Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University agriculture alumni and students were recognized nationally for their leadership, achievements and dedication to advancing agricultural education at the 2024 National FFA Convention.

The Western Illinois University School of Agriculture recently hosted its annual alumni panel event, providing current students with the valuable opportunity to connect with successful alumni working in the agriculture industry.

Following a successful year at the Illinois State Fair with more than 70,000 people passing through the FFA Barnyard, the major state officers kept in “fair mode” as they traveled to the Du Quoin State Fair.

Armyworms are appropriately named. They definitely work like an army, moving their line forward as efficiently and rapidly as possible, attempting to overwhelm the enemy and gain territory.

Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has awarded 34 General Use Grants, totaling $190,975.

The month of January saw Illinois FFA’s major state officers get right back into the swing of things. January kicked off with the officers spending a week at the Illinois FFA Center in Springfield.

After they’ve strolled through the Western Illinois University Ag Mech Club’s Farm Expo, WIU alumni are invited to attend an event after the show for an update on the alumni program and to honor five distinguished ag department alumni.

When members of Western Illinois University’s Ag Mech Club arrive early on Friday morning to set up the Farm Expo, they won’t just be showing up for a club activity. They’ll be showing up for prospective employers.

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.

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.

The Illinois Soybean Association doubled the number of soybean production research projects approved for fiscal year 2024.

I am a firm believer in lifelong learning. It seems as though that takes a lot of time these days, as I sometimes struggle with the technology advances and everything being “apps.”

Ted Mottaz was fresh out of college and all set for a career in agriculture education, but Uncle Sam had other ideas.

Sow numbers and farrowing intentions may be dropping in the U.S. swine industry, but productivity remains the big question mark for U.S. hog supplies — and prices — moving forward.

Illinois Agri-Women has awarded five scholarships for females studying agriculture. One $1,500 IAW Helen Henert Agriculture Education Scholarship has been awarded to Mallory Ames, an agriculture education major.

A Western Illinois University distinguished alumnus has made an equipment donation to the WIU School of Agriculture, which will help students with the use of technology in the field.

As the 95th Illinois FFA State Convention draws near, the Illinois FFA state officer team has been busy putting the finishing touches on the annual extravaganza.

Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture will host its fourth annual Pennycress Field Day on May 25 at the Agriculture Field Laboratory.

With 23 years under his belt as a teacher of agriculture at John Wood Community College, Mike Tenhouse is looking toward the future.

For Jana Poliska Knupp and her family, the conversations around and about agriculture and farming come easily.

Illinois pork producers intend to keep making bacon — but a little less of it, according to the first-quarter U.S. Department of Agriculture Hogs and Pigs Report.

The first U.S. Department of Agriculture Hogs and Pigs Report of 2023 showed that U.S. pork producers are pulling back on expansion.

I spent the last two months entertaining myself and can only say that I contributed to the ranch operation by completing most of the frost seeding and attending some grazing and cattle events.

Like many little boys, Benji, a cheerful, redheaded little boy from western Illinois, likes to spend time with his grandpa.

Waves of torrential rainfall drenched California into the new year. Snowpacks in the Sierra Nevada Mountains have swelled to more than 200% their normal size, and snowfall across the rest of the Colorado River Basin is trending above average, too.

Many people in agriculture may hear the word “teach” and think, “I’m no teacher,” and I’d have to agree with you. I’m not a teacher and I’ve never wanted to be one.

For three days in mid-December, the Illinois FFA Major State Officer Team embarked on a retreat to spend time focusing on the beginning of planning the 95th Illinois FFA State Convention.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Agriculture shared accomplishments made in 2022 to support the state’s No. 1 industry.

An Illinois Valley Community College Foundation agriculture scholarship will honor the late June and Lyndon Hiltabrand of Cedar Point.

When Mike Grady officially left his office at Dixon High School for the last time on June 10, he traded his office view of the Rock River and Page Drive for a farm field and a tractor cab.

Farming organically is a pro-active systems approach that involves more than a set of prohibitive rules. “This farm has been certified organic since 2009,” said Joel Gruver, associate professor of soil science and sustainable ag at the Allison Farm at Western Illinois University.

Excitement levels were high as delegates to the 94th Illinois FFA State Convention elected five members to the state officer team during the Thursday morning session of the three-day convention.

The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program has sparked a large response, drawing more than 450 proposals seeking $3 billion to $4 billion in grants.

Field trials of a new cover crop, CoverCress, are in its third year at the Illinois State University Farm and multiple benefits are being realized as intended.

The Western Illinois University School of Agriculture’s ninth annual Legacy Sale set a new fundraising record of $93,000, surpassing last year’s record total of $73,000.

In the late 1990s, Prairie Central was among the first school districts in Illinois to extend FFA opportunities to junior high students.

College students graduating with a degree in agricultural education have a lot of job opportunities.

The welcome mat that his fellow faculty rolled out for him is the same one that Riley Hintzsche has ready for his students in the Streator High School ag program.

Fifteen breed champions vied for the Grand Champion Heifer title at the 2022 Illinois Beef Expo.

Ten breed champions vied for the Grand Champion Market Animal title at the 2022 Illinois Beef Expo. Kade Gensini of Hennepin led his Champion Crossbred Steer to the banner in both rings.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Hogs and Pigs report places the Dec. 1 inventory of all hogs and pigs at 74.2 million head, down about 1% from last quarter and 4% lower than the same time last year, compared to an average pre-report estimate of just 2.8% lower.

Because of crowd size limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 51st annual Western Illinois University Ag Mech Farm Expo, scheduled for March 5-6, has been canceled.

With harvest in full swing, I play herdsman, provide cheap labor and check the bred cows as Carson remains occupied with grain. As a road gawker, I report that many fields of corn in our area are suffering stalk breakage and farmers are rushing to complete their harvest.

Implementation of cover crops will play a major role in reaching the goals established by the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and a farm organization is helping to deliver that message directly to farmers this summer.

Cover crop successes and challenges were featured in a recent field day at the Illinois State University Research Farm. Nicholas Heller, ISU assistant crop sciences professor, led a tour of three cover crop systems that looked at seeding, management and benefits.

Farm Credit Illinois named 29 high school seniors as agriculture scholarship recipients and awarded 50 community improvement grants to FFA chapters and 4-H clubs in central and southern Illinois.

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts is accepting applications for the George McKibben Memorial Scholarship.

Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture has announced that this year’s planned Farm Expo, the 51st annual event hosted by Western Illinois University’s Agriculture Mechanization Club, has been canceled because of the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Western Illinois University Agriculture alumnus Bryon Kirwan was recently named a national economist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.