As the growing season begins in Illinois, it is not just our crops that will be sprouting. Growers should soon begin monitoring their fields for agricultural weeds and making plans to manage them. What is a weed?A weed is any plant that is growing where it is not wanted. For...
Farmers have a huge role to play in keeping our waters clean. According to the National Water Quality Assessment, agricultural runoff is the leading cause of water quality impacts on rivers and streams. Runoff from agricultural fields often contains nutrients from fertilizers,...
Happy Arbor Day! Every year people around the globe celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees in their communities. To celebrate Arbor Day the ag way, we’re going to discuss how farmers can incorporate trees into their operations (aka agroforestry).Agroforestry is the integration of trees...
Stewardship (noun): the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is celebrating the 68th annual Stewardship Week from April 28th- May 5th, 2024. The NACD...
As the growing season fast approaches, farmers need to prepare for the fertility needs of their crops. While soybeans may not require nitrogen like corn does, this crop has its unique nutrient requirements. In addition to phosphate and potash, soybeans also need sufficient sulfur to...
The Illinois Department of Agriculture has announced the single-day collection sites and dates for the 2024 Pesticide Container Recycling Program. Dates and locations are available on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website's ...
Taking a test can be stressful, but with the right guidance and state of mind, you can set yourself up to be better prepared. The University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program has created a...
The Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) at the University of Illinois has recently expanded our team to include a new instructional designer. This new addition will be responsible for designing and managing the online training courses, managing the online registration system for in-person...
Do you have a pesticide applicator license? If so, how old were you when you first obtained your license? Is it safe to assume that your first applicator license wasn’t as memorable or exciting as getting your first driver’s license? Both licenses come with a significant responsibility and a...
By now, many pesticide users (particularly those who have applied dicamba or 2,4-D on soybean) may have seen newer pesticide label language concerning requirements to protect endangered species. Those who haven’t yet, will soon as this language will be added with new registrations and registration...
