Bloomington shoppers made their way downtown for a windy first outdoor farmer’s market of the season on Saturday morning.… MORE
Category Archives: Ask The Expert: Agriculture
Crop report: Winter weather brings “concern about wheat crop”
This week’s reminder of winter should not be of much concern to Illinois farmers, according to Mark Schleusener, state statistician for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.… MORE
New bill could help small business farmers sell directly to consumers
Small business farmers across the state could soon sell directly to consumers instead of only farmers’ markets under a new Act. … MORE
Illinois corn growers are out with their legislative wish list
Illinois corn growers are out with their legislative wish lists – for both Washington and Springfield. Association president Randy DeSutter of Knox County says it’s about transportation.… MORE
From Corn to hand sanitizer: Local group donates almost 400 gallons to local schools
To help combat the COVID-19 pandemic, McLean County Ag in the Classroom is donating almost 400 gallons of hand sanitizer to schools in McLean County made from locally produced Corn.… MORE
A trans-fat-free variety of soybean is finding a new use
Soybeans. Is there anything they can’t do?… MORE
Farmers see bright spots in 2020, despite COVID-19
Amid trade wars and the Coronavirus pandemic, 2020 provided a challenging year for farmers; however, there were some bright spots.… MORE
New leadership in the White House could help commodity prices
New leadership in the White House could lead to favorable commodity prices in the future amid economic uncertainty, according to one Central Illinois commodity broker.… MORE
Cash crop harvest nearing completion
Corn and soybean harvests are almost finished and, as of Sunday, ahead of the average. The USDA crop report shows corn and soybeans 95 and 96 percent complete, respectively.… MORE
Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market lives on despite pandemic
Local farmers and vendors weren’t going to let a pandemic put a damper on fall tradition at the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market.… MORE
Blogs
Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all
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.” …
Is federal mobilization the answer?
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…
In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans
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…
Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life
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…