Illinois Department of Agriculture Director John Sullivan has resigned after he apparently knew about a 2012 email from former top lobbyist Mike McClain over an alleged “rape in Champaign.”… MORE
Category Archives: Agribusiness
Crop yields are down and the quality questionable
The numbers are in from a planting season you might describe as disappointing but not surprising.… MORE
Illinois Farm Bureau survey of farmers finds 2019 was a stressful year
Because of the weather and market conditions that largely are out of their control, farmers are used to dealing with high amounts of stress.… MORE
IDOA hosts ‘Hemp Summit’ in Springfield
The first year of legalized hemp growing in Illinois was not without hiccups. And there’s plenty to learn, as the state hosted about 700 people for a “hemp summit” in Springfield Tuesday.… MORE
IFB’s Nielsen: USMCA agreement improvement over NAFTA
House Democrats and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have reached a deal with the White House on the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.… MORE
Greater Peoria Farm Show
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Harvest inches toward completion
As late in the season as it is, the harsh weather can’t do much damage to the crops.… MORE
McLean County farmer recognized for ag education
A farmer from McLean County has been recognized statewide for helping others learn about agriculture.… MORE
Farmers race weather to finish harvest
SPRINGFIELD – The coldest weather of the 2019 planting season has come, and the harvest is not finished.… MORE
Planting and growing season reaching the end
After a late, wet start, the Illinois crop numbers are catching up with the calendar.… MORE
Blogs
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…
Everyone counts and you could make the difference
By Mike Matejka How many federal dollars will there be for road repairs? To feed hungry families? How many Illinois representatives will there be in Congress? Are Illinois communities going to get their fair share? There’s only one way to ensure our community gets treated properly – answer the census. The every ten year U.S. census,…