Out Standing in the Field

Here is the drought map for Illinois - http://bit.ly/2tQS3Em. Notice that yellow swath with DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties right in the middle? Extension Educator Doug Gucker talks about what drought conditions mean for crops as well as a rally in prices, herbicide drift, pests and upcoming Extension events. Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug

Extension Educator Doug Gucker talks corn! This week he's covering everything from foliar diseases to redundant fungicide applications to how deep corn roots grow as well as insect issues with forage. Subscribe to his blog Acres of Knowledge for updates on Central Illinois farming: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

Extension Educator Doug Gucker hits on current crop conditions, herbicide, forage quality and upcoming programs, including a noxious weeds program at the University of Illinois. Follow him on twitter @soilwaterdoug or check out his blog Acres of Knowledge at web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/

It's been a wet spring here in Central Illinois. Extension Educator Doug Gucker breaks down what that means for crop emergence and uneven stands, spring diseases and haymakers.

Grain prices are still low while water levels are rising in fields. Local Food Systems & Small Farms Educator Doug Gucker covers what you need to know about both as well as checking fields for insects in the May edition of Out Standing in the Field. Follow him on Twitter at @soilwaterDoug.

Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator Doug Gucker is back at it again with information on the 2017 corn and soybean price outlook, a warning about grain bin temperatures and tips for using using herbicide, especially dicamba. Follow him on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or his blog "Acres of Knowledge" at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb263/.

It may feel like winter, but we're gearing up for spring in this month's Out Standing in the Field. Extension Educator Doug Gucker is talking about potential freeze damage to wheat crops and fruit trees, a new study showing palmar amarath can become resistant to the herbicide Dicamba in as little as three years and being careful if you plan on double planting your soybeans.

The calendar says February, but the ground hasn't been frozen in Central Illinois since January 10 so we're looking ahead to spring and the possibility of an El Nino. Local Food Systems, Small Farms Educator Doug Gucker talks 2017 soybean price expectations, an update to phosphorus and potassium recommendations for corn, soybeans and wheat and the total solar eclipse in Southern Illinois in August.

• Agriculture Economist Todd Hubb's 2017 Soybean Prospects report: bit.ly/2kRVgvC

Events

• Private Applicator Testing, February 27 in Decatur: bit.ly/2lTgHR4

• Illinois Beef Expo, February 23-26 in Springfield: illinoisbeefexpo.com

• Illinois Forage Institute, March 1 in Macomb: www.illinoisforage.org/

• Total solar eclipse on August 21: eclipsewise.com/oh/ec2017.html

In this month's Out Standing in the Field, Educator Doug Gucker is talking about a new University of Illinois study about growing herbicide resistance in Illinois fields (http://bit.ly/2jVbvHP), grain bin safety with fluctuating winter temperatures and what NOAA has to do with Ground Hog's Day.

It may be the dead of winter but there's a lot going on Central Illinois agriculture. Local Foods/Small Farms University of Illinois Extension Educator Doug Gucker talks about some 2017 law changes to worker protection standards and the FDA vet feed directive and upcoming events.

Learn more about the new worker Protection Standard Rules in 2017 on Doug's "Acres of Knowledge" blog: bit.ly/2j1y1yU. Yuu can find the WPS reference guide mentioned in this podcast here: bit.ly/2crCg67.

January 14 4-H Cattle Clinic in Blue Mound details: bit.ly/2igeTvk. Call 217.622.4466 to register

The small farms Winter Webinar series starts January 19. Topics include Stawberry Plasticulture, Food Safety, Beekeeping and more. Find a full listing and registration details here: bit.ly/2gJ5DE9

Follow Doug on Twitter @soilwaterdoug or find more local food systems and small farms news and programs at facebook.com/UIExtenDMPLocalFoodSmallFarms.