SWCD Fall Fish Sale Deadlines: Fish delivery is scheduled for 11 a.m., Thursday, October 12, at the USDA Service Center parking lot. Orders will be taken until Thursday, September 28, for grass carp; with all other fish orders due by October 6. [Read more...]
White County Crop Tour Results Announced

Volunteers took yield estimates from 100 different fields in White County during the 2023 White County Crop Tour. Pictured are Emmy Williams, Casey Calvert, and Andrew Drone as they take ear measurements in Indian Creek Township. Photo credit: Doug Anderson.
The below average rainfall during the critical months of June and July has had a significant impact on the yield potential of this year’s corn crop, according to the results of the 2023 White County Crop Tour. The event was held on August 30. This year’s White County Crop Tour was sponsored by the White County Farm Bureau, York Ridge Agency LLC, Fairfield National Bank, and Consolidated Grain & Barge.
The average estimated 2023 corn yield for White County is 159.7 bushels per acre, compared to an actual USDA corn yield of 186.7 (planted acres) in 2022. The highest USDA corn yield during the last 10 years for White County was in 2014 when the yield hit 195.3 bushels per acre. The lowest USDA corn yield in the last 10 years occurred in 2016 with a yield of only 134.3 bushels. [Read more...]
Kid’s Night/Master Gardener Program at the G.I.F.T. Garden
Local NWTF Fundraising Banquet a Good Time for a Great Cause
Food, fun, fellowship and fundraising are set as the main events at the annual Hunting Heritage banquet, hosted by the White Co. Wild Turkey Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) on Saturday, August 19th, at the Floral Hall on the Fairgrounds in Carmi.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Come early to enjoy a social hour before the banquet begins. Families can play games and enter raffles to win a nice selection of guns. There also will be a silent and live auction for framed art, guns, collectibles, home furnishings, outdoor equipment and more. Purchase your ticket online at events.nwtf.org/1302010-2023 or call (618) 383-2004 to reserve your tickets prior to the event. [Read more...]
Public squirrel hunting open through Sept. 15 on participating private lands
Hunting opportunities made possible through IDNR’s Recreational Access Program
SPRINGFIELD – Public squirrel hunting opportunities are available Aug. 1 through Sept. 15 at more than 30 private land hunting sites enrolled in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ popular Illinois Recreational Access Program, commonly known as IRAP.
IDNR has leased more than 4,400 acres of private land for 2023 squirrel hunting through IRAP, creating more than 30 public access squirrel sites in 18 counties. Sites are available at no cost to participants. Hunters simply must register, sign a liability waiver, and reserve a site through IRAP’s online registration system at https://dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/irap/irapregistration.html. [Read more...]
Twilight Series: The Patch to host meeting on pumpkin production, cover crops, and fall agritourism
MARION, Ill. – The Patch is teaming up with University of Illinois Extension to share information on cover crops, pumpkin production, and fall agritourism on Monday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Illinois Extension educators have partnered with area farmers over the past nine summers to provide monthly evening “twilight meetings” to highlight and demonstrate diverse farming enterprises across southern Illinois. [Read more...]
Area hunters can earn safety certification at August classes
Area residents will have an opportunity to learn the basic principles of safe hunting at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources hunter safety certification course. Participants must attend all 10 hours of instruction to complete the course and receive their safety certification.
The course will be offered at three times and participants must attend all three sessions: [Read more...]
Riverside Mercantile Store to host twilight meeting on marketing local products
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ill. –Higginson Farm Market and Riverside Mercantile Store are teaming up with University of Illinois Extension to host the third of four twilight meetings at their newest location on Monday, July 17, at 6 p.m. Illinois Extension educators have partnered with area farmers over the past nine years to provide four evening “twilight meetings” to highlight and demonstrate diverse farming enterprises across southern Illinois.
Riverside Mercantile Store is on the southeast corner of the four-way stop in Elizabethtown in Hardin County. Riverside Mercantile was established in 2023 as the third market location for owners Ty and Stephanie Higginson. During this twilight meeting, most of the discussion will center around marketing and the direct retail sales of local products. [Read more...]