Big Tile

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Partners & Friends,

We are wrapping up a few tile projects that involve some large sized mains. This entails installing 15 and 12 inch tiles in standing crop so we can begin pattern tiling the majority of the fields and building dry dams once harvest is over. These installations require extensive coordination of materials, labor, and equipment. It has also been a bit challenging with the heat these past few weeks. However, the benefits in the future will be much enjoyed. Being able to plant earlier, harvest without rutting up fields, spray without cutting ruts, and eliminate washouts on the rolling ground will all make the short-term loss of a few acres of crop worthwhile. 

The Hess Family Farm team is still finishing some pre-harvest projects, including equipment movement and storage, grain center preparation, building projects, the last hay cutting, and bin cleaning and repair. The basis is set for our fall deliveries. Our crop is going to be a big one. We plan to begin harvesting the week of September 9th.

The Farm Bill is not going to be updated, but only renewed with the current policy in place. There is still more work to be done in Springfield on the CCS (Carbon Capture and Sequestration/Storage) bill to provide safeguards for land and landowners.

School is back in session for all our grandchildren. By the size of the crowd at the Hendersonville, North Carolina Apple Festival, the economy seems to be doing quite well.

Fall Prices:

Corn—3.69

Soybeans—9.58

Steve

Show Season

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Partners & Friends,

Show season wrapped up this week with the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The Hess goats had a good showing. This season has been an excellent one with ample banners, ribbons, and gear. The success demonstrates what can happen with a lot of planning, hard work, and commitment. 🙂

The Hess Family Farm team has a large drainage project under way. We rarely lay tile sized over 8 inches, but are currently putting in a few 15 inch tiles to dry up some open water, as well as using 15 inchers in another project with other landowners to do some much needed drainage. Our shop is also busy with finishing up planter maintenance and preparing harvest equipment. We have completed spraying fungicide on the corn and beans but are staying vigilant for a tar spot in the corn due to the the cooler, wet weather. It appears we will have corn black layered soon, so our normal harvest start date should remain around September 10th. The team and I have some tiling we would like to complete after first fields are harvested. We are also finishing up grain center maintenance. The crop is looking to be a big one this year, so the extra dryer capacity will be put to use. And there is, of course, much mowing to be completed and a couple summer maintenance projects to finish up yet.

The Farm Bill debate continues to drag on in DC. It is looking doubtful anything will happen this year besides another extension of the current program. A different administration could truly change things up. Talk of tariffs is not a positive for export business. It was refreshing to hear agriculture mentioned in the Trump/Musk conversation. No further guidance for carbon scoring is in the near future—this is another can being kicked down the road. 🫤

School has started once again—it seems earlier every year! The Bushnell Fall Festival is next week. The Show and Sale is on Wednesday. Labor Day weekend will be last hurrah before harvest. 

Harvest Prices:

Corn—3.54

Soybeans—9.5

Steve

Toppling Goliath

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Partners & Friends,

Navigator—the CO2 pipeline company that had proposed a 5-state pipeline project capturing CO2 from mainly ethanol plants to sequester the product in east central Illinois—announced on October 20th that it is cancelling the project. As most of you are aware, our family has been opposing the project since it was first launched almost 2 years ago. The route of a feeder line to an ethanol plant in Galva would have gone through 5 tracts of farmland that our family grows crops on, mostly patterned tiled fields of very productive soil.

While this project is cancelled, there is still the possibility that another company might pick up the pieces and try again. There are other projects still in the works—mainly Wolf/ADM, which sources CO2 from 2 Iowa ADM ethanol plants to sequester in Macon county. This pipeline would run close to some of my cousins’ and friends’ farmland in Peoria and Tazewell county. There is also a 7 mile pipeline project at the ICC named One Earth Energy, which runs from an ethanol plant in Putnam county to sequester in McLean county with a pipeline sized much larger than is needed for single plant sequestration.

When the McDonough county board first became aware of this project, the States Attorney made the statement that there was nothing the county could do to oppose the project. However, the county board listened to landowners and citizens and twice voted unanimously to intervene, despite the significant cost to the county and tens of thousands of hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Additionally, the county passed a 2-year moratorium on pipelines in McDonough county until new safety rules could be written and implemented. THANK YOU!!

This battle is won but the war is far from over. As long as Eminent Domain is available for private projects like this to confiscate property, our personal property rights—and the land that our ancestors purchased and homesteaded with the intent of improving and making as productive as possible—will always be at risk. The farm Phyllis and I live on has been in her family since 1869. When I plant and harvest these fields, I ponder how much blood, sweat, and tears have been shed over the past 150 years to leave a legacy for this family. At the least, a moratorium could be established until new safety rules are developed by PHMSA, reviewed, and implemented.

As I farm alongside Gen 6 with Gen 7 and watch, learn, and think about their future, I recognize what this effort is truly about. It is about the future. It is about raising crops and animals in a responsible, sustainable way to provide food and shelter for this family, country, and world. It is using the creation that God has provided to prosper and multiply. It is to enjoy the freedom in this God-blessed nation that we do not appreciate enough. It is not to chase some government tax credit so we can be called “carbon neutral.”

Now, time to get off my soapbox.😅 Harvest is almost complete. Fertilizer application and some light fall tillage are planned along with more whole farm tile projects. We truly appreciate all the harvest crew that have been involved! The Hess Family Farm team handled more bushels than ever before, partially due to being heavy on corn acres. We also delivered more bushels at harvest than ever before.

It was officially announced the Panama Canal is reducing traffic by 1/2 due to low rainfall. Mississippi barges are still being light-loaded due to low river levels. Furthermore, world tensions are rising, which usually supports energy prices and causes chaos in commodity markets.

The FFA convention is this week. There are more goat shows in the near future. It is time to get holiday plans and schedules coordinated. Phyllis had a successful eye surgery this week, and more will be known about what the future holds for her vision in a few months.

Current Prices:

Corn—4.59

Soybeans—13.18

Steve

A Good Week

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Partners & Friends,

This past week was a good one! Lindsay and her children were here to experience and assist with harvest. We have completed harvesting our distant fields. On Friday, we received our first substantial rain, about 0.7 inches, in weeks. Navigator (read: CO2 pipeline company) also filed a motion to withdraw their application at the ICC for a second time—read about it here and here. We do not anticipate the pipeline threat disappearing anytime soon, but it does seem that our efforts are proving more and more successful; Goliath is feeling the stones being thrown.

The Hess Family Farm team is down to the last 650 acres of corn. Moisture is approaching storage level (15.5%), so drying capacity is no longer an issue. We have delivered much corn this past month to our local feed mill, TriOak Feeds. Since we’ve taken advantage of our strong basis opportunities, we will not have to use all our storage. The only soybeans we’re currently storing are our 2 varieties of seed beans. We have begun ripping (conservation plowing) a few fields that need leveling due to recent tiling or because they will be corn on corn or need the soil profile mixed. We will soon begin applying fertilizer with our new-to-us strip till bar to prepare fields for next year’s corn crop. We are also preparing to start our fall tiling projects.

The Middle East hostilities are major disrupters to energy prices (70% of our inputs are related to energy costs). Chaos in the US House means no new farm bill will be passed soon. Low river levels are not helping river bids for corn and beans either.

We have had some great help over the past few weeks, as well as many good conversations. Special family moments and delicious apple cider have also been enjoyed. ❤️

Fall Prices:

Corn—4.88

Soybeans—12.61

Stay safe and keep in touch,

Steve

Appreciating Creation

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Partners & Friends,

One of the things we are constantly reminded of in our work is the beauty and majesty of God’s creation. The Hess Family Farm team truly appreciates the fact that we get to work with it every day. We also feel that with our assistance, the condition of the land and animals are continually getting better. Sunrise, sunset, productivity of the soil, and the wonders of birth are all parts of God’s incredible creation that stand out to me. What a plan it took to put it all together!

Harvest is rolling along quite well, largely due to the fact that we have been without any significant rainfall since starting around 2 weeks ago. We are about 20% complete with corn and beans. Corn yields are solid so far—no records this year but very respectable. The soybeans are doing alright, and we hope the later varieties will pick up yield as we progress.

Energy prices are rising. War in Ukraine continues. The low river levels here and in Panama are causing disruptions. It also appears that Brazil is now the largest producer of corn and beans in the world, which makes us residual suppliers.

There was another goat show this past weekend in Nebraska. Schoolwork for our grandchildren is plodding along, but not proving to be the favorite pastime. However, they’re progressing well and are often reminded by Papa (me) of what the future holds if they are diligent and apply the talents God has gifted them with.❤️ The season of apple cider is fast approaching as well.😊

Fall Prices:

Corn—4.56

Soybeans—12.68

Stay safe and enjoy all the beauty that surrounds you!

Steve