By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – County estimates are out for 2022 Illinois corn and soybeans. The state really made a strong showing when it came to soybean production says crop statistician Mark Schleusener. “McLean County ranked first in the U.S. with 21.2 million bushels,” said Schleusener. “Other high soybean producing counties in Illinois include Iroquois,…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – In the year 2023, you may be taking reliable, high-speed Internet for granted. But it’s still not available in some parts of Illinois. That’s where the Illinois Broadband Lab comes in, as a creation of state agencies and universities. University of Illinois associate vice president Jeannette Tamayo says the numbers…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair has lost its corn dog king. Loved ones of Bob Vose posted to social media Monday afternoon that Vose has passed away at 94. The Vose family has been feeding fairgoers for decades. Jeff Vose, a nephew, says he believes the corn dog legacy started with…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – 2022 was a very good year for Illinois crops, so says the USDA. From its National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mark Schleusener says Illinois is Number One for soybeans, 63 bushels per acre. “NASS estimates the 2022 corn yield to be 214 bushels per acre. That is down one bushel from…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending November 20, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 28.1 degrees, 14.2 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.15 inches, 0.55 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 12 percent very short, 19 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 1…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending November 13, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 46.4 degrees, 3.8 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.11 inches, 0.61 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 11 percent very short, 17 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 1…… MORE
By Dave Dahl (USDA) – The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service has released its November crop yield forecast. Corn: Planted area is estimated at 10.8 million acres, down 2 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 10.55 million acres, is down 3 percent from 2021. Based on November 1 conditions, the Illinois corn yield…… MORE
Harvest season is wrapping up for many farmers in Central Illinois, but farming headaches continue.… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.2 days suitable for field work during the week ending November 6, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 57.9 degrees, 9.8 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.13 inches, 0.18 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 10 percent very short, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 2…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 4.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending October 30, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 52.9 degrees, 1.4 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.43 inches, 0.92 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 13 percent very short, 26 percent short, and 61 percent adequate. Subsoil…… MORE
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…