Illinois is one of four states granted an emergency waiver from federal fuel regulations following a fire at a BP oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana. What does the waiver mean to residents? High volatility gasoline can be sold during the summer months. “Illinois corn farmers hope Midwest consumers will be pleased at the price and the emissions when they fill up with E15 fuel,” said Marty Marr, president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. READ MORE  

Propane supplies could tighten into fall and winter. That’s why Michael Newland of the Propane Education and Research Council encourages farmers to lock in prices now. “Farmers should have that conversation as soon as they can with their (propane) supplier so they know how many acres you have and what your harvest plan is,” Newland told the RFD Radio Network at the Farm Progress Show. READ MORE

Below average is a good thing, at least when it comes to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. Low flow from the Mississippi River contributed to a smaller-than-average hypoxia zone — an area where there’s too little oxygen to support aquatic life in the Gulf — the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently reported. READ MORE

The Lake Decatur Watershed covers nearly 600,000 acres in seven counties, with about 87% of the watershed devoted to row crop production. Nutrient loss is a primary concern for the watershed, and farmers attending the Macon and Piatt County Farm Bureau Nutrient Stewardship Field Day learned ways to effectively help preserve the watershed. Learn about the opportunities shared during the event.

The 800-pound butter cow was unveiled Wednesday, just ahead of the opening of the Illinois State Fair. Made of recycled butter, the sculpture by Iowan Sarah Pratt is in the shape of a cow munching on a sunflower. This year’s fair theme, “Grow with Us,” is a nod to the state’s agriculture industry as well as improvements at the fairgrounds. READ MORE

“As I look to 2023, I see more of the same challenges we experienced so far in 2022.” — Jeff Bunting, GROWMARK’s vice president of crop protection, about ag input supplies   Communication with ag input suppliers is key this fall as supplies of some products remain tight, and prices of many products could remain volatile. Prices could remain under pressure for everything from diesel to propane as the U.S. competes in a world market and exports of energy products remain strong. GROWMARK leaders discussed ag inputs and current supply chain dynamics during the cooperative’s 2022 System Summit.