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1 month ago | 
farmprogress.com | Betty Haynes
It’s not every day that Illinois farmers have one of their own leading the charge at a national commodity organization, but Kenneth Hartman Jr. is doing just that. The fifth-generation Waterloo farmer and 2021 Prairie Farmer Master Farmer is serving as president of the National Corn Growers Association. To say Hartman is well-versed in both the rewards and challenges of the agricultural landscape is an understatement.
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1 month ago | 
farmprogress.com | Betty Haynes
A few weeks ago, I read a letter posted on Facebook by an Illinois parent. The letter originated from the family’s doctor, explaining that the family had been dropped as patients for not following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine schedule. In the Facebook post, the parent explained they had declined a vaccine for their child after researching links to the development of a disease, which a member of their family has.
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1 month ago | 
farmprogress.com | Holly Spangler |Betty Haynes
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2 months ago | 
farmprogress.com | Betty Haynes
I was pregnant with my first daughter in 2021. It was shortly after the height of COVID-19 hysteria, and experts speculated how the illness would impact pregnant women and babies, both in the short and long term. I felt scared and small and helpless against the weight of sheltering in place, vaccine recommendations and social media horror stories. The heaviness unleashed a monster within me that I didn’t know existed.
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Jan 21, 2025 | 
farmprogress.com | Betty Haynes
Conservation isn’t just a fad for Chandlerville, Ill., farmers Luke and Morgan Clark. It’s good farming. The Clarks farm 8,100 acres of corn, soybeans, pumpkins, popcorn, potatoes and beets. Most of that ground is irrigated sand in Mason County, requiring the Clarks to rely heavily on minimum tillage and cover crops to keep their topsoil intact. “We always put cover crops behind the pumpkins because the sand will blow,” Luke says.
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Jan 5, 2025 | 
farmprogress.com | Betty Haynes
You know how they say cows calve in bad weather? I can confirm that the same is true for humans. And like many farmers, my husband, Dan, loves comparing my pregnancy to those of his livestock. Being compared to a cow probably should offend me, but I actually find comfort in his abilities. It’s reassuring to know that if I were to go into labor at home, Dan has some experience safely delivering mammals. “I’ve delivered hundreds of calves — it can’t be that different,” Dan says. And he might be right.
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Dec 17, 2024 | 
farmprogress.com | Holly Spangler |Betty Haynes
Slideshow: Nearly 1,800 farmers and staff gathered in Chicago last week for the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Check out this slideshow, plus a roundup of election results, policy news and awards. Nearly 1,800 members and staff gathered Dec. 7-9 in Chicago for the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, which included the Young Leader Discussion Meet, elections, many awards, and a delegate session and annual meeting.
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Dec 2, 2024 | 
farmprogress.com | Betty Haynes
We moved this week. It was weird and emotional and difficult. But it was also amazing. I’ve written before expressing grief and frustration with time. Time is fleeting and may sometimes feel cruel, watching those we love most age and pass from this world, taking with them memories that will never be replicated. But today I’m here to say that time can also be beautiful. One year agoOn January 15, 2024, my husband and I toured the house I’m sitting in.
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
dtnpf.com | Betty Haynes
Illinois Farmer Provides Drone Spraying Tips 11/27/2024 | 7:02 AM CST It's not uncommon to hear the signature buzz of a drone in the countryside. Drone spraying has steadily increased in popularity for both farmers and commercial applicators; but are they a good fit for everyone? Augusta, Illinois, farmer Brady Holst started spraying with drones in 2020 and never looked back.
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Nov 14, 2024 | 
farmprogress.com | Betty Haynes
Interest in regenerative agriculture may be on the rise, but it’s no secret that breaking out of the convention model involves risk. “Every farmer I’ve talked to wants to do better for their land, community and families,” says Emily Heaton, University of Illinois crop sciences professor.
