Indiana is encouraged to do more to preserve ag land
How “smart” is your community compared to others? If you live in Indiana, your community probably has much to learn about planning its streets and neighborhoods for the benefit of the public, including making sure agricultural land is not compromised, according to a planning expert. READ MORE
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Variable pressure by rootworms this season
Researchers are finding varying levels of corn rootworm pressure this year in Illinois. “When rootworm larvae hatch in late May or early June and the soils are saturated, they don’t do very well,” said Michael Gray, professor in the University of Illinois Department of Crop Sciences.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Test wheat grain, straw for vomitoxin before feeding to livestock
In a year when overly wet conditions and a head scab outbreak are significantly impacting the wheat crop, there is no room for assumptions that grain or straw is toxin-free and safe to feed to livestock.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Illinois lawmaker introduces ethanol infrastructure bill
A bill introduced by a southern Illinois Republican and an Arkansas Democrat in the U.S. House could move prospective ethanol fueling stations a step closer to reality.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Rain, rain and more rain. I feel like a broken record. We always need rain in July and August, but this is getting ridiculous. This immediate area has received everywhere from 8 to 10 inches this week on Tuesday and Saturday night. I can’t imagine what some fields will look like this fall with all the washes and ditches. Starting to see many areas dying because of the excess moisture combined with the high temps we have had. Talking to a friend in the Illinois River bottoms Friday night told me they are losing crops daily because of seep water and heat.
Speaking of the river situation, the extended high water has left many tows idle. Going by Lock and Dam 26 at Alton Saturday found a lot of tows on both sides waiting. Strong currents and a lot of trash really impede barge traffic. Looking at the Corps charts, the river at Grafton should crest at 25 feet on Sunday if we don’t get more rain. Let’s hope all of this gets straightened up soon.
