The Farm Post eNews

Friday eNews from the Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus
 

FEBRUARY 19, 2016
Pike awarded IFB grant
Pike was one of 29 Illinois county Farm Bureaus awarded grants under the first-ever Nutrient Stewardship Grant program. Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) has awarded the grants - totaling more than $100,000 - to help promote local nutrient stewardship, soil health, and water quality projects.

"We're beyond talking about nutrient management and moving to actually help our members adopt and implement strategies and practices," said Lauren Lurkins, director of environmental and natural resources, IFB. "We're trying to move the needle, and these grants will help us do just that."

Projects tackle nutrient issues relevant to local needs, soils, and farming practices, with the ultimate goal of achieving nutrient loss reduction goals under the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS).

Read the full story here.
Get your OTR Booklet On-line
Did you miss the Illinois Farm Bureau's On-the-Road Seminar earlier this month? If so, you can download the OTR Winter 2016 Booklet now.

The booklet is a great resource for motor carrier safety, motor fuel taxes, hazardous materials transportation, commercial drivers' license, carrier for hire, safety testing, emissions testing, size & weight, USDOT#, UCR, vehicle registration, drug & alcohol screening program and Illinois State Police motor carrier safety officer.

Check out all the truck regulations on IFB's website.
Take the USDA Survey
Farm Bureau recently launched an online survey to collect feedback from farmers and ranchers on Agriculture Department programs. The survey, which is open to all U.S. farmers, ranchers, producers and growers, has been completed by 983 respondents from rural and urban areas, including Washington, D.C. To date, farmers have responded from all 50 states but more respondents are sought, especially from the Northeast region of the U.S., Washington state and Wyoming.

The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and closes March 15. Don't let the opportunity to let USDA know what you think about agency programs pass you by! Membership in Farm Bureau is not required to participate.

Take the survey at http://usdaprograms.questionpro.com. 
ASAP Week approaching
Agricultural Safety Awareness Program Week will be celebrated March 6-12.

Visit the AFBF Health & Safety page to download resources. Check out the ASAP Facebook page for updates and additional information as the week approaches.
  
Like FB Advocacy
Are you helping to advocate for agriculture? Like the FB Advocacy page on Facebook so you can keep up on the best ways to help spread the good word about ag!
TODAY IN HISTORY
IWO JIMA
 February 19, 1945

D-Day February 19, 1945 - Shortly before 2 a.m. on Feb. 19, 1945, the U.S. Navy's big guns opened up on Iwo Jima  signaling the beginning of D-Day. After an hour, the fire was lifted, leaving Iwo Jima smoking as if the entire island were on fire.

Both Americans aboard their transports and the Japanese in their caves looked to the skies now. Over a hundred planes rained more bombs on the island. After the planes left, the big guns of the Navy opened up again.

At 8:30am, the order, "Land the Landing Force," sent the first wave of Marines towards the deadly shores. Once ashore, the Marines were bedeviled by the loose volcanic ash. Unable to dig foxholes, they were sitting ducks for the hidden Japanese gunners.

More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in U.S. history.

In 36 days of fighting, there were 25,851 U.S. casualties (1 in 3 were killed or wounded). Of these, 6,825 American boys were killed. Virtually all 22,000 Japanese perished.
 
 Securing Iwo Jima provided a vital link in the U.S. chain of bomber bases. Before the fighting ended, bombers were landing on the island. By war's end, 2,400 B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 crewmen made emergency landings on Iwo Jima.

Read more here.
Learn more about Farm Bureau
Join Our Mailing List