Pastures

As contraction of the U.S. cattle herd continues, farmers nearing retirement age are faced with deciding whether to expand again, invest more into infrastructure and whether someone is in line for succession.

When Ralph Upton Jr. started working on his family’s farm full time in 1964, he did what everyone else was doing — plowing every year.

The mill and store are very busy getting ready for Small Business Saturday. This special shopping day is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It is a chance to support local businesses.

My philosophy is I need something to get me motivated every morning. What do all you grain farmers use as motivation after harvest?

We finally got a frost that finished off our corn after wheat. I have been busy pumping manure and did not get involved with chopping that last field of corn, but Brett reported it had made 12 tons.

Healthy soils produce healthy plants that feed healthy livestock. “If we’re going to rely on forages for our animals, we must have a healthy, nutrient-dense soil,” said Travis Meteer, commercial agriculture educator.

Cattlemen are in control to obtain a perfect graze of pastures by their animals through stocking density and timing.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is the chance to see how farmers are developing and implementing new innovative solutions as we work together to feed, fuel and clothe the world.

I imagine some of you have started harvest by now. Not me, though, but that’s normal. Our double-crop beans are getting really thirsty since we’ve only had a third of an inch of rain in over six weeks.

Beef cattle producers will gain insights and stay up to date on current research from cow/calf patterns to alternative forages and more at the Orr Beef Research Center’s Field Day.

Summer is flying by, as usual. With so many things going on this time of year it seems to pass too quickly and now school starts.

Can we have a “spring flush” in August? After the rains we have had, it sure looks like that in central Illinois. I didn’t get one this spring.

Our 2023 growing season continues to be a challenge, but perhaps everyone is successfully adapting, because I don’t hear as many pity parties as during some growing seasons.

The rain in the past few days has really helped all plants and crops here in northern Illinois. June was very dry. Hopefully, the July rains will be enough to get the crops growing again.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition, the new voice of regenerative grazing in Illinois, is moving forward rapidly with plans and developments.