As we gather this Fourth of July, it’s worth remembering and mentioning that the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply in the world happens because farmers and ranchers continue showing up every day despite the challenges.

The history of the United States is written in every row of crops, pasture and dairy barn from sea to sea.

The latest projections highlight the challenges farmers continue to face as input costs remain elevated with historically low commodity prices.

From weaning and transportation to commingling and even changes in weather, cattle move through a series of stressful events that can challenge their immune functions.

Four outstanding FFA members involved with raising livestock, conducting research projects and painting farm equipment were named top in the state during the Stars Over Illinois Ceremony.

Detection and containment methods have improved since New World screwworm was previously in the United States — but eradication could take significant time, cautions Jim Henry.

Data centers create both economic opportunities and resource pressures, particularly around land, water and energy.

Indiana sits at the intersection of human health, animal health and plant science — a rare concentration of expertise where breakthrough science creates real-world impact.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of New World screwworm in Texas and New Mexico, sounding the alarm for producers across the country to be cautious and keep an eye out for the pest.

As cases of New World screwworm spread and threaten the beef and cattle industry, the Trump administration is rolling out a familiar playbook: Blame former President Biden.

My oldest granddaughter received her State FFA Degree. Less than 2% of all Illinois FFA members meet the requirements to earn the honor.

June seems to go by so fast every year. I think I am going to slow summer down and accomplish so many things and then it is already July Fourth.

Few special ag interests today slide on more lard than the nation’s highly integrated pork giants.

In today’s technology-driven dairy industry, one principle remains unchanged: comfortable cows are productive cows.

As I walked through the exhibits and visited with producers, industry leaders and exhibitors at the 2026 World Pork Expo, I couldn’t help but reflect on how dramatically pork production has evolved over the years.

A look at women whose contributions significantly shaped agriculture — trailblazers at the national, state or local level — is illuminating.

From supporting rural communities to marketing products internationally, the Illinois Department of Agriculture provides a wide range of programs.

Pastures are looking pretty good so far, but rainfall will determine how successful the grazing season turns out.

The past two to three weeks have been a frenzy of synchronization and breeding protocols, enough to make your head spin and hard to keep up with.

A 3-week old calf in South Texas has been confirmed to be infected with New World screwworm.

There are many current issues important to Illinois cattlemen including the development of a new farm bill.

Top-performing dairies don’t just identify the cows that need attention. They act on that information immediately.

The dairy cow is only as efficient as the system that feeds her and it all starts in the rumen.

Exceptional FFA members from across the state who have developed extensive Supervised Agricultural Experience projects will be highlighted during the 98th annual Illinois FFA State Convention, set for June 9-11.

These five students have been selected district winners for the Star in Agribusiness award after an extensive process of evaluating the students and their record books.

The winner of the Star in Agricultural Placement award will be announced during the Wednesday afternoon session of the Illinois FFA State Convention starting at 2 p.m.

Three district winners for the Star in Agriscience award will be honored on the stage of the Illinois FFA State Convention.

USDA is forecasting a rise in U.S. consumption of beef, pork and chicken in 2026 — all staples for summertime cookouts, says Jim Henry.

Monitoring and measuring key performance indexes of dairy herds can be useful for making management decisions.

With corn and soybean planting finished, Chad Bell is focusing on evaluating the stands and completing tissue sampling and soil testing.

It’s never been so expensive for Americans to buy a steak or hamburger, but cutting those costs requires ranchers like Stephanie Hatzenbuhler to raise more cattle — and that’s not an easy ask.

The Mexican cattle industry has been hit hard by New World screwworm fly larvae infestations, and the United States has closed the border since July to imports of cattle, bison and horses.

Livestock producers prefer to prevent rather than treat sickness. The goal is to minimize the risk of animals getting sick, thereby reducing the need for treatment.

Farmers are constantly looking for better ways to care for our crops, protect our animals and keep our farms sustainable for the next generation.

Once sheared and the fleece is flipped over to reveal the underside, the true color shows through. This is especially true with the light gray Shetlands in the flock.

I expect next fall the replacement ewe lambs to be setting price records with the great demand we’ve encountered.

Farming is a gamble every year when challenged by the weather and the cost of crop inputs, so there is no thought of gambling the future of the farm away at the casino.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition and the Illinois Forage and Grassland Council will host the 2026 Heart of America Grazing Conference on July 15–16 in Effingham.

A Livestock Summit will be held June 23 in Indianapolis in an effort to strengthen collaboration across the value chain and highlight innovations that support producers.

Lactating dairy cattle bring shipped out of Indiana no longer need to be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza prior to shipment, according to a recently announced policy from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Progesterone is a hormone that can be tracked and monitored to help dairy farmers improve the reproductive performance of their cows.

Getting heifers developed, inseminated early and confirmed pregnant plays a significant role in the lifetime productivity of beef and dairy cows.

Today’s dairies generate more data than ever — from herd management software to monitoring systems, parlors and sort gates.

Lallemand Animal Nutrition, a global leader in microbial solutions for animal health and performance, announced the opening of applications for its 12th annual Lallemand Scholarship Program.

These super-high prices we are experiencing all across the beef industry leave one unanswered question on every producer’s mind: When will it all end?

We are nearly a month now post-inaugural production sale. All the nervousness and concerns were brushed aside, as the sale in all facets turned out to be a great success.

As we continue the great ride with cattle prices we still must do some things well to be as profitable as possible.

Indiana Farm Bureau awarded five scholarships to incoming or current college students pursuing careers in agriculture.

Silage management is key to providing high-quality feed for dairy herds.

Planting corn and soybeans on Bell Family Farms has started for the 2026 growing season.