Shelby County Extension and Cole-Bottrell Farms
Plot Dinner
Thursday, September 10, 2009
5:00 p.m. ~ Meal
6:00 p.m. ~ Program
Angus Links Golf Course, Windsor
Speakers include:
Darrel Good - University of Illinois Extension Specialist, Marketing, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics
Robert Bellm - University of Illinois Extension Educator, Crop System, Edwardsville Center
Meal will start at 5 pm and the program will begin at 6 pm.
There is no charge for this dinner/program, but reservations are required for meal planning purposes.
Please RSVP before September 7
by calling 217-774-9546 or emailing Jim Looft at jlooft@illinois.edu
Cover Crop Telenet Series
August 26, September 9 & September 30
A three-part lunchtime telenet series titled "Utilizing Cover Crops in Conventional Cropping Systems" is scheduled for August 26, September 9 and September 30 all Wednesdays from 12:00-1:15 p.m. This series is being offered as a professional development opportunity for U of I Extension staff, NRCS and SWCD personnel, CCA's and other ag professionals. Primary sponsor for the series is the USDA SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) program.
An excellent line-up of multi-state speakers includes the following:
August 26 – Part I: Cover Crop Concepts
— Tom Kaspar, Plant Physiologist, USDA-ARS National Soil Tilth Laboratory, Ames, Iowa; Topic: Overview of the Midwest Cover Crops Council
— Dale Mutch, Cover Crops/Field Crops IPM Specialist, Michigan State University; Topic: A Michigan perspective on utilizing cover crops in conventional cropping systems
September 9 – Part II: Cover Crop Species and Their Management
— Mike Plumer, Natural Resources Educator, University of Illinois Extension; Topic: Grass cover crops, benefits and management
— Joel Gruver, Asst. Professor, Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture, Western Illinois University; Topic: Legume/radish cover crops, benefits and management
September 30 – Part III: Cover Crop Economics
— Alan Sundermeier, Ag and Natural Resources Educator, The Ohio State University Extension; Topic: Economic Impacts of Cover Crops in Conventional Cropping Systems
— David Campbell – Illinois Grower; Topic: Grower Experience using Cover Crops—Benefits and Challenges
Registration will be $10/session. CCA credits have been applied for in the amount of 1 hr per telenet session. All sessions hosted by Shelby County Extension will be held at Monical's Pizza in Shelbyville on West Rt 16. Lunch will be served during the program and the cost is included in the registration fee.
Please contact Jim or Ellen at the Shelby County Extension Office to register for this program. Call 217-774-9546.
Truck Regulations Meeting
August 27
Farmers and those driving trucks for agriculture purposed have many questions and concerns regarding new transportation laws.
The Shelby County Farm Bureau is sponsoring a breakfast meeting on Thursday, August 27, 2009, 7:30 a.m. at the Shelby County 4-H Center, Route 128 North, Shelbyville.
The morning will begin with a catered breakfast by Sportman's Restaurant, Shelbyville. Speakers will include a representative from Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation.
The program will be an opportunity for truck owners and operators to learn more about the Unified Carrier Registration, transportation audits, drug & alcohol screening, USDOT numbers, roadside weigh stations and inspections.
The program is free and open to anyone who has a truck used for agricultural purposes. Reservations are suggested by calling the Shelby County Farm Bureau at 217-774-2151.
From Field to Furnace-Miscanthus as Energy Source
Monday, August 31
Energy drives just about everything in our daily lives . . . from the electricity that runs our televisions and computers, to the way we heat our homes, schools and businesses. As energy concerns continue to mount, researchers are looking to the soil for one possible answer.
Miscanthus giganteus, a perennial grass crop, is being grown, studied and used in Illinois and around the world as an alternative energy source for heat and electricity. The tremendous amount of biomass that Miscanthus can generate in a few short years has drawn the interest of researchers, farmers and landowners.
On August 31, University of Illinois Extension is presenting the teleconference From Field to Furnace: Miscanthus as a Bioenergy Crop. Potential growers and interested community members are invited to hear about the logistics of growing and using this perennial grass crop for energy. Gary Letterly, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator for Christian County will present this training session via the University of Illinois tele-conferencing system from 1:30 to 3:00 pm and again at 6:30 to 8:00 pm.
This telenet will consist of Power Points and commentary by the Presenter. Make plans now to visit your local University of Illinois Extension office on Monday, August 31, 2009 to learn more about the production of Miscanthus as an energy source. This program is part of the Natural Resources Management Team telenet series. To register, please contact your local Extension office at least 2 weeks prior to this meeting so meeting materials and necessary accommodations can be made. For more information, please contact Gary Letterly, Christian County Natural Resources Educator, letterly@illinois.edu ph. 217-287-7246; or Duane Friend, U of I Natural Resources Educator, friend@illinois.edu ph. 217-243-7424.
September 1 - 3
The Farm Progress Show will observe its 56th anniversary in Decatur, IL, on Sept. 1-3. Hours of the show are 8 am to 5 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 1 & Wednesday, September 2; and 8 am to 4 pm on Thursday, September 3. Admission is $10 for adults; $5 for ages 13 – 17; and Free for youth 12 and under. There is no charge for parking. This event is a service of Farm Progress Companies, which publishes nearly two dozen state-oriented agricultural magazines, including Prairie Farmer.
Typically, the Farm Progress Show has rotated among the states of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, but the event in Decatur in alternate years will become the show for Illinois and Indiana. Farm Progress holds a show in Iowa in even-numbered years. Known as the "Superbowl of Agriculture" or "The World's Fair of Agriculture," this event will bring a quarter million people and the world of production agriculture to Decatur. The Decatur showsite will feature 640 acres, including an exhibit area of 80 acres. University of Illinois Extension will have a tent to showcase the latest university research and recommendations to help farmers with the production and marketing of their crops and livestock.
Visit the Farm Progress Show website for updated information, featured attractions, travel routes, etc: http://www.farmprogressshow.com.
Farm Progress Show Tickets Available
At County Farm Bureau Offices
The 2009 Farm Progress Show, the nation's greatest agriculture showcase returns to Progress City, Decatur, Illinois, September 1-3, 2009. The Shelby County Farm Bureau's has your one day general admission advance gate tickets for $7.00. Tickets are $10 at the gate.
The 56th Annual Show opens at 8 a.m. and closes on September 1 & 2 at 5 p.m. and on September 3 at 4 p.m.
For additional details about the Farm Progress Show visit their website at www.FarmProgressShow.com.
Illinois Heifer Development Program (IHDP)
Fall – 2010
Cow-calf producers interested in improving the reproductive efficiency of heifers retained for replacements might want to consider becoming involved in the Illinois Heifer Development Program (IHDP). There is a set of guidelines that producers must follow starting with weaning with a complete vaccination program. This is followed by a pre-breeding exam that includes reproductive tract palpation and pelvic measurements.
Producers interested in participating in the IHDP Program should obtain a copy of the Rules and Regulations along with a set of the Management Forms. This can be obtained by contacting Dave Seibert, Animal Systems Educator at the East Peoria Extension Center at 309-694-7501, Ext. 224.
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