From the Farm: President Biden visit to O’Connor … KANKAKEE, Ill. (WCIA) — President Biden and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack visited the Kankakee area farm of Jeff O’Connor Wednesday to visit with Illinois farm leaders. “Thank farmers, you feed America, you got us through a pandemic, and you’re literally the backbone of our country,” Biden said. Last week the administration announced some initiatives to boost […]
From the Farm: Prevented planted payment CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — University of Illinois ag economist Gary Schnitkey is recommending farmers keep planting and not think twice about taking a prevented planting payment from crop insurance. “June 5 is the deadline for most of Illinois except the extreme southern counties and that is May 31,” Schnitkey said. “After that date farmers can […]
Harvest Heritage: AguCation MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — 5th graders in the Argenta-Oreana and Maroa-Forsyth districts could barely contain themselves when handed young chickens and goats at the AgUcation day. It is all coordinated by Jennifer Fink of the Macon County Farm Bureau. “Essentially, instead of inviting them out to the farm, we are bringing the farm to […]
From the Farm: Droughts CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Eric Snodgrass, the Chief Atmospheric Officer for fertilizer supplier Nutrien, says last winter’s La Nina has not departed, and that’s not good. “I would be watching out for in the central Pacific but also the Gulf of Alaska,” Snodgrass said. “Those two areas historically when we tend to have cold water, […]
From the Farm: Planting weather coming CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — After one of the coldest, wettest Aprils on record, Nutrien’s Eric Snodgrass says that will reverse beginning next week. “After we get past this weekend, the pattern opens up to a big ridge,” Snodgrass said. “It’s so funny to think by early next week we’re going to be talking about temperatures […]
From the Farm: Quail CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Chris, do you see any quail out here, anywhere? “I don’t think so,” Chris Greene said. “Haven’t heard any either.” They call out for bob white, or something like that, don’t they? “They sure do,” Greene said. You know I haven’t…. Oh, Hi, didn’t know you were with us here this […]
From the Farm: Crop chemical shortage CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Farmers favorite crop chemicals for corn and soybean production are likely going to be either expensive or unavailable. That spurred a visit with GROWMARK’s Crop protection specialist Nathan Kleczewski. What do we do if we run into a “Sorry, we don’t have that product?” “Yeah, that is something I think we’re […]
From the Farm: Oak Trees MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — The tree planting project began some weeks back when 800 trees were delivered to the Illinois State Fairgrounds, and were dispersed to over 30 counties for planting this spring. One of the leaders was Curt Sinclair of U of I Extension. “We’ve taken delivery of about 800 oak trees,” Sinclair said. […]
From the Farm: Weeds, yields and climate change CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — In comparing weather, weed pressure, and yields with each other, USDA weed specialist Marty Williams says found a concerning result. “The number one observation we saw was that you’ve got to have pretty much perfect weed control throughout the season to avoid yield loss,” Williams said. “And that came as a […]
From the Farm: Next Generation Fuels CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — When you get a new car in a few years, it will have a more potent ethanol fuel to power it, says Dave Loos of the Illinois Corn Growers. “We’ve been working really hard, pushing the Next Generation Fuels Act in Congress,” Loos said. “As you know Cheri Bustos introduced this […]
