Sustainability

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 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.

A groundbreaking technology has been developed that could boost domestic corn demand by over a billion bushels.

Coffee Creek Farmers Market in Chesterton won Indiana’s Ultimate Farmers Market Challenge this year.

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

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.

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.

Illinois Stewardship Alliance representatives took the oft-used phrase “where the rubber meets the road” literally as they traveled across Illinois to host listening sessions as part of the group’s golden anniversary celebration.

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.

The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership recently accepted four new member organizations into the partnership.

Kyle Schminke deep tills all his farm ground. However, it is not done with a tractor and tillage equipment.

A team of nine people from Huntington University traveled to serve local communities through sustainable agriculture projects to Momostenango, Guatemala.

Illinois Milk Producers Association is calling for nominations of individuals to receive formal recognition in 2024 for their outstanding contributions to the dairy industry through leadership, stewardship and overall excellence.

Jeanette Merritt’s role as the communications director for Indiana Pork combines her passion for agriculture with her professional expertise in marketing and communication.

A new Land Use Change Initiative is leading efforts to resolve inconsistencies in definitions, metrics and methodologies for quantifying land use change.

Weeding through the alphabet soup of conservation funding opportunities — both known and unknown — is time-consuming and perhaps frustrating.

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts was formed in 1948 with a grassroots goal of protecting the state’s greatest assets — and the organization has never wavered in its efforts.

Eliminating the information gap to help agriculture voluntarily meet the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy goals has been a top priority for the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership.

Soil health and quality play a significant role in the nutritional value of pastures and cover crops, determining grazing strategies and sustainability.

Applications are being accepted through May 31 for a unique training course for farmers, advisers and conservation professionals that focuses on the soil health system.

The 2023 National FFA Annual Report was recently published, outlining the organization’s achievements and laying a blueprint for its future.

Get ready for a fish-out-of-water journey into the world of dairy farming with Emmy-nominated sketch comedian and actress Vanessa Bayer.

Andretti INDYCAR has joined the B20 Club of Indiana — a group that supports biodiesel, renewable fuels and sustainable aviation fuel.

Several times over the past few weeks I’ve been approached by a friendly stranger. They wanted to know if I would comment on an issue and sign my name in support or opposition.

Resiliency is important for farmers to leverage resources and technology to make their operations sustainable for future generations.

Food companies are using technology to improve sustainability at every step of the supply chain.

For Doug McKalip, the chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, removing barriers to and boosting U.S. agricultural exports and trade is a work in progress.

There’s not a day that goes by, when farmers aren’t thinking about how to leave the land better than we found it.

Many times, while standing on the very land my father and grandfather cultivated, I reflect on how things have changed. From the adoption of new sustainability practices to our approach to livestock management, our farming methods have evolved significantly.

Midwest Dairy, the checkoff organization representing over 4,000 dairy farmers in a 10-state region, announced that Corey Scott of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, has been named its new CEO.

Farming is a beautiful way of life for many families. It’s also a business. An often-quoted phrase is an important one in agriculture: the business of business is relationships.

Whether it’s caring for expectant sows, introducing Peoria County fourth-graders to baby pigs or steering the Illinois Pork Producers Association as its new president, Cheryl Cowser Walsh approaches each task with a positive mindset.

Animals are an important part of the sustainable food system.

Larry Hopkins, a sheep farmer from Westfield, was one of three new farmers elected to serve on the executive board of the American Sheep Industry Association.

The Fort Wayne Farm Show, to be presented Jan. 16-18 by Tradexpos at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, will feature daily educational seminars provided by Northeastern Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Purdue Extension.

Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff program, announced significant outcomes in 2023 on behalf of America’s dairy farmers and importers.

Another year has passed with an outcry for improved sustainability on our planet. If you ask 10 people to define sustainability, you will get 10 different answers.

Joel Gruver, a professor of soil science and sustainable agriculture at Western Illinois University in Macomb, will receive the 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award from Practical Farmers of Iowa.

It has been a blessed Christmas season. The halls are decked, presents have been wrapped and you can hear Faron Young singing Christmas carols when you step in the backdoor of our house.

The word sustainability has been tossed around like a leaf on a windy fall day, but is there proof in the pudding?

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., baseball’s “Iron Man” who holds the record for most consecutive games played, will be among the featured speakers at Dairy Strong, one of the Midwest’s premiere conferences for the dairy community.

Not only did Oct. 8 mark the final 85 days of 2023, but Prairie Farms Dairy announced that its 85th anniversary celebration will finish strong with a variety of special activities.

Although Claire Hodge did not plan on a career in agriculture, that changed while shopping at a farmers market.

Kipster, the world’s first carbon-neutral egg farm, began in the Netherlands and has traveled all the way to North Manchester in northern Indiana.

The Illinois Soybean Association announced the launch of the “It’s Sustainably Soy” Certification program to recognize organizations, construction firms and executives for utilizing sustainable soy-based products in their infrastructure projects.

Soil tilth building practices should be considered offensive management tools. “Cover crops have been pushed as defensive tools against erosion, water quality problems or impeding regulations,” said Mitchell Hora.

Sustainability is at the core of the Morgan Brothers farm. Through sustainable practices, they save money on labor and inputs, and time in the field.

The Illinois Soybean Association is proud to be providing a space for farmers to do just that at this year’s Farm Progress Show.

Stakeholders across the dairy value chain discussed challenges and opportunities during the recent 2023 Dairy Sustainability Alliance Spring Meeting.