Autumn is just around the corner, and it’s a busy season on the farm and in Farm Bureau. Harvest is well underway, Congress is heading back into session, and Farm Bureau’s grassroots policy is shaping up for the new year.

Reed Farms will host the state and national corn husking contests this October.

Dairy Management Inc. is accepting entries for its 2026 New Product Competition, inviting undergraduate and graduate students across the United States to develop innovative dairy-based products that meet today’s consumer demands for bone and muscle health and weight management.

Brazilian beef imports are accelerating the ongoing contraction of the U.S. cattle industry by displacing domestic cattle producers, their cattle and domestic feedlots — and this is weakening America’s ability to be self-reliant in beef production.

Registration is now open for CattleCon 2026, which will be held for the first time in downtown Nashville.

Graduate students pursuing careers in meat science and animal science are encouraged to apply for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program.

There’s something deeply gratifying about reporting on 4-H and FFA members who are raising animals, showing livestock and learning responsibility through hands-on work.

I’m hustling to keep up with the grass growth and mow under the fence to keep the volts up and my high school help went back to school.

Nathaniel will be marketing his first-ever pastured organic broiler crop as his entrepreneurial debut.

Our county fair is underway and my granddaughter has three of her Shetlands at the 4-H and junior shows.

The Parkers wrapped up a successful weekend at the Illinois State Fair livestock show and returned to their farm with ribbons in hand.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the Sale of Champions at the 2025 Illinois State Fair — the premier auction showcasing the top livestock exhibited by Illinois 4-H youth.

Sixty-five young livestock exhibitors vied for the title of “Grand Champion Overall Master Showman” during the Illinois State Fair Master Showmanship Contest.

Greg Peterson is in his fourth decade as “Machinery Pete” — and, no, he hasn’t seen it all.

Farm Rescue and FFA will be the beneficiaries as part of a larger auction during the Farm Progress Show.

Champions were crowned in the Supreme Drive at the Indiana State Fair.

The Lake County Fair hosted its inaugural 4-H Urban Ag Expo, highlighting the talents of 11 young people who participated in the county’s new urban agriculture program.

With one of his final gifts, the late farmer Gene Daiber is planting seeds for the next generation of agriculture leaders in the St. Louis metro area.

From the moment the team was elected on June 12, everything changed in the everyday lives of the six new Illinois FFA major state officers.

Visitors at the Half Century of Progress will have a chance to bid on three Stor-Loc toolboxes and support the future of agriculture at the same time.

After undergoing a rigorous judging process, 20 farmers were identified as the Illinois Soybean Association’s third class of Illinois 20 Under 40 farmers.

University of Illinois alumnus Eric Hodel didn’t begin his career expecting to lead one of the nation’s largest faith-based food banks.

Many of us grew up in homes where words like “please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome” were as routine as brushing your teeth. These were not just phrases. They were signs of character.

The herd at the University of Illinois dairy farm provides animals for research projects, as well as an opportunity for students to learn about dairy herd management.

All the feed for the University of Illinois farms — including poultry, beef, dairy and swine — are formulated at the Feed Technology Center.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced the return of its annual College Aggies Online scholarship program.

As the Indiana State Fair approaches, Jeanette Merritt is preparing for two of her favorite weeks of the year.

Incorporating cover crops into their regenerative farming system has been a learning process for the Riskedal family this spring.

We should be back in the sheep barn this year with some lambs my granddaughter is bringing for the 4-H show.

There will be at least three more pasture walks put on by the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition coming up.

William Henert spends a significant amount of his time during this period of the growing season spraying crop protection products on the corn, soybean and seed corn crops on the northern Illinois farm.

This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 243 veterinary shortage areas across 46 states — the highest number recorded.

Imagination and growth fuel farming. Farmers and ranchers survey fields, flocks, herds and orchards, imagining the possibilities.

CattleCon 2026 is heading Feb. 3-5 to the heart of downtown Nashville, and it’s time to get involved in the largest cattle industry event of the year.

Dan Parker and family had a full schedule since AgriNews’ last visit in late May, including the FFA convention and the opening of fair season.

Midwest Dairy announced that five students will receive $1,000 over the 2025-2026 academic school year to study agriculture education, dairy science, applied sciences and animal science, starting this fall at the college or university of their choice.

A wise-old rancher told me last year, “I can lead you to knowledge, but I can’t make you think.”

After a rigorous interview and selection process, seven students were named Indiana FFA state officers.

Leadership and impact occurs in the small moments. And present happiness is not the way you should evaluate your current day, week or month.

Four FFA students were named Stars over Indiana for their exceptional Supervised Agricultural Experiences.

Four members with outstanding projects that include cattle, flowers, sheep, auctioneering and hay production were presented the prestigious star awards during the 97th Illinois FFA State Convention.

The class of 2025 Farm Credit agriculture scholars was recognized during a scholarship luncheon at Carriage House Event Center in Altamont.

It took just short of four weeks for Dan Parker to finally get the last seed in the ground.

Delegates wrote history at the 97th Illinois FFA State Convention with the vote to add a sentinel to the FFA officer team that now includes six members.

Illinois AgriNews presented the Outstanding Section Reporter awards to four members during the 97th Illinois FFA State Convention.

The 2025 Indiana FFA State Convention will be held June 16-19 at Purdue University.

Earlier this winter while attending a farm show sponsored by a local radio station that carries Brownfield programming, a listener shared with me a poem, “Sermons We See,” by Edgar A. Guest.

Compeer Financial announced 22 middle and high schools across Illinois will receive up to $4,000 each to support agricultural education programs and equipment through its Agriculture Education and Classroom Equipment Grant Program.

Illinois FFA state proficiency winners are selected based on FFA members’ outstanding skills in recordkeeping, leadership and scholastic achievement.

Exceptional projects of FFA members from across the state will be highlighted during the 97th annual Illinois FFA State Convention set for June 10-12.