The Illinois Department of Agriculture has walked back some restrictions on a controversial, yet highly-effective commercial weed spray as farmers struggle to get crops planted amid a wet spring.… MORE
Category Archives: Agribusiness
USDA Announces Support for Farmers Impacted by Unjustified Retaliation and Trade Disruption
(Washington, D.C., May 23, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take several actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation and trade disruption. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a relief strategy to support American agricultural producers while…… MORE
USDA Projecting Mostly Lower Crop Prices for this Upcoming Year
Producers of many major crops are likely to see lower prices during this coming marketing year. (Gary Crawford/USDA) … MORE
Seed Season Is Here
GRIDLEY – As growers put the finishing touches on equipment preparation, seed delivery season is in full swing Now is the time to double check that seed list, making sure product placement and planting populations are known before heading to the field. This is also a good time to prepare variable rate seeding scripts. Seed…… MORE
Another week of limited work
SPRINGFIELD – There were 1.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 7, according to the weekly crop progress and weather report issued for Illinois on Monday afternoon. Statewide, the average temperature was 48.4 degrees, 1.1 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.34 inches, 0.32 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at…… MORE
Nitrogen Questions Remain
LEXINGTON – Since the fall season was cut short due to weather, nitrogen choices are a hot topic heading into the 2019 growing season. Anhydrous ammonia was not applied on as many acres as expected – which is forcing farmers to think of a different strategy for spring. “Obviously, the question is: Can we get…… MORE
USDA-NASS Release 2018 County Estimates
USDA-NASS has released the 2018 county estimates for corn and soybean production. In McLean County, corn area planted was 314,500 acres with soybeans at 312,000. Corn area harvested was 313,500 with a yield per acre of 229.3 and production at 71,884,000 bushels. Soybean area harvested was 311,500 with an average yield of 69.1 and production…… MORE
Not the year to skimp on insurance
January 15, 2019 With declining farm revenues and other industry factors, this is not the year to skimp on crop insurance protection. “This is a tough environment you are in and it’s not getting better,” said Doug Yoder, crop agency manager with COUNTRY Financial during an informational meeting in Fairbury last week. Through new…… MORE
Seminar for landowners Jan. 30
January 14, 2019 BLOOMINGTON – A complimentary Central Illinois farm seminar event is set for Jan. 30 at the Holiday Inn & Suites on East Empire Street in Bloomington. The three-seminar event for farmland owners is presented by First Mid Ag Services, formerly Soy Capital Ag Services, and Ritchie Law Office, Ltd. Attendees will have…… MORE
LG program utilizes technology
January 11, 2019 MINONK – Many farmers are using the latest technology on their operations which opens up the perfect farm playbook. LG Seeds can perform on-farm testing in an area as small as two acres through Advantage Acre. “A planter can vary the population within those two acres and we can pick up those…… MORE
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…