Saturday, June 8^th was a perfectly sunny day for the 2013 Heritage Tractor Adventure.  Led by Max Armstrong; 120 vintage tractors from all over the state of Illinois, entered the Spirit Farms parking lot waving kindly to the onlookers. They enjoyed a pork burger lunch Continue reading →

Sheridan, IL (March 25, 2013) – With the warmer weather of spring comes one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year for farmers – planting season. As farmers head to the fields to plant, farm-vehicle traffic increases on local roads and highways. Local farmers encourage all drivers to exercise caution when approaching tractors and farm implements to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
Michelle Stewart, of Spirit Farms in Sheridan, says farmers and other drivers must work together to keep rural roads safe.
“Planting season is certainly a hectic time for any farmer but our number one priority will always be safety,” she says. “When operating a farm implement on the road, we’re always extremely alert and aware of others on the road. However, it’s important that other drivers take caution and do their part as well to keep everyone on the road safe.”
More than 100 accidents involving farm equipment occur in Illinois every year. Spirit Farms hopes alerting drivers of the increase in farm-vehicle traffic will reduce that number this year.
Spirit Farms has a couple of tips to keep in mind this spring, including:

• Start slowly applying your brakes early. It takes only five seconds for a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour to close a 100-yard gap with a tractor moving only 15 miles per hour.
• A good rule of thumb when following farm equipment is to stay back at least 50 feet.
• Don’t assume that a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road will turn right or let the vehicle pass.
• Look for the operator’s hand signals and check the left side of the road for gates, driveways or other places a farm vehicle might make a left turn.
• Speak with young drivers about safety, too. “Especially if they are new to the road,” Michelle says. “Some drivers may not know proper procedure when approaching a farm vehicle.”
• Vehicle collisions most commonly occur between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This four-hour stretch often means increased activity on the road, as many make their way home from work, run errands, attend community activities and shuttle children home from school and extracurricular activities.

“If farmers and drivers work together and safely share the road, we can reduce accidents and ensure that everyone gets a chance to enjoy the warmer days ahead,” says Michelle.

ST. LOUIS (April 11, 2013) – According to a new survey, American moms may be building their grocery lists based on misinformation about how their food was grown and raised.

The Gate-to-Plate survey of more than 1,000 moms was commissioned by CommonGround, a grassroots coalition of farm women who want to foster conversations among all women – on farms and in cities – about where our food comes from and how it is raised. Findings of the survey include:

ORGANIC FOODS
Eighty-four percent of moms surveyed believe that organic food is farmed without any pesticides, fertilizers or herbicides.

The facts – Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used and organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides. 1 However, more than 50 synthetic substances may be used in organic crop production if other substances fail to prevent or control the target pest. 2 All foods – whether organic or nonorganic – must meet certain health and safety regulations before being sold to consumers.

GMO FOODS
While one-fourth of the moms who participated in the survey said they had never heard of genetically modified (GMO) foods, the majority of moms question the safety of GMO foods. Nearly half – 43 percent – of moms in the survey believe that GMO food is nutritionally and chemically different than non-GMO food.

The facts – All GMO foods are still exhaustively assessed for safety by groups like the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 3 In the 12-plus years that modern biotech crops have been commercially grown, there has not been a single documented case of an ecosystem disrupted or a person made ill. 4 GMO foods are nutritionally and chemically identical to food grown from non-biotech crops. 5

HORMONES IN MEAT
More than half of moms in the survey said they believe it is important to feed their families hormone-free poultry and pork – even though it may cost more to do so.

The facts – There’s no need to pay extra for poultry or pork that’s labeled hormone-free. USDA prohibits farmers from using hormones to raise chickens and pigs. 6

ALL-NATURAL FOODS
More than half – 53 percent – of moms surveyed said it’s important to purchase food labeled “all natural,” whenever possible, because it is a more nutritious choice for their family.

The facts – All-natural doesn’t mean nutritional benefits. As required by USDA, meat, poultry and egg products labeled as “natural” must be minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients. However, the natural label does not include any standards regarding farm practices and only applies to processing of meat and egg products. 7

LOCAL FOODS
More than half of moms surveyed said locally produced foods are always better for the environment.

The facts – Purchasing locally grown food is a great way to support farmers in your community but does not always benefit the environment. Sometimes it takes more energy to grow and harvest local food than it does to grow it elsewhere and have it shipped. 8

FAMILY FARMS
Seven out of 10 moms surveyed believe the family farm is dying in the United States.

The facts – Between 96 and 98 percent of the 2.2 million farms in the United States are family farms. 9

Seven out of 10 moms in the survey agree that farmers should be a key resource for individuals seeking information related to food and farming, yet only one out of five moms surveyed seeks information from farmers.

COMMON GROUND

“The CommonGround program grew out of a new demand from consumers for food information,” said Kentucky CommonGround farmer-volunteer Ashley Reding, who raises soybeans, corn and winter wheat in Howardstown, Kentucky. “The goal of CommonGround is to be a resource to provide moms with facts and information that can help them make informed food choices. As a farmer and a mother, I want individuals to feel empowered to make food choices based on facts and not fear.”

Have a question about your food? Find CommonGround online: www.FindOurCommonGround.com

CommonGround is a grass-roots movement to foster conversation among women — on farms and in cities — about where our food comes from. The United Soybean Board (USB) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) developed CommonGround to give farm women the opportunity to engage with consumers through the use of a wide range of activities. USB and NCGA provide support and a platform for the volunteers to tell their stories.

Sources:
USDA’s National Organics Standards Board
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations – Section 205.601
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Biotechnology Industry Organization
www.BestFoodFacts.com
USDA-FIS Food Safety Information – Meat & Poultry Labeling Terms
USDA-AMS
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University
USDA-ERS

Just a few weeks ago, farmers across Illinois and the Nation were gearing up for spring planting. Final decisions were being made on seed, chemical, fertilizer and equipment, and then the rain started to fall… and kept on falling. With the heavy rain, producing flooded and muddy fields, Illinois farmers have had to hold off on planting.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that as of April 29, “there’s been no significant planting done in Illinois because many fields are simply too wet for farmers to work them in tractors.” Specifically just 1 percent of the state’s corn crop has been sown. When last year at this time, three-quarter of the state’s cornfields were planted, more than double the five-year average of 36 percent.

These statistics have not skipped over Spirit Farms, as we are dealing with the same flooding & wet fields throughout the 15 different counties that we farm. Last year after we planted we were waiting for the rain & this year before we plant we are waiting for the sun. What a difference a year makes.

2013 will bring a diversity of crops for Spirit, from Rice on our Mississippi fields to a 50/50 split of corn & beans in Illinois. We’re excited about the road ahead and our growth in acres this year. After the wettest planting start in 126 years, we know that this year will bring its own set of challenges, and we are ready. Our fields are prepped & our staff is anxious to get to work. When the time is right we will be planting in full force.

At Spirit Farms, our management team strives to be educated and current on all new activities in the farming word. Being involved in many different organizations has taught us valuable lessons and allowed us to network with other producers and investors from across the country. In May, we attended the Global Ag Investing Conference in New York City. Topics from the conference included Leveraging Technology, Diversified Strategies, and the case for investing in agriculture. We learned what foreign investors are factoring into decisions and about opportunities abroad.

Another informative conference attended by Michelle this year was the Women in Agri Business Summit in New Orleans. Over 220 women in all areas of the food value chain were in attendance. Topics discussed included, forming an effective peer network, crop marketing strategies, logistics and infrastructure challenges for the US and telling the story of American Agriculture from the perspective of the farmer. We are currently evaluating opportunities discovered at both seminars and are very optimistic about the future of our farming operation.