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Features
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Beef
cow nutrition workshop
[NOV.
11, 2002]
Cow-calf producers can
obtain feed analysis on their feedstuffs by contacting the Logan
County Extension office. Forage sample bags and mailing envelopes
are available for sending the forage samples to a forage lab for
analysis. There is a small charge from the laboratory for the forage
analysis, and a Penn State forage probe will be available to take
core samples for mailing to a forage testing lab.
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A two-hour workshop will cover the
nutritional needs of the cow and the effect of body condition
scoring and environmental conditions on reproduction and production.
In addition, individual producers can have their rations balanced on
the new "Balancer 2000 Computer Program," using the analysis of
their individual feedstuffs. These individual sessions will be on an
appointment basis and must be made through the Extension office.
Dave Seibert, animal systems educator from the East Peoria office,
will conduct the educational program and computer ration
formulation. Participants should also complete an information
worksheet for the Balancer 2000 program to get the most of the
workshop.
Preregistration is needed; call
732-8289 by Dec. 12.
Fall-applied herbicides roundtable
George Czapar, Extension educator, will
be leading a roundtable discussion concerning fall-applied
herbicides for control of winter annuals and how it fits into your
traditional herbicide program. Data from university research will be
presented, along with an opportunity to share experiences and get
answers to questions. Reservations are requested; call 732-8289 by
Nov. 18.
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Private pesticide training and testing
2003 will be a big year concerning the
number of private pesticide applicators due to be recertified.
Certification is needed to purchase and apply restricted-use
pesticides on ground you own or operate. This license is not for
applicators applying pesticides for hire, on public grounds or
church grounds. Those areas require commercial licenses.
Two sessions have been scheduled for
the testing season. Enrollment is limited at each session, and
reservations may be made by calling the office, 732-8289. Training
will begin at 8:30 a.m. at each session, and the testing will begin
following the training session.
Session 1: Dec. 4, at the
Extension office; training begins at 8:30 a.m.
Session 2:
Feb. 20, 2003, at the Extension office; training begins at 8:30 a.m.
[John
Fulton]
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Grazing pasture walks
announced
[NOV.
9, 2002]
URBANA — Central Illinois
livestock producers will have four opportunities this month to see
how others are extending the grazing season to reduce feed cost and
to stretch seed supplies in a series of pasture walks sponsored by
University of Illinois Extension.
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"These pasture walks have been planned
to view beef cattle grazing winter annual cereal crops of rye, wheat
and oats along with the brassicas of turnips," said Dave Seibert, U
of I Extension animal systems educator based in East Peoria. "In
addition, stockpiled fescue will be viewed at some of the
operations."
The dates and locations are:
• Nov. 12, 9-11 a.m., Mike
and Troy Kitley farm in Clay County.
• Nov. 14, 9-11 a.m.,
Bruce Betzold farm, Montgomery County.
• Nov. 21, 9:30-11:30
a.m., Southside Stock Farm, Greene County.
• Nov. 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m.,
Paul and Jason Smith farm, Macoupin County.
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"The beef cattle producers from all
four locations will share their experience with fellow producers on
what has and has not worked this year with winter annuals and for
fall and winter grazing," said Seibert.
For more
information on the Kitley and Betzold pasture walks, contact Ed
Ballard, U of I Extension animal systems educator based in
Effingham, at (217) 347-5126. For the Smith and Southside Stock farm
pasture walks, contact Seibert at (309) 694-7501. Preregistration is
not required for any of the locations.
[U of I news release] |
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2002 Illinois Sheep
Industry Day set
Coffee will be served as sheep are counted
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[NOV.
9, 2002]
URBANA — A number of
issues of interest to Illinois sheep producers, including grazing,
value-added wool and changes in the state’s scrapie control program,
will be on the agenda Dec. 7 at the 2002 Illinois Sheep Industry
Day. The event will be in Room 150 of the University of Illinois
Animal Sciences Laboratory.
The event is co-sponsored by U of I
Extension, the Department of Animal Sciences, and the Illinois Lamb
and Wool Producers. The latter organization will have its annual
meeting at the conclusion of the Sheep Industry Day program.
The event begins at 9 a.m. and
continues until 3 p.m., at which time the Illinois Lamb and Wool
Producers will \meet.
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Neal Merchen, acting head of the
Department of Animal Sciences, will speak on the future of the U of
I sheep facilities and programs. Rick Jones, designated
epidemiologist for Illinois, will discuss changes in the state’s
scrapie program. Dean Oswald, U of I Extension animal systems
educator based in Macomb, will provide an update on the value-added
wool program. Richard Cobb will introduce Extension’s sheep grazing
TeleNet series, and Jay Solomon, an Extension educator in
engineering technology based in East Peoria, will discuss the
mechanics of grazing.
Cobb will also make a presentation on
developing methods and strategies to handle sheep more easily and
safely.
There is a
$10 per person registration fee, which includes lunch. Those
interested in registering, which must be completed by Nov. 29,
should contact Cobb at (217) 333-7351 or by e-mail to arcobb@uiuc.edu.
[U of I news release] |
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Weekly outlook
Soybean
price strength
changes marketing strategies
[NOV.
5, 2002]
URBANA — Three weeks
ago, when the cash price of soybeans was near the CCC loan rate, the
recommended marketing strategy was to store soybeans and place them
under loan in order to generate cash flow and provide downside price
protection. With rising soybean prices, however, that recommendation
has changed.
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"Now that the cash
price of soybeans is well above the loan rate, the loan price
provides less protection from lower prices," said Darrel Good,
University of Illinois Extension economist. "So one alternative
would be to buy put options, thereby protecting the current price of
soybeans stored on the farm. Nearest-the-money March put options,
for example, have a premium of about 22 cents. Owning the put
options would still allow producers to participate in higher prices
but would provide protection from lower futures prices in the form
of an increased premium. In addition, producers could collect
marketing loan gains, should the price drop below loan value."
Good says another
alternative is to sell cash beans at the higher prices now being
offered. Then, if you expected higher prices, you could purchase
call options to replace the cash inventory.
Several key factors
have led to the recent price recovery of soybeans, especially the
unchanged U.S. production forecast in the USDA’s October Crop
Production Report.
"This report
confirmed the need to reduce consumption of U.S. soybeans during the
current marketing year. Less-than-ideal weather conditions in some
areas of South America have delayed plantings somewhat and raised
questions about the potential size of the 2003 harvest. Two
consecutive weeks of large export sales of U.S. soybeans were also
price supportive," Good said.
For the year, the
USDA has projected that the shortfall in U.S. production will play
out in the form of reduced exports.
"At 850 million
bushels, the projection of exports for the current marketing year is
20.2 percent less than the current estimate of exports during the
2001-02 marketing year. Through the first nine weeks of the 2002-03
marketing year, cumulative export inspections are 15 percent less
than during the same period last year, with almost all of the
decline being in shipments to the European Union," Good said.
"As of Oct. 24,
however, unshipped sales of U.S. soybeans totaled 307 million
bushels, only five million (1.6 percent) less than outstanding sales
of a year ago. Sales to the European Union are still relatively
small, but sales to China and unknown destinations (perhaps China)
are 39 percent larger than at this time last year. The recent jump
in export sales of U.S. soybeans and the slow start to the South
American planting season may be related."
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this article]
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Most of the recent
increase in soybean prices has resulted from higher prices of
soybean oil, according to Good.
"On a close-to-close
basis, the December 2002 soybean meal futures price increased $5.60
per ton (3.4 percent) from Oct. 9 to Nov. 1. In contrast, the
December 2002 soybean oil futures price increased by .0265 cents per
pound (13.8 percent). Compared to prices on the same date last year,
the average cash price of soybeans in central Illinois on Nov. 1 was
35 percent higher, the average price of soybean meal in central
Illinois (rail, 48 percent protein) was 1.8 percent lower, and the
average price of soybean oil (crude, central Illinois) was 50
percent higher.
"Soybean oil prices
are continuing to recover from the 30-year low established in
February 2001 as production of competing oilseeds declines and U.S.
and world inventories of soybean oil are being reduced. The
expectations of declining consumption of U.S. soybean meal this
year, and the resulting smaller crush, should result in further
reductions in soybean oil stocks."
The direction of
soybean prices over the next few months will be dictated by a
combination of the rate of U.S. export sales, the development of the
South American crop and the size of the USDA’s November forecast for
the U.S. crop.
"Low prices in the
face of a smaller U.S. crop were based on the expectation that South
America would be able to fill the gap left by the shortfall in U.S.
production. While that may still happen, there is less certainty now
than a month ago. The size of the shortfall in U.S. production is
still uncertain. The USDA will release a new forecast of the size of
the U.S. harvest on Nov. 12. There is some expectation that the crop
size will be increased in that report. In recent history, the
November forecast has been above the October forecast about 65
percent of the time," Good said.
Good emphasizes that there is really no
way to predict the exact outcome of these reports.
[U
of I news release]
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Farm
decision workshop
[NOV.
5, 2002]
URBANA — Addressing
decision-making challenges in a risky environment is the theme of a
University of Illinois Extension workshop to be offered at four
locations in December. "Farm Income 2003" will be offered Dec. 10 at
Mount Vernon, Dec. 11 at Springfield, Dec. 12 at Rochelle and Dec.
17 at Urbana. The workshops run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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"Recent farm income variability, the
implementation of a new farm bill, an uncertain economic outlook and
continued competition in the world market provide significant
challenges for farm and farm-related business managers," said Darrel
Good, U of I Extension marketing specialist who is organizing the
workshop.
Good said the workshop will consist of
three general sessions — "Illinois Farm Income Situation," "Outlook
for Commodity Prices" and "Which America Will Produce Soybeans?" —
and four breakout sessions.
"One of the breakout sessions addresses
farm land lease options and will provide an overview of trends in
farmland leases, issues associated with alternative leases and an
evaluation of lease alternatives," said Good.
"The second breakout will address a
number of new developments and pressing issues in agricultural
policy and law, including elevator failure, genetically engineered
crops and impact of the farm bill.
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"The third breakout deals with crop
insurance and will help producers make an informed decision on crop
insurance.
"The final breakout will address issues
such as assessing producer marketing performance and development of
successful approaches to marketing grain."
Presenters include Good and U of I
colleagues in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics:
Dale Lattz, Gary Schnitkey, Robert Hauser, Donald Uchtmann, Bruce
Sherrick and Scott Irwin.
Preregistration is $25 per person, and registration at the door is
$30, as space permits. The fee covers handout materials, coffee
breaks and lunch. Registration can be completed online at
http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu,
or a registration brochure can be obtained from the local U of I
Extension office. Questions can be directed to Darrel Good at (217)
333-4716 or
d-good@uiuc.edu.
[U of I news release] |
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Honors
& Awards
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Ag
Announcements
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Olympia FFA Alumni news
[NOV.
8, 2002]
What do a tree, a chain saw
and a TV have in common? The Olympia FFA Alumni chapter is selling
raffle tickets for these items. The low-priced tickets provide a
chance at a 36-inch Zenith color TV, a Stihl Farm Boss chain saw and
a 1.5- to 3-inch diameter sunset red maple tree.
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The chapter draws in members from
McLean, Tazewell, Woodford, DeWitt and Logan counties.
Proceeds from the raffle will help
support the agriculture program of the Olympia School District.
The drawing for the items will be Jan.
11, 2003, which is the tentative date for the FFA alumni banquet.
For more
information on purchasing a raffle ticket or about the FFA Alumni
chapter, contact any member of the chapter or call (309) 379-5911.
[News
release] |
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