By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The state Department of Agriculture is shedding a little light on how it came up with this year’s attendance numbers for the Illinois State Fair. It’s a sophisticated formula under industry-accepted standards, says ag director Jerry Costello. “The formula and the standards that are used are formulas and standards that…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The world’s grain buyers have descended upon Illinois. Accompanying forty guests from seven nations on a two-day tour of all things corn and soybeans in the state, Illinois Department of Agriculture director Jerry Costello answers the question, how does one measure the success of the tour? “The traditional way would…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – This year’s Illinois State Fair set some new records. Nearly 637,000 people visited the State Fair Springfield last month, an all time record says spokesperson Krista Lisser. She says the gorgeous weather was a big factor. “We also had great family entertainment,” said Lisser. “While it all depends on the…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.1 days suitable for field work during the week ending September 18, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 68.2 degrees, 1.6 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.50 inches, 0.35 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 10 percent very short, 14 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 15…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – First round voting to find the state’s best pork chop sandwich is underway in the Illinois High School Association’s and Illinois Pork Producers Association’s (IPPA) Pork and Pigskins Championship. 58 contenders will look to advance out of the first round into the Savory 16. Voting is currently open online here.…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending September 11, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 69.9 degrees, 0.1 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.79 inches, 0.10 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 4 percent very short, 24 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 2…… MORE
In the pumpkin capital of the world, farmers are feeling the pinch of the high cost of fertilizer and a labor shortage. … MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.5 days suitable for field work during the week ending September 4, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 72.6 degrees, 0.9 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.36 inches, 0.57 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 9 percent very short, 21 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 4…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.0 days suitable for field work during the week ending August 28, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 72.5 degrees, 1.1 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.20 inches, 0.56 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 8 percent very short, 24 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 5…… MORE
By Dave Dahl LEROY – A program to promote ethanol and biofuels brought U.S. agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) to McLean County Tuesday. They visited the Casey’s General Store in Le Roy to discuss another $100 million for petroleum dealers to use and promote the next-generation fuels. “As we demand…… 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…