University of Illinois Extension will be hosting a Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) webinar series. Anyone who sells produce at local markets or donates to food pantries, including farmers, farmers' market coordinators, community/market garden coordinators, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), and gardeners, can learn how to keep produce safe from production to the market.

Recent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses involving both fresh and processed food products have heightened public concern about food safety. As more consumers want to know how their food is grown, many fresh produce buyers are requiring their suppliers to have third-party audits to verify safe food production and handling practices on the farm.

Preventing and controlling the contamination of fresh farm produce is the key to producing wholesome, healthy products. The GAPs program helps growers to develop and implement farm food safety plans and prepare them for GAPs certification so they can market their products with greater confidence.

Topics will include:

• What are GAPs? What are worker health and hygiene concerns?
• Water quality and testing; Soil management and soil amendments.
• Post-harvest produce handling.
• Record-keeping; Trace-back; Recalls; What happens during an audit?

The webinar series will be held on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., from August 6 through August 27. Participants can from your home; all that is needed is a computer with high-speed Internet access and a way to listen to the presentation via the computer. Each registered participant will be sent webinar instructions, handouts, and a GAPs manual prior to the first webinar.

The registration fee is $30 per participant. Pre-registration along with pre-payment is required by August 1. Please register at:

https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6085.

For more information contact U of I Extension, Kankakee County at 815-933-8337.

News source: James Theuri, 815-933-8337, jtheu50@illinois.edu

News writer: Susan Jongeneel, 217-333-3291, sjongene@illinois.edu

U of I Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the Unit Office at least two weeks prior to the event.

University of Illinois Extension offers practical, research-based programs that help people improve their lives and address critical community issues involving youth, families, economics, health and natural resources.

Alaskan Cruise
September 7-14, 2013

The 2013 International Master Gardener Conference is garnering a lot of attention. The conference will occur on a cruise ship to Alaska with sessions held on board and tours during port stops. To date we have 414 folks registered. Actual educational/seminar and tour information will be available September 1, 2012. We have our keynote speakers set, and most of our seminar topics and speakers confirmed. We are working on finalizing tour options. There will be a $200 additional fee for conference registration-but stay tuned for your choices. $350 per person or $700 per room will hold the cabin of your choice. The main conference website for information is http://uaex.edu/imgc2013/default.htm

Date: August 14, 2012 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

This is an online Webinar for North Central Master Gardeners entitled Tomato IPM for Gardeners. The 90 minute webinar will feature north central plant pathologists who will teach you how to prevent pests on tomatoes as they walk you through the growing season. Variety selection, best planting practices, along with growing and care of tomatoes during the summer will be covered.

South Cook was unable to book a location for this but, please join our supporting units in Will County or Cook-Chicago. Program registration is FREE and links are below:

Register with Will County Unit

Register with Chicago-Cook Unit

Illinois is the leading state in pumpkin production. More than 90% of processing pumpkins produced in the United States are grown and processed in Illinois. Please join University of Illinois as they present the science of growing pumpkins. 

PLACE: Vegetable Crops Research Farm at Champaign, IL

DATE: September 6, 2012

TIME: 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

PRESENTATIONS: All held at Research Plots

LINE UP:

C. Voigt and A. Walters - Varieties

M. Williams - Production Systems

J. Masiunas and E. Wahle - Herbicides & Weed Control

J. Masiunas and D. Anderson - Bio-Fumigants (Mustard Cover Crop)

R. Weinzierl - Insect Pests

M. Babadoost - Diseases

S. Bretthauer - Spray Equipment

M. Kushad Post-Harvest Issues

J. Pike - Marketing

Registration is free and lunch will be provided.

Sponsors will be acknowledged later. If you want to be a sponsor of the Pumpkin Day, please send your contribution to M. Babadoost (N-533 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801). For more information on the Pumpkin Day, contact M. Babadoost (phone: 217-333-1523; E-mail: babadoos@illinois.edu).

The whole State of Illinois is suffering from the drought. This affects us all whether we garden or not because we all have to eat. Farmers of the Midwest are facing moderate to serve drought conditions which will ultimately lead to crop failure and higher food prices for consumers.

Please find useful information at the website below. The link includes various facts sheets, drought monitor and more.

University of Illinois Extension Drought - Home & Garden

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/drought/homegarden.cfm

230+ Master Gardeners who completed training in 2009/2010 completed our recent impact study. The reason for the study was to evaluate gardening practices before and after training to learn about whether our training promotes good gardening/horticulture practices. We also wanted to see how many of these practices Master Gardeners taught to the public. Finally we looked to see if involvement in the Master Gardener program helped with life skills such as communication, leadership, setting goals and working within a group.

A few highlights from the survey can be found in the July/August Imagine Newsletter

Thanks to all the survey participants!
-Monica David

I am excited to announce that the IPM Modules for Master Gardeners are now available. These modules were created to inform our volunteers about newly emerging or prevalent diseases and insect problems in the landscape. Five modules have just been released and more will be added to the website throughout the coming year. We are currently releasing modules on Spruce Problems, Thousand Canker Walnut Disease, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Bacterial Leaf Scorch and Sudden Oak Death. These modules were created by a team consisting of Kelly Estes, IL State Survey Coordinator; Stephanie Porter, Plant Diagnostic Outreach Specialist; Phil Nixon, Extension Entomologist and Monica David, Master Gardener Coordinator along with many other support staff. The modules were funded through our state USDA IPM grant for Consumer Horticulture.

The lessons contain information on everything from distribution of the pest/pathogen to identification to management strategies along with numerous photos. Participants complete the module by reading the material and studying the photos, and then take the quiz until all questions are answered correctly and fill out a very brief evaluation. When finished they will be able to print out a certificate of completion.

MGs may view the modules as many times as they like and use them as a reference for study and answering client questions. Each module is worth 0.5 hours of continuing education. However-MGs may only claim the education credits one time. The modules also count towards the advanced IPM training certification.

The links to the modules are posted on the educational events page of the state MG website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/mg/events/default.cfm

Click here for the direct link to the modules (you must create a log-in/password):

Thanks,

Nancy

This evening is to celebrate, say, "Thank You!" and honor our Wonderful Cook South Master Gardeners for their service to Cook County. For active Master Gardeners who certified in 2011 or who completed at least 30 hours in 2012, this is a complementary meal. You may also register and bring an adult guest for $10.

When: July 24, 2012 6-8:30 p.m.

Where: Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens Club House.

Menu:

Salad Bar including: mixed greens, sunflower seeds, almonds, cherry tomatoes, olives, dried cranberries, broccoli, chow mein noodles, and a choice of two dressings

Fried Chicken

Potato Salad

Fresh Fruit

Beverages: Iced Tea or Ice Water

Register by clicking here 

Join us on September 6-8
2012 Illinois Master Gardener Conference
Holiday Inn Crystal Lake Conference Center, Crystal Lake IL

The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners from McHenry and Lake Counties invite you to join us at the 2012 Illinois Master Gardener Conference. These volunteers have chosen "Our Common Ground" as a theme- so join fellow Master Gardeners as we explore our common interests in promoting good environmental practices, using sustainable practices in our home gardens and promoting healthy local foods.

You will have a chance to choose from several all day tours which will offer a glimpse into commercial composting and organic farming; vegetable production and heritage farming and historically significant Lake Michigan estates. Four half day tours will feature well known gardens, wholesale nurseries, the Volo bog, Master Gardener projects, and restoration projects. There will be a tour for every gardening taste!

Our keynote speaker is the nationally recognized leader of organic gardening- Eliot Coleman. Eliot has more than 40 years of experience in all aspects of organic farming, including field vegetables, greenhouse vegetables, rotational grazing of cattle and sheep, and range poultry. He is the author of The New Organic Grower, Four Season Harvest and the Winter Harvest Handbook.

A wide range of class topics include four season harvest, fairy gardens, rose pests and diseases; herbs; hostas, beekeeping, lawn care, shrubs, community gardening, pest ID, bonsai, fruits, vermicomposting, native trees and much more.

Thanks to our conference sponsor Ball Horticulture.

Click here for conference details

Registration will open May 1st for Illinois Master Gardeners and 1 adult guest. Click here to register now

2012 Master Gardener trainees in Cook South, your Pest Management for the Home Landscape books have arrived. Pick up the copy reserved for you at this training, and learn how to use the reference. The training will consist of a review of the contents and practice using the resource.  NOTE: Previously Certified Master Gardener may attend this training, however, you will need to order your copy directly from: Pubsplus.illinois.edu or by calling 1-800-345-6087. The 184-page book is $24.95 plus shipping.

What: Pest Management for the Home Landscape reference training & book pick up

When: Wednesday evening, July 18, 6:30 – 7:30 pm

Where: One Prairie Center Plaza Level Conference Room, 4749 Lincoln Mall Drive, Matteson, IL 60443. (This is the same building our University of Illinois Extension Matteson branch office is in.)

Click here to register

Pest Management for the Home Landscape, created by University of Illinois Extension specialists, includes information on how to manage insects, weeds, and plant diseases in the yard, garden, and home.

We will look at:

• tools to identify problems and choose strategies for managing plant and insect problems
• pest control strategies –chemical, nonchemical, or a combination of the two for weeds, insect pests (indoors and out), a few animal pests, and plant disease.
• organic gardening options for many pests
• information on disease-tolerant vegetable varieties, seed sources, and recommended practices for controlling disease
• pesticide products currently labeled for use on turfgrass, flowers, woody and non-woody ornamentals, vegetables, and fruit plants and tree
• how to handle pesticides to keep people, animals, and plantings safe.