Precipitation totals last month added up to the third-wettest May on record. The historically wet month has come to an end, wrapping up the fourth-wettest spring, following the sixth-wettest winter. … Read More

A bipartisan group of senators joined some Corn Belt farm groups in appealing to the Agriculture Department to ease restrictions on haying and grazing of cover crops. Crop insurance rules … Read More

Ending a second day of tense negotiations, U.S. and Mexican officials failed Thursday to reach a deal to avert import tariffs President Trump is threatening to impose Monday. The tariffs … Read More

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently extended their decision on whether monarch butterflies are a threatened or endangered species to Dec. 15, 2020. The original deadline was June 30. More … Read More

President Trump wants Congress to quickly approve his trade deal with Canada and Mexico, but his own team is divided over how to force a reluctant Democratic-controlled House to act. … Read More

HOUSE VOTE REMAINS – The Illinois state Senate approved a proposal on Wednesday to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years and older beginning on January 1, 2020. “Illinois is … Read More

Approximately 200 Illinois National Guard soldiers have been activated to assist with the state’s ongoing flood fight operations. The soldiers will assist in sandbagging operations and levee monitoring and reinforcement. … Read More

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) approved hundreds of licenses and more than 10,000 acres for industrial hemp cultivation since online applications opened May 1, said the head of IDOA’s … Read More

Illinois voters will decide next year whether to do away with Illinois’ flat rate income tax in favor of a progressive income tax. On Tuesday’s 73-44 roll call, the Democrat-led … Read More

USDA’s Crop Progress Report released Tuesday showed only 35 percent of corn had been planted as of May 26. Nearly all corn was in the ground at this time last … Read More