Heart of Illinois Ag Newsletter Fall 2007 Calendar INDEX Date July 13-Oct 13 July 21 July 21-25 July 29- July 31 July 30-Aug 31 July 31 Event Countywide Waste Tire Collections Aquatic Plant Workshop – Normal, IL International Soil & Water Conservation Society Annual Conf – Tampa, FL AISWCD Summer Conference – Springfield, IL Agrichemical Containers Recycling Midwest Strip-tillage Expo – Waterloo, IA Aug 1-2 Aug 17- Oct 23 Aug 10-19 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 21-23 Aug 28-30 Aug 29-31 Upper Midwest Grazing Conference – Dubuque, Iowa Sustainable Agriculture Tours Illinois State Fair – Springfield, IL Cow-Calf Team Meeting – Carlinville Cow-Calf Team Meeting – East Peoria Conservation Expo 2007 – Colfax Farm Progress Show – Decatur, IL National Angus Conference & Tour – Peoria, IL Sept 6 Sept 6 Sept 11 Sept 15 Sept 15 Orr Beef Field Day – Perry, IL Midwest Swine Nutrition Conference – Indianapolis, IN Beef Cow Nutrition Workshop – Hillsboro, IL State Fair Junior Horse Show Scholarship It’s Our River Day: Sept. 15th – (Sign-up by August 15th) Oct 2-4 Oct 14-20 Oct 16 Oct 16-18 Oct 18 Governor’s Conf on the Management of the IL River System – Peoria National Radon Action Week World Food Day Bio-Fuel Production Midwest SWCS Conference – Dubuque, IA World Water Monitoring Day Nov 15 Nov 16-22 Nov 27-29 America Recycles Day Farm City Week Greater Peoria Farm Show Dec 6 Regional Soil and Water Workshops Used Tire Collections The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has released the 2007 dates and locations for the 2007 Countywide Waste Tire Collections. Many University of Illinois Extension Unit offices have their Master Gardeners assist with homeowner education and promotion associated with this event. If your county does not have a collection date scheduled for 2007, IL EPA is always looking for interested local agency sponsors to help organize these events. To find out the dates and locations for these events, or to inquire about organizing your own county-wide event, check out this website: http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/ or phone (217)-785-8604. 2007 Countywide Waste Tire Collections DATES COUNTY COSPONSORS LOCATION July 13-14 Kankakee 9 am - 3 pm Kankakee Co. Planning Kankakee Community College, 100 College Dr., Dept. Kankakee July 26 8 am - 3 pm Saline Egyptian Public & Mental Health Dept. Vacant Parking Lot, 8 - 10 Main St., Carrier Mills July 27 8 am - 3 pm Gallatin Egyptian Public & Mental Health Dept. Vacant Parking Lot, Rte. 45, Omaha July 28 8 am - 3 pm White Egyptian Public & Mental Health Dept. Vacant Parking Lot, East North St. Boat Ramp, Grayville July 28 Piatt Piatt Co. Health Dept. Monticello (tentative) August 3- Grundy 4 9 am - 3 pm Grundy Co. Office of Solid Waste Mgmt. Coal City High School, Hwy. 113, Coal City (tentative) August 17 Ogle - 18 9 am - 3 pm Ogle Co. Solid Waste Mgmt. Dept. Ogle Co. Fairgrounds, 1440 N. Limekiln Rd., Oregon (tentative) September Knox 7-8 8 am 3pm Knox Co. Health Dept. Knox Co. Fairgrounds, 1392 Knox Hwy. 9, Knoxville (tentative) September Will 14 - 15 8 am - 3 pm Will Co. Land Use Dept. Will Co. Hwy. Dept. Crest Hill Facility, 1240 W. Caton Farm Rd., Crest Hill September Jackson 21-22 Jackson Co. Health Dept. Jackson Co. Extension Office, 402 Ava Rd., Murphysboro 8 am - 5 pm/8 am 3 pm October 12-13 Tazewell Tazewell Co. Health Dept. Festival of Lights Facility, 2200 E. Washington St., East Peoria TBA Boone Boone Co. Health Dept. TBA TBA Fayette Fayette Co. Health Dept. TBA TBA Lake Lake Co. Health Dept. TBA Mason Mason Co. Health Dept. TBA TBA Monroe Monroe-Randolph BiCo. Health Dept. TBA Montgomery Montgomery Co. Coordinated Services TBA TBA Moultrie Moultrie Co. Soil & Water Conservation Dist. TBA TBA Wayne Wayne Co. Health Dept. TBA TBA TBA TBA Winnebago Winnebago Co. Board TBA Other collections will be posted as they are scheduled. Listings are subject to change without notice. For further information contact Tap Hefley at 217/785-8604. Dates and locations for other tire recycling collections will be posted as they are scheduled. Listings are subject to change without notice. Aquatic Plant Workshop Saturday, July 21 An Aquatic Plan Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, July 21st from 10:00am – 1:00pm at Heartland Community College, Room CCB 1407, 1500 West Raab Road, Normal, IL 61761. It is being sponsored by the Illinois Lake Management Association. This workshop is designed for pond owners and lake associations who are interested in learning how to provide beneficial aquatic habitat to their pond. Attend this workshop and learn what plants are beneficial to the health of your pond. After learning what plants are suited for your pond, you will learn how to propagate, plant, and manage aquatic vegetation. The agenda includes: 10:00 am – Mike Reed, Missouri Department of Conservation, “Propagation, Planting, and Management of Aquatic Vegetation” 10:30 am – Question and answer session – Mike Reed, Missouri Department of Conservation and Mike Garthaus, Illinois Department of Natural Resources 11:30 am – Lunch – a box lunch and drinks are provided. 12:00 pm – Hands-on session at on-site pond. Workshop participants will be able to perform tasks discussed during the presentation session. Plan on getting wet! Bring boots, waders, or shoes to spend time in the water. Advance Registration is needed with a Registration Deadline of July 16th. Workshop is limited to 50 participants. There is a $15 fee per person for attending. Register for this workshop by sending your name, address, e-mail, and phone number, along with your payment to: Otter Lake Water Commission, PO Box 468, Virden, IL 62690. Make payments to: “Illinois Lake Management Association”. For more information, contact Dave Shiley, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator, ph. 217-3334901, E-mail dshiley@uiuc.edu International Soil & Water Conservation Society Annual Conference July 21 – 25 The 62nd Annual Conference of the International Soil and Water Conservation Society will be July 21 – 25, 2007 at the Saddlebrook Resort, Tampa, Florida. Founded in 1945, the Soil and Water Conservation Society is a nonprofit, professional organization that serves as an advocate for the conservation professions and for science-based conservation policy. The Society has chapters in all 50 states and about 9,000 members worldwide. This year’s conference theme is “Conservation Challenges in a Changing Landscape.” Plan to attend the conference to gather valuable natural resource conservation information, network, and participate in numerous plenary and concurrent sessions, and educational tours. The SWCS annual conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers at all levels of government, along with a broad cross-section of other interest groups, to explore current issues in natural resource management and planning. But more specifically, the 2007 conference will focus on three critical topics: 1) Conservation Implications of a Bio-based Economy 2) Integrated Watershed Management 3) Adaptive Management: Theory into Practice The 2007 annual conference will take place at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida. For more information on the Conference Agenda, conservation tours, featured speakers, and registration information visit the SWCS website at: www.swcs.org/ For more information, contact Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator, phone: (309)-694-7501, Ext. 226. 2007 AISWCD Summer Conference July 29 - 31 The 2007 AISWCD Summer Conference is scheduled for July 29 – 31 at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center in historic downtown Springfield, Illinois. It is organized by the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD), which is made up and serves Illinois’ 98 member Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD’s). Each local District is governed by an elected five member board Session topics will include presentations dealing with: Watershed Management, Natural Resource Reclamation/Restoration, Ground Water Protection, Sustainable Agriculture, Cropping Systems, Farmland Protection, Livestock Waste Management, Erosion and Sediment Control, Water Quality, and Natural Resource Management Technology. The Summer Conference provides an opportunity for local SWCD board members from throughout Illinois to assemble and learn the latest research and technology associated with resource management. Farmers, landowners, crop consultants, lenders, and agri-business representatives are also encouraged to attend this year’s conference. Advance registration is encouraged. Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisers and Certified Professionals in Erosion & Sediment Control. A detailed conference agenda and registration details are available at the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation District’s website http://www.aiswcd.org/ For more information, contact Richard Nichols, AISWCD Executive Director, E-mail Rich.Nichols@aiswcd.org or phone 217-744-3414. 2007 Agrichemical Container Recycling Schedule The Illinois Department of Agriculture has an excellent pesticide container-recycling program, which is available for farmers throughout Illinois. The following website provides information on the proper rinsing and preparation of pesticide containers before bringing them to a recycling site http://www.agr.state.il.us/Environment/Pesticide/containerprepare.html Why is it important to recycle your pesticide containers? When empty pesticide containers are recycled, you are helping to protect the environment by diverting potential waste to the production of useful products. Furthermore, you are helping to reduce the spread of your local landfills. Plastic from pesticide containers can be recycled into a number of products including pallets, new pesticide containers, fuel for cement kilns, fence posts, roadside signposts, guard rails, drainage tile, sewage tile and hazardous waste drums. ** Please remember, the recycling program will only accept clean, dry, high density polyethylene (HDPE) #2 plastic pesticide containers. To prepare pesticide containers for recycling, rinsing right after use is the best way to ensure a clean container. Depending on what system fits your operation, you can either triple rinse or pressure rinse your containers. Your local agricultural chemical dealer can give you more information about pressurized rinse systems. There are four Permanent Collection Sites in Illinois, which are able to accept pesticide containers for recycling throughout the year. Before dropping off containers, please call to ensure the facility will be open. County Greene Location Illinois Valley Supply Carrollton Contact John Quandt (217) 942-6991 Warren Monmouth Grain and Dryer Monmouth Kevin Lovdahl (309) 734-8423 Wayne Wabash Valley Service Co. Ellery Mike Wilson 618-446-5160 McLean Randolph Ag Service Inc. Heyworth Dee Hamilton (309) 473-3256 The Illinois Department of Agriculture will also be scheduling a number of one-day pesticide container recycling sites in counties throughout Illinois during July and August, 2007. These are listed on the following table. 2007 Single Day Collection Sites AM indicates collection site hours are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. PM indicates collection site hours are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. County Date Time Pike 7/30/07 PM Morgan 7/31/07 AM Cass 7/31/07 PM Schuyler 8/1/07 AM Hancock 8/1/07 PM McDonough 8/2/07 AM Mercer 8/2/07 PM Henry 8/3/07 AM Whiteside 8/6/07 PM Stephenson 8/7/07 AM Winnebago 8/7/07 PM McHenry 8/8/07 AM Lee 8/8/07 PM LaSalle 8/9/07 AM Woodford 8/9/07 PM Peoria 8/13/07 PM Tazewell 8/14/07 AM Tazewell 8/14/07 PM Livingston 8/15/07 AM Kankakee 8/15/07 PM Iroquois 8/16/07 PM Clark 8/17/07 PM Jefferson 8/27/07 PM Randolph 8/28/07 AM Monroe 8/28/07 PM Clinton 8/29/07 AM Madison 8/29/07 PM Fayette 8/30/07 AM Christian 8/30/07 AM Macoupin 8/31/07 PM Host Facility City Contact Phone # Two Rivers FS Pittsfield, IL Mike Smith 217-285-4477 Lincoln Land FS Jacksonville, IL Keith Fricke 217-243-6561 Sunrise Ag Serv. Virginia, IL Mike Beck 217-452-7751 Two Rivers FS Rushville, IL Aaron Winner 217-322-2024 Chem-Gro Bowen, IL Todd Nelson 217-842-5514 UAP Richter Blandinsville, IL Lee Ward 309-652-3694 Gold Star FS Aledo, IL Greg Howard 309-582-7271 Gateway Coop Galva, IL Mark VanDeVelde 309-932-2081 Gold Star FS Lyndon, IL Fritz Oncken 815-778-3331 Dakota Co-op Dakota, IL Tom Wells 815-449-2254 Conserv FS Rockford, IL Bernie Parisot 815-963-7669 Conserv FS Marengo, IL Jeff Kimmel 815-568-7211 Hintzsche Fert. Scarboro, IL Brock Sanderson 815-824-2266 Graainco FS Inc. Lostant, IL Steve Puetz 815-368-3215 Evergreen FS Minonk, IL Melvin Feazel 309-432-2592 Agland FS Hanna City, IL Mark Alvey 309-565-4315 Agland FS Green Valley, IL Tim Dare 309-352-2700 DCM Crop Care Deer Creek, IL George Clark 309-447-6456 CPS Saunemin, IL Steve Schaffer 815-832-4491 Chebanse Ag Chebanse, IL Dean Schafer 815-697-2392 Weber Fertilizer Buckley, IL Delmar Ecker 217-394-2042 Effingham Equity Marshal, IL Rodney Schultz 217-342-3123 Mt. Vernon Elev. Mt. Vernon, IL Danny Farmer 618-244-1146 Bockhorn Ag Sparta, IL Cheri Brewer 618-443-3905 Gateway FS Waterloo, IL Jerry Roosevelt 618-282-4000 CPS New Baden, IL Jeff Haas 618-588-3525 Madison Serv. Co. Marine, IL Mike Sager 618-887-4275 Woolsey Brothers Vandalia, IL Herb Wolsey 618-283-1263 Effingham Equity Pana, IL Steve Morrell 217-562-5011 M & M Service Girard, IL Zane Rutherford 217-627-2151 For more information about this program, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture at ph. (800)641-3934 or go to their website http://www.agr.state.il.us/Environment/recycle.html Midwest Strip-tillage Expo Tuesday, July 31 Tillage specialists from three states will join together in Waterloo, IA on July 31 to present the Midwest Strip-Tillage Expo 07. The daylong event is organized by Research and Extension of Iowa State University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Hawkeye Community College. The program will include concurrent educational presentations and field demonstrations starting at 9 am and repeated at 1 pm. At 11a.m. a panel of veteran strip-tillers will discuss their experiences and techniques. The educational program will include presentations on fertility management for striptillage, strip-tillage in continuous corn, auto-steer and guidance technology, and selecting a striptillage tool. Field demonstrations will give farmers a chance to compare features of a variety of strip-tillage equipment and related products, including auto-guidance systems and fertilizer injectors. Manufacturer’s representatives will be on hand to answer questions. In addition, information booths will be open all day. This program is free and open to the public. Five Certified Crop Advisor CEUs (4.5 SW and 0.5 NM) will be available for a nominal fee. Lunch will be available for a nominal cost. For more information, contact Richard Wolkowski, Univ. of WS, rpwolkow@wisc.edu ph. 608263-3913, or go to the field day website: http://wrc.umn.edu/outreach/striptillageexpo/midwest Upper Midwest Grazing Conference Wednesday & Thursday, August 1 & 2 The Upper Midwest Grazing Conference returns to Dubuque August 1 & 2, 2007, with a new format. Instead of being spread over three days, the conference has been condensed into two days--one day for classroom-type seminars and the second day for a tour of farms and research facilities in Southwest Wisconsin. The first day features university specialists, extension agents and producers speaking on a variety of topics. There will be breakout sessions for dairy producers and those interested in meat animal production. Topics include using byproduct feeds to supplement pasture, choosing varieties for forage production, low-cost parlor, organic milk production and dairy cattle crossbreeding research. On the livestock side, pasture finishing beef cattle, managing parasites and meat goat production will be discussed. That evening a speaker from Senator Tom Harkin’s office will discuss conservation programs in the farm bill. The second day will be all tours. The first stop will be an organic dairy farm with a new parlor. From there it’s on to the UW-Platteville Pioneer farm, where Dennis Frame will discuss the Discovery Farm program and how we can apply what has been learned to grazing operations. After lunch, we will tour the new dairy facility (including a robotic milker). From there, it’s on to a beef and sheep grazing farm and then back to the motel. The headquarters for the conference will be the Midway Best Western Motel, 3100 Dodge St., Dubuque, Iowa. You may choose to attend either or both days. For more information, please contact Dave Wachter at the Grant County Extension office, 608-723-2125 or check out the conference website at http://www.cias.wisc.edu/uppermidwest 2007 Sustainable Agriculture Tours Aug 17- Oct 23 The Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program at the University of Illinois has announced their schedule of remaining sustainable agriculture tours for Fall 2007 on a variety of topics. August 17 Three Rivers Community Farm, Elsah, IL is a 150-member Community Supported Agriculture program, boasting "exceptional vegetables, herbs, and flowers grown sustainably and chemical-free." The farm also sells to local restaurants and the Tower Grove Farmers' Market in St. Louis. Solar power generates the farm's electricity www.threeriverscommunityfarm.com September 14 University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center will showcase no-till farming, the largest beef cattle research herd east of the Mississippi river, fruit and vegetable research, and organic apple production. www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/research/rdc/dixonsprings October 23 The Kuipers Family Farm, Maple Park, IL is an example of creative agritourism efforts. The farm includes apple orchards, a pumpkin patch, Christmas trees and two gift shops that sell fall and winter decorations, gourmet jams, jellies and apple cider. www.kuipersfamilyfarm.com A fee of $20 per person will be charged for each tour. This fee includes lunch. Registration at least one week in advance is required. Visit www.extension.uiuc.edu/smallfarm/ to register and for more details about each of the tours including a map and agenda or contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant at (217-968-5512 or cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu Conservation Expo 2007 August 21 – 23 Conservation Expo 2007 is coming to central Illinois on August 21, 22, & 23, 2007. This statewide event is a showcase for the construction and exhibition of conservation and land improvement practices and equipment. The hosts for this year’s Conservation Expo are Richard and Robert Lasser, Colfax, IL. The Conservation Expo 2007 Show Site is located approximately 2 miles south of Colfax, IL, in McLean County, in central Illinois. It is located just off of IL Route 9, about 15 miles east of Bloomington, or about 15 miles west of Gibson City. Coming from either direction proceed to County Highway 15 or Road 3300E, also known as the Colfax –Arrowsmith Road. Turn north towards Colfax and travel 4 miles to County Road 1800N. Turn right and go east one fourth mile. The show site will be on your right. Throughout the 3-day event, tours will be conducted to showcase the following eight conservation structures and practices: Pond Construction, Wetland Restoration, Field Borders/Wildlife Food Plots, Filter Strips, Grassed Waterways, Stream Monitoring/Water Quality, Soils Demonstration and New Septic System Installations. Tour guides will be at each of the sites throughout the show to discuss installation techniques, cost of construction, and benefits to the landowner and the watershed. More complete tour information will be available shortly. The hours of the Conservation Expo are Tuesday & Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; and Wednesday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. There is no admission charge, and everyone is welcome to attend, including landowners, farmers, agri-businesses, conservationists, planners and the general public. Food and drink concessions will be available at the show site. The Illinois Conservation Expo is sponsored by the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA), in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy and University of Illinois Extension. For more information, go to the ILICA website www.illica.net/ or contact Janet Burtle-Doubet, Ex. Director of ILICA, ph. 309-446-3700, e-mail janet@illica.net ; the McLean County SWCD/NRCS, ph. 309-452-0830, Ext. 3; or Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Extension, ph. 309-694-7501, Ext. 226. Cow-Calf Team Meetings Wednesday, August 22 – Carlinville Thursday, August 23 – E. Peoria Progressive commercial and seedstock cow-calf producers from throughout central Illinois (East Peoria area) and south-central Illinois (Carlinville area) have been meeting for a number of years to share ideas and hear presentations from top speakers from throughout the United States. These meetings are held in March, August and December with the program running from 7 to 9 pm. The East Peoria group has been meeting since December 1997 with the Carlinville group starting in December 1999. Any cow-calf producer or individual interested in beef production is welcome to attend. The next south-central Illinois meeting in Carlinville is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22 at the Macoupin County Extension from 7 to 9 pm. The Extension Office is approximately 1 mile north of the Carlinville Square on IL Route 4. Turn right on Wilson Street (across from Prairie Farm), go two blocks, turn left into plaza area. The office is in the corner of the two buildings. The next central Illinois meeting in East Peoria is scheduled for Thursday, August 23 at the E. Peoria Extension Center (727 Sabrina Drive just off Interstate 74 at Exit 98) from 7 to 9 pm. If you are interested in attending either one of these meetings or being placed on the mailing list to receive information on these meetings, please contact Dave Seibert at the East Peoria Extension Center (309-694-7501, Ext 224). National Angus Conference & Tour Wednesday-Friday, August 29-31 The 2007 National Angus Conference & Tour will be held in Peoria, Illinois from Wednesday, August 29 through Friday, August 31. The event is called “A Heartland Homecoming” to highlight the state of Illinois where the Association was formed 124 years ago. Participants attending the event will hear from some top industry speakers who will talk about increasing efficiencies and producing a quality product for consumers. The Illinois Angus Association has planned a top-notch tour that will showcase a variety of herds — some that have been in the family for decades, and others that are just beginning. In addition to seeing Angus genetics from various herds, we’ll also learn about some industries in Peoria that producers might use in their operations. A complete copy of the program and information on accommodations can be obtained at http://www.nationalangusconference.com/. Producers unable to attend the conference can also obtain online coverage of the conference at www.nationalangusconference.com. Orr Beef Research Center Field Day Thursday, September 6 The University of Illinois Orr Beef Research Center near Perry, Illinois in Pike County will hold their annual Field Day on Thursday, September 6, 2007. The field day will highlight the Orr Beef Research Center’s research and demonstration programs as well as a number of current topics relevant to the beef cattle industry. A tour in the program will include a discussion and viewing of the current Management Intensive Grazing Project and the Orr Center Simmental Herd. Commercial exhibitors have been invited which will provide the opportunity for producers to view the latest in beef cattle equipment, pharmaceuticals, and technology. A complimentary evening meal will be served including ribeye sandwiches prepared by the Pike County Beef Association. Pre-registration is not required to attend and there is no registration fee. Directions to the Orr Beef Research Center: From the intersection of IL 107 & 104 go approximately 4 miles west on IL 104 (to John Wood Community College Swine Center), then turn south and follow the signs to the beef center. For additional information, contact Nathan Post (217.236.4961), Dave Seibert (309.694.7501), or Dan Faulkner (217.333.1781). Midwest Swine Nutrition Conference Thursday, September 6 - Indianapolis, IN Established in 2000, and sponsored by the Animal Science Departments at Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, Purdue University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Kentucky, the Midwest Swine Nutrition Conference is the nation’s premier educational forum on swine nutrition and care. The 7th Annual Midwest Swine Nutrition Conference is scheduled for September 6 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Building in Indianapolis, IN. The program will include presentations by scientists from the sponsoring universities as well as other invited speakers. This conference has grown in size each year and is the only annual conference of its kind in this part of the country. State Fair Junior Horse Show Scholarship September 15, 2007 This scholarship is available to youth who are completing their LAST ELIGIBLE year as a horse project member in either 4-H or FFA. The applicant must have exhibited at the State Fair Jr. Horse Show at least once in the past three years. For additional information go to the U of I Horse Net Web Site at http://www.livestocktrail.uiuc.edu/horsenet/ A complete set of the rules and regulations regarding the scholarship can be secured from the following web site-- http://www.4h.uiuc.edu/events/06fair/06horsescholarapp.doc It’s Our River Day Sept. 15th (Sign-up by August 15th) Planning is underway for the seventh annual It’s Our River Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2007. This will be a celebration of Illinois watersheds through education, recreation and conservation. These three components are critical to the health of our rivers. They are interconnected like a river within it’s ecosystem. It is important to keep the history and culture of life along the river alive, to continue efforts to address the threats against it‘s health, and to provide new and innovative ways to provide access to the waterways for recreation. With this in mind, communities and organizations are invited to celebrate your river by offering citizens a chance to experience, learn and contribute to the health of the watershed by providing organized activities annually on the third Saturday in September. Previous Illinois River events have been very successful with over 1,700 volunteers cleaning up the shorelines of the Illinois River from Chicago to Grafton, Illinois. 4-H clubs, community groups, service clubs, schools, hunting & fishing clubs, and other organizations which enthusiastically participated in last year’s efforts and are being encouraged to help again. This year, many communities are expanding their focus with the It’s Our River Day by including River Walks, Bird Watching, Canoe & Boat Races, and festivals as part of their community activities. The Illinois River is one of the most important natural resources in the state of Illinois. The river system provides us incredible economic benefits and recreational opportunities, as well as surrounding us with awe-inspiring beauty. We must all do our part to help save and restore the Illinois River. Friends of the Illinois River provide free t-shirts, work gloves, and trashbags for the clean-up event if ordered by August 15, 2007 by contacting this toll-free number --ph 866-584-1310 or by going to the Clean Water Illinois website www.CleanWater.il.gov Consider being a catalyst in your community for organizing volunteers for It’s Our River Day, Saturday, September 15th. For more information, contact Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator, phone: (309) 694-7501, Ext. 226. 2007 Governor’s Conference on the Management of the IL River System October 2 – 4 The Governor's Conference on the Illinois River System, slated for October 2 - 4, 2007 at Holiday Inn City Centre in Peoria, Illinois, is designed to bring together concerned citizens, agricultural, conservation and environmental organizations, industry and government representatives, educators and resource management professionals. The conference theme is “The Illinois River: Continuing Our Commitment,” and includes presentations on Natural Resource Based Tourism; Critical Restoration Projects: USACE; Asian Carp and the Illinois River; A River Through Time: Environment Culture & Resources; Natural Disaster, Flooding, Drought Hurricanes; Urban Storm Water Management; Streamgaging, Dam Removal, and Dam Safety; Alternative Uses of the Illinois River Floodplain; River Restoration Through Coordinated Planning & Development; Private-Public Partnerships for Watershed Management; and Monitoring. Also featured will be numerous exhibits from river-related organizations and agencies. Conference information, including the schedule of speakers, program, and registration materials, is now available on the Web at www.conferences.uiuc.edu/ilriver Early conference registration fees (by August 31, 2007) provide the following low-cost alternatives: Full conference registration, paid by Aug. 31, costs $135 and includes three meals, two continental breakfasts, breaks and a reception. The Wednesday-only fee is $90, while Thursday-only will cost $60. After August 31, each fee increases by $40, plus another $20-$50 on site. Registration can be completed with credit card online, or by fax or mail. An all-day conservation tour on Oct. 2 costs an additional $25 (by 8/31/07) and includes a guided, air-conditioned motorcoach tour of rural and urban sites in Peoria and Tazewell Counties as well as lunch. Tour attractions include the historic and beautiful Springdale Cemetery, a rural subdivision striving to be in harmony with nature amongst the bluffs near Mossville, a restored wetlands, a large streambank stabilization project along the winding Mackinaw River, and significant wildlife habitat restoration. University of Illinois Extension is one of more than 60 federal, state, regional and local agencies and groups working together to co-sponsor the eleventh biennial Governor’s Conference on the Management of the Illinois River System. For more information, contact the University of Illinois Office of Conferences and Institutes, ph. (877)-455-2687; or Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Extension, ph. (309)-694-7501, Ext. 226. National Radon Action Week October 14 – 20 Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and is the second leading cause of lung cancer according to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency. Radon is also responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year of which 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. Recently, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on the risks associated with radon. To bring greater attention to this major health risk, the week of October 14 – 20, 2007 has been designated as National Radon Action Week. University of Illinois Extension is supporting this effort through the Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes educational program. To learn more about radon and how you can protect your family from this health risk, contact your local University of Illinois Extension Office or check out this very informative radon website: http://www.epa.gov/radon/radonqa1.html World Food Day Tuesday, October 16 World Food Day commemorates the anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) founding on October 16, 1945. This annual celebration, observed worldwide, also coincides with TeleFood – FAO’s campaign to raise awareness about the plight of the world’s hungry people and mobilize resources to help them. For the past 27 years, World Food Day has been observed to increase awareness of the persistent problems associated with a shortage of food in many areas of the world. The University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is at the forefront in using science to address the problems of hunger and malnutrition. Researchers in the college continue to produce new varieties of crops and pioneer new ways of raising and managing livestock to increase and improve the food supply. In an increasingly complex world, food safety and efficient distribution are issues of growing importance. Land and water issues are becoming a major challenge, as we look to the long-term sustainability of agricultural and food systems. To learn more about the many world-wide issues being addressed during World Food Day 2007, scheduled for Tuesday, October 16th, check out their website http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/ Bio-Fuel Production Midwest SWCS Conference October 16-18 The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) has scheduled an in-depth conference entitled “Impacts of Increased Bio-Fuel Production on the Midwest Landscape” for October 16 – 18, 2007. This Midwest SWCS conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Dubuque, Iowa, at the heart of this historic Iowa riverboat community. This conference will bring together farmers, agribusiness, policymakers, agencies and organizations to explore the current bio-fuels issues. With regional and national attention focused on the use of renewable bio-fuels, energy conservation and energy independence, the impact on the environment (specifically on soil and water quality and quantity) is a critical dimension of the dialog that has often been in the background. The desire for less reliance on fossil fuels and foreign sources of energy will have a dramatic impact on national soil and water resources. The goal of the conference is to elevate the debate beyond just technology creation and narrow economic development aspects to address soil conservation, water quality and human decisions about land management and how these intersect in the public debate surrounding bio-based fuels; and in particular, increases in grain based bio-fuel production. This 3-day conference will include plenary presentations, concurrent sessions, tours posters and displays. For more information and registration, http://www.swcs.org/en/conferences/regional_conferences World Water Monitoring Day Thursday, October 18 Want to learn more about your local water quality? Then take part in World Water Monitoring Day on October 18th. You can monitor your local water quality and then compare your results to international data. This World monitoring effort is coordinated by America’s Clean Water Foundation, International Water Association in cooperation with several other environmental groups and government agencies. World Water Monitoring Day is an international event that will create awareness on water quality issues throughout the world. Over time, the data collected will help develop a better understanding of water quality throughout the world. Monitoring test kits, if shipped within the United States, are $18.35 and include supplies for up to 50 tests. Kit purchases will begin in July and the monitoring period will be from September 18 through October 18. The monitoring test kits measure dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity/clarity, and temperature. The reported results will be available for anyone desiring to view the data and will be used in the 2007 Summary Report. This is a great activity for local service clubs, 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, school science clubs, homeowner associations, environmental organizations and interested individuals. For more details or to order monitoring kits from America’s Clean Water Foundation, visit the World Water Monitoring Day website at http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org America Recycles Day 2007 Thursday, November 15 Why not “Rededicate Yourself to Recycling?” Did you know that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a computer for three hours? Or that if American citizens recycled 42 million tons of solid waste (about 30 percent of all solid waste generated) in a year, it would save our country 10 billion gallons of gasoline? That is enough gasoline to power nearly 15 million cars for one year (assuming 18 miles per gallon and 12,000 miles per year). Recycling is also a very integral part of agriculture. Many of the inputs involved with farming have tremendous value in terms of recycling. Used tires, dirty motor oil, antifreeze, batteries, empty pesticide containers, cardboard and paper are just a few of the items which a farmer can and should recycle. Every little bit of recycling DOES make a difference! Plan to celebrate America Recycles Day 2007, November 15th, in your school, home, and community. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has a selection of free, educational bookmarks about recycling and an excellent hands-on recycling activity kit for youth audiences, called Investigating the 4 R s, which is available at no charge, on a loan basis. To order, contact Rebecca Enrietto at <Rebecca.Enrieto@illinois.gov>. Check out their website for more information www.istep.org Mike Mitchell, Director of the Illinois Recycling Association, can also provide free posters and other materials to help promote America Recycles Day 2007 for your school or organization. He can be reached at ph. (708-358-0050) or this website www.illinoisrecycles.org Recycling of our natural resources is important for everyone: adults, youth, homeowners, and farmers. Farm-City Week November 16 – 22 More than 300 years ago, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated. National Farm-City Week, always ending on Thanksgiving Day, is a time to reflect on our blessings, pledge to help those in need, and correct wrongs wherever they may exist in our rural, suburban and urban communities. The National Farm-City Council was organized in 1955 to encourage the building of understanding of our interdependence between rural and urban residents. Today, our world is fast-paced and high-tech, but we should still take time to show gratitude for what we have. One thing we may take for granted is our abundance of food. It is important that we all take time to express our thanks to everyone who is involved with producing, transporting, marketing, processing and delivering our food, so we can enjoy this abundance. This year, National Farm-City Week, is scheduled for the week of November 16 - 22, 2007. It is dedicated to enhancing linkages between farm families and urban residents and providing local organizations with educational programs and materials about the people who grow food. Today, nearly 1 in 20 workers in our economy play a role in the food and fiber marketing chain. Many local communities, commodity organizations, 4-H clubs, and service groups take part in this annual celebration, which recognizes the numerous agricultural partners who produce, market, transport, and process the food we eat. A National Farm-City Week Information Kit will be available in late August. For more information on what you can do to enhance Farm-City Week in your community, visit the following website www.farmcity.org/ or call them at phone 847-685-8764. Greater Peoria Farm Show November 27 - 29, Peoria Don’t miss the 26th Greater Peoria Farm Show, November 27 - 29, at the Peoria Civic Center. This year there will be more than 300 companies exhibiting their products and services in more that 700 booths and exhibits. As many as 30,000 people are expected to attend this free event, the largest indoor farm show in Illinois. Extension Educators and Unit Staff from throughout central Illinois will be present at the University of Illinois Extension booth to share new research ideas for the farm and home and provide information on up-coming winter Extension meetings. The three-day event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The Peoria Farm Show has earned a reputation as one of the finest indoor shows in the United States and is the largest indoor farm show in the State of Illinois. For a complete listing of exhibitors, activities, and features, check out their website www.farmshowsusa.com Admission is free, so bring the whole family and enjoy the show. Regional Soil and Water Workshops Thursday, December 6 Three regional workshops, covering soil and water management issues, will be conducted on Thursday, December 6, 2007. The workshops are designed to provide relevant information in soil and water management, along with Certified Crop Advisor continuing education units. Workshops are being sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. Locations for the workshops will be at the Bureau County Extension Office in Princeton, IL; Ogle County Extension Office in Oregon, IL; and at the Sangamon/Menard Extension Office in Springfield, IL. Presentations will begin at 9 am and will end by 2:30 pm. Some of the topics covered will include soil microbiology and climate change, recycling soil from sediment to topsoil, the phosphorus cycle, and locating tile lines using infrared photography. Presentations will be conducted by live and distance speakers at each location. The Registration fee is $30 per person which will include materials and lunch. Registration materials will be available by October 1st from the Extension Offices hosting the workshops. For more information, contact Duane Friend, Soil & Water Workshop Coordinator at ph. (217)-782-6515 or friend@uiuc.edu Livestock E-Quiz Web Training for “ISF Superior Young Producers Awards” http://equiz.outreach.uiuc.edu/index.asp An educational web site, designed for 4-H and FFA members to provide knowledge on various animal science projects, is now available through the efforts of University of Illinois Extension and Department of Animal Sciences. This interactive web site can be accessed at http://equiz.outreach.uiuc.edu/index.asp and will allow youth to test their knowledge about all phases of the livestock project. The objective is to provide an educational experience that can be obtained through distance learning in a convenient and self-instructing manner. The web site consists of interactive learning modules categorized by specific subject matter on beef, dairy, forages, horses, meats, sheep, and swine. Over 3,260 questions and picture identifications are currently entered into the system and designated as Junior or Senior study level. Upon entering the web site, participants will be able to select the study level and category that they wish to complete. Questions will require a true/false or multiple-choice answer. The computer will randomly select questions, pictures or images for the participant to provide the appropriate correct answer. At the completion of answering a set of questions, the individual is provided with the questions and correct answers to reinforce the learning experience. In addition to gaining subject matter knowledge about the various species, meats and forages project area, this web site is an excellent resource for youth participating in the Illinois State Fair Superior Young Producer Award and the various 4-H quiz bowl contests. Each subject category also provides a listing of additional resources that can be used for study. Members of University of Illinois Extension Animal Systems Team and collaborators were responsible for providing the questions and design for this Livestock E-Quiz project. Funding was provided through a University of Illinois Extension Innovative Technology Development grant and the web site was developed by the Web Technology Group. Start Selecting Bulls for the 2008 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale Purebred breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2008 Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale that will be the lead off event for the Illinois Beef Expo. The sale is scheduled for Thursday, February 21 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Livestock Center in Springfield. The sale accepts older as well as yearling bulls, with the birth date range from January 1, 2006 through March 2007. The IPT Bull Sale Advisory Committee recently met that represents the various breeds in the 2007 sale along with staff of the Illinois Beef Association, beef industry representatives and the University of Illinois Extension Beef Team to review the 2007 sale and formulate plans for the 2008 sale. The 2008 sale will be the 40th Annual Sale and is organized by University of Illinois Extension and managed by Dave Seibert, Animal Systems Educator. NEW for the 2008 sale will be the requirement that “all bulls be screened for BVD-PI” utilizing the Ear Notch screening test to prevent Persistent Infection (PI) individuals from entering the sale. Also, as required for the past several years “all Angus bulls must have ultrasound body composition images collected by field technicians certified by the Ultrasound Guidelines Council (UCG), with images processed by ultrasound technicians through and approved centralized ultrasound processing laboratory” prior to arriving at the 2008 IPT Bull Sale. The 2008 sale index will be a six trait index with equal emphasis on EPDs for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, maternal milk, percent intramuscular fat and ribeye area. The number of bulls that breeders are eligible to consign to the 2008 sale will be eight, with two of these bulls not requiring a nomination fee. However, consignors selling more than six bulls will require that they index above the average for their breed. Also, first time consignors are still limited to nominating two bulls. Nomination deadline and fees are three tiered with the following dates and costs: November 15, $75, December 1, $100; and December 15, $125. A copy of the Rules and Regulations and Nomination Form can be obtained by writing to Dave Seibert at the East Peoria Extension Center, 727 Sabrina Drive, East Peoria, IL 61611 or by calling 309-694-7501, Ext. 224. Beef Performance Testing Program If you are a commercial or purebred cow-calf producer who is interested in: - measuring herd productivity - evaluating bull performance - identifying high-producing cows - culling low-producing cows - identifying differences in weaning weight of calves - selecting replacement heifers - or, securing a permanent yearling record, then you should enroll in the Illinois Performance Testing program. Calves should fall between 120 and 290 days in order to obtain adjusted weights, but need to be between 160 and 250 days to obtain ratios. Dave Seibert, Animal Systems Educator, will be working with interested producers in the U of I Extension – Heart of Illinois to conduct performance testing. If you are interested in placing your herd on the BPT program, contact the U of I Extension Office in your county to obtain the date for your county. Plants Toxic to Animals Available on WWW http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/toxic.htm Fall is the time of year that results in the most deaths from plants that are toxic to animals. This usually results in numerous calls from livestock owners asking for assistance in which plants are poisonous and a means to identify those plants. There are few textbooks available for this use and these are either out of print or very expensive according to Dave Seibert, Animal Systems Educator with University of Illinois Extension. Thus, the best method to obtain assistance is through a WWW site from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine called “Plants Toxic to Animals.” The URL for this user-friendly site is http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/toxic.htm. Eighty-one plants most commonly found in the Midwestern states are listed by their Common and Scientific Names. For ease of identification there is a link to a color picture (some with multiple pictures of different states of maturity) of each plant. In addition, most plants have information on their description, distribution, conditions of poisoning, control, toxic principle and clinical signs. The site also provides a link to the Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA) located in the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine that provides 24-hour assistance and emergency information to animal owners where a poison situation might have occurred. This service is provided on a fee basis. Additional links include a description of “The Poisonous Plant Garden” location on the University of Illinois campus along with URL links to related sources. Even though animal owners never want to experience a poisoning of their pet or farm animal, it might be worth the time to bookmark the URL for “Plants Toxic to Animals” which is http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/toxic.htm. Illinois Heifer Development Program (IHDP) Fall – 2007 Cow-calf producers interested in improving the reproductive efficiency of heifers retained for replacements might want to consider becoming involved in the Illinois Heifer Development Program (IHDP). There is a set of guidelines that producers must follow starting with weaning with a complete vaccination program. This is followed by a pre-breeding exam that includes reproductive tract palpation and pelvic measurements. Producers interested in participating in the IHDP Program should obtain a copy of the Rules and Regulations along with a set of the Management Forms. This can be obtained by contacting Dave Seibert, Animal Systems Educator at the East Peoria Extension Center at 309-694-7501, Ext. 224.