More Agriculture Stories From Illinois Newsroom
SNAP-Ed pays workers so little that some qualify for food benefits themselves
CHAMPAIGN — Del Jacobs likes almost everything about her job. As a SNAP-Ed community worker in Illinois, she likes getting to know the regulars at
White House’s upcoming hunger conference could have huge policy implications for food security
WASHINGTON D.C. — For the first time since the Nixon administration, the White House will hold a conference on hunger, nutrition and health, bringing together
New climate law injects billions into agriculture conservation programs
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois State Conservationist Ivan Dozier is happy to explain the reasons why $18 billion has been set aside for United States Department of Agriculture
Biden has a $369 billion climate plan — and new advisers to get the program running
President Biden is switching up his climate team at the White House. On Friday, Biden announced his national climate adviser, Gina McCarthy, will step down.
‘It’s not for everyone.’ How Midwestern states tempt tourists with unpretentious getaways
Mount Rushmore and the Great Lakes are a couple of the Midwest’s tourism magnets, but some states have to work against their reputations to attract
13th district Republican candidate Regan Deering scores Illinois Farm Bureau endorsement
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois’ 13th district congressional race is heating up as November approaches. The newly redrawn district stretches from the Champaign-Urbana area to the Metro
Duckworth, Salvi court ag industry voters in campaign for U.S. Senate
LEXINGTON — An array of issues, ranging from biofuels and renewable energy to livestock protection and trade agreements, faced Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and
Bailey, Pritzker face off in agriculture forum with accusations of lies
LEXINGTON – The candidates for Illinois governor faced questioning about their agriculture-related policies Wednesday in an outbuilding on a McLean County farm. Gov. JB Pritzker’s
USDA secretary visits Le Roy gas station to promote money for biofuels
LE ROY – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Illinois on Tuesday to announce a new investment of $100 million for biofuel infrastructure. Sen.
Diverse Corn Belt project will explore agronomic and economic benefits of transformed crop rotations
NORMAL — Over the next five years, the Diverse Corn Belt project will be conducting research to discover opportunities that can be created from diversified
Black and brown farmers say Inflation Reduction Act breaks promise of relief for ‘past wrongs’
The massive Inflation Reduction Act has equally massive consequences for farmers of color who were promised debt relief more than a year ago. The legislation
Once a bipartisan issue, conservation has become controversial after Biden sets goal
Conservation has been a popular part of agriculture for decades. But it’s become controversial since the Biden administration announced a national conservation goal. Nebraska Gov.
Summer nights are heating up — and that’s impacting crops and livestock
Climate experts say summer nights have gotten warmer. One study found the average minimum temperature in the United States has gotten warmer by 2.5 degrees
When it comes to chemical fertilizer – less is more, new study says
Farmers can use far less chemical fertilizer — which can be expensive and harmful to the environment — and maintain high crop yields, according to
‘Red letter day’: Ag startup bought out by Bayer works closely with ISU researchers
NORMAL — A chemical and agricultural behemoth has bought a St. Louis-based startup company that works closely with Illinois State University, where researchers have worked
Southern Illinois storm spares lives, spoils soybeans
NEWTON — Parts of southern Illinois are recovering after a sudden storm dropped about ten inches of rain and hail in less than 24 hours.
Native Americans across Midwest embrace traditional foods rejected by centuries of colonization
Native American tribes and communities are creating formal programs that focus on their traditional foods to not only combat systemic food insecurity, but also connect
University of Illinois researchers lead the world’s largest study of Eastern box turtles
DANVILLE — On a sunny morning in Kennekuk County Park, researchers and veterinary students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scoured the area for Eastern
Carbon is agriculture’s latest money-maker. But is it enough to combat climate change?
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — If you take an aerial view of Jason Lay’s farm in mid-April, it would look like a green dot amid a sea
LGBTQ farmers often go unnoticed. But their perspective may help reshape agriculture
There aren’t any definite numbers about how many farmers belong to the LGBTQ community in the U.S, but many are making a point to become
July’s weather will be critical for Midwest corn farmers and, possibly, consumers
Mark Mueller sleeps anxiously this time of year. Except when it rains. The northeast Iowa farmer said the corn on his farm near Waverly is
Agriculture companies have lots of job openings in STEM fields, far from the farm
Agriculture companies are looking for people who are interested in science, and hiring managers are increasingly looking for people who don’t have traditional ag backgrounds.
War and drought are affecting the world’s wheat supply. That could mean higher prices at the grocery store
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cut off wheat exports, while drought conditions in the Great Plains will further reduce grain stocks. Reduced supplies could trickle down
Beefalo — producers say this cattle and bison crossbreed provides the best of both
The crossbreed gained some attention in the 1970s. Supporters today say there is big potential to provide better, healthier meat by combining the best qualities
War and drought are affecting the world’s wheat supply. That could mean higher prices at the grocery
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cut off wheat exports, while drought conditions in the Great Plains will further reduce grain stocks. Reduced supplies could trickle down
Champaign County survey is the first step in filling rural internet gaps
URBANA — Surveyors will start knocking on doors in rural Champaign County this weekend to ask residents if they are happy with their internet service.
One year later, farmers of color are still waiting on billions of federal relief dollars
The American Rescue Plan promised $4 billion in debt relief to “socially disadvantaged farmers.” But a swarm of lawsuits from banks and white farmers alleging
How small companies bring fast internet to rural places that telecom giants ignore
Installing fiber-optic internet in sparsely populated places like western Kansas is extremely expensive, even with government subsidies. But some smaller, local broadband providers are finding
Black farmers have lost $326 billion worth of farmland, study says
For the first time, researchers have assigned a value to the Black-owned farmland lost over the past century. Throughout the 20th century, Black farmers in
Kernza — the grain you’ve never heard of that could revolutionize farming
https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s60/audio/2022/05/kernzawebaudio.mp3 The perennial grain can produce an annual crop even as it stays in the ground for up to four years. Its deep root system
Farmers in the Plains are in ‘dire straits’ due to drought, wildfire conditions
Most of Illinois has had plenty of rain, but even with a few recent rains, much of the Great Plains are in a drought. Wildfires
Antique tractor sells for $1.47 million in Illinois, shattering the world record
The 1913 CASE 30-60 is one of just five that still exist, making the model highly sought after by antique tractor enthusiasts. A century-year-old tractor
Most farmers are climate skeptics. But it turns out improving their soil also fights climate change
This story was produced in partnership with the Food & Environment Reporting Network Climate change is not a big concern for Lin Warfel. Sure, he’s
Pork producers are taking a gamble to get more money for lobbying and lawsuits
Looking for ways to fund lobbying and legal efforts to preserve their way of business, pork producers are turning down guaranteed money that could go
Farmers turn to old-fashioned manure as fertilizer prices soar
It’s never been a better time to sell manure. “We have been inundated with calls,” said Andy Scholting, president and co-founder of Nutrient Advisors, a
People of color don’t feel welcome at many farmers markets. A new initiative aims to change that
For some Midwesterners, farmers markets are a quintessential summertime tradition touting local, healthy food and laid-back community gathering spaces. But people of color say many
As bird flu sweeps across U.S. even small, backyard flocks are at risk
In fall 2020, Leah Shaffer ordered four chickens from a Missouri hatchery — a pandemic impulse purchase to get her two children outside, she said.
The Midwest has lost 57 billion metric tons of topsoil over the last 160 years, new study finds
Farmers till their land to prepare soil for planting, but a new study published in the journal “Earth’s Future” found topsoil in the Midwest is
Not a fan of daylight saving time? Don’t blame farmers
Every spring Americans grumble about losing an hour of sleep to daylight saving time. This year the debate over changing the clocks is lingering, after
Midwest farmers worry if they’ll break even as Russia’s invasion pushes fertilizer costs higher
ST. LOUIS — Mark Scott has been farming corn and soybeans on his family’s land outside of St. Louis for more than 30 years, and
Local farmers started selling online during the pandemic. That trend is here to stay
PLEASANTVILLE, IA — When the pandemic first hit, Maureen Schletzbaum had to figure out how to sell her produce while avoiding human contact. Normally, she’d
This Midwest family lost their dog to toxic algae. So why aren’t states doing more testing?
CENTRALIA, Ill. — It was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway to celebrate Mandi Miller’s 30th birthday. She and her husband, Austin Elkins, chose
The war in Ukraine could cause a global food crisis, U of I professor warns
URBANA – Ripple effects from the war in Ukraine will likely be felt in all corners of the globe — especially when it comes to
Shuttered offices, potentially high fertilizer costs: Here’s what the situation in Ukraine means for U.S. agriculture
As Ukraine continues to fight against Russian forces, experts warned of potential fallout for the U.S. agriculture industry. On Feb. 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin
It takes tons of water to put meat on Americans’ plates. But most meat companies don’t ensure conservation in their supply chains.
Water is critical to America’s meat habit. Cows, pigs and chickens drink it. Farmers clean barns and cool animals with it. Meatpackers sanitize plants and
‘A pretty big sea change’: EPA says it will consider endangered species when approving new pesticides — without the threat of lawsuits
Before approving new pesticides for use on crops or around homes, the Environmental Protection Agency is supposed to determine what impact they’ll have on endangered
Corn ethanol is fueling our cars and climate change, study says
Congress passed the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2005, mandating a certain amount of renewable fuel – namely corn ethanol – be mixed in with traditional
As African Swine Fever plagues other countries, the U.S. works to keep it out
Al Wulfekuhle doesn’t take biosecurity lightly. The pork producer showers before he goes into a barn and again as he leaves and asks the same
U of I Chancellor Robert Jones reflects on COVID, higher tuition, agriculture and race
URBANA — For more than 5-years, Dr. Robert Jones has served as Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a native of Georgia,
The American Farm Bureau Federation claims it’s the ‘Voice of Agriculture.’ These groups beg to differ.
This story is a collaboration between Investigate Midwest and Watchdog Writers Group. The newsrooms are continuing to cover Farm Bureaus and their influence. Is there an
Indoor farming delivers super-fresh produce to cities, but its energy use creates a ‘conundrum’
Vertical farms stack rows of plants on top of each other. Those indoor farms control the lighting, water and temperature to create ideal conditions to
The air in rural areas may be just as toxic as the pollution in cities
URBANA — A new study suggests the notion of clean, country air might be misleading. Traditionally, air quality has been measured by the size of
Billions are at stake in how the government defines a place as rural
HOUSTON, Mo. — A town of 1,000 people feels like a rural place to someone from Chicago. To a person living in a town of
Small farms are producing less and facing money problems
A new U.S. Department of Agriculture report found the percentage of farms that are small and family owned remained unchanged from 2011 to 2020, holding
Energy secretary promotes infrastructure law at University of Illinois biofuel lab
URBANA – U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm stopped in Urbana on Thursday as part of her two-day tour of Illinois energy facilities. She listened
Geologists say Midwest rock formations could store carbon dioxide for ‘eons’
Two proposals for carbon pipelines throughout the Midwest would pipe carbon dioxide from dozens of ethanol plants to rock formations in North Dakota and Illinois
A new waterways definition could put farmers and environmentalists at odds
ROLLA, Mo. — Chris Brundick looks at a few inches of water running through a low lying strip of land on his 450 acres in
More agricultural guest workers came to the Midwest this year than ever before
The Midwest saw a record rise in the number of agricultural guest workers this year helping out on farms, in meatpacking plants and with landscaping
As tax dollars dry up, university ag schools turn to agribusiness dollars and industry projects
From Iowa to Oklahoma to Kansas, universities are working more closely with agribusiness in search of ways to pay for projects where tax dollars have
