Due to the limited number of producers who are scheduled to re-certify this year, there are a very limited number of sites to choose from. Check the following dates on your calendar if you need to re-test. If none match up with your needs, check with the Extension office for a complete list of surrounding county sites. An online statewide training and testing site calendar can be found at http://www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu/training/private/index.html.

Testing Only – March 23 * 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. * Wyoming Methodist Church

Testing Only – March 23 * 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. * Henry County Farm Bureau, Cambridge

January 26 * 7:00 p.m.
Kewanee High School Auditorium Foyer
Register by Monday, January 24
Sponsored by University of Illinois Extension Henry-Stark Unit and the Kewanee High School Vo-Ag Department

If you are a corn and soybean producer in the tri-county area, you need to check your calendar for this excellent mid-winter evening update. As you can see the program will include an update from University of Illinois Extension, as well as information concerning access to FSA services online.

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

"What Producers Need to Know Before Spring Planting Season"
Dave Feltes, U of I Extension Educator, Integrated Pest Management

• Asian Soybean Rust basics including crop scouting and identification procedures
• Rootworm product failure last year; both insecticide and plant genetic-based
• Plus predicting first year corn rootworm damage in '06 with sticky traps in '05
• Comments on potential outbreak of soybean aphids in '05

8:10 – 8:40 p.m.

"Demonstration of NEW egoverment Producers Online Option at FSA"
John Ellis and Rich Stewart, Henry County FSA office

Accessing and using your field maps

Process your LDP online – get payment in 48 hours

Review a complete statement of your activities with FSA

Conservation programming options

Registration will be $3 at the door, however, phone ahead reservations must be made by Monday, January 24. Contact the Extension office at 853-1533 (or email jwest@uiuc.edu) or Harley Hepner at Kewanee High School at 853-3328.

February 3 * 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. * Black Hawk East Conference Center

University of Illinois Extension will sponsor an area beef seminar at Black Hawk East Campus in the Conference Center on February 3. Topics will include:

• "Using Corn By-Products to Improve Beef Cow and Feedlot Economic Efficiency" * Dan Faulkner, Beef Extension Specialist, U of I
• "U.S. Animal Identification Plan: Protecting American Animal Agriculture" * Dr. Geoff Dahl, Department of Animal Science, U of I
• "Identifying Your Herds Carcass Potential – EPDs and DNA Markers" * Dr. Doug Parrett, Beef Extension Specialist, U of I
• "Measuring Cow Calf Profitability and Financial Efficiency" * Dr. Alan Miller, Illinois IRM/SPA Coordinator, U of I
• "Opportunities for Increasing Revenue in Illinois Beef Operations" * Dr. Rich Knipe, Extension Beef Educator, U of I

Registration cost will be $12 per person, covering handouts and the noon meal by January 30 or at the door $16. All students FREE without lunch. Call or email the Extension office for reservations.

* February 3 * 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. * Ramada Conference Center (formerly Holiday Inn Brandywine), Peoria *

"Hi-Tech Tillage and Nutrient Management" will be theme for the 2005 Illinois Regional Tillage Seminars. The program for this seminar, listed below, features an outstanding line-up of state and nationally recognized speakers.

8:00 – 8:50 a.m. Registration, Meet with Agri-business Exhibitors, Coffee & Rolls

8:50 – 9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks and Welcome

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. The 2004 Cropping Year in Review, U of I Natural Resources Educator

9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Principles of Conservation Drainage, Richard Cooke, U of I Ag & Biological Engineer

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 – 11:10 a.m. 2004 WATER Results, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Management, Bob Hoeft, U of I Extension Agronomist

11:10 a.m. – Noon Controlled Traffic, Wireless Field Data Collection, Clay Mitchell, Iowa Farmer

Noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Visit with Exhibitors

1:00 – 1:15 p.m. Status of T by 2000 and Tillage Trends, Regional Representative, Illinois Department of Agriculture

1:15 – 1:45 p.m. New Strip-till and Water Quality Research, Dan Towery, Conservation Technology Information Center

1:45 – 2:15 p.m. Getting Your Farm Ready to Take Advantage of the CSP Program & Payments, Dave Brandt, NRCS, McHenry County

2:15 – 2:45 p.m. Status of Conservation Compliance/Use of RUSLE-2 to Calculate Soil Loss, Steve Hollister, NRCS Area Agronomist

2:45 – 3:15 p.m Farmer Experiences: The 'Light' Tillage Tools: Can They Be Used and Still Meet Conservation Compliance?

• Aerway
• Phoenix Harrow
• Phillips Harrow

3:15 – 3:30 p.m. Questions and Discussion for Farmer Panel

3:30 p.m. Seminar Adjourns, Meet with Exhibitors & Speakers

The Illinois Tillage Seminars will provide continuing education credit hours for Certified Crop Advisers.

Pre-registration is necessary and the deadline is Tuesday, January 25. Seating is limited so registration will be taken on a first-come basis. A $12 per person fee will be charged to cover room rental and noon luncheon. To register, include the following information with your check: Name of Meeting – Tillage Seminar, your name, address, and county of residence.

For more information, contact Bob Frazee, U of I Natural Resources Educator, phone 309-694-7501 ext. 226. Send registration to: Peoria County Extension, 4810 N. Sheridan Rd., Peoria, IL 61614 (phone 309-685-3140).

February 4 & 11 * 8:30 a.m. - @1:00 p.m. * Black Hawk East Conference Center *

* Registration $12.50 for each or $20 for both by January 25 *

Entomologists from five north-central states will be presenting a corn rootworm management workshop on February 4 and 11. The workshop will be presented by teleconference at multiple sites in Illinois and across the Midwest. Henry-Stark Extension will offer access to the program at Black Hawk East's Conference Center in Building 1.

NOTE: CCA Credit is available. Plan now to attend and register at the Extension office. Those who procrastinate may find the program cancelled. Registration due by January 25.

Entomologists from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska will be presenting information on managing the pest.

February 4 (8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)

• Check-in
• Program overview and introductions
• Corn rootworm fundamentals – biology
• Corn rootworm fundamentals – effects of weather on corn rootworm biology and performance of rootworm control products
• Corn rootworm situation in 2004:
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Minnesota
  • Nebraska
  • Other states (e.g., Kansas, Pennsylvania, Texas)
• Questions and answers
• Results from 2004 corn rootworm control efficacy trials
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Minnesota
  • Nebraska
• Questions and answers

February 11 (8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

• Check-in
• Recap of February 4 portion of the workshop
• Issues associated with corn rootworm management
  • Overview of the issues
  • Soil insecticides and seed treatments
  • YieldGuard Rootworm corn
  • Adult corn rootworm suppression
  • Variant western corn rootworm
  • Extended diapause
• Management of corn rootworms in 2005
• Questions and answers

* February 17 * 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. * Metro Center, Princeton *

Within the next several months, the Illinois Livestock industry will face its most important regulatory challenge that it must meet effectively if the industry is to remain a strong part of the agriculture economy. If you are producer and would like to know more, then mark your calendar for the February 17 workshop. This all day workshop is targeted at livestock producers and agri-business people who want to learn more about the new Illinois National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and its requirements.

Participants will learn who has to have a permit, what is required in applying for a permit, and permit application deadlines. Attendees will receive a copy of the Illinois Manure Management Plan workbook, which has all the necessary forms, worksheets, reference materials, and instructions to satisfy the permit requirements. Completing the workshop book will also satisfy manure plan

requirements in the Livestock Management Facilities Act, administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the requirements for a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan required by NRCS for EQIP fund for manure storage.

If you would like to know more about this important timely workshop, contact the Extension office and request a program brochure. Registration prior to the program is $15; registration at the door is $25.

* February 18 * 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. * Agri-Center, Galesburg *

Basic drainage design, new design information, drainage law, and working with contractors are among the host of topics that will be addressed at the 2005 Illinois Regional "What's New in Drainage?" workshop in Galesburg.

Topics to be discussed at the workshop include:

• The newly revised Illinois Drainage Guide, which will be available in the summer of 2005.
• "Drainage Concepts," with Bill Simmons, Associate Professor in Soil and Water Management. Simmons will focus on the impact of subsurface and surface drainage on production and the ecosystem.
• "Principles of Conservation Drainage," with Professor Cooke. Cooke's research has focused on the effect that tile depth and spacing has on drainage performance and the transport of nitrates.
• "Constituents of Tile Water," with Mike Hirschi, Professor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Hirschi will discuss ways to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous loss through drainage management.
• There will also be discussions on drainage law and new technologies, as well as a contractors panel that will discuss local issues and provide an installer's perspective on drainage systems.

Qualified participants in the workshop can earn 4.5 CCA (Certified Crop Advisor) credits for soil and water management and a half-credit for professional development; for a total of 5 credits.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Knox County Agri-Center, just off I-74 in Galesburg. A registration fee of $25 is due prior to Thursday, February 10 and includes a noon luncheon and take-home materials. Send registrations to University of Illinois Extension, Knox County, 180 South Soangetaha Road, Suite 108, Galesburg, Illinois 61401 or contact the Knox County office at 309-342-5108.

February 28 * 6:30 p.m. * Maple Leaf Inn, Geneseo *

Noted Iowa State Agriculture Meteorologist, Elwyn Taylor, will be featured in the first of a series of four quarterly marketing seminars starting on February 28 with a dinner seminar in Geneseo. This year's seminars will be held at the Maple Leaf Inn (formerly The Deck) just off I-80 starting with dinner at 6:30 p.m.

A registration fee of $16 will include a three meat buffet and the program. Contact the Henry County Farm Bureau office or the Extension office at least one week prior to the meeting.

* March 1 * 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. * Kewanee High School Auditorium Foyer *

The DEADLINE is just around the corner and you will soon be making a crop insurance decision for 2005 and although it might seem like taking the least costly option might be best, other options might be better for you.

If you would like to take a little closer look at crop insurance product options and learn about using some non-insurance company-based spreadsheets to help make your decision, then put March 1 on your calendar.

Jim Endress, University of Illinois Extension Farm Management Educator, will be presenting Crop Insurance Decision 2005.

Topics include:

• Review of products
• Changes for 2005
• Choosing between products
• Demonstration of the FAST Risk Model for making crop insurance and marketing choices

The program is co-sponsored by the Kewanee High School Vo-Ag Department. Program registration is $3 per person and will be due by Wednesday, February 23 at noon. Call ahead reservations are required to ensure program availability and can be made by contacting the Extension office at 853-1533 or jwest@uiuc.edu.

* March 7 * 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. * Bureau County Extension Office, Princeton *

Topics include:

• IlliniGraze – What It Is and How It Can Help
• EQIP Contracts – Making Them Work for You
• Making Cents Out of Records
• Pasture Diversity – Is More Better?
• Got Weeds? Got Problems?
• What's New In Grass?
• My Grazing Operation (Producer Panel)

Registration fee will cover meal, refreshments, and reference material. $20 per person if received by March 1 and $25 per person if paid at the door.

* March 18 * Dickson Mounds State Museum *

While developing a fee-hunting enterprise is clearly not a business strategy that will work for or appeal to everyone, savvy entrepreneurs have found a variety of ways to package and market hunting experiences to appeal to very lucrative markets, reaping nice returns on relatively low investments. If you are interested in learning more about fee hunting, we encourage you to attend the annual Fee Hunting Workshop, Friday, March 18, 2005, at Dickson Mounds State Museum located between Havana and Lewistown Illinois.

Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. and University of Illinois Extension are developing this year's workshop. It is intended to help landowners, outfitters, and others explore fee hunting as a business enterprise and strategy for deriving additional income from rural land. Topics include liability and risk management, business management and marketing, game and habitat management, but perhaps the best part of the workshop is the opportunity to interact personally and professionally with those in attendance with an interest in the fee hunting business.

Workshop flyers, including registration information will be available in mid-February with registration due during the first part of March. If you would like to be put on the mailing or email list contact University of Illinois Extension–Fulton County, 309-547-3711 or email ferreer@uiuc.edu. You may also contact David King's office at Prairie Hills RC&D- 309-833-4747 or email at David.King@il.

* March 29 * 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. * Black Hawk East Conference Center *

Don't miss what will likely be your last chance to participate in a Soybean Rust program before the 2005 growing season starts. The program will be delivered via the University of Illinois Extension statewide teleconference system. The Henry-Stark program will be held on March 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Black Hawk East's Conference Center in Building 1.

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Registration

9:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m. Program

Dr. Dean Malvick, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Illinois

Dr. Suzanne Bissonnette, Extension Educator, IPM, University of Illinois

Tentative Program Topics to be covered:

• Basics of Soybean Rust
• Overwintering
• Dispersal
• Infection
• Weather and environment for disease development
• Scouting and Diagnosis
• Illinois State Rust Management Plan
• Management
• Fungicides
• Future Potential for Resistant Cultivars
• Other Management Factors
• Discussion, Questions, and Answers

Registration for the program will be $5 and will include all of the program's handouts. Contact the Extension office by phone or email by March 25 to ensure a local meeting site at Black Hawk East.