farmdoc dailyA Jacksonville High School journalism class was given a check for $450 from the Illinois Press Foundation and Illinois Farm Bureau Mini-Grant program Wednesday. (Journal Courier)
In the wake of pandemic disruptions, even big meatpacking states are exploring ways to create smaller, regional alternatives to our highly centralized meat industry. (Politico)
The spotted lanternfly might look beautiful, but if you see one in person, officials want you to kill it immediately and then report it. What misfortune has befallen this one-inch insect with two sets of spotted, banded wings? Turns out the spotted lanternfly is a federally regulated invasive pest. (NBC Chicago)
Agriculture group New Cooperative group was hit by a ransomware attack over the weekend, potentially endangering operations of a company key to the agricultural supply chain. “Out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively taken our systems offline to contain the threat, and we can confirm it has been successfully contained,” the spokesperson said. (The Hill)
In this week’s USDA Illinois Crop Progress Report, there were 6.6 days suitable for field last week around the state. Illinois’ average temperature was 73.2 degrees last week, that’s 7.0 degrees above normal. The statewide precipitation averaged nearly 2 tenths (0.18) last week, 0.71 inches below normal. (WSEI)
Ida disrupted grain and soybean shipments from the Gulf Coast, which accounts for about 60% of U.S. exports, at a time global crop supplies are tight and demand from China is strong. Now, the storm’s ripple effects are hampering production and movement of some fertilizers and crop chemicals ahead of U.S. harvest. (Reuters)
