1. business and industrial
2. agriculture and forestry
3. crops and seed

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: dfox@southernfs.com
for more info or to send resume.
Applications also available at Southern FS locations.