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Farm Bureau president gives presentation to Chester Chamber

Posted March 31, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- The Chester Chamber of Commerce met for its monthly meeting on March 31, with a lunch presentation by Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. on the agenda.

Guebert, who is the 15th president of the Farm Bureau (which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2016), is also president of Country Financial, Illinois Agricultural Service Company and the IAA Foundation.

He and his wife, Nancy, reside in Ellis Grove, where they operate a farm with their son, Kyle.

Guebert's presentation outlined IFB's action priorities for 2015, which include building consumer trust in Illinois farmers, create opportunities for farmer profitability and influence efforts to improve state and national fiscal climates.

"For the first time in 10 to 12 years, I've seen legislators do what they were elected to do, which is come together and figure out a way to move forward," Guebert said.

Guebert highlighted a survey by Illinois Farm Families that targeted urban mothers. This survey asked their perspective on what a farmer is and what key areas concerned them.

"(IFF) found out they are concerned about the food they put on their tables and the health and well-being of their families," he said.

IFF sponsors a "Field Moms" program for Chicago-area mothers who have questions about farming and how food is raised. A roster of 29 Moms make up the 2015 version of the program.

According to the Illinois Farm Families website, the mothers visit different farms throughout the year to learn more about farming families and to see what farm families do on their farms.

They then each write blogs about their experiences.

Later in his presentation, Guebert spoke about two concepts now becoming standard practice at modern farms - prescription farming and genetically-modified organisms (GMO).

Prescription farming involves the spread of nutrient applications using current "smart technology" such as GPS and rate-controlling equipment.

Variable-rate seeding, according to Jamie Johansen of Precision.AgWired.com, involves the use of yield maps, fertility tests and soil information to create precise seeding zones.

"It enables us to put the crop nutrients where they're needed," Guebert said in a follow-up interview with the Herald Tribune. "We set up what is an average expected yield, soil types, field maps and put all this into a computer and it tells us what nutrients to put on to achieve that goal."

In regard to GMOs, specialists are able to take specific traits out of plants and intensify them to produce better crops.

"Drought resistance is a trait," Guebert said. "You find some corn plants have better drought resistance than other corn plants and you take that specific trait out of that kernel and transfer it into other plant cells that produce the drought-resistant kernel of corn."

Other topics Guebert spoke on were working with food and manufacturing industries to research and develop new products, increase livestock production and developing a skilled, stable, labor force.

"Nothing is more devastating to a farmer than putting all his blood, sweat and tears into a crop and come September, the crop rots in the fields because he doesn't have the help to harvest it," Guebert said.

Guebert also highlighted a need to move Illinois forward toward becoming a national leader in food production.

"We need to build demand for the commodities we grow," he said.

With area farmers in the process of spring planting, Guebert said in the follow-up interview there is potential for good crop yields in 2015.

"It looks like soil conditions are going to be ideal," he said, adding he is shooting for May 10 to have his corn planted and June 5 for soybeans. "We get a little warmer weather and some timely rains, I think we have a potential for really good yields in corn and soybeans this year."

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