Have you had a near-miss on the farm? Did it leave you shaken up or preparing a plan for next time? Kevin Frye, GROWMARK’s safety services manager, details the WW2 bombing of Boise City, Oklahoma and the importance of not ignoring close calls. READ MORE

Illinois Farm Bureau has announced the 23 county Farm Bureau recipients of the Nutrient Stewardship Grants and Pollinator Conservation Grants. Those Farm Bureaus will collaborate on 17 Nutrient Stewardship Grant projects. In addition, 22 county Farm Bureaus will work together on 11 Pollinator Conservation Grant projects. Find out which counties received grants and details on their projects.

The efforts made by Illinois farmers and other ag stakeholders to significantly reduce nutrient loss across the state’s watersheds were spotlighted at a recent meeting of the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force. Illinois Farm Bureau’s Lauren Lurkins showcased nearly $3 million in investments from IFB to address statewide water quality and meet goals of the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. She said the 140 projects across 70 county Farm Bureaus are “serving as a model for agriculture and environmental stakeholders in neighbor states.” READ MORE

What’s your go-to fish order at a restaurant? You might not say Copi, but you should. Through Sorce Freshwater Co.’s research, it turns out Copi is the most consumed fish in the world, except in the United States. Roy Sorce, president/owner of Sorce Freshwater Co. in East Peoria, says the odor-free white fish is quite versatile and the second-healthiest fish in the world. “Our most popular is the minced products and strips. They can be utilized in many recipes including chili, fish tacos, or as fried or baked items.” Learn how you can jump on the Copi boat.

Jim Jacobs, CEO of COUNTRY Financial, was recently inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Graduating from Chenoa High School in 1984, he finished his career as the all-time leading scorer with 2,069 points and was the top rebounder with 1,156. He shared memories of playing basketball in the driveway as a kid, the biggest lessons he took away from the sport and a recap of COUNTRY Financials’ 2022 year. LISTEN HERE

Congress delivered a bill to President Joe Biden Thursday that will fund a number of inland waterway and ecosystem restoration projects across Illinois over the next two years. The $38 billion Water Resources Development Act of 2022 authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to update locks and dams, operate dredges and perform other river maintenance. FarmWeek’s Timothy Eggert breaks down some of the construction and feasibility studies that will impact the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. READ MORE