NOVEMBER 2014 Southern FS Hybrid Performance update Tech Plot Summary (56 Varieties): • DKC 61-89 was the top hybrid @ 257.1 bu/acre, 2nd was FS InVision E5401, and 3rd was DKC 67-58. • Top 25% performing hybrids (14 Hybrids) DeKalb- 7 hybrids, FS InVision- 6 hybrids, Pioneer- 1 hybrid. • How competitors performed in the plot: Becks- 1 of 5 hybrids were above plot average Pioneer- 2 of 9 hybrids were above plot average Agrigold- 0 of 3 hybrids were above plot average 2014 Performance of Southern FS hybrids has been excellent to this point (as of October 10). Below is a summary of the hybrids and their performance. FS InVision 63SV1 - Above average in 7 of 10 plots. Won a plot and second twice. Has performed well in S X S’s and in field. FS InVision 66JV1 - Above average in 9 of 10 plots. Has won two plots plus a second and third place finish. DKC 61-89 - Above average in 3 out of 5 plots. Winner of two plots and a third place finish. DKC 64-69 - Above average in 6 out of 6 plots. Has won a plot and performed tremendous in S x S’s. Highest weight so far in 2014 was with this hybrid at just over 299 bu/acre DKC 67-72 - New 117 day hybrid. Above average 4 out of 5 plots. Won a plot and second in another. DKC 67-58 - Above average in 8 out of 9 plots. Won once, second once, and placed third two times. NK 59B - New 107 day Artesian product. Above average in 2 of 4 plots Contact your local Crop Specialist for more information! 1. Turn your Ceiling fans to rotate clockwise to push hot air along the ceiling towards the floor. 2. Replace the Central Air and Heating system filters regularly (At least every month) will improve efficiency and longevity of your unit. 3. It may not be fashionable, but window insulation film can keep up to 70% of your heat from leaking out of your windows. 4. Draft guards can help save heat from escaping under the doors. This can be as simple as rolling a towel up at the bottom of an exterior door. 5. Weatherstripping around windows and doors can help eliminate drafts and air leaks. 6. Fiberglass insulation around basement doors and windows, windows in unused rooms, and window AC units can help with maximum heat retention. 7. A Programmable Thermostat can save as much as 1% on your energy bill for every degree you lower your home’s temperature during the winter. It doesn’t take long to pay for the investment. 8. Caulk gaps in siding, around exterior windows, or doors and if you have an extra drafty area, caulk inside the windows too. Comfort Pro is your partner in saving your propane dollars. We thank you for allowing us to keep your house warm with quality propane and service. 8 Ways to Winterize Your Home Page 10 • November 2014 • Farm Bureau News Dormant Tree Care Propane Mower Double Incentive After the last Apple has been picked and the last pie has been enjoyed does not mean that your work is done for the year. To insure that you have the best fruit crop possible come next year it starts now start preparing your trees for the winter. There are three basic practices that you need to do this fall and winter to make sure that your trees get off on the right foot come this spring; fall fertilization, pruning, and a dormant oil spray. Giving your trees a fall dose of fertilizer can help insure that the trees have enough food source to help them make it through the long and cold winter. When applying fall fertilizer it is important to make sure that you do not apply anything with a high Nitrogen content. Nitrogen will stimulate shoot growth and this could have some adverse affects to the tree health. However Phosphorus and Potassium are important nutrients to help the tree over the winter. Picking a fertilizer like 6-12-24 or 6-24-24 depending on your soil requirements can provide the proper nutrients needed. The second action you need to take is to be sure to prune your trees. Pruning your trees can and will have plenty of positive effects. There are a couple of simple guidelines to remember when pruning your trees. The first is to cut out enough limbs to allow plenty of sunlight throughout the tree. Also along with sunlight you will be able to get better coverage inside the tree when making your fungicide and pesticide applications. All of this will equal out into better fruit quality. Another important thing to remember when pruning is that if you have any diseased or damaged limbs on your trees this is a great time to remove them by cutting them completely out. Dormant oil spray is a very economical and efficient way Winter annual grass and broadleaf weed control Excellent on burndown on dandelion, alfalfa and glyphosate resistant marestail + Autumn Super has outstanding residual on winter annual weeds 30 day plant back to corn 60 day plant back to soybean As with all fall burndowns also always use 2,4-D- 1 qt/A + glyphosate tankmixes Apply with coarse droplet size nozzle and apply in 1015 GPA water of dealing with some different pests like Scale and Mites. You will want to apply this spray soon after the leafs have fallen off of the tree and with enough coverage to get a good heavy layering all over the tree since the dormant oil works by smothering the Scale and Mite insects. By using these three simple guidelines you will be sure to give your trees the best advantage possible to make it through the winter and have a leg up come next spring. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us at the Cobden office of Southern FS at 1-800-468-0649 or by emailing us at cobden@ southernfs.com New Employee Nathan Pfaff Welcome new employee Nathan Pfaff to Southern FS Ullin. Nathan is a Crops Sales Associate for the Pulaski/ Alexander area. He will also oversee the new seed treater and Anhydrous Ammonia tank at the Ullin plant. Nathan is from Villa Ridge and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a major in Agriculture Industry. Nathan also enjoys helping out on Mize Farms in Villa Ridge as well as hunting and fishing. Program through December 2014 for Commercial Lawn Mowing Companies Propane-powered mowers deliver the advantages landscape professionals need. For a limited time only, the Propane Mower Incentive Program amounts have been doubled — making the rewards of switching better than ever. Now through December 2014, you can earn $2,000 per qualifying new mower purchase or $1,000 per qualifying mower conversion. In return, you’ll provide feedback and performance data for one mowing season. What do propane-powered commercial mowers offer? • Lower operating costs. • Proven performance. • Abundant fuel supply produced • Fewer emissions. in the United States. • Easy on-site refueling and less A limited number of incentives downtime. are available. We recommend that • Reduced fuel spills and pilfer- you apply for participation in the age. Propane Mower Incentive Program before you make a purchase of a qualifying mower or conversion kit. If you have any other questions about this program please call Tim Fulton, Certified Propane Specialist at Southern FS at 618-335-1779. Farm Bureau News • November 2014 • Page 11 Custom Blended Bulk Feed Southern FS has two locations to your farm. with bulk feed, ANNA and HARIf you need advice on what feed RISBURG. to feed your cattle call KEITH Harrisburg carries bulk cracked ELLIS at ANNA location 618corn, soyhull pellets, corn gluten pellets and soybean meal. Anna has bulk cracked corn, corn gluten pellets, soyhull pellets, dried DDGs (distillers grain) and bulk liquid molasses. Both locations can mix different types of rations from creep feed rations for calves still on the cows in the pasture, to weaned calves growing in the weaning pen, to finishing rations for the feedlot. Southern FS also has a bulk truck for deliveries 833-6916 or DANNY EVANS at Harrisburg at 618-253-8977or SHAWN TRIPP Feed Specialist at 618-922-0907. Winter is upon us, is your vehicle ready? Here are a few winter specific things you should check before they become a potential hazard. 1. Anti-freeze According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, engine coolant is the #1 reason for roadside breakdowns. You should check to make sure your radiator is full, and that it is a 50/50 mix of distilled water and anti-freeze. Using tap water will cause mineral deposits that will decrease water flow and can cause corrosion. You can purchase an anti-freeze tester for around $5.00 to do this yourself, or visit your local Fast Stop service center for all your anti-freeze supplies and service. 2. Tires It is recommended that any tire with tread 1/8” or less be replaced soon. When the temperatures decrease, tire pressures often decrease also. Low tire pressure can cause uneven wear, loss in fuel mileage, and traction issues. removal during driving. Taking care of these few maintenance issues while the weather is still warm can save you the hassle of doing it with gloves on, not to mention the expense of repairs vs. maintenance. Winter auto maintenance checklist 3. Windshield wipers/ Washer fluid Be sure your wipers are in good condition, and your washer fluid is full. Use only full strength fluid in winter for its anti-freezing qualities that will help in sleet and snow Thank you for your loyalty and business On behalf of Southern FS, I want to thank you for the business you do with our company and for the opportunity you have given us to partner with you for your energy needs. Your loyalty is extremely important to us, and we hope to continue to have the opportunity to bring value to your operation. We’re proud to have the ability to offer you a great product like Dieselex Gold. Sales across the FS System have grown dramatically as customers have come to appreciate the extra power, improved fuel efficiency and better protection for fuel system components that Dieselex Gold provides. We strongly believe that Dieselex Gold is absolutely the best fuel to power and protect diesel engines. Hearing from our customers helps make us better. Please feel free to call or email us with any questions or concerns you may have. We stand ready and committed to take you and your operation further. Once again, on behalf of all Southern FS employees, thank you. Sincerely, Craig Huelsmann Marketing Manager Controlling Weeds in Wheat! The ability of weeds to compete tively controlled in the fall due to and limit yields will vary depend- the size of the weeds. ing on weed species and amount of Early March to early April: weed pressure. Scout soon after wheat starts to A common example would be recover from dormancy but before chickweed and its ability to impact the wheat plants are jointing. This is yield more than henbit. Periodically due to label timing of many wheat monitoring your fields to check herbicides. weed pressure and size is important The economic threshold for in maximizing wheat yields. Critical weeds in wheat is not well defined. periods of scouting in wheat are as Rely on the experiences you have follows (providing fields are clean had, as well as your Crop Specialist, at planting). to determine if an application on a Mid to late November- Once particular weed species will give wheat has emerged, look for cool you a return on investment. season weeds such as henbit, chickContact your local Southern FS weed, or ryegrass to name a few. Crop Specialist or Location Manbeyond the pasture. These Performance weeds may be moreresults effec- ager for more information. sustained ® nutrition 12 month cow care program Cows with consistent BCS throughout the year are better suited to perform, a concept supported by Purina Animal Nutrition’s Sustained® Nutrition Program. Building Better Cattle ® Generation After Generation Talk to your Purina Animal Nutrition representative to learn more about incorporating the Accuration® Block into your feeding program. cattlenutrition.com (800) 227-8941 Call Feed Specialist Shawn Tripp 618922-0907 for more info on tubs. get serious with accuration ® block Determining the best time to provide supplements to beef cows can be a challenge. Now, there is a better option – and it takes the guess-work out of nutrition supplementation. The Accuration® Block is a balanced supplement, providing the nutrients cattle need to complement available forage in order to maintain ideal body condition scores (BCS) through all seasons. Free choice feeding with the benefits of Intake Modifying Technology® The Accuration® Block contains Intake Modifying Technology®, encouraging cattle to return to supplement 1. feed throughout the day. This technology encourages snack eating which increases rumen efficiency, helps address nutrient waste and aids in forage digestion. Results may vary. Because of factors outside of Purina Animal Nutrition LLC’s control, results obtained, including but not limited to animal performance, financial performance, profits, losses or otherwise, cannot be predicted or guaranteed by Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. Based on 6 commercial beef cow trials from 2002-2011 PCA7113BR Page 12 • November 2014 • Farm Bureau News Power Lines – Increased Danger during Harvest Source: GROWMARK BULLET POINTS newsletter Safe Electricity, a public awareness program of Energy Education Council (EEC), is raising awareness about the dangers of overhead power lines and the precautions to take around them. According to Safe Electricity, busy times of the year, such as harvest time, can be dangerous because people may not realize how near they are to electrical equipment. The simple movement of a portable grain auger from one bin to another can have tragic results if the individuals involved are not extremely careful. Today’s farm equipment has a long reach when extended. A daily check of where equipment will be moving should be conducted to ensure that it will clear power lines. Typically, power lines over streets and rural areas have a minimal clearance of 18 feet and 12.5 feet over residential private property. Safe Electricity advises farm operators and workers to: • Always use a spotter when operating large machinery near lines. • Use care when raising augers or the bed of grain trucks around power lines. • Keep equipment at least 10 feet from lines-at all times, in all directions. • Inspect the height of the farm equipment to determine clearance. • Always remember to lower extensions to the lowest setting when moving loads. • Never attempt to move a power line out of the way or raise it for clearance. • If a power line is sagging or low, call the local utility immediately. If contact is made with a power line, it is almost always the safest to remain with the equipment and make sure to warn others to stay away and call the local utility company immediately. If the equipment catches on fire, the operator should jump clear of the equipment with both feet together, without touching the equipment and ground at the same time. Once on the ground, the operator should keep both feet together and hop a safe distance away. Referenced from the Safe Electricity article Safe Electricity Cautions Farmers To Steer Clear Of Overhead Power Lines: http:// www.safeelectricity.org/component/content/article/1721. Dale Brookins retires Dale Brookins, Location Manger, for the Macedonia plant retired this past October. We thank him for his dedicated years of service and he will be missed by employees and customers alike. He begin his career with the FS system 31 years ago and has spanned across Franklin, Williamson, Perry, Jackson, Jefferson and Saline counties in Southern Illinois. Dale’s wife of 32 years Penny and their two daughters Chelsea and Mallory live in Whittington, Illinois area. They can attest to his dedication as a husband, father and employee. Other than family Dale’s true passion is refereeing basketball during the winter months of the year. Dale has been an IHSA Referee for 19 years and says he truly loves the game. Best of luck to you Dale! E85 Vs. Gasoline E85 fuel is 85 percent ethanol alcohol and 15 percent gasoline. It is a flexible fuel used in roughly 7 million cars on the road today. Is it worthwhile for you? PROS - It is a renewable fuel. - Uses up to 85 percent less imported petroleum. - Less money goes overseas - You don’t have to pay a premium for a flexible-fuel model. Different type Flex Fuel vehicles can burn E85 and mileage can be equal to a slight reduction depending on the model. Since E85 is grown right here in your backyard it is typically the cheapest fuel at the station. If your mileage is less with E85, remember to take into consideration the cheaper pump price you paid. The reason they call them Flex Fuel Vehicles is to give you, the consumer, options that fit you best; Unleaded, Unleaded with 10% Ethanol(E10), E20, E30, or E85. One of the best reasons to buy E85 is the decreased dependence on crude oil from foreign countries. More than 60% of our fuel needs are imported today. The United States is the world’s largest ethanol producer. Currently the U.S. produces approximately 13.7 billion gallons of ethanol yearly. Illinois produces 1.6 million gallons, which uses 560 million bushels of corn grown by American farmers. This is a huge benefit to your local community with Agriculture being one of the largest industries. Using E85 also reduces carbon monoxide emissions and provides significant reduction in emissions of many harmful toxics, including benzene, a known human carcinogen. HELP WANTED •Drivers and Seasonal Positions Available •Must have CDL with Class A or B, preferably with Hazmat endorsement •Full-time and part-time positions Contact: [email protected] for more info or to send resume. Applications also available at Southern FS locations.
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