Jordan Catholic School 7th & 8th Grade Science Fair Friday February 22nd, 4-6pm

Over 70 7th & 8th grade students will participate with more than 40 projects displayed. This first round of fair will take place at Jordan on Friday: • 10:00am - 12:30pm: Judging- judging teams are composed of engineers from John Deere, St. Ambrose and Augustana faculty and students, as well as science degreed professionals.

• 1:15pm to 2:50pm: Open to the Jordan student and faculty
• 4:00pm to 6:00pm: Open to the public

Students may earn an opportunity to compete in the regional tournament in March at Western
Illinois University, and then to the Illinois State Science Fair in May at University of Illinois.

WACO - Dr. Joe Outlaw, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist, predicts cuts will be forthcoming to federal farm programs in the future. But until then, farmers will operate under the 2008 Farm Bill this year receiving a direct payment on eligible crops.

The 2008 Farm Bill was extended by Congress in January, said Outlaw, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University in College Station. He told producers at the recent Blackland Income Growth Conference the current farm programs could be altered or possibly go away and be replaced by insurance programs.

Though no specific farm bill discussion is alive among Congressional lawmakers, Outlaw said possible drafts exist in both the House and Senate.

The 2008 Farm Bill was extended by Congress in January. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin)

Farmers have an opportunity to sign up for the direct and countercyclical payment, known as DCP, or the Average Crop Revenue Election, or ACRE, program beginning Feb. 19, Outlaw said. The sign-up for ACRE ends June 3, and DCP sign-up ends Aug. 2.

Future farm programs and the safety nets will likely "shift to more insurance tools," Outlaw said. To be considered for direct payments, farmers must sign up by the deadline.

"After that, there's less likely subsequent impact" on what farmers could receive with regards to price support payments, Outlaw said. The farm bill extension passed in January prevented milk prices from skyrocketing. There were several programs part of the 2008 Farm Bill that did not receive extensions, including bioenergy and beginning farmer and rancher programs. Outlaw said farmers will need to study both the ACRE program and DCP to see how they compare.

"We have had a lot of questions," he said. "We have a lot of questions about how it will work this time."

He said farmers should look at the lower level of payment with ACRE and evaluate the advantages. For cotton, with a support price of about 71 cents a pound, farmers need to consider the 20 percent loss of the direct payment with ACRE and ask if the ACRE benefits can make that up.

"We can help farmers determine the best option," Outlaw said.

To assist farmers, the Agricultural and Food Policy Center has tools available at http://afpc.tamu.edu/. Staff is also available to answer questions and help farmers evaluate alternatives, Outlaw said.

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The Institute of Industrial Engineers is proud to sponsor the 6^th Annual TRIVIA NIGHT 

For reservations, by February 20^th - text or phone Bonnie at 563-340-3270 OR email at ThiedeBonnieJ@yahoo.com

Please specify team's name, captain, # of players, contact telephone number, and email address.

Checks can be made payable to: IIE Ch. 46

Reserve early, but you can pay at the door.

Davenport, IA/February 20, 2013 - Chad Pregracke's Quad Cities-based environmental group needs volunteers for the MillionTrees project which improves the health of rivers in the Midwest, by re-establishing hardwoods that have been depleted by over-harvesting, flooding and disease.   Living Lands & Waters, an East Moline, Illinois non-profit organization is planning to distribute its 500,000th tree this spring.

Tree wrapping events will occur at the following location from 9am to 5pm Thursday, March 28th through Sunday, March 31st:

QCCA Expo Center, North Hall, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island, IL

Volunteers, including families with children, are invited to take part in tree wrapping events being held at the end of March. Registration is not required, but recommended, especially for groups of 10 or more.  Volunteers can come and go as you please; stay for one hour, a couple hours or all day.  For questions or to register, please contact Ashley at Ashley@livinglandsandwaters.org or at 309.737.5913.

Volunteers will be asked to help with the following:  bundling trees in newspaper, dipping roots in water, placing trees in bags, and/or tying. Participating children MUST be supervised.  Volunteers are asked to wear warm and comfortable clothes that can get dirty.

Trees provide shelter and nut-bearing hardwoods are a viable food source for wildlife and migratory birds.  Slow-growing hardwoods like oaks have a harder time re-establishing themselves without help, and are often crowded out by faster growing species, like cottonwoods, willow and silver maples. Re-establishing hardwoods helps increase biodiversity, reduce erosion and run-off and improve water and air quality.

Trees will be distributed in April to individuals, families, schools, park districts, businesses and organizations throughout 10 states.  The goal of the MillionTrees Project is to grow and plant 1 MILLION trees.

Anyone interested in volunteering may contact MillionTrees Project Coordinator, Ashley Stover at Ashley@livinglandsandwaters.org or at 309.737.5913. More information on the MillionTrees Project can be found at www.livinglandsandwaters.org/get-involved/million-trees

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