Farming

A Manhattan farm donates all the meat it produces to veterans organizations in eight states.

A lot of people can say they have roots in Rock Falls, but not all of them can say they’ve turned them into a thriving business that’s been part of the local landscape for generations.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer a Business Structure Basics Webinar at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, via Zoom as part of the Legal Training for Illinois Small Farms Webinar Series.

People enjoy an early autumn day on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, doing the McHenry County Farm Stroll, a self-guided tour of 11 family farms in McHenry County that featured demonstrations and products for sale at eleven farms in McHenry County.

USDA reported 7% of corn was harvested across Illinois compared to 5% at the same time in 2023.

Working antique farm machinery and hands-on demonstrations are all part of the free two-day event.

Visitors to the Bos Brothers Historical Farm “Old-Fashioned Fall Harvest” on Saturday got a real taste – literally, of what field to table means. A variety of antique farm machinery in a rainbow of colors and styles, descended on the Bos Brothers Historical Farm on Springhill Road, south of Erie, to give visitors a glimpse of how farmers reaped their corn and soybeans before the days of automated, air conditioned combines aided by global positioning for field navigation.

“Managing Tight Crop Profit Margins” is a two-hour seminar designed specifically for producers to help them manage risk associated with the current commodity markets and identify market conditions to capture profit margins through this year into next.

Kalmar Kolors Alpacas, located along U.S. 30 six miles west of Morrison, is listed among the alpaca farms that will be open to visitors during the weekend.

Hosted by University of Illinois Extension, Ag Awareness Days ‘24 took 338 youths on a fast-paced, interactive, guided tour of science, engineering and technology that drive today’s farm operations.

Both districts’ growing attention to ag offerings has been spurred by two things, teachers say: the hands-on nature of ag programs and the lessons students can directly apply to their own lives.

The DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association hosted a dedication of a new historical marker Tuesday celebrating the creation of the yield monitor invented by Steve Faivre, Dave Larson and Jim Bassett. Yield monitors are standard combine equipment and give growers data on crop yields.

In the Business Structure Basics Webinar, led by staff from Farm Commons in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, producers will learn how to apply straightforward decision-making factors to their situations.

DeKalb County Community Gardens (DCCG) has received approximately $1.5 million in USDA grant funding, enabling the agency to expand access to healthy and sustainably grown foods and address the root causes of hunger, officials announced Monday,

Crop dusting planes are a common sight during the northern Illinois farming season as they fly acrobatically over DeKalb County farms.

The church is located at 22027 Polo Road, Sterling. Admission and parking are free.

Projects included in the funding are anti-violence behavioral health programs, the Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Project and a countywide economic development organization.

Sterling High School’s FFA Farmapalooza event worked to educate 2,000 students on all things agriculture Thursday, May 9, 2024.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 5 and feature live farm animals to observe and pet, hayrides, barrel train rides, farm demonstrations, food and more.

Just 1% of McHenry County residents now live on farms said Dan Volkers, McHenry County Farm Bureau manager. Its Ag Expo for third and fourth grade students in the county helps connect young people to the food and fibers grown where they live.

Annual event draws farmers from across the region.

Sunny skies greeted the crowd at the Hazelhurst Spring Consignment Auction on Saturday, April 6, 2024. A couple thousand potential buyers – and some onlookers – gathered at the 30-acre sale site between Polo and Milledgeville all day to bid on farm machinery and a lot of other “odds and ends”. Mother Nature provided the sunshine and hundreds of items for sale drew the crowd as area farmers came to sell and buy.

The City Council on Monday voted unanimously to enter into a pre-annexation agreement that would start the legal process to bring 15700 Lincoln Road into city limits, and also authorized the mayor to ratify a subdivision plat named the Tractor Supply addition.

More than 300 Illinois producers have been inducted as Master Farmers or Honorary Master Farmers over the program’s history.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the general Conservation Reserve Program starting March 4 and running through March 29, 2024.

Lee County Farm Bureau members recently participated in Illinois Farm Bureau’s traditional grassroots process during the organization’s 109th annual meeting.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen announces funding to support energy needs, lower costs.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a Democrat representing Illinois’ 17th Congressional District, has announced over $1.2 million in funding awarded to 12 rural and small businesses and agriculture producers to lower energy costs and strengthen their energy resilience.

Visitors to the John Deere Historic Site this weekend were able to learn about his legacy – developing the first commercially successful, self-coursing steel plow nearly 190 years ago – tour his home and even play some fun games during the site’s Fall Fest.

The Farm Heritage & Harvest Festival brought a taste of farm life to the Lake County Fairgrounds on Sept. 23-24.

Farm Stroll brings awareness to the county's still-dominant agriculture.

National Alpaca Farm Days, which include guests getting the chance to pet an alpaca and learn more about an animal known for its luxurious fur, celebrated at Morrison farm

Nine diverse entrepreneurial business awardees ages 18-51 were selected to share in a total of $36,000.

Day starts at 7 a.m. with a ‘good ol’ fashioned farm breakfast’ consisting of scrambled eggs, pancakes and biscuits/gravy.

Switzerland-based Syngenta Seeds’ new 100,000-square foot facility on 88 acres in Malta is on a mission to develop crops that are more resistant to disease, formidable weather or fungus for northern Illinois farmers.

The Badger State Tractor pullers put their heavy metal on display Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at the Carroll County fair.

Event was Aug. 5-6

Franklin Grove played host to several family friendly events over the weekend. The Living History Antique Equipment Association put on their annual farm equipment demonstration show and Chaplin Creek Historic Village showcased big rigs and pioneering life.

The following report covers July 3 to July 9, 2023 and is provided with assistance from the La Salle County Farm Bureau.

The Whiteside County Farm Bureau ended their farm camp week at Woodlawn Arts Academy Thursday, June 29. Campers took tours of farms and learned about the importance of agriculture.

As the Illinois drought spreads, DeKalb County farmers are nearing the turning point of their growing season – when weather is the only thing left to determine if crop yields will be bountiful.

Entering summer as drought spreads, farmers in DeKalb County are nearing the turning point of their growing season – when weather is the only thing left to determine if crop yields will be bountiful.

Abby and Shawn Sweeney will soon be opening their goat-centric farm to visitors for education and fun. The couple has several breeds of the unique creatures including the rarest breed in the world.

A Downers Grove family's rare tomato is being preserved; even in DuPage County Jail

Drought spreading across Illinois on the verge of stressing farmers’ crops with no relief in sight.

Get caught up on news, sports and features in the Sauk Valley for the week of May 7-13, 2023.

Visitors explored farm activities Thursday.

Sterling High School's FFA class held its annual Farmapalooza Thursday, May 11, 2023 on the campus. Visitors got to see farm animals, tractors and food products.

Barbara Christ started working at the family implement dealership in 1970 but changes to the agricultural landscape in McHenry County means time to walk away for Marengo woman.

Chuck Howenstine has been maple sugaring for 40 years, from an Ohio kitchen to the family's Ringwood farm, all for fun and to give away.