Horticulture

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

Wet and hot conditions in northern Illinois are impacting crop growth, as well as providing an opportunity for increased disease pressure this year.

The Illinois Agri-Women organization has awarded five scholarships for students studying agriculture.

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson announced work on the 2024 farm bill, which includes bipartisan policies and several titles affecting farmers.

The Illinois State Horticultural Society announced that Jonamac Orchard in Malta will host its annual Summer Horticulture Field Day.

Petrus Langenhoven attended high school at a boarding school located on a 1,000-acre farm in South Africa.

Global hunger numbers rose to around 828 million people in 2021, according to the latest edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World from the United Nations. That’s 46 million more people from a year earlier and 150 million more from 2019.

Multiple events have been scheduled for the University of Illinois’ Agronomy Days. The Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and U of I Extension will host a series of events all season long.

For well over a century, this Macon County city has been on the cutting-edge of innovation in processing agriculture products, and a major financial commitment sets a solid foundation for the next generation of leaders in that space.

Growing flowers for his FFA project was an easy decision for Ty Steffen. “I have been around flowers ever since I can remember,” Steffen said.

The University of Illinois Extension 2021 Southern Illinois Summer Twilight Series started off on a sweet note as guests interested in strawberry production and plasticulture gathered at Flamm Orchards.

A big thing in today’s world is buying food locally, as well as food that is sustainable. CEO Joe McGuire said Pure Green Farms was established from the desire to invest in sustainable food.

A hydroponic produce farm in Indianapolis is filling a need in food deserts around the city. Food deserts are areas where grocery stores aren’t easily accessible. More than 200,000 people live in food deserts in Indy, according to a study published by SAVI.

It’s a chilly, wet and windy day — enough to remind us that winter still isn’t too far in the rearview mirror. But inside a new 6-acre building on West Calvert Street in South Bend, Matt Gura is keeping a close watch over a sea of baby plants that fill a greenhouse about the size of two big-box retailers, or 174,000 square feet.

Grain farmers aren’t the only ones that are preparing for the upcoming planting season. Vegetable and fruit growers are also looking toward the coming months and what they have to do on their operations to secure a successful harvest.

Purdue Extension recently updated the 2021 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers.

The Indiana Small Farm Conference is being held virtually March 4-6. Participants can choose from several tracks depending on their goals. Options include advanced livestock, advanced vegetable production, beginning farmer, urban agriculture, regenerative agriculture, and farm business and marketing plans.

Diversifying your farm can be a big change, but the rewards can be big, too.

Organizers of the Indiana Small Farm Conference remind farmers that it’s never too early to gain new insights ahead of the growing season.

Vegetable farmers are invited to attend the Purdue Extension Vegetable Farming Webinar series sponsored by the Indiana Horticultural Conference and Expo. The series will be held virtually 2 to 4 p.m. EST on Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many business sectors due to restrictions on large gatherings and regulations put in place to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.