In this report...

The Kishwaukee College Convention Center near Malta hosted the third annual Northern Illinois Crop Management Conference (NICMC). This two-day conference was created to help Certified Crop Advisors (CCA's) and agricultural producers learn about the latest research in the areas of agronomy and pest management. These conferences are held in northern, central, and southern Illinois in February or March before growers go to the fields to plant crops.

The conferences began because people were asking for up to date unbiased information that they could receive at one place. Crop Advisors were also asking for a variety of continuing education units to fit into their busy schedule.

U of I Extension Specialists, Extension Educators, and Unit Educators in crops, pest management, and natural resources collaborated on the content and taught the individual classes of the seminars. Topics ranged from weather outlook to rootworm management and carbon sequestration credits.

Participants chose from over 20 topics in the two-day seminar. Break out sessions allowed the CCA's a chance to get as many as 13 continuing education hours. Feedback from both producers and CCA's has been very positive. Ninety-five percent of responding participants said the workshops met or exceeded their expectations. All but one are considering attending this conference in the future. More than two-thirds of those responding indicated they would implement at least one of the crop management techniques they learned at the conference. Attendance has risen from 90 participants in 2005 to 120 in 2007. Many positive comments have encouraged us at U of I Extension to "keep up the good work".

Although soybean rust has caused little or no damage during the past two years, growers were advised to be on high alert during the 2007 growing season. One particular concern is a major change in the 2006 distribution of soybean rust and the over-wintering areas for the fungus that causes the disease, according to Glen Hartman, U.S. Department of Agriculture plant pathologist in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois.

"One of the most important tools for monitoring the situation is the soybean sentinel network," Hartman said. "This system for keeping track of the spread of rust is operating in more than 30 soybean-producing states. Detailed information is provided by the USDA on its soybean rust information website. A map on the website is used to clearly indicate each county where rust has been diagnosed."

Bill Lindenmier has been monitoring the sentinel plot northwest of Mt. Morris the past three years. Of course we have found no rust in northern Illinois to date, but conditions could make it a factor in soybean production in Illinois in the future.

People like Lindenmier who are monitoring the sentinel plots for rust also have been scouting for soybean aphids at the same time. These insect pests have been causing yield reductions in many areas in Illinois the past few years. The scouting sheet with the number of aphids per plant gives Dr. Kevin Steffey, Professor and Extension Entomologist at the U of I a good look at the populations of this insect. By using these reports and thresholds established by research at Universities in the Midwest, we can help growers predict when to treat fields with an insecticide or other means of control. This use of thresholds and different forms of crop protection is called Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

The use of the sentinel plot system and IPM will keep growers and crop protection professionals aware of disease and insect problems that are imminent and at the same time will help to prevent treatment with insecticides if not necessary.

The Master Gardener Program consists of volunteers who receive training from University of Illinois staff. The program is designed to help local Extension offices provide horticultural information to area citizens. The Master Gardener volunteers share two special qualities - a love of learning, and a desire to share their knowledge with others. In return for University instruction, each trainee gives volunteer time ranging from answering office "help lines" to being presenters at programs like the "Home Gardening Series."

Forreston, Rochelle and Byron were the locations for the 2007 Home Gardening Series. Forty-five homeowners learned about plant propagation, weed management and landscaping basics, as well as labor and time saving tips from the Master Gardeners in Ogle County at the two-session seminars. This was the second year that the series was held at locations around the county instead of one location in Oregon. Feedback from the participants was very positive with 100 per cent of those surveyed indicating they were satisfied or very satisfied with the program.