Register for 2016 Illinois Farm Economics Summit

Speakers from the University of Illinois farmdoc team will explore the farm profitability outlook and management challenges from several perspectives at the 2016 Illinois Farm Economics Summit, called The Profitability of Illinois Agriculture: The Margin Squeeze Continues.

Dates and locations:
Dec. 12: iHotel and Conference Center, Champaign
Dec. 13: Faranda’s Banquet Center, DeKalb
Dec. 14: Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino, Peoria
Dec. 15: Crowne Plaza, Springfield
Dec. 16: Holiday Inn, Mount Vernon

FARM ECONOMICS SUMMIT: The University of Illinois farmdoc team will present on topics including: a commodity outlook for 2017, farm financials, farmland leases, the farm bill, ag credit and weather trends.

Presentations include:
• Agricultural Commodity Price Outlook for 2017
• Farm Financial Management in Challenging Times
• Farmland Leases: A Reset Needed
• Farm Bill Program Update and Outlook
• Agricultural Credit Market Update
• Long-Term Weather and Yield Trends for Corn and Soybeans

Meetings are schedule for 7:45 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. There will be a question-and-answer session and lunch (included) following the presentations. The registration fee for each location is $70 per person. Save $5 by registering online for $65. This fee includes all meeting materials, break refreshments and lunch. Registration at the door will be $75 per person, as space permits.

Registration deadline is Dec. 5.

Disease management in organic crops webinar

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, disease management in organic farming is largely based on the maintenance of biological diversity and soil health by balanced crop rotations, including nitrogen fixing and cover crops, intercrops, additions of manure and compost, and reductions in soil tillage.

An upcoming webinar will look at some cultural and nonchemical options that organic growers have for foliar and soilborne disease management. James Theuri and Laurie George, Extension educators, will discuss disease management in organic crops.

The online webinar will be presented on Dec.14 from noon to 1 p.m. CST. There is no cost to attend the program, but pre-registration is required by Dec. 12 for participants to receive webinar access information. Call 815-933-8337, or register online.

Springfield Plastics donates Drain for the Cure proceeds

Springfield Plastics donated $54,000 to the Simmons Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University in Springfield following its third annual Drain for the Cure campaign. Drain for the Cure started in 2014 in an effort to raise money for cancer research.

The Simmons Cancer Institute serves cancer patients by addressing their present and future cancer care needs through medical education, biomedical research, patient care and community service.