Everyone can point to that year in their lives – the year when 23 inches of snow blanketed the state, the year an EF3 tornado ripped through a rural community, or the first holiday without mom or dad. There are some years that stick out more than most. Last December, I called on everyone in […]
By Richard Guebert Jr. Illinois farmers have wrapped up planting the No. 1 and No. 2 crops Illinois is known for, soybean and corn. While farmers markets and u-pick operations pick up their production, corn and soybean farmers wait for timely rains to grow the crops. For Illinois Farm Bureau, summer is an extremely busy […]
As we head into the new year, I am excited for efforts to make 2023 the “Year of the Farmer.” Illinois Farm Families, a coalition composed of the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Beef, Corn, Pork, Soybean and Midwest Dairy Associations, is also launching a major campaign to build trust in family farmers. One major […]
By Richard Guebert Jr. The nip in the air of a cool fall morning and crunch of leaves underfoot are hallmark characteristics of autumn weather in Illinois. For many Illinoisans, these indicators prompt a visit to a local pumpkin patch or apple orchard. For farmers, they mean it’s time to head to the field down […]
By DANIEL GRANT FarmWeek Illinois appears well positioned to maintain its recent run as the top soybean producing state in the nation. While soybean plantings fell more than 2 million acres short of expectations in USDA’s June 30 acreage report nationwide, the Ag Department raised soybean plantings by 200,000 acres in Illinois compared to the […]
The icy winter temps in the Midwest mean a slow season for many. But for Illinois farmers like me, it’s the time of year to plan for the spring planting season. Many in agriculture are already feeling the strain of rising input costs and fractured supply chains because of the ongoing pandemic. Farmers are worried […]
By Katie Zelechowski Illinois Farm Bureau Most drivers know the feeling of running late for an important meeting or event and how tempting it can be to speed up to shave a bit of time off the commute. But as fall weather rolls into Illinois this season, so does farm equipment used during harvest. Sparing […]
By Richard Guebert Jr. The summer of 2021 includes a long to-do list as restrictions have been lifted and people take to the roads for summer vacations and family reunions. While we missed many events in 2020, we also learned a lot in our 15 months of being cooped up. Now is a good […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
