November

14 - Marketing Seminar * Geneseo * Jeff Beal of Strategic Marketing * Dinner 6:30 pm * Pre-registration required, $16 *

15 - Advances in Agricultural Drainage Seminar * Black Hawk East Building 4, Room 4-102 * 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. *

15 - Pond Management Seminar * Black Hawk East Building 4, Room 4-102 * 6:30 – 8 p.m. *

15 - IPT Bull Sale Nominations Due

15-16 - Professional Swine Managers Conference * Springfield *

29 – Dec. 1 - Greater Peoria Farm Show * Peoria Civic Center * Peoria * 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. *

December

1 - IPT Bull Sale Nominations Due

14 - 2^nd Annual I-80 Agricultural Expo * Annawan Meeting & Banquet Center * Annawan * 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. *

14 - Farm Income Workshop * Holiday Inn – Airport * Moline * 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. *

15 - IPT Bull Sale Nominations Due

January

4 & 5 - Illinois Crop Protection Technology Conference 2006 * U of I campus * Illini Union *

6 - PSE TRAINING & TESTING * BHE Auditorium * 8:30 a.m. * Pre-registration is required *

10 - 2006 Certified Livestock Manager Training Workshop * Knox County Extension Office * Galesburg * 8:15 a.m. *

10 - Corn & Soybean Classic 2006 * Bloomington * 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. *

11 & 12 - Illinois Organic Production Conference * Interstate Center * Blooimington *

12 - Corn & Soybean Classic 2006 * Moline * 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. *

February

8 - PSE TRAINING & TESTING * Homestead Restaurant * Woodhull * 8:30 a.m. * Pre-registration is required *

8 - PSE TRAINING & TESTING * Homestead Restaurant * Woodhull * 1:00 p.m. * Pre-registration is required *

23 - Winter Beef Expo [Illinois Performance Test (IPT) Bull Sale] * Illinois State Fairgrounds * Springfield *

March

16 - PSE TESTING ONLY * Wyoming Methodist Church * 9 – 11 a.m. * Pre-registration is required *

16 - PSE TESTING ONLY * Henry County Farm Bureau * Cambridge * 1 – 3 p.m. * Pre-registration is required *

First of all if you don't have access to the web and you would like more information or to register for one of the programs highlighted in this newsletter, don't hesitate to give our office a call and talk to a real person at 853-1533 between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

If you are online you have the best of both worlds; you can give the office a call, email me at jwest@uiuc.edu, or read this newsletter again online 24/7 at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/henrystark/agnr.html . NOTE that you will find the Ag News link in the right-hand column under the news releases.

There are two major advantages to bookmarking this site on your computer. First, you can trash this newsletter instead of trying to remember where you put it when you need it. Second, the online version also provides clickable links from within the newsletter thus saving you the time of typing them into your browser address line.

November 14, 2005 * Winner's Circle * Geneseo * 6:30 p.m.

The 2005 Marketing Seminar series will be held on Monday, November 14, at the Winner's Circle, 109 East Orange Street, Geneseo.

The featured speaker will be Jeff Beal of Strategic Marketing Services. This is the fourth of four seminars; a buffet supper is included. Cost of the seminar is $16 (unless paid for the series of four).

Reservations are requested for an accurate meal count by November 10, 2005. Contact the Henry-Stark Extension office at 309-853-1533 or the Henry County Farm Bureau at 309-937-2411 or email Jeff West at jwest@uiuc.edu.

This program is brought to you by the Henry County Farm Bureau Marketing Committee, Henry-Stark Extension, State Bank of Toulon, 1st Farm Credit Services, People's National Bank, State Bank of Annawan, and Michlig Agri-Center.

November 15 * BHE Building 4, Room 4-102 * Kewanee * 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Agriculture producers and landowners who want to learn more about current research on agriculture drainage and decision aids for design and economic analysis are encouraged to attend the Agricultural Drainage Seminar on November 15.

Sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension Henry-Stark Unit and the Stark County SWCD, this two-hour seminar will be held Tuesday, November 15 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Black Hawk East in Building 4, Room 4-102, which is in the small buildings east of the main building. The program will be delivered statewide via the Extension teleconference system and local PowerPoint presentation. The conference system allows you to gain direct real-time access to experts around the state while allowing Extension to reduce programming costs to participate.

Seminar topics will include background on soil characteristics, introduction to drainage system design, and tools for system design. The information and tools available in the recently revised Illinois Drainage Guide will be the focus of much of the seminar. Based on the previous printed version, the web-based Illinois Drainage Guide incorporates interactive design and economic analysis tools with surface and subsurface drainage guidelines. Dr. Richard Cooke, revising author of the Illinois Drainage Guide, will highlight tools available from the web site useful for designing and evaluating drainage.

Program registration will be $5 and can be made by contacting University of Illinois Extension Henry-Stark Unit office at 853-1533 or jwest@uiuc.edu, or the Stark County SWCD office at 286-5961. Registration for this program is required by 12:00 noon on Friday, November 11.

November 15 * BHE Building 4, Room 4-102 * Kewanee * 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Is your pond being taken over by aquatic vegetation every summer just when you want to start enjoying it or using the water for livestock? Are you considering stocking or restocking your pond with fish in 2006?

This year don't put off thinking about taking care of your pond until summer, when it's too late! This year mark November 15 on your calendar and plan to attend the Pond Management Seminar. The program will be sponsored by University of Illinois Extension Henry-Stark Unit and Stark County SWCD from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the Black Hawk East Campus in Building 4, Room 4-102. The program will be delivered statewide via the Extension teleconference system and local PowerPoint presentation. The conference system allows you to gain direct real-time access to experts around the state while allowing Extension to reduce programming costs to participate.

Topics to be covered by Extension educators in Natural Resources Management will include managing aquatic vegetation, fish management, and basic pond ecology. Handouts will be provided and time will be allowed for questions. Additional handouts will also be available from Stark County SWCD or NRCS.

Program registration will be $5 and can be made by contacting University of Illinois Extension Henry-Stark Unit office at 853-1533 or jwest@uiuc.edu or the Stark County SWCD office at 286-5961. Registration for this program is required by 12:00 noon on Friday, November 11.

November 15 – 16 * Springfield

"Fine-tuning a swine production operation to maximize productivity and profitability will be the theme of a November 15 – 16 conference in Springfield. The Springfield event is one of several stops for the 2005 Professional Managers Conference sponsored by the National Pork Board," said Rob Knox, University of Illinois Extension Swine Reproduction Specialist.

"This two-day meeting will offer practical information that can be applied immediately by a swine unit manager, producer-owner, or employee," said Knox.

Among the topics to be covered are gilt pool management, electrical pitfalls, biosecurity, ventilation management, employee management and training, and animal welfare.

"Presentations are delivered by local and national swine experts," said Knox. "There is also a session for attendees to share their best management tips that might be helpful to other producers."

The conference costs $100 for pre-registration, $125 for on-day, on-site registration, and includes meals. The entire conference agenda can be viewed online at http://www.porkboard.org . Further information can be obtained by calling the National Pork Board at 1-800-456-PORK or Knox at 217-244-5177.

Nominations – Three Opportunities (November 15, December 1 and 15)

* Winter Beef Expo * February 23, 2006 * Illinois State Fairgrounds

Purebred breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2006 Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale during the Winter Beef Expo on Thursday, February 23 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Livestock Center in Springfield. The sale accepts older bulls as well as yearlings–birth date limits are January 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005.

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 by writing Dave Seibert, East Peoria Extension Center, 727 Sabrina Drive, East Peoria, IL 61611 or by calling 309-694-7501 ext. 224.

November 29 – December 1 * Peoria Civic Center * Peoria * 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Don't miss the 24th Greater Peoria Farm Show, November 29 through December 1, at the Peoria Civic Center. This year there will be more than 300 companies exhibiting their products and services in more than 700 booths and exhibits. As many as 30,000 people are expected to attend this free event; the largest indoor farm show in Illinois.

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 upcoming winter Extension meetings. The three-day event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on 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 web site at www.farmshowsusa.com . Admission is free, so bring the whole family and enjoy the show.

December 14 * Annawan Meeting and Banquet Center (adjoining the Holiday Inn Express), Annawan, IL * 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

After last year's positive response from participants and company representatives, we came to the conclusion that we should try it again. With that in mind, Henry-Stark and Bureau Units of University of Illinois Extension and the Farm Bureau in Henry, Stark, and Bureau Counties have again joined up with Liberty Publishing to bring you a local farm trade show.

The Expo will be held at the Holiday Inn Express Banquet Center and will feature the following between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

· Booths manned by local company representatives

· Free admission and door prizes

· Lunch available from the Henry County Beef Association from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

· 30-minute rotating workshops

Watch newspapers for a detailed overview of session topics and times.

December 14 * Holiday Inn-Airport * Moline * 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

"Farm Income 2006: A Workshop Addressing Decision-Making Challenges in a Risky Environment" will be offered in Springfield on December 8, Rochelle on December 13, and Moline on December 14.

"This is a continuation of a series we've offered for the past few years," explained Darrel Good, University of Illinois Extension Marketing Specialist. "University of Illinois Extension specialists and faculty will lead sessions on things producers can do to increase their competitiveness in today's challenging environment."

Each workshop begins at 8:30 a.m. and adjourns at 3:45 p.m. General sessions will cover Illinois farm income outlook for 2006, preparations for the new farm bill, and the implications of rising input costs for crop rotations and cash rent values.

Breakout sessions include a hands-on computer session geared toward calculating production costs; financial planning and cash-flow budgeting for 2006, also using computers; the top 10 issues in agricultural law and taxation; and using technical analysis as part of a crop marketing program.

Co-sponsors of the workshops include the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association, and the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Registration is $40 and includes workshop materials, breaks, and lunch. Registration at the door will be $45 as space permits. Registration can be completed online at farmdoc: http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu .

January 4 and 5, 2006 * University of Illinois Campus * Illini Union

The 2006 conference altered, and hopefully streamlined, the format of the conference this year with even more focus on the important issues. We have concentrated our programming efforts on issue-based symposia that should have broad appeal to people who attend the conference and we have omitted the specialized sessions, which will be offered at other University of Illinois Extension programs. At this year's conference, an opening session for all registrants is followed, after lunch, by three issue-based symposia on the first afternoon. Three different issue-based symposia will be held on the second morning, followed by a compelling closing session that everyone should want to attend.

An overview as well as a detailed agenda will soon be online at the same web address listed below for registration.

Registration for the Crop Protection Technology is $120 on or before December 16 and $150 after December 16. For online information or online registration go to http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/conferences/cptc/index.html . For hard copy information and registration forms contact the Henry-Stark Extension office.

January 10, 2006 * Knox County Extension Office * Galesburg * 8:15 a.m.

This workshop will primarily be aimed at swine producers with examples and discussion, but is open to ALL producers. Workshop registration will start at 8:15 a.m. and the workshop itself will begin at 8:50 a.m. Participants arriving after 9:20 a.m. cannot be certified for attending the workshop. The Illinois Department of Agriculture written exam will be offered at 1:30 p.m.

For more information about this program or to determine whether you are eligible to participate in an online quiz, go to www.livestocktraining.com . To sign up, contact Randy Fonner, Extension C.L.M.T. Coordinator at 217-333-2611 or email at refonner@uiuc.edu .

If you would like additional hard copy information on this specific program or similar ones around the state, give the Henry-Stark Extension office a call at 853-1533.

January 11 and 12, 2006 * Interstate Center * Bloomington

A conference on organic production will be held at the Interstate Center in Bloomington on January 11 and 12, 2006. The conference is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension and the Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program at the University of Illinois.

This second annual conference will provide practical science-based information on organic production, certification, and marketing.

"This will be the best opportunity in Illinois for farmers to network, learn, and gather resources on organic farming in the state," said conference organizer Dan Anderson.

The conference fee is $85 for early registration and $125 after December 16. For more information and to register, visit the conference web site at www.aces.uiuc.edu/asap/orgconf/ or contact Dan Anderson at 217-333-1588.

January 10, 2006 * Bloomington * 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

January 12, 2006 * Moline * 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Extreme weather, rising cost, pests, and the fear of pests challenged Illinois corn and soybean producers in 2005, a year in agriculture that won't soon be forgotten. These same challenges, however, enabled us to learn more about crops under very taxing conditions. The lessons learned and the information gathered during 2005 should help inform your crop management decisions for 2006 and thereafter.

Corn & Soybean Classic daily schedule: Presentations and Speakers

The following schedule applies to each of the Classic conference dates. On-site-registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. Each Classic will adjourn at 3:30 p.m. Travel schedules may require a change in the order of speakers.

• Fertilizing Corn with Expensive Nitrogen - Emerson Nafziger
• Managing the Risk of Crop Marketing Decisions - Darrel Good
• Bt Hybrids for Corn Rootworms and European Corn Borers: Where's the IPM? - Mike Gray
• The Costs of Managing Insects in Soybeans - Kevin Steffey
• Managing Given Higher Corn and Soybean Cost - Gary Schnitkey
• It's Really a Matter of Time - Aaron Hager
• Misconceptions About SCN Management in Illinois - Terry Niblack
• Asian Soybean Rust Management: It's Not If, It's When - Suzanne Bissonnette

Registration for the commodity classic is $35 on or before December 23 or pre-registration online by January 4. Walk-ins will be charged $50 per person. Note that fax and phone registrations will not be accepted this year. To register or simply to learn more about the program go to http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/conferences/csc/index.html. For hard copy information and registration forms, contact the Henry-Stark Extension office.

Certified Crop Advisor Credits
Nutrient management	1.0
Crop management	1.0
Integrated pest management	3.0
Program development	0.5

* Formerly Known as PPAT – Private Pesticide Applicator Training and Testing Clinics

NOTE that there are a large number of producers in Henry and Stark Counties who will need to re-test sometime before the planning season begins next spring. There are also additional individuals who may be considering testing for the first time due to the need for soil insecticide application on first year corn. (Point – Plan ahead and register early; some locations may fill up quickly.)

Manuals and study guides will be available for $7.50 from the Henry-Stark Extension office located on the campus of Black Hawk East in Building 4. Direct mail of the manual via the Henry-Stark Extension office is also an option for an additional $3.95 per manual. This year's private applicator testing manual is 39-7 (October 1999). If you already have one, then there is no need to get another one.

Additional reference information on the various testing and their associated manuals, as well as a list of additional training and testing sites will soon (first part of December) be made available online at http://www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu/ .

Dates for TRAINING and TESTING in the Henry-Stark Unit:

• January 6 * starts 8:30 a.m. * Black Hawk East Auditorium (pre-registration required – walk-ins may be limited)
• February 8 * starts 8:30 a.m. * Woodhull's Homestead Restaurant banquet room (pre-registration required – walk-ins may be limited)
• February 8 * starts 1:00 p.m. * Woodhull's Homestead banquet room (pre-registration required – walk-ins may be limited)

TESTING ONLY Sites in Henry and Stark Counties

• March 16 * 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. * Wyoming Methodist Church basement (pre-registration required – walk-ins may be limited)
• March 16 * 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. * Cambridge * Henry County Farm Bureau upstairs meeting room (pre-registration required – walk-ins may be limited)

If you cannot work one of these dates into your schedule, you will want to check the web site calendar at http://www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu/ or call the Extension office for surrounding area programs prior to December 15 to ensure availability.

I found, as I'm sure you will, that for a dry year the University of Illinois variety test plot results were amazingly high with 200 bushel plot averages. It's a little hard from our vantage point to see how yields could be this high. However, these results as well those provided by seed companies across the state might be a little more useful than area farm or plot results when it comes to making a variety selection for next year.

The data from the 2005 plots can be found on-line at http://vt.cropsci.uiuc.edu/index.html . You can also contact the office to purchase the results in booklet format after December 1.