Farm Briefs
Dry conditions hurt pastures and wheat
Statewide temperatures and precipitation were near normal last week, with the northern half of the state experiencing slightly cooler temperatures and greater rainfall totals.
Most soils across the state continue to be in need of additional moisture due to the high winds last week that rapidly dried up any rain that was received.
The acres of corn that remain to be harvested experienced some lodging after the high winds.
Dry conditions continue to take a toll on pastures, and livestock producers have been forced to feed hay in many areas as pastures run short.
In numerous areas in the southern part of the state, where wheat was sown, poor emergence is reported in the dry soils.
Farmers have moved on to spreading lime and fertilizer, and completing fall tillage. Many farmers are taking the time to do some deep tillage in an attempt to break up compaction that occurred during the 2009 wet field conditions.
Farmers have also begun applying anhydrous ammonia as soil temperatures cool.
As farmers wrap up a great fall season, they are making repairs to machinery and preparing it for storage.
Jeff Solberg named GROWMARK CEO
The GROWMARK Inc. board of directors on Tuesday named Jeff Solberg CEO of the company, effective Jan. 3, 2011. Solberg will replace current CEO Bill Davisson, who will retire on that date.
Solberg is a 1974 business administration graduate of Illinois Wesleyan, and received a master’s of business administration degree from the University of Illinois in 1976. He has held the positions of financial analyst, cash manager, assistant treasurer, treasurer, vice president of finance and senior vice president of finance for GROWMARK. Solberg is past president and chairman of the Institute for Cooperative Finance Officers, and serves on the board of directors for Citizens Savings Bank.
“GROWMARK is a $6 billion organization experiencing a period of significant growth," said Dan Kelley, chairman of the board and president. "Selecting a chief executive is among the most important and impactful actions we are charged with taking. Jeff has the skills, knowledge, experience and support to lead GROWMARK successfully into the future."
