Agriculture Development AssociationGoing Strong....Several people (30-40) attended a second visioning meeting last week. Committees were formed to look into:

• Research and Marketing DDGS (Feed) a byproduct from the Ethanol Plant
• Livestock Operations
• Ethanol Expansion
• Starting a Truck Stop/Tire Facility at Gordon Junction (Farmer-Owned Coop)

Call Mimi at 586-2321 to get involved!

Last year's USDA Jan report put the final 2003 corn production number below the prior Nov estimate and set the stage for the price rally last spring. The January estimate has been below the November estimate in four of the lastfive years. Although production changes are usually limited, traders become nervous about simultaneous changes in grain stocks.

Loan Deficiency Payments have now been taken on 60 percentof the 2004 corn crop. That means nearly 7 billion bushels of corn now has no price protection in place. Farmers who have taken their LDP's may tend to be willing sellers of corn on any small rallies into spring.

With a large number of farm expenses coming due in late February, heavy use of the LDP program may generate slightly above-normal marketing's at that time, says Bob Wisner at Iowa State Extension. Also, concern over possible Asian rust damage to the 2005 soybean crop may motivate farmers to store more soybeans than usual into summer. Wisner believes that may lead to fewer soybeans being sold to pay late-Winter bills.

While soybean export sales lag well behind last year, Iowa State's Bob Wisner says they are comparable to levels of other recent years when bean exports were at currently projected levels. From now through mid-summer, Wisner says soybean prices are likely to be quite volatile as farmers and the grain trade react to Asian rust concerns.

If you have grain in storage that is unpriced, Virginia Tech University Ag economist Wayne Purcell says that it may be best to hold it. He opposes storing unpriced grain, but he says we have not seen a nice rally to get grain forward priced before the new tax year.

"Continue to carry the market risk exposure here as we watch for better prices," Purcell says. "The first modest price objective I have to forward price stored soybeans is $5.62. In corn, I would hold long hedges and be adding to long hedge protection if you need it out through 2005. Producers looking for short hedge opportunities need to wait and be patient here. There is nothing to encourage short hedges with March around $2.05."

U of I ag economists looked at 754 grain farms and predicted 2004 net farm income:
1) Farms with $27,000 in '02, and $73,000 in '03 will have $92,000 NFI in '04.
2) Less than 10% will have NFI under $20,000 and 76% will have NFI over $50,000
3) Farm program payments that were $15,000 in '03 will grow to $52,000 in '04.
4) Farm program payments will make up 56% of Net Farm Income in 2004.
5) 90% of farms will have a net worth increase, with 24% increasing over 10%.
6) 2005 NFI will substantially decrease with a return to average yields and prices.

Biotech seed was planted onfour percentof corn acreage in 1996. That number may be 50 percentin 2005 if the trend continues in thetenth season since it became available. NCGA Pres. Len Corzine says farm income is up $258.4 million from higher biotech yields and less pesticide.

Effingham, Illinois

Herbs, freshwater prawns, fee hunting, daylilies and perennials, wind farming and more are among 12 topics on the agenda of an Alternative Ag Workshop set for Saturday, February 19, 2005. University of Illinois Extension and the Southeastern Illinois Sustainable Ag Association will host the workshop at the Effingham High School from 9:20 am to 2:45 pm.

Farm business owners will showcase their operations and share ideas for developing and marketing alternative ag enterprises. Speakers will emphasize strategies for identifying markets and meeting consumer need.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend three different breakout sessions throughout the day. Morning topics include agri-tourism, organic grains and specialty crops, fresh water prawn, daylilies and perennials, wind farming, herb drying and apples, direct marketing of organic foods and business plan development. Afternoon sessions include fee hunting, funding sources, composting and herbs and wild flowers.

James Slama, President of Sustain, will open the workshop with "Alternative/Value added Agriculture". He will speak on how "The long term impact of this effort will add jobs, support rural communities, prevent farmland loss, and create tens of million of dollars of new revenue for regional family farmers and local processors." Slama is a member of Gov. Rod Blagojevich agricultural advisory council. Immediately following a catered lunch will be Kim Tack of IDEA, an initiative for the Development of Entrepreneurs in Agriculture who will introduce our guest presenters. Kim Tack will also be presenting a session on business plan development. In the afternoon, Deborah Cavenaugh-Grant, also of IDEA will be presenting a session on Funding Sources for New and Not So New Ideas.

Registration includes a choice of workshops and a catered lunch. The workshop will be held at the Effingham High School on 1301 West Grove in Effingham, Illinois. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. with the program from 9:20 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Registration fees are $10 in advance (on or before February 15, 2005) or $15 at the door. Registration and additional information is available through the University of Illinois - Effingham Extension Office, 1209 Wenthe Drive, Effingham, IL 62401. Phone (217) 347-7773 - Fax (217) 347-7775. Email effingham_co@extension.uiuc.edu Web www.extension.uiuc.edu/effingham/

We are willing to host a Corn Rootworm teleconference in our office located in suite 290 in the Commercium Bldg in Robinson. Let us know that you are interested by calling 546-1549 or e-mailing me at: aemken@uiuc.edu.

The dates are: Friday, Febuary 4 and Friday, Febuary 11

It will cost our office $55 to participate. This will be well worth the money, if we have farmers or Certified Crop Advisers who are interested. Just let us know. 546-1549

We will host a Soybean Rust meeting on March 29, 2005. Check-in will be from 8:30 - 9:00 AM with the program 9:00 AM – Noon in our office. The program content is not finalized; but you will be notified as more information becomes available. This program is free of charge and we plan to offer it for farmers and Certified Crop Advisers.

Soybean Rust will also be a topic covered at Agronomy Day on March 10 from 8:45-2:30 at the Robinson Community Center.

http://www.retirewell.uiuc.edu.

Check out a great web site on planning for retirement. Better yet, tell your young adult kids or someone you care about in their 30's. Start plans when you are young!

Landowners, producers and crop consultants who want to learn about the newest technologies in draining will want to attend the Southern Illinois Regional Drainage Seminar sponsored by University of Illinois Extension on February 17 at Ty's Buffet in Olney. Advances in drainage technology, as well as concerns about soil erosion and other environmental issues have changed the way drainage systems are designed and installed. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m., and the program runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The $25 per person registration fee includes lunch and all handout materials. Advance registration by February 10 is required. Call Ron Waldrop at 618/395-2191 or 618/942-5018 for more details.

February 4 and 11, 2005

Corn rootworms have received much attention recently with the advent of YieldGuard corn for rootworms, insecticidal seed treatments, rootworms damaging corn following soybeans, extended diapause issues with northern corn rootworms, less than adequate control of rootworm larvae with soil applied insecticides and adult control programs.

Controlling corn rootworms has never been without its problems both in the past and today. Understanding the effects of weather on corn rootworm's biology and the performance of rootworm control products is important in making management decisions for this pest. Resistance management issues are important for larval and adult control programs.

Entomologists from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska will present information on managing this pest. The workshop will be taught in a distance-learning environment utilizing a teleconference system and other educational materials.

Do you have a plan for your future long-term care needs? Are you worried about a loved one who may need long-term care services soon? When people consider their plans for retirement, financing expensive long-term care services often does not make it into their plans. However, planning for the possibility of long-term care services can ensure access to desired services, protect money, and make managing a difficult situation more bearable for a person's spouse or loved ones.

To help people plan for the possibility of long-term care needs, and how they might finance them, an educational program titled "Financing Long-Term Care: A Consumer Education Program" has been developed by the University of Illinois Extension. This program includes two teleconference seminars; people can call-in from their home and the seminars are free to Illinois residents.

The goal of this program is to provide consumers with quality, unbiased information about long-term care financing options. Recently the American Distance Education Consortium selected this seminar series for their "Outstanding Educational Program" award. The seminars feature exceptional speakers from across the country.

You too can learn about financing long-term care by participating in one or both of the upcoming teleconference seminars to be offered in the Winter 2005. To help you understand the issues involved with planning for long-term care, "Building a Secure Future for Your Long-Term Care Needs" is offered on February 10, 2005 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (CST). This teleconference will address questions consumers have about planning for long-term care, such as:

• What is long-term care and what are my financing options for long-term care?
• How can I speak with my family about my expectations and plans for long-term care?
• What should I know about long-term care and my legal affairs?
• What services do state and local agencies provide to help me if I need long-term care services?

Long-term care insurance is one financing option that many consumers consider to help pay for long-term care services and to protect assets from the risk of long-term care expenses. "Long-Term Care Insurance: A Difficult Decision" is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, 2005 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (CST) to help consumers learn about their options. Questions you may be asking yourself about long-term health care insurance will be addressed, such as:

• How likely am I to need long-term health care?
• How can I better understand terms used in long-term care insurance policies?
• Can I afford to pay long-term care insurance premiums?
• What do I need to know about insurance companies who sell LTC policies?
• How can I be creative to design an affordable plan policy to fit my needs?

Join University of Illinois experts, Certified Financial Planners, and other national experts in a dynamic teleconference series about long-term care planning and insurance. You can ask questions of the panel during the free, teleconference seminar. For the February 10, 2005 seminar, the registration deadline is February 1, 2005 at your local University of Illinois Extension office. Call 546-1549 today!

For more information about the teleconferences, visit the Consumer and Family Economics website at http://www.ace.uiuc.edu/cfe/health/ltci.html. Register today as lines for these teleconference seminars are limited!