By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 4.6 days suitable for field work during the week ending May 22, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 66.1 degrees, 1.0 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.40 inches, 0.51 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 7 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.4 days suitable for field work during the week ending May 15, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 75.8 degrees, 14.1 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.19 inches, 0.71 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 2 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Arguably, few jobs are more stressful than farming, and the current wet conditions don’t help. “People in agriculture are independent. They don’t like asking for help. They think they can do things on their own,” said State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield). “They need support, they need help, just like the…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 1.7 days suitable for field work during the week ending May 8, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 53.9 degrees, 4.7 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 1.56 inches, 0.53 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 1 percent short, 49 percent adequate, and 50 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
By A.J. Harris NORMAL – The North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture held its annual ag competition this year in Platte, Nebraska, and Illinois State University took 26 students hoping to show of their skills. They ended up as Grand Champions. Blake Dean, a senior at ISU, was one of those students. He spoke…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 3.0 days suitable for field work during the week ending May 1, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 53.7 degrees, 2.9 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.90 inches, equal to the average. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 2 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 40 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 1.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending April 17, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 49.1 degrees, 2.9 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.97 inches, 0.08 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 40 percent adequate, and 56…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The trade associations for Illinois agriculture celebrate a $750,000 victory in the just-passed state budget. Illinois Corn Growers Association president Marty Marr, who farms at New Berlin, near Springfield, says the state has needed more veterinarians. “Discussion began about how important this area, of having field vets, is, in case…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 0.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending April 10, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 44.0 degrees, 3.4 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.87 inches, 0.16 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 4 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 46 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
Amid an invasion of Ukraine, farmers across Illinois are feeling the pinch when it comes to fertilizer prices.… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…