Educational Opportunities

Spring 2001 - Off-campus University of Illinois Courses
http://www.outreach.uiuc.edu/
Each semester the University of Illinois offers numerous courses on agriculture and many other topics around the state. Check out what is being offered in January (registrations usually due in late November) at the website or request a catalog from: Academic Outreach, All Ag, 302 E. John St., Suite 1405, Champaign, IL 61820

Rural Route 2 is Available at 1-800-468-1834
http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/ruralroute/
The Rural Route 2 service is designed to help farm families get through tough times. This confidential service provides referrals for farm business and family financial advice; helps manage economic as well as personal situations; helps locate local support; and identifies assistance through the Illinois Farm Development Authority.

University of Illinois Agriculture Events Calendar
Check out our web-based Events Calendar. New programs are being confirmed every day. Keep in touch with your Extension Office for programs addressing the topics that interest you and are offered in your county. To find your county's website go to: http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/ve/

In-depth Soil and Water Management Workshops Set for November
University of Illinois Extension will be offering three in-depth Soil and Water Management workshops across the state this fall. Program dates and locations include: November 27 in Woodhull, November 28 in Decatur, and November 29 in Mt. Vernon. Five hours of certified crop adviser credits will be available for each workshop.

This year’s theme is "Protecting Our Illinois Streams—From Big to Small." The increased regulations and the incentive opportunities regarding the protection of rivers and streams in Illinois continue to interest many landowners and agribusiness professionals. Those issues will be discussed at the workshops, including applied information regarding the establishment and maintenance of stream buffers, financial incentives for landowners, status of current regulations, and best management practices for stream protection beyond buffers, as well as related topics. There is a $30 fee per person for materials and lunch for the workshops. Registration will be $35 at the door. Advance reservations should be made one week prior to the meeting. Complete program and registration details are available from local county Extension offices. The workshops are co-sponsored by the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices.

Soybean Cyst Nematode Screening Clinics
Dale Baird, Crop Systems Educator, Rockford Extension Center, 815-397-7714

Soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) are microscopic worm-like organisms, which parasitically attack and feed within soybean roots. Severe SCN plant infestation levels can be seen as field areas of yellow, stunted or wilted soybeans. However, quite often above ground SCN plant damage in high organic matter, north-central Illinois soils may not be noticeable but yield loss can still occur. The objective of the program is to provide area soybean growers precise information concerning the SCN infestation level in their suspect fields and provide SCN management recommendations.

Several Soybean Cyst Nematode Soil Screening Clinics sponsored by University of Illinois Extension will be held throughout northern Illinois during November. Specifically the screening clinics have been scheduled as follows:

November 5 sponsored by Grundy County Extension, 815-942-2725
Location: Wills Pioneer Seeds, located by going west of Coal City Illinois 2 miles on Rt 113 to Gorman Road, then south 1 mile to Spring Road, then _ mile west on Spring Road.

November 6 sponsored by Bureau County Extension, 815-875-2878
Location: Marquis Inc., located on Rt. 40, 5 miles south of Buda, Illinois

November 13 sponsored by LaSalle County Extension, 815-433-0707
Location: Walter Seed & Fertilizer, located at the southeast corner of Grand Ridge, Illinois

Producers are encouraged to bring soil samples from suspect 2001 soybean fields or from fields intended to be planted to soybeans in 2002 to the program location from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Samples will be "screened" on site for SCN presence and infestation level. Participants are limited to a total of three composite soil samples. At 10:00 a.m., a short presentation will be held focusing on SCN management guidelines, the soil screening process and SCN identification. In addition, observations from 2001 soybean aphid infestations will be discussed. CEUs for Certified Crop Advisors have been applied for. Producers will have the opportunity to view SCNs under a microscope.