Calendar: Beef Field Day at Dixon Springs Ag Center

SIMPSON, Ill. — The 2024 Beef Field Day will be 5 to 7 p.m. July 30 at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, 354 IL-145, Simpson.

The program will focus on research conducted at Dixon Springs that pertains to cow-calf producers as well as highlight a new NRCS program.

Topics will include forage quality and supplementation strategies, an update on beef cattle efficiency, and reproduction.

The program concludes with a complimentary dinner prepared by the Shawnee Beef Association.

To register for this free program or for more information, call 618-695-4917 or email Teresa Steckler at tsteckle@illinois.edu with your name, address, county, phone number and number attending.

Great Annuals

URBANA, Ill. — Champaign County master gardeners and University of Illinois Extension present Great Annuals for Your Garden — Master Gardener Tested, 8:30 a.m. July 29 at the Idea Garden, South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana.

Master Gardener Ann Tice will host an informal chat about some of the new “to-be-released” 2025 annual flowers that a team of Champaign County master gardeners is currently evaluating.

Meal Planning

CLINTON, Ill. — Balancing Blood Sugars: Diabetes Meal Planning will be 2 to 3 p.m. July 29 at Warner Hospital, 422 W. White St., Clinton.

Learn about planning meals that improve blood sugar management, using tools like carbohydrate counting and Plate Method.

Johnnie Mae Farm Tour

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Johnnie Mae Farm, 2518 Winter St., Fort Wayne, is hosting tours as part of Local Food Week at 6 p.m. ET July 29 and July 31. This is a great opportunity to see how produce can be grown in the city and learn about the challenges facing urban food production.

Purdue Extension staff will guide visitors through the history of the farm, a look at the commercial-grade kitchen in the renovated fire station, and finish with a stroll through the farm. Tips for growing in urban areas will be shared along the way.

Register at https://bit.ly/3wURn3t. Questions about the tours can be directed to James Wolff, county Extension director, at jmwolff@purdue.edu or 260-481-6826.

For more information about Johnnie Mae Farm, visit https://www.johnniemaefarm.com.

For more information about Local Food Week activities, visit https://www.neifood.org/news/local-food-week-2024.

Hobo Stew Picnic

ROCKVILLE, Ind. — Hobo Stew Picnic will be featured at the Community Garden Lessons series, 6 p.m. ET July 29 at Parke County Community Garden, 413 S. Hwy. 41, Rockville.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/bp7vbs3z or call 765-569-3176.

Farmer Appreciation Luncheon

SALEM, Ind. — In honor of Washington County farmers, the USDA Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Purdue Extension, and Soil and Water Conservation District are hosting a free Farmer Appreciation Luncheon, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET July 30 at the USDA Service Center, 801 Anson St., Salem.

All farm families are encouraged to attend and enjoy a lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans and sides. An ice cream dessert will be provided by Purdue Extension — Washington County.

Reservations are encouraged, but are not required, by calling 812-883-3006, ext. 3.

Crop Scouting

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Youth Crop Scouting Competition will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 30 at the University of Illinois Crop Sciences Research and Education Center, 4202 S. 1st St., Champaign.

Knowing how to properly scout corn, soybean, or any commercial crop field is essential to understanding plant growth and identifying potential threats to higher yields and overall profitability per acre. The Illinois Youth Crop Scouting Competition is a one-day contest that gives teams of students from across the state the chance to test their knowledge live and in the field.

Student teams of two to five high-school-aged youth with an adult coach rotate through 10 outdoor stations at the University of Illinois South Farm fields to test their skills hands-on with topics such as identifying weeds, insects and diseases, identifying the growth stages of corn and soybean plants, assessing abiotic injury, pesticide application, and integrated pest management.

Teams are scored by judges, including University faculty, graduate students, specialists and Extension educators. There will be cash prizes for the top four scoring teams, and the top two teams will advance to compete against students in other states and represent Illinois at the regional competition.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/c8fwpwc3.

Culinary Herbs

FREEPORT, Ill. — Culinary Herbs 101 will be 1 to 3 p.m. July 31 at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport.

The program will include helpful tips for purchasing and storing herbs. There will be taste samples and recipes to make at home.

Tick Bites

URBANA, Ill. — Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Diseases will be the topic of the online Summer Self-Care series, noon to 1 p.m. July 31.

Attendees will learn about ticks and tick-borne diseases and get tips on protecting ourselves and animals against ticks.

NRCS Field Day

CHICAGO — NRCS Field Day will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 31 at Star Farm, 5156 S. Carpenter St., Chicago.

Meet the NRCS Urban Agriculture field staff, Star Farmers and the U of I Extension Local Foods and Small Farms staff at Star Farm in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. Learn how many conservation practices can be applied to city-scale urban agriculture projects in Cook County.

Fresh Salsa

OTTAWA, Ill. — The program From Garden to Table: Crafting Fresh Salsa will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 31 at the Reddick Library, 1010 Canal St., Ottawa.

Learn about different salsas, such as spicy tomato salsa, salsa verde and sweet mango salsa. Participants will make a recipe in class and take home recipes.

Woody Invasives

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Individual Plant Treatments to Control Woody Invasives will be 2 to 3 p.m. July 31.

One technique used to manage invasive woody plant vegetation is focused, individual plant treatments such as herbicide foliar applications, cut stump, basal bark and injections. These individual plant treatments can be extremely selective, are easy to apply, and can be used nearly year-round.

University of Illinois Forestry Extension and Research Specialist Chris Evans will discuss the methods used for each of the individual plant treatment applications, tips and techniques for success, and common herbicides and tools used with these applications.

Climate Conference

PEORIA, Ill. — The North Central Agriculture and Climate Conference will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1 at the Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave., Peoria.

Extension and agricultural professionals from across the region will spotlight climate adaptation and mitigation research, outreach, and Extension programs.

This is a valuable professional development opportunity for agricultural professionals looking to increase and incorporate climate-smart education and outreach into programming.

The conference is hosted by the North Central Climate Collaborative, USDA Midwest Climate Hub, Extension Foundation, North Central Regional Water Network, and partners.

Herbs and Cut Flowers

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — The Herbs and Cut Flowers Homesteading Workshop will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Jackson County Extension office, 402 Ava Road, Murphysboro.

A flower and herb patch is a great addition to in-town gardens, garden beds and landscapes. Extension Horticulture Educator Chris Leuking will discuss growing flowers and herbs, bed preparation, fertilizer, weed management, and herb and flower varieties.

Grazing School

LOOGOOTEE, Ind. — Indiana Grazing School will be 1 to 6 p.m. ET Aug. 2 and and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Steve J. Stoll farm, 12397 E 500 N, Loogootee.

Livestock producers and forage-input personnel can gain hands-on training on topics that will include soil fertility, water and fencing systems, animal health, and plant identification.

Cost is $80 and includes take-home books and materials, a meal and snacks. Additional registrants from the same operation pay $55.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/mr2d96sb.

County Fairs

July 27-Aug. 3 — Effingham County Fair, 722 E. Cumberland Road, Altamont, Ill.; www.effinghamcountyfair.com; roxiewendling@hotmail.com; 618-267-3395 or 888-854-FAIR.

July 27-Aug. 3 — Fayette County Fair, 2690 N. Park Road, Connersville, Ind.; fayettecountyfreefair@gmail.com; 765-825-1894.

July 27-Aug. 3 — Marion County Fair, 1800 Fairgrounds Road, Salem, Ill.; marioncountyagfair.com; mcagfair@sbcglobal.net; 618-548-1251.

July 28-Aug. 3 — Pulaski County Fair, 497 W. Commercial St., Pulaski, Ill.; www.pulaskicofair.net; pulaskicofair@yahoo.com; 618-976-7819.

July 28-Aug. 4 — Coles County Fair, 63 W. Madison Ave., Charleston, Ill.; www.colescountyfair.com; fairboard@colescountyfair.com; 217-345-2656.

July 28-Aug. 4 — Logan County Fair, 148 Short 11th St., Lincoln, Ill.; www.logancountyfairil.com; fair@logancountyfair.comcastbiz.net; 217-732-3311.

July 29-31 — Tazewell 4-H Show and Jr. Fair, Mineral Springs Park, 1701 Court St., Pekin; 309-347-6614.

July 30-Aug. 4 — Brown County Fair, 39 Fairground St., Mt. Sterling, Ill.; www.browncofair.com; 217-773-3939.

July 30-Aug. 4 — McHenry County Fair, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock, Ill.; www.mchenrycountyfair.com; info@mchenrycountyfair.com, 815-338-5315.

July 31-Aug. 4 — Kankakee County Fair, 213 W 4000 Road S, Kankakee, www.kankakeefair.org, tammy@kankakeefair.org, 815-932-6714.

July 31-Aug. 4 — Ogle County Fair, 1440 N. Limekiln Road, Oregon, Ill.; www.oglecountyfair.com; 815-732-6962.

Aug. 1-4— Jo Daviess County Fair, 101 High St., Warren, Ill.; www.jodaviesscountyfair.org; Jodaviesscountyfair@gmail.com; 815-745-2200.

Aug. 1-4 — Kendall County Fair, 1826 Illinois Route 71, Yorkville, Ill.; www.kendallcountyfair.org; office.kcf@gmail.com; 630-553-2860.

Aug. 1-6 — Bond County Fair, 1224 Midway Drive, Greenville, Ill.; www.bondcofair.com; 618-664-1412.

Aug. 2-11 — Lake County Fair, 889 S. Court St., Crown Point, Ind.; www.lake-county-fair.com; lcfsecretary@lake-county-fair.com; 219-663-3617.

Aug. 2-18 — Indiana State Fair, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, Ind.; www.indianastatefair.com; marketing@indianastatefair.com; 317-927-7500. Closed Mondays.