Farm Family Life

Voters chose to send Donald Trump, who served his first term as U.S. president from 2016 to 2020, back to the White House in the Nov. 5 national election.

National Farmers Union has sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging focus on policy priorities essential to the health and vitality of rural America and the sustainability of the nation’s agricultural system.

Thaddeus Bergschneider is excited about connecting FFA members to opportunities through partners during his year as the National FFA president.

Illinois FFA members received prestigious awards for the development of their outstanding projects during the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis.

Chef Bryan Flower hurries toward one of the raised “free-to-pick” vegetable, flower and herb beds that flank Neptune North residence and dining hall on the Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb.

All types of UV light exposure, whether they lead to a sunburn or suntan, cause damage to the skin and lead to an increased risk of skin cancer.

The saga of listeria in sliced deli lunch meat continues, month after month. The list of affected items gets longer and longer as there is now an additional company subject to recalls due to listeria.

Thanksgiving will be here soon, and while the best organizers among us may already have everything in place, most of us are probably still working through our shopping lists.

Dewaine “Dewey” Haag grinned as he recalled barely avoiding being AWOL while stationed at Fort Dix. It was a chance worth taking to move his wife, Marie, who was expecting their first child, to New Jersey.

With his eight-year commitment to the Army National Guard, Chuck Hanley was able to juggle his agriculture careers with his service.

As a high school student, Richard Siedenburg did not plan to join his dad farming, but that changed after spending time in other countries in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves.

Ron Dykstra knew from a very young age that he wanted to farm.

As a veteran, Jerry Costello II recognizes the trait in other veterans that prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Army.

Veterans Day is a time to reflect on American history and those who made it. Fighting in World War I ended with a ceasefire on the 11th hour of Nov. 11, 1918.

As the cropping year winds down in his part of Illinois, Eric Miller looked back on his two decades of farming in the central part of the state with gratitude.

Mark Seib, a grain farmer in southern Indiana, has finished soybean harvest and is closing in on corn.

A group of agricultural diplomats from around the world visited Indiana, including touring a family farm.

As stewards of farms and ranches, we know the benefits of each season for growing crops and raising livestock. Those four distinct seasons help us learn to live in the moment. Every year, we only get a few months of each one.

Here we go again. Another winter, another COVID variant. This one is called XEC, and it’s emerging as a common one right now, taking over from variant KP.3.1.1.

Harvest is on pace for the Rahn family to finish earlier in 2024 than they have in many years.

Excited members of the Yorkville Christian FFA Chapter gathered at Spirit Farms for a private concert with country artist Hailey Whitters. The chapter won the 2024 Rock the Crop contest from Firestone Ag.

If you haven’t discovered the joy of making pâte à choux yet, let me introduce you to your new holiday best friend. This pastry dough is not only simple to master, but incredibly versatile.

As Halloween approaches and the ghosts begin to roam, why not conjure up a wickedly delicious twist on a classic treat? Let’s take deviled eggs and dress them up for Halloween — Deviled Monster Eggs.

Despite the antiquated greeting and old-fashioned art style, this card has familiar Halloween icons you might see on today’s decorations: a child in costume, jack-o’-lanterns, an owl, black cats and a full moon.

An Illinois State University organics class toured a farm and milling facility to see up close the field-to-bag process.

After years of research and planning, Janie’s Mill began milling certified organic grain grown on Harold Wilken’s farm in 2017.

Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. took top honors in the National Milk Producers Federation’s annual cooperative communications contest, winning five categories and the competition’s Best in Show: Writing award.

Registration for the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention is officially open. Whether you are a seasoned attendee or thinking of joining us for the first time, this is an event you do not want to miss.

Warm, dry weather is helping farmers in northern Illinois to quickly harvest corn and soybeans with little need to run the crops through a dryer prior to storage.

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.

We hosted a farm and mill tour as part of our county’s Farm Stroll. The local University of Illinois Extension office coordinates the day with small farms and more in Boone County participating.

Have you made your Medicare decisions yet for 2025? The period for open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and by now you should have received your 2025 handbook “Medicare & You” if you’re already signed up.

The most common symptom of uterine cancer is abnormal uterine bleeding. This usually takes the form of red, pink or brown spotting.

Country singer and Illinois native Drew Baldridge will be this year’s musical talent during the Illinois Farm Bureau’s 110th annual meeting in Chicago.

The focus at Schoepp Farms LLC is to keep soil and nutrients on the land.

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

Multiple research projects focused on making a difference for cattle producers has earned Lizzie Schafer the honor of being selected a finalist for the American Star in Agriscience award.

The devastation across the South right now is heartbreaking. I know I speak for the whole Farm Bureau family when I say we are lifting our neighbors up in prayer, across the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia and Florida.

Between harvest and preparing for the state corn-husking competition, From the Fields contributor Clay Geyer has a busy October ahead of him.

Will we someday return to a more diversified Midwest agriculture economy incorporating livestock into row crop operations?

We have all but finished our harvest for the year. Corn chopping went extremely smooth with no rain delays and to my recollection only one truck needing pulled all season long — surely a record.

4-H has a greater reach than any other youth development organization — and young people need it now as much as ever before.

As the air turns crisp and the leaves start to fall, nothing ushers in the coziness of autumn like the rich, spiced aroma of pumpkin.

Changing your body’s circadian rhythm isn’t always easy, and after such a long time, it will take longer for you. But it shouldn’t be as difficult as you might fear.

How long can you stand on one leg? This balance ability is apparently a good indicator of how we’re aging — or so say several researchers.

Collecting ceramics may be seen as traditional, even old-fashioned, but there is plenty of room for eccentricity.

Regenerative farming and soil health are the focus for pastured-raised animals at Terra Vitae Farms.

I think I’m ready for winter. I say that with fingers crossed because, truly, around here you just never know, despite what the annual Almanac says.

If a piece of furniture is described as having paw or claw feet, it usually means they were carved or molded. For some pieces, like this table, furniture “legs” and “feet” can be taken literally.

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer of the bone marrow. The cells in the bone marrow, called plasma cells, stop responding as they should and make large amounts of antibodies.