The Annual Meeting of the Illinois Valley Lamb and Wool Growers will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13 at the Woodford County Farm Bureau Building located in Eureka. The annual meeting is open to all IVLWG members and those interested in sheep production.

The association's 2008-09 activities included a Barn Tour, development of IVLWG Events Flyer, and promotion of the sheep industry in central Illinois. The meeting will serve as a planning meeting for the 2009-10 events and activities for the next year. Producers' voice and support are critical to ensuring the lamb and wool business is thriving and profitable to producers in central Illinois. Current President of the IVL&WG is Matt Zimmerman at 309-261-4401.

The Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI) is pleased to announce the 2009 Midwest Environmental Education Conference, Climbing the Green Wall, in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois October 14-17, 2009.

The conference theme, "Climbing the Green Wall," was chosen to address the fact that all environmental educators struggle to overcome certain barriers or walls in their career. Four commonly identified limitations within the field of environmental education to be highlighted at the conference include: Administration, Interpretation, Natural History, and Sustainability. Through concurrent sessions, workshops, and keynote presentations, conference participants will be provided with the knowledge and resources to overcome these walls and maximize their potential.

Invigorating workshops and concurrent sessions will be held each day of the conference, in conjunction with Field Sessions led by Illinois Natural History Survey Scientists. For more details about the conference, visit EEAI's website, www.EEAI.net

World Food Day commemorates the anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO's) founding on October 16, 1945. This annual celebration, observed worldwide, also coincides with TeleFood – FAO's campaign to raise awareness about the plight of the world's hungry people and mobilize resources to help them. The first World Food Day was in 1981. In the United States the endeavor is sponsored by 450 national, private voluntary organizations. For the past 28 years, World Food Day has been observed to increase awareness of the persistent problems associated with a shortage of food in many areas of the world.

The University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) is at the forefront in using science to address the problems of hunger and malnutrition. Researchers in the college continue to produce new varieties of crops and pioneer new ways of raising and managing livestock to increase and improve the food supply. In an increasingly complex world, food safety and efficient distribution are issues of growing importance. Land and water issues are becoming a major challenge, as we look to the long-term sustainability of agricultural and food systems.

To learn more about the many world-wide issues being addressed during World Food Day 2009, scheduled for Thursday, October 16, check out their website http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and is the second leading cause of lung cancer according to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency. Radon is also responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year of which 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. Recently, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on the risks associated with radon.

To bring greater attention to this major health risk, the week of October 18 - 24, 2009 has been designated as National Radon Action Week. University of Illinois Extension is supporting this effort through the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes educational program. To learn more about radon and how you can protect your family from this health risk, contact your local University of Illinois Extension Office or check out this very informative radon website: http://www.epa.gov/radon/radonqa1.html

The Governor's Conference on the Illinois River System, slated for October 20 - 22, 2009 at the Hotel Pere Marquette, in Peoria, Illinois, is designed to bring together concerned citizens, agricultural, conservation and environmental organizations, industry and government representatives, educators and resource management professionals.

The conference theme is "The Illinois River: Looking Back, Moving Forward" and includes concurrent presentations on the Economic & Societal Benefits provided by Healthy Ecosystems Local Community Action Success Stories; Soil & Water Movement: Sediment; Soil & Water Movement: Water; Agricultural Practices: Status & Progress; Advancements in Agricultural Technology; Development in a Conservation-sensitive Environment; Developing & Showcasing Community Environmental Assets to Impact Quality of Life; and In the Corridor Sediment Management. Also featured will be numerous exhibits from river-related organizations and agencies, as well as a new Interactive Digital Technologies Open House.

Conference information, including the schedule of speakers, program, and registration materials, is now available on the Web at www.conferences.uiuc.edu/ilriver Full conference registration, postmarked after Sept. 30^th is $215 and includes three meals, two continental breakfasts, breaks and a reception. The Wednesday-only fee is $155, while Thursday-only will cost $115. Walk-in or On-site Registrations will be slightly higher. Registration can be completed with credit card online, or by fax or mail.

An all-day conservation tour on Oct. 20 costs an additional $40 and includes a guided, air-conditioned motorcoach tour of rural and urban sites in Peoria, Fulton, Mason and Tazewell Counties as well as lunch.

University of Illinois Extension is one of more than 60 federal, state, regional and local agencies and groups working together to co-sponsor the twelfth biennial Governor's Conference on the Management of the Illinois River System. For more information, contact the University of Illinois Office of Conferences and Institutes, ph. (877)-455-2687; or Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Extension, ph. (309)-694-7501, Ext. 226.

"Wind Energy 101; from a landowners perspective" forums will be presented in Ottawa on November 9 and Pontiac on December 9. Both programs will begin with onsite check-in at 1:00, the program will be from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. The Illinois Wind Working Group (IWWG) and University of Illinois Extension, with assistance from other groups, are coordinating the forums to help landowners make informed decisions about wind energy developments and leases.

The forums are a part of a continuing series of workshops across the state. University educators and industry professionals will present a background overview of wind (economics, why wind, etc), timeline for a wind development, agricultural issues related to wind development, and lease and contract issues.

"Wind energy in Illinois is going to experience explosive growth," says Dr. David Loomis, Director of the Center for Renewable Energy at Illinois State University. "Illinois recently surpassed the 1,000 MW mark for wind capacity in the state and I see no end to the projects that are coming on-line."

"Landowners need to consider the long term implications before signing a contract with a developer," according to Stanley Solomon, University of Illinois Engineering Technology Educator. "While there are definite benefits to wind energy, the impacts on agriculture and future development of the land should be part of the decision. Limitations on locations and construction of new buildings, aerial crop spray applications, and practical cultivation equipment sizes are among the issues that should be considered. These and other issues will be discussed during the workshops.

On November 9, the forum will be held at Pitstick's Pavilion, North of Ottawa on Route 23. Directions to the meeting locations are provide on the registration websites or can be requested via telephone.

The early-registration deadline is November 4 for the discount registration fee of $20. Late registration and at the door will be $25 based on available space. Online registration for the Ottawa meeting can be found at the LaSalle County Extension web site: web.extension.uiuc.edu/lasalle. Or contact the University of Illinois LaSalle County Extension office at 815-433-0707.

The December 9 forum will be held at the Livingston County Extension Office in Pontiac at 1412 South Locust Street. Directions to the meeting locations are provided on the registration websites or can be requested via telephone.

The early-registration deadline is December 4 for the discount registration fee of $20. Late registration and at the door will be $25 based on available space. Online registration for the Pontiac meeting can be found at the Livingston County Extension web site: web.extension.uiuc.edu/Livingston. Or contact the University of Illinois Livingston County Extension office at 815-844-3622.

University of Illinois Extension has scheduled a teleconference on November 12 to discuss the Design and Use of Windbreaks. Dave Shiley, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator will present this training session via the University of Illinois tele-conferencing system from 1:30 to 3:00 pm and again at 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

This telenet will consist of Power Points and commentary by the Presenter to include information of the proper design of windbreaks, types of trees, spacing, planting recommendations, as well as maintenance to maximize the usefulness and life of a windbreak. Make plans now to visit your local University of Illinois Extension office on Thursday, November 12, 2009 to learn more about Windbreak Design & Use.

This program is part of the Natural Resources Management Team telenet series. To register, please contact your local Extension office at least 2 weeks prior to this meeting so meeting materials and necessary accommodations can be made. For more information, please contact Duane Friend, U of I Natural Resources Educator, friend@illinois.edu or ph. 217-243-7424.

Why not "Rededicate Yourself to Recycling?" Did you know that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a computer for three hours? Or that if American citizens recycled 42 million tons of solid waste (about 30 percent of all solid waste generated) in a year, it would save our country 10 billion gallons of gasoline? That is enough gasoline to power nearly 15 million cars for one year (assuming 18 miles per gallon and 12,000 miles per year).

Recycling is also a very integral part of agriculture. Many of the inputs involved with farming have tremendous value in terms of recycling. Used tires, dirty motor oil, antifreeze, batteries, empty pesticide containers, cardboard and paper are just a few of the items which a farmer can and should recycle. Every little bit of recycling DOES make a difference!

Plan to celebrate America Recycles Day 2009, November 15, in your school, home, and community. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has a selection of free, educational bookmarks about recycling and an excellent hands-on recycling activity kit for youth audiences, called Investigating the 4 R s, which is available at no charge, on a loan basis. To order, contact Rebecca Enrietto at <Rebecca.Enrieto@illinois.gov>. Check out their website for more information www.istep.org Mike Mitchell, Director of the Illinois Recycling Association, can also provide free posters and other materials to help promote America Recycles Day 2009 for your school or organization. He can be reached at ph. (708-358-0050) or this website www.illinoisrecycles.org Recycling of our natural resources is important for everyone: adults, youth, homeowners, and farmers.

Three Opportunities (November 15, December 1 & 15)

Purebred breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2010 Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale during the Winter Beef Expo on Thursday, February 25 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Livestock Center in Springfield. The sale accepts older bulls as well as yearlings—birth date limits are January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

Nomination deadline and fees are three tiered with the following dates and costs: November 15, $75; December 1, $100; and December 15, $125. A complete copy of the Rules and Regulations and Nomination Form can be obtained from the IPT Bull Sale Web Site at www.IPTBullSale.com or by writing Dave Seibert, East Peoria Extension Center, 727 Sabrina Drive, East Peoria, IL 61611 or calling 309-694-7501, Ext 224.

The Multi-State Horse Judges Seminar is to be held in Lexington, KY, November 13-15 2009. Prospective horse judges may attain listing in as many as 6 states' Horse Judges Directories, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Listing in each individual state requires attendance of this seminar and compliance with all individual state requirements. Judges may choose to attend only for the educational value, or apply for listing in any or all of the 6 states represented.

Each state has slightly different requirements, but generally requires passing a written test as well as live judging. Some states additionally require interviews or other evaluation. For additional information contact Kristen Harvey at 859-257-7501 or email kjanicki@uky.edu. A copy of the program flier which includes a list of the speakers and registration form can be printed at the following URL: http://www.livestocktrail.uiuc.edu/uploads/horsenet/events/2009MSFlyer.pdf

The University of Illinois will be hosting the Dudley Smith Field Day at the Christian County Extension Office in Taylorville on Wednesday, November 18. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Robert Kallenback, University of Missouri will be the guest speaker. Other speakers will include Mike Vincent, University of Illinois, speaking on "What is Tropical Maize Corn, Will It Be Used for Grain, Silage or Bio-Mass." Gary Letterly will discuss the "Bio-Mass Research Plots on the Dudley Smith Farm." Ed Ballard will discuss Summer Forages and Utilizing Teff in the Forage Program." Following the morning program there will be a tour of the U of I Dudley Smith Farm.

For additional details on the University of Illinois Dudley Smith Field Day contact the Christian County Extension Office at (217) 287-7246.

More than 300 years ago, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated. National Farm-City Week, always ending on Thanksgiving Day, is a time to reflect on our blessings, pledge to help those in need, and correct wrongs wherever they may exist in our rural, suburban and urban communities. The National Farm-City Council was organized in 1955 to encourage the building of understanding of our interdependence between rural and urban residents.

Today, our world is fast-paced and high-tech, but we should still take time to show gratitude for what we have. One thing we may take for granted is our abundance of food. It is important that we all take time to express our thanks to everyone who is involved with producing, transporting, marketing, processing and delivering our food, so we can enjoy this abundance.

This year, National Farm-City Week, is scheduled for the week of November 20 - 26, 2009. It is dedicated to enhancing linkages between farm families and urban residents and providing local organizations with educational programs and materials about the people who grow food.

Today, nearly 1 in 20 workers in our economy play a role in the food and fiber marketing chain. Many local communities, commodity organizations, 4-H clubs, and service groups take part in this annual celebration, which recognizes the numerous agricultural partners who produce, market, transport, and process the food we eat. A National Farm-City Week Information Kit will be available in late August. For more information on what you can do to enhance Farm-City Week in your community, visit the following website www.farmcity.org/ or call them at phone 202-406-3706.

Horsemen's Council of Illinois is bringing its successful Equestrian Lifestyle Expo November 21-22, 2009 to the large Chicagoland horse market for its second year.

"Sponsored by Purina Feeds, this year's Expo moves into the spacious new Lake County Fairgrounds' Expo Center in Grayslake, IL – 65,000 square feet all on one level," according to Joy Meierhans, Expo manager.

"Located west of I-94 at the intersection of Peterson and Midlothian Roads, the new Fairgrounds provide lots of free parking with easy in and out access," Meierhans said.

Lake County is ideally situated to attract horsemen from both the Chicago and Milwaukee metro areas, aided by excellent Interstate Highway access.

"Positive response from the many returning vendors has been very encouraging," Meierhans said in explaining how people are reacting to the move. "The new Fairgrounds facilities were not yet finished when the Horsemen's Council launched the event last year, but we think we now have a 'home' for Expo for years to come," she said.

The all breed equestrian trade show will present products and services for current horse owners and the one in three households wanting to own or ride a horse in the future, according to Horse Industry Alliance research.

"Like last year, this year's Expo will not have horses on site, but will have a large educational component, featuring leading clinicians, nutritionists, veterinary specialists and researchers in the forefront of equine understanding," Meierhans said.

Vendors will include those with English and Western tack and clothing for all breeds and disciplines; feed, supplements, health care products; and facilities, equipment and stable supplies, such as barns, stalls, fencing, generators and gators, Meierhans explained.

With only 30 days until Christmas, there will be a special emphasis on holiday gifts, including jewelry, art, books, stationery and home/barn/lounge accessories.

Appealing to folks interested in becoming part of the equestrian lifestyle will be the clubs and associations representing breeds and disciplines. HCI member clubs will qualify for reduced exhibitor rates.

Complete exhibitor and attendee information will be posted as it becomes available at www.horsemenscouncil.org. Exhibitor application forms will be the first items to appear on the site, followed by speakers and their program listings.

Lake and adjacent McHenry are the top two counties in Illinois horse population, and "Industry estimates from the American Horse Council and Illinois Department of Agriculture tell us that nearly a third of all the horses in Illinois are in the northern 23 (of 102) counties – more than 65,000 of them – from the I-80 corridor on up," according to Dr. Kevin Kline, University of Illinois professor and an HCI director.

"What these figures do not tell us, but which we have seen from participation in hunt/jump, dressage and saddleseat – and heard from other equestrian associations," Kline said, "is that in addition to all its Western riders, Chicagoland also is home to substantial numbers of English riders, mostly women, mostly with higher than average income. So, a pre-holiday shopping opportunity for all things 'horsey' is a natural."

For information on exhibiting, contact Joy Meierhans at (630) 557-2575 or JM@TheMeierhans.com.

Horsemen's Council of Illinois, voice of the horse industry in Illinois, is affiliated with the American Horse Council and is the statewide association of equine organizations and individuals working to provide centralized leadership for Illinois' 77,000 horse owners, 213,000 horses and its $3.8 billion industry, which provides full-time employment for more than 15,000 people.

The 17^th annual Illinois Commodity Conference will take place November 24^th at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington (10 Brickyard Drive), with events beginning at 10 am.

This location is the former Radisson Hotel located on Veterans Parkway on the south side of Bloomington. The conference is sponsored by the Illinois Corn Growers Assoc., the Illinois Soybean Assoc., the Illinois Beef Association, the Illinois Milk Producers Assoc., the Illinois Pork Producers Assoc., and the Illinois Wheat Association.

Key speakers attending the conference include Wes Jamison, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida, who will discuss "Animals, Politics, Religion, and the HSUS Campaign to Demoralize Agriculture"; Pat Haggarty, Political Humorist, covering "The Difference Between Boy Scouts and Elected Officials is Boy Scouts Have Adults Supervision."

Other afternoon speakers include: John Carter, Brazilian Farmer, "What's Really Happening in the Amazon Rain Forest?"; and Rulon Gardner, Dairy Farmer and Olympic Gold Medal Wrestler, discussing "Never Give Up, Never Stop Trying; 7 Steps to Success."

Organizers are expecting up to 375 people. Promotional booths will be set up by corporate sponsors and different industries. Registration brochures will be available from each of the sponsoring organizations. For more information on the Illinois Commodity Classic, contact any of the co-sponsoring organizations including: Illinois Beef Association; Illinois Corn Growers; Illinois Milk Producers Association; Illinois Pork Producers Association; Illinois Soybean Association; and the Illinois Wheat Association. Hotel reservations can be made directly with the Double Tree Hotel at (309)-664-6446. The Illinois Commodity Conference brings together agricultural leaders for training and education to assist their organizations in planning for future policy development.

The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $65 before November 6 and $90 after that date. Go to the conference website www.ilsoy.org/recent_news/collateral/09ILcombro.pdf for a copy of the brochure.

Deadline to apply for the Horsemen's Council of Illinois Ruby Holmquist Memorial Scholarship is December 1. Guidelines and application forms for the scholarship are on the Council's web site at www.HorsemensCouncil.org (Links page) or available from the Council's administrative office in Springfield.

Scholarships may be given in either (or both) "academic/educational" or "vocational/professional" categories. They have been awarded each year since 1998.

Only Illinois residents are eligible and assistance must be used in the pursuit or advancement of a horse-related career. The amount of the award is determined by the HCI Scholarship Committee, chaired by Sheryl S. King, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science, Southern Illinois University, in consultation with the HCI Board.

Individuals are encouraged to share this information with any person interested in continuing their education and/or profession in an equine-related career.
For additional information on the scholarship program, contact Dr. King at Southern Illinois University or call the HCI Office (217.585.1600) for an application. Applications may also be downloaded from the HCI website or emailed upon request to the HCI Office, info@HorsemensCouncil.org .

Don't miss the 28th Greater Peoria Farm Show, December 1 - 3, at the Peoria Civic Center. This year there will be more than 300 companies exhibiting their products and services in more than 950 booths and exhibits. As many as 29,000 people are expected to attend this free event, the largest in-door farm show in Illinois with over 150,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Extension Educators and Unit Staff from throughout central Illinois will be present at the University of Illinois Extension booth to share new research ideas for the farm and home and provide information on up-coming winter Extension meetings. The three-day event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Peoria Farm Show has earned a reputation as one of the finest indoor shows in the United States and is the largest indoor farm show in the State of Illinois. For a complete listing of exhibitors, activities, and features, check out their website www.farmshowsusa.com Admission is free, so bring the whole family and enjoy the show.

Wintering the beef cow is the most expensive part of running a cow-calf operation. A major part of good management is evaluating the cowherd for stage of gestation/lactation, evaluating cow condition and conducting feed analysis on available feedstuffs. This summer has been one of the worst to bale hay with much of the hay being mature when harvested and most was rained on resulting in low nutritional values. To offset this there are numerous co-products including Distillers Grains, Corn Gluten and Soybean Hulls that will play a major part in reducing the cost of wintering cows. Thus, by combining all the nutrition/environmental variables and matching these to the cow needs, this will not only improve the reproductive performance of the herd, but reduce the cost of wintering the cowherd.

A workshop to assist cow-calf producers with winter beef cow rations will be held in San Jose on Thursday, December 3rd starting at 7:00 pm at the United Methodist Church. Enter San Jose on U.S. Route 136 and turn south on South 1^st Street. Travel 5 blocks to the San Jose United Methodist Church.

There are several things producers must take into consideration when evaluating their winter feeding program: Analyze Feedstuffs - When balancing rations it is critically important to start with the correct feedstuffs analysis. For this cow-calf producers can obtain feed analysis on their feedstuffs by contacting the Mason County Extension Office. Forage sample bags/mailing envelopes are available for sending the forage samples to a Forage Lab for analysis. There is a small charge from the laboratory for the forage analysis. Also, there will be a Penn State Forage Probe available at the Mason County Extension Office to take core samples for mailing to a forage testing lab.

Determining Cost of Feedstuffs - A recent program (Cost of Feedstuffs) has been developed and placed on the U of I - FAST (Farm Analysis Solution Tools) web site to compare the costs of feedstuffs on an Energy and Protein basis. This web site takes into consideration the cost of the feedstuffs, transportation cost and storage loss to arrive at a cost per pound for Protein and Energy. The web site will be demonstrated at the Workshop.

Ration Balancing Program – The University of Minnesota has developed a ration balancing program called "Beef Cow Ration Balancer." This program was developed in 2008 and is FREE. The program will be demonstrated at the workshop and FREE copies will be available for those in attendance. The first couple producers that have forage samples analyzed, determine the cost of different feedstuffs (on and off the farm) will have rations balanced for their herd.

Individuals interested in participating in the workshop need to contact the Mason County Extension Office (309-543-3308) by Wednesday, November 25^th. Cost for the workshop including handouts and the CD will be $10 for pre-registration and $15 at the door. Additional information on the program can be obtained by speaking to Matt Montgomery at the Mason County Extension Office, 133 S. High, Box 170, Havana, IL 62644. Also, questions regarding the different computer programs can be obtained from Dave Seibert at the E. Peoria Extension Center (309-694-7501 Ext 224).

The Illinois Heifer Development Program has scheduled its fall sale Friday evening, December 4th at United Producers, Inc. Market, located on Route 37 North of Salem, IL. The sale will start at 6:30 p.m.

Remember, IHDP heifers have been through an extensive health management regimen beginning when they were weaned; pre-breed processing includes meeting minimum pelvic dimension standards; heifers are guaranteed bred to acceptable calving ease bulls (most are AI'd to breed leading calving ease bulls with outstanding performance EPD's.) Pregnancy check ensures the presence of a fetus.

There are many outstanding individual phenotypes in this sale. The genetics represented are unsurpassed for commercial bred heifers. The sale offers an excellent opportunity for beef cow herd producers to reduce risks involved in calving heifers and to improve the quality of their cattle.

Call Teresa Steckler at 618-242-9310 for more details and to receive a sale catalog.

The Christmas Bird Count is a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society. It is an early-winter bird census, where volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It's not just a species tally—all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day. All individual CBC's are conducted in the period from December 14 to January 5 (inclusive dates) each season, and each count is conducted in one calendar day.

The first CBC was done on Christmas Day of 1900 as an alternative activity to an event called the "side hunt" where people chose sides, then went out and shot as many birds as they could. The group that came in with the largest number of dead birds won the event. Frank Chapman, an officer of The National Audubon Society recognized that declining bird populations could not withstand wanton over-hunting, and proposed to count birds on Christmas Day rather than shoot them.

To join a CBC please contact a local compiler by selecting "Get Involved" from the CBC home page at www.audubon.org/bird/cbc. There is a $5.00 fee per field participant per count. However, feeder watchers do not need to pay the fee, and all observers 18 and under may count for free. These fees help to cover the costs of generating materials for Compilers, producing an annual CBC summary issue, and maintaining the CBC website and database. This is a great family activity that increases awareness of our feathered friends!

University of Illinois Extension will be conducting three training and testing programs this winter at Illinois Central College to assist growers in recertifying as Private Pesticide Applicators.

The certification exam is based on information found in the training manual. It is strongly recommended that growers purchase and study the manual prior to the training and testing sessions. Manuals are available from the Extension Unit Offices. Seating will be limited. Please note that all three trainings will be in the Lecture/Recital Hall (Rm. 127F) at ICC. This year there will be a $30 training fee. Pre-register in advance for the session you plan to attend by calling the Woodford Co. Extension Unit at 309-467-3789.

Friday, December 18, 2009
ICC Lecture/Recital Hall Rm. # 127F
E. Peoria, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Monday, January 4, 2010
ICC Lecture/Recital Hall Rm # 127F
E. Peoria, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Monday, January 11, 2010
ICC Lecture/Recital Hall Rm # 127F
E. Peoria, 8:00 am – 1:00 p.m.

The central Illinois Dairy Day will be held at the El Paso Community Center located at the South Pointe Park (525 S. Sycamore). The date of the program is Thursday, January 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Speakers on the program include Dr. Mike Hutjens, Dairy Extension Specialist from the Department of Animal Sciences; Dr. Dick Wallace, Dairy Extension Veterinarian from the College of Veterinary Medicine; Dave Fischer, Animal Systems Educator from the Edwardsville Extension Center and Jim Endress, Farm Business, Management and Marketing Educator from the Rockford Extension Center. A list of the speakers and topics include the following:

• Dr. Mike Hutjens – "Lessons Learned with $10 Milk" and "Looking back and ahead 30 years: The Illinois Dairy Industry."
• Dr. Dick Wallace – "Looking for Profits in Milk Quality" and "Creating an Efficient Synchronization Program"
• Dave Fischer – "Profit Potential of Quality Forages"
• Jim Endress – "Evaluating Economic Challenges"

In addition, there will be several commercial exhibits with the latest in information and technology. Registration is required to attend and must be made through the Woodford County Extension Office (309-467-3789) by Wednesday, December 23. Pre-registration made by December 23 is $15 per person with late and at door registration is $18. A complete copy of the program can be obtained from Dave Seibert 309-694-7501, Ext 224.

A two-part TeleNet series titled Shepherds Clinic 2010 is being offered to sheep producers over the Extension Tele-Conferencing System (TeleNet). Potential U of I Extension Offices that might offer the program includes McLean and Woodford Counties. However, you will need to check with these locations if they have sufficient numbers to host the program. The program airs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5 and Monday, January 11. Speakers and topics for the two sessions have not been finalized. However, these will be provided in the next issue of the Heart of Illinois Ag Newsletter. Interested participants will need to contact their local University of Illinois Extension office for specifics regarding locations. Contact should be made during the third week of December to reserve space and insure that class materials are available.

The 18^th Annual National No-till Conference is scheduled for January 13 to 16, 2010 at the DesMoines Marriott Downtown, DesMoines, IA. The theme for this year's conference is "A Perfect New Decade for No-till".

The National No-till Conference, widely regarded as the premier conservation-tillage conference, draws over 850 no-till farmers, agriculture officials and university researchers from around the country and the world for four days of presentations and discussions. The National No-till Conference will feature presentations by leading researchers, agri-business firms, and farmers who will share hundreds of field-tested ideas to increase yields and profits by farming with no-till farming methods. The conference will also feature dozens of exhibits from seed, chemical, fertilizer, machinery and equipment, computer hardware and software, and other agri-business companies.

To receive a conference agenda and for registration details, check out the conference website at www.notillfarmer.com or call their toll-free number (800) 645-8455, or e-mail them at this address: info@lesspub.com

The Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA) will be holding their 53^rd Annual Convention January 14 – 16 at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Springfield, Illinois. Land improvement contractors, earthmovers, consulting firms, engineers, conservationists, and other interested persons are encouraged to participate in the educational workshops, tours, exhibits, and featured speakers that will be showcased throughout the 3-day conference. Specific educational programs include:

Thursday, January 14

• 9:00 - 10:15 am Sustainable Development: Rural/Urban Interface
• 10:30 - 11:45 am Welding Basics
• 1:15 - 2:15 pm Filter Ratings & Oil
• 2:30 - 3:30 pm Bidding Software

Saturday, January 16

• 9:15 - 10:15 am Business Management
• 10:30 - 11:30 am What to Charge: Machine Cost Analysis

The exhibit hall will be open Thursday from 3 – 7 pm and again Friday morning 8 am - noon. The Annual Member Meeting is scheduled for Friday 1 - 4 pm, and the Awards Banquet will be held Saturday evening. For registration details and a copy of the complete conference agenda, visit the website at www.illica.net or contact Janet Burtle-Doubet, Executive Director, Illinois LICA, P.O. Box 474, Brimfield, IL 61517, ph. (309) 446-3700; e-mail janet@illica.net

A multi-state Heart of America Grazing Conference will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, January 20 & 21 at the Roberts Conference Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. Speakers will comprise a number of specialists from throughout the U.S. with several exhibits available from industry representatives. Additional information will be in the next issue of the HOI Ag Newsletter.

The most important decision made each year in the cow-calf enterprise is the selection, health and management of the herd sire. Not only does he contribute 50% of the genetic make up of the offspring, but also can have a major impact on the calf crop from birth through harvest. Cow-calf producers in Illinois will have the opportunity to attend one of two different seminars on Beef Sire Selection and Management.

The seminars will be held on Thursday, January 28 starting at 9 a.m. at Black Hawk East College Campus – Kewanee (Henry County – Intersection of IL Rts 34 & 78), and also, on Thursday, January 28 starting at 4 p.m. at Western Illinois University Livestock Center - Macomb (McDonough County – One mile west of IL 67 on Tower Road).

The speakers will include a local practitioner, industry and university representatives. Covering the topic of "Breeding Soundness Evaluation" will be Dr. Buzz Iliff from the Wyoming Veterinary Clinic at the Black Hawk East and Dr. Jon Schar of the Schar Veterinary Clinic in Stronghurst will speak at the Western Illinois University program. Speaking and serving as co-sponsor for the program will be Vita Ferm and the Illinois Angus Association. Representing Vita Ferm will be Kevin Glaubius, Division Sales Manager for Biozyme Incorporated discussing "Unlocking your breeding success and genetic potential with Vita Ferm Concept Aid™." Representing the Angus breed will be Jerry Cassady, Regional Manager with the American Angus Association who will discuss "Understanding Challenges and Capturing Value."

Dr. Ken Nimrick, Beef professor from Western Illinois University will discuss the "WIU Bull Test Station" at the Macomb location. University of Illinois Extension representatives and topics covered at the seminars include: "EPDs – What They Are, What They Aren't and How Can I Use Them?"; "Understanding and Incorporating Physical Traits into Sire Selection"; and "Management of the Herd Bull with Emphasis on Yearling Bulls." These topics will be covered by Dr. Doug Parrett, University of Illinois Beef Cattle Specialist and Dave Seibert, Animal Systems Educator from the E. Peoria Extension Center.

The University of Illinois Extension, Vita Ferm, Illinois Angus Association and the local Cattlemen's Associations are co-sponsoring the seminars. Registration for the seminar is $10 that covers the meal along with the handouts. Late and at door registration will be $15. The deadline for reservations is Friday, January 22 and should be made through the host county Extension Office.

The County Extension Directors to contact for reservations include: Black Hawk East College – Jeff West, Henry-Stark Counties Extension Office at 309-853-1533; and for Macomb – Lisa Fulkerson, McDonough County Extension Office at 309-837-3939. For additional information on the seminars contact Dave Seibert at the E. Peoria Extension Center (309-694-7501, Ext 224).

Natural Resources Management and Crops Systems Educators will be facilitating a Soil and Water Management Workshop for Certified Crop Advisors on Wednesday, February 10, 2010.The workshop is planned to provide 4.5 hours of CEUs in Soil and Water Management. The workshops will provide relevant information in soil and water management, along with Certified Crop Advisor continuing education units. The Soil & Water Workshops are being sponsored by University of Illinois Extension and are scheduled to be held at County Extension Offices throughout the state.

This workshop will be a distance presentation, using Telenet and Power Point. Depending on the location, some locations may have a live presenter. Registration for Certified Crop Advisors and others interested in the workshop will be $45 per person ($10 per CEU). The workshop is tentatively scheduled to run from 9 am to 2:15 pm.

Topics that will be covered during the day include:

• Gulf Hypoxia – Recent data
• Biochar- what is it?
• Cover crops research and conservation farm programs update
• New Tillage tools
• Using the Web Soil Survey
• Cap and Trade (Carbon Credits) Where do things stand?

If you are interested in participating in the February 10^th Soil & Water Management Workshop, please contact your County Extension Director right away and let them know of your interest. Extension Units wishing to host this workshop will be provided with additional details later in the fall. If you have questions or need more information about the 2010 Soil & Water Management Workshops, contact the Soil &Water Workshop Coordinator, Duane Friend, ph. (217)-243-7424 or e-mail friend@illinois.edu

The National Great Backyard Bird Count is scheduled this year for February 12 – 15. Why count backyard birds? Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Now that winter has gripped much of the continent, what are our birds doing? Bird populations are dynamic, they are constantly in flux.

It doesn't matter whether you identify, count, and report the 5 species coming to your backyard feeder or the 75 species you see during a day's outing to a wildlife refuge. The data that you collect will be combined to provide an immense picture of our winter birds. Each year that this data is collected makes them more important and meaningful.

Participating is easy. All you need is basic knowledge of bird identification and access to the Internet. Here's what you do:

• Count the birds in your backyard, local park, or other natural area on one or all four days. You can count in as many different locations as you wish, just make sure to keep separate records and fill out a checklist for each area.
• Watch the birds for at least 15 minutes on each day that you participate. We recommend watching for a half-hour or more, so that you'll have a good sense of what birds are in your area.
• At the end of the day submit your bird checklist on the GBBC web site. Fill out the questions about your location, local habitat, and count duration. Then enter your high counts for each species sighted on that day and location. You can submit one bird checklist for each day that you count or for each new area that you count in.

To learn how you can be a part of the 2010 Great Backyard Bird Count, go to the following website: http://www.audubon.org/gbbc/index.shtml This is a terrific family activity that increases awareness of our feathered friends while enjoying the great out-of-doors!

The 25^th Annual Conference of the Illinois Lake Management Association will be held March 3 - 5 at the Holiday Inn Select, Naperville, IL. Topics to be presented include Water Quality, Aquatic Plant Management, Lake Protection & Restoration, Shoreline Erosion Control, Innovating Uses of Volunteer-collected Data, Wetland Restoration, Remote Sensing, Recreational Use Conflicts, Cost-Share Assistance for Watershed Groups, Reducing Non-Point Pollution, and other Educational Programs.

This is an excellent program to share with watershed groups, homeowner associations, park districts, and conservation groups. For a complete listing of sessions and speakers and to register, visit the conference website http://ilma-lakes.org or contact Mike Adam, 3010 Grand Avenue, Waukegan IL 60085. Ph (847) 377-8002, email madam@lakecountyil.gov

Cost of feeding the animal is by far the most expensive part of dairy and livestock production. Historically the list of feedstuffs available to feed animals has been fairly constant (grain, forages and protein supplements). However, with the advent of the ethanol industry and the further processing of grain, the co-products resulting from these processes has opened up a whole new area of feed sources.

Even though there are many feedstuffs available, it has been a challenge for producers to compare these different feedstuffs as they can vary in dry matter, protein and energy. Creating a bigger problem is the same feedstuffs from different processing plants can vary in their nutrient value. Also, with moisture ranging from dry 10-15% up to moderate of 40 to 60% and even some high moisture products in the 70-80% moisture, it is nearly impossible for producers to come up with the cheapest sources of feedstuffs. To further complicate things the storage losses on some of these feedstuffs can range from 5 or 10% up to 30 to 50% or more.

A new program called the "Cost of Feedstuffs Tool" on the Farm Analysis Solution Tools (FAST) web site at the University of Illinois can assist producers in comparing the different costs of feedstuffs. This tool can be located on FarmDoc at the University of Illinois and can be secured by going to http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/fasttools/index.asp Access to this program can be found at other locations including the University of Illinois Illini DairyNET and Illini BeefNET web sites http://www.livestocktrail.uiuc.edu/ Also, the program is posted on the Illinois Value Added Sustainable Development Center – Co-Products – at Western Illinois University http://www.value-added.org/renewableEnergy/ethanol/ddgs/

The Cost of Feedstuffs Tools allows livestock managers, consultants, and veterinarians to compare the cost of purchasing, transporting and storage losses for different feedstuffs. The feedstuffs library includes 120 different feedstuffs comprising: 22 company co-products; 25 by-products; 5 new generation co-products; 27 forages; 11 grains; 9 crop residues; 12 silages; and 9 supplements. In addition, producers can add additional feedstuffs available on their farm.

Each of these feedstuffs can be compared to the default feedstuffs comprised of number two shelled corn; 44% soybean meal and mid-bloom alfalfa hay. Groups of 5, 10 or 15 different feedstuffs can be compared at one time with the feedstuffs ranked on a "Cost per Pound of Energy" or "Cost per Pound of Protein" basis.

Support for the development of this computer program was provided by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, University of Illinois Extension; and Departments of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and Animal Sciences Departments.

Programmer for the Cost of Feedstuffs Tool was done by Brooks Schaffer graduate student in the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics. For additional information on the Costs of Feedstuffs Tools calculator please contact: Dr. Mike Hutjens, Dairy Extension Specialist, University of Illinois (217-333-2928); Dave Seibert, Animal Systems Educator, University of Illinois Extension (309-694-7501); or Dr. Gary Schnitkey, Farm Management Extension Specialist (217-244-9595) at the University of Illinois.