Venom Therapy

Ok, so when you have aches and pains, who do you go to? The doctor? Your chiropractor? Bet you never would have thought of going to a bee farmer, have you? Maggie Wachter, a bee keeper in Urbana, Illinois knows bee keepers who raise bees, not for money making opportunities, but for arthritis conditions. There is something in the bee sting that relieves joint pain. This is called venom therapy.

“Venom therapy is when you take a bee and actually make it sting you. There’s something in the venom of the bee that soothes joint pain and I know at least one bee keeper who does it, not for the honey, but uses it for his arthritis,” Wachter said.

To hear an interview with Wachter click here http://www.box.net/shared/k2zgldi2zx2nyqx2fcba.

Ethanol Controversy

Over the past few years, Americans have been educated over the controversy of ethanol. Any advancement in renewable fuels will only benefit society in the years to come whether you choose to believe that or not. I am here to tell you not to believe those myths that blame ethanol for today’s problems such as starving children in Africa, the poor economy, and/or higher gas prices with lower mileage. If America shut down all their ethanol plants, there would still be starving children in Africa. Chris Thorne, public affairs director at Growth Energy, has put together the following list of information to show that ethanol truly benefits society.

• Ethanol is a good investment for U.S. taxpayers; in 2010, the ethanol industry reduced farm payments by $10.1 billion and generated $8.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
• Ethanol is historically the cheapest motor fuel on the planet, and without it gas would cost consumers at least 25 cents more per gallon, according to a 2011 study from Iowa State University.
• Recently NASCAR issued a white paper report saying that E15 has been used for over 1,000,000 competition miles without any incident, and its use increased horsepower and made little impact on mileage.
• Ethanol blends have been exhaustively tested by the EPA, more so than any previous fuel. Also, ethanol can actually help your engine run cleaner, because it replaced some of the more harmful additives in gasoline.
• Organizations like the American Lung Association of Minnesota advocate for ethanol as a tool for eliminating smog and respiratory illnesses. Grain ethanol decreases greenhouse gas emissions by 59 percent compared to gasoline, and cellulosic ethanol is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 100 percent.
• The real costs of putting food on the shelf are transportation, processing and packaging – all costs driven by oil. One-third of every bushel of corn used is returned to the food chain in the form of highly valued, nutritious animal feed – distillers grains.
• Academic, government and third party research papers single out rampant Wall Street speculators, high oil prices and the high costs of manufacturing, packaging and transporting groceries as the major drivers of increasing commodity prices and grocery store bills.
• Grain ethanol is here today displacing foreign oil, creating jobs and lowering harmful emissions.

Now, that you are more informed on ethanol, we need you to educate all those misinformed individuals that ethanol really is a good thing.

Farm Women of Achievement

Typically, when one thinks of agriculture, who or what comes to mind? Do you think of men in their tractors or working their livestock? Do you picture a successful woman behind a huge farming operation? Today, agriculture is so much more than sows, cows, and plows; it is a lifestyle. As September is ‘Women of Achievement Month’ I would like to honor all those hard working farmer gals out there who support their farmer husbands all year round and of course bring the brains to the operation. Predominately a male field, more and more women are finding careers within agriculture. I know, for me, I can’t picture living anywhere else and hopefully some day in the future, I will be able to have a farm I can call my own, but for now I am trying to make a name for myself within the agricultural industry.

One such woman who deserves to be honored is Pat Dumoulin out of Hampshire, Illinois. She is a very humble lady and when asked about her achievements in agriculture, she laughs and said she isn’t sure exactly of how many achievements she has had, but has definitely lead a very nice life with her husband. Currently, Dumoulin serves as the District 2 Director for the Illinois Soybean Association. She also works with her husband, two sons, and her son-in-law on their corn and soybean farm. They also run a 2,100 sow operation as well as a compost operation. She taught Economics & Statistics at Elgin Community College and has served as the past secretary and treasurer of the Illinois Corn Grower’s Association among many other activities.

Like all farmers, Dumoulin relies on good weather conditions for a bountiful crop. Some years are better than others when it comes to rain, weeds, and bugs. After harvest, the Dumoulin’s soybeans are sent to Cargill or ADM and exported down the Illinois River to the Port of New Orleans where it is ground into soybean meal which is fed to the livestock. The livestock industry is a big consumer of corn/soybean industries making the whole farming operation a full circle.

When not farming or serving on her many boards, Dumoulin enjoys spending time with her 20 grandchildren. They all live close to each other and she enjoys this special family time. She feels honored that she has been able to be so active within agriculture and privileged to work with all the farmers she has come in contact with throughout her life. In conclusion, I would like to applaud Pat for all her accomplishments, both personally and professionally, and would like to encourage all you farm wives and future farm wives to continue doing what you are doing; the industry needs you!

I have submitted this post to Corn Corps http://corncorps.wordpress.com/ but I wanted you all to enjoy it as well!

Farm Safety

I can recall several farm accidents of the past. They are so tragic. Whether the scenario includes a child run over by a tractor, a mail lady being struck by a tractor while on her route, a farmer flipping his tractor, or a farmer being suffocated to death being submerged by grain are just a few that come to mind. These people are someone's loved ones, a wife, a mother, a husband, a dad, a son, a daughter and the list continues. In the blink of an eye, life can be taken; just like that. While freak accidents can happen to anyone at any time, it is sad to think some accidents could have been preventable. I'm not saying they're all preventable because accidents do happen regardless the circumstances.

National Farm Safety and Health Week recognizes the hazardous nature of the agriculture industry and promotes awareness of safety solutions. Farm Safety Week kicked off on September 18 and will run through September 24. While out working in the field, it is important to always be aware of the surroundings. I know, I may sound like the nagging mother/wife, but I don't want to hear of another tragic story similar to the ones stated above. So, for all you drivers out there who like to look at the combines while cruising down the road, take it slow as most tractors/combines can only go up to speeds of 25mph. For you farmers out there, double check your blind spots before pulling out on the road going from field to field. And with that, happy harvest yall! Keep the sunny side up!

Honey Bee

You be my honey suckle; I’ll be your honeybee! Those famous lyrics by Blake Shelton in his song Honey Bee have a whole new meaning to me after talking with Maggie Wachter, a bee farmer located in Urbana, Illinois. She has bees in several locations and they aren’t much different from any other farm animal. Bee’s have 2 stomachs, similar to that of a cow, in order to carry the honey from one location to the other.

“My typical day includes processing the honey, bottling it, and extracting it and also checking on the bees. I try not to disturb them too much because bees have been around for about 2 million years and they have been making honey a lot longer than human beings have been around to manage them. They are the experts in knowing what to do. I stand anywhere from 6 feet to a foot away to look at them and make sure their activity looks normal,” Wachter said.

To hear an interview with Maggie Wachter, click here http://www.box.net/shared/egcxz0yqgyccytnyi5ke

Teamwork: It's a Farm Thing

Last night, I had the privilege of helping out with the Section 6 FFA's Leadership Training School. It was a great evening of mingling with high school FFA members. My duty was to lead a workshop dealing with trust, communication, and teamwork. The students learned what it takes to be good leaders and that communication is key. While watching the students interact, I realized how true that really was.

To be a good leader, one must be able to communicate. More than that, one must trust her/his teamates. Pondering these thoughts, this is so true in life and even on the farm. As harvest season is upon us, farm families must be in good communication and trust one another to get the job done. While in the fields, farmers must be in communication of one another and with teamwork, manage to get the job done. I wish every one of you out there, who are busy harvesting, the best of luck as you get your crops in!

Paul Taylor: A Family Legacy

As cliché as it sounds, farming is in the blood. Growing up on a family farm, I can definitely relate to that; I mean it is so true. When I was trying to figure out what to do with my life it was always between something musical or something ag. I chose to pursue something musical when starting my college career because I wanted to try something different. I mean I grew up on a farm, active in FFA, what else could there possibly be to learn about agriculture? Well, clearly my career path has taken a drastic turn and I have ended up working within the agriculture industry, and I am so thankful I was able to find my way back to my strong agricultural roots.

Paul Taylor, owner/operator of his own corn/soybean/vegetable farm in Esmond, Illinois said farming is indeed in your blood. It is a family heritage. No matter where life leads him, Taylor always finds his way back to the farm. Taylor is the District 1 Director for the Illinois Corn Grower’s Association representing 9 counties in northeastern Illinois. Growing green peas, lima beans, and sweet corn for Del Monte, Taylor does it all. As September is ‘National Pea Month,’ Taylor deserves to be applauded for all his hard work in growing peas along with all his other vegetables.

Senior Honey

Hello again blog followers; I hope you all had a marvelous Labor Day weekend! I sure did as I was able to talk with a beekeeper. Another crop that is featured in September is honey as September is ‘National Honey Month.’ I’ve had the privilege of talking with Maggie Wachter, owner of Senior Honey located in Urbana, Illinois. Wachter sells her honey at the downtown Bloomington Farmers Market. She has bees throughout Central Illinois including McLean and Macon counties. Featuring clover, wildflower, basswood, and even chocolate honey, Wachter enjoys every aspect of working with her bees. 

“The most popular is chocolate honey. Chocolate honey is a mixture of clover honey and fair trade organic cocoa powder. Just those 2 ingredients mixed together make like a chocolate syrup that taste like cocoa and honey. It’s a great replacement for commercial chocolate syrup because instead it doesn’t have any of the bad things. It doesn’t have any fats or additives. Honey keeps your energy levels even and you don’t get hungry after eating honey. It’s a more nutritious alternative to the commercial chocolate syrup. Both chocolate lovers and honey lovers love it so I have a big demand for the chocolate honey,” Wachter said. What is your favorite honey?



Maggie Wachter with her honey

          To hear Maggie talk about Senior Honey click here   http://www.box.net/shared/ahdt8ynu879z6o16ftg9

   

 

Christ Orchard: Apples!

September is an extremely busy month. So much is going on as farmers are preparing for harvest, students are getting back in the swing of school, but even more, September is a month where many farmers need to be recognized for everything they do. September is 'National Apple Month' therefore I highly recommend spending an afternoon with the family at your local apple orchard!

My favorite apple orchard is located in Elmwood, Illinois, Christ Orchard, owned by Kurt and Connie Christ. In the early 1970's, the Midland Coal Company planted a few apple trees, which eventually turned into the Christ Orchard in the 1980's. Kurt got involved with the orchard as a freshman when his FFA chapter was asked to help with the operation. Currently, a family operation, Christ Orchard offers a variety of produce from August through November.

Along with their 5 children Beth (who was married last July), Lena, Molly, Karl, and Amy, the Christ family produce over 40 varieties of apples as well as cider, peaches, plums, pears, concord grapes, cherries, apricots, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn, mums, and decorative straw bales and corn stalks.

"We enjoy it. It's a lifestyle; you need to like what you're doing because you do it all the time. We are just trying to grow quality apples at an affordable price for the public. We enjoy meeting new people and trying to grow what people like," Connie said of their orchard operation.

                                            The Christ family in their orchard

To hear the full interview with Connie Christ, click here http://www.box.net/shared/ejqjonjj5f1fgglgpziv