FREEPORT, Ill.---Join University of Illinois Extension Crop Sciences Educator Kathryn Seebruck for the first year of her series “Farm Forward: Turning Last Season’s Challenges Into Next Season’s Triumphs”. This monthly series aims to address the needs of row crop producers and will be rotated between Jo Daviess and Stephenson counties.

“No two growing seasons are the same; however, lessons learned from previous seasons can be applied in those that follow. This series aims to facilitate discussion of last season’s challenges, uncertainties, and successes and how those insights can be applied in the upcoming growing season, “ states Seebruck.

The series will kick off with “Pest Control Following a Drought” on Thursday, January 18 at 10 a.m. at the Stephenson County Extension Office located in the Community Services Building (Bldg. R) at Highland Community College, 2998 W. Pearl City Rd, Freeport, IL 61032. This series is being offered free of charge, but pre-registration is requested by the day before each program. To register or for more information, please contact the U of I Extension Office at 815-235-4125 or visit us online at go.illinois.edu/jsw.

The 2023 growing season was relatively dry, resulting in low disease pressure and high weed pressure. In this session, we will discuss how last season’s conditions will affect this year’s pest pressures as well as pest management practices to take into consideration.

Additional sessions include “What 2023 Taught us About Fertility” on February 15 at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office and “Planting for a Strong Start” on March 14 at the Stephenson County Extension Office.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to attend this program, please contact the U of I Extension Office at 815-235-4125. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.