Funding recently awarded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service will allow the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition to expand “Building Illinois Grazing.” The project will organize educational and peer networking opportunities for farmers who have not made a profitable transition to a regenerative, adaptive-management, intensive rotational grazing system. Read more  

Simply planting Bt corn may not be enough to control corn rootworms for this and coming crop seasons, particularly in areas with continuous corn. Nick Tinsley, BASF technical field representative, advises farmers to not only keep using Bt traits, but to also practice crop rotation and consider using seed and soil insecticides like Poncho 1250 and Nurizma. Read more

Populations of the most economically damaging insect pest of corn in Illinois are growing, especially species resistant to Bt corn. Nick Seiter, research assistant professor at the University of Illinois Department of Crop Sciences, and Joe Spencer, principal research scientist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, shared ways farmers can defend their crop. Read more

Tillamook Creamery was formed in 1909 as a way for farmers to get their dairy products to market in the Portland area. The company recently purchased the former Prairie Farms Dairy plant in Decatur. Mike Bever, Tillamook Creamery’s executive vice president of operations, discusses the company’s history, growth and plans for the new plant in this interview with RFD’s Rita Frazer. LISTEN HERE

Hear about the successes and challenges of implementing cover crops during an April 21 field at Illinois State University’s research farm. Participants will tour cover crop plots of pennycress, cereal rye, wheat and other species, learn about their impacts on farm profit and more. Read more

The Illinois State Treasurer’s Ag Invest Program has loaned more than $1 billion to farmers and agriculture professionals across the state. Since 2015, the year State Treasurer Michael Frerichs took office, the program has supported more than 5,000 agriculture borrowers and partnered with more than 35 financial institutions Read more