Illinois Farmer Today

ILFT is a weekly publication that delivers essential updates and information to farmers of crops and livestock in the Midwest region.

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Vilsack: USDA should help farmers diversify operations, revenue

3 days ago | agupdate.com | Erin Murphy

By Erin Murphy, Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau INDIANOLA, Iowa — With large farm operations dominating agriculture and small, family farms growing ever smaller in number, Tom Vilsack, the former national ag secretary and Iowa governor, is proposing more sustainable farming practices and partnerships between agriculture and the public and private sectors.
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

3 days ago | agupdate.com | John Sumwalt

John SumwaltFor Agri-View Reading Gary Jones’ wonderful farm memoir, “Ridge Stories: Herding Hens, Powdering Pigs, and Other Recollections from a Boyhood in the Driftless,” brought back memories of the winter my family lived on the very same ridge in Willow Township of Richland County, Wisconsin. It was 1957, the year I turned 6. I had just learned to tie my shoes and was looking forward to beginning first grade.
Iowa farmer sues over wind-turbine fires

4 days ago | agupdate.com | Clark Kauffman

By Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch A Cedar County farmer is suing a manufacturer of wind turbines, alleging three turbine fires scattered debris over hundreds of acres of land, damaging his crops. Alan Weets of Mechanicsville is suing Nordex USA, which does business as Acciona Windpower North America and Anchor Wind, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
Soybean demand remains relatively good

4 days ago | agupdate.com | Mark Conlon

Despite the fact the U.S. is not selling any soybeans to China right now because of the imposed tariffs, demand for U.S. beans has been relatively good. “Soybeans have been kind of back and forth (because) of what we’ve been seeing happen there.
Durum market remains steady into early May

5 days ago | agupdate.com | Mark Conlon

Despite a lot of uncertainty surrounding the economy and tariffs, the durum market has remained relatively steady in terms of prices. Current cash bids are still in the $6.75 to $7 range and new crop prices range from $6.50 to $6.75, according to Erica Olson, market development and research manager for the North Dakota Wheat Commission. “Really, the lack of movement this time of year is not unusual because, obviously, producers are in the fields and there’s not much selling going on.
Conservationist upgrades Iowa family farm

6 days ago | agupdate.com | Tim Kenyon

CASCADE, Iowa — Third-generation farmer Lillie Beringer-Crock is focused on the future. Soon after she graduated in 2018 from Iowa State University, she returned to her family’s Cascade farm in southern Dubuque County, Iowa, near the Jones County border. She lives there with her husband, Brian, and their toddler, Tripp. She rents about 250 acres annually from her parents, John and Sheila Beringer. Brian Crock runs his family’s cattle operation near Tipton.
Gardening back to the basics: the birds and the bees

6 days ago | agupdate.com | Kristen Sindelar

When talking about the birds and the bees of plant reproduction, the stork is not making the delivery. From a scientific standpoint, the process of pollination is complex, involving different types of pollination and pollinators, varying plant structures and perfect timing. Dr. Emily Stine, Nebraska Extension educator based in Scottsbluff, has a more basic definition.
Soy complex pressure influences sunflower

6 days ago | agupdate.com | Mark Conlon

Favorable conditions and good planting progress has put the soy complex in the U.S. under pressure and that, in turn, impacts the sunflower market. Nearby sunflower prices were unchanged to up 30 cents with new crop prices unchanged at the crush plants for the week ending May 2.
Use safety when driving off-road vehicles

1 week ago | agupdate.com | Pat Melgares |K-State Research

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension As weather warms, the use of off-road vehicles becomes more common on farms and ranches. Tawnie Larson, the program manager for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, said All-Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, and Utility Task Vehicles, UTVs, are “essential tools on farms and ranches.”“But they also pose significant risks if not used properly,” Larson said.
Fishing from home

1 week ago | agupdate.com | Brent Olson

I admit, this is a lot of bother for a fresh fish. We have a half-acre pond on our farm, dating back to when I was a hog farmer. You don’t want to know what it was used for, just that now, 30 years later, it’s full of fresh clean water. I’ve been toying with the idea of dumping some bluegills in it so I have something to entertain me in my declining years. I understand that Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes, many of which are full of fish.