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We are down to the short rows of 2024. Winter is upon us. Christmas is days away. The older I get, the more quickly the days, weeks, months and years pass by.

The general manager of locally-owned ethanol plant was the recipient of the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s Ethanol Award.

As nights get longer and the days darker, it’s no wonder so many holiday traditions involve lights, from the Hanukkah menorah to strings of Christmas tree lights to Kwanzaa candles.

Dairy Management Inc., the planning and management organization that oversees the national dairy checkoff program on behalf of America’s dairy farmers and importers, has posted its 2023 annual report.

I asked my wife, “What have I done in the last 30 days?” She said, “Praying for rain, moving sheep and praying for rain.” I’m still praying for rain.

Growing specialty crops including vegetables, pumpkins, gourds, mums and gladioli have developed into award-winning projects for Ty Steffen.

The Indiana Corn Husking Association is gearing up for its annual Indiana State Hand Corn Husking Competition, set to take place in Nappanee.

The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life — encompassing pregnancy through the child’s second birthday — is a critical period for brain development.

Back-to-back storms delivered just enough rain to delay a second herbicide application, but plenty of other projects remain on Aaron Rients’ to-do list.

I have heard that you should not discuss politics, religion or money with friends and family. Apparently, some people are incapable of discussing these topics without fighting. I am not one of those people.

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

For Luke Schneider, military veteran, former firefighter and founder of Fire Department Coffee, the mission of his coffee company goes deeper than just a great cup of joe.

If it sounds like the Dixon Police Department was taking summertime fun seriously, that is because they were. And they had the viral social media posts to show for it.

Kyle Kellen doesn’t fly around Lee County in a traffic helicopter, but even so, when he’s off duty and out in public, he’s most likely to be recognized as the road-report deputy.

Did the reaction to COVID-19 change the way you communicate? I have asked that question several times since March 2020, when the world as we knew it rocked on its axis for a bit.

The Illinois Soybean Association announced the selection of six respected crop advisers and agronomists to serve as ILSoyAdvisor Soy Envoys for the 2024 growing season.

An organization comprised of classic John Deere tractor enthusiasts is raising funds for Lake Land College scholarships.

The locomotive of a cargo train derailed in northern Colorado, spilling hundreds of gallons of diesel, authorities said.

More than 800 exhibitors will be featured at this year’s National Farm Machinery Show at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville Feb. 14-17.

One of my annual routines to kick off a new year is to replace our big family calendar that is posted in our mudroom and begin filling it out.

From farm to freezer, the beef from M5 Family Farms is known for being high quality.

Illinois Farm Families’ “We Are the 96%” campaign will resume paid advertising opportunities in January and February, concluding with a Super Bowl commercial for Illinois audiences on Feb. 11.

The Illinois agriculture industry would not be where it is today without the hard work, time and efforts put forth by passionate leaders. In appreciation of these leaders’ efforts, the Illinois Soybean Association created its annual Achievement Awards.

The months seem to pass so quickly, especially when I realize that it’s the first Friday and this writing is due again. I sure hope that what I write is worthwhile to you, the reader. In today’s information overload, everything is deemed to be “content.”

Stopping by Clavin Dairy Farm, chances are you’ll see three generations of the family milking cows. “I started milking when I was 7 years old and my girls probably started a little bit earlier,” said Leanne Casner.

For the farmers of Will and Kankakee counties who volunteer with Wreaths Across America, the time and labor to receive, unload and transport over 10,000 Christmas wreaths to a national cemetery goes beyond a good deed.

The United Auto Workers union expanded strikes against Detroit automakers, ordering 7,000 more workers to walk off the job in Illinois and Michigan to put more pressure on the companies to improve their offers.

August is the month for maintenance jobs and preparing for harvest on Chris Gould’s farm. “We finished sweeping out the bins so the wheat and corn are all gone,” he said.

World Dairy Expo announced it will remain in Madison hosting the global dairy industry at the Alliant Energy Center the first week of October through 2028.

Summertime on the farm is in full effect. We seem to awaken a bit earlier with the sun to accomplish tasks before the heat of the day sets in. We also seem to go to bed much later to take advantage of the extra daylight.

As I pen this column, farmers are farming like nobody’s business. Spring planting is going strong across much of the Midwest.

Amanda Johnson of Nebraska is the grand prize winner of the National Corn Growers Association’s 2022 Fields-of-Corn photo contest.

A western Illinois couple died in an apparent ice fishing accident after being pulled from a farm pond by a sheriff’s deputy, police said.

I am an unabashed fan of the “Yellowstone” TV series on the Paramount Network. I have seen every episode — many of them two or three times.

My social media platforms have been littered with posts about the expectations of a harsh winter ahead. From images of caterpillars to persimmons to posts from The Old Farmer’s Almanac, folks are convinced we’re going to experience near-hostile weather conditions this winter.

Customers shopping at the Family Farm Meats store will find a wide variety of products and the farmer at the counter ready to answer questions about their meat purchase.

It is hot. It is dry. The earth is thirsty, and the forecast holds little promise of relief. Fuel prices are high, and parts and services once readily available are now much more expensive than they were last year or, as is the case more frequently, unavailable entirely.

For exactly three seconds one morning last week, I felt like sixth-grade me who was one of the last picked for the dodgeball team in grade-school physical education class.

The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety has been promoting safety on the farm for 25 years.

Fertilizer applications are important for producing quality hay. “Our ground is not the best, so if you want a crop you’ve got to fertilize,” said Steve Degner during a panel discussion at the Forages for Feed meeting presented by the Illinois Forage and Grassland Council.

The auction business was forced to pivot quickly in its methods of selling farmland when the pandemic hit in 2020.

Since Ava Marshall is part of a farm family, she thought she was well-versed in agriculture until she attended the Women Changing the Face of Agriculture event.

For a few frenzied weeks, beekeepers from around the United States truck billions of honeybees to California to rent them to almond growers who need the insects to pollinate the state’s most valuable crop.

“My Drone’s View Returning Home” is the grand prize winner of the 2021 National Corn Growers Association Fields-of-Corn photo contest. The picture was taken via drone by Todd Wachtel of Illinois.

It finally arrived — National FFA Week. From Feb. 19-26, FFA chapters and members are celebrating the organization that has helped exhibit premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

The iconic “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” brand, managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and funded by the Beef Checkoff, announced a new partnership with celebrity athlete and former football star Tony Romo at the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention.

World Dairy Expo has named Laura Herschleb as the WDE general manager. Herschleb will begin her duties on Feb. 28 as current General Manager Scott Bentley prepares to retire.

An Illinois family has solved the mystery of what happened to their missing cat that likes to sit on horses and donkeys.