Ag and Natural Resources
Twenty-eight growers attended the 2005 Vegetable Growers School held in February. University of Illinois specialists presented new research on varieties, pest management, and marketing.
A total of 262 farmers attended Extension’s 2005 Pesticide Safety Education Program at Kankakee Community College. Attendees then completed the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s certification exam for restricted use pesticides.
Over 130 cases that involved the environment, natural resources and agriculture, were answered by phone or visits by the Ag/Natural Resources educator.
Soybean Rust disease became an issue in 2005 following reports that it had entered the US through Florida. Awareness, preparedness, and scouting for the disease were taught to over 50 farmers and agribusiness people.
Crop scouting techniques were demonstrated to local farmers to identify soybean aphid, corn rootworm, soybean blight, and other pests and diseases.
