Farming

Theoretically, the warmer zone means plants that traditionally thrive in areas further south could have a better fighting chance in central Illinois. But it's not quite that simple in reality.

Peoria native Anthony Suau won awards for his photography while taking pictures for big-city dailies like the Chicago Sun-Times and Denver Post.

Regenerative agriculture and sustaining the next generation of farmers were among the topics Illinois Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II brought to the table during a wide-ranging discussion held in the Bob Michel Student Center Auditorium on the campus of Bradley University.

Mustard seed meal is a byproduct of the processing used to make condiments and other products. But when it's soaked in water, it becomes something more potent, for mosquitoes at least.

A new Precision Agriculture Technician program launching at Illinois Central College is looking to expand the horizons of student learning through machine repair and agricultural- based education.

Congress will begin negotiations on a farm bill soon. Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert says the bureau has been meeting with farmers across the state to hear their priorities.

Leaders from the state’s farm commodity groups fear that if crops don’t receive increased precipitation in the next three weeks, drought could severely affect yields and serve to push consumer food prices even higher.

While the adoption of cover crops-- defined as an overwintering crop raised for the protection and enrichment of the soil-- and other agricultural conservation practices by farmers will not completely eliminate dust storms, widespread usage of sustainable conservation practices by farmers could reduce the chances of another deadly dust storm occurring.

The end of expanded federal nutrition benefits come at a time when central Illinois food banks already were struggling to ensure everyone is fed.

FFA, the venerable youth institution formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is breaking new ground in order to keep pace with changes in technology and non-traditional agriculture related career opportunities.