As producers get those tractors and combine put away for the winter, a University of Illinois Extension Educator is reminding producers to make sure those storage units have protections from rodents.

Small Farms Educator and agronomist Doug Gucker is reminding producers that rodents are especially drawn to the cables of those large pieces of machinery and can do some serious damage if precautions aren't taken.

Gucker reminds to get those bait stations set up soon and if you have small animals like cats, get them in those barns to prevent the rodents from doing a lot of damage that will hold up that spring field work cycle.

As the anhydrous applications begin, producers will soon begin turning their attention to the winter meeting season with things like the Greater Peoria Farm Show right after Thanksgiving and then the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.