Carroll County Farm Bureau

By Chastity Welch, Farm Bureau Manager

It’s not unusual for our County Farm Bureau office to receive phone calls this time of year from people who are curious or concerned about the application of crop protectants on corn and soybean fields.

Farmers use various forms of crop protectants to grow the healthiest plants possible. If you see crop dusting planes this time of year, it’s likely that fungicides are being applied. They control different types of fungus that can develop in corn and soybeans and threaten our food supply.

Farmers opt for fungicide application only if there’s a strong likelihood for fungal infection (high humidity, frequent rainfall, cloudy weather; fields in river bottoms, low-lying areas or surrounded by trees) or if scouting the field has shown that a fungus is present. It’s important that farmers avoid the over-use of crop protectants because it can lead to resistance in weeds, insects and fungi. Fungicides have been developed for specific situations and to treat specific diseases so it is important that farmers, working with crop specialists, take the time to make a correct diagnosis.

Application of crop protectants requires specialized education and certification. Sometimes the farmer earns the certification, sometimes he hires a certified applicator to do the work. Protectants can be applied by agricultural aircraft or by machinery on the ground, and only under certain conditions relative to wind direction, wind speed and other factors. The applicator controls the application rate and droplet size to ensure that the crop protectant lands only where it is intended. Fungicides break down and become inactive after about 21 days.

Crop protectants are heavily monitored and regulated. The Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide and Fungicide Act (FIFRA) regulates the crop protection industry. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to register crop protectants for use. The EPA safety review includes more than 100 toxicology and environmental studies on crop protection products. Over the course of the review, it must be demonstrated that the products’ proper use does not pose unreasonable risks to human health or to the environment.

I know the game is less than a week away but if you still want to get in on the Cub’s game to Wrigley on Friday, July 13th, we need your reservations immediately, by Monday, July 9th so we can finalize seats, etc.

Is everyone out doing their rain dances? The hot topic right now is what is going to happen to our crops if we don’t start to see some moisture coming through. I hope that by the time you read this we will have seen some of the wet stuff but looking ahead at the forecast it is not predicted. Topsoil moisture continues to be a concern across the state. We are certainly hanging on by our finger nails as one board member said.

I am glad I did not plant flowers this year as I have a hard enough time keeping them alive on a year that we get rain let alone one we don’t!

Farm Bureau Classifieds

Carroll County Farm Bureau members can place up to two (2) free classified ads per week, with a limit of 250 characters per ad (not including spaces). Ads are limited to personal or farm items for sale/wanted to buy, or farm labor or services available or wanted. No ads for the sale or rental of real estate, garage sales, or commercial businesses will be accepted. To place an ad, call the Farm Bureau office at 815- 244-3001 by noon Friday to get your ad in the following week’s paper.

FS: Big Round Bales of Grass Hay $50 each 815-225-7824

FS: Fainting Goats 3 months old females for $80, Wethers for $70 and polled billies for $70. Also female yearlings for $100. 815-493-2393 or 815-622-8658

FS: John Deere 216 Grain Platform, in good condition $3,000 OBO 815-541-3348

FS: Black poly tool box for truck bed, fits betting cab. Like new $140 OBO. 815-244-5429

FS: Minn Kota elect. Trolling motor- 65lb. thrust 44’ shaft, 24 volt, foot controlled, like new, used one weekend $700 new asking $300. 815-244-5429

FS: King Kutten 5’ Landscape rake-3pt. Excellent condition $150 for sale or trade for largen rake & cash 815-244-5429

FS: 1995 Toyota Celica GT Convertible with race 5sp trans, loaded with extras, high miles, but well maintained $3,000 or trade 815-244-5429

FS: John Deere 495 diesel with 62” deck 403 hours in excellent condition $5,900.00 815-493-6241

FS: Older dining room furniture, metal desk, book case and double head-board, located in Chadwick 815-631-5518

For Sale:  1978 25th anniversary Corvette. 50,000 miles.  PB, PS, T+T, PW, AC.  Original radio and window sticker.  Oyster leather interior.  350 cubic inch motor.  Numbers matching.  Own a piece of Corvette history.  Excellent driving condition.  $13,750 OBO.  Call cell 815-297-4284 or 815-493-2417.

FS: 1986 Chevy Silverado 4x4. 64,000 original miles, new brakes & lines $5,000 815-541-7315