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on
the site of what will be the new Flint Fresh
Food Hub on Sept. 8, 2017.
Through the rehabilitation of an old build-
ing on the site, the project will transform the
space into a climate-controlled food hub
warehouse with aggregation space to bring
together products from multiple producers
to generate the volume required to cost-ef-
fectively sell to larger purchasers. Distribution
and shipping are part of the food hub’s func-
tion as well. Retail businesses like grocery
and convenience stores, restaurants and
institutional food purchasers like schools,
hospitals and senior care facilities will be able
to conveniently source and order high qual-
ity, locally grown produce, meats and dairy
products for the customers they serve.
The Flint Fresh Mobile Market has been
offering a way for Flint’s residents to access
healthy foods in underserved neighborhoods
with transportation challenges since last fall.
It is a nonprofit market that accepts most
forms of food assistance benefits, including
Double Up Food Bucks and the Michigan
“Many Students do not know about
farming and believe their food comes from
the grocery store,” said Carolyn Laurenz.
“Our goals are to have them learn about
farming and that all food comes from the
farm—except salt!
“Over the past 29 years we have reached
over 21,000 students who now are familiar
with what happens on the farm and how
food comes to the table.”
Breckenridge FFA Advisor Katie Eisen-
berger drafts her students every year to
help with the event.
“Farm tours are critical for educating
consumers about making smart decisions
when it comes to food, whether it’s buy-
ing groceries, ordering dinner or writing
legislation,” Eisenberger said. “Our chapter
is proud to be part of this event every year,
and as an ag teacher I’m thankful to have
supporters like the Laurenz family investing
in the future of agriculture. Above: Gerald and Carolyn Laurenz have been hosting large groups of area students
“Every generation has a responsibility for 30 years. Bottom left: Gerald and Carolyn’s son Rusty talking about “a day on the
to teach the next about the importance of farm” and how corn goes from the field to storage at the farm to the elevator to be
agriculture,” she said. sold to “buy his daughter a pair of shoes for school.” | Becca Gulliver, MFB
Other sponsors included Midland
other non-farmers. Promotion through local customer demand.
Exchange Club, Gleaner Life, Greenstone
businesses helped wrangle almost 20 tour- Denny Farms in Saranac hosted the
Farm Credit Services and Midland County
goers, including staffers from the offices of lunch stop, where Clinton County dairy
Farm Bureau, which helped defer students’
Congressman Justin Amash and State Rep. farmer and well-known “ag-vocate”
transportation costs to and from the farm.
Julie Calley. Others included representatives Carla Wardin spoke about food myths and
Ionia County of the Ionia Chamber of Commerce, new FB Michigan-grown commodities.
Promotion and Education volunteers Dani Insurance Agent Ashley Feehan and several The group then toured Carbon Green
Dryer and Mandy Teachworth organized other community members. BioEnergy, an ethanol production plant in
a Sept. 12 farm tour for local officials and Tour-goers met up first at the Farm De- Woodbury, before returning to Ionia.
pot store in Ionia, which welcomed guests
Huron Shores
to start their day by climbing aboard a
large crop sprayer. In the cab, Teachworth Thirteen Young Farmers from Alcona and
pointed out the operators’ visibility limita- Alpena counties spent Sept. 9 visiting ag
tions, driving home a subtle reminder about sites in the Saginaw Valley. Half educational
roadway etiquette and the need for motor- road trip and half relaxed networking jun-
ists’ mindfulness. ket, the daylong bus tour left Alpena early
A bus then took participants to rural Or- in the morning and stopped first at Michi-
leans Township for a tour of denDulk Dairy, gan Sugar Company’s marquee processing
where Ashley denDulk put a spotlight on facility in Bay City.
modern nutrient management measures, Afternoon stops included the Mike
including the in-ground methane digester Mulders’ vegetable farm outside Essexville,
and manure separating facility. and Weiss Dairy near Frankenmuth.
From there it was off to Heffron Farms They wrapped up the day with grubs
and Market, where operator Bryan Hef- and suds at the Tri-City Brewery in Bay City
fron shed light on beef production with before the long haul back north on US-23.
particular emphasis on animal welfare Elsewhere
and management options. In response Upcoming farm tours include a Missau-
to questions about benefits of “natural” kee County Young Farmer junket in late Oc-
meat, Heffron explained that his choice to tober and a tour of agricultural sites across
raise cattle without growth hormones or the southwestern Lower Peninsula for State
feed antibiotics is primarily a function of Sen. John Proos, yet to be scheduled.
Bridge card. It is a partnership between the to give Flint residents a better food system. for Flint’s residents; increase the capacity
Flint Farmers’ Market (a leader in utilizing Funding for the Flint Fresh Food Hub to of families to take responsibility for their
innovative food assistance programs), the improve Flint’s healthy food access comes own health by organizing wrap around
Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the from local foundations and the Michigan health services; support local farmers and
Flint YMCA, the Neighborhood Engagement Department of Education. This food hub growers; increase the number of local food
Hub and the Local Grocer. will be an integral part of the Flint Fresh related businesses; and provide additional
This May, it added the Flint Fresh Veggie mission to improve healthy food access jobs in Flint.
Box program, a subscriber-based produce
delivery program (to homes and businesses
in Flint) aimed at ensuring that more Flint
residents have access to fresh food, and
that local farmers have access to new
markets and sources of revenue. The col-
laboration around the mobile market and
its veggie box program includes support for
farmers from a staff member of edible flint,
a grass-roots organization with a mission
to support Flint residents in growing and
accessing healthy food, which is supported
through a partnership with Michigan State
University Extension.
The local food movement in Flint had
been active for many years, working with
limited resources to address the income
and health disparities present in Flint and
Genesee County’s residents and their need
for healthy food access. The situation in
Flint was made worse by the recent lead
in the water crisis, and the increased need
for healthy foods to help mitigate lead
exposure brought to the forefront additional
resources and the partnership of numerous
state and local organizations collaborating Distribution and shipping are part of the food hub’s function as well. | Flint Fresh
www.michiganfarmnews.com
DNR LAUNCHES SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY CAMPAIGN
DNR
The Michigan Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) has launched a new
statewide multimedia campaign to promote
awareness about the environmental, socio-
economic and public health benefits of
Michigan’s trees.
The “A tree for life. Forests for a lifetime”
campaign introduces the importance of
sustainable forestry and responsible forest
management in a series of four 30-second
ads that use real paper cutouts blended
with an animation style that brings the
paper to life.
“The goal of the campaign is to improve
recognition among Michigan residents that
our forests need care and management to
provide clean water, grow our economy,
improve quality of life and preserve our
precious natural resources for future gen-
erations,” said Debbie Begalle, the DNR’s
chief of forest resources. “Forests are much
healthier when they are actively taken care
Michigan’s forests are growing considerably faster than they’re being cut—each year
2.7 times more wood is grown than harvested. | Courtesy photo
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of, which includes planting trees, fighting
disease and ensuring the right amount of
trees are cut down in Michigan to balance
the needs of people and animals.”
With nearly 4 million acres of state forest
land, Michigan has one of the nation’s larg-
est state forest systems. The state’s forest
products industry generates $20 billion
annually and employs more than 96,000
people statewide.
The campaign is inspired by results from
a 2017 DNR-commissioned survey that
uncovered knowledge and perceptions of
Michigan residents, including:
• Nearly 90 percent of respondents agreed
that public lands and forests are valuable
and important—even if they don’t go
there themselves.
• Nearly 90 percent said it’s important that
people manage forests in order to keep
them healthy.
An overwhelming majority felt the role of
forests was beneficial in providing clean air
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October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News 13
and water to the state. “cutting down trees is bad” is not accu-
The survey also uncovered common rate. Cutting trees prevents the spread of
misconceptions about sustainable forestry disease and insects, allows new trees and
that will be addressed by the new cam- plants to grow, creates better and diverse
paign. Many Michigan residents were habitat and forage for wildlife, maintains
not aware of key topics central to forest safe recreation areas and provides wood
management, including: for many of the products we use every day.
• Active management is essential to The video series—which uses a blend
responsible environmental stewardship. of traditional stop-motion and digital
Forests are much healthier when dedi- filmmaking—was created using paper
cated people following sound science- made from Michigan trees. The paper
based management plans actively was produced by French Paper Co.—a
manage them. The DNR follows the rules sixth-generation, family-owned paper mill
to make sure the right amount of trees located in Niles, Michigan.
are cut to balance the needs of people The spots will air on social media plat-
and wildlife. forms and traditional public and commer-
• Michigan will not run out of forests. Trees cial broadcasting outlets in metro Detroit.
are a renewable resource. In fact, Michi- Or watch them at www.michigan.gov/For-
gan’s forests are growing considerably estsForALifetime, where you can also learn
faster than they are being cut – each more about sustainable forestry manage-
year 2.7 times more wood is grown than ment in Michigan.
harvested. “Careful management is critical to ensur-
• Michigan has strong rules in place ing sustainable forests, whether they’re in
protecting our forests. Since 2005, the the heart of Detroit or in the heart of the
Michigan DNR has been certified by in- Upper Peninsula,” Begalle said. “That’s why
dependent, third-party review of on-the- we work so hard to keep our forests strong
ground forest practices that ensure our and abundant.”
forests are well-managed. This rigorous Knowing the importance of the state’s
certification system means you can trust forests, it’s clear that the general public has
that the products you purchase have some learning to do, said Craig Knudsen,
been manufactured responsibly. Michigan Farm Bureau’s forestry specialist.
“Educating the general public of the
The long-term health of forests some-
importance of a healthy managed forest
times requires cutting. The notion that
is vital to the future of Michigan’s Forest
economy,” he said.
are
Trait Stewardship
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Production:
nations where import is not permitted. Growers
Proofing:
should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser
to confirm their buying position for this product.
Individual results may vary, and performance may
vary from location to location and from year to year.
September 26, 2017 2:52 PM
08-15-2017
This result may not be an indicator of results you may
obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions
may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple
locations and years whenever possible.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE
LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend®
Soybeans contain genes that confer tolerance to
glyphosate and dicamba. Glyphosate herbicides
will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate.
Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to
dicamba. Contact your Monsanto dealer or refer to
Monsanto’s Technology Use Guide for recommended
weed control programs. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend®
is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology
LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. ©2017 Monsanto Company.
For approved tank-mix products and nozzles
visit XtendiMaxApplicationRequirements.com
14 Michigan Farm News | September 30, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com

Know your pesticide,

Corn, soybean storage could be a challenge
handle the projected crops if all temporary million bushels stored on-farms, up 25
save best bacteria
USDA, FARM NEWS MEDIA
Finding adequate storage for new crop space is utilized and you factor in disap- percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks,
CORNELL UNIVERSITY corn and soybeans might prove challenging pearance for Sept./Oct./Nov., but noth- 1.51 billion bushels, were up 36 percent
As farmers battle in their above- as the 2017 harvest gets underway. ing always works as well as it looks on from a year ago.
ground war on weeds, they may According to the most recent USDA’s paper,” he said. “These space challenges, Meanwhile, the June–August 2017 indi-
inadvertently create underground National Agriculture Statistics Service however, can be minimized if the railroads cated disappearance was 2.93 billion bush-
casualties—unintentionally attacking (NASS), Great Lakes Regional Office report, are able to perform, exports markets are els, compared with 2.97 billion bushels
the beneficial bacteria that help crops as of Sept. 1, Michigan corn stocks totaled able to stay open and if harvest begins during the same period last year.
guard against enemy fungus, accord- 49.2 million bushels, 26 percent higher early and is spread across September Old-crop soybeans stored in all positions
ing to Cornell University research. than a year earlier, with about 38 percent of through November.” totaled 301 million bushels, up 53 percent
Specifically, Cornell researchers it stored on-farm. So far, Geers said, rail logistics on from last year, with soybeans stored on
found negative consequences of the According to the report, soybean stocks soybeans out of Indiana and Ohio have farms were estimated at 87.9 million bush-
weed-killing herbicide glyphosate on were 20 percent higher than last year at moved smoothly, exports markets remain els, up 112 percent from a year ago.
Pseudomonas, a soil-friendly bacteria. 7.1 million bushels with 2.2 million bushels open and soybean harvest started in mid- Off-farm stocks, 213 million bushels,
“Beneficial Pseudomonas in the stored on-farm. Wheat stocks were pegged September, a full two weeks earlier than were up 38 percent from last September.
soil can help crops thrive. They at 52.6 million bushels, 2 percent below last year. Indicated disappearance for the June–
can produce plant-stimulating a year ago. Approximately 91 percent of “Most of the beans should be har- August 2017 quarter totaled 665 million
hormones to promote plant growth wheat stocks were in commercial storage. vested by the time corn starts, allowing bushels, down 2 percent from last year.
and antifungals to defeat problem- “The USDA’s Sept. 1 stocks number for an orderly progression of harvest,” All wheat stored in all positions totaled
atic fungi—such as Pythium and reflected more corn and soybeans being he said. “Soybeans are also very dry this 2.25 billion bushels, down 11 percent from
Fusarium—found in agricultural soil, carried over than in 2016,” said Robert year, which helps with elevator logistics. a year ago.
but previous studies reported that Geers, a Grain Merchandizer at Michigan As far as the effects of the hurricanes on On-farm stocks were estimated at 489
the abundance of beneficial bacte- Ag Commodities (MAC) in Lansing. Michigan, I expect this to be minimal as the million bushels, down 33 percent from last
ria decreased when the herbicide “Combined with the USDA’s estimated storms did not hit the gulf export markets September. Off-farm stocks, 1.76 billion
glyphosate seeps underground,” record corn and soybean crop for Michi- or affect any of the rail lines getting to the bushels, were down 3 percent from a
said Ludmilla Aristilde, assistant pro- gan, stocks will create some short-term gulf or east coast export markets.” year ago. The June–August 2017 report
fessor of biological and environmen- space challenges for Michigan farmers and Old-crop U.S. corn stocks in all posi- indicated disappearance was 668 million
tal engineering. “Our study seeks to commercial elevators. tions, totaled 2.29 billion bushels, up 32 bushels, down 10 percent from the same
understand why this happens.” “On paper, Michigan should be able to percent from last year at this time with 787 period a year earlier.
Soil bacteria require their proteins
—composed of amino acids—and
their metabolism to support cel-
lular growth and the production of
important metabolites to sustain their
underground fight. But glyphosate
applied to crops can drain into the
soil and disrupt the molecular facto-
ries in the bacterial cells in some spe-
cies, interfering with their metabolic
and amino acid machinery.
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glyphosate does not target the amino
acid production and metabolic gad-
getry equally among the Pseudomo-
nas species.
For example, when Pseudomonas
protegens, a bacteria used as a bio-
control agent for cereal crops, and
Pseudomonas fluorescens, used as
a fungus biocontrol for fruit trees,
were exposed to varying glyphosate
concentrations, the researchers
noted no ill effects.
However, in two species of Pseu-
domonas putida, used in soil fungus
control for corn and other crops, the
bacteria had notably stunted growth,
said Aristilde, who is a faculty fellow
at Cornell’s Atkinson Center for a
Sustainable Future.
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“Thus, if a farmer is using Pseu-
domonas fluorescens as a biocon-
trol, then it is probably okay to use
glyphosate,” Aristilde said. “But if the
farmer uses Pseudomonas putida to
control the fungus in the soil, then
glyphosate is more likely to prevent
the bacteria from doing its job.”
The study offers molecular details
for why glyphosate adverse effects
on Pseudomonas are species-
specific. “That’s actually good news
because—as a society—we will
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likely not stop using herbicide com-
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www.michiganfarmnews.com
Check corn fields for stalk quality, adjust harvest …
FARM NEWS MEDIA, DUPONT PIONEER
Stalk lodging problems frequently occur
on corn acres every year due to a variety of
stresses that affect stalk quality. For many
Michigan producers dealing with extreme
drought conditions this year, they may want
to step up their frequency of monitoring
stalk conditions on their corn acres this fall.
Put simply, if normal photosynthesis
is unable to supply the demands of the
developing kernels, the plant redirects root
and stalk carbohydrates to the ear, which
can accelerate stalk rot organisms invading
weakened and dying plant tissues.
Careful scouting and harvesting fields
according to crop condition can help
prevent field losses due to low stalk qual-
ity. Growers should monitor their fields as
harvest approaches to identify stalk quality
problems and prepare to harvest before
field losses occur.
Through photosynthesis, the leaves of
the corn plant capture sunlight and carbon
dioxide to produce sugars (photosynthate).
These sugars are directed to the actively
growing organs of the plant. Early in plant
development, sugars move to the roots,
where they are converted to structural
carbohydrates and proteins in the develop-
GROW A HEALTHIER
BOTTOM LINE
ing root tissues. As the plant continues to
grow, photosynthate is directed to the stalk
for temporary storage.
Upon successful pollination, ear develop-
ment places a great demand on the plant
for carbohydrates. When the carbohydrate
demands of the developing kernels exceed
the supply produced by the leaves, stalk
and root storage reserves are tapped.
University studies indicate that during
grain fill, about 60 percent to 70 percent of
the non-fiber carbohydrates in the stalk are
moved to other parts of the plant, but pri-
marily the ear (Daynard et al., 1969; Jones
and Simmons, 1983).
This stalk depletion begins approximately
2 to 3 weeks following silking. Environmental
stresses which decrease the amount of pho-
tosynthate produced by the plant can force
plants to extract even greater percentages
of stalk carbohydrates, which preserves
grain fill rates at the expense of the stalk.
As carbohydrates stored in the roots
and stalk are mobilized to the ear, these
structures begin to decline and soon lose
their resistance to soilborne pathogens.
High temperatures at this time increase
the rate at which the fungi invade and
colonize the plant.
Win back the 4 billion pounds of annual oil demand you lost to canola and other crops. High oleic
soybeans produce oil with zero trans fat and less saturated fat. That’s why the food industry wants it,
and processors and elevators are willing to pay a premium for it. Grow it now and grow your bottom line.
New delivery locations are being added every year, and current programs are expanding their offerings.
Ask your seed rep for the best varieties in your area. — S OY I N N O VAT I O N . C O M
October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News
Though pathogens play a key role in
stalk rot development, it is primarily the
inability of the plant to provide sufficient
photosynthate to the developing ear that
initiates the process.
The decrease in photosynthetic rates
due to drought stress has been well docu-
mented in research studies. Water rela-
tions within the plant and CO2 and oxygen
exchange are directly affected. In addi-
tion, if leaf rolling occurs during drought,
the effective leaf surface for collection of
sunlight is reduced.
In research studies in which water was
withheld from plants beginning at the
mid-grain-fill stage, photosynthesis was
eventually shut down. Subsequent grain
development depended entirely on stalk
carbohydrate reserves.
Even favorable growing conditions can
have a negative effect on stalks. If favor-
able growing conditions exist when the
number of kernels per ear is being estab-
lished (V10-V17), the eventual demand for
photosynthate will be large. Each potential
kernel represents an additional requirement
for translocatable sugars from the plant.
If stress conditions develop during ear fill
which render the plant unable to produce
©2017 United Soybean Board
15
enough sugars, stalks will suffer.
Reducing harvest losses due to stalk
lodging
Careful scouting and harvesting fields
according to crop condition can help
prevent field losses due to low stalk quality.
Corn loss potential should be weighed just
as heavily as grain moisture in deciding
which fields to harvest first. Scouting fields
approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to the ex-
pected harvest date can identify fields with
weak stalks predisposed to lodging. Fields
with high-lodging potential should be slated
for early harvest.
Weak stalks can be detected by pinching
the stalk at the first or second elongated
internode above the ground. If the stalk
collapses, advanced stages of stalk rot are
indicated. Another technique is to push the
plant sideways about 8 to 12 inches at ear
level. If the stalk crimps near the base or
fails to return to the vertical position, stalk
rot is indicated. Check 20 plants in 5 areas
of the field. If more than 10 percent to 15
percent of the stalks are rotted, that field
should be considered for early harvest.
Honeybees could help
develop antibiotics
UIC
An antimicrobial compound made
by honeybees could become the
basis for new antibiotics, according
to new research at the University of
Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
No new antibiotics have been dis-
covered for more than 30 years, and
some bacteria are becoming immune
to the drugs used to treat or prevent
infections, UIC said.
Each year in the U.S., at least 2
million people become infected with
bacteria that are resistant to antibiot-
ics, and at least 23,000 people die
each year as a direct result of these
infections, according to the Centers
for Disease Control & Prevention.
Many more people die from other
conditions that were complicated by
an antibiotic-resistant infection.
In a new study published in the
journal Nature Structural & Molecular
Biology, UIC researchers, led by co-
investigators Alexander Mankin and
Nora Vázquez-Laslop of the College
of Pharmacy’s Center for Biomolecular
Sciences, explained how a derivative
of the antibiotic apidaec in—Api137—
can block the production of proteins in
potentially harmful bacteria.
Many antibiotics kill bacteria by
targeting the ribosome, which makes
all the proteins in the cell. Protein
production can be halted by interfering
with different stages of translation—
the process by which DNA is “trans-
lated” into protein molecules, Mankin
said. Api137 is the first known inhibitor
of translation termination, he said.
Api137 is a natural product pro-
duced by bees, wasps or hornets.
In nature, many organisms defend
themselves from infection by making
antibacterial peptides, which can be
used as antibiotics if “we understand
how they work,” said Tanja Florin, a
UIC doctoral student who served as
one of the lead authors on the paper.
“This project was a result of an
excellent collaboration of our team,”
said Vázquez-Laslop, who worked
with two research groups in Ger-
many. “We can now harness the
knowledge of how Api137 works
in order to make new drugs that
would kill bad bacteria using a similar
mechanism of action.”
16 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com

ARC, PLC prices revealed

USDA
Several issues related to current farm
programs and the upcoming farm bill have
arisen over the last couple of weeks.
ARC and PLC Payments
The National Agricultural Statistics Ser-
vice (NASS) published its final Marketing
Year Average (MYA) prices that will be used
to determine Agricultural Risk Coverage
(ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) pay-
ments for corn, grain sorghum, soybeans
and wheat.
The NASS 2016/17 MYA final prices were
$3.36 for corn, $9.47 for soybeans, $2.79
for grain sorghum and $3.89 for wheat.
The PLC payment rates (calculated by
subtracting the MYA from the reference
price): wheat is $5.50 - $3.89 = $1.61,
corn is $3.70 - $3.36 = $0.34, sorghum is
$3.95 - $2.79 = $1.16, and the PLC pay-
ment rate is zero for soybeans.
The PLC payment rate is multiplied by the
farm’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) program
yield X base acres X 85 percent X crop
share X (1 - 6.8 percent) sequestration cut.
Farmers can expect the PLC/ARC pay-
ment deposits on about the 15th–20th of
October.
The sequestration cut is scheduled to
increase from 6.8 percent to 6.9 percent for
the 2017/18 market year payments that will
be paid a year from now. Sequestration cuts
do not apply to crop insurance or Conserva-
tion Reserve Program (CRP) contracts.
Crop insurance bills
Senators Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Jeanne
Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced S. 1773 to
cut $3.9 billion from the crop insurance
program. The bill amends the Federal Crop
Insurance Act to lower the Standard Re-
insurance Agreement (SRA) rate of return
from 14.5 percent to 9.6 percent.
The SRA is an agreement negotiated
between the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) and private insurance companies
that determines the amount of taxpayer sub-
sidies that will be paid to those private com-
panies for participating in the federal crop
insurance program, as well as the amount of
risk shouldered by the federal government.
The bill also ends the provision prohibit-
ing the USDA’s Risk Management Agency
(RMA) from realizing taxpayer savings
through regular renegotiations of the SRA.
The House counterpart is HR 3698 and
was introduced by Congressman Duncan
(R-Tenn.) and Ron Kind (D-Wisc.)
General Accounting Office (GAO) report
on Crop Insurance:
The GAO released a report finding the
crop insurance program’s target rate of
return does not reflect market conditions.
In a study requested by Sen. Dianne
Feinstein (D-Calif.), GAO stated there is an
annual estimated savings of $364 million if
USDA were to lower the expected rate of
return from 14.5 percent to 9.6 percent, the
average rate of return. GAO also suggested
the portion of premium retained by the
companies should be reduced.
Since 2000, companies have kept an
average of 77 percent of the premiums col-
lected and USDA receives 23 percent.
After the report was issued, Congress-
man Blumenauer (D-Ore.) filed an amend-
ment to the House Appropriations package
that would have imposed a payment limit
of $125,000 on the aggregate of commod-
ity payments, conservation payments, and
crop insurance premium discounts.
The amendment was not allowed but it
will resurface. It is identical to a recommen-
dation made in the GAO report.

FDA raw milk petition tions on safety instructions, including self-

or home-pasteurization procedures.
silence” that has accompanied the filing
of a citizen petition with FDA to legal
when well-produced.
Gumpert, the author of “The Raw Milk
divides fans FDA has until late October to respond interstate raw milk sales. Revolution” and other books promoting
to the petition. The agency, along with Consumers, according to Gumpert, unpasteurized milk, said Salatin’s view-
DAN FLYNN
FOOD SAFETY NEWS
state health and agriculture departments, have contributed $30,000 in support of point “is naive.” He said the anti-raw-milk
the Centers for Disease Control and the petition, while dairy farmers have been crowd wants the issue to “disappear from
The new strategy to bust loose more
Prevention and the U.S. Department of “notably absent from the campaign.” the scene, period, end of a sentence.”
territory for retail sales of raw milk has
Agriculture has a long record of advising A prominent opponent to the cur- The petition walks a narrow line.
caused the unintended consequence of
against the consumption of unpasteur- rent position is Joel Salatin, the Virginia “There is no need, however, for milk
dividing proponents over a petition ask-
ized dairy products, including raw milk. “celebrity farmer” who says the petition to be pasteurized before it is sold to
ing the Food and Drug Administration
But just as many pot farmers oppose appears to favor home pasteurization as consumers,” it says. “Self-pasteurization
(FDA) to make it happen.
state legalization of marijuana, the pro- the best option for consumers. His farm- is as effective as industrial pasteurization
In May, attorneys Jonathan W. Emord
raw milk blogger David Gumpert says to-consumer operation does not offer in reducing bacterial infection in milk and
and Bethany R. Kennedy of Cliffton, VA,
farmers are “dragging behind consumers customers any raw milk option. milk products.”
petitioned FDA on behalf of the Real
in the push for ‘legal’ interstate raw milk.” Salatin said the petition now before The petition proposes a warning and
Food Consumer Coalition to allow raw
In comparing raw milk to marijuana, FDA “completely yields” all the ground instructions on raw milk and cream
milk to cross state boundaries with a
Gumpert said he suspects part of what milk advocates have tried to gain by from raw milk that is transported across
warning about its health risk and instruc-
we are seeing is the “deafening farmer showing that raw milk is inherently safe state lines.

YOU SET THE GROUND RULES

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, , Trademarks and service marks of DuPont, Pioneer or their respective owners. © 2017 PHII PO329. Encirca services
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provide estimates and management suggestions based on statistical and agronomic models. Encirca services are not a
substitute for sound field monitoring and management practices. Individual results may vary and are subject to a variety of
factors, including weather, disease and pest pressure, soil type, and management practices.
www.michiganfarmnews.com October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News 17

OU GET
W DO Y
HO

E R Y IE LD
IG H
H TIAL AND
PO T E N EE D
E T T ER W
B T RO L?
CO N

The answer is
New Pioneer® brand A-Series soybeans, the highest-yielding soybeans
we’ve ever introduced*. Now with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® Technology.

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*Statement based upon 10,702 2016 DuPont Pioneer IMPACT ™ plot comparisons against key competitive checks (+/- .03RM) where new A-Series varieties had an average yield advantage of 2.3 bu/acre.
Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC used under license.
PIONEER® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents.
, , Trademarks and service marks of DuPont, Pioneer or their respective owners. © 2017 PHII. DUPPSY17014_VC_101317_MFN
® TM SM
18 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com
Advertisement
DO NOT APPLY DICAMBA HERBICIDE IN-CROP TO
SOYBEANS WITH Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology
unless you use a dicamba herbicide product that is
specifically labeled for that use in the location where
you intend to make the application. IT IS A VIOLATION
OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO MAKE AN IN-CROP
APPLICATION OF ANY DICAMBA HERBICIDE PRODUCT
ON SOYBEANS WITH Roundup Ready 2 Xtend®
technology, OR ANY OTHER PESTICIDE APPLICATION,
UNLESS THE PRODUCT LABELING SPECIFICALLY
AUTHORIZES THE USE. Contact the U.S. EPA and your
state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions
about the approval status of dicamba herbicide
products for in-crop use with soybeans
with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL
DIRECTIONS. Soybeans with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend®
technology contain genes that confer tolerance to
glyphosate and dicamba. Glyphosate herbicides will
kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba
will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba.
Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® is a registered trademark of
Monsanto Technology LLC used under license.
^EXPORT APPROVAL NOTICE: These products are
authorized for planting in the United States and
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requirements for this product. For questions
regarding product stewardship and biotech traits,
please contact your sales representative or refer to
www.pioneer.com/stewardship. Growers are required
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delivering grain containing biotech traits.
Always follow stewardship practices in accordance
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Always follow grain marketing, stewardship
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Always follow grain marketing, stewardship
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Roundup Ready ® crops contain genes that confer
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brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are
not tolerant to glyphosate. Genuity ®, Roundup® and
Roundup Ready 2 Yield® are registered trademarks
of Monsanto Technology LLC used under license.
Individual results may vary, and performance may
vary from location to location and from year to year.
This result may not be an indicator of results you may
obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions
may vary. Growers should evaluate data from
multiple locations and years whenever possible.
Pioneer is a member of Excellence Through
Stewardship® (ETS).
Pioneer is a member of Excellence Through
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their import is not permitted. Growers should discuss
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to confirm the purchaser or handler’s position on
products being purchased. Excellence Through
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SCN = Resistant to one or more races of Soybean Cyst
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PIONEER® brand products are provided subject to the
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labeling and purchase documents. ®, TM, SM Trademarks
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Farm real estate pricey compared to income?
BRENT GLOY increases occurring in the last decade. In (ERS). Inflation adjusted (real 2017 USD) val-
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC INSIGHTS recent years, agricultural incomes have ues for each year since 1960 are shown in
According to the USDA, the aggregate fallen, and it is important to consider how Figure 1. The figure has a couple of notable
value of U.S. ag real estate is more than the current values compare to the income features. First, the large increase and decline
$2.5 trillion and represents 83 percent of generation of the sector. associated with the 15-year period from
total farm assets. Real estate values on a great run 1971-1986 are clearly seen in the figure.
For the last 25 years, U.S. farm real U.S. farm real estate values were collect- The second feature is the long upward
estate values have increased in a relatively ed from the balance sheet estimates made trend starting in 1992. Since then, real
steady manner, with some rather large by the USDA’s Economic Research Service estate has steadily increased, with only
six years showing modest declines (the
largest of those was a 2 percent decline
FIGURE 1. REAL VALUE OF ALL FARM REAL ESTATE, notched in 2007).
In contrast, three years saw double-digit
U.S. FARM SECTOR, 1960-2017
percentage increases. Since 1992, the
appreciation in U.S. farm sector real estate
has averaged a 4 percent real increase.
This has taken farm real estate values
roughly $500 billion above the inflation ad-
justed peak seen in 1981. Keep in mind all
of the changes are real changes, having re-
moved the impact of inflation which makes
the performance all the more impressive.
How do values compare?
Often when we examine farmland
valuation in our posts, we are looking at
a specific type of agricultural real estate.
The analysis that follows is different in that
combines all types of real estate and all
sources of income.
FIGURE 2. VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTION RELATIVE TO FARM REAL ESTATE,
It is important to understand that we are
U.S. FARM SECTOR, 1960-2017 considering the aggregate value of farm
real estate and income. It is also important
to realize that the U.S. farm sector is quite
diverse, with a wide range of crops and
livestock produced.
The real estate used in agricultural pro-
duction is also quite different from region
to region and application to application.
As such, one cannot infer that all farm real
estate is over- or under-priced, rather we
are trying simply to look at the overall trend
in the sector.
Farm real estate derives its value from
the income that it can produce. The value
of farm production consists of the value
of crops and livestock produced by U.S.
farmers.
It is adjusted for changes in inventory val-
www.aisequip.com
ues as well as other farm-related income.
It might be thought of as a rough proxy
Do More for Less
for gross income. We chose this ratio over
cash receipts because it makes adjust-
ments for changes in the value of inventory.
Figure 2 shows the ratio of the real value
of farm production to real farm real estate
values. Over the time period shown, this
ratio averaged 25 percent.
In other words, one dollar of farm real
estate generated 25 cents of production.
As the ratio declines, farm real estate gen-
erates less production relative to its cost.
In other words, as the ratio falls, real estate
becomes more expensive relative to the
value of production that it generates.
The ratio has seen several periods when
it was well over 25 percent. For instance,
prior to 1975 and from 1985-1999 the
value of farm production was at least 25
percent of farm real estate values. It has
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below 25 percent. From 1975-1985 and
since 1999 it has been below 25 percent.
Today, the ratio stands at 16 percent.
This is the lowest value that it has ever reg-
istered. At the sector level, a dollar of farm
real estate has never produced a smaller
value of farm production. In other words,
farm real estate is valued quite high rela-
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Lansing Grand Rapids – 616.538.2400 the time frame shown. Although it appears
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See REAL ESTATE, page 23
www.michiganfarmnews.com
In the 2017 Field Focus, we’ve once again tapped into Michigan Farm
Bureau’s ProFile class. The Professional Institute for Leadership
Education is a 15-month program that develops personal potential
into strong leadership and advocacy. This year, only Judy Bishop and
Jeff Russcher are not ProFile participants, although Russcher’s wife
Lisa is in the program.
JEFF & LISA RUSSCHER | ALLEGAN & OTTAWA COUNTIES
Along with their family, Jeff and Lisa Russcher
workson a third-generation farrow-to-finish hog farm
in Allegan & Ottawa counties. In addition to the hogs,
Jeff and wife Lisa also raise corn and soybeans for
use in their farm operation.
Soybean harvest is pretty much finished up.
Yields are averaging between 30-60 bushels
per acre. The beans were very dry. Ground
condition is incredibly dry. It is hard to do any
tillage because it is so dry. Corn harvest is just
beginning. We are thankful for the great harvest
season so far.
MARK ZACHARDA | SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
Mark Zacharda, his father, Mark A., and mother Kathy Zacharda
grow corn, wheat and soybeans, and produce hay and straw
from their family farm in Shiawassee County. Mark and wife
Stephanie have two daughters: Edie, 6, and Maisie, 4.
In mid-Michigan, soybean harvest is progressing ahead
of schedule. Many people started cutting beans earlier
than any year past, and some farmers have completed
their soybean harvest. The extremely dry summer has
rolled into a fall where the weather has remained largely
clear, which has resulted in favorable harvest conditions.
Despite the dry growing season, yields have been in the
average range. The venerable soybean plant has proved
its resilience again! Many farmers are seeing yields from
20 to 40 bushels/acre. If one’s farm was in an area
fortunate enough to see some extra water, yields may top 50. The dry year has
raised concerns in regard to winter wheat planting. For one, the wheat grain price
has not exactly been a motivating factor for farmers to increase wheat acres.
Also, “dusting in” the wheat adds to concern about emergence. The corn die-
down was expedited by the dry summer (have I mentioned the dry summer?!)
and many farmers will be able to drop the grain platform and transition directly to
the corn head. The yield results are likely to be less encouraging, though.
JUDY BISHOP | CHIPPEWA COUNTY
Judy Bishop, along with her brother J.D. Bishop, his
family, and their parents Dave and Jane Bishop, raise
timothy hay, oats and specialty grasses for silage
on 1200 acres in Chippewa County. She works on
Mackinac Island as a barn manager for Mackinac
Island Carriage Tours.
We finally got all the hay off for the year! We
had some of our nicest weather in September!
People in the area are starting to chop corn
and other crops for silage. Things on the island are in a downward flow. We
have about 100 horses here currently and continue to ship more every week.
Eventually it will be just 20 or so left for winter.
October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News
BRADY BROWN | SANILAC COUNTY
19
Brady Brown is a Stine seed dealer who grows
corn, soybeans, sugar beets alfalfa and milks
cows in Sanilac County with his wife Kellie,
daughter Bailie and son Aaron.
Corn is all chopped. It was a little drier
than we wanted, but we finished the job
and are working on soybeans. They’re
really too dry too, at around 10 or 11
percent moisture, but yields are decent.
Only about 120 acres left. Dry beans in
the area are winding down. I imagine they’re too dry like the soybeans.
We took in our third round of sugar beets. It will be the last until the
permanent piling begins, but that won’t happen until it cools down.
Quality is holding pretty good, at around 19 percent sugar. High-moisture
corn is still a little ways away. We tested two loads off the headlands,
and it was almost 40 percent moisture.
NATALIE PENNINGTON | MECOSTA COUNTY
Natalie Pennington and husband Thomas
Pennington farm in Mecosta County, growing for
a farm market (fruit and vegetables), along with
sheep, pigs, cattle, petting farm, a greenhouse,
bakery and a farm-to-table kitchen. They welcomed
the arrival of their first child, Felicity, this year.
Frost’s biting breath has attacked much of our
gardens. Weeds this time of year prove to be
an ally to delicate fruits hiding in the sticks.
The pumpkins have been nestled under
blankets of tarps to protect from the frozen
nip that threatens to destroy their delicate cells. The colored pumpkins and
squash fare the worst if not protected. Autumn has come, but the trees lie
about the season. There are crisp leaves under our feet, but only because
of dry wind. We have yet to see the rainbow of color that brings far off
travelers our way.
BRADLEY JERICHOW | EMMET COUNTY
Bradley Jerichow runs a malting barley and
beekeeping operation in Emmet County.
Everything is picked that’s going to be
picked, because I broke the combine.
The thrashing belt has been bad for a
long time, and it’s an old Oliver that they
quit making a long time ago, so I’m in the
market for a new machine. I have a year
to find something. There’s a real good
community here, and people are willing to
help. They know I’m still in the early stages of the farm and I still don’t have
the equipment I need. First, I think I’ll work on getting a barn to put it in. I
found a Quonset hut, if the school will sell it to me. I put on a mite treatment
for the bees, and will harvest honey soon. There’s been a badger picking on
one of the hives, but I’m going to let him go because badgers eat skunks all
winter, and they’ve been after the bees, too.

NICK OOMEN | OCEANA COUNTY

Nick Oomen, with his father Ken, Uncle Ralph and cousin Tyler, farms 1800
acres in Oceana County, specializing in asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower,
zucchini, carrots, corn, wheat, rye, tart cherries and summer squash.
We’re staying very busy here in Hart. Broccoli and cauliflower have
finished up along with soybeans last week. We were able to get all of
our wheat planted, except a small percentage that will follow winter
squash, and that should be harvested within the next week or two.
Carrot harvest seems to be keeping us busy. The moderate weather
we got all summer helped with yields. Now it’s just getting them out of
the fields. October and November are going to keep us very busy as
we still have a long way to go, with harvest really just getting started.
20 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com

MAEAP AND FORD’S LEGACY FARM

MCA
The Michigan Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) is a
proud partner of the Michigan Agriculture Envi-
ronmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). Michi-
gan Cattlemen are true stewards of the land and
believe in upholding environmental integrity.
Many of our members own and manage farms
that are MAEAP verified in not only the Livestock
System, but also the Farmstead and Cropping
Systems.
Ken and Pat Brown are Michigan Cattlemen’s
Association members who operate Kitty Kurtis
Farms in Harrison, MI. Kitty Kurtis Farms is a 270
pair cow-calf operation that sits on 1,560 acres
that has been in the Brown family since 1948. The
farm has a rich history—in the early 1900s this
farm was owned by Henry Ford and the Henry
Ford Motor Company. Today Kitty Kurtis Farms is a
successful cow-calf cattle enterprise.
Kitty Kurtis Farms was the first farm in Clare
County to become MAEAP verified and one of the
few farms in the area to be verified in Livestock
System, Farmstead and Cropping System. Kitty
Kurtis Farms has been MAEAP verified since 2005
and has gone through the MAEAP renewal process
several times. The Brown’s believe in the MAEAP
program and feel the program has given them the
tools to better protect their farmland. Ken finds that
the detailed record keeping and soil testing help to
keep his farm better on track by not wasting valu-
able time and resources.
Ken encourages all farmers to become MAEAP
verified. He recommends starting small and work-
ing steadily through the process.
“It is not necessary to be verified in all four sys-
tems,” Ken said. Ken has had the opportunity to
work with several MAEAP verifiers over the years.
“Each verifier was very knowledgeable and did a
great job in guiding us through the MAEAP verifica-
tion and reverification process,” he said.

Top left: Kitty Kurtis Farms’ 2017 calves. | Top right: Kitty
Kurtis Farms has been proudly MAEAP verified since
2005. | Bottom left: Ken Brown is speaking to a group on
conservation practices at the 2014 MCA Summer Round-
Up. | Bottom right: Ian Humphres fixing a calf shelter. | MCA

THIS MONTH’S PAGE PROVIDED BY

MICHIGAN CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Michigan Soybean
Promotion Committee
The Soybean Checkoff
michigansoybean.org

For a complete list of partners, visit www.maeap.org.

www.michiganfarmnews.com
Township
CONTINUED from page 1
ment Practices (GAAMPs), even though
the proposed ordinance goes well beyond
GAAMPs and violates the Right-to-Farm
Act, under which GAAMP operate, accord-
ing to Jamie Clover Adams, director of the
Michigan Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development (MDARD).
“Clearly, the Right-to-Farm Act preempts
township actions like this one,” she said.
“This township has seen something they
don’t want, and are trying to find ways to
stop it. I can’t compel a township not to
do this, but eventually, people will have
to spend money (in litigation) to have this
proven out. I wrote the township a letter
(see the entire letter below), pointing out a
few things, but they seem determined to
set their own GAAMPs.”
The township is only doing this to be
sure GAAMPS are followed, said Dr. Phillip
(Pete) VanVranken, DVM, the township’s
planning commission chairman.
“Through the GAAMPs, townships
have no say in how things are done,” he
said. “Right now a farmer can go out and
MDARD’S LETTER TO LEROY TOWNSHIP
A refresher
on Right-to-Farm
FARM NEWS MEDIA
The Michigan Right-to Farm Act was
developed in 1981 in response to urban
sprawl.
It was designed as a mechanism to
protect farmers against nuisance lawsuits
when newcomers to the community com-
build and then could end up fighting with
lawyers. GAAMPs are optional. This offers
more protection for farmers than other
people, but Farm Bureau pitched a fit.”
Part of that ‘fit” was a letter from Bough-
ton to the township board, explaining
exactly why farmers don’t want to add an-
other layer of regulation on top of GAAMPs,
even though they are voluntary.
“Protection for local units of government,
farmers and non-farm residents is already
in place under the Right-to-Farm law,” she
wrote. “Right-to-Farm and GAAMPs have
been proven time and time again to be
effective at allowing for agricultural growth,
environmental protection and community
harmonization.”
The GAAMPs, however, are unenforce-
able because they are optional, VanVranken
said.
“There are no rules in GAAMPs,” he said.
“It’s like at Brigham Young (University),
where students sign a document that says
they won’t have sex. Is that enforceable?
We just want to enforce what should be
enforced.”
Enforcing an illegal ordinance isn’t ex-
actly good government, though, said Matt
Kapp, government relations specialist with
Michigan Farm Bureau.
plain about odors and other consequences
of normal farming practices.
As the mechanism to provide nuisance
protection, farms must conform to Generally
Accepted Agricultural Management Prac-
tices (GAAMP)s. Farmers give up their rights
to protection if they don’t follow those rules.
GAAMPs are not mandatory or law.
The 1999 amendment to the Right-to-
Farm Act required the Michigan Depart-
LOCAL FARM NEWS
DELIVERED MONDAY-FRIDAY
YOUR DOSE OF MI FARM NEWS | www.michiganfarmnews.com
October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News
“I think it’s been made clear from every
challenge to the Right-to-Farm law to date
that townships are not granted the same
authority that the state has,” he said. “The
reason Right-to-Farm was enacted to begin
with was to limit conflicts between farm-
ers and their neighbors. The right-to-Farm
Act benefits both farmers and townships
because it provides one set of best man-
agement practices statewide. It protects
townships because they no longer have
to be agricultural experts. MDARD has the
experts, and GAAMPs have been proven
effective. We’ve had conflicts with GAAMPs
before a new facility was built, but we’ve
had no significant instances that I know
of after a facility was built. That’s because
GAAMPs are working well.”
While VanVranken is correct that
GAAMPS are not laws and cannot be en-
forced by MDARD, the Right-to-Farm Act
is law, and the GAAMPs guidelines under
the act are in essence an insurance policy
against litigation-driven enforcement by
disgruntled citizens, said Lori Laing, a Leroy
Township dairy farmer.
“It’s true that GAAMPs are not manda-
tory, but the fact is that we farmers can’t
even get a loan without having them in
place,” she said. “Pete wouldn’t practice
ment of Agriculture (now MDARD) to
develop the siting GAAMP for new and ex-
panding livestock facilities. The purpose of
the amendment was to prevent townships
from developing their own regulations, said
Matt Kapp, government relations specialist
with Michigan Farm Bureau.
GAAMPS are in place for: Site selection for
livestock facilities, manure management and
utilization, pesticide utilization and pest con-
21
veterinary medicine without insurance, and
that’s what GAAMPs are to us. We follow
them and get protection against nuisance
lawsuits. I don’t think the township really
understands the difference, because back
in February, the township supervisor didn’t
even know there was a siting GAAMP. I
think that’s a perfect example of why we
need state control over things like this.
There’s too much personal opinion involved
and not enough knowledge.”
VanVranken, however, said he and other
township officials consulted with MDARD
and took a tour around the township
together.
“We spent a whole afternoon and had
a long conversation,” he said. “This was a
township board directive (to the planning
commission), and we handled it in a way
we thought was fair to everyone. We’re not
trying to fight Right-to-Farm, and we think
the proposed ordinance is very respect-
ful of everyone’s rights. But yet what we
hear is that ‘we’re going to sue you.’ I think
unequivocally, we’re right about this.”
Kapp, however, believes the township
ordinance, if passed, will never stand up in
court.
“What happens in these cases is that a
farmer, at some point, will want to expand
or start a new enterprise. He’ll go through
all the GAAMPs and develop a site plan
and receive other approvals, and the town-
ship will try to enforce the ordinance,” he
said. “It’s very clear in the Right-to-Farm
amendment in 1999 that the act preempts
local ordinances. We can’t have 1200 dif-
ferent ordinances, one for each township.
We have one set of statewide standards,
and the siting GAAMP’s main purpose is
so farmers will build new and expanding
livestock facilities in appropriate locations.
“Not every site will meet the terms of the
GAAMP, and that’s the whole point,” he
said. “It’s as much to keep the lawyers away
as it is to protect non-farmers and farmers.
Everyone has the right to complain, and
that’s also a part of the act. It’s a good sys-
tem, and it’s all about common sense.”
The Right-to-Farm Act can be confus-
ing, Kapp said, and ordinances like Leroy
Township’s could end up clarifying many
questions if it comes before a judge.
“I suppose that a property owner could
stand on his Right-to-Farm Act rights,”
said Matt Zimmerman, an attorney from
Varnum Law with extensive experience in
these matters. “That forces the township to
bring enforcement action, so it will have to
spend its scarce resources over something
that MDARD already tried to educate them
about. I think townships who go this route
should be careful what they ask for. They
could end up with an appeals court deci-
sion that invalidates the entire ordinance.
That would be a precedent that would be
hard to overturn.”
trol, nutrient utilization, care of farm animals,
farm markets, cranberry production and
irrigation water use. GAAMPs are reviewed
every year by a task force review committee.
GAAMPS are reviewed every year.
“We wouldn’t have had the 1999
amendment unless townships hadn’t
begun developing their own rules, such
as the ones Leroy Township is developing
today,” Kapp said.
22 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com

CREATE AN IRRIGATION REPAIR LIST

LYNDON KELLEY cracks and wear. If you add air to tires
MSU/PURDUE EXTENSION in the fall and they are not still full in the
Before you put your irrigation system spring, they need to be replaced or at
away for the season, create a list of needed least patched.
repairs and potential improvements. ooListen to your traveler–Drive system
“A good end-of-season list of needed noise can help you identify needed
irrigation maintenance and repairs can help off-season repairs. Take time to listen to
irrigators prevent in-season system break- the traveler drive system at the point of
downs and delays in watering during next greatest stress—beginning of the run for
summer” said Lyndon Kelley, MSU/Purdue hard hose traveler, or end of the run or
Extension Irrigation Educator. pull for soft hose systems. Note squeals
Create a plan for tackling repairs, and and knocks that can indicate bearing or
ideally make the repairs before winter sets equipment wear.
in. Often there are special fall pricing and ooInspect the distribution system–Turn
incentives for parts, service and repair work the water on and walk the length of the
that is booked during the fall and winter system or coverage area and list all the
months. Using a smart phone to take needed repairs. Leaks, bad seals and
photos and jot down notes can help create worn out sprinklers can be marked with a
a detailed repair list and makes it easy to crayon or photographed to eliminate the
send to others. need to run water as you make repairs
ooPut the center pivot system in mo- over fall and winter. Watch big guns and
tion and listen–Listen to each center endguns for a few cycles. Hesitations
pivot tower drive system to detect a in advancing around the semi-circle or
damaged gear box or worn bearings. in reversing are indications of a needed
Identify gear box leaks and note or mark tune-up or bearing and seal replacement.
with a crayon for later repair.
ooCheck-out the pressure gauge–First
ooCheck wheels and tires–Inspect
make sure your pressure gauge works. A
wheels for loose lug bolts and tires for
good gauge should return to zero when
system pressure is relieved and should
show the fluctuation in system pressure
as the endgun or addition sprinklers
are turned on and off. Pressure gauges
provide very important information on
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level. Compare the sprinkler package
criteria to your measured flow and make
adjustments as needed. Many dealers
have the capacity to measure irrigation
flow for their clients. Several well drillers
and maintenance companies offer well
testing programs. Be cautious of in-line
impeller style flow meters. Most impeller
style flow meters require annual calibra-
tion to be accurate—misinformation can
be worse than a guess.
A good indication the water supply flow
is not what the system was designed for
is when the pressure at the pivot point is
greater than 10 percent different than your
sprinkler package specification when all of
the sprinklers and the endgun on.
If you utilize sprinkler pressure regulators,
your pressure should be at least 5-10
lbs. greater with the end gun on than
the regulator operating pressure at the
pivot point and just above the regulator
operating pressure at the last sprinkler.
See the explanation in the sprinkler chart
design for details.
ooCompare actual application to the
application chart–One of the surpris-
ing things we found doing uniformity can
tests and flow testing is that about 2/3
of systems evaluated applied less water
than they were designed for.
Accurate applications are dependent
upon measurements of water flow to the
distribution system and control of the
pivot or traveler’s speed.
By timing a complete run of a circle and
comparing to the system application
chart, you can identify problems. The
center pivot percent timer tends to be
less accurate at low settings (below 10
percent). With larger systems, and the
switch to high-speed pivot drives, many
irrigation applications are at these lower
settings.
ooCheck irrigation controls–Test the
function of all the major control and
interlock systems. Check center pivot
ricade, allowing the last tower safety timer
to shut the pivot down as a backup safety
system. Tire skid marks on the barricade
indicates the primary stop switch has
failed and needs replacing.
ooMake the most of irrigated fields
yield maps–GPS yield mapping has
tremendous potential for improving
irrigation design, maintenance and man-
agement. If you had a period of drought
this summer, the yield data and map will
have even greater importance. Normal
rainfall will mask many of the irrigation
issues in most years.
Make a special effort to calibrate your
yield sensor before harvesting irrigated
fields and save the data back to a safe
place before shutting the yield monitoring
system down at the end of the day.
Note areas in the field that have significant
low or highs yields at harvesting and look
for any obvious explanation while still
in the field. After harvest, find the GPS
locations of center points of pivots, wheel
paths or traveler lanes, and double-
watered areas. Most mapping programs
will allow you to draw in the pivot point
and pivot wheel rings, allowing you to
compare yield under each span.
If you do not enjoy the computer part of
yield mapping, consider paying one of
many services or consultants to help you.
Finding irrigation equipment design or
malfunctions can have a long-lasting
benefit. A beginning step is to compare
an aerial photo where you can identify the
irrigation system with the yield map and
see what jumps out at you.
ooCheck your irrigated and non-irrigat-
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plan for future irrigation investments. Due
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®

YGCB, HX1, LL, RR2 (Optimum® Intrasect®) – Contains the YieldGard® Corn is still appropriate for the machine’s turn- equipment is recycled into a few small
Borer gene and Herculex® I gene for resistance to corn borer. give you a simple, quick look at your sys- off mechanism. field or dry corner machines if they still
tem’s output. Late summer/early fall is
Newer-style stop barricades are designed have useable life left.
the low point in the annual cycle for sur-
to catch and spin the tire against the bar-
YGCB,HXX,LL,RR2 (Optimum® Intrasect® Xtra) – Contains the YieldGard® face water and ground water static water
Corn Borer gene and the Herculex® XTRA genes for resistance to corn borer
and corn rootworm.

AQ – Optimum® AQUAmax® product.

Product performance in water-limited environments is variable

and depends on many factors such as the severity and timing of
moisture deficiency, heat stress, soil type, management practices
and environmental stress as well as disease and pest pressures.
All products may exhibit reduced yield under water and heat stress.
Individual results may vary.

HX1 – Contains the Herculex® I Insect Protection gene which provides

protection against European corn borer, southwestern corn borer,
black cutworm, fall armyworm, western bean cutworm, lesser corn stalk
borer, southern corn stalk borer, and sugarcane borer; and suppresses corn
earworm. HXRW – The Herculex® RW insect protection trait contains proteins
that provide enhanced resistance against western corn rootworm, northern
corn rootworm and Mexican corn rootworm. HXX – Herculex® XTRA contains
the Herculex I and Herculex RW genes. YGCB – The YieldGard® Corn Borer gene
offers a high level of resistance to European corn borer, southwestern corn
borer and southern cornstalk borer; moderate resistance to corn earworm
and common stalk borer; and above average resistance to fall armyworm.
LL – Contains the LibertyLink® gene for resistance to Liberty® herbicide. RR2 –
Contains the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait that provides crop safety for
over-the-top applications of labeled glyphosate herbicides when applied
according to label directions.
Herculex® Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and
Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex® and the HX logo are registered trademarks of
Dow AgroSciences LLC. YieldGard ®, the YieldGard Corn Borer Design
and Roundup Ready ® are registered trademarks used under license from
Monsanto Company. Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design
are trademarks of Bayer.

PIONEER® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase
which are part of the labeling and purchase documents.
, , Trademarks and service marks of DuPont, Pioneer or their respective owners.
® TM SM

© 2017 PHII. DUPPCO17032_VA_MFN

A good end-of-season list of needed irrigation maintenance and repairs can help irrigators prevent in-season system breakdowns.
| Paul W. Jackson, Farm News Media
www.michiganfarmnews.com October 15, 2017 | Michigan Farm News 23
Real estate FIGURE 3. REAL NET FARM INCOME RELATIVE TO FARM REAL ESTATE VALUES,
U.S. FARM SECTOR, 1960-2017
CONTINUED from page 18

axis. The standard deviation of this series

is 2 percent compared to 4 percent for the
value of production to real estate values.
The same basic pattern can be seen in
this data as in the previous graph. While
today’s value of 2.5 percent is not the
lowest in the data (that occurred at 1.9
percent in 1983), it is among the low-
est ever seen. In short, from a historical YOUR TRUSTED FARM NEWS
perspective sector level farm real estate IN JUST FIVE MINUTES
values are high relative to sector level net Hosted by Janelle Brose
farm income.

MICHIGAN FARM NEWS PUBLISHERS STATEMENT

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation 13. Publication Title 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation
(All Periodicals Publications Except Requester Publications) MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 (All Periodicals Publications Except Requester Publications)
Publication Title 2. Publication Number 3. Filing Date 16. Electronic Copy Circulation
Average No. Copies No. Copies of Single
15. Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No. Copies No. Copies of Single Each Issue During Issue Published
MICHIGAN FARM NEWS 0 0 0 0 8 4 8 6 9/26/2017
_ Each Issue During Issue Published Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date
Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date
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SEMI-MONTHLY 21 $1.50
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(1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid 41,183 b. Total Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a)
MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU 7373 W SAGINAW HWY TAMI NICHOLSON distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies)
PO BOX 30960 LANSING, MI 48917 Telephone (Include area code)
45,305 43,972
b. Paid c. Total Print Distribution (Line 15f) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a)
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LANSING, MI 48909-8460 Circulation (2)
distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies)
(By Mail
8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not printer)
and 94% 94%
MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU 7373 W SAGINAW HWY Outside Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers,
d. Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies) (16b divided by 16c  100)
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Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are paid above a nominal price.
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If the publication is a general publication, publication of this statement is required. Will be printed Publication not required.
Publisher (Name and complete mailing address) c. Total Paid Distribution [Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)] 42,411 41,183 October 30, 2017
DENNIS RUDAT in the ________________________ issue of this publication.

PO BOX 30960 d. Free or (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 2,143 2,038 18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner Date
LANSING, MI 48909-8460 Nominal
Rate
Distribution (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541 9/26/2017
Editor (Name and complete mailing address) (By Mail
and Editor of Member Publications
PAUL JACKSON Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS
Outside (3)
PO BOX 30960 the Mail) (e.g., First-Class Mail) I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who
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PAUL JACKSON e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)) 2,893 2,788
PO BOX 30960
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f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) 43,971
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and addresses of all stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, give the names
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* If you are claiming electronic copies, go to line 16 on page 3. If you are not claiming electronic copies, skip to line 17 on page 3.
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PS Form 3526, July 2014 [Page 1 of 4 (see instructions page 4)] PSN: 7530-01-000-9931
PRIVACY NOTICE: See our privacy policy on www.usps.com.

PS Form 3526, July 2014 (Page 3 of 4) PRIVACY NOTICE: See our privacy policy on
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N G U P
PUTTI
U M B E R S P I O N E E R BR A N D C ORN ®

I G N
B WHERE YOU P0 15 7A M ™

N R O O T S P0506 ™ A M ™

PUT D OW P99 98 AM

Talk to your DuPont Pioneer team to learn more about

these products designated as local Yield Heroes.

Pioneer.com/Yield
Pioneer ® brand products with the Yield Hero designation are geographically selected based on a combination of factors, including local product
adaptability, yield performance, defensive traits, agronomic characteristics, trait packages and grower preference.
PIONEER® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents.
, , Trademarks and service marks of DuPont, Pioneer or their respective owners. © 2017 PHII. DUPPCO17033VA_091517_MFN
® TM SM
24 Michigan Farm News | October 15, 2017 www.michiganfarmnews.com

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FPP 00100 8 oz.
FPP 01300 16 oz.

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FPP 00106 32 oz.

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COMPLIANT WINTER TREATMENT
Formulated specifically for use in all biodiesel fuels
including B-20 (typically 20% soy or vegetable oil
and 80% #2 diesel fuel.) Prevents wax formation
in cold weather that can plug filters and fuel lines
FARM AND IMPLEMENT PAINT causing the engine to shut down.
Delivers long-lasting quality with durability and FPP 00603 32 oz.
protection for your toughest projects.
• Corrosion resistant
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