Busy time for Illinois farmers

Posted on September 17, 2020
Corn harvest
Mark Schleusener, state statistician, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, says Illinois’ corn harvest has just begun. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Corn Growers Association is reminding people about farm safety as corn harvesting begins across the state.

Rodney Weinzierl is the executive director at the Illinois Corn Growers Association. He spoke with WJBC’s Marc Strauss.

“With farmers being out on the roads with the large equipment it doesn’t move fast so safety is paramount in the farmers minds,” said Weinzierl. “We want to make sure people are thinking about that as they are traversing in the countryside over the next few weeks.”

In the weekly crop report, USDA Crop Statistician Mark Schleusner said 37% of corn is mature and 2% has been harvested. 72% of the crop rated in good to excellent condition.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…