Cover crops
As soon as the large mahogany door in the congressional building was opened, the farmers were greeted with hellos and handshakes. “Do you want some Indiana popcorn?” the staff in Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Pence’s office proudly asked.
Wet and hot conditions in northern Illinois are impacting crop growth, as well as providing an opportunity for increased disease pressure this year.
American Farmland Trust and ADM are launching the next season of a program that supports Illinois farmers and the environment.
Nine years of data analysis from Illinois farms found the most profitable acres were one-pass light tillage for corn and no-till soybeans.
What would you do if you had $330,000 to spend on anything you wanted? That is the amount of money his family’s medium-sized farm in southwest Iowa has lost to soybean cyst nematodes over the last 10 years, said Scott Kay.
Berkeley Boehne and his brother, Vaughn, raise corn, soybeans and wheat on their DeKalb County farm, where they also feed pigs and operate a custom manure application business.
Organic farming can support soil microorganisms that promote plant defenses and reduce insect pests. But not all organic practices are equally beneficial.
My last article had just been sent off when I got word that my good friend, Jamie Willrett, had left suddenly to be with the Lord. This tragic news shook me and the rest of the cattle industry as we all lost a trusted friend and leader.
A new rye cover crop will hit the market this fall that’s touted for its elite hybrid genetics that provide hardiness and fast germination.
The company that’s bringing a new rye cover crop to market this year has a long history of developing top genetics through its research and breeding programs.
The Illinois General Assembly approved a record $53.1 billion spending plan that included some good and bad news for agriculture-related programs.
For the second year in a row, Indiana landowners set a record number of conservation practices to maintain soil health, according to the Indiana Conservation Partnership.
Eliminating the information gap to help agriculture voluntarily meet the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy goals has been a top priority for the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership.
Soil health and quality play a significant role in the nutritional value of pastures and cover crops, determining grazing strategies and sustainability.
Legislation that has bipartisan support in the Illinois General Assembly and from diverse groups was introduced this spring and awaits votes in each chamber.
Applications are being accepted through May 31 for a unique training course for farmers, advisers and conservation professionals that focuses on the soil health system.
The Department of Treasury released guidance on its sustainable aviation fuel credit program that allows corn and soybeans to qualify as feedstocks for SAF with stipulations.
The announcement of guidance on eligibility for the sustainable aviation fuel tax credit was met with both concern and optimism.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of what is referred to as the foundation of the modern crop insurance program.
The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund and John Deere announced a new collaboration, bringing an integrated digital experience to farmers participating in SWOF’s leading agricultural ecosystem services program.
The race to keep up with grass growth is about to start here. The sheep and cattle are now content with the rye and volunteer wheat, saving on the hay supply.
Farmers, advisers and conservation professionals looking to sharpen their skills are encouraged to apply for the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership’s Soil Health Leadership program.
Have you seen the movie “Field of Dreams”? In the movie, Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice to build a “totally illogical” baseball field where his cornfield used to be.
Extensive multiyear, in-field trials found a key to unlocking the challenge of meeting the final goal of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.
Ethanol can be used for many things in addition to fuel.
Three farmers with decades of experience utilizing soil conservation practices on their farms detailed their efforts in a “Toolshed Talk.”
The benefits of enrolling in the Precision Conservation Management program were touted during a recent “Toolshed Talk.”
Champions of organic farming have long portrayed it as friendlier to humans and the earth. But a new study in a California county found a surprising effect as their acreage grew.
The function of soil is to support crop life, human life and livestock.
Daily in-person and virtual events packed the Illinois Soil Health Week docket, including two days at the state capitol.
The Illinois Soybean Association announced the selection of six respected crop advisers and agronomists to serve as ILSoyAdvisor Soy Envoys for the 2024 growing season.
It looks so far like spring has arrived early this year. Even if we get a last blast of winter, spring has a pretty good head start — so much so that I missed my best opportunity to frost seed some clover.
Thirteen enterprising graduate students researching soybean topics at universities across Illinois exhibited their innovative projects during the Illinois Soybean Association’s recent Soybean Summit.
A high management corn strip cropping study had the top return on investment for 2023 among Precision Planting’s agronomic trials.
A guidebook for farmers, agricultural advisers and conservation professionals seeking in-depth information on carbon markets has been published by American Farmland Trust.
The alphabet soup of diverse conservation funding for farmers was the focus of one of the breakout sessions during the recent Soybean Summit.
A trio of farmers tackled issues ranging from soil management to grain marketing during a panel discussion at the Illinois Soybean Association’s Soybean Summit.
As America’s farmers and ranchers continue to face immense climate and weather-related challenges, both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and private-sector crop insurers are committed to strengthening the crop insurance program.
The Illinois Soybean Association has launched an effort to develop an on-farm trial network to assess and evaluate production practices.
This year, El Niño afforded growers throughout the Midwest a milder December, providing more time for late fall fertilizer applications and cover crop planting. On the downside, mild weather can lead to more winter annual weeds.
Illinois farmers can receive incentive payments for cover crops planted in 2023 by enrolling in Farmers for Soil Health by Feb. 28.
The second annual Illinois Ag Retail Survey is underway to collect data on nutrient management practices.
The Midwest Cover Crops Council will host its 2024 Annual Meeting and Conference at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis-Airport on Feb. 13-14.
The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy’s biennial report featured what’s been done and what needs to be done in the non-point source sector.
Discussions and decisions made during the winter months can impact managing a beef cattle operation all year.
The Cover Crop Premium Discount Program is available for the fourth year in a row, rewarding farmers who plant cover crops by providing a reduced premium on their crop insurance.
American Farmland Trust recently completed a Section 604B Clean Water Act grant to prepare a nine-element watershed-based plan for the Vermilion Headwaters Watershed.
Corn and soybean yields in Illinois for the 2023 growing season were higher than some farmers expected with the dry weather partially as a result of the outstanding root systems of these plants.
Joel Gruver, a professor of soil science and sustainable agriculture at Western Illinois University in Macomb, will receive the 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award from Practical Farmers of Iowa.
With the growing season shifting from June to July, the severe drought began to break apart in some areas of Illinois that then brought on other challenges.