Pike County
1301 E. Washington St.
Pittsfield, IL 62363
Phone: (217) 285-5543
Fax: (217) 285-5735
Winter, 2010-2011
County Director Greeting
My wish for you is a safe and Happy Holiday!
2010 was yet another challenging year for both
Agriculture and University of Illinois Extension.
We certainly endured more rainfall than was
necessary for the 2010 crop and the end result
was lower yields especially for corn. Each year
tends to provide all of us with new challenges
and opportunities.
As we reflect upon this past year, we will tend to
focus on how Mother Nature treated us versus
such things as insect, weed, and disease pressure
in corn and soybean. We will recall the
difficulties of putting up the hay crop and even
reflect upon the thought of, ‘if I would have only
tiled that field last fall maybe it would have
yielded better’. With that being said, we can still
be very thankful for many things in Agriculture
during 2010. As a whole, our planting dates
were much earlier compared to 2009, we saw
minimal insect pressure, and again compared to
‘09 we saw less disease. Harvest was much
earlier and we were even shelling dry corn
which is something we simply did not do in
2009. I think we will all remember how nice the
weather was from August through the end of
harvest. For those of you who took advantage of
doing fall tillage could not have asked for better
conditions and I believe it gave producers the
opportunity to undo or mend some of the
compaction issues. Of course I would be
remised if I did not highlight the significant
upward trend in commodity prices as we
transitioned into the harvest season. Bottom line
is that each and every year will be different and
that is what makes production agriculture so
exciting. I wish all of you success in 2011!
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As you are fully aware, University of Illinois
Extension continues to experience structural
change. With decreases in funding, Extension
announced reorganization in January 2010.
Public listening sessions were held around the
state and in May, the new multi-county units
were announced. Unit staffing positions were
identified and an internal application process
took place in September. In October, 24 of the
27 County Director position appointments were
announced and in November, the Unit Educator
positions that had been filled were identified.
Over the next several months more decisions
will be made in regards to office structure,
support staff and other civil service positions. I
firmly believe that these structural changes will
allow University of Illinois Extension staff to
enhance local programs and meet the needs of
our communities. Extension structure may
change, staff may differ, funding may lessen, or
a number of other things may change – however
our purpose is: To enable the citizens of Illinois
to improve their lives and communities through
learning partnerships that Put Knowledge to
Work! Our priority is to make your lives easier,
safer, and more profitable. We will continue to
strengthen Extensions ability to deliver high
quality research based programs in every county.
Sincerely,
Aaron Dufelmeier
Interim Pike County Extension Director
If you need further information on
anything in this newsletter or copies of
brochures, please contact our office at
217-285-5543.
University of Illinois PSEP
Dates
To purchase and apply restricted use pesticides,
you must have a current private pesticide
applicators license.
To obtain and maintain your Private Pesticide
Applicator’s License you must pass a fifty
question exam administered by the Illinois
Department of Agriculture. Again this year,
there will be a $30 fee for those who participate
in the training portion of these workshops. This
fee will be in addition to the $20 licensing fee
required by the Department of Agriculture. The
license is good for three years.
Those who prefer to study for the exam on their
own at home can purchase Extension’s Private
Applicators Study Guide and Workbook for $13
available at University of Illinois Extension,
Pike County.
There will be TEST ONLY sessions held:
February 9, 2011 - Pike County Extension
Office in Pittsfield, 1301 E. Washington St. (we
are located in the Pike County Farm Bureau)
from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Contact the Pike County
Extension office at 217-285-5543.
February 10, 2011 – Morgan County Extension
Office, 104 N. Westgate, Jacksonville from
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Contact Aaron
Dufelmeier at 217-243-7424.
There is no charge for TEST ONLY sessions.
Training and testing sessions are scheduled for
select locations. Pre-registration is required.
Check-in at these clinics begins at 8:30 a.m.
The training sessions are $30 regardless if you
register and attend OR do not attend. You may
register for training and testing clinics at
www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu or by phone at
877-626-1650 (toll free). There are local
training sessions scheduled for the following
dates and locations:
January 18, 2011 - Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000
S. Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. Training is
from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. with testing from
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
2
March 4, 2011 - Quincy City Center Hotel, 201
South Third Street, Quincy with training from
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and testing from 1:00 –
3:00 p.m.
IL Specialty Crop Conference
The premier event for fruit and vegetable
growers in Illinois will be held in Springfield on
January 6-7. Also offered will be four preconference workshops - on January. 5- High
tunnels; Pumpkins; GAP; Expanding Farmers’
Markets.
The 2-day conference is split into 6 tracks-fruits, vegetables, herbs, organic,
agritourism/marketing and irrigation/business
mgt. A huge trade show is also available for
viewing. For more info
www.specialtygrowers.org
Coffee Break Ag
Update
The past few years we’ve been
offering these informal
programs at sites across the
area. We have prepared several
topics for discussion and the group then decides
which of the topics will be presented. The
format allows for discussion between speaker
and audience, often times quite a bit of sharing
between participants takes place. Topics for
discussion will include: Corn and soybean seed
treatments; Corn/soybean nematode concerns;
“Quad stack” waterhemp; Insect concerns for
2011; Tillage. All programs will begin at 10:00
a.m. and finish by noon. These programs are
very informal, with plenty of time for questions
and answers from the group. CCA hours will be
available.
Locations and dates for the program include:
December 21, Lima Town Hall (Fuller
Fertilizer); January 11, Hull Lions Club (Hull
Fertilizer); January 12, Mendon Diner (Matt
Grimes); January 19, Railroad Park Eatery (Matt
Grimes); January 26, Brown County Extension
Office; February 10, Farmer’s Junction in Ferris,
(Hancock County Extension Office, 357-2150).
Beef Meeting
December 21 at the
old Timewell School in
Brown County and
January 11 at the
Hancock County
Extension Office,
programs will be
identical and run from
6:30-8:00 p.m. Dean Oswald, University of
Illinois Extension, and Monte Rowland, Ursa
Farmers Coop, will be the speakers.
Topics will include - Feeding 2010 hay:
preventing nutritional deficiencies, providing
protein/energy, keeping cows and developing
calves healthy. And anaplasmosis: what it is,
background of the problem and prevention.
Contact the Adams County Extension office at
217-223-8380 or Hancock County Extension
office at 217-357-2150 to register.
Corn and Soybean Classic
Thursday, January 13, Quincy Holiday Inn.
Topics and speakers include: Paying for
Fungicides- Carl Bradley; Understanding Insect
Refuge requirements- Mike Gray; Corn
and Soybean Nematodes- Terry
Niblack; Improving Nitrogen
Management- Fabian Fernandez;
Residual Herbicides- Aaron Hager;
Corn and Soybean Margins- Gary
Schnitkey; High Corn YieldsEmerson Nafziger; Soybean
Agronomics- Vince Davis. The
program begins at 9:00 a.m. and
concludes at 3:30 p.m. Registration
is $60 before December 18, and $75
after. www.cropsciconferences.org to register.
Certified Livestock Managers
Training
Thursday, January 20, Adams County
Extension, beginning at 8:50 a.m. Livestock
facilities with 300-999 animal unit capacity must
have someone certified in manure handling
procedures. This can be done in one of three
ways; via an on-line short course or attend this
training session or take and pass the CLMT
exam. Producers with over 1000 animal units
must take the class and pass the test. You are
strongly encouraged to pre register for the
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workshop by calling 800-345-6087. You can
also order training materials through this
number. Registration cost is $30 for the first
person and $20 for any additional (same farm).
Walk in registration is $92.
Western IL/ NE MO Notill/
Crop Mgt. Conference
Friday, January 28th, at John Wood Community
College, 1301 S. 48th Street, Quincy. The
program will start at 9:15 a.m. and conclude at
2:15 p.m. The general session will feature
Emerson Nafziger, U of I Extension discussing
“How Much Tillage Does Corn Need?”
Breakout sessions during the remainder of the
day will include: Herbicide and Weed ReviewGordon Roskamp, WIU Agronomy; Grain and
Livestock Marketing-Melvin Brees, U of MO
FAPRI; Interpreting Yield Maps, What do we
Do Now?- Keith Fuller, Fuller Fertilizer; Row
Spacings and Populations- Emerson Nafziger;
Year in Review- Mike Roegge, U of I
Extension; Farmer Panel- 3 Area Producers.
In addition to the speakers, there will be
commercial displays available for viewing. Cost
will be $12 per person, which will provide
coffee, donuts, lunch and proceedings. Contact
the Adams County Extension office at 217-2238380 to register or online at:
www.extension.uiuc.edu/addams
CCA hours
have been applied for.
Horseman’s Clinic
February 5, 2011
Urbana, Illinois
This clinic will increase education
and awareness of all horse owners
on basic and in-depth topics
pertaining to a horse’s health,
maintenance and prevention of
disease.
Registration will cover the cost of handout
materials, continental breakfast, lunch, and
breaks. The early registration deadline is
Sunday, January 23, 2011 and is $40. After that
registration fee will be $50. Register online by
visiting
www.vetmed.illinois.edu/ope/horseclinic
Early registration is recommended. The clinic
will be held on the University of Illinois College
of Veterinary Medicine campus, S. Lincoln Ave,
Urbana, IL. For maps and directions, visit
www.vetmed.illinois.edu/ope
Putting Small Acres to Work
Saturday, Feb. 12, John Wood Community
College, 1301 S. 48th Street, Quincy.
Designed for those who have a few acres they’d
like to find an enterprise which could supply
some income or provide for family enjoyment.
The date will be Saturday, February 12,
beginning at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m.
Topics you can select from include:
Hoophouses; Brambles; Integrated Pest
Management; Goats; Canning Basics; and Nut
Trees. Three sessions per hour are offered, and
some are repeated, but you may want to bring
along an extra person. A general session will
discuss- Rules and Regulations for Direct
Marketing. Local producers will provide the
training in each of these hour long sessions.
Cost for the program is $30 per person ($50 for
couples) which includes lunch and a
proceedings. Students can attend for $10.
Register on line or call the Adams County
Extension office at 217-223-8380.
Soil Fertility Workshop
Tuesday, February 15, at the Camp Point United
Methodist Church, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Topics and speakers include: Fabian Fernandez,
U of I Extension Soil Fertility- Micro Nutrients
(and a few macro’s) for Corn; Peter Scharf, U of
MO Extension Soil Fertility- The When and
How’s of Supplemental N; Matt Montgomery, U
of I Extension- Understanding the Potash Cycle;
Robert Bellm, U of I Extension- Phosphorus
Needs of our Major Crops; Mike Roegge, U of I
Extension- Nutrient Deficiencies.
Cost of the program will be $40 per person. 4.5
CCA hours in Nutrient Management will be
offered. Most portions of this program will be
conducted via distance learning. Contact the
Adams County office at 217-223-8380 to
register.
Tree Fruit and Vegetable
Workshop
Thursday, February 17, Adams County office,
beginning at 8:30 a.m. Chemical company
representatives will provide updates for their
products (Valent, Dow, Bayer, Gowan, DuPont).
Mohammad Babadoost, Extension Fruit and
Vegetable Pathologist will present: Summer
Apple Diseases and Pumpkin Disease ID/Mgt.
Elizabeth Wahle, Extension Horticulture
Specialist will present Apple Tree Nutrition and
Pumpkin Variety Update. Mike Roegge will
present Pumpkin Nutrition/Fertilization. Cost for
the program is $10 which includes lunch and
handout materials. Contact the Adams County
Extension office at 217-223-8380 to register and
for accurate lunch count.
Crop Scout School
Tuesday, February 22, Camp Point United
Methodist Church, 9:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Topics and speakers include: Eric Adee, U of I
Monmouth Research Center- Corn Fungicide
Use (rotated corn/ continuous corn, by planting
date and timing); Peter Scharf, U of MO Soil
Fertility- Fine Tuning Nitrogen Mgt.; Kyle
Cecil, U of I Extension- Scouting Basics; Mike
Roegge, U of I Extension- Wheat Mgt- Insect,
Weed and Fertility; Eric Adee- Wheat Disease
Mgt.; Mike Roegge, Troubleshooting. Cost will
be $40 per person. CCA hours have been applied
for. Register on line or call the Adams County
Extension office at 217-223-8380.
Remember the Premiere
Tattoo/Tagging Dates for ISF
Steers – By February 1 through March 15, 2011
Wethers – Between March 15 through May 15,
2011
Barrow – By April 15, 2011 and within 35 days of
birth
4-H/FFA members planning to exhibit steers and
wethers at the 2011 Illinois State Fair will need
to have their animals tattooed between the
following dates:
Tattoo/Tagging Steers – February 1 and March
15, 2011 – There is an ownership deadline of
February 1, 2011 for all steers.
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TattooTagging Wethers – March 15 and May
15, 2011 – This date includes Junior-Open
Premiere and Junior on-foot lambs. Ownership
date for these lambs of May 15th.
Soil and Water Management
Seminar offers Continuing
Education
Exhibitors of "ISF Premiere Barrows" must not
be farrowed before February 10, 2011 and must
be tattooed no later than April 15, 2011. Also,
barrows must be tattooed before they are 35
days old and not weighing more than 1.0 pounds
per day when tattooed.
Managing Soils will be the focus of a Soil and
Water Management Seminar sponsored by
University of Illinois Extension on February 23,
2011. The workshop will be held at the Morgan
County Extension office. Presentations will be
delivered via PowerPoint and teleconference
from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be
provided.
Crop Management Conference
February 2-3 at the Northfield Conference
Center in Springfield.
This two-day conference is designed to address a
wide array of topics pertinent to crop
production, pest management, and natural
resources issues. The format for the conference
consists of thirteen different 50-minute sessions.
The registration fee is $130.00 per person due
one week prior to the conference. Late
registration or registration at the door will be
$150.00 per person. The fee includes lunch,
refreshments, and handout material for both
days. 13 hours of CCA credit will be offered.
Register on-line at
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/edwardsvillecen
ter/
Illinois Pork Expo
The Illinois Pork Producers
Association will hold the
Illinois Pork Expo on
Tuesday and Wednesday,
February 1 & 2 at the Peoria
Civic Center in Peoria,
Illinois.
There are a number of
educational seminars planned
for the expo. The specific topics, speakers and
times for the various seminars can be obtained
from the Illinois Pork Producers office at 217529-3100.
5
Those attending will learn about tillage and
nutrient interactions, flood risk management,
biomass crops and their effects on soil water and
soil quality, and Gulf hypoxia and Illinois
agriculture. Certified Crop Advisors may receive
up to 4.5 continuing education units in Soil and
Water Management by attending this seminar.
Registration is $45 per person, which includes
lunch. The registration deadline is February 16.
To register, send name, address, and payment to
University of Illinois Extension, and mail to 104
North Westgate, Jacksonville, IL 62650. If
dietary or disability accommodations are
needed, please indicate when registering.
For more information, email Duane Friend at
friend@illinois.edu.
Illinois Performance
Tested Bull Sale
The 2011 Illinois
Performance Tested Bull Sale
will be held at 11:00 a.m. on
Thursday, February 24th in the Livestock
Exposition Center on the Illinois State
Fairgrounds in Springfield.
A complete copy of the sale catalog will be
mailed to all the past consignors and producers
who attended and registered at the sale. In
addition, the information on the sale
(performance pedigrees) will be posted on the
new IPT Bull Sale web site at
http://www.IPTBullSale.com . Additional
information or a hard copy of the sale catalog
can be obtained by calling Dave Seibert at 309339-3694 or by writing Dave Seibert, 300 North
Street, Washington, Illinois 61571 or calling
Dave at 309-339-3694.
Illinois Beef Expo
Beef Cattle producers and junior beef exhibitors
interested in attending the Illinois Beef Expo to
be held on Thursday through Sunday, February
24-27 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in
Springfield can obtain all the dates, times and
breed sales on the IPX web site
(www.illinoisbeefexpo.com).
A brief outline of the sales and shows include
the following:
Thursday, February 24
11 a.m. – Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale
Friday, February 25
8 a.m. – Angus Show
1 p.m. – Livestock Equipment Auction
Saturday, February 26
8 a.m. – Junior Judging Contest Registration
8 a.m. – Simmental Parade
9 a.m. – Hereford Illini Classic Parade
10 a.m. – Junior Judging Contest Begins
10 a.m. – Simmental Sale
11 a.m. – Hereford Illini Classic Sale
Noon – Angus Sale
1:30 p.m. – Beef Quiz Bowl
4:30 p.m. – Junior Heifer Show Begins
Sunday, February 27
8 a.m. – Junior Steer and Heifer Show
A complete set of the Beef Expo Junior Steer
and Heifers Show Rules and Regulations can be
obtained at the web site listed above. For
additional questions pertaining to the Illinois
Beef Expo contact the Illinois Beef Association
at (217) 787-4280.
National Agriculture Week
March 15 marks National Ag Day. This is a time
when producers, agricultural associations,
corporations, agencies, and countless others
across America gather to recognize and
celebrate the abundance provided by
Agriculture. The National Ag Day program is
still committed to increasing public awareness
about American agriculture.
As the world population soars, there is even
greater demand for the food and fiber that the
United States farmer produces. With world
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population at 5.5 billion today, and expected to
reach 7.9 billion by the year 2020, American
agriculture must meet global needs for food and
fiber now and in the future. National Agriculture
Week, March 13 – 19, 2011 and National
Agriculture Day, March 15 will be highlighting
global challenges and opportunities for United
States agriculture.
Not only are American farmers concerned about
feeding the world, but they are also just as
concerned about preserving the environment.
Farmers are taking big strides in working to
preserve the natural resources—water, air and
soil—which form the backbone of food and fiber
production. No-till farming, contour farming,
strip cropping, terraces, and other conservation
practices have reduced soil erosion by 25
percent over the past ten years.
American agriculture is also helping to protect
wildlife. In fact, wildlife biologists report that 75
percent of the nation's wildlife live off of farms
and ranches. The trees they plant to protect their
land provide shelter for birds, deer, ducks and
geese, pheasants, rabbits, and other upland
game. Freshwater streams that run through farm
and ranch are home to millions of fish. Many
farmers throughout our state are active
participants in the federal Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program (CREP), Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP), Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program (WHIP), Illinois Buffer Strip
Initiative, Conservation 2000 Programs,
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP), and the Wetland Reserve Program
(WRP). These programs help to not only protect
marginal lands from soil erosion and
sedimentation, but they also work to ensure
continued wildlife populations for years to
come.
Individuals, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, and
commodity organizations may want to consider
organizing the following activities to promote
agriculture in your community:


Provide your local school with a list of
farmers who can discuss their grain and
livestock operations.
Organize a local tour that features
different farming operations and a
variety of conservation practices.




Recognize local farmers and agribusinesses that have done an excellent
job of promoting agricultural awareness
to their city cousins.
Organize an Agricultural Expo at your
county fairgrounds, city park, or
shopping mall to increase awareness and
understanding of today's agricultural
practices.
Involve local schools and classrooms in
an Agricultural Art Contest to create
interest among youth in where they get
their food.
Develop a local agricultural speaker's
bureau to present programs for civic
clubs, organizations, and service groups.
For more ideas on what you
can do to promote National
Agriculture Week and
National Agriculture Day in
your community, check out
the Agriculture Council of
America website
www.agday.org
Nutritional Considerations for
2010 Hay Crop
Most beef producers have ample quantities of
hay stored for this winter, but the quality of that
hay is questionable. The rains that seemed to
occur every 3 or 4 days this summer really made
conditions difficult for the baling of quality hay.
In fact, there is little quality hay available this
year. This poor quality hay may severely impact
the ability of cows to develop quality calves
while maintaining body condition during the
cold winter months.
Hay that has been rained on (and in many cases
rained on more than once) loses nutritional
quality. How much it loses will depend upon
several factors, including: maturity of the forage,
forage specie, time interval between cutting and
rainfall, amount and length of rain,
raking/tedding, etc. So it is not always easy to
determine how much quality has been lost when
rain does occur before baling. One cannot
eyeball hay and determine nutrient content to
make ration changes that will enable cows to
consume a ration that meets their needs and the
needs of their developing calf.
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Energy and protein will definitely be lower in
this year’s hay crop. This is due to the above
mentioned rain as well as the fact that the vast
majority of hay was harvested well past its
prime. Any hay that was cut on time and baled
without a rain should probably be sold into the
higher value horse hay market, which will
improve your bottom line because you can
certainly purchase alternative protein and energy
feedstuffs much cheaper to supplement poor
quality hay to provide adequate nutrition.
To help producers determine supplemental
feeding alternatives to bolster the poor quality
hay, don’t forget the programs held from 6:30
p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at two different locations: the
old Timewell school (Brown County) on
Decenber 21, and the Hancock County
Extension Office on January, 11. They are the
same program, so you need to attend only one.
Internet Links
FAST Tools, Crop Insurance Tools, news, data, and
much more on Farmdoc, www.farmdoc.illinois.edu
Corn, Soybean, Small Grains, Forage Performance
Testing, www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/vt/
Varietal Information Program for Soybeans including
insect/disease resistance data, www.vipsoybeans.org/
2010 Farmer’s Tax Guide, www.irs.gov/pub/irspdf/p225.pdf.
University of Illinois Yield Trial Information,
http://vt.cropsci.illinois.edu/ Just click the tab to go
to the crop you wish to see information for, then the
site or area of the state.
2011 Master Gardener Training Schedule Calendar at
http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/mg/
The Price of Farmland Still
Gaining Ground
Unlike many other assets whose values have
tanked this past year, farmland prices have not
fallen during the recent troubled economic
times. A recent University of Illinois report
examined this phenomenon. The report is an
installment of Farm Economics Facts and
Opinions and is posted on the University of
Illinois farmdoc website.
Currently, farmland prices in Illinois are in line
with historical relationships suggested by
capitalized values. These capitalized values take
into consideration cash rent and interest rate
levels. The rise in commodity prices experienced
this summer and fall likely will lead to upward
pressure on cash rents, thereby leading to even
higher farmland prices."
The full report with data and commentary
entitled Farmland price outlook: Are farmland
prices too high relative to returns and interest
rates? is available online or to download a pdf at
http://www.farmdoc.illinois.edu/manage/newslet
ters/fefo10_17/fefo10_17.html.
In the early 1980s, there was a really large
decline in the price of farmland primarily due to
lower farmland returns and higher interest rates.
But since 1986, we've seen farmland prices
steadily increase. They really took off in 2004
and 2008, averaging 15 percent increases each
year. During that 2004 to 2008 period, a lot of
the increase was due to urban pressures and
1031 exchanges. But the last several years,
farmland prices according to the USDA have
been fairly stable.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated
that prices of farmland per acre were relatively
stable between 2008 and 2010: $4,850 in 2008,
$4,670 in 2009, and $4,820 in 2010.
There was a lot of concern from 2004 to 2006
when we were seeing price increases due to
urban movement out from Chicago. We thought
that when the buying ended, we'd see a decline
in farmland prices. But fortunately, about the
time that that boom in urban development
ended, commodity prices increased, and that
caused cash rents to increase and farmland
prices have been holding steady.
The report states that the last time farmland
prices declined was during the agricultural
financial crisis of the mid-1980s. During this
crisis, average farmland prices decreased from
$2,023 per acre in 1981 to $1,149 per acre in
1987, a decline of 43 percent over a five-year
period.
Between 1987 through 2004, farmland prices
averaged a yearly increase of 4.8 percent per
8
year. The rapid rise in prices between 2004 and
2008 was caused by demands for converting
farmland to housing and other commercial uses.
These development demands had a rippling
effect, even impacting farmland that had no
possibilities of development, as people who sold
farmland for development purchased farmland
elsewhere, often using a 1031 exchange
provision in the tax code to shelter gains from
immediate taxation.
Don't expect the price of farmland to dive any
time soon. If we look at where cash rents are on
farmland and where interest rates are, farmland
prices in Illinois appear to be reasonable and in
line with historical relationships.
We would expect that if we have stable interest
rates, cash rent as percent of land prices should
stay roughly the same. But interest rates have
declined and reached historically low levels
recently. As an example, the interest rates on
key treasury notes in 10 years have gone from
14 percent in 1982 down to below 4 percent
recently.
The future looks stable. The recent increase in
commodity prices is going to hold farmland
prices stable, and a 2 to 3 percent increase in
land prices would be consistent with what we're
seeing in cash rent. So, we're looking at stable to
increasing land prices over the next several
years.
Any concerns about land prices in the future,
would be directed to interest rate increases being
the factor that would have the largest impact.
Sometime in the future we're likely to see
interest rate increases, and that could have a
negative impact on land prices.
The farmdoc website received initial funding
from the State of Illinois through the Illinois
Council on Food and Agricultural Research (CFAR). Since its inception over a decade ago, the
website has delivered unbiased and timely
economic information to agricultural producers
and businesses.
For more information, contact Gary Schnitkey at
217-244-9595 or via email at
schnitke@illinois.edu
Calendar of Events
December
Dec. 21 – Beef Meeting, old Timewell School – 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Dec. 24 – Jan. 2 – Pike County Extension Office Closed for Christmas & New Year’s Holidays
January
Jan. 6-7 - Illinois Specialty Crop Conference, Springfield
Jan. 11 – Coffee Break Update, Hull Fertilizer – 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Jan. 11 – Beef Meeting, Hancock County Extension office – 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Jan. 13 – Corn & Soybean Classic, Quincy Holiday Inn – 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 18 – PSEP TRAINING & TESTING – Crowne Plaza Hotel, Springfield
Jan. 20 – Certified Livestock Manager, Adams County Extension office – 8:50 a.m.
Jan. 28 – Western IL/NE MO Notill/Crop Management Conference, JWCC, Quincy – 9:15 a.m. –
2:15 p.m.
February
Feb. 1-2 – Illinois Pork Expo, Peoria Civic Center
Feb. 2-3 – Crop Management Conference, Northfield Conference Center, Springfield
Feb. 2 - Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School, First Presbyterian Church, Hardin, IL,
for further information contact Elizabeth Wahle, wahle@illinois.edu
Feb. 5 – Horseman’s Clinic, Urbana
Feb. 9 – PSEP TEST ONLY Clinic, Pike County Extension office, Pittsfield – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Feb. 10 – PSEP TEST ONLY Clinic, Morgan County Extension Office, Jacksonville – 9:00 a.m. – 12
noon
Feb. 12 – Putting Small Acres to Work, JWCC, Quincy – 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Soil Fertility Workshop, Camp Point Methodist Church – 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 17 – Tree Fruit & Vegetable Workshop, Adams County Extension office, Quincy – 8:30 .m.
Feb. 22 – Crop Scout School, Camp Point Methodist Church – 9:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Feb. 23 – Soil & Water Management Conference, Morgan County Extension office, Jacksonville –
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 24 – Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale, Illinois State Fairgrounds
February 24-26, 2011: Illinois Grape Growers and Vinters Association Annual Conference,
Crowne Plaza, Springfield, IL
Feb 24 -27 – Illinois Beef Expo, Illinois State Fairgrounds
March
March 1-2, 2011: Illinois Small Fruits & Strawberry Schools, Holiday Inn, Mt. Vernon, IL, contact
Jeff Kindhart, jkindhar@illinois.edu
Mar. 4 – PSEP TEST ONLY clinic – Quincy City Center Hotel, Quincy
Mar. 13 – 19 - National Agriculture Week
Mar. 15 – National Ag Day
This issue of “Pike County Ag Update” has been provided to you by
University of Illinois Extension, Pike County.
Articles in this newsletter have been provided by:
Mike Roegge, Extension Educator, Crop Systems
Duane Friend, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management
Gary Scnitkey,U of I professor of agricultural and consumer
economics and farm management specialist.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this mailing, please
contact the Pike County Extension Office at (217) 285-5543.
State/County/Local Groups/United States Department of Agriculture
Cooperating.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in
programs and employment.
9
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any
programs, please contact University of Illinois Extension, Pike
County at 217-285-5543.
FEBRUARY 12, 2011
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wondering what to do with
your 5 or 10 acres?
This program will provide you
with a number of economically
viable alternatives to make
those acres productive.
Workshop will be held at
John Wood Community College
1301 S. 48th Street
Quincy, IL 62305
GENERAL SESSION
Direct Marketing Rules and Regulations
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
High Tunnels
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Goats
Nut Trees
Tractors/Equipment
Canning Basics
Brambles
Sponsored by U of I Extension
Western IL Sustainable Ag Society
JWCC Local Foods Program
Registration Form
Name:______________________________________________________________________________
Address:____________________________________________________________________________
Phone:__________________________ Email: ____________________________________________
Please send $30 check ($40 for a couple) made payable to U of I, or register online at
www.extension.illinois.edu/adams
Lunch will be served at noon. General session at noon.
Please send registration form to:
U of I Extension
330 S. 36th St. Quincy, IL 62301
by Thursday, February 10, 2011
Please call 217-223-8380 if you have special needs
accommodation to participate in this program.
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Select one breakout session per block:
8:30-9:30am
9:40-10:40am
__Tunnels
__Tunnels (repeat)
__Goats
__Nut Trees
__Canning
__Brambles
10:50-11:50am
__IPM
__Equipment
__Brambles (repeat)