The Farm Tractor and Machinery Safety Certification program will be offered again this year. This program is designed to train youth between the ages of 14 and 16 in proper tractor and machinery operation and safety.

The Child Labor Act prohibits hiring youth less than 16 years of age in certain jobs, which are considered hazardous. Farming is considered on of those jobs. Children may work on their parent's farm without violating this law. However, if a child under 16 is hired to work on someone else's farm, then they are in violation.

If a child between the ages of 14 and 16 years of age wishes to work on someone else's farm, they must first be certified. Woodford County Extension will be offering this training and certification on June 2^nd and 4^th from 9:00 am to noon, and June 5^th and 6^th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Woodford County Farm Bureau Building.

There is a fee of $15 to cover the cost of materials and lunch on June 5^th and 6^th. If you know of any youth that needs to be certified, please have them call the Woodford County Extension Office at 309-467-3789 to register for this course. Deadline for registration is May 30, 2008.

As a homeowner, you are responsible for the quality of water that your family and guests drink. However, since contaminated water does not always look, taste, or smell different than safe drinking water, you need to test private water supplies at least once a year –more often if problems arise, according to Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator. Spring is an excellent time for testing your water, especially after a heavy rainstorm.

If you are sending a water sample to a private lab, you may need to collect the sample yourself. Fortunately, the job is simple and straightforward. The exact procedure can vary, cautions Frazee, depending on the contaminant being tested or the lab being used, so be sure to follow the lab's directions. The labs should tell you what kind of container to use in collecting a sample and most will provide you with an appropriate container. Your local health department can often provide water testing bottles and do simple baseline testing for bacteria or nitrate. For more extensive testing and results, especially for pesticides and other inorganic substances, consult the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Below are a few guidelines which Frazee provides on collecting a water sample:

• · Wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and soap before collecting the sample.
• · Take the sample using the cold water faucet from a nonthreaded fixture, such as a bathtub spout.
• · Let the water flow for five minutes before sampling.
• · Do not touch the inside of the lid or lay the cap down while collecting the sample.
• · Leave ¾ to 1-inch of air space at the top of the bottle.
• · After filling the sample bottle, mark the date and time of collection with an indelible marker on the outside of the bottle and on any lab paperwork.

For most accurate results, samples should arrive at the laboratory within thirty hours.

Since it is critical to get the water sample to the lab quickly, Frazee suggests you may want to find out from the post office whether sending the sample via priority mail will get it to the lab within forty-eight hours. So, if possible, collect water samples as near as possible to post office "mail-out times" - perhaps early in the work week (Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday). If you live near the testing facility, consider hand-delivering the sample. If a sample is more than forty-eight hours old, it should not be analyzed.

Frazee also cautions homeowners from taking the sample from a fire or yard hydrant. Also, avoid faucets leaking at the handle and faucets where food or beverages are dispensed or prepared. If a faucet has attachments, such as a hose or aerator, Frazee recommends either avoiding that faucet or removing the attachments before collecting the sample.

The laboratory will complete the water testing and send a written report usually within two weeks. According to Frazee, the written report will provide the concentration of different chemicals and recommendations to follow if water contamination problems are identified.

As the temperatures begin to rise, planting season will begin. This means that farm equipment will frequently be traveling on the roads in rural areas. During the next couple of months pay extra attention to slow moving vehicles.

Collisions between farm vehicles and automobiles can happen in a variety of ways. The most common scenario is the left-turn collision. It happens when a farm vehicle is about to make a left-turn, meanwhile, a motorist behind the farm vehicle decides to pass. Twenty-two percent of all farm related accidents occur in this manner. Keep in mind large farm vehicles, like semi-trucks, may need to take wide left turns. The operator may need to swing to the right before making the left turn because they need the extra room to get lined up with the farm gate or driveway. The operator may not be able to see what is behind them until they are already into the turn. To avoid an accident, a motorist should never assume that a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road is going to turn right, or is letting you pass. Try to make eye contact with the operator before you attempt to pass. They will usually let you know their intentions with a hand signal. If you cannot see the operator, check the right side of the road for any places that the vehicle might turn, such as, field gates or driveways.

The rear-end collision is also very common, it results in 20% of all farm vehicle accidents. In Illinois 2,341 such accidents occurred in the past seven years, according to the Illinois DOT. These accidents are usually "catastrophic" due to the speed difference between the two vehicles. It is easy to misjudge the speed of a farm implement. Most farm vehicles are not designed to travel at speeds greater than 25 miles per hour. At that speed they are required by law to have a Slow Moving Vehicle emblem on the rear-most implement. Keep in mind that if you are driving at 55 mph and come upon a tractor that is traveling 15 mph, it will only take you five seconds to close a gap the length of a football field. So remember, as soon as you see a farm vehicle start applying the brake.

Many collisions also occur when motorists pass a farm vehicle. Some farm equipment is extra wide or extra long, which motorists don't consider when they plan to pass. To avoid these type of accidents, do not assume that the farmer can move aside to let you pass. The shoulder may be soft, wet, or steep, which can cause the farm vehicle to tip, or the shoulder may not be able to support the weight of the farm vehicle. When passing, make sure you can see the farm vehicle in your rear-view mirror before you attempt to get back into your lane.

Remember, when traveling on rural roads to stay ALERT. Enjoy your drive, even if you have to follow a farm vehicle traveling 20 mph for two miles, it will only add 6 minutes to your trip. That is about the same time as waiting for two stoplights.

In just a few weeks, many farmers will be out in their fields, tilling their soil and beginning to plant their cornfields. While the itch of spring may be too hard to resist for some farmers anxious to begin field work, don't yield to the temptation, warns Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator. If you begin field work too early, you run the risk of excessive soil compaction on soil that is still too wet. Substantial yield reduction due to compaction can be expected; compaction reduces drainage; causes denitrification; and limits the availability of oxygen to the roots.

According to Frazee, the most obvious preventative measure is to avoid, if at all possible, both heavy wheel traffic and tillage of soils that are too wet. In many years, the greatest amount of soil compaction is caused by the very first trip across the field in the spring, whether this may be applying pre-plant anhydrous ammonia or starting spring tillage. Although the soil surface is dry, and you may even see wind erosion occurring, usually only the top one-inch or so of the soil profile is dry. The rest of the soil profile is usually still saturated with water and is very susceptible to compaction. Allowing the soil to dry for just one or two more days can significantly minimize compaction problems for the rest of the season.

Twenty years ago when farmers tried to work in fields that were too wet, they got stuck! However, with today's high-powered tractors and large dual tires, farmers can actually run their equipment through some areas of their fields where water may still be standing. The resulting puddled soil, reduced infiltration and drainage, and poor plant growth are not necessarily the fault of the equipment, cautions Frazee, but the blame should probably go to the operator for operating the equipment when soil conditions are not fit.

Recent University of Illinois studies have shown that deep soil compaction, below the depth of tillage, persists for many years and is expensive and often impractical, if not impossible to remove. Thus preventing soil compaction from occurring is the key. According to Frazee, the following recommendations should be considered in order to minimize the severity of compaction in a wet spring:

Keep out of fields whenever they are wet!

Reduce the number of tillage passes.

Reduce surface pressure by using wide tires, duals, or tracks.

Minimize tractor weight.

Maintain minimum tire inflation.

Space wheels to follow the same path by using a controlled traffic system.

Avoid over-sized equipment.

Keep wagons, trucks and other unnecessary equipment out of the fields.

Combine field operations into one trip, such as applying herbicides and liquid fertilizer.

Improve soil drainage by installing surface and sub-surface drainage systems.

As long as you are waiting for fields to dry, double check your planter to insure you will get maximum seed distribution. Ohio State Extension specialists offer a "rule of thumb," which says yields are reduced an additional 5% if there are gaps of 4 to 6 feet in the row and an additional 2% for gaps of 1 to 3 feet.

For more info: http://corn.osu.edu/#F .

1. Keep the planting speed within the range specified in the planter's manual.

2. Match the seed grade with the planter plate.

3. Check planters with finger pickups for wear on the back plate and brush (use a feeler gauge to check tension on the fingers, then tighten them correctly).

4. Check for wear on double-disc openers and seed tubes.

5. Make sure the sprocket settings on the planter transmission are correct.

6. Check for worn chains, stiff chain links, and improper tire pressure.

7. Make sure seed drop tubes are clean and clear of any obstructions.

8. Clean seed tube sensors if a planter monitor is being used.

9. Make sure coulters and disc openers are aligned.

10. Match the air pressure to the weight of the seed being planted.

11. Follow lubricant recommendations when using seed-applied insecticides.

With fuel costs sky-rocketing, many farmers are searching for ways to reduce their fuel usage associated with the up-coming spring planting season reports Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator. To help answer these questions, producers need to first look closely where their fuels are being used. Fuel consumption varies widely due to variations in tractor efficiency, soil moisture conditions, crop yields, and other factors.

Frazee has outlined the following ten major ways farmers may be able to reduce fuel usage this spring:

1. Reduce the number of trips associated with spring seedbed preparation. With today's modern planter units, crop residue does not create the problems it used to with seed placement and depth control. For most field situations, one tillage trip over the field in the spring should provide adequate leveling of the soil and seedbed preparation.

2. Change to a no-till planting system where field conditions permit. This is especially true for soybeans, as no-till soybeans are an easy and proven way to maximize yields without doing any tillage. Currently, over one-half of Illinois soybean acreage is planted using no-till methods.

3. Reduce the depth of tillage associated with seedbed preparation if you are using a mulch-till or reduced-till system. In most cases, spring seedbed preparation should be performed no deeper than 3 – 4 inches. This will reduce the power and fuel requirements needed.

4. Combine trips across the field may also reduce fuel usage. Producers using 28% UAN solutions may be able to mix their pre-plant or pre-emergence herbicides with their fertilizer and apply with one trip over the field. Be sure to check with your ag-supplier regarding chemical compatibility of the herbicides and fertilizer products before mixing these together.

5. Custom apply either or both herbicides and fertilizer this spring. Although an application charge will be charged by the commercial company, they may be able to do it more cost and fuel-efficiently than an individual producer.

6. Use post-emergence herbicides for annual grass and broad-leaf weed control. By applying the post-emergence herbicides after the crops and the weeds emerge, producers know the crop's seedling plant population and the infestation of weed species present. In some cases, producers may only need to do "spot" treatments of either the broadleaf or grass herbicide in the field. Also, by waiting until after the crop and weeds emerge for treatment, weed control is usually improved.

7. Avoid unnecessary use of the cultivator for weed control unless weed populations cannot be controlled with herbicides.

8. Match field equipment to the appropriate sized tractor. If excess tractor horsepower is used for the job, fuel efficiency declines dramatically. Conversely, if a small horse-powered tractor is used and the tractor becomes overloaded for the job, fuel efficiency also suffers. In many situations, research studies show that a large front-wheel assist tractor or 4-wheel drive tractor may actually provide the best fuel efficiency if it is appropriately sized to a large field cultivator or other tillage implement. A good rule of thumb is to usually select the smallest and lightest tractor for the job that needs to be done to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce soil compaction.

9. Perform general tractor maintenance before going into the fields this spring. Take time to properly clean air and fuel systems including replacement of filters. Also be sure to properly lubricate tractors and equipment as this will result in enhanced fuel efficiency and equipment operation when you get to the fields this spring.

10. Examine use of the pick-up truck and trips to town. According to research studies, for many farms, one of the largest users of fuel involves the pick-up truck. Without a doubt, the pick-up truck is an essential component of the entire farming operation. However, where possible, combine trips for equipment, seed, chemicals, and to arrange for other agri-business services. Also, using the telephone or the home computer may reduce a number of unnecessary trips to town.

For most farms, the greatest farm fuel usage occurs in the fall as the crops are harvested and dried, and fall tillage is performed. Although harvest is still 6-8 months away, Frazee recommends farmers begin examining their entire farming operation to identify where and how they can reduce their overall fuel consumption.

Emerson Nafziger is still looking for any producers/fields that would be interested in conducting a on-farm nitrogen rate test. There is a $600 payment for participating. This will be the last year for these trials. If you do not have your nitrogen applied yet, and are interested, please contact the Woodford County Extension office at 309-467-3789 for additional information. The following information is from Emerson Nafziger.

Our goal for the 2008 crop year is to have at least 80 on-farm N rate trials in Illinois, with half of these corn following soybean and half corn following corn. Funding from the Illinois Fertilizer and Research Education Council (FREC) will be used to provide a payment to each producer to help cover the loss of yield due to a possible N deficiency in the low-rate strips. Here are suggested guidelines for this trial:

· Strips need to be in a relatively uniform field or part of a field, in a soil type typical for the area. Strips need to be wide enough to allow harvest inside the N application strip with at least two border rows on each side. This is needed to prevent "spillover" N effects from the next plots. Most strips will be 12 or 16 rows wide, with 6 or 8 of the center rows harvested for yield. Strips should be at least 300 ft. long if they'll be harvested using a weigh wagon, and 400 ft. or longer (up to ¼ mile) if a yield monitor is used. Because of the corn price and loss of yield in the low-rate strips, we suggest that strips be shorter rather than longer in 2008.

· Any nitrogen form (anhydrous ammonia, 28% UAN, etc.) and application season (fall, spring, sidedress) that you are using will be acceptable. If applying preplant anhydrous ammonia, try to place it so that you will not be planting rows directly on top of the knife tracks. Of course, fertilizer applied preplant will need to be straight with the rows.

· We will use five nitrogen rates- 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 lb N per acre, with three strips of each rate. If other forms of N have been or will be applied (DAP/MAP, starter N, herbicide carrier), this nitrogen can be in addition to the above rates. If this "other" N will total to more than 30-40 lb., however, we will lose accuracy, which will decrease the usefulness of the trial. Please check before proceeding if the rate of N over the entire trial area (other than the N rates applied) will be more than 45 lb.

· Yields can be taken with a yield monitor or weigh wagon (or both), whichever is considered most accurate and convenient.

Hi everyone. I hope this newsletter find everyone excited about spring. I know its still rather cold and rainy so far, but the forecast for the next 10 days is predicting some 60's. If the frequent rain and cool temps continue, it may make planting rather challenging. This newsletter contains many articles that should give some advice for the coming busy season.

As usual, if you have any questions or problems with your crops after planting, give me a call at 467-3789.

Pete Fandel, Unit Educator, Crop Systems

U of I Extension, Woodford County