It is that time of year when the pests come into the field and the profits leave before you know how much is gone. The price of corn and soybeans are relatively high and the economics of pest control has changed.

On June 22, Dennis Bowman, Crops Educator and Paul Mariman, Farm Business Educator are holding a seminar on "Bugs that Eat Your Profits." Dennis and Paul will examine the pests and diseases that are currently a problem, as well as what the treatment is and the cost threshold of treatment.

Please register for the class in advance by calling Macon Extension at 877-6042 or stop by the office at 2535 Millikin Parkway in Decatur, IL. This will also be where the meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on June 22.

Development of agricultural pests can be tracked and projected by maintaining an account of the "heat" accumulated during each growing season. This process involves a comparison of daily maximum and minimum temperatures to a base temperature, specific for a particular pest, above which development will occur.

The Illinois State Water Survey provides that data at: http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/warm/pestdata/

The pages on the website result from a collaborative scientific effort that combines daily weather data collected by the Illinois Soil and Water Survey and pest information furnished by the Department of Crop Science to provide daily, up-to-date information about pest development in Illinois. Computer algorithms have been developed for tracking 30 agricultural pests.

Users begin by selecting the closest weather station to their location and the pest of interest. Degree-day accumulations for some pests have a specific calendar day when accumulations begin, such as January 1 each year. Accumulations for other pests are tied to specific, user-input events; such as the first trapping of adult pests, and sighting of eggs. One- and two-week degree-day projections are also included. Maps of degree-day totals and projections for the entire state are produced where appropriate.

All degree-day information is computed from data collected through the day just prior to when a user accesses the system. In general, up-to-date information should be available by 4:00 a.m., seven days a week.

 

- By Bob Scott rwscott1@uiuc.edu - Illinois State Wa

Our Extension plots were both planted relatively early this year, and along with your own crops, they look very good. The plots are at the Jim Snow farm on Riley Road just south of Elwin, where they have been for over twenty years. Mark your calendar now and plan to join us for the plot tour and supper. This year the plot day will be Tuesday, August 24, and will feature Dr. Darrel Good. The plot tour will start at 5:00 pm followed by dinner and speakers to start at 6:00 pm. Following is a list of the corn hybrids and soybean varieties in the 2004 plot, so watch their development during the year.

2004 Corn Plot Row Planting
Planted April 9, 2004 from South to North

Border	LG 2540
Check	LG2540
Horizon	7431
Horizon	7470BT
Premium	P234BT
Premium	P268BT
Premium	P236
Premium	P260
Check	LG2540
AgriGold	A6395BT
AgriGold	A6466BT
Burrus	583BT
Burrus	590
Burrus	576
Burrus	795B
Check	LG2540
Merschman	M-314A-1
Merschman	M-10113
Merschman	M-313A-1
Merschman	M-314A
High Cycle	HC7B404
High Cycle	HC8B875
Check	LG2540
Lewis	4347YGCB
Lewis	5605
Lewis	5333
Lewis	7044
Campbell	7110
Campbell	7700
Check	LG2540
Campbell	6600
Campbell	5510
Golden Harvest	H8959BT
Golden Harvest	H9247BT
Golden Harvest	H9107
Golden Harvest	H9249
Check	LG2540
Hoblit	525BTP
Hoblit	546BTP
Wyffles	7260
Wyffles	W6570MP
Wyffles	W7273MP
Wyffles	W8603MP
Check	LG2540
VanHorn	VH5501 76
VanHorn	VH5679 PG
LG	LG2567
LG	LG2622
LG	LG2540BT
LG	LG2607BT
Check	LG2540
Kitchen	KSC5213 YGBC
Kitchen	KSC5010
FS	FS5634BT
FS	FS6485YGCB
Purple Ribbon	PR622
Purple Ribbon	PR634
Check	LG2540
NuAg	NA312
NuAg	NA515CB
Check	LG2540
Border	LG2540

2004 Soybeans Plot Row Planting
Planted April 9, 2004 Planted North to South
Roundup Check Golden Harvest H3777

Conventional Check Merschman Grant RR

BOARDER Golden Harvest	H3777
CHECK Golden Harvest	H3777
Merschman	Garfield III
Merschman	Atlanta 543
LG	C3540
LG	C3000NSTS
Van Horn	VH343
Van Horn	VH373C
CHECK Golden Harvest	H3777
Diener	D290C
Diener	D363C
Golden Harvest	X33802
Golden Harvest	H3777
FS	HS3892
FS	HS3591
CHECK Golden Harvest	H3777
NU-AG	NA363N
Lewis	359
Lewis	392
Campbell	304STS
Campbell	394STS
CHECK Golden Harvest	H3777
BOARDER Golden Harvest	H3777
BOARDER Merschman	Grant RR
CHECK Merschman	Grant RR
Hoblit	HB364NRR
Hoblit	HB376NRR
Merschman	Washington IXRR
Merschman	Grant IIIRR
DeKalb	B38-52
Asgrow	AG3905
CHECK Merschman	Grant RR
Horizon	H374NRR
Horizon	H352NRR
NU-AG	NA374NRR
Lewis	3566
Lewis	3944
Purple Ribbon	PR345RRN
CHECK Merschman	Grant RR
Purple Ribbon	PR365RRN
FS	HS3726
FS	HS3236
Stone High Cycle	HC2351NRR
Stone High Cycle	HC2373NRR
Diener	D3668CR
CHECK Merschman	Grant RR
Diener	D3205CR
Kitchen	KSC3736CRR
Kitchen	KSC3546CRR
Golden Harvest	X34024RR
Golden Harvest	H3945RR
LG	C3944NRR
CHECK Merschman	Grant RR
LG	C3444NRR
Campbell	363NRR
Campbell	354NRR
CHECK Merschman	Grant RR
BOARDER Merschman	Grant RR

Corn, soybean, and wheat prices have declined sharply following early April highs. Much of the decline last week was attributed to "technical factors," but fundamental factors have changed as well.

So what has changed in the soybean market to warrant such a large and rapid price decline? Fundamentally, the pace of U.S. exports and export sales of old crop soybeans have slowed considerably, China has cancelled some imports of South American soybeans, the domestic crush rate is slowing dramatically, the 2004 U.S. planting season has been generally favorable, and the market seems to have a renewed awareness that U.S. imports of soybean products will likely occur this summer.

In addition, the USDA's May forecast of the size of the South American crop was not as small as expected and the first projections for the 2004-05 U.S. marketing year served as a reminder that a favorable growing season would result in a much larger supply of soybeans. Expanded acreage and a return to trend yields in South America in 2005 would also result in a return to abundant world supplies. The current situation of tight U.S. stocks and the need to reduce consumption of U.S. soybeans this summer has not changed. However, evidence that consumption is being reduced, along with the possibility of expanding production, represents a real shift in market fundamentals.

The decline in corn prices occurred without a clear and significant change in market fundamentals, suggesting that the late March, early April price rally was premature. On May 12, the USDA increased the forecast of U.S. exports for the current marketing year, to a total of 2.05 billion bushels. The increase appears warranted based on the large outstanding export sales, but will require very large weekly shipments over the final 15.5 weeks of the marketing year. Based on the estimate of cumulative exports in the USDA's weekly Export Sales report (which tracked Census Bureau estimates very closely through March), weekly shipments from now through August need to average 45 million bushels to reach the projection.

Through the first 36.5 weeks of the year, weekly shipments were at that level only three times. The USDA ‘ s initial projections for the 2004-05 U.S. marketing year were as expected: a record crop, record consumption, a decline in year ending stocks, and a higher average farm price than received this year. The futures market is currently reflecting an average price for the 2004-05 marketing year very near the mid-point of the USDA ‘ s projected price range.

For the next several weeks, corn and soybean prices will be influenced by the development of the 2004 U.S. crops. In addition, the rate of domestic consumption of soybeans and import developments for soybean products will also be important. With a favorable growing season and production near the level projected by the USDA, soybean prices will likely decline further. Even new crop prices, which are at a sharp discount to old crop prices have more downside potential. Those prices are still near the upper end of the range of the average farm price forecast by the USDA. Soybean prices could remain very volatile, however, with periods of sharply higher prices.

Corn prices should have less downside potential than soybean prices. Lower prices would likely come if the June 30 Acreage report shows that planted area is well above March intentions and growing conditions remain favorable. Wheat prices are more difficult to anticipate due to the influence of world crop conditions. A decline of July futures (Chicago) to the $3.40 to $3.50 area cannot be ruled out if world crop conditions remain favorable. Upside may be limited to the $4.00 area.

- Dr. Darrel Good, Extension Marketing Specialist

Now is the time of the year to update your farm resume. If you don't have one, it will be a rush to make one if you change lenders or want to show a land owner that you could do a great job with their farm. The simplest resume includes: name, address, education, farming experience, and a short list of your equipment.

The resumes that win farms and make lenders take notice are a little more in-depth. These resumes include all the basics of the simple resume, as well as a description of how you farm, do you no-till, do you ridge till, preferences on chemicals, and if you are willing to adapt any of your farming practices.

If you run a family operation, talk about your family. If a son or daughter is a big part of the operation, talk about them in the farm resume and include your spouse if they are working in the operation. Remember this is a farm resume: the important things about how the operation work and why it works so well need to be included.

Maps are a picture of a different type. Plat maps with where you live relative to a farm you want to rent are helpful. Plat maps with other land farmed by your operation is also good. The map locations help the lender or the landowner know where you are located, and that you know the best way to farm their farm.

Remember, always be honest and offer references or documents to back up what you have listed in the farm resume. Take pictures in front of your machines; don't use the neighbor's because the paint is better or it is already cleaned up. The little things are important.

Tell the lender or land owner what you will do for them. If you are willing to write a letter or a short report every three months to a non-resident landowner, say so and then do it if you farm the farm. Likewise if you are willing to provide a lender with quarterly update letters, say so and then do it if they become your lender.

What the farm resume really does is put all the best things about your operation down on paper so that people can see how good a job you can do for them. You never now when you will need one so start on in the slow time this summer.

 Macon County Master Gardeners will be showcasing six area gardens in the eighth annual "How Our Gardens Grow" Garden Walk to be held on Sunday, June 13. This year's collection of gardens offers a variety of styles. Tickets for the Garden Walk are $8 in advance and $10 on the day of the walk. The tickets have the addresses, descriptions and directions to each of the gardens. The self-guided tour will take place rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All ticket holders are eligible to win one of many great door prizes.

Tickets may be purchased until Friday, June 11 from Master Gardeners, University of Illinois Extension Macon County Office, Backyards a Bloomin,' Backyard Birds, Connie's Greenhouse in Latham, Farmers' Market, Four E's Trees and Country Gardens, The Garden Path, Lowe's of Decatur, MariMann Herb Company, Maske Organic Gardening, Prairie Greenhouse, Tournesol, Wild Birds Unlimited and Williams Greenhouse in Mt. Zion. Everyone (adults and children) must have a ticket to visit the gardens. On the day of the Garden Walk (Sunday, June 13) tickets are available at the Decatur Public Library.

Money raised from the Garden Walk will be used to help fund various programs in the community sponsored by the Master Gardeners. For more information contact U of I Extension at (217) 877-6042.