Farming — The Villagers Voice

IDOA NOW ACCEPTING SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROPOSALS

March 2, 2023 by Villagers Voice

Applications for Funds are Due March 23rd

In an effort to expand the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce and strengthen the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) plans to distribute more than $544,000 over a three-year period thanks to funding allocated in the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in the Farm Bill.

Application for grant funding is available on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website and must be returned to the Department by 11:59 pm on March 23, 2023. To be eligible for funding, all projects must begin in calendar year 2024. [Read more...]

Prairie Farmer Magazine Names White County Man Master Farmer

February 28, 2023 by Villagers Voice

Prairie Farmer Names Four 2023 Master Farmers

Four farmers who are outstanding in both agricultural production and leadership will be honored in Bloomington on March 15. Plus, a new Honorary Master Farmer joins the ranks.

Four Illinois producers will be honored as 2023 Master Farmers at Prairie Farmer magazine’s annual event in Bloomington, Ill., on Wednesday, March 15. The award recognizes exceptional agricultural production skills, commitment to family and service to community.

The 2023 Master Farmers are:
Martin Barbre, Carmi
David Meiss, Gridley
Ron Moore, Roseville
Curt Strode, Marietta [Read more...]

Farm Finance Forum Set for February 3

January 4, 2023 by Villagers Voice

The Fairfield National Bank and the Wayne County Farm Bureau are excited to bring back the Farm Finance Forum on Friday, February 3. The forum will feature a series of well-known speakers that will cover a variety of topics related to financial matters on the farm. Keynoting the event this year is Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions. Snodgrass’ popularity amongst farmers stems from his regular ag weather updates on YouTube.

This year’s speaker lineup includes… [Read more...]

White County SWCD Partner in Pilot Field Carbon Project

September 23, 2022 by Villagers Voice

The White County SWCD has partnered with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), NRCS, and HabiTerre to engage farmers in select areas to test an informational report that provides insights about farm carbon and an operation's environmental footprint through the Pilot Field Carbon Reports project. [Read more...]

Rep. Niemerg Asks Governor to Support ‘Estate Tax Exemption’ Legislation to Help Family Farms

September 2, 2022 by Villagers Voice

State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) has sent a letter asking Governor JB Pritzker to assist with the effort to increase the estate tax exemption enabling farmers to pass their family farms to their heirs. Niemerg has introduced legislation (HB 5230) to double the exemption from $4 million to $8 million, but the bill has never even assigned to a legislative committee for a hearing. [Read more...]

Application Period Opens Today for 2022 Cover Crop Program

December 15, 2021 by Villagers Voice

Applications Available at 8am

Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) will open the third year of the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program on December 15. Applications are available at https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Pages/default.aspx beginning at 8am. Funding of eligible acreage will be on a first come, first serve basis. [Read more...]

USDA-NRCS Conservation Program Application Deadlines Approach

November 18, 2021 by Villagers Voice

Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

The purpose of the Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) program is to help landowners enhance and protect habitat for wetland wildlife on their lands, reduce impacts from flooding, recharge groundwater, provide outdoor recreation, and increase habitat for migratory waterfowl. Applications received by NRCS that meet program eligibility by December 10, 2021 will be considered for funding in the 2022 program. [Read more...]

Rich Gurka – Grain elevator fraudsters sentenced to prison

September 23, 2021 by Villagers Voice

Since it is a busy grain harvest time, I thought that this would be an interesting article. [Read more...]