University of Illinois Extension Lee County
Ag Newsletter
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/lee/agnews/
For more information, please contact:
Lee County Unit
280 W Wasson Rd
Amboy, IL 61310
Phone: 815-857-3525 / Fax: 815-857-3527
E-mail: lee_co@extension.uiuc.edu
Pre-registration required (online or call (815) 857-3525)
Jan. 17, 2008
Corn & Soybean Classic
CCAs available
@ Kishwaukee College, Malta
Pre-registration Discount (call (800) 321-1296
Jan. 29, 2008
Farm Conservation Teleconference
No Cost
@ Lee Co. FSA Office, Amboy
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Pre-registration required (online or call (815) 857-3525)
Jan. 29, 2008
Four Seasons Gardeneing Winter Teleconference- Healthy Soils = Healthy Plants
@ Lee Co. Extension, Amboy
1 - 3 p.m.
Pre-registration required (online or call (815) 857-3525)
Feb. 12, 2008
Four Seasons Gardeneing Winter Teleconference- Carnivorous Plants
@ Lee Co. Extension, Amboy
1 - 3 p.m.
Pre-registration required (online or call (815) 857-3525)
Feb. 13, 2008
Northwest Illinois Tillage Seminar
CCA Credits available
sponsored by Lee/Ogle/Whiteside County Extensions
@ Holiday Inn, Rock Falls
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Pre-registration required (815) 772-4075
Feb. 19 & 20, 2008
Northern Illinois Crop Management Conference
CCAs available
@ Kishwaukee College, Malta
Pre-registration required (815) 772-4075
Feb. 26, 2008
Four Seasons Gardeneing Winter Teleconference
@ Lee Co. Extension, Amboy
1 - 3 p.m.
Pre-registration required (online or call (815) 857-3525)
Mar. 4, 2008
Certified Livestock Managers Training Workshop
@ DeKalb County Farm Bureau, Sycamore
8:50 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Pre-registration required (800) 345-6087
Disposing of Your Christmas Tree
Once the Christmas holiday is over, the chore of taking down and disposing of the cut Christmas tree remains. Today, because of solid waste regulations, most communities will no longer permit the used Christmas trees to be hauled out with the garbage and sent to the sanitary landfill.
However, Christmas tree disposal does not have to be a problem, because there are several environmentally sound disposal methods available. People who maintain bird feeders can help the winter residents by creating a small windbreak with a single tree. Put the old Christmas tree on the northwest side of bird feeders that are exposed to the wind. The tree will provide protection for the birds and also help keep birdseed from blowing away. However, don't place the tree too close to the feeder, so it does not become a hiding place for predators, such as cats.
Another option is to place your tree in the backyard, anchor it with a steel fencepost, and then decorate it as a food source for wildlife. This can lengthen your family's enjoyment of the tree and attract an assortment of birds, chipmunks, and squirrels to your yard. Some items that can be used to "decorate" your tree include: strung popcorn, pinecones smeared with peanut and sunflower seeds, strung cranberries, apple rings and orange slices.
A number of local fishing clubs urge homeowners to drop off their old Christmas trees to be used as fish attractors in their lakes and ponds. Holes are typically drilled through the trunks, the trees are connected by cable and anchored by concrete blocks and are then placed in 8 to 10 feet of water. The Christmas trees serve as places where small fish can hide from larger predator species. And, hopefully, the larger fish will gather around the trees in the area in hopes of an easy meal.
Christmas trees also make excellent material to construct brush piles to provide cover for a variety of wildlife, including small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Some good locations for brush piles in rural areas are near field borders and woodland areas. An ideal brush pile is about 6 feet high and about 15 to 20 feet in diameter. If the brush pile is smaller than that, predators can often get into them. If they are larger than what is recommended, they lose some of their effectiveness. Undeveloped areas in suburban yards are also potential areas for brush piles to attract wildlife. However Frazee cautions that homeowners should check local ordinances before constructing a brush pile in a town or subdivision.
Another environmentally sound way to dispose of your tree is to chip it up with a chipping machine to use as landscaping mulch. The mulch can be used in the garden or planting beds to help reduce weed problems, modify soil temperature and help to retain moisture. If you do not have a chipper, you may want to contact your local public works department, garden shop, or tree nursery to check on the availability of this service. Many times, local service clubs offer this service to the community after Christmas.
Properly disposing of Christmas trees will benefit Illinois' natural resources and will also help to save landfill space. Not only are the above methods safe for the environment, but they can provide a source of enjoyment for you, your family, and your friends.
- Bob Frazee, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management, East Peoria Center
Ag Facts
The first recorded reference to the Christmas tree dates back to the 16th Century.
In 1882, Thomas Edison's laboratory assistants introduced the first electrically-lit Christmas tree. It had 80 bulbs and cost a small fortune.
Thirty-four to 36 million Christmas trees are produced each year, and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms.
Choosing Next Year's Crop
Choosing the right hybrid or variety is one of the most important steps in planning. The typical corn hybrid is only in the market about three years, so evaluating new seed sources must be done every year. Choosing the best genetics for your particular field conditions can add to your profit.
Yield is not the only factor to consider. Planting conditions, seasonal weather, soil types, pests and other environmental conditions that can all influence yield. It is important to compare yield information from several locations. One should also consider maturity, lodging, stalk strength, disease and insect resistance, etc. Continuous corn rotations, especially in reduced tillage systems, are more likely to have a build up of disease organisms and therefore are at a greater risk for diseases such as diplodia, gray leaf spot, and stalk rots. Disease resistance built into the hybrid is the easiest defense a farmer has in protecting yield.
Numerous sources of information exist for growers searching for the right traits to maximize their profit. Company trials, university trials and on-farm test strips offer insight into which hybrids can grow well across a many different environmental factors and growing conditions. Performance trails typically list crop performance characteristics, such as emergence, maturity dates, yield, test weights, percent moisture and stalk lodging. Some also report grain quality information for percent oil, starch and protein. Most performance trials show the "least significant difference" (lsd) value to indicate differences in that characteristic between hybrids or varieties. If the difference between two hybrids is greater than the LSD value, then you can confidently state that the two hybrids are different in that characteristic.
Look at the differences between the best and worst hybrids in a trial. Hybrids vary a lot in their potential to adapt to stressful environmental conditions. There may be large differences across a maturity zone depending on local conditions.Weather significantly impacts pests and yields differently every year. When comparing trials, find out the local growing conditions for that year.Most importantly, use two- or three-year averages to make comparisons, since these are more reliable.
Homegrown information can be equally valuable. You and your neighbors experience in watching crops develop and using yield monitors to compare different hybrids in your environment is can be an important source of information.
Put field days on your calendar. Observing individual characteristics of a crop when it is growing is a great way to see differences. Contact your local corn or soybean associations for field day information. Visit your local University of Illinois research centers and ask to be on their mailing lists for research updates and field day information.
·Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center, near DeKalb, 815-824-2029, www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/research/rdc/dekalb/
·Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, near Monmouth, 309-734-7459,
www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/research/rdc/monmouth/
·Copies of 2007 University of Illinois Corn, Soybean, and Forage Variety Trials are available at local Extension offices. Current and historical crop performance data from University of Illinois are available at the following websites:
ąCorn, Soybean, Small Grains, Forage Performance Testing, http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/vt/
Varietal Information Program for Soybeans, http://www.vipsoybeans.org/
- Ellen Phillips, Extension Educator, Crop Systems Countryside Extension Center
Have A Question?
JIM ENDRESS
Farm Business Management, Animal Systems –Dairy
(815)397-7714
jendress@uiuc.edu
DAVE FELTES
Integrated Pest Management
(309)792-2500
dfeltes@uiuc.edu
ROBERT FRAZEE
Natural Resources Management
(309)694-7501
rfrazee@uiuc.edu
DAN JENNINGS
Animal Systems– Swine
(815)397-7714
djjennin@uiuc.edu
RICH KNIPE
Animal Systems-Beef
(309)792-2500
rknipe@uiuc.edu
JIM MORRISON
Crops
(815)397-7714
morrison@uiuc.edu
DEAN OSWALD
Animal Systems-Swine
(309)836-2363
oswaldd@uiuc.edu
Strip-till 'Reveals' an Improved Tillage System
If you hear your farmer/husband talking about strip-till these days, don't worry too much about where he has been hanging out.
Well, what is strip-till? According to the Conservation Technology Information Center, strip-till is a hybrid between no-till and ridge-till. With strip-till, after harvest is completed in the fall, farmers will typically use a special anhydrous ammonia injection knife, called a mole knife, to till and raise a 4 to 6 inch ridge in fields where corn will be planted in the spring. Phosphorus and/or potash may also be applied at the same time. In the spring, the corn planter runs directly on this ridge and places the seed in this tilled area.
During eight out of ten years in the decade of the 1990's, many Illinois corn farmers encountered cool, wet soil conditions at planting time. For some Illinois farmers, no-till corn did not perform as well as desired, since the cool, wet soil under the residue slowed germination and early season corn growth. However, with strip-till, corn growers can now capitalize on the cost reduction benefits of no-till without the production problems associated with wet, cool spring conditions.
Researchers are now reporting the following benefits by fall strip-tilling corn.
Warmer soils at planting time.
Better soil drying.
Earlier no-tilling, which offers higher yield potential.
More uniform corn emergence.
Improved no-till corn stands.
Faster early no-till corn growth.
Reduced soil erosion as compared with mulch-till.
Enhanced surface water quality.
The use of strip-till has shown encouraging results for better emergence and high corn yields while enhancing the protection of our soil and water resources. To learn more about the "nuts and bolts" of strip-till farming, producers are encouraged to attend one of the 2008 Tillage Seminars listed below that will be held throughout Illinois in February 2008.
February 5: Richland Community College, Decatur, IL., ph. (217)-877-6042.
February 6: Hamilton's 110 North East, Jacksonville, IL., ph. (217)-243-7424.
February 7: Rowland Lewis Center, Mt. Vernon, IL., ph. (618)-242-0780.
February 12: The Quality Inn, Bradley, IL., ph. (815)-937-8940, Ext 3.
February 13: Holiday Inn, Rock Falls, IL., ph. (815)-772-4075.
These seminars, which feature an outstanding line-up of nationally recognized speakers, run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is necessary and the deadline is one week prior to each scheduled meeting. Seating is limited so registration will be taken on a first-come basis. A $15 per person fee will be charged to cover room rental and noon luncheon.
Contact your local University of Illinois Extension Office or Soil and Water Conservation District to receive a copy of the Agenda for the Illinois Tillage Seminars or to register, please call the phone numbers listed above and you will be given the address to send in your registration and payment to.
Farmland Prices vs. Farmland Returns
While farmland prices currently exceed capitalized values, likely increases in cash rents will bring farmland prices and capitalized values more closely in line with the historical average difference, according to a University of Illinois Extension study. "Recent increases in farmland prices raise questions about whether the farmland price increases are outpacing increases in farmland returns," explained Gary Schnitkey, U of I Extension farm financial management specialist.
Schnitkey approached the problem by comparing farmland prices to capitalized values. He noted that the USDA's list of average prices for Illinois masks differences across the state. For example, farmland prices are much higher near Chicago. Because of those differences, price-to-return relationships vary across the state. Farmland prices increased from $490 per acre in 1970 up to $2,023 per acre in 1982. Then, prices decreased, reaching a low of $1,149 per acre in 1987. Since 1987, farmland prices have increased each year, with the average yearly increase 7 percent.
Since 2003, increases have been above 7 percent. Farmland prices increased 7.4 percent between 2003 and 2004, 27.6 percent between 2004 and 2005, 14.1 percent between 2005 and 2006, and 13.9 percent between 2006 and 2007. Between 2003 and 2007, farmland prices increased by $1,900 per acre--78 percent.
Capitalized values represent the earning potential of farmland from agriculture. A capitalized value for a given year equals cash rent divided by an interest rate and assumes that investors receive the current cash rent each year in the future and the interest rates do not change.
Higher cash rents cause higher capitalized values. Lower interest rates cause higher capitalized values. In 2006 and 2007, farmland prices exceeded capitalized values--46 percent higher. Prior to the current period, the last time farmland prices exceeded capitalized values by a large margin was from 1977 through 1981. During the late 1970s, farmland prices increased because of strong commodity prices. In the 1980s, financial stress occurred, leading to declining farmland prices.
Will the current period of farmland prices relative to capitalized values mirror the 1977 through 1981 period? Will farmland prices decline in the future? While farmland prices may decline, there are two differences between the current period and 1977 through 1981.
First, much of the decline in capitalized values between 1977 and 1981 was associated with higher interest rates. Interest rates increased from 7.42 percent in 1977 to 13.92 percent in 1981. It is doubtful that interest rates will show similar increases in future years. Second, cash rents are expected to increase over the next several years because of robust agricultural returns. Rising cash rents will increase capitalized values causing the difference between farmland prices and capitalized values to narrow.
However, cash rents need to increase by large margins before farmland prices are only 7 percent higher than capitalized values, the relationship between 1986 through 2004. In 2007, the Illinois farmland price is $4,330, the interest rate is 5 percent, and the cash rent is $141 per acre. Given that farmland prices and interest rates do not change, cash rents need to increase by $62 per acre to $203 per acre before farmland prices are only 7 percent higher than capitalized values.
Examining the long-term scenario, Schnitkey noted that some questions exist whether farmland prices can maintain their current levels relative to capitalized values. Either a new relationship between farmland prices and capitalized values exists where farmland prices exceed capitalized values by a large margin, possibly caused by more urban demand for farmland, or growth in farmland prices must slow so that capitalized values catch up with farmland prices.
- Gary Schnitkey, Extension Specialist, Farm Management, Dept. of Agricultural and Consumer Econominics
Newsletter Inserts
See Dec. - Jan. Ag Newsletter Inserts under "General" for information about more great programs and opportunities.
