Illinois Small Farms

Designed for those who have a few acres they’d like to find an enterprise which could supply some income or provide for family enjoyment. The workshop will be held from 9:00 am and conclude at 1:00 pm. Topics you can select from include: Grapes; Vegetables; Fruit trees; Blueberries; Poultry; Food preservation; and Timber.  A general session will discuss Marketing Your Products.  Local producers will provide the training in each of these hour-long sessions. Cost for the program is $30, which includes lunch.  Contact our office for registration (217-223-8380) or online at   www.extension.uiuc.edu/adams

Farmland Leasing and Economics

These two companion workshops are designed for landowners who wish to know more about the Agricultural industry.  The programs will be held from 6-8 p.m. The programs are sponsored by the McLean County Extension Unit.  Registration fee is $15 for one program, or $25 to attend both sessions, payable to the University of Illinois Extension.

The first session, “Basic Agronomy for Landowners” will primarily focus on terms and technologies used in agriculture, how land is used by farmers, how crops are produced and harvested, basic agronomy, and how farmer decisions impact farmland values and leasing.

The second session, “Farmland Leasing and Economics” is designed for landowners, producers, and others who want to learn more about current leasing practices: including crop-share, cash rent, and flexible cash rent leasing options. Additionally, resources useful to both sides of this important business relationship will be presented. Lease forms, crop economics and recent trends will be discussed.

For more information on these programs call Brian Lambert at the McLean County Extension Service at 309-663-8306.

Farmland Leasing and Economics

These two workshops are designed for farmers and landowners interested in learning more about farmland leasing and crop insurance options.  The programs will be held from 6-8 p.m.  The programs are sponsored by the McLean County Extension Unit.  Registration fee is $15 for one program, or $25 to attend both sessions, payable to the University of Illinois Extension.

“Farmland Leasing and Economics” is designed for landowners, producers, and others who want to learn more about current leasing practices: including crop-share, cash rent, and flexible cash rent leasing options. Additionally, resources useful to both sides of this important business relationship will be presented. Lease forms, crop economics and recent trends will be discussed.

“Crop Insurance Decisions” will help farmers, and crop-share landowners, make informed decisions about their crop insurance. An overview of types available, their relative advantages and disadvantages, cost/benefit analysis and tools that can assist farmers in the decision making process will also be covered in this workshop.

For more information on these programs call Brian Lambert at the McLean County Extension Service at 309-663-8306.

Crop Insurance Decisions

These two workshops are designed for farmers and landowners interested in learning more about farmland leasing and crop insurance options.  The programs will be held from 6-8 p.m.  The programs are sponsored by the McLean County Extension Unit.  Registration fee is $15 for one program, or $25 to attend both sessions, payable to the University of Illinois Extension.

“Farmland Leasing and Economics” is designed for landowners, producers, and others who want to learn more about current leasing practices: including crop-share, cash rent, and flexible cash rent leasing options. Additionally, resources useful to both sides of this important business relationship will be presented. Lease forms, crop economics and recent trends will be discussed.

“Crop Insurance Decisions” will help farmers, and crop-share landowners, make informed decisions about their crop insurance. An overview of types available, their relative advantages and disadvantages, cost/benefit analysis and tools that can assist farmers in the decision making process will also be covered in this workshop.

For more information on these programs call Brian Lambert at the McLean County Extension Service at 309-663-8306.

The Midwest Organic Farming Conference is the largest organic farming conference in the nation. Organized by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), and held annually in La Crosse, WI, the OFC is an extraordinary, farmer-centered event. With over 60 informative workshops, 140+ exhibitors, locally-sourced organic food, live entertainment and inspirational keynote speakers, the OFC is celebrated as the foremost educational and networking event in the organic farming community.

From its humble beginning with 90 attendees twenty years ago, most recent conferences attract over 2,500 farmers, advocates, educators, and community members. For a copy of the agenda and registration information go to their website www.mosesorganic.org/conference.html

The Illinois Forage Institute will feature an educational program that focuses on managing hayland and pastures, as well as commercial exhibits focusing on the forage industry. Topics to be presented in the morning include Hay Tonnage vs Quality and Niche Forages for Double Cropping Systems from Dr. Keith Johnson, Forage Extension Specialist, Purdue University. Also, Dr. Alan Miller, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois will present Economics of Hay and Forage Production and Buying Hay versus Raising Hay. Afternoon activities include a livestock and hay producer panel and the Illinois Forage & Grassland Council (IFGC) Forage Spokesperson Contest.

The program will be held from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Cost for the educational program is $15 per person for IFGC members and $20 per person for non-members and pre-registration is requested by February 24, 2010. Cost will be $20 and $25 respectively per person after February 24 and at the door on March 2. Registration covers a noon meal and forage presentation handout material. Program registration can be made by contacting Illinois Forage & Grassland Council, P.O. Box 233, Greenville, IL 62246. The program agenda can be accessed at http://www.illinoisforage.org The Forage Institute is sponsored by the Illinois Forage and Grassland Council and supported by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and University of Illinois Extension.

The Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference will be held from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference, which occurs every year on the second Saturday in March, is designed for woodland owners and forest professionals from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The sessions provide participants with the knowledge and skills to manage woodlands using good stewardship principles.

This year, they have added a series of sessions for youth in grades 4 – 6 to include a variety of topics, including Woodland Mammals, Geocaching (using GPS units to find hidden treasure), Raptors, Woodland Communities, and a number of hands-on activities, art projects, and presentations.

Speakers will gave talks on topics including tree identification, identification and control of invasive plants, chainsaw safety and maintenance, wildlife habitats, special forest products, woodland management and stewardship planning, pest management, estate planning, famous and historic trees from the Tri-State area, and wood-based biofuels, among others. Some sessions will be geared towards beginners, while others will provide new information for veteran foresters. Numerous companies and organizations will be represented as Exhibitors at the conference.

Conference details and online registration procedures can be found at the following website http://basineducation.uwex.edu/gpsp/ For more information, contact Peggy Compton, UW-Extension Basin Educator at ph. 608-342-1633, peggy.compton@ces.uwex.edu.

In 2008, FamilyFarmed.org created and published Wholesale Success: A Farmer’s Guide to Selling, Post Harvest Handling, and Packing Produce. The manual gives detailed and easy to read information for a farmer audience on topics such as Characteristics of Wholesale Growers, Pricing, Building Relationships with Buyers, and Calculating Return on Investment. In addition, it collects state of the art information on critical topics such as post harvest handling, packing produce, and food safety, and it presents these topics in a very readable and compelling format.  The manual is now the basis for Wholesale Success training performed by FamilyFarmed.org for a producer audience.

To multiply the impact of this program, FamilyFarmed.org has designed and will dedicate an entire workshop to train Agricultural Professionals.  Professionals will then be empowered to relay technical information to farmers who either express interest in the topic or who might be a good candidate for the information.  This could take the form of answering questions, developing new contacts and partners for work, incorporating new ideas and information into regular programming, developing special programming on the topic, and/or using the information in newsletters or other media.

With support from the NCR SARE Professional Development Program and the University of Illinois Extension, the Wholesale Success for the Agricultural Professional webinar is FREE to the first 40 who register.  Participants will receive the newly revised 255 page manual, Wholesale Success: A Farmer's Guide to Selling, Postharvest Handling, and Packing Produce, a $50 value!

Please call Keighty at 708.763.9920 or email her at keighty@familyfarmed.org to register.  You will need a phone line and internet connection to participate.

The 2010 Sheep Shearing School will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17 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. We will accept enrollments in the order in which they are received at this office.

For additional information and application forms, contact Richard Cobb before April 12 2010. The address is Dick Cobb, Extension Sheep Specialist, 128 Animal Sciences Lab, 1207 West Gregory, Urbana, Illinois 61801 -  arcobb@uiuc.edu -  217-333-7351.

The Small Farm and Family Expo, an outdoor event that provides small farming enterprises the opportunity to learn about the latest research, resources, equipment and technology, is scheduled for June 27-28, 2010 at Progress City USA which is the bi-annual site of the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois.  The Expo focuses on the needs of the smaller acreage farmer and family.  Its components include: seminars covering topics on Alternative Energy, Business and Marketing, Horticulture, Livestock, Organic and Sustainable Farming and more; a trade show that allows participants to handle, operate and/or in some way experience the equipment; demonstrations and specialty displays; children’s area that includes mini-seminars; and fun events yet to be announced.

Progress City USA is proud to host and be a sponsor of the Expo because the small farm contribution to society is so massive, encompassing a diversity of ownership, cropping systems, landscapes, biological organization, culture and traditions.  They account for 91% of all farms and their numbers continue to grow exponentially.  Representatives from the University of Illinois Extension, Richland Community College, Illinois Specialty Growers Association, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Macon County Farm Bureau, Farm Progress Show and Macon County Soil and Water District have come together to assist in the Expo development.  Other organizations and programs are encouraged to join and may do so by contacting Cindy Laegeler at claegele@richland.edu or (217)875-7211 extension 577.