Science

Save the date for Ag Day at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fairgrounds, in the Commercial Building, April 4-6.

Between the chartering of new FFA chapters, celebrations of FFA Week, announcements of District Golden Owl Award recipients, convention preparation and chapter banquets, February brought many blessings.

From issues impacting the farm economy, including record costs for labor, interest and taxes, to trade and biofuels, there a lot of challenges facing farmers today. But there also are opportunities, said Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association.

Unfertilized soybean fields with lower soil fertility should be planted earlier than high-fertility fields, according to a University of Illinois study that reevaluates longtime soil testing.

Farmers should be aware that overusing Bt corn can be problematic, according to an analysis of data covering 12 years and 10 U.S. Corn Belt states.

Beck’s agronomists shared best practices for growing a strong, healthy wheat crop using Practical Farm Research data during an episode of “The Dig.”

A service that provides unbiased, research-based crop disease and pest management information to farmers and agricultural personnel is now in its 10th year.

Members of Illinois Agri-Women gathered for their annual meeting to elect new officers, conduct association business and learn about several Illinois agricultural organizations.

It is a new day for agriculture, said Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.

On-farm trial results from Yield/Profit Challenge’s plots were rolled out during the recent Midwest Ag Expo.

If corn was ever jealous of soybean’s relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, advancements in gene editing could one day even the playing field.

A professor at Purdue University is using particle science to improve grain facility safety.

There is always something to learn from a previous growing season. As the new year begins, it’s a great time for farmers to analyze results from their fields to make informed decisions for 2025.

Seed selection remains one of the most critical decisions a grower can make. The right seed, on the right acre, at the right rate, planted at the right time sets the foundation for yield potential and defense against weeds, pests and diseases.

As soybean growers evaluate input decisions for 2025, return on investment once again reigns supreme as a critical factor in a rollercoaster market.

Following reports of high disease outbreaks last year, the World Meteorological Organization is predicting a 60% chance of La Niña weather in 2025, which could lead to cooler conditions.

The Soybean Innovation Lab will close April 15 due to a federal funding stoppage for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Red crown rot is a concerning, relatively new disease to the Midwest that more farmers are finding in their fields. The pathogen was found in Illinois in 2018 and Indiana in 2022.

There is a lot of field-to-field variability of corn rootworm populations in Illinois fields.

A collaborative effort between the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Agriculture will offer a unique educational opportunity for conservation planners.

Western Illinois University agriculture students recently showcased their skills and leadership at the Illinois Spring Postsecondary Agricultural Students competition, bringing home multiple top placements and leadership honors.

As we bid farewell to February, I find myself aching for the warmth and promise of spring in the heart of middle America.

Crop Nutrition Week 2025, a weeklong virtual learning event hosted by AgroLiquid, delivered data-driven strategies to help growers build stronger returns on their fertility investments.

Farmers may add root structure as another trait to consider when choosing corn hybrids for their operation.

Micronutrients, pet peeves, social media and common-sense agronomy were just a few of the topics at the Illinois Soybean Association Field Advisor Forum panel discussion.

The number of monarch butterflies spending the winter in the western United States has dropped to its second-lowest mark in nearly three decades as pesticides, diminishing habitat and climate change take their toll on the beloved pollinator.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture set its federal policy focus for 2025, prioritizing five key issues.

Among the ways to improve profitability during times of lower prices and high input costs is to implement the 5% rule.

Longer, more diverse rotations of crops fertilized with livestock manure have many environmental benefits, but carbon sequestration isn’t one of them, according to a new study led by Iowa State University researchers.

It’s common knowledge that weeds impact cash crop yields, but they can also impact farmland values.

During the final stages of building the world’s first atomic bomb, scientists worried their new weapon might ignite the atmosphere and wipe out every living thing. Farmers are experiencing similar anxieties as efforts slash federal spending.

Emerson Nafziger was honored for his “unwavering loyalty, passion and positive impact on the ag retail industry” at the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association’s annual conference.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison and partners in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan are seeking licensed and experienced grain and fiber hemp growers to conduct on-farm variety trials.

Now is the time to plan your day — or days — at the National Farm Machinery Show Feb. 12-15 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.

Illinois agricultural and forestry producers who want to address or improve natural resources are encouraged to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Seed oil composition and soybean cyst nematode resistance are among the soybean checkoff-funded research projects currently underway at the University of Illinois.

Research is underway at the University of Illinois to develop high-yielding wheat varieties with early maturity enabling earlier planting of double-crop soybeans.

The Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, platform is generating a lot of interest in how our food is produced. Farmers and ranchers welcome a healthy discussion — we always have.

Nearly a quarter of animals living in rivers, lakes and other freshwater sources are threatened with extinction, according to new research.

Harmful chemicals in sewage sludge that is spread on pasture land as fertilizer are causing cancer, the Environmental Protection Agency said.

I have said it many times: farming is not an easy life’s work and certainly not for the faint of heart. Farming can push you to your physical and emotional limits. It can nearly kill you. It can save your life.

llinois State Conservationist Tammy Willis announced a funding opportunity for Environmental Quality Incentives Program Landscape Conservation Initiatives and Urban Ag using Act Now authority.

Waterhemp populations continue to evolve in herbicide resistance and weed scientists are investigating its move to residual herbicides.

Trenton Taber, a 2015 graduate of Western Illinois University’s Agriculture Education program, has been named the Region 4 Outstanding Agriculture Teacher by the National Association of Agricultural Educator.

Farmer participation in the Precision Conservation Management program continues to grow for 2025.

The Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council met in December and seated three new board members.

Indiana Grown, a program that promotes locally grown and made products, is celebrating accomplishments from several Hoosier schools in 2024.

California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu, which is tearing through dairy cows in that state and causing sporadic illnesses in people in the United States.

A genetic analysis suggests the bird flu virus mutated inside a Louisiana patient who contracted the nation’s first severe case of the illness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The death of an Oregon house cat and a pet food recall are raising questions about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how people can protect their pets.