Livestock

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.

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

A program designed to teach elementary students about agriculture and connections to the Spanish culture earned the Cambridge FFA Chapter a national award at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo.

As farmers and ranchers, our work is never just about getting the job done, but looking for the best practices and embracing innovation for whatever challenges may lie ahead.

Cabbages are not exactly the typical big university landscaping, but at Northern Illinois University, cabbages — and other vegetables, fruits and herbs — are the first step in what could be a food revolution.

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.

The best option for adding sheep or goats to an operation is to purchase from a reputable breeder.

The annual National Milk Producers Federation Dairy Product Judging Contest recently wrapped up and it was a successful year for Prairie Farms Dairy.

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program released Environmental Stewardship Version 3 supporting the dairy community’s efforts to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition announced the continuation of its free Pasture Walk series for livestock producers, with upcoming fall dates planned across the state.

As farmers face tight profit margins, organizations like the United Soybean Board are working hard to maximize market opportunities for U.S. soy.

A soybean’s versatile chemical composition makes it ideal for a range of uses — from biodiesel to soy crayons and many goods in between.

Benzimidazoles, or white dewormers, are an important tool for managing internal parasites in cattle, but it’s essential to use this dewormer class correctly.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $1.5 billion investment for 92 partner-driven conservation projects, including one in Illinois and Indiana, through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

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.

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

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney will be the opening general session speaker at CattleCon 2025, Feb. 4-6, in San Antonio.

Examples of typical and not-so-common cover crops used in corn and soybean rotations were featured in a recent plot tour on the Farm Progress Show grounds.

Agricultural economic activity has been flat to down modestly since early September, with some crop prices remaining unprofitably low.

Kipster, the nation’s first carbon-neutral egg brand, won the 2024 Good Egg Award hosted by Compassion in World Farming.

For more than 30 years, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has offered the annual Redbook to help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts.

We are in that tough phase between decent residue grazing and great stockpile grazing. It is the hardest time of the year for grazing management.

What a great harvest we had, huge crop and great weather to harvest in. Aside from the dusty road conditions, I do not recall an easier harvest ever.

Once again, no shortage of things to do on the farm and couple that with the planning and office work that continues to be done, there won’t be much time for rest or slacking.

If you buy nearly two billion pounds of beef a year — an on-the-hoof equivalent of seven million cattle — you’d think you’d get the best deal ever from your suppliers. Think again, says McDonald’s.

The Fort Wayne TinCaps and Indiana Pork are donating nearly 2,300 meals of ground pork to the Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana.

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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $58 million available for marketing assistance to eligible organic dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program.

The Beef Quality Assurance training and certification program will be offered at 11 sites in Indiana.

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.

With the current crises we face on all fronts, foreign and domestic, we need a strong leader and God’s help to get us through.

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.

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation is accepting applications for the 2025 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry.

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

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.

FFA students can explore future job opportunities at the National FFA Convention, thanks to Career Success Tours.

For more than 30 years, Cattlemen’s College sponsored by Zoetis has provided cattle producers with valuable information to help improve their herds and businesses.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is reminding students of internship opportunities available for the spring 2025 semester.

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.

Who would have thought that hurricanes would impact Illinois weather so much, but that is what has happened. Not just one, but two of those storms made their way to southern Illinois with ample amounts of rain.

Dairymen can reduce the methane produced by their cows with the addition of the feed ingredient Bovaer to the ration.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced up to $7.7 billion in assistance for fiscal year 2025 to help agricultural and forestry producers adopt conservation practices on working lands.

Like farmers and ranchers, veterinarians love to pour concrete. Many build customized facilities dedicated to their animal health mission: examination rooms, operating theaters, cattle chutes, holding pens, loading docks.

Dairy Management Inc. has launched www.dairycheckoff.com to more effectively communicate the full national and local impact of the dairy checkoff to farmers and importers.

Prairie Farms Dairy announced the acquisition of the SmithFoods manufacturing facilities in Orrville in northeast Ohio.

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

Over its 50-year history, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s causes may have shifted, but it has never lost its focus on advocating for local farmers and communities.

Seedstock breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2025 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale.