By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Certified crop advisers who attend the Illinois Conservation Expo 2007 will be eligible to receive 2.5 hours of Continuing Education Credit in Soil and Water Management, said University of Illinois Extension educator Bob Frazee of East Peoria.

“I just received word the Conservation Tour has been approved,” Frazee told Farm World on Friday.

“Usually this (accreditation) process takes four to six weeks. Continuing Education credit hours in Soil and Water Management are more difficult for Certified Crop Advisers to obtain. With this accreditation, hopefully, the Conservation Expo 2007 will attract more seed, chemical, fertilizer and agribusinesses who will attend to learn more about conservation structures and practices and to receive continuing education credits.”

Conservation Expo 2007 will be Aug. 21-23 and is a showcase for the construction and exhibition of conservation and land improvement practices and equipment.

This year’s host is the Richard and Robert Lasser farm in Colfax, Ill.

Throughout the event, tours will be conducted to showcase eight conservation practices and structures: Pond Construction, Wetland Restoration, Field Borders/Wildlife Food Plots, Filter Strips, Grassed Waterways, Stream Monitoring/Water Quality, Soils Demonstration and New Septic Systems Installation.

Tour guides will be present to discuss installation techniques, cost of construction and benefits to the landowner and the watershed.
The hours of the Conservation Tour are Aug. 21-22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Aug. 23, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“There is no admission charge, and everyone is welcome to attend including landowners, farmers, agribusinesses, conservationists, planners and the general public,” said Frazee.

Food and drink concessions will be available at the show site.
For more information, see the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Assoc.’s website at www.ilica.net or contact Janet Burtle-Doubet of ILICA at 309-446-3700, the McLean County Soil & Water Conservation District at 309-452-0830 or Frazee at 309-694-7501, ext. 226.

This farm news was published in the June 27, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.