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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016
The extra-KNORR-dinary
2016 Farm Family of the Year
PAGE 2
ALSO
INSIDE
Corn, soybean Cuba, China How might 2016
yields benefiting present markets elections affect
from rotation for local farmers area agriculture?
PAGE 3 PAGE 8 PAGE 10
The 2016 Herald-Whig Farm Family of the Year is from left, Todd and Sharon Knorr, Lauralyn, Ashley, Avalee and Dallas Caron, Jersey Hesse, Amanda Hesse, Madison Garcia and Curt Hesse at the Knorr
farm near Golden. | H-W Photo/Michael Kipley
T
tance of family working Knorr grew up in the usually try to check them can and garden. I made
GOLDEN, Ill. Todd and laughing together house where he and every two to four hours. heres plenty homemade hash browns
Knorr headed out to do on the Knorr farm near Sharon live, helping his That will last through of easy laugh- and froze them. We raised
chores with one of his fa- Golden. grandfather and father April, he said. ter in conver- peanuts one year just to
vorite helpers, his grand- Five generations have on the farm with its row No matter how many sation with have something different.
daughter Avalee. been involved in the grain crops, cattle and, at that hours it takes to make the couple, We had a grape arbor,
Needing bedding for and cattle farm. The long- time, pigs. the business run, thats who met on a blind date made grape juice, she
part of the cattle herd, he standing commitment to We had pigs until 96 what you have to do, and married 33 years ago. said.
climbed off the tractor the farm, and to telling or something like that Hesse said. Theyve been Sharon grew up in A big sweet corn patch
to take the net wrap off agricultures story, led to when the bottom [of the dedicated in putting the Quincy, and her parents each year still brings the
the bale, then hurried to Todd and Sharon Knorr market] kind of went out, time in not only for the both grew up on farms family together on one
climb back in before the being named The Herald- he said. I never did really business itself, but for a that were still in the day to cut corn off the cob
cattle scattered the straw. Whigs 24th annual Farm like pigs, but they paid a good product as well. family and home to the and freeze it. Last years
But Avalee, who will turn Family of the Year. lot of bills. When they start calv- country cousins. some 200 pints of corn
4 on Valentines Day, had The Knorrs are a hard- Doing something beside ing, we like to feed most My cousins came to were divided among the
accidentally locked the working family that have farming never held any of them at night. They my house for a week every extended family, which
door. dedicated their lives to the appeal for Knorr. say theyll calve during summer, and we went also comes together to
By the time I got in farm, their family and the It gives me something the day if theyre eating at to their house for a week spend time working on
there, I was grumbling, community, according to to do, he said. Every day night, but I dont know if I every summer, Sharon the farm.
trying to be real polite the nomination submit- is different. totally believe that, Todd said. We spent a lot of All the Knorrs Todd
with my granddaughter, ted by family friend Mike Cold winter days mean said. time together. and Sharon, his parents
Knorr said. She finally Tenhouse. chores to feed hay and The calves do just fine, Always on call to help Delbur and Janet, Ash-
said those cattle are really It is a business, and silage to the nearly 170 even in brutally cold out when needed, she
mean. She decided wed in order to be successful, head of cattle, make sure weather, but every once drove the tractor several KNORR continues on 3
WHIG.COM | HERALD-WHIG | FARM & FIELD SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 | 3
Choosing a family
Knorrs spread the word about agriculture Choosing a single farm family
By DEBORAH of agriculture crops, live- sistant at Central Elemen- Todds experience selling to recognize each year is never an
GERTZ HUSAR stock, farm equipment and tary School, then to the the farms grain with a les- easy task.
Staff Writer | 217-221-3379 But, to this years judges, the
dhusar@whig.com | @DHusarWHIG
more. University of Illinois Ex- son plan for her ag business
Its just to let them know tension, where for 13 years students, and now shes Todd and Sharon Knorr family
where their food comes she had the opportunity to hoping to share with stu- stood out among the six nomina-
GOLDEN, Ill. Todd and from, Todd said. Some- share agricultures story dents what the family has tions for the 24th annual award. Hesse
Sharon Knorr say farmers body always picked up on with participants in the Ad- learned about the newest The judges were Amanda Hesse,
have a commitment to farm one little thing, got good out ams County 4-H program piece of farm equipment, a Adams County Farm Service
the land and to tell the of every station. and as the countys agricul- drone. Agency executive director; Ashley
world how theyve done it. The funniest memory for ture literacy coordinator. Todd also steps up to Johnson, district conservationist
Who else is going to tell both was one youngster ex- In that role, she visited help with Sharons school with the Natural Resources Con-
them if we dont? Sharon iting the bus, and announc- classrooms throughout the projects, including last year servation Service in Clark, Knox,
said. We cant rely on so- ing, Oh, look! They have county to provide students erecting a high tunnel a Lewis and Scotland counties in
cial media and other outlets a wolf! It was not a wolf, hands-on experiences tied greenhouse of sorts that Missouri; Wyatt Miller, University
to give them the correct in- but the familys blue heeler to agriculture, and now extends the growing season of Missouri Extension agronomy
formation. herding dog. shes in her second year as and the FFAs latest effort specialist in Marion County and
The couple does what Thats just priceless, ag teacher and FFA sponsor to refurbish and sell ADM- the Northeast Region; Brad Smith,
it can to spread the word Sharon said. You just never at Central High School. donated old bale rings the resource conservationist with the Johnson
about agriculture; theyve know whats going to im- I love teaching, Sharon large metal rings that hold Pike County Soil and Water Con-
hosted area school children press them. said. round hay bales. servation District; and Herald-
for visits to the farm, set- Farmings ups and downs What happens on the Hes very willing, Sha- Whig Staff Writer Deborah Gertz
ting up information stations sent Sharon in the work- farm she takes into the ron said. Pretty much. Husar.
to highlight various aspects force, first as a teaching as- classroom. She drew on Theyre pretty much the all-
American farm family, Hesse
said. Its important just to rec-
ognize the hard-working farm
families we have in our area, just
KNORR | FROM 2 to highlight the fact that they con-
tribute not only a lot to their com-
F
Having the fifth generation on
ley and Dallas Caron amily is key Depression]. He would from his grandpa. the farm highlights the familys
dedication to the land.
and daughters Avalee to making fix them up to get ready Beyond farm work and
Its part of the hard work that
and Lauralyn, Amanda the farming to sell, Todd said. Thats Sharons off-farm job, the a lot of families put into the farm,
and Curt Hesse and his operation a where the 80 came from. couple stays busy in the knowing they can pass it on to a
daughters Madison Gar- success, but so Todds parents got into community. Hes a Hous- future generation, Smith said.
cia and Jersey Hesse is making good decisions the operation, then Todd ton Township trustee; both Thats also the reason conserva-
live within a quarter-mile and dedication. and Sharon bought out his are members of the Adams tion is important so they can
in what theyve dubbed Its not just about one grandparents. County Farm Bureau, and pass it along in good condition.
Knorrville, complete person. Its about the They bought and rented they are involved in their Miller said the familys conser-
vation practices really stand out Smith
with a sign made by Sha- family and making those more land, and today have church, Centennial Ebene-
for their impact now and into the
rons dad. decisions for the family, about 900 acres of corn, zer United Methodist.
future.
Ten years ago if youd Sharon said. One genera- soybeans and wheat, 100 Theyll be doing more Johnson called the Knorrs role
told me Id be living where tion always looked out for acres of hay and about 200 no-till farming as landlords models for their work to tell oth-
I am today, I probably the next to make sure that acres of pasture. want to get away from ers about agriculture while finding
would have told you no the farm is viable for the The girls had the same wheat, and Todd found a balance between work on and off
way, but it works out next generation. hands-on training as their a new use for land that the farm.
great, Ashley said. I The farm has been in the father, who stepped into wasnt planted to beans last Theyre taking that off the farm
would never want it any family since Walter and the farming operation. year with a mix of oats and and introducing that into the com-
other way. I love being so Marjorie Knorr bought 80 Thats how you got to turnips as cover crops. munity, whether thats 4-H or FFA,
and instilling those ideas into
close to my grandparents, acres in 1937. learn all the different jobs, They did so well that
the younger generation, John- Husar
my parents, my sister. Grandpa was a carpen- Sharon said. He can build when Nov. 1 came, we were son said. They [are] a very well-
Weve always been there ter. He worked for Pruden- anything, put things to- able to turn the cows out on rounded family whether it was on
for each other, and weve tial Life Insurance, which gether, make things work these, he said. They went the farm or out in the community.
always come out ahead. had to take back a lot of when they break down. into winter really well all
farms [during the Great He learned that especially fat and happy.
4 | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 FARM & FIELD | HERALD-WHIG | WHIG.COM
1
try a new conservation to have an impact in the Its a commitment to a
practice, said Abbie Sper- county. long-term benefit, not a
ry, the SWCDs resource
conservationist. We had Theres no point to spend
some folks pretty happy money to build soil if
with it.
Roskamp describes his you let the soil get away.
farms cover-crop com- Part of protecting or 46 percent of farmers
mitment as experimen- increasing fertility levels of soil is said they have used
tal plus, with less than holding it in place. cover crops in the
25 percent of the acres past, with 76 percent
planted to cereal rye, oats, Don Roskamp, Warsaw farmer
having planted cover
turnips and clover.
What works on Ros- crops for five years
kamps fields may not or less.
2
work elsewhere. The great thing about short-term reward.
Different farmers having some of these cost- Its not something you
with different soils will share programs is to be automatically get money
find different results, he able to try this, see if its back for. Its not like a
said. something youre going to government program,
Cover crops provided a like, if its going to work Roskamp said. But there
good alternative, espe- for you, she said. is a payback in reduction Of those who have
cially in 2015 when wet Each small step from of soil loss.
not used cover crops,
64 percent said they
would be willing to do
so in the future.
3
84 percent said they
have installed buffer
strips along streams
or ditches on their
farms.
4
Nearly 53 percent of
farmers said they re-
ceived no cost-share
or incentives for their
best management
practices.
WHIG.COM | HERALD-WHIG | FARM & FIELD SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 | 5
Money watchers
Slipping profits have farmers closely watching expenses
By DEBORAH
GERTZ HUSAR
Staff Writer | 217-221-3379
dhusar@whig.com | @DHusarWHIG
some sort of financial hit this year BECKS HYBRIDS HAS MORE CHOICES
that slice of differentiation is very If you can Anytime you shop for anything, the more choices you
thin. skimp a little
Nobodys looking for a 50 percent have from which to choose the more diverse your decision
when it comes
swing or a 20 percent swing, he said. making process can become. When farmers shop for their
Many producers are looking for things to this or that, it
seed needs they are looking for a few key components; first
that impact their bottom line by 2 or 3 does nothing but help you
is performance (yield); next is value; and finally choices.
percent and with the scale many of on your bottom line.
our producers have, 2 to 3 percent is a
significant change in real dollars. Brad Cassens, Lorraine farmer These three keys are exactly why more and more farmers
Cassens said that means watching each season are relying on Becks Hybrids to improve their
expenses closely and using money
wisely especially when it comes to farms productivity. Becks, the largest family owned seed
inputs for this planting season. company in America, has shown steady growth over the past
If you can skimp a little when it one million acres until after July 1, and 20-years. Averaging around 20% increase in acres planted
comes to this or that, it does nothing hampered all fields. over this period proves that growers are not only happy with
but help you on your bottom line, he The roots just cant survive those
said. But youve got to have fertilizer, type of conditions. The best-yielding Becks products performance, they are very happy.
and youve got to have nitrogen. corn this year came from fields that
Even so, many agribusinesses expect received lower amounts of rainfall and Because Becks is privately owned and independent
to feel a pinch in 2016. had the best drainage, Roegge said. they have the ability to tap into every available technology in
Anyone who provides a service to The corn reacted pretty negatively
farmers, those folks will be working toward the wet soils, but I think a lot of the industry and all lines of germ plasm, as well. Matching this
with less dollars coming their way as people were surprised with the yield of with the largest privately owned corn breeding operation in
well, Rhea said. beans. the country gives Becks the ability to provide their customers
But anyone involved in agriculture Cassens had some of his best bean with more CHOICES in both regionally strong hybrids and
should realize its cyclical nature. yields in 2015, while corn yields fell
Farmings been really good the short, but several hundred acres close
can support those hybrids with any trait combination a farmer
last five years, so hopefully those who to his farm went unplanted. might want. Nowhere else in the seed industry can you find
have been through this before realize Yields were decent as a whole. We everything you could want from one company.
there are good years and there are bad cant complain about that, but wed just
years, said Mike Roegge, University like a few more dollars on price, he
of Illinois Extension local food sys- said.
A QUICK LIST ON WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BECKS HYBRIDS
tems and small farms educator based Hopefully this is a short-term situa-
in Quincy. Hopefully there is enough tion, and another two years well be out 1) Family owned and NOT for sale.
savings stashed that guys can survive of it, Roegge said. The worst thing 2) 100% free replant policy.
the lean times were going to have right that can happen is for us to grow a
now. good corn and soybean crop this year. 3) ESCALATE YIELD ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM
Farmers lost money on plenty of The global market for U.S. crops only which includes Poncho 1250/Votivo at NO
acres in 2015 as a result of wet weather. adds to the worries. EXTRA CHARGE.
Most corn acres were planted on With China slowing down its econo-
both sides of the Mississippi River. my and they are the largest importer 4) Customer Commitment Rewards Program.
Most West-Central Illinois farmers had of soybeans in the world what hap- 5) Practical Farm Research on hundreds of acres
soybeans planted, although late, but pens? What are the long-term effects of
rainy conditions kept Northeast Mis- their economy slowing? Roegge said. throughout the Midwest producing its PFR
souri farmers from planting more than book annually at no charge to their customers.
6) Becks provides seed for corn, soybeans,
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS AT WHIG.COM! wheat, forages, cover crops and milo.
To submit, email photos to myphotos@whig.com
For more information contact your local Becks Hybrids Seed Advisor Mike Roux.
or go to myphotos.whig.com to upload your photo
8 | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 FARM & FIELD | HERALD-WHIG | WHIG.COM
Greg Drebes tags and inoculates a newborn calf Jan. 19 as its mother stands watch at his farm near Monroe City, Mo. With falling beef prices, producers such as Drebes are looking at ways to lock in
beef profits. | H-W Photo/Phil Carlson
QUINCY Farmers in
West-Central Illinois and
Northeast Missouri hope
2016 weather is in their
favor.
Last year, unusually wet
weather wreaked havoc
for farmers on both sides
of the Mississippi River.
Illinois had its sixth-
wettest year on record in
2015, according to Jim
Angel, state climatolo-
gist for the Illinois State
Water Survey. Missouri
had its fourth-wettest
year, according to Pat
Guinan, climatologist for
the University of Missouri
Extensions commercial
agriculture program.
Exceptional moisture
in May, June and July
caused problems with
planting in both states.
Illinois, one of the na-
tions leading pumpkin Cattle standing and stranded in a flooded field near Eureka, Mo., during excessive rains early winter.| Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA, wikimedia commons
growers, had a worse crop
than usual because of the especially getting in their Likewise, Illinois also this spring, Guinan said. souri both may be facing out, he said.
inability to plant pump- soybean crop last year, has been experiencing an We just hope we have an increased chance of Angel said the season
kins in many areas of the Guinan said. A lot of uncommonly wet winter. some drying opportuni- being a little warmer and that is hardest to predict
state. acres were fallow because We havent had a lot ties come March and dryer than average. for weather patterns in Il-
Angel said Illinois expe- we had chronic muddi- of snowfall but a lot of April where they can get The El Nino is ex- linois is summer because
rienced its wettest June in ness. rain, Angel said. In that into the fields and plant, pected to continue for so much of it is driven by
history. Even though some respect, soil moisture is which obviously was a the next several months local conditions.
Seven of our last eight parts of the two-state fully recharged, rivers huge problem last year. and probably die out at In the summertime,
springs were on the wet region experienced a mild and streams are bank full Angel and Guinan the end of spring or early you can have an area that
side, Angel said. Weve drought during the fall, and then some and said long-range weather summer, Angel said. It is on the dry side and
had a lot of years there more heavy rain came lakes a ponds are fully re- forecasts by the National is very normal for that to your neighbors to the
where weve struggled late in the year. charged. So were in good Weather Service and the happen. Thats its natural north and south can be
with a wet spring. Thats We had the wettest shape in that regard. Climate Prediction Center life cycle. getting plenty of rain, he
been kind of the big prob- November-December on Guinan agrees subsoil suggest that the El Nino Angel said its hard to said. Youre missing out
lem in recent years too record when you com- moisture in Northeast event that produced so predict what weather pat- on all the thunderstorms
wet, not too dry. bine those two months, Missouri is plentiful, much rain during the past terns will emerge after the because your pocket just
Missouri also had an Guinan said. Nothing which is good news for year is expected to begin El Nino ceases because happens to be dry that
unusually wet spring last can come close to what farmers. losing its punch in the results have varied after year, and it just kind of
year. the state witnessed for They like to put that next few months. That previous El Nino events. gets stuck in that local
It was extremely hard statewide precipitation. It moisture in the bank so means West-Central Il- Its just all over the board pattern.
for row-crop farmers, was just unprecedented. they can tap into it come linois and Northeast Mis- on how its going to play
Congratulations
Todd & Sharon Knorr!
12 | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 FARM & FIELD | HERALD-WHIG | WHIG.COM
QUINCY A project
involving University of
Missouri researchers may
hold the key to stem a
multimillion-dollar drain
on the pork industry.
Porcine Reproductive
and Respiratory Syn-
drome, a virus first de-
tected in the U.S. in 1987,
costs North American
farmers more than $600
million a year. But a team
from MU, Kansas State
University and Genus plc
have bred pigs that are
not harmed by the virus.
Early-stage results of
the research are promis-
ing, but Genus expects it
will be at least five years
until animals resistant
to PRRS a virus that
causes reproduction diffi-
culty in pigs, stops weight
gain and carries a high
mortality rate will be
available to farmers.
The next step is we need
to show the animals con-
tinue to grow and perform
as other animals, then
start thinking about how to
integrate this into a breed-
ing company, said Randall
Prather, distinguished pro-
fessor of animal sciences These pigs were bred to be resistant to the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus as a result of to research work by the University of Missouri, Kansas
in MUs College of Agri- State University and Genus plc. The research could provide a way to stem a multimillion-dollar drain on the pork industry. | Submitted Photo
culture, Food and Natural
Resources. of white blood cells in ter editing the genome Pittsfield-based Pike officer and head of re- tive response from the ag
Prather said the re- the lungs, while a second to knock out CD163 Pig Systems, sees a real search and development community, but little inter-
search work built on protein, known as CD163, production and sending advantage for any farms for Genus, in a release. est from the mainstream
models predicting how would uncoat the virus three pigs to Kansas State using the technology be- There are several critical media and consumers,
the virus infects cells. and allow it to infect the University to be chal- cause it could be one less challenges ahead as we although Prather sees the
Researchers believed animals. lenged with the virus, disease to worry about. develop and commer- technology having incred-
that the virus enters pigs Prathers group two with other pigs coughing This could be a really cialize this technology; ible potential for other
by being inhaled into the years ago showed that all over them, they never good thing for the indus- however the promise is livestock diseases.
lungs where it attached eliminating sialoadhesin got sick, Prather said. It try, he said. Not all the clear, and Genus is com- PRRS, though, was
to a protein known as si- had no effect on PRRS was amazing. producers use [Genus], so mitted to developing its a unique situation in
aloadhesin on the surface susceptibility. But af- John McIntire with it will be interesting to see potential. which vaccines were
if it sways some people to Looking at numbers not effective. Vaccines
that company. It will be from just North America generally have been
interesting to see if other and Europe, Prather said effective against most
companies follow suit and the virus costs about $6 other diseases, so there is
try to develop similar tech- million a day. less incentive to use the
nology. Its a slow process If youve talked to any technology that differs
Congratulations to the
Todd and Sharon Knorr Family
Farm Family of the Year for 2016
Chuck Schroeder Toni Dunker Tammy Hogan Beverly Henke Spencer Harmon
Ag Risk Management Ag Risk Management Office Manager Ag Risk Management Ag Risk Management
Advisor Advisor Advisor Advisor
14 | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 FARM & FIELD | HERALD-WHIG | WHIG.COM