Many have been asking about options to become certified to purchase and apply restricted use pesticides. A license is required for most rootworm insecticides, products containing atrazine, and other products. At this late time, there are no available training clinics in our area.

The best option is to call the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 217-785-2427 and tell them you want to make an appointment to take the Private Applicator exam. They can only offer the exam when there is an inspector onsite. Study materials are available from our office. The training manual is $6, and there is a workbook to go along with the manual (no charge for the workbook). There is also a CD ROM available that costs $20.

The same testing option is available for Commercial Category licenses. There are different study materials including general standards and the various category manuals.

The proceedings of the 2007 conference are available from the UofI IPM website at www.ipm.uiuc.edu/education/proceedings. This is the conference held in early January each year.

High corn prices are allowing producers to implement some new management techniques. While plant population manipulation is not new, today's hybrids are better able to withstand stress conditions that older hybrids just couldn't survive. In efforts to raise corn yields to their optimal level, population is certainly one factor to consider.

A population study began in 2005 and continues today, and includes several planting dates, ranging from late March/early April, thru late May. Populations varied by 5,000 and ranged from 20,000 to 40,000 (final stand). Data from Monmouth suggest that a corn planting date of April 20, with a population of 35,000, was optimal. Data from the Orr Centerwas somewhat different. These plots were on lower organic matter soils, andhad limited moisture during the past two growing seasons. There was no difference between planting dates ranging from early April thru early May. The optimal plant population occurred at 30,000. This is from two years worth of data, and the project is ongoing.

Week ending	Rainfall in inches	Week ending	Rainfall in inches
3/11	.14
3/18	.02
3/25	1.24

Most everyone has seen wireworm damage in corn. With corn planting just around the corner, it may be wise to do some scouting for wireworms. Some insecticides are better than others, and knowing the potential of the problem in advance will allow the selection of an appropriate insecticide.

Here is a link to the U of I IPM website fact sheet on wireworms. It details setting up the traps, and even has an embedded video. http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/fieldcrops/insects/wireworm/index.html

Logan County Extension Office

Week ending	Rainfall in inches	Week ending	Rainfall in inches
3/11	.14
3/18	.02

AMES, Iowa – Asian soybean rust has never been identified in an Iowa field since the disease was reported in the continental United States in November 2004. However, the disease now has been conclusively identified on soybean plant tissue, which was submitted to the Iowa Soybean Rust Team last week. This soybean residue is reported to have been recovered from a bin of soybeans produced in Iowa in 2006. Efforts are underway to identify other remnant plant residue that may show symptoms and signs of the disease in order to discern details of this event.

The fungus and the spores that cause the disease cannot survive without green leaf tissue and will die during Iowa winters. The recently discovered rust fungus does not pose a risk of infection for the 2007 growing season in Iowa.

"The fast, conclusive identification of soybean rust in this one particular plant residue sample illustrates the rapid diagnostic capabilities available at Iowa State University to protect the state's soybean crop from the threat of this disease," said Iowa State University College of Agriculture Dean Wendy Wintersteen.

"This discovery reminds us that it is possible for Iowa fields to become infected with this disease," said David Wright, director of contract research at the Iowa Soybean Association. "Nonetheless, growers should not overreact to this development. Instead, growers must be ready to act appropriately and economically in 2007 should this disease again show up in Iowa and be a threat to soybean yields."
Bill Northey, Secretary of Agriculture with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, said the finding does not necessarily increase the risk for next year's crop.

"The confirmation of this disease in the 2006 crop does not guarantee that we will have Asian soybean rust in the 2007 Iowa soybean crop. As in previous years, producers should monitor conditions that favor rust and consult with extension specialists on identification and management plans. However, it is imperative for producers to avoid the inclination to panic and take drastic, costly and unnecessary action before positively identifying soybean rust in their fields," Northey said.

After looking at some area wheat fields, it appears there will sufficient stands to justify leaving the wheat. The plant tops in some locations have been frosted back, but green shoots are now emerging (or are still inside the dead material)with the change in the weather. Of course thereare some dead plants, but they appear to be in the extreme minority.

The plant numbers needed at this time of year to justify leaving a stand are: 15 healthy plants per square foot, 20 weak plants, or 25 very weak plants. The end goal is to have at least 50 plants per square foot after tillering is complete.

As a new feature, I'll be tracking rainfall and publishing it on a regular basis. The chart looks a little empty with just one entry at this time, but the cumulative chart should be helpful over the growing season.

2007 Weekly Rainfall

Logan County Extension Office

Week ending	Rainfall in inches	Week ending	Rainfall in inches
3/11	0.14

Explore the world of honey bees and steps to becoming a beekeeper at "Introduction to Beekeeping." This program is sponsored by Lincoln Land Beekeepers Association and University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit. This three part series will cover all aspects of beginning beekeeping. Session dates are on Thursdays, March 22, March 29 and April 5 from 6 to 9 pm. Sessions will be held at the University of Illinois Extension on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL.

Presenters will include: Rich Ramsey, a beekeeper for 20 years and past president of Illinois State Beekeepers; and Dr. Stu Jacobson, Research Specialist, University of Illinois at Springfield, who has 30 years experience with honeybees.

Registration fee of $15 includes all three sessions, a textbook, handouts and participants name in a drawing for a beehive. Advanced registration is requested by March 16. For more information call Sangamon-Menard Extension Unit at (217) 782-4617, or Rich Ramsey at (217) 498-9374.