Matters relating to agriculture, including farming and agribusiness.

Read more about the article Accidents and emergency calls mount at Archer Daniels Midland plants in Decatur in past year; Employee dies in rail accident, multiple employees injured in explosionsADM
Archer Daniels Midland headquarters in Decatur, Illinois. Photo from ADM's website.

Accidents and emergency calls mount at Archer Daniels Midland plants in Decatur in past year; Employee dies in rail accident, multiple employees injured in explosions

Listen to WILL's coverage for interview audio and hear from the reporters on The 21st Show. Just months before he planned to retire, 66-year-old…

Continue ReadingAccidents and emergency calls mount at Archer Daniels Midland plants in Decatur in past year; Employee dies in rail accident, multiple employees injured in explosions
Read more about the article Illinois billionaire Shahid Khan investing in thousands of acres of the state’s farmland
Farm acreage at the 1831 2500N, Thomasboro, IL belonging to Baloo Enterprises LLC on Saturday, March 13, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Illinois billionaire Shahid Khan investing in thousands of acres of the state’s farmland

In recent years, Urbana billionaire Shahid Khan has added to investments by quietly purchasing farmland through a company he owns called Baloo Enterprises LLC. A spokesperson for Khan confirmed earlier this month that Khan has purchased roughly 24,000 acres of farmland in central Illinois.

Continue ReadingIllinois billionaire Shahid Khan investing in thousands of acres of the state’s farmland
Read more about the article Six years and Tuscola residents still waiting on Cronus fertilizer plantDarrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access
The proposed Cronus site on the north side of the highway on March 21, 2016.

Six years and Tuscola residents still waiting on Cronus fertilizer plant

In 2014, in the midst of a gubernatorial election, the construction of a $1.4 billion fertilizer plant in Tuscola was announced with much fanfare and the promise of state subsidies. Eight years later, no piece of dirt has been overturned since former Gov. Quinn poked a shovel into an open field in a symbolic groundbreaking. Now Tuscola officials say the outbreak of coronavirus will add to the long delays.

Continue ReadingSix years and Tuscola residents still waiting on Cronus fertilizer plant
Read more about the article Covid-19 outbreak hits Rantoul meat processing plant
A livestock truck in line at the Rantoul Foods plant in Rantoul, Il on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. photo by Darrell Hoemann/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

Covid-19 outbreak hits Rantoul meat processing plant

Just days before President Trump ordered meat packing plants to remain open to mitigate food shortages, Rantoul Foods in Central Illinois saw its first case. There are now 21. One of the largest meat processing plants in central Illinois is battling an outbreak of coronavirus in which 21 cases of  Covid-19 have been already been counted, a company official confirmed Monday

Rantoul Foods, which is based in Rantoul and processes between 30 million and 35 million pounds of pork each month, saw its first case on April 25, said Jerry Jacobsen, the company's director of human resources, safety and business administration. Since then 20 more cases have been reported.

Jacobsen said the company is taking safety measures to bring the outbreak under control.

“The first thing is the health of our employees," Jacobsen said, “because without our employees we don’t have a business.” 

The first worker identified with Covid-19 has now recovered and returned to work, he said. 

Continue ReadingCovid-19 outbreak hits Rantoul meat processing plant

On China tariffs, farm groups say no

Earlier this month, the U.S. and China both announced billions of dollars in taxes on billions of dollars worth of imported goods - China is seeking tariffs on $50 billion worth of U.S. products that include soybeans and pork while the U.S. announced taxes on $150 billion worth of 1,300 Chinese products, including electronics. Here’s a look at what farm organizations in the Midwest have to say.

Continue ReadingOn China tariffs, farm groups say no

Farmers worry trade war would damage relationship with top customer

As China and the U.S. swap threats of import taxes on billions of dollars of goods, financial markets fluctuated and farmers are frustrated, saying they worry over hard-built trade relationships with one of their largest customers.

Continue ReadingFarmers worry trade war would damage relationship with top customer
Read more about the article Brazil, Argentina may fill the U.S. soybean export gapDarrell Hoemann/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Soybeans in a field in rural McLean County on August 7.

Brazil, Argentina may fill the U.S. soybean export gap

Argentina and Brazil may fill China’s soybean needs if China imposes a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybean exports. And experts say : “China is the world’s largest consumer, and the U.S. is the largest producer, … so they’ll need to replace the U.S. with some other country,”

Continue ReadingBrazil, Argentina may fill the U.S. soybean export gap
Read more about the article Crop insurance help for tariff fallout could affect upcoming Farm BillDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
A flag waves in front of soybean acres on July 3, 2014.

Crop insurance help for tariff fallout could affect upcoming Farm Bill

Congressional leaders said they would explore federal help for farmers should tariffs be put in place but Tamara Nelson, senior director of commodities for the Illinois Farm Bureau, said the moves would not help. “Farmers don’t want aid, farmers want to be able to trade,” she said.

Continue ReadingCrop insurance help for tariff fallout could affect upcoming Farm Bill
Read more about the article Pesticide applicators report drift issues with dicamba, even when using brand names in good weatherDarrell Hoemann/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Dicamba resistant soybeans in rural McLean County on August 7.

Pesticide applicators report drift issues with dicamba, even when using brand names in good weather

More than 100 Illinois pesticide retailers reported the weed killer dicamba drifted and damaged soybeans even when it was sprayed in good conditions, according to a recent industry survey.

Continue ReadingPesticide applicators report drift issues with dicamba, even when using brand names in good weather