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"Using the latest digital equipment,
the staff at local offices can take high-quality images of the plant
and pest problems," said Dennis Bowman, project coordinator and crop
systems educator at the Champaign Extension Center. "The images,
along with information about the problem, are then submitted to the
appropriate experts. Last year, more than 20 percent of the samples
were diagnosed within two hours of submission and nearly 75 percent
within 48 hours."
Bowman notes that the service is now in
its third year of statewide operations and is provided free through
the local Extension offices.
"In 2002, more than 700 people in every
part of the state received answers to their plant and pest problems
through the Distance Diagnostics System," Bowman said. "We have more
than 50 Extension educators, specialists and U of I faculty
available through this system to provide their diagnosis for almost
every problem."
He points out this imaging technology
allows every Extension office in the state to have almost instant
access to the diagnostic skills of those experts.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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"We have an unsurpassed range of
available experts," Bowman said. "The group includes highly trained
specialists with expertise in field crops, forage crops, turf,
fruits, commercial vegetables and home pest problems."
He adds that the system has been
further upgraded this year to provide even better service to
Extension clients.
"The changes
include improved systems reports and added printer-friendly forms
that will speed up the process," Bowman said. "Other internal
upgrades allow for a better search function and improved
notification of undiagnosed samples. As a result, we are now
responding faster than ever with answers to the many plant and pest
problems that people submit to us."
[University
of Illinois news release]
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Gardner, who is a distinguished
university professor and chair in the Agricultural and Resource
Economics Department at the University of Maryland, is a former
president of the American Agricultural Economics Association and
received the group's Distinguished Policy Contribution Award in
1994. He also served as USDA assistant secretary for economics from
1989 to 1991. Gardner is not related to Leonard and Lila Gardner.
After earning his undergraduate degree
at the U of I in 1964, Gardner received his Ph.D. in economics from
the University of Chicago. He is the author of numerous books and
articles, including "American Agriculture in the Twentieth Century:
How it Flourished and What it Cost," published in 2002 by Harvard
University Press.
The lecture
is free and open to the public.
[University of Illinois news
release] |
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"The attitude about 2003 corn and
soybean production prospects has recently shifted from concern about
extensive dryness to expectations of improved moisture conditions,
expanded corn acreage and large crops in 2003," said Darrel Good.
Good's comments came as he reviewed
corn and soybean price patterns. During the first half of the
2002-03 marketing year, these prices were in a relatively narrow
trading range. Some additional and more detailed observations can
now be made about the price patterns of old and new crop corn and
soybean prices to date.
Since Sept. 1, 2002, the average spot
cash price of corn in central Illinois has had a trading range of
$0.565 per bushel. That figure is within the trading range
experienced over the previous 29 years, although at the low end of
the historical range. The smallest trading range was $0.445, in
1990-91, and the trading range was 60 cents or less in seven other
years, most recently 2000-01.
"Both the high price ($2.785) and the
low price ($2.22) to date are the highest since 1996-97 but are well
within the experience of the previous 29 years," said Good. "The one
unusual feature of the price pattern so far is that the post-harvest
low occurred in January. A post-harvest low occurred in January only
one other time in the previous 29 years (1979-80)."
The December 2003 corn futures contract
has a life-of-contract high of $2.69 and a life-of-contract low of
$2.35, for a trading range of 34 cents. Since 1973, the December
futures contract has not had a trading range of less than 54 cents
and has had a range of less than 70 cents only six times, most
recently for the 1994 contract. The high price to date ($2.35) is at
the low end of historical experience. Since 1973, the contract high
was less than $2.75 only in 1986 and 1987 ($2.3525 and $2.16,
respectively).
"The low price to date ($2.35) is at
the high end of historical experience," said Good. "Since 1973, the
contract low for December futures was $2.35 or more only seven
times, most recently for the 1995 contract."
Based only on historical patterns, it
might be expected that the average central Illinois spot cash price
of corn would establish a new low before Aug. 31, 2003.
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"On the other hand, December 2003
futures might be expected to establish a new high and a new low
before maturity in mid-December," said Good. "Such a development
could likely be generated only by significant swings in weather and
crop prospects."
Since Sept. 1, 2002, the average spot
cash price of soybeans in central Illinois has been between $5.895
and $5.01. The range of 88½ cents is at the low end of ranges
experienced since 1973-74. The smallest range was 61½ cents in
1985-86, followed by 91½ cents in 1991-92. Recently, the smallest
range was $1.055 in 2000-01. Both the highest cash price and lowest
cash price to date are well within the historical range but at the
highest level since 1997-98.
The November 2003 soybean futures
contract has a life-of-contract high of $5.43 and a life-of-contract
low of $4.53. The trading range of 90 cents is the smallest of the
past 30 years. The previous smallest range was 91¼ cents for the
1986 contract, followed by $1.16¾ for the 1995 contract. Since 1996,
the range has varied from $1.62½ in 2002 to $2.40 in 1996.
The life-of-contract high to date
($5.43) is the lowest experienced in modern history (post-1973). The
previous low was $5.565 for the 1986 contract, followed by $5.91 for
the 2002 contract. The contract high for November futures has been
lower every year since 1996. The life-of-contract low to date
($4.53) is well within the historical range but is the highest since
1997.
"Again, based on historical patterns
alone, it might be expected that the average central Illinois spot
cash price of soybeans would have an expanded trading range prior to
Aug. 31, 2003," said Good. "Similarly, it might be expected that
November 2003 soybean futures would have an expanded trading range
prior to contract maturity in mid-November.
"History
does not provide much insight on which direction the range might be
expanded, except that the life-of-contract high to date for November
2003 futures is extremely low, even factoring in the influence of
South American production. An expanded trading range for soybean
prices could be generated by a number of factors, but the most
likely factor will be 2003 U.S. crop prospects."
[University
of Illinois news release]
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Contact the Extension office at (217)
732-8289 to make a reservation, and you will receive more detailed
information about the program.
[photos courtesy of John Fulton]
Soybean cyst nematode clinic
In order to help producers determine
levels of infestation with soybean cyst nematode, a soil evaluation
clinic is scheduled for March 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Extension
office. The clinic will focus on soil analysis of samples brought in
by clientele.
Producers may submit up to two samples
for free analysis. Additional samples will cost $5 each. Samples
should be taken like soil fertility samples: depth of 6-7 inches,
subsamples pulled from field, and enough final sample to fill half
of a small lunch bag. If you are unsure of how to break down fields,
I would recommend that you submit samples for areas that you are
willing to manage separately. This means acreage blocks that you are
willing to plant resistant varieties on.
Please feel free to contact the
Extension office at 732-8289 with any questions that you might have.
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Certification for private pesticide applicators
Logan County has now completed its
second and final clinic for the year for private pesticide
applicators. Those still needing to attend a clinic have just a few
options left for this year:
March 4 -- Macon County, Extension
office, 6 p.m.; training and testing
March 7 -- Menard County, Extension
office, 10 a.m.; testing only
March 10 -- DeWitt County, Farmer City,
6 p.m.; training and testing
The only
other option is to make an appointment, drive to Springfield and
take the exam at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Call
(217)785-2427 for an appointment. The last word was that they were
backed up about a month on appointments.
[John
Fulton]
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