Pumpkins

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.

Come see the workings of agricultural sites in the I&M Canal National Heritage Area while discovering the rich history of the region.

A lot of growth has occurred in the agricultural department at Peotone High School since Abby Cowger started teaching and advising the FFA chapter in 2018.

In an effort to elevate rural communities, Illinois Farm Bureau partnered with county Farm Bureaus to award 23 Rural Development Grants totaling $105,000 to support local projects across the state.

The Warner Family Farm was honored as a finalist in this year’s Indiana Farm Family of the Year competition.

Scott Halpin’s term as Illinois Farm Service Agency executive director concluded with the change of federal administrations.

Hoosiers can expect to spend approximately 2% less at the grocery store compared to 2023, according to Indiana Farm Bureau’s annual Thanksgiving market basket survey.

A program designed to teach elementary students about agriculture and connections to the Spanish culture earned the Cambridge FFA Chapter a national award at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo.

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

As the air turns crisp and the leaves start to fall, nothing ushers in the coziness of autumn like the rich, spiced aroma of pumpkin.

Fall is the peak time for folks to visit agritourism destinations around the state.

Teens from around the state gathered for the 95th Indiana FFA State Convention, where they took part in workshops, volunteered and were honored for their accomplishments.

Six years ago, Illinois farmer John Ackerman didn’t hire any contract workers at all. Now he typically hires about 22 every year through a local coordinator that helps farmers hire crews of skilled workers.

Hoosiers celebrated National Ag Day on March 19. Gov. Eric Holcomb issued an official proclamation to celebrate the event.

Total farms and ranches and average acreage size all decreased in Illinois, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.

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.

Kendra Downing has learned how to deal with adverse conditions and as a result won the National FFA agricultural proficiency award for agricultural sales — entrepreneurship.

Indiana Farm Bureau announced the winners of the inaugural 2023 INFB Photo Contest. The pictures showcase agriculture and life in rural Indiana.

There are plenty of pumpkins to go around this year, thanks to an above-average harvest on most pumpkin farms. The outlook for pumpkin quality is also good.

Lincoln Land Community College dedicated its newest learning space, 2.1 acres of land at 2320 West Lake Shore Drive, now known as West Lake Nature Grove.

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

In a season traditionally overflowing with good things to eat, let’s add another entry to the dessert table, shall we? I’m talking about pumpkin bread pudding. This recipe elevates bread pudding to holiday worthy status.

Indiana’s fall pumpkin yields will vary, depending on summer rainfall and irrigation, according to an expert at Purdue University. Pumpkin growth depends heavily on timely summer rainfall — and much of Indiana experienced hot, dry weather.

This Thanksgiving, your pumpkin pie might have a lower carbon footprint.On the central Illinois farms that supply most of the world’s canned pumpkin, farmers are adopting regenerative techniques designed to reduce emissions, attract natural pollinators and improve soil health.

Northwestern Illinois residents seeking farm-fresh sweet corn just need to travel a couple miles outside of the Fulton city limits to Sikkema Farm, where the seasonal crop is picked every day, rain or shine.

The first of 17 People’s Gardens across the United States is open in Chicago. The new garden is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s People’s Garden Initiative and it is located at the Urban Transformation Network at Metropolitan Farms.

National reports of fungus and wet weather threatening U.S. pumpkin crops had pumpkin lovers spooked ahead of Halloween and Thanksgiving. But pumpkin farmers and experts said there is nothing to fear locally.

Steve Leesman’s move into organic crop production began several years ago as an answer to consumer demand and he has continued this diverse farming operation in Logan County, Illinois.

Halloween is becoming one of the most popular holidays for collectors. Of course, children still dress in costumes and go door to door for treats, but the holiday items collectors are more interested in are the decorations that are created each year.

It’s that time of year when pumpkins are being harvested and readying to carve. And while carving a pumpkin can be a fun, festive, fall family event — as long as you know what you’re doing — it’s important to do so safely.

Two zebras that escaped from a suburban Chicago pumpkin farm had travelers on a state highway doing double takes as the exotic animals hit the road during their brief taste of freedom.

At Braeutigam’s Orchard, the company priorities start with a “P.” That includes people, peaches and pumpkins.

Pumpkin growers dread the tiny tan scabs that form on their fruit, each lesion a telltale sign of bacterial spot disease. The specks don’t just mar the fruit’s flesh — they provide entry points for rot-inducing fungus and other pathogens that can destroy pumpkins and other cucurbits from the inside out.

The annual Illinois Specialty Crop Conference will bring growers together through its new interactive, virtual format Jan. 6-8.