Dairy Producers: Obtain Dairy Margin Coverage by March 31

  The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging dairy producers to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program that helps offset milk and feed price differences.  This year’s DMC signup began January 29, 2025; the deadline to enroll is Monday, March 31. “We encourage

USDA to Expedite $10 Billion in Direct Assistance to Ag Producers

  On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, National Agriculture Day, U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins [recently] announced that the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers.  Funds will [sourced] through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop

Illinois Counties Affected by Bird Flu Quarantine

  Illinois Counties affected by Quarantine Designation for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) include McHenry County and Lake County. This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit through emergency loans, to producers recovering from natural disasters. 

Meet Congressman Sorensen at Quad Cities Farm Show

  Congressman Eric Sorensen will attend the 2025 Quad Cities Farm Show Sunday, January 19, 2025, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.  His intention is to learn about the latest farming equipment from exhibitors and to meet with local farmers.  Congressman Sorensen will be available for questions from the public. The

NLI Protects 208 More Acres in 2024

  Natural Land Institute (NLI) is pleased to announce that two parcels of land were purchased in December 2024, totaling 208 acres, to protect their natural features and wildlife habitat.  These projects were made possible because of the tremendous support of NLI members. On Monday, December 16, the land conservation

Gardening Classes at Community Garden

The University of Illinois Extension office will be providing weekly Homegrown Healthy Classes at 5:30 p.m., to teach participants how to effectively grow a garden; introduce gardeners to hydrophonics; share recipes made with garden produce. Classes are free. Register at www.go.illinois.edu/homegrownhealthy. Classes start Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the Community

Conservation Reserve Program General Signup

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), starting today through Friday, March 29, 2024. This conservation opportunity gives producers tools to conserve wildlife habitat, while achieving other conservation benefits, including sequestering carbon

FSA County Committee Elections Are Open

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently mailed ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) County and Urban County Committee Elections, to eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the Country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas for these committee members. They make important decisions about how Federal farm programs are

Payments Continue to Help Organic Dairy Producers

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces a second round of payments, for dairy producers, through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP.) Monies provide an additional $5 million to help them mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices, that have created

USDA Milk Loss Assistance for Dairy Operations

On Friday, September 15, 2023, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Milk Loss Program (MLP) assistance for eligible dairy operations, for milk that was dumped or removed, without compensation, from the commercial milk market. The causes were due to qualifying weather events and the consequences of those weather

Requests Sought to Harvest Hay

The Savanna District of Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is accepting bids for grass hay harvest, on 150 acres within the Pleasant Creek Tarr Tract, Jackson County, IA. Bidding will be based on price/ton harvested. All bids must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. CDT on

Scholarship Application from NAGS

The Whiteside County Natural Area Guardians, a committee of the Whiteside County Soil and Water Conservation District, will offer a scholarship, to college students who are pursuing a degree in the area of Conservation and/or Environmental Science. Scholarships are available for the student’s Junior year and will be subject for

USDA Releases Nationwide Prospective Customer Survey

Producers can now take a Nationwide survey to help the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) improve and increase access to its programs and services, for America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest managers. The survey includes new and existing customers. USDA encourages all agricultural producers to take the survey, especially those

Ag Producers Enrollment Deadline March 15

Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2023 crop year have until Wednesday, March 15, 2023, to elect and enroll a contract. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support,

Farmer Meeting March 6

Farmers National Bank will host a Farmer Meeting, on Monday, March 6, 2023, at Deer Valley Golf Course, 3298 Hoover Road, Deer Grove, IL. Reply with your acceptance by Friday, February 24, by calling Tiffany Tipton at 815-537-2348, or email tiffanyt@farmersnationalbank.bank. Event day registration is from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m.