Pesticide Applicator Training and Testing for private applicators will be held at the Hancock County Extension Office in Carthage on January 22, 2008, with training beginning at 1:00p.m. The test will be conducted by IDOA staff immediately following the training.

The Illinois Pesticide Safety Act requires individual farmers and others to become certified as a Private Pesticide Applicator in order to purchase and use "restricted use pesticides." To become certified, you must pass a closed book, 50 question exam given by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. In order to help applicators prepare for the exam, University of Illinois Extension offers Pesticide Safety Education Program clinics as well as a training manual and workbook.

The certification exam is based on information found in the training manual. The manual is available at your local Extension Office. There will be a $30 registration fee for all PSEP Clinics this year. This is in addition to the IDOA licensing fee. Seating will be limited, so you will have two options for registering in advance:

1. Register and pay in advance by credit card at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/hancock

2. Register in advance on the website or by
calling the Extension Office, and pay in
advance in person at the Extension Office by cash or check.

If you have any questions regarding the PSEP Clinics, please call the Hancock County Extension Unit at (217) 357-2150.

With farmland values rapidly increasing and operators getting larger in acreage size, expectations in lease agreements are being challenged like never before. Questions often arise such as:

·How does my farm compare?

·Who should pay for this?

·What do I need to know?

·Am I being fair?

Join us on Wednesday, January 30 from 10:30a.m. to 1:00p.m. at the Hancock County Extension Office in Carthage as we host Kevin Brooks, University of Illinois Extension Farm Business Management & Marketing Educator, whowill address the answers to these questions, as well as many other current concerns that pertain to farmland owners in Hancock County.

Lunch and reference materials will be provided for those who pre-register. Cost for the program is $10 per person. Registration deadline is Friday, January 25th. For more information or to register, call (217) 357-2150 or register online at www.extension.uiuc.edu/hancock.

We've seen quite a few owners of small acreages that have found themselves wondering how they might derive some kind of income from those acres. This trend isn't new, but is steadily growing. It's not confined to Quincy, but can be found throughout the entire tri state area. A common question to many Extension offices is now that I've purchased this acreage, what can I do with it? And it's just not only the small acreage owners wanting to find additional income opportunities, but larger producers are also inquiring about additional income producing activities.

For this reason, we've developed a program we're calling "Putting Small Acres to Work". The program is essentially a primer on income producing opportunities available for small acreages. Topics for this program will include: Hoophouses for vegetable and fruit growers; Culinary herbs; Timber; Poultry for the backyard; Beekeeping; Marketing yourself and your product; Legal issues of rural living; Assessing your values; and Goats to milk. We'll have 3 breakout sessions, with each topic presented once. So you'll get an opportunity to listen to 3 of the breakout sessions (you may want to bring your partner along to allow more information to be learned). We'll also have a farmer panel during dinner that will discuss their marketing/business plan and what were their greatest challenges and successes along with biggest mistakes.

At the conclusion of the program, we will gather the entire group together for a presentation on "Resources for Small Farmers". All the speakers for the evening are producers or specialists who are practicing the craft they will speak on.

The program will be offered at the Adams County Farm Bureau, on Thursday evening, Feb. 7^th, from 5pm-9pm. The cost will be $30 per person, which will include an evening meal. The program is sponsored by U of IL and MO Extension and WISAS.

To register, contact the U of I Adams/Brown Extension unit, prior to Feb. 4^th, at 217-223-8380, or visit our web site www.extension.uiuc.edu/adams.

Did you know that over 150 crops are suitable for growing in McDonough County alone? Western Illinois University established an Alternative Crops Research Program in August 2000 and their research has included crops such as cuphea, milkweed, and oilseed okra. Demonstration plots at the WIU Agricultural Field Laboratory feature over twenty different alternative crops. University of Illinois Extension and Western Illinois University have joined together to offer a workshop titled "New Frontiers in Alternative Crops". The program will be held on Monday, February 11, 2008 from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. at the 4-H Auditorium located at 3022 W. Jackson, Macomb.

Dr. Win Phippen, professor and director of the alternative crops program at Western Illinois University, will provide an overview of the general attributes of various alternative crops for thebirdseed,forage, feed, fiber, nutraceutical, industrial oilseed, and cosmetic industries. Collaborator and research agronomist Fred Iutzi will talk about the potential of canola, miscanthus, triticale, and other crops for biofuel.

Owner of Midwest Grass and Forage, Scott Jones, will discuss using plants in the brassica family, such as forage radish, as alternative forages. He will also highlight their noted benefits for weed control, compaction alleviation, and extended fall grazing.

Alternative crops are often used for many things. Did you know that milkweed floss was used to stuff life preserver jackets during World War II? Dr. Win Phippen will explain the current potential uses of milkweed, including the most recent information on the production and marketing aspects of milkweed components.

At this workshop, participant involvement in developing new alternative crops will be solicited. The role of on-farm research and farmer-researcher collaboration in the development of new alternative crops will be discussed in an open dialogue session.

To attend this dynamic workshop, call the McDonough County University of Illinois Extension Office at 309-837-3939 and register. It's never too early to call, and don't forget to mark your calendar! Registration cost is $5 to cover refreshments and materials. As a courtesy, please register by February 6, 2008.

Production and harvest strategies will highlight the Alfalfa Production and Harvesting Workshop hosted by University of Illinois Extension on February 29. The program is from 9:30 am to 12 Noon and will be presented via distance delivery at 31 University of Illinois Extension offices across the state, including Hancock County. Registration begins at 9 am.

"Alfalfa growers, dealers and consultants will hear about current production, harvest, and protection strategies that impact the profitability of alfalfa operations," reports Jim Morrison, Extension Educator, crop systems. "Information will be presented to help fine-tune management plans for the 2008 crop".

Kevin Shinners, University of Wisconsin-Madison agricultural engineer, will discuss "Ways to Speed Hay Dry Down". "Roundup Ready Alfalfa – What's the Current Situation?" will be presented by Aaron Hager, University of Illinois Extension weed specialist.

Carl Bradley, Extension pathologist at the University of Illinois, will discuss "Managing Alfalfa Diseases – Where to Start?" and Jim Morrison Extension Educator, crop systems will provide an "Update on Nitrogen Credit from Alfalfa". Paul Peterson, Extension forage specialist, University of Minnesota, will round out the program by addressing "How Hardy is Alfalfa? – Lessons Learned from the '07 Easter Freeze".

Continuing education units in IPM and Crop Management for Certified Crop Advisers have been requested. The program is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension.

For more information and to register, contact the Hancock County Extension Unit office at 217-357-2150. There will be a $5 fee per person for handout materials.

The Hancock County Extension Unit will host a workshop on estate planning on Monday, March 3, 2008. This workshop will include information for individuals interested in estate planning from a personal perspective as well as from a farm and small business perspective. The workshop will be held beginning with registration at 9:30 A.M. at the Hancock County Extension Office, 550 N Madison, Carthage. The morning session will include an introductory session on understanding the importance and purposes of estate planning and estate planning terminology. Also included in the morning session will be information on property ownership forms and how property title is titled.

Following lunch, beginning at 12:45 P.M., the afternoon session will complement information presented in the morning session by focusing on minimizing the estate tax burden and meeting estate settlement costs. A local attorney will offer an in-depth look at additional estate planning tools available including revocable living trusts. The afternoon will conclude with a moderated panel discussion featuring an opportunity for participants to ask questions of the presenters.

Lead presenter for the workshop will be Jim Endress, Certified Financial Planner and Extension Educator, Farm Business Management and Marketing, Rockford Extension Center.

Cost for the workshop will be $15 per person or $25 per couple sharing materials. Morning break refreshments and lunch will be provided along with additional information for all participants. Please make your reservations with the Hancock County Extension Unit by Thursday, February 28. Please call the Hancock County Extension Unit at 217-357-2150 if you have any questions.

Western IL/ NE MO No-till and Crop
Management Conference

This years conference will be held at the Quincy City Center (formerly the Holiday Inn on 3^rd St.), on Tuesday, Jan. 29^th, beginning at 9:30am, and concluding at 2:30pm. Breakout sessions include: Managing continuous corn; Cover crops; Weed resistance management; Year in review; Marketing; Technology in Ag; Fungicides in corn and soybean. The general session topic will be: The 7 wonders of the corn world. Speakers from IL and MO Extension will be featured. CCA credits have been applied for. Cost is $12 per person, and included lunch and refreshments. Contact the Adams county SWCD to register. 217-224-9305.

Beef Meeting

Monday evening, Feb. 4^th, at the Timewell School basement, from 6-9pm, we'll have a program for beef producers. Topics to be discussed will include: Stretching short hay supplies; Economic feeding/rations; Grass and legume losses due to summer stresses; Utilizing summer annuals more effectively. Presenters will include Dean Oswald, U of I Extension, Monte Rowland, Ursa Farmers Coop and Scott Jones, Midwest Grass and Forage.

Annies Project

Beginning Wed. Feb. 6 (6-9pm) and Thursday Feb. 7 (9am-noon) and continuing each week for the next 5 weeks, this program is targeted towards farm women, to help them understand the complexities of all aspects of farm management. Topics include: managing money, setting up farm leases, basic grain marketing, insurance products, and putting together a business plan which includes financial documents like balance sheets, income statements and cash flows, using spreadsheets and internet websites for making decisions. The cost is $50 per person and classes will be held at Unity High School. To register, contact our office. The day session will be a repeat of the preceding evening session to enable more to attend.

Western IL Fruit and Vegetable School

Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Adams County Farm Bureau basement, we'll provide opportunities for area fruit and vegetable growers to hear about topics of interest. Dr. Rick Weinzierl, Extension entomologist and Dr. Elizabeth Wahle, Extension specialist, will be amongst the featured speakers. We're still working on the final program, but will feature fruit in the morning and vegetables in the afternoon. Industry reps will also be on hand. Contact our office for more info.

Soil and Water Workshop

Sustaining Illinois Soils will be discussed Thursday, Feb. 21^st, at the Camp Point United Methodist Church, from 9am-2pm. Topics covered during the workshop will include Illinois Soils and basic soil survey techniques; soil carbon and climate change; using dredged Illinois River sediment to enhance poor soils; phosphorus cycling in soils; and soil microbial processes. Pre-registration by February 14 is required. Registration costs are $30 per person, which includes lunch. 4 hours of CCA credit in Soil and Water and 1 hour in Nutrient Management will be offered. To register, contact our office or visit the web site.

Western IL Crop Scout School

The annual school will be held Wed. Feb. 27, at the Camp Point United Methodist Church. U of I Specialists and Educators will be providing the information. Topics will include: IL SCN Type test; Control of resistant waterhemp; Intensive wheat management; Corn, Soybean and Wheat leaf diseases; Fungicide use in corn and soybean; Troubleshooting. The program will begin at 9am and conclude at 2pm. Cost will be $30 per person, which includes lunch. CCA hours will be offered. Contact our office or visit our web site for registration.

University of Illinois Extension is offering five farm management programs available online beginning in the winter of 2008. These programs were created to assist farmers and landowners in making farm management decisions. The programs can be completed at home using a computer and an internet connection that is higher than standard dial-up. The programs will consist of lesson modules, email communication, and a message board for anonymous discussions. The programs can be completed during any time of the day or day of the week and run in length from five weeks to eight weeks.

The programs being offered beginning in February are:

Grain Marketing Boot Camp - A basic course designed for the novice commodity marketer interested in learning how to sell their grain production.
.
Farm Financial Management - Designed to assist producers and landowners in assessing their financial situation and planning for the future.
.
Farmland Ownership 101 - Program is geared to assist the farm land owner in better managing their farm land and improve landowner/tenant relationships.
.
Quicken® for Farm Producers - A course that instructs on using Quicken software to track and analyze farm financial records.
.
Crop Insurance Decision Making - Aids producers in analyzing how the farm operation marketing plan can utilize various crop insurance products.

Enrollment is currently ongoing and class size is limited. Course fees are $75 per course. Quicken® for Farm Producers has an additional charge $20 for the textbook. Grain Marketing Boot Camp has an additional $10 fee for the workbook.

Registration can be done online after January 1^st at:

web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaigncenter/fbm.html

For further information contact:

Kevin Brooks
Champaign Extension Center
801 N. Country Fair Drive
Suite E
Champaign, IL 61821
Phone:217-333-4901
kwbrooks@uiuc.edu

Each month during the 2007–2008 school year, the Hancock County Agricultural Literacy Program is visiting 81 classrooms for a total of 1,326 students . Topics presented during the fall have included apples, pumpkins, poultry, genetics, corn, soybeans, food chains, integrated pest management, trees, soils, and much more. During the spring, students will study a variety of topics including pork production, dairy, horses, pasta, sheep, plants, and farm animal babies.

In November, LaHarpe 1st and 5th grade teachers invited me into their classrooms to teach their students about agriculture for the remainder of the school year. Thanks to all teachers that participate in the program, making it such a success!

The "Adopt-a-Classroom" campaign is underway and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following businesses and organizations for sponsoring agriculture education in their local elementary schools:

·Warsaw FFA

·First Bankers Trust Company

·Bank of Advance–Bowen

·Hotel Nauvoo

If you would like to "adopt" a classroom or classrooms, the cost is $25 per classroom and information is available by contacting Dawn Weinberg at 217-357-2150 or dweinber@uiuc.edu.