June 24, 2003

URBANA—Developments in other areas of the world, in addition to the United States, will be potentially important for the demand for U.S. corn and soybean crops as current forecasts suggest reasonable chances for at least trend-line corn and soybean yields this year, said a University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist.

June 20, 2003

URBANA—Agricultural producers seeking to market crops whose value hinges on identity preservation need to understand the needs of those who are buying them, according to a recent University of Illinois study.

June 18, 2003

URBANA—A recent study by University of Illinois Extension answers the often-asked question: do large grain farms have lower per acre costs than smaller grain farms. The answer, according to Gary Schnitkey, the study’s co-author, is yes, up to about 1,000 acres.

June 18, 2003

URBANA - The possibility of unintended effects occurring in plants produced using biotechnology has generated fear, doubts and opposition. And even though biotechnology has been around for some 10,000 years, its use in crops, particularly those that will ultimately become food on our table, is suspect to some.

June 17, 2003

URBANA—As he cleans out his files after 33 years at the University of Illinois, rural sociology professor Andrew Sofranko comes across items that indicate the more things change, the more they stay the same.

“I was looking at some records from the 1970 U.S. Census, which indicated that there were just over 100,000 farms in Illinois. The question at that time was ‘what can we do to save the family farm?’ According to the latest Census, we have about 71,000 farms in Illinois and, after a hiatus, we are back to asking these questions again.”

June 17, 2003

URBANA--The West Nile virus will soon become more active in Illinois. Although only two infected birds have been found so far this year, it is time to start taking precautions to protecting yourself from this virus that killed 64 people in Illinois in 2002, said a University of Illinois entomologist.

June 16, 2003

URBANA - Illinois has seen a major decline in the populations of grassland birds and other upland wildlife over the last 30 years, according to Richard E. Warner, researcher at the University of Illinois and director of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. He explained that agricultural land use has changed substantially in the past 100 years, contributing to the pronounced declines.

June 10, 2003

URBANA--Growing and marketing small grains will be the focus of the Small Grains Twilight Field Day on June 24 at the Northern Illinois Agronomy Research Station, 14509 University Rd in Shabbona.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a light supper, while Jim Quinton, director of the Illinois Wheat Association, provides a "Small Grains Market Outlook." Michael Richolson, district conservationist, for the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, will discuss "Fitting Small Grains into the Farm Bill."

June 11, 2003

The Illinois Watershed Management Clearinghouse has just unveiled a new website. Combing the resources of University of Illinois Extension, Illinois EPA, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and C-FAR this new website promises to provide a one stop location for those interested in Illinois watersheds and their management.

"We wanted to make it simple and easy to navigate for those looking for information," said Susan Meeker, University of Illinois Extension Educator. "Now people can go to one place."

June 9, 2003

URBANA—Using options to manage summer price risk in soybeans is one alternative producers could consider as there is potential for much lower prices should a favorable growing season unfold, said a University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist.