Agriculture-related events and cutting-edge news from University of Illinois Extension.
Agriculture News & Updates
Agronomy Day Aug 18, 7 am - 2 pm Crop Sciences Research Center, South 1st St., Savoy, IL

Agronomy Day is collaborative field day hosted by the Department of Crop Sciences in partnership with several academic units in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). From nitrogen management to drone demonstrations Agronomy Day shares cutting-edge research with practical implications for your farm or business. CEU and CCA credits are available during tour stops.

Learn more here
Summer Field Day and Wetland Restoration Site Tours, Thursday Aug 18

The Rock Island County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting a Summer Field Day and Wetland Restoration Site Tours, Thursday August 18th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. with a rain date of Friday August 19th.

The program will take place 1.5 miles East of Joslin at the intersection of IL 92 and 307th Street North. Please RSVP by phone (309-764-1486) or email [email protected] by August 15th.

Additional directions and maps are available here
Corn Disease Update - Monmouth July 14

What are we seeing in the field? At the Northwestern Illinois Ag Research & Demonstration Center we are beginning to see some of the residual herbicide activity break, with weeds like giant foxtail and morning glory popping up in some fields. We are also seeing quite a bit of Japanese beetle feeding... Read more here

Sign up to Hill and Furrow Blog posted by Angie Peltier, Extension Commercial Ag Educator at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural R&D Center, Monmouth, IL.
The Center is located 1 mile North and 4 miles West of Monmouth at 321 210th Ave
Women's Weed Management Workshop, August 25, 5:30 pm, Northwestern Illinois Agriculture R & D Center, Monmouth, IL

Women involved in corn and soybean production: please join us for a workshop that will feature the following topics:
  • Weed ID and Growth Habits
  • Herbicide Sites of Action
  • Herbicide Injury Symptoms
  • Herbicide Resistant Weeds and Resistance Management
  • Designing Resilient Weed Management Programs
$5 fee, register here.

Stark County Fair July 29 - Aug 1
Check out the Stark County 4-H Fair!
4-H General Projects will be at the Wy-Hi Community Center and Livestock Shows are at the Fairgrounds in Wyoming, IL 

Here's what's coming up:
Fri. July 29, Horse Show, 9 am
Sat July 30: Rabbits, Poultry 12 pm
Dairy Show, Bucket Calves, Goats 2 pm
General Projects open 3:30 - 5:30 pm 
Sun July 31: Beef Breeding, Beef Steer & Ideal Beef, 10:30 am
General Projects open 3 - 5 pm
Mon August 1: Swine Show 1pm/ General Projects open 3 - 5 pm
Stark County Sale of Champions for Stark County 4-H Members 7 pm
Cash Rent Lease Information
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University of Illinois Extension Commercial Agriculture Educator Angie Peltier provided  resources on county-specific historical cash rental rate information for irrigated and  non-irrigated cropland and pastureland rental, 2015 Illinois Land Values and Lease Trends, Optimum crop productivity ratings as well as lease forms for both fixed cash and variable cash options

Review Cash Rent Resources Here
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Henry & Stark Counties Extension Open House, Tuesday, August 9th
10 am - 2 pm, 358 Front St., Galva, IL

We have relocated our Henry & Stark Counties office to Galva, IL. Join us to celebrate! Meet our staff, enjoy a day of fun family activities, find out about our programs! It starts with a ribbon cutting at 10 am. We hope you can join us!  Learn more here 

Special thanks to our event sponsor Big River Resources!
Cattle Markets Can Recover

URBANA, Ill. - Lower cattle prices have been the story this spring and summer. Beef supply has been large due to heavy placements of heavy calves and the beginning of more females coming to market as herd expansion may be slowing. According to a Purdue University Extension economist, retail beef prices have been slow to come down and this has limited consumer purchases of beef in relation to abundant pork and poultry supplies.

Read more here
Improve Milk Quality and Economic Gain with U of I Somatic Cell County Calculator

URBANA, Ill. - Dairy researchers at the University of Illinois developed a new tool to help dairy producers maximize their profit and improve milk quality. The Dairy Focus Somatic Cell Count (SCC) Calculator allows producers to analyze their test day milk numbers and take appropriate action regarding somatic cell count. (Read full article here)

The Dairy Focus Somatic Cell Count Calculator is easy to operate and free to download. There are versions currently available for DairyComp 305 and PCDart, as well as a version for dairy producers who prefer to enter their data manually. Users can visit www.dairyfocus.illinois.edu  and click on the 'Tools' page to download the calculator. An instructional video is available (http://go.illinois.edu/SCC_Calculator) that shows users how to import data from their management program, and gives the user beneficial information on how to use the calculator to analyze their herd and assist in making critical management decisions.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact (309) 756-9978.
University of Illinois Extension, Henry, Mercer, Rock Island & Stark Counties
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