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Agricultural officials saod bringing broadband connections to rural Illinois countries could provide farmers with data that could increase both crop yields and annual profits. (Wikimedia Commons)

New tool gauges economic effects of expanded broadband in rural IL

By Will Wright for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Illinois News Connection reporting for The Daily Yonder-Public News Servi…

The Illinois Department of Agriculture says the state's farmland covers 27 million acres, or about 75% of Illinois' total land area. (Adobe Stock)

IL farm group wants improved safety measures for pipelines

A pipeline project to transport carbon dioxide captured from ethanol and fertilizer production to a permanent storage site in Illinois is raising conc…

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 2020-2022 report indicates 85% of the state's streams are

IL environmental network creates plan for cleaner waterways

Illinois rivers, lakes and groundwater have become unsafe for humans and wildlife. One organization has started the New Year with a "Clean Water …

Farmers in Illinois and across the country are concerned over whether Congress will complete its work on a new Farm Bill by the end of the current term. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill delays could affect food benefits for many Americans

The once-every-five-year Farm Bill will likely be extended to six years this time around, as Congress seems months away from finding a path forward…

A University of Illinois report says such factors as climate change, fluctuating markets and the cost of operations are major stressors that farmers can't always control. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Expands Farmers' Access to Mental-Health Services

Research shows that farmers die from suicide at a rate twice as high as the rest of the population, and Illinois officials are taking steps to help …

Illinois Environmental Group Seeks Ban on Pesticides Harmful to Bees

An Illinois group reported toxic pesticides are causing irreversible damage to young, developing bees, putting the bee population in decline and food …

Statistics show more than 90,000 U.S. farmworkers contracted the COVID virus, and at least 100 died during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Government Program to Protect Farmworkers Failing

By Sky Chadde and Johnathan Heddinger for Investigate Midwest, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Mark …

Mexico and Canada are the largest importers of meat into the United States, but other countries such as Brazil, Australia and Japan sell significant amounts of beef, pork and lamb here as well. (Simone van den Berg/Adobe Stock)

Proposed USDA Rule Change Would Limit Use of 'Product of USA' Labels

A proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would change the rules on what foods can be labeled "Product of USA." Current regulations allow …

Many of Illinois' soil and water conservation priorities are laid out in the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, which was released in 2015. (Adobe Stock)

IL Advocates Push for Greater Awareness of Soil Health

Illinois environmental advocates are pushing lawmakers in Springfield to recognize the importance of soil health. The General Assembly is …

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 15,000 water bodies across the country have nutrient-related environmental problems. (Adobe Stock)

IL Bill Could Impact Waters as Distant as Gulf of Mexico

Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill proponents say could benefit water quality not only locally, but in places as far-flung as the Gulf of …

Nearly 80% of farmers do not have the option to change service providers if their connections are slow, according to a 2019 report from the United Soybean Board. (Budimir Jevtic/Adobe Stock)

Report: Farmers Need Broadband Access in Offices, Fields, Community

FILLMORE, Ill. - A new report says farmers in the United States need better broadband and in more places - their home offices, their fields and their …

Illinois is responsible for 20% of the nitrates that have caused a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, and thousands of rural water wells across the state have high levels of nitrates. (bmargaret/Adobe Stock)

Report: More Data Needed on Nitrates in Rural IL Wells

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A new report finds that thousands of drinking-water wells in Illinois are contaminated with high levels of nitrates. Clean-water …

Illinois' Partners for Conservation Fund, which has been around since the mid-1990s, supports conservation programs, including the Soil and Water Conservation Districts around the state. (Adobe Stock)

IL Budget Crunch Leaves Ag Conservation Funds in Danger

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Some Illinois farmers say they want to help protect natural resources, but incentives are crucial to making that happen. A …

Illinois farmers are experiencing rainier springs and drier summers because of the changing climate. (EJRodriquez/Adobe Stock)

Agriculture Steps Up to Meet Climate Change

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- With farms and ranches on the front lines of climate change, organizations have come together to launch the Food and Agriculture …

The 17 states spanning the central U.S. account for about 80% of the nation's current and planned wind energy capacity. (AdobeStock)

Map: Illinois Prime for Wind Development Done Right

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- There's encouraging news about Illinois' potential for wind energy development in a new analysis. The 17 states spanning the …

Landowners in southern Illinois continue to struggle with flooding after a 2016 breech in the Len Small Levee. (IDNR)

Easements Offer New Life for Flood-Soaked Illinois Land

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A new partnership could help breathe new life into Illinois lands that have been plagued by multi-year floods. At the southern …

Soil conservation practices can help soybeans and other crops become more resilient to extreme weather. (USDA/Flickr)

IL Farmers Focus on Soil Health to Fight Climate Change Impacts

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Amid the challenges of another rain-soaked spring and a global pandemic, hundreds of Illinois farmers are using conservation …

There are some estimates that the U.S. Postal Service could run out of money by summer without federal assistance. (Donald Lee Pardue/Flickr)

Illinois Postal Workers Call for Federal Help

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Postal workers in Illinois are among those calling for swift action by Congress to save the U.S. Postal Service. Jackie …

A new project will use NASA datasets to find and address inefficiencies in farm-management practices. (Snapshot Factory/Pixabay)

New Approaches to Food Security for Illinois Corn Growers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Some Illinois growers are using the power of NASA in a new project aimed at addressing food security, from improving crop outputs …

The Farm Bill expiration could mean farmers who are currently using conservation practices may not be able to continue. (Conservation Media Library)

Farm Bill Expiration Means Uncertain Times for Illinois Farmers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The expiration of the Farm Bill is putting the brakes on conservation programs important for many Illinois farmers and …

Honeybees help pollinate billions of dollars worth of crops in the United States every year.(usda.gov)

Farmers Can Help Save Honeybees

URBANA, Ill. — A major endeavor is under way to educate soybean farmers about helping to save honeybees. The Honey Bee Health Coalition this …

The National Chicken Council wants poultry factory lines to process 175 birds per minute. (cdc.gov)

Faster Poultry Factory Lines' Risk for Consumers Cited

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Consumer safety could be at risk from the poultry industry's proposal to allow faster line speeds in factories, workers' …

Illinois has more than 72,000 farms. (usda.gov)

Research: Ethanol Fueling Climate Change

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The federal mandate to add ethanol to fuel has led to a big increase in climate-disrupting pollution, according to a new …

The northern bobwhite is one of America's most popular and widely distributed game birds. (illinois.gov)

Farm Bill Programs Aiding Birds in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The 2018 Farm Bill soon will be debated in Congress, and advocates say not only is it crucial for agriculture, it's also …

Carbon dioxide strips nutrients out of wheat, rice, peas and other crops. (usda.gov)

Climate Change Robbing Food of Nutrients

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A report that looks in depth at how climate change is robbing crops of nutrition says there will be more hungry people and more …

Illinois farmland covers nearly 27 million acres, and corn is grown on a big chunk of it. (usda.gov)

Robots Being Utilized in Fight Against Hunger

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Severe weather brought on by climate change is threatening crops in Illinois and across the U.S., and a study is underway …

Illinois ranks third in the nation for the amount of ethanol it produces. A new study says that comes at a cost to wildlife. (usda.gov)

Study Tallies Wildlife Habitat Loss Near Ethanol Plants

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Wildlife habitat near corn ethanol refineries has been destroyed at a fast pace since a federal law was passed to produce more …

Small farmers in Illinois are convinced that mergers of giant chemical companies would hurt them financially. (Illinois.gov)

Sessions Urged to Reject Mega-Mergers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Nearly 325 organizations have signed a letter pressing new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make sure the Justice …

Deporting a big chunk of the farm industry's workforce could mean higher prices for produce, dairy and meat. (usda.gov)

Op ed: Trump's Deportation Plan Could Disrupt Agriculture

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A big part of President-elect Donald Trump's campaign platform was immigration with a promise to deport 11 million people …

After bobcat hunting was made legal in Illinois last year, animal welfare groups say the animals need increased protections. (iStockphoto)

Illinois Wildlife Advocates Want Stronger Bobcat Protections

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Wildlife protection groups are backing a bill that would ban the trapping of bobcats and the sale of their pelts in Illinois…

Illinois local food producers are backing plans to keep the state's public seed libraries free from what they call over-regulation. (iStockphoto)

Local Food Advocates Pushing for Changes in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Advocates of sustainable food are in Springfield today talking about local food policies, as a state Senate committee considers a …

The Illinois Prescribed Fire Council says landowners should be burning at least 213,000 more acres each year to protect wildlife habitats from invasive plants. (Ferran Salat Coll/The Nature Conservancy)

Report: For Healthier Lands, IL Needs More Prescribed Fires

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Conservation groups say Illinois could be using controlled fires more often and more effectively to help protect wildlife habitat …

With the U.S. Senate stalling the so-called DARK Act, opponents of the bill are calling it a big win for consumers. (iStockphoto)

IL Watchdog Praising Senate Block on DARK Act

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill that opponents call the DARK Act, or Deny Americans the Right to Know. The bill would …

Illinois bird-lovers can take part in four free Eagle Day events in the state this weekend. (iStockphoto)

Conservationists Celebrate Success of Eagles in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The population of eagles in Illinois has hit record numbers in recent years, and conservationists are celebrating the bird's …

Sustainable ag producers say they wanted to see more incentives for alternative fuels from the EPA's new Renewable Fuel Standards. Credit: Click/Morgufile.com

Sustainable-Ag Backers Want More from New Renewables Rules

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - It took two years of delays, but this week the Environmental Protection Agency finally released new renewable fuel standards for …

The FDA's new food safety rules do a lot right by organic farmers, but a sustainable ag expert says more clarity is needed. Credit: Jackske/Morguefile.com

Expert: New Food Safety Rules Mixed Bag for Sustainable Ag

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - It took five years of debate, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finally has approved new food-safety rules. Late last …

A new food labeling bills is good news or bad news depending on whom you ask. Credit: photologue_np/Flickr

Cheers, Jeers for Food Labeling Bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – There are cheers and jeers for a bill approved by the U.S. House that prohibits states from requiring GMO food labeling…

PHOTO: Streams and watersheds in Illinois and around the nation should have greater protections in place now that the EPA has released its new Clean Water Rule. Photo credit: Vivek Prabhakar/Morguefile.

EPA Rule Clarifies Clean Water Protections in IL

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has released a new Clean …

PHOTO: Under a newly-proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, people who may be designated as farm managers but are not actively engaged in farm operations would no longer receive farm bill payments. Photo credit: Scott Bauer/USDA.

Proposed USDA Farm Payment Rule Generating Controversy

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to limit those who can receive federal farm payments. Under the agency's newly-…

PHOTO: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a program to help the next generation in Illinois and around the nation get into farming and ranching, as the current

Next Crop of IL Farmers could Benefit from USDA Program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The average age of Illinois farmers is 56, and as their retirement nears, there is a need to get the next crop of farmers up and …

PHOTO: The U.S. Public Interest Research Group is calling on McDonald's to stop purchasing meat from animals raised using antibiotics. The fast food giant says it is updating its purchasing policies this year. Photo credit: Simon Miller/Flickr.

McDonald's Urged to Be Leader and End Antibiotic Use in Meat

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The company known for its iconic "Golden Arches" is being asked to make its burgers, chicken nuggets and other menu items …

PHOTO: Some Illinois agricultural supporters say the FDA needs to do more to protect small farmers as it revises the Food Safety Modernization Act. Photo credit: TRiggin/morguefile.

IL Farmers Say Revised Food-Safety Rules Still Fall Short

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Some agricultural groups in Illinois say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs to go back to the drawing board as it works …

PHOTO: Three groups are suing the FDA over their approval of new combinations of growth-enhancing drugs to be administered to millions of animals raised for food, including pigs. Photo credit: penywise/morguefile.

FDA Sued Over Drug "Cocktail" Fed to Animals on Farms

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Pharmaceuticals ... it's what's for dinner. And groups in the U.S. are suing the federal government over it. The Humane Society …

PHOTO: The Illinois Department of Health is holding a public comment hearing on proposed regulations on the production and sale of raw milk. Photo credit: Denis-Car Robidoux/flickr.

A Raw Deal for Raw Milk in Illinois?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Some farmers and local food enthusiasts say raw milk is getting a raw deal in Illinois. For 30 years, the state has …

PHOTO: A new national tip line established by the Humane Society of the U.S. gives farm and livestock workers in Illinois and across the U.S. an anonymous option to report the abuse of farm animals. Photo credit: Andrea Church/Morguefile.

Anonymous Tip Line to Enable Illinois Animal Abuse Whistleblowers

CHICAGO - Whistleblowers in Illinois could earn a reward of up to $5,000 if their tip leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the abu…

PHOTO: Saturday marks the 42nd anniversary of the Clean Water Act, and the EPA is currently accepting public comments on a proposal the agency says would strengthen protection of streams and wetlands. Photo credit: Rich Mullins/morguefile.

A Wish for Restored Protections as Clean Water Act Turns 42

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - This Saturday marks the 42nd anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Before the legislation was put in place, only one-third of the …

PHOTO: A comparison of studies concludes listing genetically-engineered ingredients on food labels would cost consumers about $2.30 per person, per year. Photo credit: Aimee Low/morguefile.

Report: GE Food Labeling Costs Less Than a Latte

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A group has "studied the studies" about what it could cost consumers to label the genetically-engineered ingredients in foods …

PHOTO: World Day for Farmed Animals is being observed in Illinois and around the globe to raise awareness about the treatment of animals killed for food. Photo credit: sioda/morguefile.

Illinoisans Decry Plight of Animals on Modern Farms

CHICAGO – Supporters of animal welfare in Illinois are speaking up today about the plight of animals on modern farms. As part of World Day for …

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