Out Standing in the Field

Extension Educator Doug Gucker talks about the looming crop insurance deadline and factors that might influence your choice, rallying grain prices and new regulations with Dicamba tolerant soybeans.

Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

This month Extension Educator Doug Gucker discusses current trends in marketing, how 2018 will treat grain farmers and skills resilient farm managers need.

And to wrap it all up Illinois Extension is back at it again with its Small Farms Winter Webinar Series starting in January. Details and classes here: goo.gl/sDSo7i.

We are also hosting Annies Project on March 6 with a focus on Know Your Numbers. Check out go.illinois.edu/dmp for more details soon.

Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

Deck the halls with news of NAFTA. Extension Educator Doug Gucker isn't usually a grinch, but he doesn't have good news when it comes to how the trade agreement may affect farmers. And small farmers who sell direct to consumers need to take heed new Food Safety Modernization Act exemption rules.

And to wrap it all up Illinois Extension is back at it again with its Small Farms Winter Webinar Series starting in January. Details and classes here: https://goo.gl/sDSo7i.

Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

The rain Central Illinois has been waiting on finally came and with it wet soils and the possibility of compaction. Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator Doug Gucker talks about that and soil temperatures and fall nitrogen, the winter weather outlook and pesticide applicator training programs.

Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

Central Illinois got some much-needed rain the first week of October which gave farmers a bit of a break from the 2017 harvest which is halfway complete. In this issue, Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator Doug Gucker discusses soil testing, cover crops and new decreased fertlizer recommendations.

Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

Harvest is underway in Central Illinois. Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator Doug Gucker is talking about field conditions, a growing number of stink bugs and what a dry fall has to do with tractor maintenance and insurance.

Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

It's harvest season, which means farmers and vehicles are sharing the road. Extension Educator Doug Gucker provides guidelines on rural road safety from leaving plenty of room when passing to making sure SMV emblems on equipment are visible. Also in this episode, moderate drought conditions in Central Illinois (map: https://goo.gl/QCN1wc. ) and how crops are responding.

Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

In Illinois, 75% of farmland is owned by non-farming landowners. University of Illinois Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator Doug Gucker talks about what farmers in Central Illinois need to know about this year's projected yields to renegotiate effectively.

Don't forget the solar eclipse is Monday, August 21. Miss out on getting a pair of glasses? Here's a video on how to make a pinhole projector to watch! https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/how-make-pinhole-projector-view-solar-eclipse

Moving into August, Extension Educator Doug Gucker touches on field conditions for corn and soybeans in Central Illinois, market price expectations and how to give input for the Illinois Farm Bill. He's also thinking ahead to later this month when Extension will be at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur and the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

Follow him on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

Extension's Doug Gucker is talking all about the weather this week from heavy dew mornings and how a wet spring followed by a dry stretch means corn is shorter than normal in parts of Central Illinois. He touches on crop progress and prices.

Follow him on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or subscribe to his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.