Registration requested one week prior to the tours and a registration cost of $20 per person. To register and for more details, including program agenda and tour location, go to http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/smallfarm/ag_tours.cfm . To register by phone contact Donna Cray, 217-241-4644.

July 11 - 2008 Lyon Fisheries, Sandoval, IL, Marion County

July 22 - Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm Community Supported Agriculture, Ottawa, IL, www.localharvest.org/farms/M5067

Aug. 8 - 2008, University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agriculture Center, Simpson, IL, www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/research/rdc/dixonsprings

Sept. 8 - 2008: Iyabo Farms, Hopkins Park, IL www.sustainusa.org/familyfarmed/profile_iyabo.html, Kankakee County

Oct. 3 - 2008: Mill Creek Farm, Quincy, IL www.millcreekfarmquincy.com, Adams County

Available on farmdoc are the new revised factsheets of machinery cost estimates. These fact sheets are often used to set custom hire rates for machinery operations in Illinois, according to Gary Schnikey, Professor, Farm Management at the University of Illinois. The estimates are available in the management section of farmdoc (http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/). They are located in the "Machinery: Costs and Other Issues" box half way down the "Management" page. Producers and agri-business will find the following five publications:

Field operations (http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/machinery/ machinery_field_operations.html)

Harvest operations (http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/machinery/ machinery_harvest.html)

Tractors (http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/machinery/ machinery_tractors.html)

Forage field operations (http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/machinery/ machinery_forage.html)

Summary (http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/machinery/ machinery_summary.html).

July 10, 2008: SIU Bellville Research Center Field Day, 9:00 am, Belleville, IL, for further information contact Ron Krausz, 618-566-4761.

July 17, 2008: University of Illinois Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center Field Day, 4:00 pm, Shabbona, IL, for further information contact Lyle Paul, 815-824- 2029.

July 31, 2008: University of Illinois Brownstown Agronomy Research Center Field Day, 9:00 am, Brownstown, IL, for further information contact Robert Bellm, 618- 692-9434.

Aug. 7, 2008: University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center Field Day, 8:00 am, Simpson, IL, for further information contact Steve Ebelhar, 618-695-2790.

Aug. 21, 2008: University of Illinois Agronomy Field Day, 7:00 am, Crop Sciences Re search & Education Center Urbana, IL, for further information contact Sharon Conatser, 217-333-4256.

Aug. 25, 2008: University of Illinois Orr Agricultural Research & Demonstration Center Field Day, 4:00 pm, Perry, IL, for further information contact Mike Vose, 217-236-4911.

Aug. 28, 2008: University of Illinois Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research & Dem onstration Center Field Day, 8:00 am, Monmouth, IL for further informa tion contact Eric Adee, 309-734-7459.

Sept. 11, 2008: University of Illinois Extension Ewing Field Day, 9:00 am, for further information contact Dennis Epplin, 618-242-9310.

Conservation Expo 2008 is coming to central Illinois on August 19, 20, 21, 2008. This statewide event is a showcase for the construction and exhibition of conservation and land improvement practices and equipment. The host for this year's Conservation Expo is Progress City USA in Decatur, Illinois.

Throughout the 3-day event, tours will be conducted to showcase the following conservation structures and practices: Wetland Restoration and Enhancement, Rock Chute Construction, Pervious Paver Installation, Wetland Garden, Bio-Swale Construction, and Turf Reinforcement Matting Installation. Static Septic Systems will also be on display. Tour guides will be at each of the sites throughout the show to discuss installation techniques, cost of construction, and benefits to the landowner and the watershed.

The hours of the Conservation Expo are Tuesday thru Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. There is no admission charge, and everyone is welcome to attend, including landowners, farmers, agri-businesses, conservationists, planners and the general public. Food and drink concessions will be available at the show site.

The Illinois Conservation Expo is sponsored by the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA), in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Macon County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), University of Illinois Extension and more than a dozen conservation-related organizations and agencies. For more information, go to the ILICA website www.illica.net/ or contact Janet Burtle-Doubet, Ex. Director of ILICA, ph. 309-446-3700, e-mail janet@illica.net