Michigan Farm News

Vol. 70, No. 1 At PressTime... Group Risk Plan Crop Insurance - Is It For You? Schuette to Resign MDA Post Soybean and corn acres in select counties will be eligible for GRP in 1994. C^orn and soybean farmers in 37 Michigan Bill Schuette, director of the counties have another crop insurance Michigan Department of product to consider in 1994, that could cost Agriculture for the past three years, only 50 to 60 percent of conventional Multi announced on Jan. 6, that he will Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI), and save a tremendous amount of paper work in the be resigning his Cabinet-level post process, while providing catastrophic loss as of Feb. 25. He plans to return to protection. the Midland-based law firm of Currie & Kendall, P.C. where he The Group Risk Plan, more commonly worked in the early 1980s. known as GRP, grew out of a recommenda­ tion of the Commission for the Improve­ In making his announcement, ment of Crop Insurance, commissioned by Schuette thanked Gov. Engler, the Congress in 1988. MFB President Jack Laurie served on the commission. Michigan Ag Commission, farm groups and farmers for their GRP is an old crop insurance concept, how­ support during his tenure. ever, this is the first time it will be sold on a widespread basis in the U.S. The product As director, Schuette helped to is intended to complement existing in­ secure funding for the $70 million surance products, according to MSU Ag Animal Livestock Initiative at Economist Roy Black. Michigan State University, and implemented a series of environ­ "Farmers basically have three different crop insurance products to choose from, mental policy initiatives, including that most agents in Michigan can sell," ex­ yields. GRP only pays when the yield of the trigger level then is 36 bushels. Anytime the Michigan Groundwater and plained Black. "We have the Hail and Fire county drops below the expected county the county yield was below 36 bushels, the Freshwater Protection Act. products, as they've always been sold; the yield set by the National Agricultural farmer would receive a payment. multi-peril product with indemnities based Statistics Service (NASS). Payment is on shortfalls in the individual farmer's based on the percentage of decline below Farmers can also select any protection level Elsewhere In This Issue... yields; and the new multi-peril product the expected county yield, the coverage per acre up to a maximum that is estab­ known as GRP, with indemnities based on level the farmer selected, and the amount lished as 150 percent of the expected coun­ Weather Outlook: shortfalls in county yield. If your yield his­ Expect colder than normal and of protection purchased. ty yield times the indemnity price. This tory has trended well with the expected feature should attract farmers with yields heavy snowfall page 4 county yield, regardless of whether it's Farmers can select their own coverage higher than the county average according higher or lower, then GRP may be for you." Market Outlook: level of 90,85,80, 75,70, or 65 percent of to Black. the expected county yield. For example, Base your near-term market GRP is based on the premise that when an suppose the expected county yield for Continued on page 12 ...see decisions on Jan. 12 Quarterly entire county's crop yield is low, most soybeans is 40 bushels and a farmer Stocks Report page 6 farmers in that county will also have low chooses a coverage level of 90 percent. The "GRP-Is It For You?" Group Risk Plan Learn more about GRP and Ag Jury Still Out on School Finance Reform whether you should use this new After record breaking debate lasting until , because there are other criteria in current proposal, and an increase in sales tax, ad­ insurance alternative page 7 noon on Dec. 24, and several hundred law that further limit that homestead to just justments to the income tax, he questions BST Management Aspects: amendments to nearly 20 different related the residence where the individual lives and the change to net tax liability. bills, the Legislature put the fate of school the five acres on which that residence is ^ Learn more hands-on manage­ finance reform back in the laps of Michigan located." The following chart summarizes the current ment tips as you consider BST voters and state agencies to determine just law, the statutory plan, which would be the use on your farm page 8 what it all means, according to MFB Legis­ In general, Nelson expects that agriculture basis for funding K-12 education if the bal­ lative Counsel Ron Nelson. will see a lower property tax rate, but per­ lot proposal fails, and finally a brief sum­ Restricted Use Pesticide Rules: haps not to the extent originally anticipated. mary of the ballot proposal if approved by Confused abour recertification "The effort now is to look at the new body However, with the approval of the ballot voters on March 15. procedures? page 11 of law, piece it all together with existing law and then analyze how that will affect TAX SUMMARY agriculture," Nelson explained. "It's impor­ (Revenue in Millions) tant to understand that there is a relationship between the new bills and current law, Statutory Plan Ballot Plan which means we need to have the Michigan Current Law Rate Revenue Rate Revenue Department of Treasury's interpretation." Property Taxes Homes 36-miil average *12 mills $1,198 *6 mills $ 599 Non-homes 36-mill average #24 mills $1,852 #24 mills $1,852 Nelson doesn't expect a final analysis to be Voc ed, ISD taxes 3 mills 3 mills $ 510 3 mills $ 503 available until February due to the com­ Property Transfer 0% 1% $ 213 2% $ 425 plexity of the issue and the sheer number of bills sent to the governor. Income Tax 4.6% 6.0% $1,727 4.4% $- 247 Pers. Exemption $2,100 $3,000 $- 352 $2,100 $ 0 Renter Credit $- 40 $- 40 Of major interest and concern to agriculture 17% of rent 20% of rent 20% of rent is the "homestead" definition. There's still Sales/Use Tax 4.0% 4.0% $ 0 6.0% $1,830 not a definitive answer, and the final out­ Business Tax 2.35% 2.75% $ 335 2.35% $ 0 come could have a big impact on net tax savings for farmers, according to Nelson. Cigarette Tax & 25 cents/pack 40 cents & $ 127 75 cents & $ 357 Other Tobacco 16% 16% "Under the bill, as passed, homesteads may include all unoccupied property classified Interstate Phone N.A. 4% $ 40 6% $ 60 as agricultural, which is adjacent and con­ tiguous to the home of the owner, unless 'Property tax on homes includes 6 mills statewide and 0 local mills under a ballot plan and 12 mills that land is leased or rented by the owner to under the statutory plan. ^Property tax on non-homestead property includes 6 mills statewide and 18 locally under the ballot another person," Nelson said. "I say 'may' plan, or 12 mills at the state level and 12 at the local level under the statutory plan. Michigan Farm News Classifieds - Page 14 i Michigan Farm News rs January 15,1994

U In Brief... Machinery Prices Up in 1994? 1994 Farm Economy - Net Cash Income Expected UpA n Ohio State University agricultural economist says the need to replace aging, worn out The farm sector entering 1994 is more cost-efficient, better capitalized and positioned for equipment will help drive farm equipment prices above the national inflation rate in 1994. improved potential profitability. The farm economy will experience only a moderate rate of growth, despite a relatively high level of net cash income, according to USDA. Economist Allan Lines is optimistic about farm purchases, partly because inflation is expected to stay under control at a national rate of 3 percent or less. He said farm machinery Both assets and debt are expected to increase at annual rates of 2 to 3 percent throughout probably will see the greatest price increases, with the rate depending on the kind of the remainder of the 1990s. The value of farm business assets at the end of 1993 stood at equipment. $878 billion. However, the real value of farm assets is at virtually the same level as in 1962. During this 32-year period, the inflation-adjusted level of farm debt has increased about 15 He predicts tractor prices will rise about 5 percent, while the cost of other machinery will percent. jump by 6 percent to 7 percent. Pickup trucks, he said, will see the biggest increase, between 7 percent and 10 percent. Farm business assets are projected to rise $16 billion during 1994, less than 2 percent, while the general rate of inflation is expected to exceed the growth rate in asset values giving an Midwest Governors Organize Big Push for Ethanol overall decline in 1993 and 1994 in the real value of farm assets. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is organizing a Midwest governors' lobbying effort to push New Year Brings Giant European Trade Bloc for final acceptance of the 30 percent ethanol mandate in the oxygenated fuels. According to an Associated Press story, Branstad is organizing the campaign to coincide with a Jan. The new year will usher in a giant new European trading bloc - the European Economic 14 hearing on the proposal in Washington. Area, which links the European Community and the neighboring European Free Trade Association, according to a Reuters story. Branstad and Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson plan to testify at the hearing. They are seeking the added support of governors from Illinois, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, The EEA, the world's biggest trading zone, will extend the EC's single market to five out Indiana and Minnesota. of seven of the EFTA nations - Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Although it is expected to bring real economic benefits in an area stretching from the Arctic to the "While there is broad support for the proposal throughout the Midwest, there is still Mediterranean and covering 372 million consumers, it is seen by four of the five EFTA significant opposition. That makes the lobbying push important. We don't want to take any nations as being but a stepping stone to full EC membership. chances," Branstad said. The latest EPA proposal requires 30 percent of the oxygenated fuels to come from renewable energy supplies, such as ethanol. The cities targeted for the Russian Farm Woes Continue 1995 clean air programs represent roughly one-half of the gasoline sold in the United States.

Russian farmers lost more than 30 percent of their 1993 harvest due to weather, financial Rotational Survey for Horticulture Survey Coming and infrastructure problems, reports Knight- Ridder. Russia's agricultural ministry reports a harvest of 100 million metric tons compared with 107 million tons the previous year. Meat In January, the first Michigan Department of Agriculture triennial survey of the horticulture production is also expected to fall to 11.9 million metric tons from 12.9 million tons in industry will begin. The project will encompass Michigan Christmas tree growers, and 1992. Lower meat output is expected to reduce some of the demand for grains. nursery stock producers and retailers. This is the third phase of the Michigan Rotational Survey cycle, which surveyed fruit in 1991 and vegetables in 1992. Analysts report Russia's winter grain crops are 4 million hectares smaller than in 1992. Russian farmers purchased 50 percent less fertilizer in the three planting months ending in Data collected from respondents by the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service (MASS) November. The country's farmers were also short 400,000 tons of seed, roughly 5 percent will be summarized to produce estimates at the state and district level. A bulletin will be of their total needs. published containing statistics documenting the size and breadth of this segment of agriculture in the Great Lakes State. Every report returned to MASS is kept strictly The United States will not decide what action to take on future aid to Russia until after confidential, and as a federal statistics agency, MASS reports are exempt from the Freedom President Clinton returns from his scheduled visit to Moscow in mid-January. In preparation of Information Act. for the Russian visit, the U.S. is exploring several aid possibilities including efforts to press the International Monetary Fund to relax its monetary policy standards to aid in the release Producers receiving this questionnaire are encouraged to complete and return it using the of the remaining $1.5 billion from an earlier aid package; more help from the Group of postage paid envelope. Those not responding by mail will be contacted by telephone or Seven industrialized nations and more direct U.S. food aid. personal enumeration. Canada May End St. Lawrence Seaway Fees December Farm Prices Up 5.1 Percent from 1992

Canada is considering a U.S. proposal calling for an end to tolls on the seaway which The index of prices received by U.S. farmers for their products in December was unchanged amount to as much as $45,000 per shipload. Shipments on the Seaway have fallen by 40 from November, but rose 5.1 percent from a year earlier, USDA said Dec. 30. Price increase percent since reaching a peak in 1979, reports the Chicago Tribune. for tomatoes, corn, wheat, and strawberries were offset by declines for oranges, hogs, cattle and lemons. The year-to-year increase was caused by higher prices for corn, soybeans, milk The U.S. abolished all tolls on its two locks in 1986, but Canada maintains the tolls on 13 and sorghum, which more than offset declines for cattle, lettuce, apples and hogs. locks under a 1954 law. As a result of the 40 year old law, any negotiated end to the tolls must be approved by the Canadian Parliament. Hearings on the proposed toll changes are U.S. Soybean Prices Ride Argentina's Problems scheduled for February. Soybean futures rose above the $7 per bushel figure on news that Argentine farmers are Removal of the tolls could generate greater Seaway grain shipments and lower shipping facing problems caused by excessive moisture. About 20 percent of the Argentine soybean costs. The bulk of U.S. export grain now moves down the Mississippi River to ocean-going crop remains unplanted, reports the Wall Street Journal. ships in New Orleans. The current negotiations call for a freeze on tolls for 1994, followed by a general phaseout of all fees. Much of that country's growing region received 3-5 inches of rain on already saturated fields. The wet fields are delaying planting and hurting germination on recently planted Elton Smith Receives Honorary MSU Degree fields. The markets are responding to the South American problems, along with the poor U.S. harvest. Third Annual MASA Meeting Jan. 29 in Mt. Pleasant

The Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association will be holding its third annual meeting Jan. 29, at the Mt Pleasant Holiday Inn, starting at 9 a.m. and concluding by 2 p.m. Participants can attend one of several breakout sessions during the morning portion of the program. Topics include: Organic Truck farm Vegetables; Dairy Manure Composting; Chestnuts as an Alternative Orchard Crop; Rotational Dairy Grazing; and Reduced Til- lage/No-till Sugar Beets.

The afternoon portion of the program will feature keynote speaker Fred Kirschenmann, a manager of a 3,100 acre grain and cattle farm in Medina, North Dakota. Kirschenmann will share his experiences on sustainable agriculture and the impact on the future of agriculture. For more program information and/or registration, contact MASA President Jerry Wirbel at (517) 689-3857.

The MICHIGAN FARM NEWS (ISSN:0743-9962) is published semi-monthly except in the months of November, December, June, and July when only one issue is printed, as a service to regular members, by Michigan Farm Bureau, 7373 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Ml 48917. Member subscription price of $1.50 included in annual dues of Michigan Farm Bureau regular members. Additional subscription fees required for mailing Michigan Farm News to non-members and outside the continental U.S.A. Second-Class Postage paid at Lansing, Ml and additional mailing offices. Letters to the editor and statewide news articles should be sent to: Editor, Michigan Farm News, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, Ml 48909-8460. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Michigan Farm News, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, Ml 48909-8460. Elton R. Smith (second from right), who served as MFB president for 22 years, received an honorary degree from Michigan State University during MSU's Decem­ Editorial: Dennis Rudat, Editor and Business Manager. Staff Contributors: Mike Rogers; Connie Lawson; Donna ber commencement ceremonies. Fred Poston, Dean of MSU's College of Agricul­ Wilber; Henry Huisjen. ture and Natural Resources, called Smith "a giant in Michigan agriculture." Officers: President, Jack Laurie, Cass City; Vice President, Tom Guthrie, Delton; Administrative Director, Chuck Burkett; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Tom Parker; Secretary, William S. Wilkinson. Directors: District 1 Jim Miller, Coloma; District 2, Blaine VanSickle, Marshall; District 3, Douglas Darling, Maybee; District 4 Tom "I can t think of anyone more deserving of an honorary degree from MSU than Elton Guthrie, Delton; District 5, Mark Smuts, Charlotte; District 6, Wayne Wood, Marlette; District 7, Larry Snider, Hart- Smith, based on his leadership and accomplishments across the span of 40 years District 8, Richard Leach, Saginaw; District 9, Joshua Wunsch, Traverse City; District 10, Margaret Kartes West in agriculture and natural resources in Michigan," Poston said. "He has almost Branch; District 11, Robert Wahmhoff, Baraga. At-Large: Jack Laurie, Cass City; Faye Adam, Snover Jan single-handedly put our state on the map with one of the most productive agricul­ Vosburg, Climax; Judy Emmons, Sheridan. Promotion and Education, Paul Swartzendruber, Pigeon; Young tural programs in the nation. Even in retirement, Elton continues to exert a great Farmers, Andy Hagenow, Rockford. influence on Michigan agriculture." Michigan Farm News

January 15,1994

Michigan's Hog Numbers Down Six Percent Michigan Tops in Dry Beans in 1993 E3 Michi gan 's hog and pig inventory on Dec. head from the previous year. Average pigs Michigan once again leads the nation in dry bean production, knocking North Dakota back 1 decreased 6 percent from a year ago, per litter was 8.0 pigs, up from 7.9 pigs per into second place. Michigan growers enjoyed good growing conditions this year, with an according to the Michigan Agricultural litter last fall. Fourth quarter pig crop was increase in production over 1992's crop. The crop is estimated to total 6,080,000 hundred­ Statistics Service. Total inventory, es­ down 2 percent from the previous year, weight (cwt.), up 42 percent from 1992's disappointing production of 4,290,000 cwt. timated at 1,200,000 head, was 80,000 less totaling448,000 pigs. Producers' farrowing than last December. intentions for the next two quarters are Yields for all dry beans averaged 1,600 pounds per acre, up 300 pounds from 1992. Planted 47,000 for the December-February 1994 acreage of all dry beans was estimated at 390,000 acres, up 11 percent from last year. Navy Market hogs make up 87 percent of period and 76,000 for the March-May 1994 bean plantings accounted for 250,000 acres, while all other classes totaled 140,000 acres. Michigan's hog and pig inventory while period. breeding stock comprises 13 percent of the Harvested acreage of all dry beans was estimated at 380,000 acres, up 15 percent from 1992. state total. Market hogs were down 6 per­ Nationally, the inventory for all hogs and Navy beans and all other bean harvested areas were 245,000 and 135,000, respectively. cent, totaling 1,040,000 head. The under 60 pigs on hand Dec. 1 was estimated at 56.8 Navy bean production totaled 3.9 million cwt., up 31 percent from last year. Production of pound weight group totaled 340,000 head, million head, 2 percent below Dec. 1992 all other dry beans totaled 2.18 million cwt., up 65 percent from 1992. down 10,000 head from a year earlier. and 4 percent below Sept. 1, 1993. The breeding hog inventory, at 7.03 million, Nationally, dry bean production is estimated at 21.7 million cwt., down 4 percent from The 60-119 pound weight group at 240,000 decreased 1 percent from Dec. 1,1992, and 1992. This is the smallest dry bean crop since 1988. Production is down sharply in North head, was 10,000 less than a year ago, while Sept. 1,1993. Central and Plains States. Area for harvest is up 4 percent to 1.59 million acres, while yields the 120-179 pound weight group was es­ dropped 112 pounds from last year to 1,366 pounds per acre. timated at 240,000, down 25,000 head from The market hog inventory, at 49.8 million last year. Hogs weighing 180 or more head, was 2 percent below a year ago and 4 pounds, totaled 220,000 head, down 20,000 percent below Sept. 1,1993. A total of 2.85 Farm Women's Symposium Feb. 16- 18 from last year. The Michigan breeding million sows farrowed during the Septem­ An exciting and challenging program is Dawn Messer, marketing and sales stock at 160,000 head, is down 15,000 head ber-November 1992 period. The Septem­ planned for the Third Annual Farm manager for MACMA Apple Division and from the previous year. ber-November crop totaled 22.9 million Women's Symposium, Feb. 16-18,1994,at one of the symposium's organizers, said head, 5 percent less than 1992 and 2 percent the Sheraton Inn, Lansing, Mich. Women that the past two year's gatherings have Producers farrowed 56,000 sows during the less than the same period in 1991. associated with agriculture from around the "created much enthusiasm among the par­ September-November quarter, down 2,000 state are expected to convene for the three ticipants - they find it a great educational day seminar. benefit and there's a distinct camaraderie Michigan ASCS State Committee Reinstates Legume among them. It's truly a rewarding and This year's topics will cover a wide range satisfying experience." Seeding Cost Share Program of interests: long-term estate planning; The Michigan Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) State Com­ farm labor and financial forms; computer Judy LaCross, a participant both years and mittee has voted to reinstate cost-share assistance to farmers planting various legumes on software and hardware; use of farm chemi­ a fruit grower from Leelanau County, says fields prone to erosion, in response to comments received from farmers across the state, cals; balancing life's demands; stress "I've come away each time refreshed and according to Vern Kretzschmer, chair of the State Committee. management; interaction with our legis­ renewed. I've gained insights and techni­ "This was an extremely popular practice. When it was suspended last year, farmers wrote lators; a trip to the capitol; and an all-day ques that are applicable in both my personal to our offices by the dozens complaining about the decision, and the new State Committee Dale Carnegie Workshop (an extension of life and workday experiences." believed we should help farmers reduce erosion and improve ground water quality by one area from last year's program - by reinstating this practice," said Kretzschmer. "The state committee made some changes in popular request). The planning committee is made up of the practice to ensure that it would address the objective of reducing erosion. Fields adjacent women in agriculture from throughout the to streams or other bodies of water, and those designated as highly erodible will qualify for Highlights will include a welcome speech state and MSU Extension advisors. cost share planting of alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil and other permanent seedings under this by Dr. Gail Imig, director of MSU Exten­ practice." sion; lunch with House Representative For more information, contact Rebecca The final decision on the implementation of the practice in most counties will be Sandy Hill; and a banquet speech by State Finneran at (616) 774-3282 or Dawn made by county ASCS committees, but most counties should have the practice avail­ Representative Debbie Stabenow on Messer at (800) 292-2653. able to farmers in the spring of 1994. "Women's Changing Role in Politics." MFB's AgriPAC - Working for Agriculture's Future Despite the recent bad press and negative making their recommendation to the MFB public perception of PACs or Political Ac­ AgriPAC Committee. FARM BUREAU ACCOUNT BILLING STATEMENT tion Committees, they're a political reality For that agriculture must continually be aware According to Adam, that process has made For Billing Questions C«ll 1 -800-535-2335 of and involved in, according to MFB the "Friend of Agriculture" endorsement Farm Bureau Account Number Statamant Data Oua Data Paymant Due Total Amount Dua AgriPAC Chairperson Faye Adam. highly sought after by candidates. "The : Including AGRIPAC most important part of our PAC is the fact 12/19/1993 01/09/1994 $45 00 $46 00 Adam, a partner in Pleasant View Farms, that it is truly a grass roots process that sets near Snover in Sanilac County, has chaired it aside from other PACs," Adam ex­ ACCOUNT SUMMARY the MFB AgriPAC Committee for over plained. "It's a well-respected PAC and Previous Bafanci $ 0.00 three years now. She says that financial candidates come back to us time and time Plus Transactions $ 45.00 contributions, and volunteer campaign ef­ again seeking our endorsement." Lass Payments $ 0.00 forts on behalf of AgriPAC's endorsed New Balance $ 45.00 "Friends of Agriculture," is more important MFB's AgriPAC is funded primarily now than ever, with the upcoming elec­ through voluntary contributions from TRANSACTION DETAIL tions. members when they pay their membership Policy / Member Transactions Effective Date Transaction Amount Paymant Dua renewal notices, by adding $1 to their dues Number "The 1994 elections are probably one of the payment. Those contributions funded near­ AUS039367711 F.B. MEMBERSHIP - GENESEE 01/07/1994 % 45.00 $ 45.00 most important opportunities for Farm ly $72,000 in donations to endorsed can­ AMS0393677I1 AGRIPAC $1.00 VOLUNTARY DONATION Bureau, through our AgriPAC system, to didates in 1992. While substantial and ap­ be effective in electing qualified candidates preciated, Adam said that the leading to represent agriculture," Adam said. Michigan-based association contributor, "There will be a gubernatorial race and distributed $264,565 in those same elec­ intense competition for an open U.S. tions, making it critical that MFB members *** Any transaction processed on your account after ia'19/1993 will appear on your next statement. *** Senate seat, not to mention elections for continue to support AgriPAC. THE FARM BUREAU MEMBERSHIP DUES INCLUDED IN THIS BILLING ARE NOT AN INSURANCE PREMIUM. MSU Board of Trustees, U.S. and state THESE DUES ARE UTILIZED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CONDITIONS OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURE. representatives and state senate seats." "We can no longer sit back and let things happen," Adam said. "If we're going to tf Retain upper portion for your records Please return this portion wtth your pay ...,4 If past AgriPAC endorsements are any in­ address the agricultural issues of today, we dication, this year's endorsed candidates need qualified people representing us in Farm Bureau Account Number Dua Data Account Balance Payment Dua ; Total Amount Dua should be very successful. In the 1992 elec­ Lansing and Washington, D.C., that under­ including AORIPAC tions, 75 percent of the candidates desig­ stand these issues. I think AgriPAC is cer­ $45 00 $45 00 $46 QQ nated as "Friends of Agriculture" were tainly a way that we have of surfacing, Indicate Name/Address Change on Reverse Side elected. In 1990, nearly 90 percent of the supporting and electing those qualified Make Check Payable To: candidates endorsed by the AgriPAC com­ candidates. It's been proven over and over FARM BUREAU mittee were successful in their bid for just how effective this process can be." public office. Please include the Account Number Farm Bureau members interested in on your check or money order MFB's AgriPAC was formed in 1977 to donating to the MFB AgriPAC can do so influence the nomination and election of by donating an additional dollar on their MFB AGRIPAC CONTRIBUTION qualified candidates who have membership dues notice (see sample NAME: PHONE: demonstrated strong support for agricul­ notice in red on this page) or by simply ture, as evidenced by their past voting filling out the coupon below and submit­ ADDRESS:. records on key agricultural issues. County ting it along with their donation to: MFB Farm Bureau Candidate Evaluation Com­ AgriPAC, c/o Al Almy, P.O. Box 30960, CITY: ZIP: mittees review those voting records and, in Lansing, MI 48909-8460. some cases conduct interviews, before OCCUPATION: AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED.

(Contribution must be made in the name of an individual. Corporate contributions are Michigan Farm Bureau (517) 323-7000 prohibited. Contributions in excess of $20 must be made by check.) Michigan Farm News

January 15, 1994

30-Day Forecast - Continued Cold and Wetter Than Normal

Following milder and drier than normal weather for much of snow late in the month brought precipitation to above normal levels November and the first three weeks of December, winter finally and left some areas of extreme northwestern lower Michigan with arrived in Michigan just before Christmas, courtesy of a marked the deepest snow cover in the lower 48 states outside of the western shift in the jet stream which allowed several air masses of arctic mountains by year's end. origin to move through the Great Lakes region. Outlooks for the coming weeks are somewhat contradictory. The Mean temperatures for December generally ranged from one to official National Weather Service (NWS) 30-day outlook for three degrees above normal, due mainly to abnormally mild min- January calls for somewhat of a continuation of recent weather, with imum temperatures early in the month. temperatures expected to remain below normal but for precipitation to increase to above normal levels. The NWS 90-day outlook for Precipitation for the same period was generally much less than January through March is less winter-like, calling for temperatures normal, with the notable exception of the lee shores of lakes and precipitation during the period to average out near normal Michigan and Superior, where several outbreaks of lake-effect across most of the state.

Michigan Weather Summary Michigan Weather Summary 12/1/93 Temperature Precipitation 12/1/93 Temperature Precipitation to 12/31/93 Observed Dev. From Actual Normal to 12/31/93 Observed Dev. From Actual Normal Mean Normal (inch.) linch) Mean Normal (Inch.) (Inch) Alpena 26.3 + 2.1 0.44 2.06 lansing 28.5 + 1.4 0.69 2.11 Bad Axe 27.0 + 0.1 0.74 1.93 Marquette 21.7 + 4.0 1.12 2.11 Detroit 31.5 + 3.4 0.78 2.31 Muskegon 29.9 + 1.3 1.06 2.49 Escanaba 25.8 + 2.7 0.50 2.11 Pellston 26.1 + 3.4 3.18 2.15 Flint 28.2 + 0.8 0.51 2.31 Saginaw 28.4 + 1.6 0.50 1.93 Grand Rapids 28.6 + 1.3 1.47 2.71 Sault Ste. Marie 22.8 + 2.6 2.56 2.11 Houghton 22.9 + 2.6 1.99 2.11' South Bend 30.8 + 1.8 1.43 2.71 Houghton lake 27.1 + 3.3 0.65 2.06 Traverse City 29.2 + 2.6 3.64 2.15 t Jackson 28.6 + 0.7 0.82 2.11 Vestaburg 27.1 + 0.3' 0.58 2.11

Normals are based on districtaverages. Jeff Andresen, Ag Meteorologist, MSU

Michigan ASCS Personnel to Assist in Flood Ravaged States Michigan and Major Commodity Area Extended Weather Outlook In an effort to speed the delivery of disaster "With farmers in these states harvesting The Michigan contingent will travel to T - Temp. 1/15 1/31 1/15 .3/31 assistance to victims of flooding this past record low production from what they did several county offices in all four target P - Preclp. T P T f spring and summer, almost 60 United States manage to plant, and no production from states, and stay for a period of up to two Michigan B A N N Department of Agriculture county office fields that didn't survive the floods, this weeks beginning Jan. 3, 1994. They will be W. Corn Belt B N A B employees from Michigan will be travell- will be a very cold winter for farmers in joined by 40 ASCS employees from the E. Corn Belt B N B B ing to Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wis- much of the midwest," said Jim Byrum, Wint. Wheat Belt N N B N states of IlJinois, Indiana and Ohio. Spr. Wheat Belt N A A N consin in January to help process thousands Michigan Executive Director of the ASCS. Pac. NW Wheat A N A N of applications for disaster benefits. "The objective of this entire effort is to help Delta B N B N Although the rivers crested about six get disaster benefits paid to farmers as soon Southeast B A B N These applications have been filed by months ago, flooding left homes and build- as possible. We believe that we can at least San Joaquin A N A N farmers with the Agricultural Stabilization ing destroyed, crops devastated, and in help them make a dent in their backlog," and Conservation Service (ASCS) for spe- some cases, up to four feet of sand on top said Byrum .. A-Above Average, B-Below Average, N-Nor- cial disaster benefits approved earlier this mal, MA-Much Above, MB-Much Below, NP- of what used to be productive soil. Life may No Preclp. Source: National Weather OffIce year by Congress after record flooding in never be the same for farmers and others "I am extremely proud of these people who midwestern states. affected by this natural disaster. have made the commitment to leave their homes and family during the first part of the .. "Our ASCS personnel in Michigan have new year to help others in need. That Serving Michigan been asking if they could help in these other demonstrates how deeply these ASCS states for months. They knew there would volunteers believe in what they do, serve Farm Families is be delays in getting payments to farmers, farmers," said Byrum. and they wanted to help speed up the Our Only Business process," said Byrum. County office employees volunteered for these assignments, and will work in offices Since its beginning in 1971, Michigan Farm Radio Network's only objective "Secretary of Agriculture Espy has en- based on their work backlog. has been to serve Michigan's farm families. This dedication to serve agricul- couraged us to be innovative in how we ture is shared by 29 local radio stations in Michigan. Through these sta- approach problems. Asking for volunteers "Some of these offices have more than tions, Michigan Farm Radio Network provides the latest in market analysis, from our ASCS ranks to help these other 2,000 applications pending, and without weather and news to Farm Bureau members daily on the following stations: areas makes sense," Byrum continued. help, they wouldn't see the end of the pile "Our people know these programs and will until spring," concluded Byrum. Station City Frequency Morning Farm Noon Farm be able to 'hit the ground running' to help WABJ Adrian 1490 5:45 am 11:50 am get checks to farmers without further WATZ Alpena 1450 5:30 am 11:30 am delay!" WTKA Ann Arbor 1050 6:05 am 12:05 pm WLEW Bad Axe 1340 6:30 am 12:50 pm WHFB Benton Harbor 12:30 pm WKYO Caro 1360 6:15 am 12:15 pm W1VB Coldwater 1590 5:45 am *** WDOW Dowagiac 1440 6:05 am 12:15 pm WGHN Grand Haven 1370/92.1 5:45 am 12:15 pm WPLB Greenville 1380 6:15 am 11:45am WBCH Hastings 1220 6:15 am 12:30 pm WCSR Hillsdale 1340 6:45 am 12:45 pm WHTC Holland 1450 12:15 pm WKZO Kalamazoo 590 ** 11:30 am WJIM Lansing 1240 5:05 am 11:50 am WWGZ Lapeer 1530 * 12:15 pm WOAP Owosso 1080 6:15 am 12:30 pm WHAK Rogers City 960 12:15 pm WSJ S1. Johns 1580 6:15 am 12:15 pm WMLM S1. Louis 1540 6:05 am 12:20 pm WSGW Saginaw 790 5:55 am 12:20 pm WMIC Sandusky 660 6:15 am 12:45 pm WCSY South Haven 940 12:15 pm WKJC Tawas City 104.7 12:45 pm WLKM Three Rivers 1510/95.9 6:15 am 12:15 pm WTCM Traverse City 580 5:55 am 11:20 am

* Statinn signs on at different times during the year. Morning farm times change with the sign-on times. ** Station airs various farm reports between 5:30 and 6:00 am. *** Station airs various farm reports between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. Some stations carry additional market reports throughout the market day. • • Michigan Farm News -. January 15,1994 Soy Ink More Than Environmentally Friendly by Michelle Strautz More and more printing presses, like this one at the Greenville Daily News where the Michigan Farm News is printed, are using soy ink as an alternative to petroleum based inks. search at Western Michigan University on Thanks to producer-funded research, new The soy inks are not only environmentally friendly, they also produce a better product. soy ink. uses and new markets for soybean products, J including soy ink, have added up to a ... ~ "We've done work with them previously market for more than 10 million acres of relative to the recycling of newspapers that soybeans per year, according to the United were printed with soy-based inks versus Soybean Board (USB). those printed with petroleum-based inks and then the characteristics of the resulting More than $277,000 has been allocated I~ recycled paper," said Reinholt. I toward soy ink research at the national level during the 1993 fiscal year with money "This year, we'll hopefully be doing re- from the national soybean checkoff pro- search with them on a formulation that is gram. According to estimates from the basically 100 percent soy-based and then USB, that $277,000 commitment by the recycling of that paper." producers has meant that additional con- tributions of more than five million dollars Previous research conducted at Western have come from the printing industry and Michigan basically looked at the the USDA. biodegradation of soy ink compared to petroleum-based inks. Reducing the Soybean-oil based printing ink was formu- petroleum content of the ink by substituting lated by the Newspaper Association of soybean-oil benefitted just about every- America in 1985, in response to a shortage thing, including the environment, accord- of imported oil which threatened many in- ing to Jean Rosinski, a graduate research dustries dependent on petroleum-based assistant in the Department of Paper and • chemicals. Printing Science. Soy ink has actually been available on the The soybean checkoff program, which col- commercial market for a little over four lects one-half of one percent of the net sale years, but already, oil from about nine mil- based ink," said Martin. "We believe that it better with the mechanics of the press, with value of a producer's soybeans per year, has lion bushels of soybeans is currently being provides a sharper, brighter color, and we workers having much better control over been instrumental in funding research to used by approximately 75 ink manufac- also feel that we use less ink with the the soy-based ink because it flows better fi nd new uses and new markets for turers and 1,600 printing and publishing soybean application than we did with the than the petroleum-based ink. soybeans, according to Reinholt. companies in the United States. petroleum-based ink. It's just a lot cleaner to use." Bill Bogle, manager of Farm Bureau's in- Reinholt said the program was developed The nation's largest circulation newspaper, house print shop, is currently using 100 by and is managed by soybean growers the LosAngeles Times, uses 100 percent soy Micky Marter, print manager of the Detroit percent soy ink to print county newsletters themselves, with all growers investing at ink, which equals 1,000 bushels of soybeans Free Press Riverfront Plant, said they and other materials. the same rate and all growers benefitting daily, while some Michigan newspapers, began using soy ink four years ago and equally. including the Detroit Free Press and the currently do about 13 percent of their print- According to Bogle, soy-based black ink Greenville Daily News, have also incor- ing with the soy-based product. costs about $11 less per five pound can than "You must be a soybean producer to sit on porated soy ink into their printing shops. petroleum-based black ink, and the colored the board. At the state level there are a "We started using soy ink because it per- soy ink is priced comparatively to the group of seven farmers, and nationally, News Web Printing, the printing facility at formed better with our system and we felt petroleum-based colored inks. there's a group of 63 farmers, representing the Greenville Daily News, located in as though it gave us better reproduction," all the soybean producing states. There's no Montcalm County, which also prints the said Marter. "It gives us brighter colors and Keith Reinholt, executive director of the project approved unless they can see that Michigan Farm News, began using soy- the pictures seem to stand out more. It's Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, it's going to increase grower's profits," based inks five years ago and currently does also more environmentally friendly and is said the committee continues to fund re- concluded Reinholt. 100 percent of their printing with the made in the USA, which does give us a product, according to General Manager, back-up if we ever get into another Kendell Martin. petroleum crunch."

"We began using soy-based ink because it's Marter added that the soy-based ink seems environmentally friendlier than petroleum- to lay down better on the press and works Soybean Referendum Set for Feb. 9 The National Soybean Checkoff, directed Where the USB Spends Money by the 63-farmer members of the United Almost half of the soybeans grown in the Soybean Board (USB), has been up and United States are exported, and in 1993, running for more than two years. On Feb. 9, approximately $8 million of national check- 1994, soybean growers will have the oppor- off money was used for international market tunity to vote on its continuation in a nation- promotion in more than 400 individual al referendum. / projects. For example, the USB spent about $900,000 in Germany to defend a $900 mil- "Growers will be able to cast theiyvote at lion market for U.S. soybeans. In Japan, it county Extension offices, or cast an absen- spent about $200,000 to defend a $800 mil- tee ballot by mail," according to Harold lion market. Phillips, USB chairman and a soybean grower from Stevenson, Ala. It's important to note the USB leverages checkoff dollars with other funding. Be- liThe way it looks now, seven out of 10 cause of the checkoff dollars invested, in soybean growers approve of how the USB 1993, international programs received an goes about its business of planning and additional $12 million from the Foreign evaluating programs, making sure every Agricultural Service of the USDA, and checkoff dollar is invested wisely. We en- another $8 million from other industry seg- courage every grower to participate in the ments - manufacturers, crushers, etc. vote," he adds. While international marketing is one of the How the USB Operates major areas where the USB puts checkoff Every soybean farmer contributes equally dollars, developing new uses for soybeans What do these publications have in in proportion to the value of their crop when accounts for another large portion. sold: one-half of one percent. Half of the •• checkoff money collected stays in the state Soy Diesel market development activities common with where the farmer controlled State Soybean lead the new uses parade. Now moving out Board decides how it should be spent. of the test stage, where dozens of required Michigan Farm News? EPA and engine manufacturers' tests took These dollars are used to fund programs that place, to the market creating stage, Soy- are unique to the needs of the state or region, Diesel shows promise to use a significant They're all printed with Soy Ink! such as production research, or they can be portion of the U.S. soybean oil surplus. used to support a USB program the state In fact soy ink is used to print over 3,000 U.S. newspapers and is used feels warrants additional support. Checkoff dollars fund numerous other by over 12,000 commercial printers. Soy ink could potentially utilize soybean research projects: polymers that .' The USB uses its half of the checkoff can replace disposable plastic bottles, shop- the oil from 41 million bushels of soybeans. money to fund hundreds of research, ping bags, etc.; edible coating to preserve That's over 85 percent of Michigan's production. promotion and market develop,ment the shelf life of fruits and vegetables; next programs that need a national focus to be textile fabrics; and medical research. The effective. USB funds hundreds of research and development projects annually. Efforts Soybean Checkoff ...lt's working. This funding split among the states and such as these is an investment working to USB is an important part of the system of make growing soybeans more profitable for Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee checks and balances that underlies the every producer. checkoff ro ram. P.O. Box 287, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 . Michigan Farm News

January 15, 1994

••••••••••••••• r • ••••••••..•• ~.'I1. Market Outlook ... MICHIGAN DAIRYING - ••••...... 'l•••...:~ AN EXCITING 1994? .r•••• ••••••,j ••• Dr. Jim Hilker, Dept. of Agricultural .'~ j~::.. •••• Economies, MSU Sherrill B. Nott, Dept. of Agricultural . Seasonal Commodity •••••••• Economics, MSU E~RM •••••••• Price Trends If you enjoy change, you'll find dairying in CORN Michigan could be exciting. As we start BUSINESS Wheat 1994, milk prices to be received will benefit As I sit here writing, my crystal ball seems from the better than expected Minnesota- very cloudy. As you read this article, you Wisconsin (M- W) price levels. OUTLOOK will have the benefit of the final Crop Corn 1 ? Report and quarterly Stocks Report which Milk production was down 4.5 percent in were released Jan. 12. If you have not seen Soybeans 1 ? Minnesota and down 8.2 percent in Wis- High feed prices will take their toll. The them, look them up; we will discuss them consin in Nov. 1993 compared to Nov. excitement here is watching 1994's weather in the next issue. Hogs 1992. If this trend continues, it will have a patterns unfold. An early first crop of 1 positive effect on the M- W price. roughage would be welcome. Will today's The Stocks Report gives us an indication of Cattle -j low crude oil prices hold into the growing fall feed use through Dec. 1. Since that time, We may hope the factors that are reducing season to help offset high purchased feed we have had some very cold weather cow numbers don't make it across Lake costs? Michigan, but we'll accept the milk price through the Midwest which may increase Index: = Higher Prices; = Lower Prices; t 1 strength they foster. USDA predicts 1994 Milk component pricing may come to feed use. Also, the Hogs and Pigs Report TP= Topping; BT = Bottoming; ? = Unsure seems to indicate a few more hogs being fed farm level milk prices will drop below 1993 Order 40 in May. This will be a very dif- through the second half of the crop year levels, but hastens to add that uncertainty ferent way to compute the pay price for milk than previously expected. These factors Strategy: What should we be doing? Well about both supply and demand conditions in southern Michigan. It'll provide an excit- should benefit corn prices. a lot depends on what the reports indicate, may make a mockery out of any price ing challenge to learn how to manage cows but here are some thoughts. If the reports projections. for more protein and lower somatic cell Exports keep rolling along near expecta- were bullish, consider pricing more of your counts. tions, considerably below last year, but at a total, especially if you are less than half Early February could see the start of BST rate which should reach USDA projections. sold. Prices are good now even if they go purchases. But, the New York Times Dairy farmers own lots of land and pay lots We have exported 40 percent of projections higher later. reported on Dec. 24 that a foundation will of real estate taxes. It will be exciting up to this point, and last year, we had ex- file lawsuits in January seeking to block towards the end of 1994 to figure out the ported 40 percent of the total by late For the portion you chose to continue sales in the U.S. History shows exciting dollar impact of any changes to school December. We will need to export about 23 speculating with, use storage and wait to rhetoric often surrounds the introduction of funding the Legislature and the voters may million bushels of corn a week through price or store and buy put options if you new technology. ultimately approve. August to reach expectations. have on-farm storage and use a basis con- tract or a minimum price contract (or buy SOYBEANS Both corn basis relative to March corn fu- calls) if you do not have farm storage. If the tures and March cash corn bids indicate the reports were bearish, we'll probably see My crystal ball for soybeans looks the same crushings will have to increase, or some market is willing to pay on-farm storage more chances to price, but don't bet your as the one for corn and for many of the same combination. until March. Opportunity costs are 1-2 cents entire crop on it. reasons. Like wheat, the Southern Hemi- per month, depending on the interest rate sphere is quite willing to throw in some Exports are running at only 37 percent of you face, and the market is offering 6-10 Another thought, if the report is bull ish, start extra twists. the projected total up to this point; last year cents for the 2-month storage. looking for opportunities to price fall 1994 we were near 40 percent by now. While it corn. The higher the market goes, the more The Brazilian soybean crop looks as good does appear we will meet projections, it is Off-farm storage payments are hard to jus- rationing (cutback in use) we will have. A as ever, timely planting and timely rains unlikely bullish information will come tify. The spreads after March tell the market trend corn yield next year will likely take us point to a lot of competition in the export from this area. it is not willing to pay storage beyond back to the $2.20 area. market come spring and summer. However, March. the picture in Argentina is much different, Strategy: The basis and cash bids for heavy rains have delayed plantings in many March delivery are telling us the same story WHEAT areas and the crop overall does not look as as for corn. If you have on-farm storage, use good. it. If you don't and want to stay in the Wheat prices have gone beyond any expec- could pressure prices. But, Argentina is market, use a basis contract or a minimum tations, but that hasn't made pricing having a lot of rain and fungus's may force The demand side for soybeans is also price contract if you want less risk. As with decisions a whole lot easier, other than the 20-30 percent of their production away clouded. Soy oil content is low which corn and wheat, start watching for 1994 worst you can do is price any remaining from food consumption. means either projected oil use will drop or soybean new crop pricing opportunities. wheat at today's high prices. There are both positives and negatives in possible price On the production side, the USDA released HOGS scenarios lurking in the future. the winter wheat plantings on Jan. 12. What did they say, more acres or less acres? Are The USDA quarterly Dec. 1 Hogs and Pigs Up to this point, wheat exports have been a set-aside requirements the same as a year The lighter weight market hogs, under 60 Report released Dec. 29, 1993, was some- positive and it appears that will continue a ago? Also, what affect will this cold snap pounds on Dec. 1, are 4 percent below last where between neutral, bullish and bearish. little longer. Check the SupplylDemand have on unprotected wheat? Nobody ever year which should help April prices. As we And that is kind of how the markets opened Report released Jan. 12 to see if the USDA said well thought out pricing decisions were look toward the summer supply, a key is the following day, up some in nearby fu- increased their 1993-94 wheat export easy. the December-February farrowings. The tures and neutral to down through the sum- report indicates farrowings will be up 2 projections. mer futures. Be watching for new crop wheat pricing percent in that period. This may pressure However, it also appears that Australia will opportuni ties. summer prices a bit, but they are still likely The report showed that there are 2 percent harvest their best crop since 1984-85; this to get near or exceed $50 per cwt. less hogs in inventory than the same time last year and 2 percent less being held for If>n~er term it appears the breeding herd CATTLE market, which after adjusting for the lIqUIdated some, down 1 percent this fall, revisions in last year's number, is slightly and that was before corn prices really shot of weights being up significantly compared The Dec. 1 monthly USDA 7-State Cattle- less than trade expectations. up and hog prices really dropped off. On-Feed Report released Dec. 17 showed 5 to a year ago. And this situation is likely to continue into early February. percent more cattle on feed than last year. However, since Dec. 1, hog producers have !,he r~port also said March-May farrowing November marketings were about the same become less current, so look for a slight Strategy: The bottom line is to keep cur- IntentIons would drop off 3 percent in 1994 as last year, but had been expected to be 3 seasonal increase in prices through January re~ative to 1993. This should help fall percent higher. rent, feeding these fat cattle more expensive before picking up some in February. feed is clearly not the answer. Is there any- pnces. Where are the increases coming thing optimistic? The answer is yes, exports from? The answer is North Carolina Mis- This shows we are probably not current. Strategy: At this point the key is to keep souri and Oklahoma. These are al~o the Along with this, slaughter in December, have been going well and that is likely to very ~urrent. It does not appear it will pay continue with the new trade agreements, states. where the large-scale farrowing while up 2-3 percent compared to last year, to walt and sell heavy hogs, especially at operatIons have been going in. has not been high enough to use up much but that is longer term. today's com prices. of the extra cattle on feed, and this is on top EGGS Leasing Farmland a Popular Trend

Henry Larzelere, Dept. of Agricultural Sunday in April in 1994, Lenten price Recent. ~SDA statistics reveal that nearly half of all agricultural land is leased. One and a half mIllIon lando",,:,nerslea~e ab~ut 332 million acres. In 1980, leased agricultural land Economics, MSU strength will be weaker in most of April. totalled 3~ percent; In 1988, It had Increased to 45 percent. Leasing is viewed as an effective way to gaIn control of land resources, enhancing management flexibility and reducing risk. Egg prices at year-end were about 5 cents On Dec. 1, the number of layers in produc- Forty-one p~rcent of all farmers operate at least some leased land. Women are the largest a dozen above last year. These somewhat tion were 2 percent above the comparable better prices were partially offset by feed date a year earlier. Both total and table egg group of agnculturallandlords, controlling 40 percent of the land in the rental market. ingredient costs about 4 cents per dozen production figures in November were also above year earlier levels. 2 percent above Nov. 1992. Food Prices Expected Up - Little to Reach the Farm

In the first quarter, egg prices will likely The egg-type chick hatch in 1993 was T~e Consumer Price In?ex for all food in 1994 is expected to rise 2 to 4 percent Restaurant average in the low 70s in New York at above 1992 levels in each month except pnc~s are expected t.o In.crease 2 to 4 percent. Competition among fast food 'outlets will wholesale for Grade A large white eggs in May. The layer-type eggs in incubators on contInue. t? keep ~nc~ ~ncreases moderate. The farm value of food the cost of farm cartons. By the second quarter, prices will Dec. 1 were 6 percent below that figure in ~~~~~d~~~1 u;te~m ~~n~shl~~lfoo:dP~Oducl~s,totalled just under 30 pe;cent of retail food 1992. That was the first sign of moderating . ht I' e I e a ItlOna Impact on 1994 prices except the few areas of slip into the 60s. Since Easter is the first t egg production by the summer of 1994. Ig supp y. • Michigan Farm News r:. January 15, 1994 ••••••••••••••• r. Should You Consid~'--,GRP Crop Insurance? •••••••••••• ~.'I11 ...... " ~ ...... •••• ,j ...••• Most of you are familiar with hail (HCI) .r •••••• or multiple peril crop insurance (MPCI) . Table 1 • ' j..:~ •••• These products are designed to reduce the GRP County Coverage and Rate Table for Corn in Jackson County ~ financial risks that occur when you have sig- ••••••••. nificantly below normal yields due to hail or Expected county yield: 103.7 bu/acre FARM •••••••• due to drought, excess moisture and other Maximum Protection: $342/acre "Acts of God." The goal is to transfer risk Maximum Subsidy: $ 3.66/acre • from the farm to the "insurance pool." You BUSINESS pay premiums each year so that if you have a Coverage level: 65% 70% 75% 80% 85% 90% poor yield, you will be compensated by the Trigger yield, bu: 67.4 72.6 77.8 83.0 88.1 93.3 Insurance pool up to your deductible. Unsubsidized premium rate, $/$100: 0.70 0.90 1.50 2.20 2.90 3.70 OUTLOOK In 1994, the Federal Crop Insurance Cor- poration/USDA added another product to the crop insurance toolbox - the Group Risk Figure 1 'l'abl. 2 s GIll' FAIlMER .-ao:1JM CAI.CtJU'l'IOliS Plan (GRP). The plan offers higher coverage 130 Jackson County Yields coal lIOmtSlID'l' (lower deductibles), minimal paperwork and State: MICHIGAN County: JACKSON lower premiums compared to their Actual 120 Expected Yield: 103.7 Production History (APH) plan. Maximum protection $342 Per Acre 110 (1) Minimum protection $103 Per Acre Your selection $300 The plan does not guarantee that you will County Yields (2) Coverage Levels: 65 70 75 80 85 90 Your selection 80 receive a payment if you have a yield 100 -:- Actual Yields Trigger Yield shortfall. That's because the losses upon " (3) (Expected County Yield 103.7 Bu. Trigger Yield: 83.0 Q) 90 / " Per Acre X Coverage Level) which indemnities are based are shortfalls in > ... / county yields, not individual farm yields. .3 80 (4) Premium Rate Per $100 protection Per $100: $2.20 "0 The level of your yield vs. the level of the Q) Insured Acreage (Net Acres) county yield is not important. Within reason, >= 70 (5) (Estimated acreage of CORN in Net Acres: 100 '.I, you choose the amount of protection you want the insured county X insurable share) 60 to purchase. That can be up to 1.5 times the Your Policy Protection (6 ) Line 1 X Line 5 -> $30,000 county's expected yield. 50 Tracking is what is important. If you have Gross Premium (7) Line 6 X Line 4 X .01 -> $660 a poor yield, the county needs to have a poor 40 , yield. Thus, it comes down to what skilled Premium Subsidy Amount: 30 (8 ) 30' X Line 7 -> Lesser of: $198 commodity marketers would call basis risk if not to exceed $3.66 X Line 5 -> or $366

this were a corn or soybean market. If the risk Premium due from Grower of poor tracking is small relative to the (9 ) Line 7 - Line 8 -> $462 variability in your yields, GRP is worth con- Let's suppose you were a Jackson County farmer and that you The preliminary payment yield will be released on November. 30. sidering. decided that an 80 percent coverage policy would provide the floor on When the preliminary payment yield falls below 90' of your tr~gg~r yield, a preliminary payment will sent to you.within 30 d~ys. Th~s cash flow you need. Further, suppose that your yields were high enough payment will equal 2/3 of the payment calculat~on factor tunes your Do My Yields Track the County Yield? and more variable than the county yields to warrant scaling by 30 policy protection. That's an easy question to answer. MSU percent. You would buy about $300 protection. The final payment yield will be released on April 15 following the county extension offices, crop insurance insured crop year. Any final payment due you will be made within 30 Table 2 is a worksheet showing all the steps in calculating farmer days. agents selling GRP and some farm manage- premium/acre. We've assumed 100 acres of com in the county - to ment consultants have graphs of corn and provide an easy number for calculating. soybean yields in your county over the 1962 Summary to 1992 period. How Are Indemnities Calculated? GRP is easy to understand. It has minimal paperwork. How many Let's consider an example. Figure 1 Table 3 is the GRP indemnity calculation worksheet. Suppose the acres? How much protection? What deductible do you want? It's a shows the graph for corn in Jackson county. county had a yield of 60 bu/acre. The percent loss relative to a 20 percent product worth considering if you don't have the financial capacity to Get out your records and plot your yields deductible would be 2i7 percent and the indemnity/acre would be take a big hit or if you would like more stability in your revenues - against the graph of yields in your county. If $83.10. That's $8,310 for 100 acres. providing your yields track well with the county yield. the county had lousy yields in the same year you had lousy yields, then GRP is worth considering - if you need insurance. If your lousy years don't match the county's lousy years, GRP probably isn't for you. Who is likely to have a good tracking? You probably can think of other examples, but two cases would be a farm that's spread across a county and/or a farm that's typical of the county.

My Yields Track ...but the Percentage Shortfalls are Larger on My Farm This is where the level of protection pur- chased comes in. And, this is where GRP differs a bit from hail insurance. Typically, you have some level of cash flow you are trying to protect. You usually select the de- ductible with that goal in mind. Try the following idea on for size. If your yield tends to have a larger percentage of shortfalls than county yield, simply scale up protection so the percentages match. For ex- ample, if your yields are 30 percent more variable, choose protection that's 1.3 times the county expected yield.

How Are Premiums Calculated? Table 1 depicts the G RP coverage and rate table for corn in Jackson county. It describes the expected county yield that's used to cal- culate the trigger yield, the trigger yield for each coverage level (deductible), the unsub- sidized premium rates/$100 protection and the maximum subsidy/acre. It also describes the dollar value of the maximum protection you can buy per acre - $342 .

• Table 3: GRP Indemnity Calculation Worksneet

Value/Calculation Result Protection/A. in $ 300 Trigger Yield bu./A 83 Realized Yield, bu./A 60

% Loss = Trigger Yield - Realized Yield Trigger Yield

Ba..:JiQ = 27.7% loss 83

Indemnity/A = Protection/A x % Loss 100

$300 x 27.7% = $83.10 100 Michigan Farm News

January 15, 1994

G BST Management Aspects to Consider Forty dairy farmers had an opportunity Milk Production Increases to ask these questions and others during an Production increases due to BST ranged W hat will Posilac cost? At what point in the lactation do you begin to use it? What from 5 pounds per day to 15 pounds, with production level is required? What's the shelf life? How does Posilac affect reproductive advisory committee meeting of the an average of9 pounds per day, said Swen- performance? Michigan Milk Producers Association, with Monsanto representatives on their version son. Twice a day versus three times a day of BST known as Posilac. milking showed no difference in increases. Monsanto's Animal Sciences Technical "The biggest response in production oc- Services Veterinarian, Gene H. Swenson, curs with the second and third injections, Posilac Product Manager, Robert Powell, and then it plateaus at the higher production and Director of Industry Affairs Monte level for as long as the cow continues to Hemenover were on hand to respond to receive Posilac," Swenson explained. questions and share research information "On average, first-calf heifers experienced from nearly 10 years of testing. approximately a 2 pound less per day in- crease compared to second- lactation cows. "

Milk Composition Swenson told the group that Posilac is a protein not a steroid, meaning that it's digested when consumed orally. BST does not affect the composition of milk ac- cording to research results. '1; Despite the apparent dif- ferences shown in the table below, they are not statisti- cally different, Swenson said. Milk Composition Comparisons Posilac Non-Posilac Fat 3.67 3.76 Protein 3.24 3.32 Lactose 4.81 4.85 Ash .73 .73

Feed Intake The most important aspect of Posilac management, according to Swenson, is making sure the cow is fed to her higher production level. "You have to keep feed available at all times, and be ready to in- crease your rations," he said. "Dry matter intake increased generally six to seven weeks after BST use was initiated, in second lactation cows." ~ ~ According to Swenson, as a general rule of thumb, herds on a total mixed ration will require an additional four pounds of feed for every 10 pound increase in milk. In non- TMR herds, plan on increasing con- centrate levels by one pound for every three pounds increase in milk production ....

Reproduction Impact In regard to reproduction perfor- mance, Swenson said that research has shown no difference between BST and non-BST treated cows at similar produc- tion levels. He was quick to point out, how- ever, that higher producing cows are generally open longer than lower 7. producers. "An old rule of thumb is that every 200 pound increase in milk production on a 305 day lactation generally increases the num- ber of days open by one," Swenson said. "We recommend that producers continue with their normal breeding program, and continue using Posilac right up to the dry- off period."

Breeding Performance Heifers L;OWS non- non- BST BST BST BST For over forty years, Farm Bureau and Blue Cross Blue Shield Days Open 118 119 112 131 have teamed up to provide guality health care at competitive group rates Pregnancy Rates 91% 83% 94% 82% with the personalized service you would expect from a Farm Bureau family membership. * 305 day lactation - bred after eST started at nine weeks

No matter what your needs ... Mastitis Frequency small business, sole proprietor, or indiyidual coverage for you or your family- .Swenson exp!ained to the advisory com- we have the right' plan at the right price. mIttee that the hIghest period for new infec- tio~ in a cow occurs early in the dry-off penod, hence the use of dry-cow mastitis Blue Cross Blue Shield quality and Farm Bureau's personalized service treatment. Posilac use is started in the ninth provide an unbeatable combination that you can't afford to be without when protecting week of lactation, which coincidentally is the lowest opportunity for new mastitis in- the "small" things in life that are of big importance to you. fection. "Increased milk production has been For information, call 1-800-292-2680 or contact your local Farm Bureau agent. demonstrated to increase the incidence of mastitis," Swenson said. "The bottom line, _".,CH,GAN however, is that BST research has shown .... FARM BUREAU that producers can expect one additional case of mastitis per cow over 10 lactations, because of the hi her roduction. " .,. Michigan Farm News -. January 15, 1994 BST Economic Aspects to Consider To introduce Posilac, Monsanto is using the "Try it Right" program, which means producers can make a qualifying Posilac Price Worksheet Posilac Price Worksheet purchase of Posilac equal to the number of (Example assumes 100 cows treated for 245 days/lactation) For Your Farm cows in their herd for $5 per dose, for an Milk Response (Ibs/cow/day) 6 pounds 9 pounds indefinite period of time, according to Milk Response (Ibs/cow/day) .. Monsanto's BST Product Manager Robert Milk Value ($/cwt.) $12.50 $12.50 Powell. Posilac will normally be priced at $6.60 per dose for a daily cost of 47 cents. Milk Income ($/day) 0;15 1.125 Milk Value ($/cwt.) .. Monsanto is also using a voucher sys- Posilac Price (14 days) 6.60 6.60 tem, that will allow a producer using 0.47 Milk Income ($/day) . Posilac for the first time to get $150 worth Posilac Costs ($/day) 0.4 7 of free veterinarian consultation services. Feed Costs ($/day)* 0.21 0.315 Posilac Price (14 days) . $6.60 Powell thinks that producers will quick- Total Incremental Costs ($/day) 0.68 0.785 ly realize the economic pay-off of BST, 0.34 once they put pencil to paper. Net Profit ($/cow/day) 0.07 Posilac Costs ($/day) .. $0.47 "The beauty of this product is that it Profit Opportunity allows a producer to make a substantial (100 cows/lactation) $1,715 $8,330 increase in production, without a large Feed Costs ($/d.ay) . capital outlay," he said. "It will also provide * Assumes feed costs of 3.5 cents/pound increase in milk. a better return on current capital invest- Total Incremental Costs ($/day) . ments. In many cases, using the nine pound According to Powell, Monsanto is offering a generous credit average increase, a producer could expect program, that allows a producer to order Posilac the first of the Net Profit ($/cow/day) .. .. a net of $80 per cow per lactation." month, with billing occurring on the 20th of the folIowing month . In addition to spreading overhead and "This will allow a producer to actually receive the benefits of '. optimizing existing facilities, Powell said Posilac prior to incurring charges for the product," Powell ex- Profit Opportunity (# cows/lactation) ...... produc~rs can extend the profitability of a plained. "However, as soon as the cow increases her feed intake, * You could also use this worksheet to calculate your total costs and long lactation with problem breeders, and the producer will start to experience incremental costs. The same local milk value to determine the actual milk response you would need if so desired, a producer can maintain cur- could be said for labor charges too." on your farm to break even. rent production levels with less cows.

\, Posilac Facts D 500 mg. of BST/dose in in- dividual syringes, complete with TAKE'THE~'BITEOUT OF DENTAL CARE COSTS 5/8" 16-gauge needle. D Start using during the 9th week of lactation right up to dry-off. Monsanto advises use of Posilac on healthy cows only. D Inject under the skin every 14th day in the depression on either side of the tail head or behind the shoulder blade. D Five to 15 pound/day increase in milk production, with an average 9 pound increase expected. D "Try it Right" introductory offer ~f $5 per dose. Normally priced at $6.60 per dose. D No drug withdrawl period for milk or meat is required. D 36-month shelf life for Posilac. D Posilac must be refrigerated. D Buy direct via a 1-800 phone number. D Used syringe disposal program allows producers to send used syringes back to Monsanto for disposal.

Michigan Milk 4 Production Down Slightly in November Member dental insurance is the affordable way to assure that you and your family Dairy herds in Michigan produced 424 mil- receive the dental care services you.require - even'when sudden and costly needs arise. lion pounds of milk during November, 4 milIion pounds less than a year ago, accord- Measure the rates against your annual dental care bills and consider the advantage! ing to the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service. Milk per cow averaged 1,250 - Single $18 per month • Couple $32 per month pounds, down 10 pounds from last year. Member/C.hild $32 per month • Family $41 per month The Michigan dairy herd was estimated at .... 339,000 head, down 1,000 head from Nov ...... CIl.CAN . 1992. .... J:ARItl BIJREAIJ

The preliminary value of milk sold TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND A BROCHURE/APPLICATION, PLEASE FILL OUT THE COUPON BELOW averaged $13.60 per hundredweight (cwt.) OR CALL DIRECT 1-800-292-2680 EXT- 3236. in November, $.30 more than last year. Mid-month October slaughter cow prices Please Print averaged $43.30 per cwt., $2.30 less than the previous year. Please mail to: Michigan Farm Bureau Name Membership Services Milk in the 21 major states totaled 10.0 P.O. Box 30960 Address bilIion pounds, 2 percent below production Lansing, MI 48909 in these same states in Nov. 1992. Produc- Citv State ZIP tion per cow averaged 1,237 pounds for November, unchanged from Nov. 1992. Phone The number of cows on farms was 8.08' million head, 152,000 head less than Nov. Count¥ 1992 and 10,000 below Oct. 1993. MFN Michigan Farm News II. January 15, 1994

...... "

You're invited to a dairy seminar.

No one should miss this informative seminar of healthy, well..managed dairy facilities. This sem.. on stray voltage and the latest in dairy facilities inar is coming to your area soon, so watch your planning. Jointly sponsored by the Michigan State mail for more information. We're sure you'll want University Extension and Consumers Power, the to attend. If you think you have a stray voltage seminar explains the causes and effects of stray problem, call Consumers Power's voltage, how to recognize it and how it can be stray voltage specialists 'immedi .. corrected. We'll also highlight the characteristics ately at 1..8(X)'..252 ..VOLl: !. Michigan Farm News January 15, 1994 -. IIRestricted Use Pesticide ENVIRONMENTAL Certificate Rules .~~ STEWARDSHIP Jim Good, MSU Extension Private applicators (farmers) need 12 credits and commercial applicators need 18 Due to the fact that restricted use pesticide in one category plus six in any other certifications expire at the end of the third category they wish to renew. In this case, year, it's a good idea to review the proce- send your renewal application, a list of the • dures for re-certification. credit programs and dates, and a check for ~ the fee back to MDA, Lansing. If you want to know when your certification expires, check the lower right hand corner If you have not been certified as a of your green certification card. You should Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) applicator have received a renewal application in the or your certification has lapsed, you must mail from the Michigan Department of pass a core test for commercial, at least one ~J~. Agriculture (MDA) well before the end of category test, but should be certified in any To be certified or re-certified by testing, Prior to taking the test, get a current study 1993. Keep this in a place where you can category you apply pesticides in. register for one of the many test site dates manual from Extension. Most of these have find it later! If you didn't get one or lost and take your completed application and a been updated in the last 18 months. it, call MDA at (517) 373-1087. New certification applications are available check (State of Michigan) to the test site. from Extension and MDA offices. Note: Don't mail it in! Note: If you are a farmer who applies pes- To renew, you have two alternatives. First, Private applicators are growers of crops or ticides for anyone else in the course of take the renewal test and receive a passing trees applying RUPs on their own or rented About 10 days after the test, you will be employment, you probably should have grade (70 percent or higher). Second, if you lands. This includes farm employees. Com- notified of passing or failing. You will be commercial certification. A new ruling have accumulated enough educational mercial applicators are any other RUP ap- issued a plastic RUP Certification card if states that non-farm commercial applica- credits and can list them for MDA, you are plication and if done for hire (customer you pass; if you failed, you can take the test tions of ready-to-use general use pesticides renewed without testing. application), you must also be licensed. again. (GUPs) do not require any certification! National Survey Shows Conservation Tillage Putting the Plow to Rest A nationwide survey shows more farmers Mulch Till Leads the Way Tillage Trends are abandoning the plow for the economic Mulch-till is the largest among the conser- u.s. and environmental benefits of conservation vation tillage categories, adding 1.6 million Crop Residue Levels: 0-1SOlo VS. 15-30% And Above. tillage. The 1993 National Crop Residue acres this year for a total of almost 59 Management Survey indicates the number million acres. No-till continues to post the of planted acres that benefit from less til- largest annual increases in the conservation 180 lage could soon outpace the acres that are tillage categories, growing more than 6.7 plowed or tilled clean of crop residues. million acres this year to encompass almost 160 35 million acres in 1993. Ridge-till grew by V) w 140 Farmers who practice conservation tillage, 100,000 acres this year, it now accounts for ~ U either no-till, ridge-till or mulch-till, leave about 3.5 million acres nationwide. < 120 It 30 percent or more of the residues from u.. The survey includes a 15-30 percent 0 100 previous crops on the ground after planting. V) residue category which is not a form of Z 80 conservation tillage but may represent a 0 According to the survey, this soil-protect- ~ ing and labor-saving practice has been ad- positive system for soil erosion control. -' 60 ding an average of about. 9 million acres for Combined with other conservation prac- ~ 40 the last two years and is now less than 11 tices like strip cropping, terraces, and rota- million acres away from the number of tions, 15-30 percent residue levels can pro- 20 acres that are clean tilled. vide adequate erosion control. Adding the 15-30 percent category to conservation til- 0 Survey coordinator Jerry Hytry, executive lage acres, more than 170 million acres or 89 90 91 92 93 YEARS director of the nonprofit Conservation 61 percent of the 278 million planted acres • 15-30%+ - Crop residue levels left after planting Technology Information Center (CTIC), in the U.S. utilized some form of crop predicts the acres of conservation tillage residue management system. D 0-15% - Crop residue levels left after planting will overtake the number of acres clean .Source: Conservation Technology In(ormation Center tilled next year. Regional/State Highlights • Regions with the greatest conservation • Ridge-till's top state is Nebraska, with • No-till full season soybeans have in- "Economics are driving this transition and tillage acreage are: Com Belt - 37 million nearly 1.5 million acres. Minnesota, a dis- creased over five times in the last five years, I fully expect conservation tillage to exceed acres, Northern Plans - 24 million acres, tant second, has 600,000 acres. from 4 percent of total planted acres to 22 clean tilled acres in 1994," says Hytry. and the Great Lakes States - 9.5 million percent his year. acres. • Ridge-till is most practiced in the Northern The survey, which includes more than Plains with 1.9 million acres, followed by • Use of conservation tillage for full season 3,000 counties nationwide, shows conser- • The largest no-till state is Iowa with 6.9 the Com Belt with 700,000 acres, and close- soybean production now exceeds 47 per- vation tillage accounted for over 97 million million acres, followed closely by Illinois ly behind are the Great Lakes States with cent of planted acres, half of which is acres or nearly 35 percent of total cropland with 6.3 million acres. 600,000 acres. mulch-till.

" t acres planted in 1993. Almost 39 percent or nearly 108 million acres are being clean • Mulch-till is the strongest of the conser- Crop-Related Highlights • No-till cotton has increased more than tilled, leaving little or no residue. vation tillage types in the Southern Plains, • No-till com has more than doubled in five three times in the last three years, with Mountain and Pacific regions. years from 7 percent to 17 percent of all Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North planted acres in 1993. Carolina and Mississippi leading the way. Slicing Through To Zone- Till: The Rawson Zone-Builder from Unverferth

Eliminating the yield limiting effects of table to virtually any row spacing. Theil" hardpan is the first step toward successful replaceable shank points slice through the adoption of the Zone-Tillage soil manage- hardpan opening with minimal surface soil ment system. Only the Rawson Zone- disturbance. The shanks can be positioned Builder deep-till implement from Unver- to work directly under the rows, or between ferth is designed specifically for this pur- them, to a depth of 26". pose. The Zone-Tillage soil management system The Rawson Zone-Builder deep-till imple- combines the seedbed preparation benefits ment slices through hardpan to create a of conventional tillage with the conserva- passageway that allows plant roots and soil tion compliance benefits of no-till and moisture to move freely into the subsoil. ridge-till, without sacrificing yield. Unless this is done, plants can only use the nutrients and soil moisture above the Rawson Zone-Till products are manufac- hardpan, making them vulnerable to the tured and marketed through Unverferth weather extremes of drought or excess Mfg. Co., Inc., a leading manufacturer of moisture. quality agricultural wheel systems, grain handling, seed handling, tillage equipment, The deep-tillage operation is equally effec- and the Brent line of products. tive when done in the fall or spring and whether you till between every or every For more information about the Zone- other row. If done as a spring operation, the Builder deep till implement, the Zone- Zone-Builder deep tillage tool can also be Tillage soil management system, and the used to side-dress nitrogen at the same time entire line of Rawson Zone-Till using optional Zone-till sealers. products, contact Unverferth Manufac- reset and special alloy steel shanks that dig shank through the field. Available with turing Company, Inc., P.O. Box 357, The Rawson Zone-Builder deep-till imple- down and through compacted soil. A 20" four or six shanks, the Zone-Builder deep- Kalida, OH 45853. Telephone 1-800-322- ment from Unverferth features automatic ripple coulter that cuts residue leads each till implement from Unverferth is adjus- 6301,419-532-3121 or fax 419-532-2468. Michigan Farm News .. ' •• January 15, 1994 GRP Crop Insurance - Is It for You? continued from page 1 With the 40-bushel yield, and a $5.75 Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) "We had too many farms in some markets indemnity price for soybeans, the maximum to develop the GRP concept. that were collecting year in and year out - GRP Benefits protection level would be 40 bu. x $5.75 x 1.5 "Congress has been trying for some time something clearly wasn't working very well," D It's typically cheaper than traditional = $345. If the county yield dropped to 20 to make the Federal Crop Insurance Program Black said. "During the Bush administration, crop insurance. bushel per acre, that represents a 44 percent work," Skees said. "However, every time we OMB (Office of Management and Budget) shortfall (36-20/36). The percentage sh9rtfall have a major catastrophe, Congress also started looking very aggressively at GRP as a o It has higher coverage choices (lower is multiplied by the protection level to derive comes in and provides additional incentives way to provide a reasonable amount of protec- deductible options) than tradItional a payment figure (.44 x $345 = $151.80). and protection. With GRP, we now have a tion for many farmers. They would absolutely crop insurance. Each farmer with this contract in that par- mix between free disaster assistance and the like to get out of the disaster program busi- ticular county would receive a payment of current multi-peril crop insurance program." ness, and secondly, be able to offer more o It has the potential of providing $151.80 per acre. Between fiscal years 1980-90, the net cost flexibility in their insurance programs." protection against catastrophic Available In Limited Counties of the U.S. crop insurance program averaged According to the FCIC, Michigan's loss events that are common across a GRP will be offered for corn and soybeans $489 million per year. However, the average ratio for corn, wheat, and soybeans averaged county, such as drought. only in those counties with 15,000 or more $489 million per year for crop insurance was 2.48 from 1981-89. That fact alone, got acres of those commodities. GRP coverage only 24 percent of the total net cost of U.S. Michigan selected as one of several states to It requires minimum paperwork. All it o must be purchased in the county where the government disaster assistance programs participate in GRP. "Michigan, as a whole, asks is, "How many acres of has taken a lot more out of the insurance pool corn/soybeans do you farm and how acreage is located. over the period. The remaining 76 percent than it has put in," Black concluded. many dollars per acre of protection Black predicts that if the G RP concept was for free disaster assistance payments and do you need? takes off, that acreage figure could be reduced low interest loans. The bottom line, says Black, is that GRP to 10,000 acres meaning that more Michigan According to Skees, research using 3,000 offers the producer two primary advantages, o It's easily understood by farmers who counties could participate in GRP. soybean farms has shown that two-thirds of considerably less paper work, and in many are experts in commodity marketing "I would be real surprised, however, if the these farms would have reduced their risk cases it will cost much less than conventional since the concept is very common to acreage cut-off went below 10,000 acres, more during the 1980s with a GRP policy at MPCI. There is, however, a downside to GRP, options or futures contracts. since the program is based on county yield to 90 percent than with a MPCI policy at 75 he cautions. establish the insurance rates," Black said. percent. Consistently bad managers would If your yields don't track well with county GRPCaution WhyGRP? not be able to collect with GRP, since pay- yields, then you're not going to achieve your GRP is designed to eliminate many of the ment is based on shortfalls in the county's objective of having an indemnity payment in o GRP doesn't guarantee payment if shortcomings of conventional multi-peril yield, not the individual's yield. those years when you need it the worst," Black you experience a yield shortfall on crop insurance, namely those of cost, duplica- Black agrees with Skees, adding that a said. "It's conceivable that you might have a your own farm, while the remainder tion, low participation, and program abuses, tighter federal budget and a growing concern severe yield loss in your part of the county, of your county experiences normal according to Dr. Jerry Skees, professor of by public policy makers over the existing and still not get paid. However, it's also con- yields. agricultural economics at the University of MPCI program's ills prompted the testing and Kentucky. Skees is under contract to the development of GRP. Continued next page see "GRP"

Your Michigan NORTHRUP KING Seed Dealers City Dealer Phone No. Alicia Con Agra Berger & Co 517-770-4130

Alma McClintic Farms 517 -463- J 140 Alto Alto Farm Services 6 I6-868-6030 Ann Arbor Strieter Bros 3 13-995- 2497 Auburn Ittner Bean & Grain 517-662-4461

Bancroft Gerald Cole 517-634-52 J 2 Belding Jerry Gallagher 616-761-3243 Birch Run Con Agra Berger & Co 517-624-9321 Blissfield M.A.C 517 -486-2171 Breckenridge B&W Co-Op 517 -842-3104 Carson City Harvey Milling Company 517-584-3466 Conklin Arends Farm Service 6 I6-899-2 I36 Constantine Ron Weston 616-435-8219 Corunna Clyde McLosky 517-743-3633 Diamondale John Oakley 517-646-0629 Dorr Dorr Farm Products 616-681-9570 Dowagiac Harold Grabemeyer 616-782-8744 Dowagiac Joe Van TuyIe 616- 782-827 5 Freeland Coli Agra Berger & Co 517-695-2521 Homer Tri-County Agra Services 517-542-3196 Lake Odessa Mark Erickson 616-374-8538 Mason R & S Crop Service 517-628-2036 This superior hybrid can produce top yields. Merrill Con Agra Berger & Co 517-643-7293 Exceptional standability means easier harvesting. Middleton M.A.C 517-236-7263 It has excellent drought tolerance, adapting to Minden City Eugene Briolat.. 517-658-8330 a wide range of harvest densities. Adapted to Monroe Calvin Smith 3 I3-269-27 I0 reduced tillage to help you get the most from New Lothrop Anderson Fertilizer Services. Inc 313-638-5868 every acre. Northrup King N4242. New Lothrop Bob Hajek 313-638-5281 Owosso Anderson Fertilizer Services, Inc 517-723-5205 Portland Frank Trierweiler 517-587-6540 Reading Dick Heffelfinger 517-283-2444 N4242 Richmond Farmers Elevator 313-727-3025 Rockford Ron Porter.. 6 I6-874-8 196 Saginaw Seamon Farms 517-777 -2054

Union City David LaBar 517-741-3204 CPO Vestaburg Con Agra Berger & Co 517-268-5300 NORTHRUP KING Zeeland Zeeland Farm Services 6 I6-772-9042 '-:': Michigan Farm News

II. January 15, 1994 Farm Bureau Insurance Agents to be Trained for GRP Sales The following Farm Bureau Insurance City Name Phone City Name Phone ~gents wi.1I be going through training meet- Caro, David Kolacz (517) 673-5553 Homer, Terrace Anderson (517) 568-4342 City Name Phone lOgS dUrIng the months of January and Carson City, E.J. Horricks (517) 584-3508 Ida, David Brown (313) 269-3275 Petoskey, Thomas Gambrell February, in preparation for GRP sales in Centreville, Larry Frisbie (616) 467-6308 Imlay City, Dan Duncan (313) 724-6407 (616) 347-6051 the 37 selected counties. Training dates and Charlotte, James Camp (517) 339-3222 Ionia, Robert Shelden (616) 527-3960 Petoskey, Dick Schaefer (616) 347-6051 locations are: Charlotte, Dave Simpson (517) 543-5565 Ionia, Dan Croel . (616) 527-3960 Pigeon, Bill Weitzel (517) 453-3334 Jan 25 Lansing Chesaning, Robert St. Gordon Iron Mt., Tony Demboskl (906) 779-1774 Pigeon, Jim Armbruster (517) 453-2502 ~ .28' (517) 845-7090 Ithaca, Jerome Desrochers (517) 875-2200 Port Huron, Carl Tice (313) 984-5200 - Jan. , Kalamazoo Dundee, Larry Brossia (313) 529-3939 Jackson, Robert Nelson (517) 782-0485 Portage, Clayton Hisler (616) 342-0212 ~ebb'~~' ~aylpolrd Elkton, Frank Kluger (517) 375-4598 Jackson, Robert Cowing (517) 784-9166 Reed City, Michael Burke (616) 832-3283 . e. , t. easant Escanaba, Daniel Veeser (906) 786-4757 Kalamazoo, Robert Vlietstra Rogers City, Dan Gabara (517) 734-2692 Feb. 18, Lapeer Escanaba, Dwayne Klein (906) 786-4757 (616) 381-2311 Romeo, M. John Pearson (313) 752-3554 Escanaba, Rick Jensen (906) 786-4757 Kawkawlin, Ed Samborn (517) 697-3146 Sandusky, Max Kreger (313) 648-2800 According to Jim Gallagher, manager of Fennville, Warren Wilkinson L'Anse, Roland Sweeney (906) 524-6229 Shelbyville, Ann Davis (616) 672-9300 Community Service Acceptance Company, (616) 561-2514 Lakeview, Todd Lincoln (517) 352-6069 Spring Lake, John Queen (616) 846-6909 the company that provides for Farm Fenton, Steve Keswick (313) 629-1507 Lapeer, John Welke (313) 664-4928 S1.Johns, Michael White (517) 224-3255 Bureau's Crop Insurance sales and service, Fowler, Tom French (517) 593-3104 Laurium, Martin Olgren (906) 337-2700 St. Johns, Don Keirn (517) 224-3255 Frankenmuth, Carl Gustafson Marlette, Jack Walker (517) 635-7563 St. Johns, Dale Feldpausch the agents will receive training and (517) 652-6411 Marshall, Larry Robinson (616) 781-2849 (517) 224-3255 9 materials to aid their farmer clients in decid- Frankenmuth, Dale VanFleet Mason, Vic Whipple (517) 676-5578 S1.Johns, Daryl Feldpausch ing whether or not they should participate (517) 652-6411 Midland, Dave Katt (517) 631-4903 (517) 224-3255 in GRP in 1994. For more information and Fremont, Ben Landheer (616) 924-4000 Midland, Linda Martin (517) 631-6222 Standish, Marvin Schwab (517) 846-6323 assistance, call your nearest agent before Gladwin, Duane Simpkins (517) 426-8131 Midland, Ron Andrews (517) 631-6543 Stephenson, Edward Johnson the April 15 sales closing date. Grand Rapids, Mark Johnson Midland, Larry Breasbois (517) 631-6222 (906) 753-6620 (616) 940-8181 Montrose, James Hardy (313) 639-7077 Three Rivers, Loren Carlisle City Name Phone Grand Rapids, Dale Johnson M1. Pleasant, Gordon Moeggenborg (616) 273-9551 Allegan, Dennis Smiertka (616) 673-6651 (616) 940-8181 (517) 772-0996 Union City, Ralph Strong (517) 741-7353 Allendale, David Carlson (616) 895-5321 Grass Lake, Charles Tobias ( Munger, Dan VandenBoom Unionville, Ted Balzer (517) 674-8617 Allendale, Robert Willard (616) 895-4380 517) 522-8066 (517) 895-8600 Wayne, Mark Patterson (313) 729-2012 Alma, Ron Artecki (517) 463-4859 Harrisville, Alvin Sharp (517) 724-6524 New Era, Roger Fessenden W. Branch, Darrell VanPamel Alpena, Jim Milstein (517) 356-4582 Hillsdale, Noble Bertalon (517) 437-7393 (616) 861-5219 (517) 345-0230 Alpena, Margaret Schultz (51 7) 356-4581 Hillsdale, Douglas Miller (517) 437-7393 Onekama, Marcia Korwin (616) 889-3228 W. Branch, Vern Clemens (517) 345-1447 Bad Axe, James Leonard (517) 269-6520 Hillsdale, Duane Sanford (517) 437-7619 Orion, William Porritt (313) 391-2528 W. Branch, Mary Kartes (517) 345-1447 Battle Creek, Tom Cain (616) 963-4214 Battle Creek, Scott Hisler (616) 979-3337 Bay City, Joe Davis (517) 892-9771 I Berrien Springs, Larry Dobberstein (616) 473-2722 II~ Berrien Springs, Marty Rudlaff (616) 473-4791 I Big Rapids, Paul Jefts (616) 796-7697 Birmingham, Rita Ski (313) 644-6364 Can Our Annuity Breckenridge, Jim Cooper (517) 842-3220 Cadillac, Leon Bigelow (616) 775-0126 Save Your Retirement? In his autobiograph~ Groucho Marx tells how an annuity helped him at a crucial

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soybeans Consider the tax savings, too. You may ...... ill »~ ...... ',' - " ...... ':':' ..:.:." ). -.x :.: ;.: ..:- corn soybeans ,,:.:." .:-:. :-. :.:.. :.. :.. :.: ...... ' ,., ...... , .. - ..... qualify to deduct up to $2,000 in deposits ...... ,', ..•. ,", ...... corn soybeans .':':-" :.:- .:. :.:.. : ;.;.. ;::::- '::: .:~ :::: ::: ,;::.:.' ...... ,', .....• " corn soybeans :~~ ::.. ::~:' .::::~: :~: ':. ""Q'U:.' ',' " ...... each year from your taxable income. And ' ...... ,"'

January 15, 1994

•• J - Michigan Farm News Classifieds - IIcIII1'" iI:,tll&t,1 "'JIL' il.illla' _1Ii1l\l)111••1Illl

1988 FIELDBOSS 40h farm NEW AND USED irrigation ALFALFA HAY: 800# round Service Age Spotted Boars BIRD FERTILIZER' 12,000 GALLON liquid NH3 SERVICES. 1100 N IrvirlQ, holding tank. 10 liquid NH3 tractor with all equipment. and manure spreading equip- bales and 60# squares. 1st All health reqUirements met Less than 500 hours. All ment. Pumps, travelers, and 2nd cuttin9' Quality Reasonable delivery rates Greenville. Fertilizer, chemi- tanks on running gear (2 cals, seed, lime, feed. Soil tanks with variable size row). attachmentsl $10,000. Call a~itators, PVC and aluminum tested. 16% protem. 7' snow anywhere in Michigan. 1-313-793-4760. pipe. Call for listing. We blower. Like newt Ellison Farms testing, truck spreading and 1 liquid NH3 tank without custom spraying. Call running gear. 6 aprlicators. 2 deliverl 1-517-766-2446. 1-517-524-6220 1 UNION Special Model Plummer Supply, Inc. 1~16-754-3684. tool bars (1 too bar with FROZEN TART CHERRIES: 80800E Sewing Head with 1-800-632-7731. YORKSHIRE SPOT and kohlers for no till). 500 gallon 4#'s, $3.50. 25"s, $18.00. Thread Cutting 1 King Hampshire F1 Boars. Ready sprayer. Miscellaneous parts. Wheel. Dryed cherries, maple syrup, EXPERIENCED Michigan Line Model 600 (Union for service. 906 EXY Avenue, All in very good conditionl As FOR SALE: 8' Hansen snow honey. Yoker Farms, agribusiness attorneys with a package, will consider indi- Special Look-Alike) Sewing blower. Uke newt $1500. Call Vicksburg, MI. Call farm backgrounds. Know- Traverse City area. Call 1~ 16~49-2803. vidual sales. Call Head with Thread Cutting 1-517-543-2418 1~ 16-943-4003. ledge and experience in all ,.l 1-800-352-3354. Wheel. Excellent conditionl 1-517-543-4119. farm areas; restructure, stray Ready to run. Contact GET AHEAD feed Jennings voltage, bankruptcy, estate Harrington Seeds, Inc. I - . Roasted Soybeans, full fat planning. EAST SIDE: 1982 CLARK C-500 lift truck 2586 Bradleyville Road ".";.;.;.; : :.: :.;.:.;.;.: :: :.: -:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:. and high bypass value. Thomas J. Budzynski, 43777 for sale. 3800 hours, LP gas, Reese, MI 48757 Jennings Roasted Soybeans Groesbeck Hwy., Mt. 3,000# capacity, Pneumatic 517-868-4750 for greater service today and Clemens, MI 48036, tires, side shift. 6ft' free lift, latill1111 tomorrow. We deliver. 313-463-5253; WEST SIDE: 152"lift, 3 stage upright. JOHN DEERE 45 combine 1-517-852-0938. Robert A. Stariha, 40 W. Excellent conditionl for sale with 243 com head HONEY BEES for pollution for fruit and vegetables. Call Sheridan, Fremont, MI Harrington Seed., Inc. and 10' grain head. Also, ALFALFA: 1st and 2nd FREE CATALOG: Whole- 49412, 616-924-3760. 2586 Bradleyville Road M&M ear com sheller with cutting, square bales. lake- sale Veterinary Supplies. 1-517-872-2914, Cass City. Resse, MI 48757 drag chain. Call evenings, view. CaJI1-517-352-7549 or Vaccines, wormers, supple- IDAHO'S BEST ALFALFA 1-517-868-4750 1~16~74-3681. 1~16-972-8497. ments, medications, insecti- delivered any where to you I cides, disinfectants, syringes, Ida-Best Hay Company, ------needles, buckets, pails, 1-800-558-2378. Ask for ,- mastitis treabnents, implants, Darren. I Buy 2 Issues Of-Michigan- Far~ News - --, pour ons, eartags, rainwear, I Get the Third Issue I gloves. Much morel K.V. Vet RECYCLE YOUR DIESEL air Supply, Box 245, David City, filters. Recycle Now, Inc. a NE 68632. 1-402-367~47. FOR LEASE: Remote area, Holland, Michigan based excellent hunting area. company, committed to recyl- Adjoins Michigan State land. ing diesel and industrial air intake filters using the Sonic Approximately 12 miles north- i ! Dry Clean method. No liquids east of KaJkaska on Twin FREE! Lake Road. Cash rent yearly. I or detergents used. Half the Deadline for next issue is January 21, 1994 cost of a new filterl Better than No logging! 1-913-751-4485, I a new filterl Fer more infonna- ask for John. I lion, call 1~ 16-396-7724 or Call 1-800-968-3129 ~~ PRIME DEER & TURKEY Ea: I BEEFALO, 3/8 Bison. Low fax 1~ 16-396-8102. fat, low cholesterol beef. HUNTING: 37 acres, Clare to Place Your Classified Ad Today! I Heifers and steers for sale. WOODLOT MANAGEMENT County, Harrison area. or use the coupon below and mail your classified ad to I Also, paint horses. Call Specializing in long term $25,000. 1~16-362-2141. Kaleva, MI. woodlot management Inde- Call 1-517-539-4368 or Wes I pendent forestry consulting. at 1-517-539-2183 for more Michigan Farm News DUROC BOARS for sale infonnation. I from A-1 stock. Six months limber sale preparation and Buy Line/Daily News old, $225. Administration, Appraisals, TURKEY - HUNTERS: l:and I Call 1~16-754~829. Tree Planting. Free initial for lease up North in Alcona PO. Box 6 I inspection I 17 years County, Area D. Two sites, up GOOD SELECTION: experience. to 4 hunters. By day, week or Stanton, MI48888 I Purebred Yorks, Hamps and Tom Stadt season . .- -I F-1-York X Hamp Boers and Tree Tech Call 1-517-724-5538 Classified Ad Codes open Gilts. Also, bred Gilts 1~16-731-4494. Harrisville. I with farm test data. M. Cook, 1. Farm Machinery 6. Agricultural SeNices 11. Wanted to Buy Mulliken. 1-517 ~9-8988. 2. Livestock Equipment 7. Auctions 12. General HOLSTEIN SERVICE AGE 3. Farm Commodities 8. Building Materials 13. Ponies/Horses Bulls out of Blackstar, Wister, Leadman, Melwood, High- 4. Livestock 9. Real Estate 14. Antiques/Collectibles light Good sizel $800-$900. 5. Help/Position Wanted 10. Seeds 15. Special Events M.B.M. Pasch Farms 1-517-644-3519 Name LLAMAS: Three young • Phone ( males, grey or carmel. Halter HERITAGE trained. Fine wool! $500 BUIWING SYSTEMS Address each, $1400 for three. Horton 800-643-5555 30 x 40 x 10 $4.295 Bay Llamas. 30 x 60 x 10 $6.095 City State __ Zip 40 x 60 x 12 $7.688 1~16-582-7473. 50 x 90 x 14 $13.795 150 x 300 x 16 $98.785 QUALITY ANGUS BREED- Classified Ad Code Requested Number of Issues BUILD IT YOURSELF ING STOCK Performance AND SAVE MONEY tested, Bulls semen tested. CorrmertiaJ steet buildings featumg easy bolt up assetTbIy for the do rt Desired Insertion Date(s): yourself builder from America's Iatgest distributof. We have over 5,000 Free delivery. Also Border standard sizes of shop, farm, industrial, commercial and mini- Collie Stock Dogs. Call today. warehouse buildings. AI are complete wrth engineer stamped permt drawings to meel1986 MBMA codes, 20 yearrool warranty, and BORDNER ANGUS FARMS palllled walls. Gal us today for a free infofmatJon package, and a QUOte Method of Payment Sturgis, MI 616~51-8353. on our lop qualify buildings or building component parts. Check $ (payable to Michigan Farm News Classified) MINI WAREHOUSE SALE 511.898 Visa Card Number Exp. Date COWSI COWSI COWS! 20' X 120' WITH 24 UNITS COMPLETE WITH Country Collections has avail- PARTITIONS. 8' X T DOORS, AND HARDWARE Master Card Number Exp. Date able a free cow gift brochure filled with over 50 cow Classified Rates decorated items. Write ,1./ COUNTRY COLLECTIONS, Get Your Fall Tillage $8 for up to 24 words Box 1372, Holland, MI 49422. Enclose $1 :00 for shipping Parts at 30 cents each additional word and handling. 16-2/33 Group Purchasing Write your ad here, including phone number and area code Group RrChaSing Rates! 234 1994 Winter Sale - Save 20% 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 .. 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 W'fI! 21 22 23 24 'II! 'II 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 32 'fit fir

33 34 35 36 L ~ Winter Sale Ends Feb. 12 Your Cost $5.25 ., , Circulation over 46,000 in State of Michigan. Ca//1-BOO-292-26BO. ext. 2015 . Michigan Farm News _ -. January 15, 1994 February Discussion Topic --

- ". aW110 . :.li'llllllllllllllll~~.1...... "Animal Agriculture Initiative" 1994 is the year that the agricultural in- seems to be such a serious concern," said FORMER DAIRY FARM: BUILDINGS: Canceled BEAT THE WINTERBLAHS, dustry wiJl begin seeing real progress Kirk. "But, in reality, the additional manure 188 acres, Oceana County, orders. Two Quonset Steel spend a day in Greenville and toward completion of the $69 million that will be produced should be seen as a near lake Michigan and Arch Buildin9S, 42'x78' and VIsitthe many antique shops. Animal Agriculture Initiative at Michigan resource that will displace some of the need Stony. Lake. Four bedroom 51'x94'. Seiling for balance The Caplan S. An ..... farm house, oak kitchen, orig- owed. Brand new! in the center of town is now State University. for commercial fertilizer. And we have inal woodwork, several newer Call Larry at our factory, looking to put some cash in enough land mass in our state that the addi- barns, Sell all or part, 1-800-866-2534. Serious your pocket. We buy WWI and The funding will be used to renovate An- tional manure can be easily be fully utilized $189,900. inquiries please. /I military relics, old antique thony Hall, the Dairy Plant, the Meats Lab by the cash crop industry." Roger Simon Arch Building System., Inc. telephones, wooden airplane Vollmer Inc., Realtors propellers, tobacco and cigar and the fann facilities. It will be used for 1-616-894-5611 WANTED TO BUY: Used cutters and fruitjars. Give us a new research farm facilities, including a Kirk believes it is possible for cattle and tractors, any condition. Call call at 1-616-754-9224 or stop swine farrowing barn and nursery, consumers to co-exist in an urbanized, en- ORCHARD VINEYARD by and see us at 202 South 1-517-386-9796. LBfayette Street, Greenville, grower/finisher facilities and a new horse vironmentally-conscious 'state like (27A), Cider Mill, Bakery. Michigan. Qood retail following and across from FMB Bank, next barn and arena. It will construct new infec- wholesale customers. Owner DEBT RESTRUCTURING: 8 to Haan's Bakery. tious disease containment facilities at the years practice representing "The farmers I've talked to w~o are ex- t financing, low interest Write: Michigan family farmers. veterinary research farm. And it will con- Box J, Vermontville, MI struct a new agriculture and livestock panding their livestock operations are very Specializil'lQ in reorganiza- ...... :.:.:.:.:.:.: .:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:. 49096. 1-517-321"()276...... l tion! Expenenced in many iII education center to replace the old livestock aware that the expansion won't be success- agricultural issues, including pavilion. ful if irate neighbors can potentially push PA116 requests. Attorney Daniel Kraft, I11III11. them out of business tomorrow," Kirk said. 1-517~ Preliminary architectural drafts of the "As a result, farmers are being very open 3% YEAR OLD Buckskin facility construction are expected to be and professional in approaching their Gelding 14.2 greenbroke, not WANTED: Standing timber, registered. $700 firm. Home- completed by March, according to Kevin neighbors, discussing possible conflicts any species. Family owned made horsetrailer, new floors Kirk, livestock specialist for Michigan and coming to some mutual understandings BUYERS OF STANDING and operated. Conscientious and tires. Needs work. $200 Fann Bureau. to make sure that they can all get along after timer and veneer logs. timber harvester. firm. Call 616-794-0219. the expansion." Devereaux SawmiU, Inc. G & D Wood Products, Pewamo, MI. Call 1-517-254-4666. BLACK AMISH BUGGY: "The major construction projects will all be Two seater, sliding doors, underway at the same time," he said. "The In addition, the fanners are paying close 1-517-593-2552. lights, rubber wheels. Road FRENCH STUDENTS in ready I Belgian Gelding, 7 Anthony Hall renovation will begin in attention to the Right-to-Farm guidelines to H&S STEEL throw bale Agronomy are searching for years old, gentle broke, 1900 August with completion about 20 months protect their livestock investment and the wagon on 5 ton Gehl running farms which would accept pounds. Perkins, Mi. after that. Work on the research farm environment, according to Kirk. gear. Very good conditionl them as apprentice for 1 or 2 1-906-359-4826. facilities and the livestock education center $1800 firm. Kent County. months next summer. For PAIR BLACK RIDINGmules, 616-636-8449. more information, write to: should start in June or July and be finished This revitalization of Michigan's animal 16 H.H. Quiet on trails, willgo agriculture project will benefit all sectors of Coralie Mouton, AS/S, 113 anywhere, traffic safe, drive a year later." rue J. d Arc, 54000 Nancy, the state's agricultural economy. For ex- WANTED: Oliver OC-3-4 France. too. Seven year old Belgian Ford major or "5000. Gelding, 1900#. 14' wagon, Kirk said one unanswered question is the ample, it will allow more fanners to diver- AC-WD-45 Deutz engine. hydraulic brakes. status of a $4 million appropriation for ad- sify their operations by taking advantage of 2-side lumber planer Belsaw 1-906-359-4826. ditional livestock staff and teaching Michigan's unique environment for live- edger saw hammering tools. Call 1-616-627-7209 programs. "But we're optimistic that the stock production. • evenings. FOR DISPLAY AD dollars will be found to pay for the person- nel to fully utilize these tremendous new The project will also expand local livestock FOR SALE: Six clay farrow- INFORMATION facilities," he said. grain markets, and help reduce the need for ing crates. Deluxe, with costly "out of state" grain shipment. By creeps. Used once! Farnam CALL Home Finance Loan CALL self-catch catUe head gate. Specialists LIVE24 HOURSI The Animal Industry Initiative has the some estimates, the extra demand for corn Cash in 7 days. Bankru~tcy and soybeans created by this livestock ex- CaJI 1-517-n3-7659. OK. 1-800-223-9699 (616 1-800-292-2680 potential for providing big dividends for area only) or Michigan's farm economy. In particular, pansion could boost prices by 25 to 30 cents WORKING FANNING MILL 616-285-3243 EXT. 3201 the additional funding support should help a bushel. or grain cleaner for soybeans, MSU develop solutions to one of the most wheat and oats. Must see work! Complete set up vexing challenges facing animal agriculture A growing livestock industry is also ex- wanted. Moisture tester for ...... , _- •• _ ••••• 'lo •••• ,. in the state: manure management. pected to generate additional jobs and in- hay and grain. come from the processing and distribution 1-517-834-2576. Place your ad for 6 Solutions are critically important if the in- industries, and as the impact of this expan- months, get phone dustry is to expand or even maintain its sion multiplies, it could produce over $625 STEEL BUILDING SALE: current level of production. And finding million a year in direct and indirect value Brand new, some year end closeouts. Act before January number or name in red. appropriate, environmentally sound for the Michigan economy. Within a 30, 1994 and save $1,ooO's. manure application techniques is a key to decade, this amount could exceed a billion Call for sizes. Place your ad for 1 maintaining a "good neighbor" policy with dollars a year. 1-616-754-0643. year, get phone number non-farmers in rural areas. All-in-all, the long-awaited beginning to STRAW CHOPPERS: We "At first glance, it may seem ironic that the Animal Agriculture Initiative should rebuild and balance. Some or name in red and also exchanges. We stock chop: we're talking about using the Animal help make 1994 a memorable year for per parts. ENGINE save $1.00 per ad. Agriculture Initiative to expand livestock Michigan farmers. REBUilDING our specialty. production when manure management Auto-Truck -Tractor-Antique- Call ... Continental-Kohler-Onan- Wisconsin engine dealer. Michigan Livestock Producers Encouraged Hart. Auto ~ 1-800-968-3129 Cecil, Ohio to Complete January Survey _ 419-399-4n7 for details HIGHEST QUALITY straw- The January Agricultural Survey was conducted the first two weeks of January to collect berry and aspargus plants. information on inventory of cattle, sheep, and goats on farms in Michigan. This is the only Let our 20 years experience major survey conducted each to year to collect such livestock information. Nearly 1,300 help you start a strawberry or aspargus enterprise in your fann operators in the state will be contacted and asked to complete the survey which requests area Free brochure! Kiohne detailed information about their livestock operations. Plant Farms, Route 6, Box 586, Dowagiac, MI 49047. This information will be used to estimate inventory by class for cattle, sheep, and goats, 1-616-424-3450. Why respectively, for the state of Michigan. Published estimates from this survey will help keep producers and other data users equally informed. Users of these statistics include farm INTRODUCTORY OFFER: $60 per ton; animal bedding operators, farm organizations, government agencies, farm supply firms, food processors, made from recycled news- agricultural exporters, and transportation firms. Major reports based on the January Agricul- paper, chopped not shred- tural Survey will be released on Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, 1994. ded. More absorbent-less Pay More? flies-less odor. 70# bales. Clean FutIn Farm operators receiving a January Agricultural Survey in the mail are encouraged to 1-517-876-6051 Cut Your Prescription Costs complete and return it promptly. This helps to keep the cost of the survey to a minimum. Turner, MI Enjoy substantial savings on over 5,000 of the most Operators participating in the survey will receive a free copy of the results as published in popular name brand prescriptions, non-prescriptions, Agriculture Across Michigan. OUTSIDE WOOD vitamins, and medical supplies. Plus, save even FURNACE: Eliminates fire danger, odor, inside mess. more when you order generic equivalents! Farm Household Incomes Depend on Off-Farm Jobs Heats home, domestic water, pools. Bums 12 hours! Stain- HeartlandiFeld Drug has been serving Rural Farming is no longer the dominant source of income for most farm operator households . . less steel oonstruction, easy Americans for over 30 years. installation. 1-800-743-5883. Three-quarters of U.S. farms are very small businesses having less than $50,000 in gross Jamboree Acrea Distribu- sales. tor, 46 Big Tree Road, To get your FREE Discount Phannacy Catalog Jamestown, NY 14701. Farm operator household income from all sources averaged $40,000 last year, about the Call Toll-Free 1-800-228-3353 same as the average for all U.S. households, $39,000. Farm income was only $4,337 or PRESSURE TREATED about 11 percent of household income. Most off-farm income comes from wages and fence posts, hi-tensile fence salaries or from a non-farm business. supplies. Installation crew available. ~H EAR T LAN D FELt[£ORUG Nevill Supply ~ PRESCRIPTION SERVICE & MEDICAl SUPPliES The larger the farm, the less likely the farm operator is to have a major occupation off the 5023 Grover Street. Omaha, Ne 68106 1-517-386-35f7 farm. Economic development in rural areas is probably most important to non-commercial 1-517-386-2382 HEAATlANOIFELO IS A MEMBER BENEFIT PROVIDER FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS farm households to improve their off-farm earnings. Michigan Farm News •• January 15, 1994 Caring Program for Children - Providing Health Care to Those in Need o The child must be an unmarried Caring Program maximum. ing to make financial contributions to the Thanks to a Blue Cross and Blue Shield son or daughter, stepchild, legally Parents or guardians income can- program as well. Every penny of your tax (BCIBS) of Michigan health care program adopted, or otherwise under your not exceed: deductible donation will go directly to for children, sponsored by the Michigan full-time care and living with providing basic health care to children." Health Care Education and Research Foun- you. College students living Caring Program dation, eligible children without health care away from home may be eligible. Family 1993Income Either way, Fleming suggests that inter- coverage can now receive limited health Children under age 19 living in- Size Maximum ested MFB members contact BC/DS at ] care coverage, according to MFB Member dependently from their parents 2 $17,445 1-800-543-7765 for more program infor- Services Manager Doug Fleming. may also apply and should con- 3 $21 ,996 mation. Once an applicant submits the necessary paperwork, the application is tact the program for further 4 $26,547 "The Caring Program for Children, funded details. processed in the order it's received. pri mari Iy th rough private donations, 5 $31 ,098 6 $35,649 provides free preventative health care D The child must be a resident of Enrollment of approved applicants will coverage to eligible uninsured Michigan Michigan. 7 $40,200 occur as funds become available. When the children," Fleming explained. "The pro- 8 $44,751 coverage actually goes into effect, each gram, sponsored in partnership with the o The child must be under 19 years 9 $49,302 eligible child will receive an identification Michigan Department of Social Services of age. 10 $53,853 card and benefit booklet. .1 and the federal Health Care Financing Ad- ministration, does not include inpatient D The child cannot be eligible for According to Fleming, BCIBS is donating hospitalization. " any other private insurance (in- all administrative resources. The actual Calendar of Events cluding co-pay through an health care services are financed by dona- The Caring Program does, however, employer) or government-spon- tions to the program - from the general Jan. American Sheep Industry provides basic, preventative care at no cost sored health insurance, including public and from BCIBS employees. 18-22 - to the family, including office visits, diag- Medicaid or Medicare. Association Convention & Trade Show, Reno, Nev., (303) 771-3500 nostic tests, emergency care, outpatient "The Caring Program can mean two dif- surgery and prescription drugs. D Parents' or guardians' yearly in- ferent things to Farm Bureau members," come must be above the level Fleming said. "There may be members Jan. 19 - Media Response Team Workshop, Farm Bureau Center, Lansing, Children meeting the following require- that would qualify for Medicaid whose children would qualify as Caring ments are enrolled into the Caring Program or some other public health in- Program participants, and there may be 1-800-292-2680, ext. 6540 as funds become available. surance program, and below the Farm Bureau families who would be will- Jan. 21- "Ag Action 94," Kalamazoo Val- ley Community College (616) 467-5511.

Jan. 22 - Central Michigan Family Ag J Day, Lakewood High School, Lake Odes- sa, Barry County CES, (616) 948-4862

Jan. 27 - MFB's "The Difference Is You" Workshop Holiday Inn-Lansing Conf. Center, Lansing, 1-800-292-2680, ext. 3213

Jan. 29 - Michigan Ag Stewardship As- • sociation annual meeting, Holiday Inn, Mt. Pleasant, (517) 689-3857

Feb. 1- MFB's "The Difference Is You" Workshop, Holiday Inn, Grayling, 1-800- 292-2680, ext. 3213

Feb. 3 - 5 Michigan Pork Congress, Lans- ing Convention Center

Feb. 8 - Pesticide Applicator Review and Test 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Montcalm Township Hall, registration required, (517) 831-5226 J Feb. 15 - Pesticide Certification Program, Macomb County, reservations required, call (313) 469-5180

Feb. 16-18 - 1994 Farm Women's Sym- posium, Lansing, contact Dawn Messer at 1-800-292-2653 .

Feb. 16-17 - MFB's Campaign Manage- J While you're busy farming, In the halls of Congress and in ment Workshop, 1-800-292-2680, ext. Farm Bureau is on the job in the Michigan Legislature, Farm 6560 Lansing and Washington, D.C. Bureau is respected as the voice protecting your' interests. of agriculture. It's a grassroors Feb. 26 - Southeast Michigan Pepper Our experienced and highly organization with responsible School, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Holiday Inn, respected team of lobbyists are legislative clout, powered by Ann Arbor, contact Monroe CES (313) there working for you. its members and guided by its 243-7113 , farmer-developed policies. March 3-5 - Young Farmer Leaders' With the thousands of bills With over seven decades of Conference, Midland, Mich., 1-800-292- introduced on the state and experience in the legislative and 2680, ext. 3234 federal level, Farm Bureau regulatory arenas, you can count lobbyists work full-time on Farm Bureau to get results! March 7-9 - Mich. FFA State Conven- aggressively supporting tion, MSU Campus, East Lansing legislation that benefits farm Farm Bureau member benefits families while seeking to defeat include: March 4-12 - Agriculture and Natural measures detrimental to • Educational and leadershiP Resources Week, MSU Campus, call your agriculture. opportunities local Extension office for program infor- • Health care insurance mation Farm Bureau - always there and proven effective ... • Travel program March 12 - Gustafson Farms Open House • Discount prescription drugs and Bull Sale, Mason, 1 p.m .

• Nofee VISA card March 15-18 - MFB Washington, D.C., • Farm. auto and life insurance Legislative Seminar

What concerns you March 16-17 - Michigan Grazing Con- ference, Mt. Pleasant, contact Ben Bartlett, concerns us. (906) 228-4830

For your nearest Farm Bureau Send or FAX information (include con- office call 1(800) 292-2680 tact name and phone number) three weeks in advance to: Michigan Farm extension 3237 News, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, MI 48909-8460. FAX: (517)323-6793 Special Section: Sustainable Agriculture THE LAND STEWARD \ Newsletter of the Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association Vol. 3, No.1 January 1994

The Road To Sustainable Agriculture MASA News Notes By Dick Lehnert The term "sustainable agricul- Reaching out to ture" carries with it some "baggage." To some farmers, it smacks of a plot share a vision by government and environmental- In this issue of Michigan Farm News, the Michigan Ag- ists to deprive farmers of the pesti- ricultural Stewardship Association (MASA) is reaching out cides and fertilizers they use to farm. , beyond its membership to tell its story to the 45,000 farm Some think it advocates a return families who are MFN readers and who will see this special to an old style of farming that could 12-page section. rob them of their ability to produce This insert combines the MASA quarterly newsletter food abundantly and inexpensively. and the 1993 Report of the Michigan Sustainable Agricul- But the farmers who founded the ture Project. Each year, about 25 MASA farmers, with tech- Michigan Agricultural Stewardship nical and financial support from the American Farmland Association in 1991 glimpsed a new Trust, conduct on-farm research and demonstration projects future in sustainable agriculture, and and publish the results. Those results are presented in this they wanted to get involved. A lot publication beginning on the next page. was happening. MAS A members are motivated to find practices that --The C.S. Mott Foundation had work on their farms but cost less or reduce the impact of funded an Endowed Chair in Sustain- their farming efforts upon the environment. These practices able Agriculture in the Crop and Soil MASA President Jerry Wirbel believes farmers adopt new prac- are considered "sustainable." As the MASA mission state- Sciences Department at Michigan tices when they see them working on their neighbors. farms. . ,. ment puts it, sustainable farm practices are those that are State University. The chair was filled Here he hosts a field day at his farm. economically feasible, agronomically sound, and environ- by Richard Harwood. The depart- mentally safe. ment was looking for farmers who tasks of forming a new organization ture generations to meet their own They are also motivated to help other farmers find bet- wanted to try more sustainable farm- and setting its agenda. From the be- needs." ter ways to farm so that they can do well financially using ing techniques and work with the re- ginning, the group has worked Last Dec. 9 and 10, the MASA methods that have fewer adverse impacts on the environ- searchers. MASA members are an closely with crop scientist Oran board met for a leadership develop- ment or on people who look to farmers for their sustenance. important constituent of that pro- Hesterman, who chairs the group's ment seminar and to meet with its We hope these goals and ideals shine through as you gram. advisory board, and specialist John advisory board. Jerry Wirbel, a cash read this, and inspire you to join with these farmers who --The American FarmlandTrust, Durling, who serves as the group's crop farmer from Hope in Midland are trying to meet the future with better methods--better for founded in 1980 to protect the coordinator. County who had been MASA's farmers, better for consumers, better for the environment, nation's agricultural resources, had While not everybody agreed president from the start--including better for everybody. developed a sustainable agriculture with all that sustainable agriculture its first year as an ad hoc entity--re- agenda as well. It has provided lead- might entail, most MASA members viewed its accomplishments, some ership and funding to MASA from would probably agree with the Food of which include: MASAAnnualMeeting January 29 its inception, and to other sustainable and Agriculture Organization of the --Development of an organiza- In Mt. Pleasant. Details Inside agriculture groups in other states. United Nations, which uses this defi- tional structure, including a mission --The Americana and the C.S. nition of sustainability: "Sustainable statement, bylaws, non-profit corpo- Mott Foundations have provided development is development that ration status, and funding. MASA will sponsor funding for AFT's and MASA's work meets the needs of the present with- --Development of leadership , MSU ANR Week program in Michigan since 1991. out compromising the ability of fu- (Continued on page 11) --The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Again this year, MASA will be a sponsor of a day-long has developed an Integrated Farm- program during Michigan State University's ANR Week ing Systems program, and it is now March 7-12. The program, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednes- Shetler wins first funding projects. MASA now is the day, March 9, in the Plant and Soil Sciences Building, is lead agency in a proposal called titled "Managing for soil quality as a basis for sustainable Land Steward Award MIFFS, the Michigan Integrated agriculture. " Food and Farming System, which is Kalkaska County dairyman board members: Suttons Bay fruit MSU soil scientist Emesto Franco starts the session by now under consideration for funding George Shetler has won the first-ever grower Larry Mawby, Imlay City defining soil quaiity and telling how it is measured. Then by Kellogg. Land Steward Award, created by cash cropper Richard Lauwers and Richard Harwood, who holds the C.S. Mott Endowed Chair --The U.S. government created, MASA last year. The award was Hillman cow-calf operator Marlin in Sustainable Agriculture, will tell how diversity and tim- in the 1985 farm bill, a provision given December 10 at the Michigan Goebel. ing of crop residues is a primary determinant of soil quality. called LlSA--low-input, sustainable Association of Conservation Districts "My basic motivation is to farm A panel discussion on cover crops will be moderated agriculture. That name has been annual meeting in Lansing. more safely, producing meat and by Joe Scrimger, with Bio Systems in Marlette. The MASA- changed to SARE--Sustainable Ag- Shetler won the recognition for milk without chemical inputs," sponsored lunch will be in the Plant and Soil Science green- riculture Research and Education. his efforts to convert his dairy herd Shetler said. "Family health and house, where there will be a poster session on sustainable For the past two years, it has been from drylot feeding to intensive ro- economics were also primary rea- farm systems, on-farm research and local food systems. headed by MSU Nematologist tational grazing. Along the path, he sons for changing to a more sustain- In the afternoon, Ben Stinner of Ohio State University George Bird, who took leave to go has kept careful records and partici- able system." will talk about managing soil biota and organic matter for to Washington, D.C. pated for three years in the Sustain- He said the changeover to in- enhancement of nutrient cycling and soil quality. The day SARE also provides funding for able Agriculture Project sponsored tensive rotational grazing for his ends with another panel discussion on farming systems man- sustainable agriculture projects. Bird by MASA and the American Farm- dairy herd has been a blessing. "I agement for soil quality and sustainability.1t will be moder- , is now back in Michigan, and is on land Trust. Shetler's report on his wasn't happy," he said. "Now, I've ated by Roger French from Dawnera Farms near Kalamazoo. the advisory board of MASA. 1993 research appears elsewhere in found time for my family, time to French, a dairyman and MASA board member, is a key con- With all this going on, what was this publication. relax. I'm not chasing hay, or fix- tact person in MASA's network of on-farm research. needed in 1991 was a group of farm- The Land Steward Award was ing equipment and chasing parts so Want to do on-farm research? ers who, interested in making agri- created last year by the Michigan I can chase hay. Instead, I spend If you would like to participate in the MASA-spon- culture more sustainable, would take Agricultural Stewardship Associa- about an hour a day moving elec- sored Michigan Sustainable Agriculture Project for 1994, advantage of what was growing up tion (MASA). The Soil Conservation tric fences. by doing an on-farm research or demonstration project, con- about them. Districts in Michigan were asked to "My personal health is better. I tact Roger French. Write him at Dawnera Farms, 10004 Sta- In January 1991, 100 farmers nominate farmers they thought exem- walk. I observe nature, the pasture, dium Drive, Kalamazoo 49009, or call (616) 375-0658. Let were invited to a meeting at MSU's plified the spirit of sustainable agri- the cattle. The cows seem healthier, him know what you would like to discover (objectives) and Plant and Soil Sciences building. culture. Eight nominations were re- too. They have no hoof problems, how you plan to do it (procedures). From 100 farmers who attended, 40 ceived, and Shetler was chosen by a Deadline for project applications is March I. (Continued on page 11) volunteered to assume the leadership judging committee of three MASA • Inside: Results of the 1993 Michigan Sustainable Agriculture Project 2 Sustainable Agriculture Results of the 1993 Sustainable Agriculture Project

Environmental issues are a growing Farmers who embrace the concept of sus- The 1993 Michigan Sustainable Agriculture tions. It is also hoped that the examples concern for most Americans. Urban resi- tainability believe in long-term care of the Project established 25 on-farm research/ presented here may encourage other pro- dents want a healthy, yet plentiful, food sup- land. They understand that there is a fine demonstration sites at locations throughout ducers to experiment with similar practices ply. Rural families want clean water for their line between using the land and abusing it. the state with cooperating producers. These on their own farms. own communities. Business and industry They are keenly aware that how they man- on-farm plots were designed to address farm One final note: Any new practice or compete to see who can be the "greenest" age the farm today will have a lasting im- management problems with an emphasis on farming system should be applied incremen- producer of goods and services, and they use pact on the quality oflife for future genera- reducing impacts to water quality, prevent- tally. If something in this publication ap- environmental responsibility as a marketing tions. ing soil erosion and improving farm profit- pears feasible for use in your operation, tool. Since 1991, with funding support from ability. don't go out and convert everything over- Farmers are taking inventory of their the C.S. Mott Foundation, American Farm- The information presented in this pub- night. Try it first on a small scale (a couple operations in an effort to eliminate farming land Trust and the Michigan Agricultural lication was collected from farmer partici- of acres or less) before proceeding further. practices that have the potential to degrade Stewardship Association have been work- pants throughout the project year. Its pur- Experiment, evaluate and make decisions land and water resources. This desire to farm ing with Michigan farmers who wish to ex- pose is to give an idea of what sustainable that are right for your own farm. in a way that is less damaging to the envi- periment with and adopt some of the com- agriculture means when component prac- Blyan Petrucci, Director ronment has caused a revolution of sorts in ponent practices of sustainable agriculture. tices are applied in actual farming opera- AFT Sustainable Agriculture Programs many agricultural communities, with farm- ers adopting new production techniques at The 1993 Michigan Sustainable Agriculture Project is a cooperative effort of the Michigan Agricultural an unprecedented rate. The trend toward Stewardship Association and the American Farmland Trust. Funding for this project was provided by the renewed environmental responsibility is C.s. Mott Foundation. commonly referred to as sustainable agri- culture. Sustainable agriculture is perhaps best Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association defined by the way farmers use component 7301 Milo Road practices to develop farming systems that are Delton, Mich. 49046 practical, profitable and environmentally sound. For example, success with a simple The Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association is a statewide, nonprofit educational organization practice like nitrogen reduction often leads committed to the development and use of sustainable farming systems. an individual to experiment with other al- ternative practices, like the use of cover crops. Success with cover crops can lead to _____ .-.~ .. tltliliill. _ modifications in tillage and pest manage- ment. Each subsequent success leads to American Farmland Trust modification and adaptation, creating a new, Center for Agriculture in the Environment improved system that is continually evolv- P.O. Box 987, DeKalb, Ill. 60115 mg. No one decides to become a "sustain- (815)753-9347 (phone) - (815)753-2305 (FAX) able" farmer overnight, but when a producer American Farmland Trust is a private, nonprofit membership organization founded in 1980 to protect our makes the decision to become a better stew- ard of the land, and accepts the challenge nation's farmland. AFT works to stop the loss of productive farmland and promote farming practices that that he can always do a better job of con- lead to a healthy environment. Annual membership is $20. serving natural resources, the die is cast.

George Shetler. Kalkaska County Intensive Rotational Grazing in a Dairy Operation Shetlers' Fawn Meadow Farm has been ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION SUPPLEMENTAL FEED COSTS moving toward what the family considers a KWH ($/cow/day)* more sustainable system of production for 1990 1991 1992 1993 1990 1991 1992 1993 11 years. The emphasis has been on reduc- MAY 5540 5220 4760 4530 Season ing the need for purchased, non-farm-pro- JUNE 5160 4510 4900 4580 average $2.89 $1.93 $1.24 $1.26 duced inputs--chemicals, fertilizers, ma- JULY 5210 4630 4130 4620 chines, electricity, fuel. AUG. 5340 5220 4800 4440 RELATIVE VALUE OF PRODUCT George Shetler, his wife Sally and five SEPT. 5360 4650 4750 4950 ($/cow/day) children run the 40-cow dairy operation on OCT. 5350 5200 4900 4900 1990 1991 1992 1993 275 acres near Kalkaska. The farm is split TOTAL 31960 29430 28240 28020 Season between hay and corn, and all crops are fed average $8.72 $8.48 $7.55 $7.84 on the farm. MILK PRODUCTION (DHIA RHA) * Based on 1991 prices of $ 13.54 milk After reading about intensive rotational 1990 1991 1992 1993 and $ 0.11 butterfat differential. grazing as a reduced input option for dairy MAY herds, the idea seemed plausible, and they Milk 18783 19035 16357 18057 began in 1991. Grass grows well in cool INCOME OVER FEED COSTS Fat% 3.65 3.86 4.00 3.95 ($/cow/day)** seasons and deep-rooted legumes offer mid- Pro.% 3.40 3.38 3.33 N/A summer feed. The challenge has been to 1990 1991 1992 1993 Season harvest and preserve enough protein from JUNE the grass to maintain milk production. average $5.83 $6.55 $6.31 $6.58 Milk 19071 18414 16299 18134 This last year was a fairly good grazing ** Based on 1991 feed prices of: Fat% 3.66 3.94 3.80 3.5 year in northern Michigan. The Shetler herd tices as BGH (bovine growth hormone) are Grain mix - $ I45/ton; Dry hay - 50/ton Pro.% 3.39 3.39 3.22 N/A covered fields designated for grazing six not going to serve the dairy industry well. Corn silage - 25/ton; Haylage - 40/ton times. Supplemental energy and protein fed "There will never be BG H used on this JULY in the barn has been kept at a minimum in farm," says Shetler. "Our customers don't LABOR AND MACHINERY COSTS Milk 19256 17931 16348 17880 the interest of greater pasture use and im- want it and we can't afford to ignore that ($/acre)** Fat% 3.66 3.99 3.70 3.34 proved profit. In 1993, production levels re- fact." The market for BGH-free milk will Conventional Intensive Pro.% 3.38 3.41 3.37 N/A bounded after a year of poor pasture per- offer an excellent opportunity for produc- Grazing Haylage harvest 44.25 formance in 1992. Income over feed costs, ers and processors who listen to their cus- AUGUST Dry hay harvest 36.97 when adjusted to a 1991 parity, continue to tomers, he says. Milk 19445 17710 16254 17289 Manure spread 18.38 outperform 1990's pre-grazing levels. The Shetlers have contact with consum- 3.12 Fat% 3.66 4.01 3.80 3.57 Pasture clipping The Shetler farm continues to reduce ers through a local farmers market. Sev- 15.67 Pro.% 3.36 3.43 3.16 N/A Fencing com acreage in favor of a more profitable eral hundred free-range chickens are sold 3.00 Manual labor mixed pasture. An experimental and ex- from the farm, giving the Shetlers extra in- 2.65 SEPTEMBER (fence moving) pensive six-acre field was planted to Matua come and allowing them to talk directly Milk 19725 17412 15912 16698 Seeding (no-till) *- grass and clover in the fall of 1992. The with their customers. 9.90 Fat% 3.67 4.02 3.80 3.80 TOTAL $99.60 Matua did not survive the winter. Shetler The Shetlers are looking for profit op- $34.34 Pro.% 3.38 3.44 3.25 N/A * included as a I year cost continues to search for alternative pasture portunities by spending less on purchased Rates per MSU Extension Bulletin E- crops but alsike and red clover seem to of- inputs, and grazing will have a marked ef- ** OCTOBER 2131 "Custom Work Rates in Michi- fer the best alternative to alfalfa at this time. fect on the need for machinery. On the other Milk 19768 17262 15657 16262 gan" Annual ryegrass is used quite effectively as side is marketing--gaining more from prod- Fat% 3.68 4.03 4.00 3.65 a good cool season feed source. ucts by on- farm processing and distribution. Pro.% 3.35 3.42 3.50 N/A YIELDS In 1993 the Shetler farm was certified or- The following tables report data com- Conventional - 2688 Pounds Dry Matter/ A ganic. George and Sally are convinced that paring grazing years (1991-3) with the pre- Intensive Grazing - 4257 Pounds/Acre the introduction of such products and prac- grazing year 1990. Sustainable Agriculture 3 .. Jim LeCureux. Huron County Changing Tillage Practices at the Tip Of The Thumb

The Saginaw Bay Watershed has been lem- solving approach over five years. The input costs due to more trips with equipment. age programs can be carried out. These in- studied and monitored by a number of agen- systems will be adjusted throughout the These costs were offset, however, with clude fall plowing, fall chiseling, zone till- cies, and the conclusion is inescapable: Wa- project. The project looks at fertilizer place- higher yields. Differences in net income for ing and trans-tilling. The farmers felt they ter in the rivers and the bay contain sedi- ment and timing, coulter systems, herbicide the sugar beet plot amounted to nearly $70 needed to reduce the uncontrollable vari- • ments, nutrients and pesticides--and much programs, cultivation of high residue fields, per acre. The net income difference on the ables associated with fields located some of that comes from farmers' fields as sur- soil aeration and harvest techniques. com ground was less striking. And on the distance from each other. This will enable face water run-off. Last year, Huron County In 1993, the project used seven project dry beans, net income was slightly higher growers to view the varied tillage plots side farmers, working with the Huron County sites on three different crops. Three differ- on the minimum tillage plots. This may be by side. Soil types, equipment, and weather CES, began to look at ways to reduce nutri- ent tillage systems were used on com and because dry beans are planted later and soil conditions will be less a factor with a cen- ent, pesticide, and sediment loading of the sugar beets. These were zone tilling, trans- temperatures are less a factor. Cool, wet tralized demonstration site. And all the work county's surface waters . tilling, and conventional tilling. Zone till- weather led to poor weed control and lower will be done in a timely manner; on farms, • Since surface water movement has been ing uses a coulter configuration that tills soil temperatures that hurt the high-residue the plots received lower priority than did directly linked to the amount of crop resi- strips several inches wide to prepare a seed- plots. regular fields. due and cover crops in place on fields, the bed in an otherwise undisturbed field. But the idea for the first year was to get The farmers will be involved in the de- Huron County CES and farmers targeted Trans-till is similar to zone tillage but is done different kinds of equipment and planters sign of the study. There is also new commit- high-residue tillage systems as a key means as a separate field operation rather than as into the fields, see how they performed, and ment to address sociological factors that can of water movement control. Historically, the front part of the planting unit. It can be make adjustments, said Jim LeCureux, Hu- stifle change. Banks, equipment and fertil- Thumb farmers have used conventional done any time before planting. Conventional ron County Extension Agricultural Agent. izer dealers and sugar companies are being clean tillage, especially for dry beans and tillage is tillage as usually accepted, includ- As technique improves, yield differences informed and involved. The economic and sugar beets. To change farmers' minds about ing moldboard plowing, disking or field cul- may disappear. environmental issues of the community de- tillage, farmers must see that these crops can tivating and finishing. The innovative farmer committee has mands that farmers continue to strive for re- be grown in high-residue systems. In 1993 conventional tillage out-per- recommended several changes for next year. duced production costs and environmental An "innovative farmers group" of formed the other tillage systems in nearly All plots will be moved to two 40-acre fields, risks. It is important that all the institutions nearly 50 farmers has been developed to help every instance. As would be expected, the committed to the project for five years, that influence the decisions farmers make design and evaluate the systems in a prob- conventionally tilled plots required higher where four replicated and randomized till- become partners as farmers make changes.

Don Cordes. Montmorency County Composting Manure on a Commercial Dairy Farm

The Cordes farm has had no chemical applied a biological "compost starter" to se- VALUE OF PRODUCT dling in the compost system is $48.67 per fertilizers or pesticides applied for several lected manure piles, thinking it might reduce (DRY MATTER BASIS) day, or $23.74 per ton. years, and Don is trying to incorporate new composting time and increase uniformity. Fresh Composted Values attributed to the manure in the systems into the farming operation that will In 1993, the Cordes farm purchased #/ton $/ton #/ton $Iton table above reflect only the value of the N, allow the farm to better use on-farm re- four different compost starters. In addition, Nitrogen 40.0 8.80 49.20 10.82 P, and K and places no value on organic

sources. One of these systems is manure a homemade starter was applied to one pile P20S 18.2 3.28 34.00 6.12 matter or biological benefits from the composting. and fallow soil from an old, unused barn- ~O 42.6 5.11 46.00 5.52 composted manure. Cordes believes the qual- Don Cordes, his wife Katherine and yard was applied to another to compare their Total Value $ I7. I9 $22.46 ity of crops produced on the farm has in- son Tom operate a 50-cow dairy in Mont- effectiveness as sources of compost-form- creased since use of compost began. A great morency County. They own 300 acres, 250 ing bacteria. The Cordes herd produces about 4, I00 deal of value is placed on the sugar content devoted to com, alfalfa, and oats for the The cost, consistency, and application pounds of manure per day. The cost ofhan- of the feed produced on this farm, and is re- dairy herd. rates of the starters vary greatly. The prod- dling in a conventional system is $40.64 flected in higher production per cow and Manure that used to be scraped and uct costs expressed below reflect product per day, or $19.82 per ton. The cost ofhan- improved herd health, according to Cordes. hauled daily is now windrowed on a small costs per ton of fresh manure. field near to the barns. These windrows are turned, usually every few days, to aerate COST OF COMPOST STARTERS and heat the manure and produce compost. $/Ton Application Tom Semans. Shiawassee County A special compost turner has been used for Treated Rate/ton several years. Colloidal Phosphate $ 1.75 25# A Death in the Family Properly composted manure is light, Floristem 7.20 40# crumbly, virtually odorless and looks much BioActivator .83 8.5# Tom Semans, a Laingsburg in cutting rates of starter fertil- like topsoil. Composted manure will in- B-D Starter 2.90.5 units farmer who carried out on-farm Izer on com. crease soil tilth and organic matter content Fallow soil N .A. 144# research projects in 1991 and Tom was well known to while providing slow-release nutrients. 1992 as a member of the Michigan farmers. He was ac- Don adds straw to the freestall barnn The year 1993 was wet. None of the and is considering newsprint. The straw compost piles dried down as well as in 1992 Michigan Agricultural tive in the Shiawassee County makes the manure handle easier and com- when there was a substantial difference be- Stewardship Farm Bureau post better. tween the quality of the compost and the Association, (past county This is the second year that the Cordes fresh manure. The following table states in and was president), farm has participated in the Sustainable pounds per ton and dollar value the differ- working on a the Michi- Agriculture Project. In 1992 the Cordeses ence in the two manures as tested in 1992. project in gan Milk 1993, was Producers COMPARISON OF COMPOST FROM VARIOUS TREATMENTS killed in a Association freak farm (president of Fresh 1 2A 2B 20 2E 2F ~ Moisture (%) 75.6 72.7 73.2 74.7 70.4 74.6 80.2 57.0 accident last the Ovid lo- Nitrogen (#/T) 12.7 10.0 11.2 9.8 8.6 lOA 8.9 2.8 summer. cal). He was P20S (P) (#/T) 504 10.0 9.0 7.3 7.7 lOA 9.8 28.8 MASA involved in K 0 (K)(#/T) 11.9 6.9 9.3 7.1 7.2 8.5 6.9 22.2 2 and the the FFA, the Fresh=Fresh manure 1=B-D Brand Starter 2A=Control 2B=Floristem Brand 2D=FaIlOWSoil American 2E=BioActivator Brand 2F=Homemade starter 6=Colloidal Phosphate and BioActivator Shiawassee Farmland County No- • Trust wish to Tillers, and remember was secre- him. tary of the \ Tom and Shiawassee eO. '!&rIIf his wife Bar- County Soil .f bara operated a IDO-cow,1,000- and Water Conservation District \:A acre dairy and cash crop farm. for several years. ., He was an avid no-ti Iler. In He was hauling a load of 1991, his on-farm research logs behind his tractor when it looked at the effect of cutting hit loose gravel, left the road and back on soil-applied com root- overturned, killing him. worm insecticide. In 1992, he Tom was 47 years old. He found an economic advantage will be greatly missed. 4 Sustainable Agriculture Bernard Wall. Isabella County Intensive Rotational Grazing in a Cow-Calf Operation

Bernard Wall and his wife Delores farm weaning. Last year, the calves averaged 580 credits the exceptional weight gains to in- calves--with no supplemental grain for the 40 acres near Coleman. The Walls have a pounds. This year the calves were weaned creased milk production by the cows. He cows beyond calving. small herd of 14 Simmental brood cows. In at 625 pounds in 170 days. This represents reports that, for the first time in memory, Pasture paddocks were grazed three 1992, the Walls put in the fencing required an average daily gain of3.1 pounds. These the cows were not being completely milked times, some four times. Pastures yielded to form pasture paddocks and use intensive calves received no creep feed. Bernard out, indicating an abundance of food for the about 2,860 pounds of dry matter per acre. rotational grazing. Investment in wire and posts was mini- Bernard chose intensive grazing be- mal. Two spools of poly wire and about 100 cause he believes that an acre of pasture posts were purchased for less than $100. No managed properly will be more productive watering equipment was purchased; the than two that are not. This year was the sec- cows and cal ves returned to the barnyard ond year of this demonstration, and Ber- for fresh water. nard feels that last year's experience served Bernard believes intensive rotational him well. "This year we began grazing ear- grazing offers landowners a low-investment lier than we did in 1992. I also reduced the alternative, one that can make use of mar- size of the paddocks, utilizing the feed in ginal land and conserve soil under perma- each paddock more efficiently and reduc- nent sod. What is needed are high quality ing quality losses." pasture crops that will endure Michigan The cows were put out on pasture May winters and crops that extend the grazing 11and kept grazing until November 5, when season and reduce the need for making win- they were returned to confinement feeding. ter feed. Last fall, he planted winter wheat The measure of the success of a cow- for early spring grazing and made an ex- calf operation is pounds of calf weaned at perimental seeding of Sanfoin and Small the end of the grazing season. Calves are Burnet, two legumes grown in Colorado for weaned between 5 1/2 and 6 months and late fall pasture. The success of these crops had been averaging 500 to 525 pounds at is yet to be determined.

Arnold Elzer. Grand Traverse County Reducing Pesticide Applications in Cherries and Apples Using IPM Arnold and Betty Elzer own a 30-acre can call a recorded message and receive benefit. In 1992, pesticide cost reductions and non-farm neighbors, IPM has become fruit farm in Grand Traverse County. They information on weather and pest conditions using IPM amounted to $117.90 per acre another generally accepted practice on the grow primarily tart and sweet cherries and for the area. Growers are advised on po- on tart cherries and $191.20 per acre on Elzer farm. Arnold believes the intensive apples. Arnold began farming after a ca- tential pest outbreaks so that they can be- apples. use of pesticides is the least sustainable as- reer in the United States Coast Guard. Ini- gin watching for threshold numbers. In- IPM is becoming a routine manage- pect of fruit farming--but reducing pesti- tially the farm consisted of field crops and formation on recommended treatment for ment tool on the Elzer farm and Arnold cides and suffering excessive loss is not livestock, but Arnold realized that tree fruit pests is also available. Arnold felt this ser- plans to continue to learn more about the sustainable either. IPM is the key to reduc- was better suited to the area. The Elzer's vice was a great help. life cycles of pests and how best to control ing pesticides without excessive loss. enthusiasm for their business is evident. Another service offered growers in them each season. With environmental risks The entire farm is manicured and Arnold Grand Traverse County is a Soil Conserva- can always be found in the orchard. Arnold tion District-sponsored weekly grower became interested in Integrated Pest Man- meeting. These meetings provide a forum Mark Crumbaugh. Gratiot County agement (IPM) a few years ago and has been where growers discuss current pest prob- learning to put IPM to work on his farm lems and controls. This helps growers pre- ever Since. pare for an infestation outbreak that is trav- Soybean Varieties In 1992, a pest scout provided through eling with the weather. Arnold found these the Grand Traverse Soil and Water Conser- meetings helpful. Tested Under No-Till vation District was employed to monitor Yields on the Elzer farm were pretty conditions in the orchard. Arnold became good in 1993. Tart cherries produced 8,000 Mark Crumbaugh and his wife Dawn commercial fertilizer plot had high-yield- extremely interested in the procedures of pounds per acre. The apple orchards, which farm 475 acres near Ashley. Mark grows ing beans. Some varieties, however, seem scouting and "tagged along" as the scout yielded exceptionally well in 1992, did not com, soybeans, dry beans, wheat, and al- better suited to no-till. The varieties Mark made his rounds. He purchased books to produce as well this year. falfa, and also helps with his father's farm, tested and their yield are listed in the table help identify pests. This year, Arnold was The year 1993 required numerous ap- bringing the total acreage to about 1,500. below. able to handle the scouting himself. "There plications of fungicides to keep disease and An advocate of no-till, in 1993 he put is no substitute for time spent in the or- mildew problems in check. While the 1992 in an extensive no-till soybean variety test chard," Arnold likes to say. He believes it growing season saw drastic reductions in plot. Mark believes no-till is one way farm- ~~ ~ is very important that growers learn pest the amount of material that had to be ap- ers can become more sustainable without O'~. ,~0~. ,~ ~ ~ ~ scouting themselves. Scouting is of best use plied, differences in pesticide costs between making drastic changes in production prac- Variety \'" ...... ~ when the farm is visited or a regular sched- an IPM system and the Spray Calendar sys- tices. Soil erosion and the subsequent nu- Mixture 52.0 X ule and weather conditions are factored in. tem were not as great in 1993. Still, cherry trient and pesticide loading in surface wa- Funks 3253 51.3 X This interest in pest monitoring led pesticide costs in 1993 were about $42 per ters can be detrimental not only to the envi- Pioneer untreated 51.3 x Arnold to participate in a Code-A-Phone acre less with IPM; apples about $26 less ronment but to a farm's ability to be sus- Conrad 50.4 x service offered by the Northwest Michigan with IPM. Even in years that require ex- tainable. AgriPro 2122 49.9 x Horticultural Research Station. Growers tensive spaying, IPM can be an economic All soybeans were planted in standing Payco 9119 49.9 x rye cover. The rye cover was burned down Elgin 87 49.8 x with 12 ounces of Roundup. At that rate, Golden Harvest X213 49.0 x the rye was not completely killed and a wick Pioneer untreated 48.5 x applicator pass was necessary. Pioneer 9231 47.5 x The variety plots received two sepa- Golden Harvest X263 46.7 x rate nutrient treatments. Most of the field Stine 2250 46.1 x was broadcast with 200 pounds of2-1 0-51. Archer 45.9 x The remaining third received 18,000 gal- CHECK AVERAGE 45.7 x lons per acre ofliquid hog manure. All the Pioneer treated 44.7 x beans were sprayed post-emergence with 4 Funks 3202 44.6 x ounces of Pursuit. Dairyland Seed R217 44.5 x Yields varied from 34.5 to 51.3 bush- Pioneer treated 44.4 x els per acre. A potpourri mix of the variet- Pioneer 9302 43.7 x ies was planted on a manure-covered por- Stine 1295 42.7 x tion of the field and produced 52 bushels DeKalb CX248 42.1 x per acre. Two unnumbered Pioneer variet- BSR 101 41.3 x ies were tested with and without inoculant. Amcorn SB2375 41.0 x Total input costs (less seed, which was Payco 4927 40.4 x variable) for the fertilizer plot was $68.76. Bayside 169 39.2 x Input costs for the manured plot was $56.86. Countrymark 221 39.0 x Mark found a variety's response to Felix 37.5 x plant nutrients had little to with the nutri- Vinton 81 36.2 x ent form. Both the manured plot and the DeKalb ex 187 34.5 x Sustainable Agriculture 5 • L.L. "Bud" Coulter. Antrim County Testing the Best Conditions for Growing American Chestnut Trees

Bud Coulter owns and operates a small The trees were planted into an alfalfa for comparison. Trees were measured for farm in Antrim County. He grows hay, as- field. Trees were 20 feet apart with 25 feet height and stem diameter. paragus, strawberries, kiwi and has 27 acres between rows. All trees are grown in weed- Soil temperatures were taken in the root of chestnuts. His interest in American chest- free bands that receive a herbicide appli- zones of both mulched and non-mulched nuts prompted him to plant a I25-tree or- cation of Roundup and Princep in the trees. Temperatures were generally 5 or 6 chard on which to test various production spring. All trees are grown in "tree shel- degrees cooler under mulch in spring, but practices. Before he retired and undertook ters" made of corrugated plastic tubes 6 remained warmer longer in the fall, when growing American chestnuts, Coulter inches in diameter and 48 inches tall. Cost most root growth occurs. worked as a researcher for a chemical com- of these tree shelters is about $3 each. Grass control has been so important it pany . Bands of weed control are about 10 appears possible that quackgrass may be • The plot is in its second year and is not feet wide. The alfalfa between rows is har- toxic to chestnut trees. Broadleafweed con- a direct comparison of yield, but rather the vested by a neighbor for hay. Trees receiv- trol does not seem to be as important. The first of several years' demonstrating vari- ing mulch are mulched with one garbage trends established in 1992 continued in ous cultivation practices--irrigation, mulch- bag of leaves from the local landfill per 1993. The tree growth in tube tree shelters ing and fertilizing--in this chestnut plant- tree. seems to justify the expense, but other dif- ing . Chestnut trees will not produce fruit ferences in cultivation are becoming less American chestnuts were once domi- • until at least the fourth year of growth. Tree obvious. The greatest advantages can be nant forest trees in the eastern United States. growth was measured as the benchmark expected in younger trees. Most of them were killed by chestnut blight early in this century. In recent years, a few in this demonstration. Twenty-five blocks resistant trees have been discovered, and each containing 5 trees were laid out in a these are being propagated by growers, like randomized pattern. Five treatments were Coulter, interested in' these majestic trees replicated five times in the orchard. These and the unique nuts they produce. treatments include: Chestnut trees should remain produc- * Fertilizer, no mulch, trickle irrigation tive for 50 to 60 years, he said, and provide * No fertilizer, no mulch, no irrigation an orchard crop that breaks up pest cycles * Fertilizer, no mulch, no irrigation in dense orchard areas. * Fertilizer, mulch, no irrigation Five different treatments were applied * No fertilizer, mulch, no irrigation

Height Diameter Rank , Treatment tinJ tinJ Height, Per acre diameter costs

1. Fertilizer, no mulch, irrigation 69.2 .51 3,3 $97.83 2. No fertilizer, no mulch, no irrigation 63.6 .48 5,4 34.85 3. Fertilizer, no mulch, no irrigation 68.4 .46 4,5 70.31 4. Fertilizer, mulch, no irrigation 75.2 .58 I, I 85.61 ~ 5. No fertilizer, mulch, no irrigation 71.8 .55 2,2 50.15

Herbrucks Poultry Ranch. Ionia County and Ken Rader. Montcalm County :\ Shifting Nutrients by Using Composted Poultry Manure

Last year, Herbrucks Poultry Ranch not use. The Herbrucks chose compo sting for sale in the lawn and garden market. two plots, except for the added compost, shifted thousands of tons of poultry manure as a way of making the manure salable. Bulk material prices vary but retail which cost $37 per acre for the ton of com- that were "wastes" to be disposed of to farm- Herbruck Poultry Ranch built a new prices are about 535 per ton. post and its handling. ers who, having no livestock, had to buy composting building near Saranac. The Ken Rader t:1nns in Montcalm County The beans that received the compost fertilizer nutrients. 63,000-square-foot facility is ventilated near Lakeyie\". He grows cash crops includ- yielded about one-half ton per acre better, The Herbruck family--father and four with air ducts in the floor to ensure adequate ing potatoes. snap beans and carrots. Ken an increase in income of $57.50. Ken be- sons--operates a large, commercial I~ying air flow to the composting manure. Venti- used Herbruck compost in addition to a lieves the compost contributed more than chicken farm in Ionia County. The corn, lation fans and a series of compost pile tem- commercial fertilizer program on snap just the NPK to the soil. He believes that soybeans and wheat raised on their 700 perature probes are computer monitored to beans in 1993. A ton of composted poultry additional bacteria and organic matter were acres falls far short of supplying enough to maintain quality control of the compost manure contributed the following nutrients: in part responsible for the increased yields. feed the nearly I million birds. piles. The piles are turned with a large com- nitrogen, 40 pounds per ton; phosphoric The Rader Farm will be applying The operation's size (170 employees mercial turner to produce a consistent qual- acid, 100 pounds per ton; potash, 60 pounds composted poultry manure again next year. run the production, packing, and food pro- ity compost. The farm uses some ofthe com- per ton; and calcium, 200 pounds per ton. In this situation, a concentrated livestock cessing facilities) also requires that the post, but more than 3,000 tons are produced Ken applied one ton per acre of the operation is able to provide manure to a cash Herbrucks develop a way to handle the huge annually for sale. Most is sold to farmers in compost to a new field of snap beans. All crop operation to the economic and envi- volume of manure their own cropland could bulk form but some is screened and bagged production practices were identical on the ronmental benefit of both. .. George Perkins. Montmorency County Organic Producer Wins Customers with Quality Produce George Perkins and his family operate the orders. Selling all he produces isn't dif- ogy, cover crops, and pest control. A and moisture conservation. Plants started a small, organic vegetable crop operation ficult, as long as it remains a small part- LaMotte soil test is used to determine fer- in a greenhouse that George built reduce near Hillman. time operation, he says. But increasing tility needs. The test, done at home with a transplant costs. Virtually no inputs come An avid gardener, George became in- acreage and dedicating himself full time to kit, allows George to interpret the results. from off-farm. "This is truly a made-in- terested in organic production, an interest his produce farm would result in more pro- Fertilizers are grown in the form of yellow Michigan product," George says. The last that gradually expanded to become the pro- duction blossom major hurdle is marketing. duce farm he and his family now operate. than he sweet clover "The way our food system is set up Three acres and two greenhouses are de- would be and Mam- now there is no need for local grocery store voted to vegetables. George considers their able to moth red managers to buy produce from local grow- small operation a hobby and educational market lo- clover, buck- ers," George says. "It's far easier and in tool, but their customers would probably cally. wheat and most cases cheaper to let the buyer from disagree. George rye cover the corporate headquarters buy in volume What George began as a hobby and and his crops. By and keep prices low. Less attention is paid educational tool turned into a thriving sec- family be- rotating to quality." ond income. Both he and his wife work off lieve they crops, pests The idea of quality and health are, in the farm, and the places of their primary have a are kept in his view, closely tied. Soil health results employment became ready markets for pretty check. in healthy crops that yield healthy fruit and homegrown, high quality produce. Word goo d Mulch IS healthy people. As more people see this spread to the local grocery store. It wasn't grasp of used for connection, production and consumption long before George was unable to fill all soil biol- weed control patterns will shift, he believes. 6 Sustainable Agriculture Sycamore Creek Water Quality Program

Three farms participating in the efficiency, and maintain produc- MASA/ AFT Sustainable Agriculture tion. Project are involved in the Sycamore • Emphasize agricultural diversity. Creek Water Quality Program The participating MASA famls (SCWQP), established by the USDA (Chellisons Farm, Hawkins Home- in 1990 to serve as a model for water- stead, and the Lyons farm) are all suc- shed management. Farming technolo- cessful farming enterprises able to gies promoted by the SCWQP are con- adapt sustainable practices into main- sidered to be sustainable agriculture stream production. practices, which is to say they: Extension agricultural agent Jack • Take advantage of and enhance Knorek has provided invaluable ser- biological relationships and natu- vice to MASA and the producers in ral processes that exist on farms. the SCWQP with his interest in mak- • Use management skills and infor- ing Michigan agriculture more sus- mation to reduce costs, improve tainable. Farmer Phil Hall (left) and Sycamore Creek Water Quality Program Technician Gary Zehr. Chellisons Farm. Ingham County Interseeding Clover in Small Grains

Chellisons Farm (Hall Brothers) is a crop of red clover to the small grains seeded 70-head dairy operation run by Nolan, Phil, with no cover. The Halls believe a corn Pete and Mike Hall. The Halls farm ap- crop following these crops benefit from the proximately 800 acres near Mason. Stan- nitrogen the clover supplies. But does the dard crop rotation on the farm is corn-com- small grain benefit? soybeans-wheat. They also raise alfalfa. Both wheat and oats had similar yields. The Halls use a liquid manure system. The wheat with clover cover yielded 41.2 They have also seeded red clover for a cover bushels per acre; the wheat with no cover crop for many years. Phil feels clover pro- 41.4. Both produced 40 bales of straw per vides tremendous benefits to the following acre. com crop. On oats the crop with clover cover The Halls use IPM pest scouting ser- yielded 60.0 bushels per acre and the crop vices to determine if and when to use pesti- with no cover yielded 61.5. Oats with clo- cides. Regular soil testing, cover crops, ver produced 30 bales of straw per acre; oats manure spreader calibration and manure with no clover produced 40. analysis ensure fertilizer cost effectiveness. The establishment costs were about $20 Tony Igi (left) and Sid Hawkins In 1993 the Halls compared wheat and per acre higher for the crops with clover, a oat production when seeded with a cover cost to be recaptured in future crop yields: Hawkins Homestead. Ingham County Testing Fertilizer Rates on Corn Hawkins Homestead, in the family of 18-46-0 at planting. since 1862, is farmed by Sid and Carol Herbicide treatment for all plots was Hawkins, their daughter Jeanine and her the same, with one quart Dual applied pre- husband Tony Igl. The farm consists of emergence and one pint Marksman applied 2350 acres in a corn-corn-soybean-wheat post. Tillage was the same for all plots. rotation. The Hawkins Homestead uses Fertilizer costs varied from $8.44 to IPM, regular soil testing, and conservation about $25 per acre with no appreciable in- tillage practices. The farm is diversifying crease in yield. The resulting yields are into feeder steers. listed below. In 1993, they tested the effect of vari- ous rates of anhydrous ammonia with and RATE YIELD (bula) without starter fertilizer on corn. Two rates 120# N + starter 134.0 were used: 120 pounds actual N (140 75# N + starter 135.1 pounds ammonia) and 75 pounds N (91 120# N - starter 133.5 pounds ammonia). The ammonia rates were 75# N - starter 137.5 used with and without 120 pounds per acre Leigh Lyons seeded ryegrass into standing corn to capture nitrogen. Leigh Lyons. Ingham County Using Ryegrass as a Nitrogen Scavenger

Leigh Lyons has farmed for more All corn growing practices were the than 30 years on his 300-acre farm near same except for one variable--the broadcast Mason. His preferred rotation is corn, seeding of 22.5 pounds per acre of annual soybeans, wheat. ryegrass at the time of cultivation July 2. In 1993, he began a study on his farm Yields on the two plots, replicated six (l) to see if the addition of annual times and averaged, were virtually identi- ryegrass planted in July in growing com cal. The ryegrass was determined to have would depress com yields and (2) to see no negative effects on yield. Expenses on if the annual ryegrass would take up the treated plot added $8.55 for the ryegrass enough nitrogen during its late-season seed and $2 for broadcasting it. The added growth to pay for the costs of seeding it $10.55 fell to the bottom line, reducing net and burning it down with herbicides the income. The challenge for next year is to following spring. Lyons believes that the determine the value of the ryegrass in terms ryegrass provides other benefits, provid- of pounds of nitrogen saved that might oth- ing erosion control and added soil organic erwise have leached away. Subjective Farmers toured corn plots at the Hawkins Homestead as part of a matter. evaluations must also be made about larger tour of the 20 farms participating in the Sycamore Creek Water The first step of this two-step ex- whether the ryegrass prevented soil loss and Quality Program. periment was done in 1993. added to soil organic matter and tilth. Sustainable Agriculture 7 Richard Lauwers. Lapeer County Comparison of Ridge-Till and No-Till Soybeans

Rich Lauwers and sons Mark and Mike volume of material applied based on soil the two systems, except for a higher seeding farm nearly 2,500 acres. The cash crop op- type and incidence of weeds. Heavy rate (90 pounds versus 50) in the solid-seeded eration grows sugar beets, wheat, corn and quackgrass areas can receive more Roundup plot. The extra nine bushels boosted net in- soybeans using no-till and ridge-till sys- than areas with little grass. The spray rig is come from 577.13 on the ridge-tilled field to tems. Rich is a director of the Michigan Ag- light and can get on the fields before heavier 5131.76 on the no-till drilled field. ricultural Stewardship Association. equipment, enhancing timeliness. The Lauwers are preparing for more The Lauwers changed their style of Herbicide application rates were in- changes. More tillage is planned in an at- farming on this cash crop operation several creased in 1993 to compensate for greater tempt to regain control of weeds. They have years ago and began moving toward ridge- weed pressure. A cooler than normal spring been growing hairy vetch and rye, and plan till. Not entirely happy with the results, and early summer led to immobilized her- to use them more extensively as cover crops. 1993 looked like a year to see if ridge till- bicide and both plots suffered herbicide These crops should help with weed control ing could produce the kind of yields that damage. and water infiltration, as well as nutrient would compete with solid seeded (drilled) Both plots performed poorly this year. management. soybeans. Besides herbicide damage, Richard sees As a side note, the Lauwers had other The Lauwers' farmland is heavy, wet other reasons for poor yields. "The fields ridge-tilled beans planted earlier that yielded ground that dries out and warms up slowly were wet and we planted too late," he said. better than either of the demonstration plots. in the spring. Ridge building has been an "In addition to late planting, we set the The Lauwers are innovative farmers who attempt to overcome these problems. Weed planter too deep and we just didn't get weed will continue to search for ways to enhance control has been an issue the past couple of The Lauwers use a sophisticated control." economic and environmental returns on their seasons. "It seems that the weeds are harder sprayer, a four-wheel-drive Quad Runner The ridge-till plot yielded 22 bushels farm. Rich believes heavy reliance on chemi- to get under control since we reduced till- with a ground speed monitor and digital per acre compared to 31 for those drilled cals for weed control is, in the long run, not age," explained Richard. readout that enables the operator to vary the no-till. Costs were generally the same for a sustainable agricultural practice. Gale McNitt. Muskegon County Foliar-Applied Fertilizer in Corn

Gale McNitt and his wife Marilyn farm the extra cost of the added foliar fertilizer tations for more effective nitrogen manage- or herbicide management. This is one area 500 acres near Ravenna. The farm supports and the growth regulator were not recov- ment. But, they say, USDA programs are that will have to be addressed ifwidespread a 40-cow dairy herd and provides excess ered. not yet compatible with the need for cover acceptance among farmers is to occur, they grain for sale. Crops are corn, hay and small Still, Gale believes that foliar-applied crops and rotations that facilitate nutrient say. grams. fertilizers have a place on his farm. Timing Gale hoped to determine the cost-ef- is the critical factor, he says. Ifweather con- 1 \ fectiveness of additional foliar fertilizer (3- ditions or other field operations prohibit a \ 18-18) applied to corn when the plants were grower from making the fertilizer applica- \ about 18 inches tall. In addition to the fo- tion at the proper time, yield response will liar fertilizer, a natural growth hormone, be reduced and costs will not be recovered. called Symspray, was applied to one repli- The environmental advantage of foliar " cation. According to the manufacturer, this fertilizers is obvious to Gale. Leaching on growth regulator reduces the energy the his sandy-loam soil would be practically plant uses for foliage and puts it into grain eliminated, but the fa~ has not ha.d yields p~~du~ti~n. Th~ growth regulator was do- that would warrant a switch to all foliar nated to the project and was applied with materials yet. an application of fertilizer, so no additional The entire plot was covered with mu- costs were attributed. nicipal sludge in the fall of 1991. This The three replications received identi- sludge contributed the following: nitrogen, cal herbicide and tillage treatments. Corn 136 pounds per acre; phosphorus, 30 was planted after tillage with a SoilSaver. pounds per acre; potassium, 4 pounds per When the corn reached the optimum size acre; calcium, 594 pounds per acre. for foliar plant food and growth regulator No sludge was applied to this field applications, the soil was too wet. Unable since 1991. Gale continues to use sludge to get on the fields at the optimum time, the on fields that meet phosphorus, soil type, application occurred late. Yields were and slope criteria. nearly the same in all three treatments, ~o The McNitts would like to develop ro- Gale McNitt

Bob Fogg. Ingham County Can Hairy Vetch Alone Produce Enough N for Good Corn Yields?

Bob and Joann Fogg farm 335 acres search Farm promoting sustainable agricul- vetch stand that was planted after wheat replicated six times to achieve scientific near Leslie. Since 1986, the farm has been tural production practices. harvest in 1992. accuracy. a Rodale Institute Midwest On-Farm Re- Until recently, the farm operation in- The plots differed only in that manure Yield estimates were made December cluded a 25-cow dairy was spread on half this spring and not the 17 from a hand-taken sample and showed herd as well as the or- other half. The plots were randomized and little difference. ganic cash crop system. Since 1981, he has been using fewer chemicals, with no herbicides or chemical fertilizers Date No manure Manure used since 1986. He grows corn, soybeans, Aug. 92 Plant hairy vetch 40#/acre alfalfa, small grains and May 93 I Spread 5 tons manure/acre .' legume cover crops, in- cluding hairy vetch. May 28 Moldboard plow entire field The dairy milk- ing operation has been June 3,8 Disk entire field phased out, and now replacement dairy heif- June 13 Cultimulch and plant entire field with 95-day corn ers are being raised. Fogg's goal in June 21 Rotary hoe entire field his research plot this year was to see if tak- July 5 Cultivate ing away dairy manure would hurt corn yields. July 15 Cultivate He planted corn on June 13, after plowing and Dec. 17 Hand harvest plots, no difference in yield disking down a hairy 8 Sustainable Agriculture Larry Mawby. Leelanau County Mating Disruption for Codling Moth Control

Larry Mawby, a member of the MASA female codling moths to attract male moths locating females. If mating can be pre- the front block used conventional insecti- board of directors, operates a 30-acre vine- are released into the orchard. The idea is to vented, the risk of damage to fruit by co- cides. In 1992, both blocks were managed yard in Le"elanauCounty and a 40-acre apple place enough artificial sources of phero- dling moth larvae is eliminated. Plastic dis- with mating disruption. Effectiveness ofthe orchard located in the Upper Peninsula's Delta mone into the environment to disrupt the pensers allow for long-term controlled re- control methods were determined by moni- County. This apple orchard has been the "scent trails" and prevent male moths from lease of the pheromone during the grow- toring with codling moth pheromone traps focus of three years of research conducted mg season. and evaluating fruit damage. Fewer. trap in cooperation with Michigan State Univer- MSU entomologist James Johnson catches indicate mating disruption (males sity. The study focuses on pheromone dis- worked with Mawby testing this disrup- can't find the traps well in the pheromone- ruption of codling moths. tion for three growing seasons. Two eight- saturated orchard). Codling moths are serious pests, caus- acre mixed variety apple blocks were cho- Disruption appears to work, but costs ing the proverbial worm in the apple. Ef- sen for the study. In 1991, the back block of this method are currently prohibitive, fective control has to date been through re- was managed with mating disruption and Mawby says. peated applications of chemical insecticides. Reasons are emerging to look for new con- trol possibilities: cost of chemicals, insect John Densmore. Gratiot County resistance and increased public pressure to reduce agricultural chemicals that may re- sult in residue on their food. A most impor- Poultry Manure Compared to tant reason is that the chemical control methods used for codling moth tend to sup- Commercial Fertilizer press natural enemies that would otherwise lend to the control of other pests in the or- chard. For these reasons, mating disruption is being tested for control of codling moths. Mating disruption works like this: Syn- thetic copies of the pheromone released by

TRIAL RESULTS

Codling Moth Codling Moth Trap Catches Fruit Damage (0/0) 1991 Disruption o 5.3 Control 11 1992 BACK BLOCK Disruption o 1.0 Control 59 FRONT BLOCK Disruption 6 2.0 Control 43 John Densmore (left) discusses nitrogen test plot results with Bryan 1993 Petrucci of American Farmland Trust, which co-sponsors the on-farm BACK BLOCK research with MASA. Disruption 3 1.0 Control 36 John Densmore and his wife Kathy trogen would most efficiently supply Control represents catches in traps in trees in adjacent areas. farm about 1,000 acres near Ithaca. The needed N for com production, John set up cash crop rotation includes soybeans, this demonstration to test the possibilities. com, dry beans, and wheat for seed. Four combinations were used. Anhy- John had access to poultry manure drous ammonia with manure, ammonia and Paul Guenther. Washtenaw County from his brother's nearby farm. Inter- no manure, no ammonia and no manure ested in determining what source of ni- (control), and no ammonia with manure. All plots received 100 pounds of starter at Interseeding Medic in Corn for planting and 150 pounds per acre of pot- ash pre-plant. Plots were given identical a Fall Cover Crop herbicide treatments and planted in a con- servation-tilled field. Paul Guenther's research sought to de- planted com using ridge-till methods in John farms good sandy loam soils and termine whether there is a yield reduction 1993. He sprayed Roundup May 20, can get yields of 150 bushels per acre con- from interseeding medic in com at last cul- cleaned the ridges May 27 and on May 29 sistently (weather permitting). This year tivation. Medic is a legume plant that grows planted com, applying fertilizer and band- was a relatively good growing season in well during the cool days of fall, scaveng- applying Dual and atrazine. On July 2, he central Michigan. ing fertilizer left from the crop in which it cultivated to build ridges and applied 15 Highest net return in 1993 were on was planted. The goal is to produce nitro- gallons of28 percent nitrogen fertilizer so- plots receiving only ammonia. This is dif- gen, provide ground cover and prevent ero- lution. As he cultivated he seeded four ferent from 1992 results, when manure out- sion during winter and spring. It dies over pounds of Cyprus medic between the rows performed the anhydrous. Input costs, in- winter and releases nutrients to the next crop. in 12-inch bands on halfhis com plot, none cluding machinery and labor, were higher When planning to interseed medic, on the other half. The six randomized and on the anhydrous plot. But the plot yielded choose com varieties with upright leaves and replicated plots were harvested Dec. 9. nearly 14 bushels per acre better and com match medic variety to your soil type, Yields were statistically identical, prices were slightly higher, resulting in the Guenther says. 154.6 without medic and 154.0 with economic advantage. Following soybeans in 1992, Guenther medic. Production costs (excluding land and harvest costs) are listed in the table below. About This Publication Several people were instrumental in able Agriculture Programs for Ameri- the compiling the material in this publica- can Farmland Trust, worked with Comparison Results tion. French and LaRowe and visited with Kalamazoo dairyman Roger French farmers to observe their experiments. worked with farmers in southern Michi- The farmers themselves must be NH~ NH~ + Manure Manure Control gan as they designed their experiments and given credit for devoting time and ef- carried out their on-farm research. He fort to constructing scientifically valid Seed costs 22.95 22.95 22.95 22.95 helped them collect and compile their data. experiments. In some cases, simple side Pesticides 8.35 8.35 8.35 8.35 Russ LaRowe, district manager of the by side comparisons were made; in oth- Fertilizer 37.13 37.13 20.35 20.35 Kalkaska Soil Conservation District, ers, plots were replicated four to six Machinery/labor 31.86 37.60 37.60 31.86 worked with farmers in northern Michigan, times and set up in random order. Use TOTAL 100.29 106.03 89.25 83.51 helping them design their experiments, col- of product names does not imply en- lect and compile data and wrote narrative dorsement. Yield (bu/a) 161 144.2 147.2 141.0 descriptions of their farm operations. The material was edited by Dick Gross ($/a) 418.60 374.92 382.62 366.60 Bryan Petrucci, Director of Sustain- Lehnert. Net return 318.81 268.89 293.37 283.09 Sustainable Agriculture 9 l-- Dale and Sally Stuby. St. Joseph County Reduced Rates of Soil Insecticide in Seed Corn

Dale and Sally Stuby farm 770 acres crops, rotations with soybeans and wheat, under-center-pivot-height windbreaks, and in com in 1992, with a wheat cover crop near Constantine. Most of their land is reduced chemical applications, reduced ni- rotational manure application. They raise in place during the winter between crops. planted to inbred com lines that are crossed trogen applications, irrigation scheduling, 2,000 head of market hogs farrow to finish In this study, yields improved as the to produce commercial hybrid seed. Be- each year, and inject liquid manure into the rate of insecticide used increased. Of the cause these inbreds are more sensitive to soil. three years with replicated research trials, stresses, production systems rely heavily on In their 1993 research, they compared 1993 was the first in which the full rate of irrigation, conventional complete tillage, four rates of Counter 20G insecticide ap- insecticide produced higher yields than the high levels of fertilizer and insecticides. plied to the soil at planting to combat com three-fourth rate. Because of the investment in irrigation, rootworms. The test covered 36 acres in After three years of research, the fields tend to be planted to com year after which each treatment was replicated six Stubys shi fted to the three-quarter rate on year. times and the results averaged. The field was all their seed acreage. The soils in the county are sandy, eas- ily eroded by wind and cover a vulnerable SEED CORN YIELD RESPONSE TO SOIL INSECTICIDE aquifer that causes serious concern about degradation of water quality from fertilizer Counter 20G rate (Ibs/a) Q ~ 4.5 Q and pesticides. I For several years, the Stubys have Counter cost ($/a) 0 4.92 7.38 9.84 I Yields (bu/a) 48.4 (Q looked at more sustainable strategies: con- 56.0 58.2 61.3 Root ratings servation tillage, field scouting, use of cover 2.55 2.53 2.32 2.43

Henry Miller. St. Joseph County ,~ Seed Corn Grower Tries Lower Input Rates

Henry Miller's primary crop is seed com for seed, 50 acres of soybeans, 90 acres ing adult beetles. On August 5, 1992, based fiel~ no insecticide on the other. No visual com, with com following com for three or of snap beans, 60 acres of oats and 60 acres upon scouting reports, the field was sprayed differences were seen. The Counter-treated four years. In 1993, he grew 750 acres of of alfalfa. with I quart per acre of Penncap-M (cost field yielded 84.8 bushels per acre, the un- "I am always looking for ways to re- per acre: $9.44) to kill adult com rootworm treated 81.8. duce my inputs and farm for maximum ef- beetles. In 1993, no soil insecticide was ap- Trial 3--Four nitrogen rates were com- ficiency or greatest net return instead of plied to half the field and 8 pounds of pared in four replications. The lowest rate maximum yields," he said. In his on-farm Counter (cost: $12.96 per acre) was applied (68 pounds N per acre) produced visual research, he has been trying to determine to the other half. Plots were randomized and symptoms of deficiency and yields of 66.5 when soil-applied com rootworm insecti- replicated six times. No obvious bushels per acre. Three higher rates pro- cides are most likely to pay and what rates goosenecking or lodging was seen in either duced similar yields: 89 pounds ofN, 80.3 of nitrogen fertilizer yield the optimum re- treatment. Yields with Counter averaged bushels per acre yield; 95 pounds N, 82.3 turn. 81.2 bushels per acre; without Counter 79.1 bushels; 120 pounds N, 80.0 bushels. He fanns sandy soils. He fall chisels, bushels. Trial 4-- Yields were compared from plants a wheat cover crop between com TriaI2--As in trial 1, field was sprayed two replicated treatments. Half received _ crops and works the ground with a field cul- (Aug. 8, 1992) to control com rootworm starter fertilizer (192 pounds per acre of 15- tivator in the spring. In 1993, he ran four adults and Japanese beetles that were clip- 15-2) and the other no starter, but both re- on-farm experiments with the following re- ping silks. One quart per acre Sevin XLR+ ceived nitrogen. Yields favored starter fer- sults: was used (cost: $9.25 per acre). In 1993,8 tilizer (79.4 bushels per acre compared to Triall--Rootworm reduction by spray- pounds of Counter was used on half the 63.6).

Wenger Brothers. Ionia County ~ Using Hog Manure To Sidedress Corn Worked Out Well

Tom, Ron, and Larry Wenger farm 500 duce the amount of nitrogen applied to the Herbicide treatment was a broadcast acres, along with their wives and children, corn crop while maintaining yields. To fa- spray of Roundup before planting and then in a partnership created in 1977. They grow cilitate liquid manure applications in stand- a banded application of Dual at planting. com, hay, small grains, and soybeans and ing com, a special manifold was built to This banding allowed only 25 percent of also have about 115 sows, feed pigs and fin- direct manure between the rows, where it each acre to be treated. All plots received ish about 100 head of beef. They also keep was then cultivated in. About 6,000 gallons the same herbicide treatment. All the com a brood cow herd. of manure was sidedressed per acre and no was cultivated twice. The farm began a ridge-till system a other N source was applied to one plot. The Wengers believe that yield can be few years ago. The brothers wanted to re- A second plot received 29 gallons of maintained and herbicides and fertilizer duce herbicide use by banding. They also 28 percent liquid nitrogen in split applica- rates reduced if manure applications and wanted to find ways to better use the liquid tions and no manure. A third plot received follow-up cultivations are timely. The 1993 manure from the hog operation. 24 gallons of28 percent liquid with no ma- field results support this conclusion. .. Part of this demonstration was to re- nure . Liquid manure analysis showed that 1,000 gallons of hog manure contained 22.9 pounds of nitrogen, 16.1 pounds of phos- phorus and 18.5 pounds of potassium. Us- ing this analysis, the manure suppl ied 137 pounds of N per acre. None of the plots yielded especially well but the return over input costs was best on the manure plot. Input costs and returns are listed in the table. Tom Wenger

High N Rate Low N Rate Manure No Manure No Manure No Added N Seed costs ($/a) 24.05 24.05 24.05 Fertilizer 26.77 23.85 15.07 Machinery & labor 28.87 28.87 34.61 TOTAL 96.76 93.84 90.80 Yield (bu/a) 77.3 74.5 82.3 Gross income ($/a) 200.98 193.70 213.98 Net income ($/a) 104.22 99.86 123.18

To facilitate liquid manure applications in standing corn, a special mani- * Production costs were calculated from MSU Extension Bulletin "Cus- fold was built to direct manure between the rows. tom Work Rates in Michigan." 10 Sustainable Agriculture Paul and Tom Wing. Barry County

Alternative Methods of Controlling Weeds in Corn

Paul Wing and his son Tom farm about treatment was most expensive (higher ma- 600 acres devoted to com, alfalfa and soy- chine and labor costs) and produced the beans. They have a 65-cow dairy herd and lowest yields. feed about 30 beef steers. In 1992, yields were about the same Paul believes that sustainable agricul- when herbicides were used full rate or at tural methods include purchasing fewer off- half rate in bands with cultivation, but the farm inputs--pesticides, fertilizers and ma- two cultivations cost more than the sav- chinery. ings in herbicide. Not so in 1993. The plots For the past two years, the Wings have with banded herbicides yielded five bush- compared three methods of controlling els more than the plot with broadcast her- weeds in com: cultivation and rotary hoe- bicides and one cultivation, and nine bush- ing only, banded herbicides with cultiva- els more than the plot in which herbicides tion, and broadcast herbicides with no cul- were broadcast and no cultivation was tivation or hoeing. This last year, they added used. a new treatment: cultivation and broadcast The Wings plan to use more herbicide herbicides. Since they use only atrazine and banding and cultivation. While the cost of Prowl for weed control, costs at the full rate cultivation is more than the saving in her- amount to only $11.40 per acre. bicides, cultivated com yields the same and In 1992 and 1993, the no-herbicide sometimes better than non-cultivated. Paul Wing

President Wirbel1s Vision for MASA

"I would like MASA to be known as eration, he doesn't view it as a burden to as free of soil and chemicals as possible, he Not only is blowing soil an environmental the environmentally concerned organization control erosion. says. Reducing tillage and leaving surface problem, small sugar beets and beans can in agriculture, but one concerned about eco- His land is flat and a lot of water leaves residues help achieve that. At the same time be blown out of the soil or damaged by abra- nomics as wel!." his land as surface runoff. It should move these practices reduce wind erosion as well. sion when soil blows. That's how MASA president Jerry Corn follows sugar beets in his rota- Wirbel describes his vision of what MASA tion. Corn, with its deep roots, is the best should become. "I'd like to see it grow with crop, he says, to restore the ground after members. I'd like to see people become part beets. Com is followed by dry beans, mostly of it," he said. black turtles but also kidneys and cranber- He'd like to see a network of members ries. These are drilled, using a Tye no-till doing on-farm research and talking to each drill with 8-inch row spacings. "The secrets other about farm practices that are sustain- to no-till dry beans are narrow rows and se- able and that work for them. It needs enough lecting upright varieties with strong roots people involved so that it can be local. What to penetrate untilled soil," he said. Beans works a hundred miles away isn't convinc- are historically a much-tilled-for crop. ing to a farmer convinced his conditions are The dry beans are harvested by direct different, he said. cutting. The upright varieties and the close When a new agricultural practice comes planting help reduce harvest losses. along, Wirbel wants to know all about it. "I Did the MASA board choose well in want somebody to show me what it looks choosing him as its first president? Jerry like and tell me how it works," he said. thinks so. "They needed a production-type He calls it his "show and tell" attitude. farmer who's not pushing anything," he Ideally, he'd prefer to see a new practice as said. "I'm not trying to sell any products or used by a farmer, rather than in a research one farming system or get anybody to plot, and by a neighbor in his local commu- change farming methods cold-turkey." nity who deals with his kind of soils and He wants MASA to be open to all kinds climate, rather than somebody miles away. of ideas-but not be captured by any inter- He'd like to see it done under "real" field est group. He wants MASA to foster ex- conditions and "realistic" economics. MASA cultivates ties to the political world. Last year, Congressmen Dave change of ideas, help members see new To his thinking, the most exciting part Camp (left) spoke at the MASA annual meeting, at the invitation of Presi- ideas in action and help farmers learn from of MASA is the on-farm research projects dent Jerry Wirbel (right). other farmers. done by members. Real farmers, working under real conditions and constrained by real economics, try out ideas on their farms-and then share the results with other members in "show and tell" sessions-field days. Potential Impacts of Sustainable Agriculture Jerry's "project" is his whole I,OOO-acre What kinds of gains might tion, they say. requirements significantly and cash crop farm. After some experimentation farmers expect when they shift 3. Reduce direct production increasing the management to with no-till techniques, he extended them from conventional to more sustain- costs by as much as 17 percent, re- land ratio for reduced input con- to his whole farm. While lots of farmers able agricultural production sys- flecting a 38 percent decrease in servation tillage programs. grow no-till corn and soybeans, he's one of tems? cost of crop chemicals, a 16 per- Alternative cropping sys- a very few farmers who uses no-till with A University of Missouri cent reduction in fertilizer costs, sugar beets and dry edible beans. tems that incorporate reduced and a 7 percent reduction in fuel Jerry and his wife Pearl farm near Hope analysis by agricultural econo- tillage, greater crop diversity costs. in Midland County. He uses a three-crop mists John Ikerd, Don Van Dyne and more efficient management rotation of com, sugar beets and dry beans. and Sandra Monson came to these 4. Reduce use of commercial of commercial pesticides and "No-till takes a lot less field work time," he conclusions about what the shift herbicides by as much as 40 per- fertilizers are capable of im- said. "It saves fuel cost and wear and tear could mean: cent for corn and soybeans. provIng resource conservation, on the machinery and me." 1. Reduce soil loss as much as 5. Reduce commercial nitro- reducing production costs and As president of a group dedicated to 70 percent, bringing sheet and rill gen use by as much as 30 percent, improving the overall sustain- developing and putting into practice sustain- erosion down to "T" on all but the primarily through more efficient ability of farming systems, the able agricultural practices, Jerry has given most highly erodible lands and be- nutrient management progralTIS analysts said. thought to what sustainability means on his low "2T" on almost all land. and increased use of crop rotations, And, they added, these sys- farm. Partly it means controlling costs so 2. Reduce total fossil fuel- spec ifi ca lIy reduci ng the tems rely on practices, methods he can stay in business; partly it means re- based energy use by as much as monocropping of corn and soy- and technologies that are cur- ducing the impact of his farming operation 22 percent. Reductions in energy beans. rently being successfully used on the environment. Wind and water ero- 6. Increase crop labor require- sion are two problems he believes he must use associated with ferti lizers and on many farms and would prob- ments about 7 percent, although control, for environmental reasons. Since pesticides by far offset the small ably be considered reasonable losing soil isn't profitable to his farm op- increases in fuel used for cultiva- possibly increasing management alternatives by farmers. Sustainable Agriculture 11 Land Steward Award (Continued from page 1)

"Peace of mind is one of the things I per cow per day, went from $5.83 in 1990 In intensive rotational grazing, there saved is available for other uses in the graz- value," he said, obviously enthralled as the to $6.55 in 1991, his first grazing year, then are more fields each designed to be grazed 109 program. pastoral images go through his mind. fell slightly to $6.31 during the cold, wet briefly and regrazed after recovery. This Grazing is beneficial to pasture plants, Shetler also spoke in glowing terms at 1992. In 1993, income over feed cost rose system uses livestock just like a mechani- Leep said. Grazing stimulates growth by re- a session during the MASA annual meet- to $6.58. cal hay harvesting system. Michigan State moving shade, but excessive grazing re- ing in Clare last winter. He has good Conventional grazing was never pro- University Extension specialist Richard duces root reserves. Ben Bartlett, the dis- records. They show that with grazing he cut ductive for dairymen. When livestock are Leep estimates that livestock producers trict Extension dairy and livestock agent purchased protein and fed less purchased put into one field, they pick and choose spend three hours per acre per year green from the Upper Peninsula, in his bulletin and more farm-produced feed. Milk produc- what they like to eat, overgrazing and kill- chopping and seven hours making hay. With "Controlled Grazing," says grass/legume tion slipped somewhat, but cost ofmilk pro- ing the best plants and converting the pas- grazing, livestock do much of that work, mixtures should be grazed when they are duced fell, too. His income over feed cost, ture to the worst forage species and weeds. plus hauling manure. The time and labor 10 inches tall and be grazed down to 3 inches, then rested for 30 days of growth. But, as Leep notes, the weather doesn't make that always possible. In the spring, The Road to Sustainability you must start grazing early when grass is (Continued from page 1) only two or three inches high. Livestock programs. MASA leaders have met with exemplifies the ideals of sustainable agri- its fine start, saying that sustainable ag- must be moved often. During the cool sea- sustainable agriculture groups in Indiana, culture. riculture techniques are "a major part of son of high growth, you may need to "stock- Illinois and Iowa and traveled to the field --MASA members receive a newslet- the future." He also endorsed on-farm re- pile" for hot, dry days ahead. day at Dick Thompson's farm in Boone, ter, calledThe Land Steward, edited by Dick search as a valuable farmer to farmer That may mean cutting some pasture Iowa. Thompson, a leader of the Practical Lehnert, published quarterly. communication and education tool. for hay. It may mean planting some fields Farmers of Iowa, which stresses on-farm Future goals call for membership ex- Jack Laurie, president of Michigan to birdsfoot trefoil, the quality of which does research as a method of evaluating sustain- pansion; expansion ofthe newsletter in size, Farm Bureau and a MASA advisory not deteriorate as it matures, or to a warm able practices, is a member of MAS A's ad- frequency and circulation; hiring an execu- board member, said MASA had "given season grass, like switchgrass, which starts visory board. tive director; expansion of on-farm demon- credibility to something that those on the later and provides grazing during the heat --Development of the Sustainable Ag- strations, field days, winter meetings and farm had heard about and read about, but of summer when cool season grasses slow riculture Project, in cooperation with AFT, seminars; increasing linkages with other never figured quite how to fit into." The down. Shetler has made plantings of Matua, and publication of results. Fifteen farms sustainable agriculture organizations, espe- credibility comes from "having good a grass grown widely for grazing in New participated in 1991, looking at the effects cially through the Sustainable Agriculture farmers doing it," he said. "As long as Zealand. of reduced fertilizer and pesticide applica- Working Group; creation of a sustainable you keep doing the show and tell, you're Choosing the plant species you want tions, cover crops, intensive rotational graz- agriculture hot line; and creation of a lend- going to have an impact." to work with can be hard or easy. "Graze ing, and others. In 1992 and 1993,25 farms ing library. Certainly the organization has been what you have" is a good starting point, cooperated. Eldor Paul, chairman of the MSU De- helped greatly by having good farmers Leep said. Getting started means building --Demonstration farms also serve as partment of Crop and Soil Sciences, con- as leaders. Jerry Wirbel grows 850 acres fences to divide existing hayfields. Even hosts for field days or educational tours. gratulated MASA for the way it has estab- of com, soybeans, sugar beets, wheat and quackgrass is a good forage to graze. Then, Each year there are three to six field days lished itself. He said it was a model for other dry beans. His drive is to reduce the add species that help. drawing about 300 participants. In addition, groups, and said the department plans to amount of fertilizer and pesticides that If you need a species that stockpiles in three or four winter workshops are held invite farm people with other specialized leave his farm, and no-till has been his the field and provides summer grazing, tre- each year, in cooperation with Extension interests to meetings in March and April to primary tool for achieving that goal. He's foil is a good choice. If you have soil prob- or Soil Conservation Districts. look at department directions and discover a farmer, but at the same time has envi- lems, trefoil tolerates wet, acid soils. --Establishment of the Land Steward what MSU can do for them. ronmental interests and concerns. For Extending the grazing season also be- Award to be given annually to a farmer who George Bird congratulated MASA on example, he's a member of Pheasants comes a goal to consider. Planting rape, Forever. kale, turnips or other brassicas can provide Board Secretary Tom Guthrie must grazing well into the winter. They are easy also have crossed Laurie's mind when he to establish, often no-tilled into pasture, and Become a MASA Member made his comments. Guthrie, who runs a they are ready to use about 70 days after 1,225-acre cash grain farm near Delton planting. Become a member of the Michigan information on sustainable farming sys- in Barry County, was elected in early De- Two very helpful MSU bulletins on the Agricultural Stewardship Association tems. cember to the position of vice-president subject are "Controlled Grazing" and (MASA) and get access to the key that The organization holds field days, of Michigan Farm Bureau and will serve "Grasses and Legumes for Intensive Graz- opens the door to farming in the future. workshops and farmer meetings through- .as Laurie's right-hand man. ing in Michigan." In this Information Age, the key is ac- out the year to educate members about ways cess to the kind of information you need. to reduce some of the negative ecological MASA President Jerry Wirbel puts it this impacts associated with agricultural pro- Making Contact with MASA way: "Your membership reinforces and en- duction and to farm more profitably. courages the board of directors to fulfill the The organization participates in the es- The Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association is a non-profit orga- mission ofMASA--to develop a process for tablishment of on-farm demonstration and nization, the goal of which is to foster sustainable agriculture practices among research and dissemination of information research plots, designed by farmers and ag- farmers of Michigan. The official address is that of Secretary Tom Guthrie, about agricultural systems that are economi- ricultural professionals to compare conven- 7301 Milo Rd., Delton, MI 49046 (Phone: 616-623-2261 or -2255), who may cally feasible, agronomically sound and tional and alternative production methods. be contacted for membership information or other matters. Other officers are: environmentally safe." Members of MASA receive special President, Jerry Wirbel, Hope, 517-689-3857; Vice-President, Gary Hoyt, St. MASA is a statewide, not-for-profit mailings, including the newsletter The Land Louis, 517 -681-5184 or -3259; Treasurer, Christopher Lufkin, Ionia, 616-527- educational organization committed to the Steward, that keep them abreast of infor- 5357. Other directors are Russ LaRowe, Kalkaska, 616-258-3307; Roger development and use of sustainable farm- mation on sustainable agriculture issues and French, Kalamazoo, 616-375-0658; Larry Mawby, Suttons Bay, 616-271-3522; ing systems. events. Richard Lauwers, Imlay City, 313-724-2263; and Marlin Goebel, Hillman, Formed in 1991 by a group of innova- To become a member, fill out the ap- tive farmers and agricultural professionals, plication below. You'll be just in time to 517-742-4505. Leadership Development Coordinator is John Durling, Michi- MASA works to: attend this year's annual meeting (see de- gan State University, 517-353-3209 (fax 353-5174). Advisory Board Chair is tails next page), where you can meet and Oran Hesterman, MSU, 517-355-0264. Newsletter editor is Dick Lehnert, • Increase awareness and educate the exchange ideas with other farmers who are DeWitt, 517-669-9023 (fax: 669-2184). public on sustainable agriculture issues; looking for better farming methods. r------J • Promote research that will determine the sustainability of alternative farming sys- MASA Membership Application tems;

• Aid in the development of sustainable Na~e~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_~$25- Individual agriculture techniques for use on Michigan farms, and assist in their adoption by Address~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~$100- Institutional Michigan's farmers; City~- -_ State Zip ~$10 - Student

• Encourage cooperation between pro- Telephone ducers, agribusiness, researchers and gov- New member?----- Renewal? _ ernment agencies for the development of sustainable farming systems. Are you a full-ti~e far~er?_~_~_ Major co~~odity?------Soil conservation, water quality and Volunteer for committee work or have a demonstration plot? _ wildlife issues are also concerns of MAS A members. Mail completed me~bership for~ and check to: MASA believes that Michigan produc- ers need access to practical, readily usable L MASA, 7301 Milo Rd., Delton, MI 49046 ~ 12 Sustainable Agriculture MASA's Third Annual Meeting Jan. 29 in Mt. Pleasant

The third annual meeting of the Michi- After lunch, keynote speaker Fred ods and is certified with these methods. much of the 1980's. He has been a member gan Agricultural Stewardship Association Kirschenmann will discuss "sustainable Kirschenmann left a career in higher of the LISA administrative council for the will be held Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Holi- agriculture--its relationship to the structure education (he has a Ph.D. in religion and north central region since 1989. In 1990, day Inn in Mt. Pleasant. of agriculture today and in the future." philosophy and was a college dean) in 1977 the Center for Science in the Public Inter- The registration, which includes lunch, Kirschenmann is the manager of his to begin managing the family farm on which est gave him its "Safe Food Trailblazer" costs $15 for those who pre-register by Jan. family's 3,1 OO-acre grain and cattle farm he grew up. By 1979, he was a charter mem- award. 22 and who have their annual dues paid. near Medina, North Dakota. The farm uses ber of the Northern Plains Sustainable Ag- He has written and spoken extensively Dues are $25 for individuals, $10 for stu- organic and bio-dynamic production meth- riculture Society and its president during about sustainable agriculture. dents, and $100 for organizations. Non- members may attend for $20 in advance; 1------, cost for all who don't pre-register is $25 at the door. 1994 MASA Annual Meeting Registration Registrations and dues should be sent to Russ LaRowe, 605 N. Birch, Kalkaska, January 29, 1994 M149646. Registration begins at 9 a.m, followed by the business meeting at 9:30. Items of Name Phone business include election of three directors ------to fill expired terms and, later in the day, Address election of president from among the entire Registration (by Jan. 22, 1994) Member __ x $15/person = __ board (see election story for information on the candidates). By-laws also need some Non-Member_ x $20/person = __ revision to comply with MASA's legal sta- tus as a non-profit corporation. After Jan 22, 1994 (at the door) x $25/person = __ From 10 a.m. until noon, six breakout Please assist us with planning and indicate your preference as to breakout sessions. sessions will be held. Visitors may attend two or three in the time allotted. The ses- D A: Rodale Midwest On-Farm Research and Extension (speaker invited) sions include: composting dairy manures, D B: Organic Truck Farm Vegetable - George Perkins with Tom Cordes, Hillman dairyman; chest- nuts as an alterative orchard crop, with L.L. D C: Composting Dairy Manure - Tom Cordes "Bud" Coulter of Eastport; intensive rota- D D: Chestnuts as an Alternative Orchard Crop - L.L. "Bud" Coulter tional grazing, with George Shetler of D E: Intensive Rotational Dairy Grazing - George Shetler Kalkaska (first recipient of the new MASA- sponsored Land Steward Award); reduced D F: Reduced Tillage/No-Till Sugar Beets - Jim LeCureux tillage and no-till sugar beets, with Jim LeCureux, Huron County Extension direc- tor; organic truck farm vegetables, with For Room Reservations: Holiday Inn - 1-800-292-8891 George Perkins, Hillman; and a program on on-farm research, with a Rodale Institute L Return with full payment to Russ LaRowe, 605 N. Birch, Kalkaska, MI 49646 ~ farm cooperator as yet unnamed.

Candidates nominated for MASA board, president

At the annual meeting Jan. 29, MASA Currently, he is coordinator of the working to create the Michigan Integrated cooperation with MSU specialists, inves- members will elect three to the board of Michigan Manure Management Project in Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) Ini- tigating reduced rates of starter phospho- directors and vote to choose a president. Ionia. This multi-agency-sponsored tiative, a proposal now seeking funding un- rus fertilizer and corn rootworm insecti- A nominating committee offers seven project focuses on composting, nutrient der the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Inte- cides, nitrate testing, row width, tillage candidates for the three open board posi- management and milking center waste grated Farming Systems program. systems, sub irrigation and herbicides. tions and two for president. Nominations handling. He has varied experience: work- ROBERT FOGG--Since 1986, the Last year, 75 farm operations were in- from the floor will be accepted as well. ing for Bangkok Bank to set up a swine Fogg farm near Leslie in Ingham County volved in demonstration projects and more The two candidates for president are immunization program in Thailand; work- has been a Rodale Institute Midwest On- than 40 plots were harvested for yield and Jerry Wirbel and Christopher Lufkin. The ing in the Land Pavilion at Walt Disney Farm Research cooperator promoting sus- economic analysis. seven candidates for the board are Rich World's EPCOT Center; coordinating sci- tainable agricultural production practices. He also helped organize the first Bowman, Wendy Elsey, Robert Fogg, Jim ence and agriculture programs at MSU's An annual field day has been hosted for County Corn Growers Association in LeCureux, Christopher Lufkin, Greg Mood Tollgate 4-H Education Center; and farm several years. Michigan. and Sara (Sally) Stuby. The following are consulting for TransNational Agronomy. Since 1981, he has been using fewer SALLY STUBY--Sara (Sally) Stuby brief biographies of each candidate: chemicals, with no herbicides or chemical and her husband Dale have been MAS A FOR DIRECTORS fertilizers used since 1986. His 330-acre members from its inception. They farm FOR PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER LUFKIN--(see farm uses organic production methods. He 850 acres, primarily irrigated corn for seed, JERRY WIRBEL--A farmer from above). has been a member of the Organic Crop in St. Joseph County. They also grow soy- Hope in Midland County, Jerry was a GREG MUND--Involved with Improvement Association since 1988. He beans, wheat and alfalfa and produce 2,500 founding member of MASA, chaired the MASA from the beginning, he was one grows corn, soybeans, alfalfa, small grains, hogs farrow to finish. ad hoc committee that formulated its by- of the original directors, has conducted on- legumes including hairy vetch as a cover For three years, they have participated laws and mission statement, and became farm research projects for three years, and crop, and raises dairy replacement heifers. in on-farm research looking at reduced its first and so far only president. is active as a member. WENDY ELSEY--She and husband rates of soil insecticides in seed corn. They He and his wife Pearl farm 850 acres He farms in southern Oceana County, David and family farm in partnership with have also conducted cover crop studies, devoted to sugar beets, corn, soybeans, near Rothbury, growing asparagus, fruit his parents in Cass County, rotating corn, tillage comparisons, nitrogen application wheat and dry beans. In farming, Jerry uses and soil-building cover crops. About 300 small grains and alfalfa on 760 acres of studies, herbicide comparisons and stud- as little tillage as he can. For dry beans acres of his 370 is woodland. A graduate land and producing 6,600 hogs per year, ies on biological control and microcli- and sugar beets, he uses some fall field cul- of Michigan State University, he is a 19- farrow to finish. mates. tivating to level ridges and no tillage in the year employee of the Soil Conservation An original member of MASA, she is Sally is employed as Extension co- sprmg. Service, having spent the last 10 as dis- active in her community, both in farm ordinator of the Interagency Integrated He is a supporter of on-farm research, trict conservationist in Muskegon. groups and as a member of the Cass Pest Management Project in S1. Joseph believing that farmers will try things they RICH BOWMAN--Rich is Michigan County Environmental Council and the County. see their neighbors do successfully and Farm Bureau's west Michigan regional county Planning Commission, of which The top three vote-getters will be profitably. representative. Before joining Farm Bu- she is vice-chair. elected. CHRISTOPHER LUFKIN--One of reau, he was crops manager of a 2,500- JIM LeCUREUX--As county Exten- ~alamazoo dairyman Roger the founders of MAS A, Christopher served acre cash grain and cattle operation near sion agricultural agent in Huron County French, a founding member of MASA, as its first and so far only treasurer. He has Williamston. While there, he worked with for the last 11 years, he has worked with a a coordinator of the On-Farm Research worked to procure grant funding and non- Richard Harwood, who holds Michigan number of programs designed to create a and Demonstration Projects, a member profit corporation status. State University's endowed chair in sus- more sustainable agriculture. of the board of directors since its incep- Christopher grew up on a small farm tainable agriculture. Research centered on He worked with a local non-profit tion, decided not to run for a new term in Oakland County. He has degrees from integration of crop rotations and livestock growers association to provide pest scout- on the board. Also not running is Gary Michigan State University in Crop and Soil into sustainable systems. ing and soil sampling services and has set Hoyt, a dairyman and potato farmer Sciences (B.S.) and Extension education A graduate ofMSU in ag economics, up a regional soil nitrate testing lab. He .from S1. Louis, who has been MASA's (M.S.). Rich is one among about 30 collaborators has conducted applied research plots, in vice-president since its inception.