Content-creating moms and their families from the Chicagoland area visited farms to learn directly from farmers about how they raise livestock and grow crops on their operations.

There are times when it seems like agriculture just can’t catch a break. This is one of those times.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy stressed the need for more certainty from Capitol Hill for farmers.

Cattlemen develop rotational grazing systems for many reasons, including parasite control.

Rick Bieber considers a shovel as one of his most important tools.

Supporting sow longevity means identifying the early indicators that influence lifetime productivity and herd profitability.

The Tyson beef processing plant closure at nearby Joslin was an unpleasant surprise. Now most local cattle sold will be discounted the freight cost to go to more distant plants — a consequence of low beef supply.

I hosted the Regenerative Grazing System Contest for youth along with my close partner, Judy Bingman, and several of our Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition board members.

The heat and humidity this summer has been hard on feeding cattle and at least one somewhat-round cattle feeder.

Many years we see things brown and drying up and grass getting short, but that is just not the case this year.

Registration is open for the annual Lambing School hosted by the Indiana Sheep Association.

Gov. Mike Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency and mobilized the Indiana National Guard as devastating floods hit Hoosiers.

Farmers across the Midwest are dealing with a new problem — black vultures are attacking livestock. This scavenger species didn't live in the area previously; however, warming temperatures have expanded its range.

Heat stress remains one of the biggest seasonal threats facing dairy producers.

Improving soil by increasing the biology results in more minerals in the feed grown on that land and fewer supplements necessary for the cattle that eat the feed.

Utilizing corn stalks for winter grazing is an option for cattlemen to impact their profitability.

Presented by industry experts during World Dairy Expo, Dairy Forage Seminars are centered around cutting-edge research and information regarding forage quality, harvest and storage.

The Beef Quality Assurance program has launched a wide range of Spanish-language resources.

With optimism for the cattle business remaining strong, nearly 700 cattle producers from across the country gathered in Colorado, for the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting.

A rotational grazing system at Rincker Simmentals is designed to provide forage for the cowherd during the majority of the year.

Virtual fencing systems remove the boundaries of where cattle, sheep and goat producers have the opportunity to graze their animals.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition wrapped up the 2026 Heart of America Grazing Conference by recognizing three Illinois producers with the Master Grazier Award: Rick Adams, Terry Becherer and Perry Hottes.

Purdue University always has a presence at the Indiana State Fair — and 2026 is no exception.

Led by its 77 farmer-leaders, United Soybean Board approved a $122.5 million budget for the 2027 fiscal year, strategically allocating funds across vital research, promotion and education investments.

Every summer, there comes a point when using the hay mower or rotary cutter starts to look tempting.

The parlor is the heart of a dairy business. But as equipment ages outdated technology can limit performance, make parts harder to find and increase service costs.

Illinois Farm Bureau recently accepted Grace Pollitt and Emma Frank into the Illinois Veterinary Student Loan Program, which aims to support the next generation of veterinarians focusing on caring for food animals.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of New World screwworm in Texas and New Mexico, sounding the alarm for producers across the country to be cautious and keep an eye out for the pest.

Indiana sits at the intersection of human health, animal health and plant science — a rare concentration of expertise where breakthrough science creates real-world impact.

Heat stress is not something to ignore.

At Christmas, I told my wife we’d do one of her bucket-list items: go to Alaska for two weeks.

From weaning and transportation to commingling and even changes in weather, cattle move through a series of stressful events that can challenge their immune functions.

Chad Bell harvested his two fields of wheat and once the straw is baled he will be planting a cover crop on these acres.

The dairy cow is only as efficient as the system that feeds her and it all starts in the rumen.

Monitoring and measuring key performance indexes of dairy herds can be useful for making management decisions.

A multispecies grazing system can result in several benefits including more uniform grazing, reduced herbicide use, eliminating unwanted plants and the potential for more profit.

From supporting rural communities to marketing products internationally, the Illinois Department of Agriculture provides a wide range of programs.

There are many current issues important to Illinois cattlemen including the development of a new farm bill.

Entries for the dairy cattle show at the 59th World Dairy Expo in Madison are now being accepted exclusively online at worlddairyexpo.com.

The fat cattle market continues to roll along with setbacks followed shortly with new highs.

The official start of summer started off with a vengeance down here as the last week of June was a scorcher.

This country was built by ordinary men and women willing to do extraordinary things.

Cattlemen should make sure they have the correct number of bulls to match the number of cows in the herd and that vaccinations are up to date.

BioCV’s new sow monitoring system uses a smart ear tag to continuously track individual animal temperature, behavior and movement.

The Illinois Division of Midwest Dairy announced that five Illinois students will receive a $1,000 scholarship to support their education at an accredited college or university this fall.

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program is accepting nominations for its annual FARM Excellence Awards, recognizing U.S. dairy industry achievements in adopting and improving on-farm practices.

The Drug Residue Prevention Manual continues to be a trusted resource for dairy farmers when making educated choices with their veterinarians to care for their animals.

Merck Animal Health reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the cattle industry’s response to the growing threat of New World screwworm.

The latest projections highlight the challenges farmers continue to face as input costs remain elevated with historically low commodity prices.

As we gather this Fourth of July, it’s worth remembering and mentioning that the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply in the world happens because farmers and ranchers continue showing up every day despite the challenges.