Greetings from U of I Extension

We only send out this newsletter once per year, however we do offer programming throughout the year. If you would like to be notified of programs during the year, please provide me your email address so that you can receive the advisories I send in addition to notices of meetings, etc.

We do not allow others access to your email, in fact I send out the emails addressed to me with the list being sent by blank carbon copy.

Please send me your email and you'll be placed on the list.

Thanks, Mike

roeggem@illinois.edu

Transplant Success

It's not too early to start planning for next season's crops and using transplants is an effective way of producing quality crop plants early in the season, standardizing germination, and competing with weeds. U of I Extension's Chris Konieczka and Jeff Kindhart will present a webinar on successful transplant production on Wednesday, Dec. 12^th, from 1:30-3:00pm.

The webinar is free to all and can be accessed via Elluminate from a home internet connection or if you need access we'll also serve as a host. The presenters will discuss planting media, crop planning, dealing with environmental factors, and planting out successful transplants. Participate by listening and bringing your own questions to ask after the presentation. An archived version will be available after the live program.

Register online at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=7337

A link to the presentation will be provided with the program registration.

Putting Small Acreage to Work

Putting Small Acreage to Work will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16^th at John Wood Community College, 1301 S. 48^th Street, in Quincy. If you're looking for ideas on how to utilize smaller acreages for income producing activities or for fun and leisure, then this program will provide you with a number of options to consider. Concurrent presentations during the morning will include the topics of: Growing/harvesting native herb and medicinal plants; Vegetable production/marketing; Sheep/goats; High tunnels; Basics of food preservation; Timber/Christmas trees. There will be a general session addressing the topic of "Determining pricing of your product".

All the presenters have been or are currently involved in the enterprise that they will speak on. We have plenty of time built into the program to allow for discussions. The program will begin at 8:30am and conclude at 1:30pm. Cost is $30 per person. Additional persons from the same household are $10 (which is the charge for students). Lunch, refreshments and a proceedings are all included. Register on line at: web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps

Unusual Vegetables

Want to learn more about some unusual vegetables to consider growing for next year? On Tuesday, Feb. 5^th, from 6pm-7:30pm well offer a webinar exploring some new and unusual vegetables for growers to consider. We'll be discussing varieties (tomatillos, arugula, chois, edamame, sprouts, swiss chard, Jerusalem artichoke, bitter melon, salsify, celeriac, ginger, turmeric; color variations of vegetables and baby vegetables.

The program is free of charge. Register online:

web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps

Winter Webinar Series

Winter Webinar Series will be held on Thursday afternoons at 1pm, beginning Jan. 10 and concluding March 28^th. The topics will be varied but designed for small farm application. Topics are: Raising Broiler Turkeys on Small Farms; Strawberry Production; Small Farm Goats/Sheep; Wildlife Damage Control; Basics of Fruit Insect Mgmt.; Fearless Farm Finances; Seed Saving; Managing Crop Rotations in High Tunnels; Farm to School Sales; Beneficial Insects; Weed Control in Pastures; Crop Budgeting Resources.

Sessions are presented by U of I Extension Educators and Specialists. There is no cost to participate. Programs should last approximately one hour. You can log on from home or contact our office if you need access. Register online: web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps/

All these sessions will be recorded and available for viewing.

Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism & Organic Conference

The Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference will be held Jan. 9-11 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Ill. The conference, which features more than 100 speakers and 50 trade show exhibitors, will again host four concurrent preconference workshops, general sessions, and breakout sessions aimed at helping Illinois specialty growers cultivate their operations. Preconference workshops include: Cover Crops, High Tunnels, Basics of Orchard Establishment/Tree Fruit Production, and Sweet Corn.

The conference opens Thursday, Jan. 10, with a general session highlighting the Illinois specialty crops industry and its partners and addressing a range of issues. The remaining days are devoted to breakout sessions, divided into 6 different tracks, including: Agritourism; Fruits; Vegetables; Herbs; Organic Foods; and Emerging Issues and Opportunities.

A conference agenda and registration information can be found at:

www.specialtygrowers.org

Tree Fruit and Vegetable Workshop

Tree Fruit/ Vegetable Workshop will be held on Friday, Feb. 22^nd at the Extension Office in Quincy. Drs. Mohammad Babadoost and Rick Weinzierl will be present to lead discussions on: Important apple disease issues; Identification and control of major tree fruit and vegetable insect pests; Disease management in pumpkins; and more. In addition we'll have updates from several companies. Cost for the program is $10 per person, which includes lunch and publications. The program will start at 9am and conclude at 2pm. Please register so that we can plan for lunch: web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps

Fresh Market Tomato Workshop

Fresh Market Tomato Workshop- a distance program will be offered on Monday, Feb. 18^th, from 6pm-7:30 pm. We'll be discussing every aspect of tomato production, from planting, to pruning, to disease management to harvesting/marketing. Sessions are presented by U of I Extension Educators and Specialists.

There is no cost to participate. Program should last approximately one hour. You can log on from home or contact our office if you need access. Register online: web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps/

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP's)

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP's) webinar will be offered during Mondays in April, beginning April 8, through April 29^th, from 6pm-8pm. The webinar is designed to provide information to growers on how to keep produce safe- from production to the market. The past few years we've all seen and heard about examples of where food has been contaminated and the result has been catastrophic. Infection with E coli and other organisms has made headlines with cantaloupe, lettuce, beef and other foods. GAP's training discusses methodologies to reduce potential contamination. Topics of this webinar will include: What is GAP's; Water quality and testing; Soil management; Record keeping; Traceback, etc.

Each registered participant will receive GAPs manual and related handouts. There is a $20 fee per participant and pre-registration along with pre-payment is required by April 1, 2013 so that your handouts can be shipped out. Please register online at

web.extension.illinois.edu/gkw For more information contact University of Illinois Extension, Kankakee County at 815/933-8337.

Illinois Strawberry, Small Fruit and Vegetable School

Illinois Strawberry, Small Fruit and Vegetable School will be held at the Mt. Vernon Holiday Inn, Feb. 12-13. Program details are still being formulated. For more information please contact our office.

Illinois Cover Crops: Practical Strategies for Your Farm

Illinois Cover Crops: Practical Strategies for Your Farm will be a day and a half conference targeted to farmers and will be held on January 29 & 30, 2013 at the Decatur Hotel and Conference Center. This meeting will provide a forum for farmers to exchange information, and learn about the new and successful practices related to cover crops. Case study presentations will identify and discuss strengths and pitfalls of real applications. Speakers will include farmers, crop consultants, and university researchers who have extensive experience in cover crop management. Two meals, a reception, multiple general sessions and concurrent session topics and multiple roundtable sessions are included in the program. Registration is just $49 if you register by January 21, 2013. To register contact dewayne.johnson@swcs.org

Gardener's Palette

The registration fee for Gardener's Palette will be $40 and includes a buffet style lunch, morning snacks, participant packet, choice of 5 classes, and access to vendors.

Advance registration begins January 7, 2013 and ends February 22, 2013 at:

web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps

Pruning Workshop

Pruning Workshop for fruit trees and brambles will be held on Saturday, March 9^th, beginning at 10am at Edgewood Orchards. We'll travel to JWCC as well for bramble pruning. The Zellerman's have been growing fruits for over 60 years and they'll be sharing their pruning techniques on apple and peach trees. JWCC has raspberry and blackberry plants that we can demonstrate proper technique. There is no cost to attend.

Please register online at web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps

Edgewood Orchards is located north of Quincy. Take the Columbus Road exit off Interstate 172 and head east about ¼ mile. Turn right and follow the signs.

Tomato Grafting Workshop

Tomato Grafting Workshop - we'll host a workshop showing proper techniques of grafting tomatoes, on Monday March 4^th, at 6pm at the Extension Office in Quincy. Gardeners who routinely use heirloom tomatoes will find this workshop very beneficial as these heirloom varieties have very poor root systems. Grafting these heirloom varieties to a modern rootstock offers significant yield improvement. And grafting is not a hard task to accomplish, however there are a few guidelines that will allow your grafting to be much more successful. There is no cost to attend. Register at: web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps