Farmers Market

America’s certified organic acreage fell almost 11% between 2019 and 2021. Many farmers have been asking: Is organic farming just a word?

In an effort to expand the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce and strengthen the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry, the Illinois Department of Agriculture plans to distribute more than $679,000 over a three-year period.

It was a mixed bag of victories and losses for locally produced food and conservationist efforts when the Illinois General Assembly passed its $55.2 billion fiscal year 2026 budget.

The Star in Agricultural Placement award will be presented during the Stars Over Illinois ceremony on Wednesday, June11.

The winner of the Star in Agribusiness award will be announced during the Wednesday afternoon session of the Illinois FFA State Convention starting at 2 p.m.

Over this past year, I dedicated extra time to celebrating our county presidents because they are the very heartbeat of our mighty federation.

AgriNews and Beck’s proudly recognized the Frame family as the 2025 Indiana Farm Family of the Year.

PrairiErth Farm will host a fruit tree pruning workshop on Feb. 8.

Coffee Creek Farmers Market in Chesterton won Indiana’s Ultimate Farmers Market Challenge this year.

Schools across the country are celebrating National Farm to School Month this October.

Growing specialty crops including vegetables, pumpkins, gourds, mums and gladioli have developed into award-winning projects for Ty Steffen.

Regenerative farming and soil health are the focus for pastured-raised animals at Terra Vitae Farms.

Over its 50-year history, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s causes may have shifted, but it has never lost its focus on advocating for local farmers and communities.

Indiana State Fair guests shopped locally made and grown products at the Indiana Grown Marketplace this year. The store featured 407 products representing over 90 Hoosier businesses.

Summer is in full swing on Clay Geyer’s home fields, where he’s on the lookout for — and has already found — some plant diseases and weeds.

The DeKalb County History Center is one of five organizations in the United States selected to host the “Food: Gathering Around the Table” exhibit.

The earth provides an overabundance of food, but the distribution of that food is the struggle.

Wet and hot conditions in northern Illinois are impacting crop growth, as well as providing an opportunity for increased disease pressure this year.

Clay Geyer, former From the Fields columnist, is back this year to share updates from his farm in northern Indiana.

I might never have fallen in love with kohlrabi had I not joined a CSA. Signing up for a Community-Supported Agriculture program means getting a box of produce from local farms every week or two.

Brooding is the foundation for the life of chickens, ducks and turkeys.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture plans to distribute more than $545,000 over a three-year period thanks to funding allocated in the Specialty Crop Block Grant program in the federal farm bill.

More than 800 exhibitors will be featured at this year’s National Farm Machinery Show at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville Feb. 14-17.

From farm to freezer, the beef from M5 Family Farms is known for being high quality.

Blueberries, pumpkins, apples and tomatoes are all on the agenda for the 28th annual Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference on Feb. 19 at NIU-Rockford in Rockford.

Farm stands and stores, online sales and cooperatives are several strategies for producers to reach customers beyond farmers markets. Farmers markets can be an ideal jumping-off point for many producers.

Although Claire Hodge did not plan on a career in agriculture, that changed while shopping at a farmers market.

Visitors to the Department of Agriculture tent during the first weekend of the Illinois State Fair were treated to the diversity of locally grown food and products.

Our sweet corn season is in full swing. We are selling in Galveston six days a week in addition to the Logansport farmers market. We also sell at the Logansport and Kokomo farmers markets.

Farmers markets gave people something they desperately sought during the pandemic: A place to shop outdoors, and at the same time support smaller, often local businesses.

USDA is seeding agricultural producers and food businesses with millions of dollars in investment funds to improve markets, create and strengthen jobs, control food prices and improve nutrition.

Indiana Farm Bureau member and Indianapolis native Nick Carter testified in Washington, D.C., at the Senate Ag Committee hearing about specialty crops for the 2023 farm bill.

Get ready to pick some juicy, ripe strawberries. National Pick Strawberries Day is May 20, and it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy some fresh air, sunshine and delicious fruit.

“It’s not always rainbows and sunshine. ”That is Jill Vonder Haar’s description of the weather in her part of southern Illinois, in rural Breese.

As snow blankets our frozen fields, winter is a time of reflection for farmers. What worked well, what could we do better and what challenges will the upcoming spring bring?

Every dollar spent via Indiana Grown activities resulted in 97 cents in additional economic activity within Indiana, according to a study from the Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch announced the appointments for the Indiana Grown Initiative Commission.

Local food and specialty crop growers are joining forces for Illinois’ largest conference focused on bolstering the local food supply chain.

One question that Ryan Reeverts might be asked is how he prepared for the Illinois Farm Bureau Discussion Meet, which he won at the IFB’s annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month. A better question is — how did he find the time? “I definitely try to stay busy,” Reeverts said.

Sitting atop Illinois’ own version of the “continental divide” is a farm that’s been providing fresh fruits to customers for decades.

Working with cattle and vegetables resulted in two Illinois FFA members receiving national Agricultural Proficiency Awards.

If a convenient process existed that offered a minimal amount of money to farmers for surplus specialty crops, farmer Ruth Zeldenrust would be on board.

Focused on delivering an unprecedented opportunity to bolster local food and specialty crops supply chains, three member organizations have teamed up to create the From Food to Flowers: Everything Local conference.

An Illinois-based pilot program has been launched that allows farmers and ranchers to offer products to non-profits for free or reduced prices.

Farmers markets throughout Lake County are a growing asset for vendors struggling with the challenges of rising costs and a worker shortage.

As a college student interested in the future of farming and sustainable farming practices, I am constantly seeking to learn about the methods of farming that help restore the environment and continuously improve natural resource conservation.

Summer is the perfect time to stop by Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant in southern Indiana. “Eight generations of Hubers have farmed our land in Starlight,” said LJ Huber, operations manager.

Deb Zenner’s business might involve producing maple syrup and honey. But for her, the sweetest parts of the job are her interactions with customers at local farmers markets where she sells her wares.

As a child, Tracy Merfeld frequently could be found at the Dubuque farmers market on Saturdays.

A YouTube video shows Chris Lawson exploring and explaining the goings-on of a greenhouse at Paramount Schools of Excellence.