May

17, 6 - 9 p.m. Tractor Certification & Farm Safety Workshop Extension Office
21, 8 - 5 p.m. Tractor Certification & Farm Safety Workshop (cont't) Extension Office
24, 6 - 9 p.m. Tractor Certification & Farm Safety Workshop (cont't) South Lobby
31, 6 - 9 p.m. Tractor Certification & Farm Safety Workshop (cont't) Extension Office

June

1, 1:30 or 6:30 Youth Pork Quality Assurance Training Extension Office
4, 8 - 3:30 p.m. Tractor Certification & Farm Safety Workshop (cont't) Step. Co. Fairgrounds
7, 9 - Noon Crops Training Center Field Day, Soybean Rust & Shabbona, IL & Fungicide Application Recommendations, N. IL Agronomy Research Ctr.
11 - 15, American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Bloomington, IL
13, IL Forage Expo, Funk Farms Bloomington, IL, for info: http://www.illinois.forage.org/
15 - 16, Four State Applied Dairy Nutrition Conference Dubuque, IA
16, ISHS Summer Orchard Day, Edwards Apple Orchard Poplar Grove, IL
21, State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest Champaign, IL
22 - 23, Farm Progress Hay Expo (www.hayexpo.com) Fredericksburg, IA
25, 6 - 10 am Stephenson County Ag Breakfast Step. Co. Fairgrounds
27, 9 - Noon Crops Training Center Field Day, Insect Update, Shabbona, IL, Soybean Aphids (phone 815-824-2029 for info)

July

7, 5 p.m. Weed Control Field Day, N. IL Agronomy Research Ctr. Shabbona, IL
12, 1 - 3 pm Tri-State Dairy Modernization Farm Tour, Norm Groezinger Stockton, IL

August

2, 4 - 5:30 pm Field Day, N. IL Agronomy Research Ctr. Shabbona, IL, (phone 815-824-2029 for info)
2 - 4, Upper Midwest Grazing Conference, Midway Best Western Dubuque, IA
9 - 11, 2005 Illinois Conservation Expo, Jerry Lewis Farm Good Hope, IL
10, 9 - Noon Crops Training Center Field Day, Nutrient Management, Shabbona, IL and Weed Management, N. IL Agronomy Research Ctr.
18, 7 am - 2 pm Agronomy Day 2005, U of I, South Farm Urbana, IL
22 - 28, Stephenson County Fair Freeport, IL
30 - Sept. 1, Farm Progress Show Decatur area, IL This Ag Newsletter has brief information on late spring/early summer happenings. For more information, or to obtain information on websites, contact me and I'll be glad to secure the information for you.

Thanks to Paul and Steve Fahr for being No-till Corn Variety-Plot cooperators for 2005. Having farm field information replicated on the same area year in and year out really gives the data value. This information assists you in variety selection. The plot is located just north of the intersection of Excelsior and Fisher Roads. All varieties are identified with an orange stake. Stop by and compare.

Heisner Family Organic Grazing Dairy

Heisner Family Organic Grazing Dairy is located at 4499 Antione Road, Mineral Point, WI. Jim and Jane Heisner have been using organic farming methods and managed grazing for many years. In 2002, along with sons Ben (Deb) and Adam (Amanda), they began planning modernization steps as part of formally establishing their family partnership. Herds were combined from two farms to support the three families. The initial project was to retrofit a swing-12 parabone style parlor into an existing stall barn, which was completed in the fall of 2002. A feeding platform and greenhouse freestall facility was completed in the fall of 2003. The Heisners planned for and will eventually add an additional 100 freestalls with similar facilities at the same site with a target herd size of about 160 cows after internal expansion over the next few years. Modernization has provided them with scheduled time off for each family as well as better labor efficiency and milking facilities. Directions to farm: From US 151 halfway between Dodgeville and Mineral Point, take County Road D 1.5 miles east to Antione Road (turn right), then approximately 1 mile to 4499 Antione Road (turn left) and follow farm road down to the buildings.
Date: June 21, 2005, 1:00–3 pm.

Norm Groezinger Farm

Norm Groezinger Farm is located at 1178 South Massbach Road, Stockton, IL. The Groezingers are milking 100 cows. Recent farm improvements include construction of a new parlor, new freestall barn and earthen manure storage basin. Speaker and topic: Cow Comfort Strategies by Dr. Geoff Dahl, Extension Dairy Specialist, University of IL at Urbana-Champaign. Directions to farm: The farm is located on the south side of U.S. Route 20, 3 miles west of Stockton or 9 miles east of Elizabeth. Turn south at South Massbach Road to get to first set of farm buildings on right side of the road.
Date: July 12, 2005, 1:00–3 pm.

Eric Gaul Farm

Eric Gaul Farm is located at 29789 County Road H, Cuba City. Speaker and topic: Modernizing Facilities and Implementing Grazing to Get Started Dairying by Larry Tranel, Iowa State Extension Directions to farm: Head south of Dickeyville on Highway 35 , 61, and 151, turn East on County Road H and go about 1.5 miles.
Date: September 7 , 2005, 1:00–3 pm.

"Tips for Crop Watchers", an Extension newsletter designed for northern Illinois, will again be available during the 2005-growing season.

The focus of the newsletter, designed for electronic delivery, is corn, soybean, small grain, and forages. The goal is to provide practical, timely, and useful crop production information. The newsletter will be issued weekly starting May 6, then every other week during July and August, with the final issues in September. Topics are presented in short, bullet-type format, many with images. Authors of the newsletter are Dave Feltes, Extension Educator, Integrated Pest Management, and Jim Morrison, Extension Educator, Crop Systems.

If you wish to be placed on an email distribution list for the newsletter or have questions, please contact our office at 815-235-4125 to give us your e-mail address. Issues are usually posted on Mondays.

As college students prepare for final exams, some are looking for ways to help fund next year. College funding is always a popular topic for students and parents alike. One area scholarship that is available is the RC Miller Agriculture Scholarship. Funds are given to help college and university students who are, or will be, studying agriculture or related programs with an emphasis in conservation. Those chosen to receive the award will be awarded $1000.00.

To be eligible to apply, individuals must be a resident of Stephenson County and be enrolled in a four-year agriculture or related degree program with an emphasis in conservation. Applicants must be accepted at their chosen college or university and be a full-time student carrying a minimum of 12 hours per semester. The Stephenson County 4-H and Extension Foundation Board is responsible for selection the scholarship winners. Past recipients may re-apply for consideration each year.

Producers, agribusiness dealers, and crop scouts are invited to participate in an "Asian Soybean Rust" workshop on June 7 in DeKalb County. The workshop will be conducted at the Crops Training Center on the Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Center, 14509 University Road, Shabbona and is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension.

The workshop will focus on scouting, identification and current status of soybean rust and soybean rust look-a-like diseases. In addition, requirements for effective soybean fungicide application will be discussed and illustrated. Dr. Dean Malvick, Extension plant pathologist and Scott Bretthauer, Extension specialist in pesticide safety will be the discussion leaders. The workshop will include presentations, handout materials, hands-on samples, and in-field activities (weather permitting).

3 continuing education units have been applied for Certified Crop Advisers.
Registration begins at 8:30 am, and the workshop will be conducted from 9 am to 12 Noon (lunch not provided). The cost is $25.00 per person and reservations are due by May 26 to the Quad Cities Extension Center, % Dave Feltes, 4550 Kennedy Drive, Suite 2, East Moline, IL 61244, telephone 309-792-2500. Make check payable to University of Illinois Extension. A minimum of 20 reservations is needed to conduct the workshop. Additional workshops will be held June 27 and August 10 focusing on soybean aphids and nutrient management/managing tough weeds, respectively.

If you can't attend this workshop, here are some additional websites to find information. If you can't download them at home, contact us and we'll get them for you.

• http://soyrust.cropsci.uiuc.edu also has many links to other rust sites
• http://www.byny.purdue.edu/weedscience/2004/articles/herbfungmix04 has an excellent article on "Fungicides, Herbicides, and Soybean Rust, Do They Mix?"

Illinois Green Fleet Program Has Rebates for Alternative Fuel Use

Illinois Green Fleets under IEPA announced the Alternate Fuels Rebate Program. The program provides rebates for businesses, local governments, organizations, and individuals in the State of Illinois who acquire an alternate fuel vehicle, convert an existing conventional vehicle to an alternate fuel vehicle, or purchase domestic renewable fuel to operate an alternate fuel vehicle. Here are the different rebate types

• Original Equipment Manufacturer Vehicle Rebate - A rebate for the purchase of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) alternate fuel vehicle or engine. The amount of rebate is up to 80% of the cost of the renewable fuel vehicle vs. a conventional fuel vehicle of the same type (up to $4,000).
• Conversion Rebate - A rebate for converting a conventional vehicle to operate with an alternate fuel.
• Fuel Cost Differential Rebate - A rebate for purchasing a domestic renewable fuel that helps to defray the additional costs associated with using a domestic renewable fuel in an alternate fuel vehicle during a calendar year. By definition, a domestic renewable fuel is a fuel composed of a minimum of 80% ethanol, 80% bio-based methanol, or other fuels derived from 80% biomass (e.g., 80% biodiesel). The rebate application should be submitted to the Illinois EPA towards the end of the effective calendar year for which you are requesting a rebate. The amount of the rebate is up to $450 per vehicle each year for a consecutive three-year period.

Contact the IEPA at www:epa.state.il.us then click on the section on air, then the fact sheets.

Since 1969, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has declared many agricultural tasks to be hazardous for youth younger than age 16. With certain exemptions, employment of youth under 16 for these tasks is illegal. However, the regulation does not apply to youth younger than age 16 who are employed, either with or without compensation, by their parents or legal guardian.

As part of the DOL's Fair Labor Standards Act, a declaration known as the Hazardous Occupations Order in Agriculture (HOOA) established a procedure whereby youth 14 and 15 years of age could be exempted from certain portions of the regulation. This exemption has to do with the operation of agricultural tractors and specific types of farm machinery.

Specifically, the exemption states that with successful completion of a 10-hour training program, 14 and 15-year-old youth can be employed to: "operate a tractor of over 20 PTO horsepower, or connect or disconnect an implement or any of its parts to or from such a tractor."

Additionally, with successful completion of a 20-hour training program, these youth can be employed to: "Operate or assist to operate (including starting, stopping, adjusting, feeding, or any other activity involving physical contact associated with the operation) any of the following machines:

1. corn picker, cotton picker, grain combine, hay mower, forage harvester, hay baler, potato digger or mobile pea viner;
2. feed grinder, crop dryer, forage blower, auger conveyor, or the unloading mechanism of a non- gravity type self-unloading wagon or trailer;
3. power post-hole digger, power post driver, or non- walking rotary tiller.

With the 10-hour training program, youth are allowed only to operate a tractor with no powered equipment attached. To do field work of any kind, youths need to complete the 20-hour training program. The law defines "agriculture" as: "farming in all its branches including: preparation for market, delivery to market, delivery to storage, or to carriers for transportation to market."

This statement allows a properly trained youth to haul produce and other products to markets, between farms, etc. Provisions in your state vehicle code may preclude this activity by 14 and 15-year-olds.

Not all jobs are considered hazardous for young people. There are many tasks on farms that are not considered hazardous by the DOL and are permitted under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Some of these include:

• Loading and unloading trucks
• Operating small tractors (under 20 horsepower)
• Picking vegetables and berries
• Placing vegetables and fruits on conveyors or into boxes
• Clearing brush and harvesting trees up to 6 inches in butt diameter
• Working with animals on the farm or at fairs and shows (except for specified breeding stock in confined areas, such as cows with newborn calves in closed box stalls, bulls, or sows with newborn piglets)
• Raising and caring for poultry
• Milking cows
• Cleaning barns, equipment, and storage buildings
• Mowing lawns
• Riding, driving, or exercising horses
• Picking cotton
• Handling irrigation pipes
• Riding on transplanters

Penalties for subjecting youth to hazardous occupations are relatively strict. Youth are not penalized for the infractions; the employer is held accountable. First offense - up to a $1 0,000 fine for willful violation. Second offense - up to a $ 1 0,000 fine and/ or imprisonment for not more than six months.

HOOA regulations do not permit youth younger than age 14 to complete the exemption training. This means youth younger than age 14 cannot be hired by an agricultural employer to operate tractors or machinery.

In addition, HOOA prohibits all 14 and 15-year-olds from these tasks (no exemptions):

• Handling animal sires or sows and cows with newborns within a pen or corral
• Working more than 20 feet above the ground
• Working with Category I and 11 agricultural chemicals
• Handling and using explosives and anhydrous ammonia

The above information was taken from the Hazardous Occupations Order in Agriculture, Task Sheet 1.2.1.

The dates are set for the 2005 Tractor Certification Program. Offered this year is the 24-hour training program where youth are certified to do field work of any kind, except apply anhydrous ammonia and work with Category I & II Agricultural chemicals. Youth younger than 14 or older than 15 can take part in the training; however cannot take the written and skills test. The training will serve as an excellent youth safety workshop.

This year the training will use the newly developed National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program. The 77 task sheets cover safety basics, hazards, tractor, and using implements. Youth must pass a 50-question general, tractor, and machinery exam and demonstrate pre-operator, operating, and driving skills. Passing is a score of 70%. Cost is $20 for materials and snacks.

All sessions will be at the University of Illinois Extension Office, except the June date which will be announced at the first day of class. Dates are: May 17 from 6 – 9 pm, May 21 from 8 a.m. – 5 pm, May 24 from 6 – 9 pm, May 31 from 6 – 9 pm, and June 4 from 8 a.m to 3:30 pm.

New this year is the independent study option. Students have to attend the May 17, May 31 and June 4 dates to collect materials, go over the requirements, answer/ask questions, and complete the Test Day exam and skills areas. Cost is $20 also.

Please call to register by May 16^th; otherwise materials may not be available. Youth cannot enroll after the first class, May 17. They must attend it or a parent may attend with prior approval.

The 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference will be June 15 and 16 at Grand River Center, Dubuque, Iowa. Topics to be covered include: trace minerals, cow comfort, environmental regulations, ration fine-tuning, herd health strategies, calf feeding, and forage issues. To register, contact Wisconsin Agri-Service at (608) 233-1111.

The Stephenson County Ag Breakfast will be Saturday, June 25th. Breakfast will be served 6–10 a.m.at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds. The menu is: orange juice, coffee cake, scrambled eggs, whole hog sausage, beef bacon, cheese, milk and coffee, and ice cream. Donation is $5 per person and children 5 and under are free. Contact your local financial institution or purchase at the door.

To keep receiving this newsletter in hard copy or electronic form, you will need to let us know. You can view the newsletter on our website: http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/stephenson and find it under the Commercial Ag section. In a short time, you'll receive a postcard asking if you want to continue receiving the newsletter service. The newsletter gives a comprehensive detail listing of Agricultural activities, workshops, and information; yet, we realize that occupations and interests change.

Please let us know your interest. Contact us by phone 815-235-4125 (leave a message after hours); email wwinter@uiuc.edu; write us a note to U of I Extension, Stephenson County Ag News, 2998 W. Pearl City Rd., Bldg. R, Freeport, IL 61032; or stop in.

Have surplus garden produce? Consider donating your extra garden produce to the two area food pantries from July to September. They'll accept the produce only at the following times and days of the week. They are:

F.A.C.C. FOOD PANTRY
514 S .Chicago Ave., Freeport
9:00–11:30 a.m.; 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Mon., Wed., Fri.

LE-WIN FOOD PANTRY
511 w. Lena St., Lena
8:30–9:00 a.m. Saturdays