Co-ops launch new Internet domain — .coop

one member. one vote. one domain.

A new top-level Internet domain (TLD) .coop has been established exclusively for cooperatives. Illinois Country Living magazine has switched to this new domain name — www.icl.coop. Some Illinois co-ops are also switching to this new domain name including the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives — www.aiec.coop.

.Coop helps differentiate co-op businesses from a sea of .coms and .orgs. Only cooperatives, cooperative support organizations and businesses owned by cooperatives are eligible to register under .coop.

Cooperatives are autonomous businesses owned and democratically controlled by their members, not by investors. Unlike investor-owned businesses, cooperatives are organized solely to meet the needs of the member-owners, not to accumulate capital for investors.

Cooperatives are bustling hubs of commerce that operate in virtually every industry. More than 750,000 cooperatives serve some 760 million members in more than 100 countries. Cooperatives operate in every industry including agriculture, childcare, energy, financial services, food retailing and distribution, health care, insurance, housing, purchasing and shared services, telecommunications and others.

This new domain will provide a unique and important opportunity to promote cooperative principles, values and co-op business ethics. The new .coop top-level domain name will be an important tool in differentiating cooperatives from other businesses in the e-economy.

Soybean-based foam insulation developed in Illinois

Today's consumer is demanding a housing product that is safe, environmentally sensitive and affordable in both the purchase and operation of their home. Healthy Seal is a revolutionary new soy-based polyurethane insulation foam. Healthy Seal is an effective seal against air infiltration, often the major source of energy loss.

Until now, the polyols used in polyurethane foam insulation have been made almost entirely from petroleum derivatives. Healthy Seal is made from SoyOyl® "biobased" polyols made with soybean oil. Urethane Soy Systems Company of Princeton developed the insulation. Soy-based polyurethane could be used for carpet backing, cushioning foams, binders and coatings.

A recently built Quiznos restaurant will be toasty warm thanks to a new soy-based foam insulation developed in Illinois.

While offering superior performance in conventional construction, it is especially effective in steel framed homes, older homes and metal buildings. Healthy Seal has significant advantages. It permanently and completely fills and seals all voids. It offers better overall thermal performance at nearly the same net cost as other products.

Proper sealing and insulation applications allow proper sizing of heating and air-conditioning systems. This allows the use of smaller, less expensive equipment. Properly sized equipment reduces energy consumption and prevents moisture buildup in structures helping to prevent mold. Healthy Seal provides a healthier indoor environment and is non-toxic with no harmful emissions that can cause allergic reactions. It complies with all building codes and will not mold.

The use of sprayed polyurediane foam as insulation media is growing very rapidly, particularly in the home and commercial construction industries.

For more information contact Healthy Seal at (800) 769-3626 or go to www.healthyseal.com.

Photo by 4 S Insulators, Effingham.

ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.coop

Old Farmer's Almanac weather predictions

Since 1792, The Old Farmer's Almanac has been delighting readers with its practical advice, reliable weather forecasts, and unique brand of wit and wisdom. Here's what the Almanac predicts for this winter.

Southern Illinois - Temperatures will be milder than normal in the first half of the winter but colder than normal in the second half. Precipitation and snowfall will be below normal in the northeast, above normal in the southeast, and near normal elsewhere. The heaviest snowfalls will occur in mid- and late January, late February and early March. The coldest temperatures will occur in late December, mid- and late January and early February.

Northern Illinois - November through March will be a bit milder and drier than normal, with much less snow than normal. Most of the region will get less than half its normal snowfall, with the best chances for significant accumulation in early December, late December, mid-January and mid-February. Overall, February will be the coldest month, with the season's coldest temperatures in the first half of the month. Other cold spells will occur in early December and from late December into early January.

To find out more go to www.almanac.com and choose Weather Center. Here you'll find charts and information on common weather phenomena, including links to related sites.

Hungry? Then come to the Illinois Products Expo

The "5th Illinois Products Expo...A Food and Cooking Extravaganza" will be held February 28 - March 2, 2003, in the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

More than 80 Illinois food companies and agricultural groups will be sampling and selling their Illinois food products. In addition, at least 10 Illinois wine companies and five Illinois cheese companies will sample and sell their products.

Food experts will also present food cooking and food safety tips. Mr. Howard Helmer, representing the American Egg Board and recognized as "The World's Fastest Omelet Maker", will return to the Expo to entertain and conduct egg-cooking demonstrations. A "Children's Area" will also be available featuring face painting, coloring, games and other fun activities. Other agricultural based items will also be promoted and for sale, including soy candles.

Expo times are as follows: February 28 4:00 p.m.-7:00; March 1 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; March 2 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Admission is $2.00 and children 10 and under are free. Contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture at (217) 524-3012.

Congress increases co-op development funding

House and Senate Appropriations Committees will boost funding for USDA's Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) Program in FY2003 by $1.25 million - a 23 percent increase.

"This grant program provides critical support to cooperative development centers that offer the technical assistance and tools farmers and others in rural America need to develop new cooperatives and strengthen existing ones," says National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) President and CEO Paul Hazen. "Co-ops play an increasingly important role in revitalizing rural areas and ensuring that new income generated by those co-ops stays in the communities in which they operate."

The Senate Appropriations Committee completed action on S.2801, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY2003 on July 25. The House Committee completed action on its version of the bill earlier in the month. Both bills provide $6.5 million for the RCDG program. The bills must still be passed the full Senate and House and undergo consideration by a House/Senate Conference Committee later this year.

The RCDG program provides grants to cooperative development centers throughout America. The Centers offer feasibility studies, business planning services, and other development assistance that help farmers and others in rural communities start new cooperative businesses. In FY 2001, the program funded work at 18 centers and other institutions with expertise in cooperative business development. Grants have not yet been provided for FY 2002. Since 1993, the program has provided more than $28 million to assist with co-op development. Source: NCBA www.ncba.coop.

JANUARY 2003 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 7

Insulation prevents moldy, cold basements

Homes with heated basements can lose a lot of energy through the foundation walls. Many of these homes have insulation installed at the exterior basement walls where they adjoin the foundation. The most common method includes a framed wall on the inside of the foundation. Fiberglass batts fill the wall, and drywall or other interior finish covers the insulation.

This combination of frame wall and fiberglass insulation is problematical in some regions, however, if moisture finds its way into the wall cavity. Many homes suffer from mold, mildew and other moisture-related problems because of their damp basements, and framed basement walls tend to trap ground moisture that migrates through the foundation.

The best basement insulation method uses foam insulation board that is installed at either the exterior or interior surface of the foundation. This impermeable material will stand up to moisture better than wood frame walls or fiberglass insulation. Foam insulation installed outside the foundation will need protection from moisture and sunlight. Stucco or sheet metal coverings are common. Foam insulation installed on the inside of the foundation is usually covered in drywall.

However you insulate your foundation walls, you should insulate the rim joist at the same time. The rim joist pockets, formed where the floor meets the foundation, are a large source of heat loss and air leaks. Fiberglass is commonly used here, but moisture often migrates behind the fiberglass and condenses on the cold rim joist, promoting damage from mold or rot. Sprayed foam insulation in the rim-joist area is now a common choice, and provides both insulation and air sealing at this critical building junction.

Take a close look at the exterior of your foundation, too. Keep exterior run-off away from your home by sloping the ground away from the foundation, and if you have gutters and downspouts be sure they carry water away from your home.

Source: John Krigger is a nationally recognized author of numerous energy efficiency books, including Your Home Cooling Guide; EnergyWise Guide to Home Energy Conservation and Residential Energy; and Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings. For more info on his publications, please visit his Web site www.residential-energy.com.

More farmland than ever being lost to sprawl

A recent report issued by the American Farmland Trust (AFT) found that America loses two acres of farmland every single minute of every day, the fastest decline in the nation's history.

According to the report "Farming On The Edge: Sprawling Development Threatens America's Best Farmland," the rate of loss has increased dramatically since the 1980s. The rate of loss for 1992-1997-1.2 million acres-was 51 percent higher than from 1982-1992. Illinois ranked fifth in terms of farmland lost to suburbia.

The losses are at the edge of outer suburbs where some of the country's most fertile land is replaced by homes on large lots, linked by new roads and malls, said the study.

The study was based on data from the census and the Department of Agriculture. "Every state is losing some of its best farm and ranchland," said American Farmland Trust President Ralph Grossi.

The states that topped the list for loss of farmland in the last five years were Arkansas, New York, Illinois, Alabama and Mississippi. Vermont, California and Pennsylvania were recognized as states that balanced development with farmland preservation.

The report recommends more easements for farms and strong national standards for development.

American Farmland Trust is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting agricultural resources. Founded by a group of concerned farmers in 1980, AFT's mission is to stop the loss of productive farmland and to promote farming practices that lead to a healthy environment.

For more information about the study, go to www.farmland.org/farmingontheedge.

Source: New York Times; American Farmland Trust

8 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.coop