Corn and soybeans have long been king in the Midwest. But those aren’t the only two crops grown there. The growth of industrial hemp and the craft-beer industry has opened a need for increased crop production. (The Pantagraph)

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has received $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to advance data training resources through statewide collaborations. (The Telegraph)

China’s latest ban of British beef imports over a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the UK last month could be potentially damaging for future trade with the country, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. (Food Manufacture)

It may take some time for area farmers to get the grins off their faces this fall as a perfect storm has hit the Kankakee County region. This storm has little to do with high winds or heavy rain. Rather, it is a collision of abundant corn and soybean harvests and high grain prices. It will mean a highly profitable year for farmers and the agriculture industry as a whole. (Daily Journal)  

The extended climb in oil prices is leaving some other industrial commodities behind, a divergence that reflects bets that energy supply shortages will offset any slowdown in the global economy. (Wall Street Journal)

Two zebras that escaped from a suburban Chicago pumpkin farm had travelers on a state highway doing double takes as the exotic animals hit the road during their brief taste of freedom. (Chron)