The Farm Post eNews

Friday eNews from the Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus
 

APRIL 8, 2016
Testing starts on IFB NLRS grant
As part of the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy grant received from the Illinois Farm Bureau, testing of the first 17 samples of water from western Pike County began this week.

Pike County Farm Bureau in conjunction with the Sny Island Drainage District is testing water within district ditches and upland water that is channeled directly to the Mississippi River. The water is being tested for nitrates and dissolved phosphorous both farm nutrients. Tests will be conducted each month. Plans are to conduct water tests for three-years.

Water tests are being conducted by Prairie Analytical in Springfield, Illinois. 
Another illegal EPA WOTUS push
A grant awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission is funding a grassroots media campaign that accuses farmers of polluting water. The services of a Seattle public relations firm, Strategies 360, have been deployed for the campaign, which includes two billboards and a website (http://whatsupstream.com). Although the EPA grant is directed at the commission, several environmental groups and the Swinomish Indian tribe in Olympia and Bellingham, Washington, are running the grassroots advocacy campaign.

The website directs the public to contact state lawmakers and provides a pre-written email criticizing the actions of farmers and blaming them for polluting local waterways.

Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, recently sent a letter to Arthur A. Elkins, Jr., the inspector general of the EPA, about this issue. In the letter, the chairmen request an audit and investigation of the EPA grant and its financial support of the anti-farmer advocacy campaign in Washington state.

News release
Preserving the family farm
"Coming up with a sound plan now will save a lot of headache and heartache for those who live on after you," said Dave Specht, founder of Advising Generations and author of "The Farm Whisperer." Specht works with farmers and ranchers to help them develop plans for passing their land and businesses on to the next generation. According to Specht, it's critical to have the tough conversations now to preserve your farm for the future.

Focus on Ag column
Farms Key to Monarch Rebound
The Monarch Collaborative, a group comprised of industry stakeholders, is dedicated to preserving the monarch butterfly and its habitat. The goal of the group is to keep the Monarch from being listed as an Endangered Species Act species, and to keep butterflies at the forefront of landowner's minds.

In Friday's Newsline, Ryan Yates, AFBF's representative in the coalition, explained that the group is looking for opportunities to engage with farmers and ranchers and the ag industry to promote conservation of the monarch butterfly. "The more we're talking about butterflies and butterfly conservation the more effective we're going to be in promoting the long-term success in recovering the species," Yates said.

For more information on preserving Monarch populations and habitats, visit keystone.org and search Monarch Collaborative.

Focus on Ag column
Future Crop Prices Ugly
The Agriculture Department's Prospective Plantings Report released Friday suggests low prices for corn and rice will continue, extending the current, two-year farm downturn through the end of 2016, if not beyond.

"The report really highlights how challenging the market is right now for major crops," said John Anderson, deputy chief economist at AFBF. "We currently have adequate supplies both in the U.S. and globally in these commodities. It doesn't look as though that will change. If we have normal yields, that supply side pressure will not ease up much."

The 93.6 million acre prospective plantings figure for corn is up from 88.6 million acres planted last year, or close to three times the expected increase of 2 million acres.

AFBF news release
More than 1,000,000 workers suffer back injuries each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can help spare your back and stay productive on the job by following 10 Tips for Moving and Lifting, an easy-to-read infographic on Grainger.com. 
Spring Polaris Event
Now through April 30, get rebates of up to $2,000 or receive financing as low as 1.99 percent for 60 months on select new Polaris off-road vehicles during the Polaris Spring Sales Event! Eligible Farm Bureau members in participating states receive an added $200 - $300 discount on Polaris off-road vehicles.
TODAY IN HISTORY
APRIL 8, 1832
BLACK HAWK WAR

On April 8 1832, around three-hundred United States 6th Infantry troops leave St. Louis, Missouri to fight the Sauk Native Americans. They would join up with Illinois militia to defeat Black Hawk's 'British Band'. Abraham Lincoln gained fame as a Captain of militia.

The brief conflict that was fought in 1832 was given the name the Black Hawk War and was between the United States and Native Americans. It was led on the Native American side by the Sauk leader Black Hawk. The trigger point for the war was when Black Hawk and warriors from the Kickapoos, Meskwakis and Sauks crossed the Mississippi River into the territory of Illinois. Though Black Hawk's motives were mysterious his intent was to recapture the land that the US had claimed in the 1804 treaty without bloodshed.

Though Black Hawk's motives were mysterious his intent was to recapture the land that the US had Black Hawk's group was known as the British Band and American officials believed them to be hostile therefore gathered their frontier army. The frontier army was comprised of militiamen that were poorly trained, part-time American troops, and a few U.S. Army soldiers. They open fired on British Band on May 14, 1832 and the group responded by attacking back. The Battle of Stillman's Run was where the attack was staged and Black Hawk's band gave the US Army a sound beating.

It spread over land and several battles. They army commanded by General Henry Atkinson caught up with the British Band in July and beat them at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. Members of Black Hawk's group retreated back toward Mississippi. The Battle of Bad Axe was where the American soldiers caught back up with them on August 2nd and killed or captured most of them. Black Hawk along with a few other leaders escaped to later surrender and suffer imprisonment for a year.

Read more at historynet
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