Winter, 2008-09
Happy Holidays! 2008 has been anything but a typical year. Between the tremendous downpours and flooding that marked the first half of the year and the recent economic turmoil and markedly lower commodity prices, many may be happy to say goodbye to 2008.
How will your 2008 income compare to 2007? Every possible income and expense item probably shifted up or down, but according to the USDA there will likely be little change. Net farm income is forecast at
$86.9 billion this year, compared to $86.8 billion in
2007. The real story is that a lot more money went into your bank account and a lot more went out of your bank account.
Due to higher grain prices, the value of 2008 crop production will be much higher than last year, but due to higher production costs, net farm income will be about the same as 2007. The value of livestock production will be higher as well, but due to high feed costs, net income from livestock operations will be marginally higher and many producers operated in the red during 2008. Higher costs for fertilizer, fuel, and feed pushed farm expenses to 77% of gross farm income, and expenses have increased $100 billion in just five years.
Price uncertainty is currently causing difficulties for those setting cash rents. Extension specialists suggest using share rent or variable cash rent arrangements. If a fixed cash rent arrangement must be used, you may wish to wait to set the cash rent level. Cash rent agreements set at relatively high levels may need to be re-negotiated.
As always, there are a variety of reports and tools available on farmdoc ( www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu
) to help you wade through these turbulent times. If you have a specific question, but do not have access to the online version, please contact our office at 285-5543.
I wish you the best of success in the 2009!
Jennifer Mowen
Pike County Extension Director
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.
In lieu of the $30 training fee, tests may be taken at the end of the training session. Please contact the office of the location you will be attending for any information on testing procedures.
Pike County offered ONLY one session. It was held on December 8, 2008.
UPCOMING PSEP DATES & LOCATIONS:
Adams County Extension will also host their private pesticide safety education clinic (Private
Applicator ONLY) at the Adams County Farm
Bureau on January 26, 2009 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Phone the Adams County Extension office at
217-223-8380 for more information on their clinics
Morgan-Scott County Extension – will host a private pesticide safety education clinic on

January 22, 2009 from 1:00 -5:00 p.m. There is a training fee of $30 that will be held at the
Morgan County Extension office in
Jacksonville.
They will also hold another one on February 26,
2009 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Scott County
Extension office in Winchester.
You may phone Morgan County for more information or to pre-register at 217-243-4724.
If you need more information on dates and locations on any Pesticide Safety Education
Programs, we have that information at our office.
(Contact Hull Fertilizer at 432-8343 for information)
By attending this program, you will be provided an update on the current ag issues in the area, in an informal setting. The atmosphere at these programs allows plenty of time for discussion on the topics that you are most interested in learning about, as those in attendance get to pick which topics to address.
This year’s Ag Updates will focus upon the following topics: Saving a Few Bucks an Acre;
Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen Rates;
Triple Stack Needed?; Corn and Soybean
Seeding Rates; Resistant Waterhemp; and more.
There is no cost to attend, and CCA credits will be offered.
For more information or other locations and dates, please contact the Adams County
Extension Office at 217-223-8380.
The "incredible roller coaster ride" of Illinois agriculture in the past year and future twists and turns will be addressed in a series of meetings throughout Illinois in December, sponsored by
University of Illinois Extension.
"The Profitability of Illinois Agriculture:
Looking Ahead in Extraordinary Times" is the theme of the 2008 Illinois Farm Economics
Summit to be held in Mount Vernon,
Bloomington, Galesburg, and Sycamore.
"Crop prices zoomed to unheard of heights and then dropped with stunning quickness," explained Scott Irwin, U of I professor of agricultural marketing, in reviewing the roller coaster ride. "The recent turmoil in financial markets is very large by any reasonable standard of comparison. It is already clear that this is having a large impact on the profitability outlook for Illinois producers.
"Yet there is real uncertainty about the severity and length of that impact. It is hard to imagine a time when uncertainty has ever been higher and the need for sound analysis greater."
That is what Good and his colleagues on
Extension's farmdoc team will address in the meetings as they explore the farm profitability outlook from several perspectives, including the direction of prices, long-term fundamental value of commodities, credit availability, production costs, new farm program provisions, crop insurance alternatives, and farm lease trends.
Each program begins at 8:00 a.m. and concludes by 3:00 p.m. The registration fee is $50 per person and includes lunch, refreshments, and all meeting materials. At-door registration, space permitting, will be $65 per person.
Registration may be completed online
(http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu). Registration brochures are also available at local U of I
Extension offices.
Dates and locations are:
Dec. 16--Mount Vernon, Holiday Inn
Dec. 17--Bloomington, Interstate Center
Dec. 18--Galesburg, Best Western Prairie Inn
Dec. 19--Sycamore, Center for Agriculture
Additional information can be obtained by contacting Sue Esposito at (217) 333-5506. We do have brochures available at the Extension
Office.

"Economic Expectations" is the theme for 2009's
Illinois Dairy Days.
"The dairy business continues to face challenging times," said Mike Hutjens,
University of Illinois Extension dairy specialist.
"To help producers make correct management decisions, it is vital to have the latest information at hand. That is the driving idea behind this one-day program--to help producers make the most of their resources and remain a productive part of the dairy industry."
Joining Hutjens as presenters are U of I
Extension colleagues Dave Fischer, Jim Endress, and Dick Wallace, a dairy veterinarian.
Topics to be covered include: feeding challenges with today's milk prices; managing the replacement herd, evaluating economic alternatives, economic implications of cull dairy cattle, impact of technology on the dairy carbon footprint, manure, livestock gross margin for dairy, and herd health update.
Joining U of I Extension in sponsoring the program is the Illinois Department of Public
Health.
The program in Adams County will be held on
January 13, 2009 at the Adams County Farm
Bureau Building begin at 9:45 a.m. and conclude at approximately 2:30 p.m. Registration for the program is $10/person and includes lunch.
For more information, contact the Adams-
Brown Extension Office at 217-223-8380.
Why is the grain market behaving like this?
Should I pull the trigger and sell? Will it profit me to store the grain? These are the questions farmers and landowners face every year as they make major decisions on selling grain.
“Grain marketing is a task that makes many producers uncomfortable,” says Kevin Brooks, farm business management and marketing educator with University of Illinois Extension.
“Yet the sell/store decisions they make have a huge impact on their profitability.”
Farmers and landowners who want to better prepare themselves for these decisions are encouraged to register for the email course Farm
Management 100: Grain Marketing Boot Camp .
“In this course, U of I Extension experts will explain the various forces that impact the market and how you can be better protected from price risk,” says Brooks. “Participants will also learn how to develop and implement a marketing action plan.”
This email class runs January 22 through April
14. Participants download materials from their email and study at their own pace. The program is interactive with instructors through email and telephone conversations.
A computer and email connection are required.
Cost for the course is $60, and the registration deadline is January 16.
To register, log on to http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaigncenter.
Or, contact Kevin Brooks, kwbrooks@illinois.edu, 217-333-4901.
January 6 & 12
Via University of Illinois Extension
TeleConference System
A two-part TeleNet series title Shepherds Clinic
2009 is being offered to sheep producers over the Extension two-way radio conferencing system. The program airs from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6 and Monday, January 12.
If you are interested in participating in this conference, please call the Pike County
Extension Office at 217-285-5543 by December
16, 2008. If there are no calls, the telenet cannot be offered at this location
The Pike County Extension Office will close at 4:30 p.m. on December 23. We will reopen on January 5, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.
Our staff wish you a Merry Christmas and

January 8-9, 2009
Springfield, Illinois
The premier event for fruit and vegetable growers in IL, is in Springfield, Jan. 8-9. Also offered will be two workshops, one featuring pumpkins and the other high tunnels/ greenhouses (these will be offered Jan. 7 th ). The conference is split into 4 tracks- fruits, vegetables, herbs and agritourism. A huge trade show is also available for viewing. For more info contact 309-557-2107 or handley@ilfb.org
January 13
Springfield Crowne Plaza
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $50 due by December 20
$65 after December 20
University of Illinois Extension specialists will be present. Topics include: Fungicides;
Rotations/Economics; Nematodes; Nitrogen;
Corn populations; Bt’s; Insect management;
Weed control. Register online at www.ipm.uiuc.edu/conferences
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. The training and testing will be offered on January
15, at the Adams/Brown Extension office. You must register by calling campus at 800-345-
6087. Any additional persons from the same operation who attend may do so for a reduced cost. For more information or a registration form, contact the Pike County Extension Office at 217-285-5543.
Monday, January 19, 2009 - 6:00 p.m.
Farm Bureau Auditorium
Deadline to register: January 14, 2009
The Women in Ag program will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Pittsfield in the auditorium of the Farm
Bureau building.
As in the past, Ruth Hambleton, University of
Illinois Extension Farm Business Educator will help provide the programming. Toni Dunker,
Marketing Specialist with Advanced Trading, will join her. Their topics are: Negotiating cash and crop share leases; and Top 10 List on
Marketing Grain. There is no cost for the program, which includes dinner. If you plan on attending, registration is required by the deadline.
The Adams-Brown County office is offering the same program earlier in the day with lunch provided.
Doug Yoder, Illinois Farm Bureau, will provide information on the new Farm Bill He will cover topics such as: direct payment, ACRE, the new permanent disaster program (SURE), payment limits and eligibility, and more. Contact the
Adams County Farm Bureau for more information, at 222-7305
January 27-28, 2009
Hamilton’s in Jacksonville, Illinois
The conference is designed to address a wide array of hot topics pertinent to crop production, pest management, natural resources, and economic issues and to provide a forum for indepth discussion and interaction between participants and university specialists.
Each conference will consist of a mixture of general sessions and concurrent breakout sessions. Advance registration, no later than one week before each conference, is $130 per person. Late and on-site registration is $150. The fee includes lunch, refreshments, and handouts for both days. CCA credit will be available.
Contact the Morgan County Extension Office at
217-243-4724 for more information.

Area beef producers are invited to attend the area beef seminar in Carrollton.
An excellent list of speakers and topics can be found with featured speakers headlining the seminar include: Dr Ron Lemenager from
Purdue University; Dr. Larry Berger from the
University of Illinois; and Dr. Paul Walker from
Illinois State University.
Empahsis during the program will be placed on the “Availability and Utilization of Corn Co-
Products.”
Other topics will include: Availability, Pricing,
Beef Cow Ration Balancing and Identify Hidden
Costs.
The afternoon program will emphasize producing a Quality Beef Product and include outstanding speakers covering the topics of: ID and management of Recessive Genes; and
Illinois Raised Beef Product.
The deadline for reservations is Wednesday,
January 21, so send your reservation in today.
You may also contact the Greene County Office at 217-942-6996.
We also have registration forms available at our office. Please contact us at 217-285-5543.
Adams/Brown Extension Office
February 3 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $10/person
Ever wonder what it takes to sell processed foods, eggs, meats or baked goods to the public?
Learn how to go about learning the correct methods to enhance value added agriculture.
This program will cover federal, state and local rules and regulations. Contact The Land
Connection at 847-570-0701 to register or for more info.
February 3-4, 2009
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria
The Illinois Pork Producers Association will hold the Illinois Pork Expo on Tuesday through
Wednesday, February 3 and 4 at the Peoria Civic
Center in Peoria, Illinois. Monday, February 2 will be the IPPA Annual Meeting with Tuesday and Wednesday to view commercial exhibits and educational seminars.
There are a number of educational seminars planned for Tuesday and Wednesday, February
3 and 4 for the expo. The specific topics, speakers and times for the various seminars can be obtained from the Illinois Pork Producers office at 217-529-3100.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
9:00 a.m. in Pike County
John Wood Community College, Perry
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
4:00 p.m. in Morgan County
Morgan County Extension Office
The most important decision made each year in the cow-calf enterprise is the selection, health and management of the herd sire. Not only does he contribute 50% of the genetic make up of the offspring, but also can have a major impact on the calf crop from birth through harvest. Cowcalf producers in Illinois will have the opportunity to attend one of two different seminars on Beef Sire Selection and
Management.
The 9:00 a.m. session will be held at John Wood
Community College at Orr Center is located along Illinois Route 104 just east of the Routes
104 and 107 intersections.
The 4:00 p.m. session will be held at the Morgan
County Extension Office which is located at 104
North Westgate Avenue (southwest corner of the
Morgan County Fairgrounds).
The speakers will include a local practitioner, industry and university representatives. Dr.
Marvin Wilke, DVM, Griggsville-Pittsfield

Veterinary Clinic will cover the very important topic of “Breeding Soundness Evaluation.”
Speaking and serving as co-sponsor for the program will be Fort Dodge Animal Health and the Illinois Angus Association. Representing
Fort Dodge Animal Health will be Brian
Armendariz, Territory Manager discussing
“BVD Testing and Control.” Also, Jerry
Cassady, Regional Manager with the American
Angus Association will cover the topic of
“Adding Value through Information and
Producing Quality Beef.”
University of Illinois Extension representatives and topics covered at the seminars include:
“EPDs – What They Are, What They Aren’t and
How Can I Use Them?”; “Understanding and
Incorporating Physical Traits into Sire
Selection”; and “Management of the Herd Bull with Emphasis on Yearling Bulls.” These topics will be covered by Dr. Doug Parrett, University of Illinois Beef Cattle Specialist and Dave
Seibert, Animal Systems Educator from the E.
Peoria Extension Center.
University of Illinois Extension, Fort Dodge
Animal Health, Illinois Angus Association and the local Cattlemen’s Associations are cosponsoring the seminars. Registration for the seminar is $14 which covers the meal along with the handouts. Late and at door registration will be $20. The deadline for reservations is Friday,
January 30 and should be made through the host county Extension Office.
The Extension County Directors to contact for reservations include: Perry – Jennifer Mowen,
Pike County Extension Office at 217-285-5543; and for Jacksonville – Aaron Dufelmeier,
Morgan County Extension Office at 217-243-
7424. For additional information on the seminars contact Dave Seibert at the E. Peoria
Extension Center (309-694-7501, Ext 224).
February 5, 12, 19, March 5, 19, 26
Thursday afternoons from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
University of Illinois Extension, Pike County
Classes will be held in the Pike County Farm
Bureau Auditorium
Farm women may now enroll in Annie’s
Project—Education for Farm Women for the
Pittsfield location. This six part series with sessions held on Thursday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. will meet in the Farm Bureau
Building in Pittsfield. The dates for the classes are: February 5, 12, 19, March 5, 19, and 26.
Annie’s Project is a series of educational programs for farm women learning about farm management and improving their skills as business partners. Women are taught the basics of managing money, examining how property is titled, setting up farm leases, basic grain marketing, deciding on insurance products, and putting together a business plan which includes financial documents like balance sheets, income statements and cash flows. Computers can make decision making and record keeping much more manageable and effective. Annie’s Project begins to teach farm women to use spreadsheets and internet websites for information organization and retrieval. Highly experienced farm women are encouraged to sign up for this program so they can serve as mentors for inexperienced farm women. Also, women with computer skills are matched with women who need to learn this technology.
Annie’s Project is ideal for women about to marry into farm families, or for women who have been away from the farm scene and need to get in touch with what is happening on their farms that they left years ago. Since Annie’s
Project inception in 2003, more than 3,200 farm women from 12 Midwestern states have graduated from Annie’s Project and that number is expected grow rapidly as farm women take on challenges for managing and operating farms.
The program is patterned after the life of a woman in northern Illinois who grew up in a small town and married a farmer. She learned everything about being a farm wife and business partner by trial and error, and sheer desire to be married to a farmer. Annie was married to her farmer for five decades before she died in 1997.
Her legacy of keeping farm records, supplying information for management decisions, and keeping a family together under both trying and good times is found in this unique program.
To register or for further information, please call the Pike County Extension office at (217) 285-
5543. The registration fee for this program is
$50 payable at the first meeting. Pike County
Farm Bureau is once again offering partial scholarships to Farm Bureau members.
Registration is required by February 3. This program is open to anyone interested in the

topics offered. Anyone needing special accommodations to attend Annie’s Project should contact the Pike County Extension office and make arrangements at the time of registration.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn, Quincy (near Walmart)
Cost: $12/person
Speakers include Dr. Emerson Nafziger discussing Optimizing Soybean Production; Dr.
Peter Scharf discussing Optimizing Fertilizer
Applications; Dr. Gordon Roskamp discussing weed control strategies; Mike Roegge discussing saving a few bucks an acre; FAPRI providing a marketing outlook; a farmer panel and more.
There will be displays available. CCA hours will be provided. Cost is $12 per person, which includes lunch. Contact the Adams County
Extension Office at 217-223-8380 or the Adams
County SWCD at 224-9305, Extension 3.
February 9, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Cost: $10/person
“Making Every $$ Count” is the theme of this years workshop. Topics include: Fertilization in tough times; Leafhoppers and aphids- do the thresholds still apply; Producing alfalfa in times of high corn prices; Alfalfa in IL. This is a distance program. Cost will be $10 per person.
CCA hours will be offered. Contact the Pike
County Extension office at 217-285-5543 for more information or to register.
February 11, 2009
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Cost: $5/person
University of Illinois Extension will be hosting the annual Farm Conservation Teleconference which will focus on such programs as: CRP,
CREP, EQIP, Conservation Security Program,
Wetland Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program and more.
Speakers will be from the USDA Farm Service
Agency, Illinois Department of Natural
Resources, USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Illinois Department of
Agriculture. The last thirty minutes of the program will be dedicated to answering questions from the audience.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Adams County Extension Office, Quincy
This program is targeted to those individuals interested in increasing the value of production with enterprises that don’t require a substantial land resource. Break out session topics for this year include: hoophouses/high tunnels; organic gardening; sheep and goat health; woodland management; small fruit production; native plants (golden seal, ginseng, etc.); forage and pasture management. The general session topic is: Resources available for small farmers. Cost will be $30 per person, which includes lunch.
Register on line at www.extension.uiuc.edu/adams or call 217-223-
8380.
February 16, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Camp Point United Methodist Church
Fee: $40/person
The Western Illinois Crop Scout School will be
February 16, at the Camp Point United Methodist
Church. The $40 fee covers the program, handouts, lunch. CCA hours will be offered.
Topics and presenters include: Aaron Hager,
“Lessons Learned Thus Far with Resistant Weed
Populations in IL”; Dennis Bowman, “Integrating
Newer Technologies (yield maps, aerial photos;
GPS, etc.) Into Scouting Uses”; Dave Feltes,
“Alfalfa and Pasture Pest Management”; Mike
Roegge, “CRW and ECB”; Dave and Mike, troubleshooting. Register on line at www.extension.uiuc.edu/adams or contact our office at 217-223-8380.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Adams/Brown Extension Office, Quincy
The morning session will focus on fruit tree topics, and the afternoon on vegetable crops. Dr.
Elizabeth Wahle, and Dr. Mohammad
Babadoost (both with U of I Extension) will be featured. There will be industry representatives on hand as well. This program is co sponsored with Two Rivers FS. Contact the Adams-Brown
County Extension office at 217-223-8380 or to register.
.
February 18, 2009
For Certified Crop Advisors
9:00 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.
University of Illinois Extension, Pike County
Farm Bureau Auditorium, Pittsfield
Lunch provided
Carbon, water and soils will be the focus of a
Soil and Water Management Workshop sponsored by University of Illinois Extension on
February 18. The workshop will be held at the
Pike County Farm Bureau building.
Presentations will be delivered via PowerPoint and teleconference.
Those attending will learn about carbon trading, the latest research in soil and water management, and practical information on managing these resources. Topics include Crops and Global Water Quality, Soils and Flooding,
Surface and Ground Water Issues Impacting
Producers, Carbon Sequestration, Carbon
Trading in Illinois, Sustainable Agriculture in
Soil and Water Management, Water Quality
Research, and Cover Crops.
Registration is $45 per person, which includes lunch. Certified Crop Advisors can get 4.5 continuing education units in soil and water management. The registration deadline is
February 11. To register, send name, address, and payment to U of I Extension, Pike County
Office, 1301 E. Washington, Pittsfield, IL
62363. For more information, email Duane
Friend at friend@illinois.edu.
Friday through Sunday, March 6-8
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield
The 20 th annual Illinois Horse Fair and Industry
Trade Show will be held in Springfield, Illinois at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Friday through Sunday, March 6-8. The fair features expert trainers and clinicians. In addition to the numerous outstanding educational programs, the three-day all-breed expo and industry tradeshow presents breed and sport demonstrations,
Stallion Row and Parade, more that 75 horses in the Horses-For-Sale aisles, 140 equestrian vendors, more than 75 horse trailers on display for sale ad a full schedule of educational seminars and workshops.
At the Horse Fair more than 10,000 people share your passion for horses, and everyone understands the lure of the barn, the call of the trail, and the excitement of equestrian competition
Purchasing advance tickets is recommended to avoid long lines at the Horse Fair ticket windows. Daily tickets are $12 adults and $6 child/senior. Advance tickets may be purchased online with a charge card at www.HorsemensCouncil.org
Just click on the
Horse Fair icon and locate “tickets” in the index.
March 9, 2009
9:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Camp Point United Methodist Church
Many producers are questioning the need or ability to provide fertilizers to the 2009 crop. At current crop and fertilizer prices, full rates of fertilizer just aren’t feasible for many. So what to do? To help answer that question, a workshop to focus on efficiencies and economics of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Topics include: Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium rates, sources, application timing, placement, economics and efficiencies; alternative N sources; plant nutrition basics; and economics of variable versus uniform application.

There will be 4 hours of CCA credit available in soil fertility. The cost will be $40 per person, and reservations should be made by March 3 rd to the Adams/Brown Extension Unit, at 217-223-
8380 or www.extension.uiuc.edu/adams
March 15-21
March 20 marks the first day of spring and
National Ag Day, a time when producers, agricultural associations, corporations, agencies, and countless others across America gather to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by Agriculture. In its 36 th year, 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 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 15-21 and National
Agriculture Day, march 20 th 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 .
For ideas on what you can do to promote
National Agriculture Week and National
Agriculture Day in your community, check out the Agriculture Council of American website www.agday.org
April 3 & 4, 2009
WIU Livestock Pavilion, Macomb
The 2009 Sheep Shearing School will be held on
Friday and Saturday, April 3 & 4 at the
Livestock Pavilion on the Western Illinois
University Campus.
Students will learn to properly maintain equipment, as well as to shear. Youth and adults may enroll in shearing school. Students should be over 15 years of age and have enough size and strength to handle mature sheep. They should also have a sincere interest in sheep production and have a chance to shear sheep after the school. This year, individuals who have completed the course before may also enroll again. This will provide an excellent opportunity to improve their skills.
The school will be limited to 20 students.
Enrollees will be accepted in the order in which they are received. The enrollment fee for the shearing school is $50. No enrollments will be accepted without the enrollment fee. Make checks payable to the University of Illinois.
For additional information and application forms, contact Richard Cobb before March 31,
2009. The address is Dick Cobb, Extension
Sheep Specialist, 1207 West Gregory, Urbana,
Illinois 61801 – arcobb@uiuc.edu
– 217-333-
7351.
June 24-25
Country Inn and Suites, Quincy
Specifically designed for farm women, this workshop will focus on Women Marketing
Grain.
We’re still working on the details, but cost should be around $25 per person, which includes lunch, dinner and handouts. The speakers will all be women, from the University of Illinois as well as local. For more information or to register, contact the Adams County Extension
Office at 217-223-8380.
University of Illinois Extension is very pleased to launch new online courses for Certified Crop
Advisers. They are:
Riparian Forest Buffers
Soil Quality Tests Part II
Nitrogen and the Nitrogen Cycle

There are other online courses besides these on the website.
Each course is available for people looking for online credits. You can find the site at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cca/
The authors were Duane Friend, Extension
Educator, Natural Resources Management and
Matt Montgomery, County Director, Mason
Unit.
145 Fact Sheets
All Phases of Beef Production
Beef producers interested in obtaining the most current information on all phases of production will want to obtain a copy of the Beef Cattle
Handbook in either the printed version or a CD
ROM. The 145 fact sheets cover reproduction; agribusiness and business management; nutrition; production management; quality assurance and carcass end products; health and entomology; facilities and equipment; and breeding and genetics.
The cost for the publication in printed format is
$60 plus $6.50 postage and handling. A CD
ROM is also available and will print the fact sheets in PDF format. Cost of the CD is $25 plus $6.50 postage and handling.
The Beef Cattle Handbook can be ordered online at www.mwps.org
or send orders to MWPS, 122
Davison Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
50011-3080. Call 515-294-4337; FAX an order to 515-294-9589; or email a request to
MWPS@iastate.edu
To order a CD, ask for the Beef Cattle
Handbook CD, MWPS-CD1. To order a printed version, ask for the Beef Cattle Handbook,
MWPS-CD1P.
Available on web – www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.isp
The single most comprehensive electronic reference for animal care information, the Merck
Veterinary Manual can be secured at the website above. This reference includes over 12,000 indexed topics and over 1200 illustrations.
Copies of 2008 University of Illinois Corn,
Soybean, and Forage Variety Trials are available at local Extension offices or on the web.


Corn, Soybean, Small Grains, Forage
Performance Testing, http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/vt/
Varietal Information Program for
Soybeans, http://www/vipsoybeans.org/ , includes insect and disease resistance data.
Illinois Farm Economics Update: Impact of
Current Financial Crisis on the Ag Economy http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/index.html
The recent turmoil in financial markets is very large by any reasonable standard of comparison.
The farmdoc team prepared the following articles to illustrate the impact of the current financial crisis on the agricultural economy and decision-making. Focus is devoted to five main topics – the nature of the financial crisis, impacts on the short-term availability of credit, the connection between the financial meltdown and commodity prices, crop insurance decision, and land rental and lease negotiations.
Articles include:
The Current Financial Crisis: How Did
We Get Here?
Financial Markets in Agriculture
Implications of Credit Market Problems for Crop Prices
Increased Probabilities of Crop
Insurance Payments
2009 Rental Decisions Given Volatile
Commodity Prices and Higher Input
Costs

If there is a pesticide spill on your farm – is the clean-up covered? If the spill occurs on a road – is the clean-up covered? This is the type of discussion this publication encourages you to have with your insurance agent to fully understand what your policies do and do not cover.
The 2008 Farmer’s Tax Guide is available on the IRS website. Click on this link and you will go directly to the guide: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p225.pdf
The University of Illinois Extension has put together a list of soil labs.
This list has been compiled to help homeowners locate facilities that will test soil samples.
Listing of a particular company does not constitute endorsement by University of Illinois
Extension. University of Illinois Extension does not do soil testing.
Before utilizing any lab, the homeowner should contact the lab for information on the cost of soil testing, what tests will be done (for which nutrients will they test, will pH be tested, etc) and what information will be sent (raw numbers, information on what the numbers mean, fertilizer recommendations, etc).
Below is the information for the local soil lab in
Pike County. You will need to contact them for information.
Pike County Farm Bureau
1301 E. Washington
P.O. Box 6
Pittsfield, IL 62363
Phone: (217) 285-2233
Fax: (217) 285-2421
Email: pikecfb@pikecfb.org
The rest of the soil labs on the list can be found at the following website: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/soiltest/
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
Bob Frazee Extension Educator, Natural Resource
Management
Dave Seibert, Extension Educator, Animal System
Duane Friend, Extension Educator, Natural Resources
Ellen Phillips, Extension Educator, Crop Systems
Kevin Brooks, Extensin Educator, Farm Management
Jim Morrison, Extension Educator, Crop Systems
Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing, Extension Specialist, Crop Systems
Matt Montgomery, County Extension Director, Mason Co.
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.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any programs, please contact University of Illinois Extension,
Pike County at 217-285-5543.
If you need further information on anything in this newsletter or copies of brochures, please contact
our office at 217-285-5543.

Dec. 17 – Illinois Farm Economics Summit – Bloomington – 8:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Dec. 18 – Ag Update – Hull Lion’s Club – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Dec. 24 – Jan. 4 – Extension Office Closed
Jan. 8-9 – Illinois Specialty Growers conference
Jan 6 & 12 – 2009 Illinois Shepherd’s Clinic – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Jan. 13 – Corn & Soybean Classic – Springfield - 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 – Adams County Dairy Days – 9:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 – Certified Livestock Manager’s Training – Quincy
Jan. 19 – Women in Ag – Pittsfield – 6:00 p.m.
Jan. 22 thru April 14 – Grain commodities Marketing Course via Email – deadline January 16
Jan. 22 – Morgan-Scott County PSEP in Morgan County – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 26 – Adams County PSEP – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 27 – Farm Bill Workshop – Adams County Farm Bureau – 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 27-28 – Central Illinois Crop Management Conference – Hamilton’s in Jacksonville
Jan. 29 – Area Beef Cattle Seminar – Carrollton – Registration deadline: January 21
Feb. 3 – Food Rules Workshop – Adams County Extension Office – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 3-4 – Illinois Pork Expo – Peoria Civic Center – Peoria
Feb. 4 – Beef Sire Selection Seminar – JWCC, Perry – 9:00 a.m.
Beef Sire Selection Seminar – Morgan County Extension Office – 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 5, 12, 19 – Annie’s Project – Pike County Extension Office – 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 5 – Western IL/NE Missouri No till and Crop Management Conference – Quincy – 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 – Alfalfa Workshop – Pike County Extension Office – 9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Feb. 11 – Farm Conservation Telenet, Pike County Extension Office – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Feb. 14 – Putting Small Acres to Work – Adams County Extension Office – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 16 – Crop Scout School – Camp Point United Methodist Church – 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 17 – Tree Fruit & Vegetable School – Adams County Extension Office
Feb. 18 – Soil & Water Management Workshop – Pike County Extension Office – 9:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Feb. 19-22 – Illinois Beef Expo – Springfield
Feb. 26 – Morgan-Scott County PSEP in Scott County – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
March 5, 19, 26 – Annie’s Project – Pike County Extension Office – 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
March 6-8 – Illinois Horse Fair and Industry Trade Show – Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield
March 9 – Soil Fertility Workshop – Camp Point Methodist Church – 9:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
March 15-21 – National Agriculture Week