U.S. House To Vote On 2014 Farm Bill
The U.S. House is set to vote on a new farm bill Wednesday, after House and Senate negotiators earlier this week agreed on compromise legislation combining each chambers' drafts. This 2014 farm bill...
View ArticleSangamon Co. Farmers Settle Subsidy Misuse Claims UPDATE
The Department of Justice says a central Illinois farming business has paid $5.3 million to settle allegations it used fake partnerships to avoid limits on federal subsidies its owners could receive....
View ArticleFor Farmers With High Cash Rents, 2014 Could Be A Tough Year
With the price of farmland at record levels across the Corn Belt, many farmers have been renting acres to plant. Now, with the price of corn and soybeans in free fall , farmers that depend on renting...
View ArticleU.S. Senate Approves Farm Bill
The U.S. Senate passed the farm bill Tuesday by a vote of 68-32, sending it to the president’s desk and ending years of political wrangling. Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk were among the...
View ArticleObama Signs Farm Bill, Announces Rural Export Initiative
One of the key farm bill negotiators says the nation has entered “a new era of farm and food policy.” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Oklahoma) said the legislation President Obama...
View ArticlePropane Price Spike Hitting Hog, Poultry Farms
Residents across the Midwest are struggling with tight propane supplies, especially in this bitterly cold, snowy winter. Homes in rural counties are not the only places lacking adequate heating fuel....
View ArticleHarvest Blog: Crop Insurance To Cover Midwest Cucumbers, Cherries
Passage of the Agriculture Act of 2014 brought with it good news for fans of pickles and cherry pies . Cucumber growers in Illinois and Indiana, as well farmers with tart cherry orchards in Michigan,...
View ArticleHarsh Winter Freezing Out Some Crop-Devouring Pests
Despite what they may be thinking now, Midwest grain farmers and backyard gardeners alike may be thankful for the recent arctic temperatures before 2014 is out. That’s because soil that’s frozen solid...
View ArticleDOT Extends Fuel Emergency As Propane Costs Fall
Truckers delivering much-needed heating fuel to homes and businesses throughout the Midwest will remain on the road longer now that the federal government has extended regional emergency declarations ....
View ArticleFood Hubs Could Provide Crucial Link For Amish
Lacking the infrastructure of traditional suppliers, many local farms that want to connect to restaurants, schools and other big buyers are using the Internet to reach customers. Groups of farms are...
View ArticleAg Lobby Lining Up Against GMO Food Labeling
Farmers, their lobbyists and legislators met in the Capitol Thursday to talk about legislation that would affect one of Illinois’ biggest industries – agriculture. One proposal “big ag” is fighting...
View ArticleHarvest Blog: State Lawmakers Munch (Free?) Lunches
When the "lobbyist" armed with a free basket of treats is a smiling farm kid, what state lawmaker could say no to the gift? That was the scene at Ag Lobby Day in the Illinois State Capitol, its rotunda...
View ArticleHarvest Blog: Certified Organic Food Sector Growing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced new data on certified organic food, showing the industry grew just over four percent in 2013, with a record breaking 18,513 farms and businesses...
View ArticleDrones: Coming Soon To A Farm Near You?
Unmanned aerial vehicles aren’t just for spies or for the battlefield. Farmers all over the country think drones can give them a leg up, too. Tech-savvy farmers have been waiting for years for the...
View ArticleWill Cougars, Black Bears And Gray Wolves Be Protected In Illinois?
The Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources wants to add black bears, gray wolves and cougars to the state's list of protected species. But there is disagreement on how much protection should be given when...
View ArticleFDA Reports Progress Controlling Pharma On The Farm
Federal regulators say progress has been made in limiting antibiotics given to food animals. Twenty-five of 26 pharmaceutical companies that produce antibiotics for livestock and poultry around the...
View ArticleEmpowering Women Farmers In Central Illinois
An area organization with the goal of propelling women entrepreneurs into "economic and social spheres of power" wants to do the same for female farmers. Women Entrepreneurs of Central Illinois ,...
View ArticleIllinois Farmer: Drones Teach You A Lot In A Hurry
Fourth-generation family farmer Matt Boucher took his first unmanned aerial vehicle (what we might commonly refer to as a “drone”) out of its box last Christmas. Farmers like Boucher see drones as the...
View ArticleVertical Farming: Lofty Vision, Uncertain Future
Farmers are making inroads supplying local food to hungry city "foodies", but many producers are trying to grow more food in urban centers. City real estate is at a premium, so some producers are...
View ArticleWUIS Archive: Alan Dixon Was Gracious In Defeat
Former U.S. Senator Alan Dixon died Sunday in his southern Illinois home. The 86-year-old Belleville Democrat spent more than four decades in public office - 30 years in state government before going...
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