May 21, 2003

URBANA--To anticipate possible problems from global warming, researchers at the University of Illinois have launched a research project known as SoyFACE that can mimic the content of the atmosphere in the year 2050 and assess how those changes will affect crops.

May 20, 2003

URBANA - For over 130 species of birds, getting bitten by a mosquito carrying the West Nile virus can be fatal. And, although crows and jays appear to be hardy, aggressive birds, there is something about their immune system that makes them "differentially susceptible to the virus" said Jeff Brawn, a University of Illinois researcher. Brawn has been working with medical entomologists for the last year to study the effects of the virus on bird populations. He hopes to study how the virus will cause an evolutionary change in the crow’s immune system.

May 20, 2003

URBANA--Although the extent of the problem has varied from year to year, the soybean aphid has recently become a pest throughout the Midwest. The aphids were first discovered in large numbers in soybean fields near the end of the 2000 growing season. After careful scientific investigation, they were identified as Aphis glycines, which had previously been reported only in Asia, Australia, and some Pacific islands.

May 21, 2003

URBANA—Ryan Hobson of Chatham has been named West Central Regional Director for University of Illinois Extension. He has served in the region since 2000 as associate regional director and, since March 2002, interim regional director.

Date: May 20, 2003

URBANA -- Al Morgan of Clinton, Illinois holds the patent on a foam mulch that he hopes will become an alternative to herbicides for vegetable farmers and black plastic for organic farmers. He received a grant from the USDA Small Business program and approached researchers at the University of Illinois to test the product and provide an unbiased evaluation.

Date: May 20, 2003

URBANA -- The new active ingredient, mesotrione, contained in the pesticide product Callisto herbicide could be a replacement for atrazine on sweet corn and popcorn crops according to a research project underway at the University of Illinois. Syngenta, the chemical company that registered the new herbicide, cooperated with U of I researchers to evaluate the product's safety and effectiveness on sweet corn varieties.

Date: May 20, 2003

URBANA -- According to a University of Illinois researcher, setting a threshold for weed tolerance in vegetable crops is the key to helping farmers decide when or even if they should apply herbicides.

"The threshold for controlling insects is determined from performing sweep nets or other means to collect and count insects," said John Masiunas, "but there isn't the same widely-accepted threshold for weeds."

May 20, 2003

URBANA—Recent price strength provides an opportunity for producers to advance sales of both old and new crop corn and soybeans, said a University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist.

“The strong basis in some areas and inverted futures market suggests that all old crop inventory should be sold,” said Darrel Good. “Long positions to speculate on summer weather markets may be less costly in the futures market than in the cash market under the current price structure.

May 16, 2003

URBANA—Neal R. Merchen, who has been on the University of Illinois faculty since 1981, was named Head of the Department of Animal Sciences on May 15 by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Merchen has served as Acting and Interim Head since 2001.

May 14, 2003

URBANA—Total, noncapital living expenses for Illinois farm families rose an average 2.9 percent between 2001 and 2002 and are up 4.5 percent since 2000, according to a University of Illinois Extension study.