Central Illinois' Home for Agriculture» Meghan’s Picks

McLean County Master Gardners to hold Planning Class

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:23:20 +0000

The McLean County Master Gardeners offer gardening classes on the second Thursday of each month at the McLean County Extension Office, 402 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington. The next 2nd Thursday class will be April 14. The topic will be “Implementing the Garden of Your Dreams,” with discussion about preparing, planting and maintaining garden space. Class fee is $10.

Advanced registration is requested by phone to Sharon Becker at (309) 663-8306 or e-mail at sbecker@illinois.edu.

Home Grown Cow

admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:06:14 +0000

We talk about Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food. Finding a niche market. Organic vs. Production agriculture. Healthy Eating. John Aikma from Home Grow Cow is working to pair up farmers with “eaters”. One of his goals is to enable farmers to be price makers rather than price takers.

We talked to John on Friday to learn more about Home Grown Cow listen to the audio

Morton Barnyard Zoo

admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:01:32 +0000

The Morton High School FFA and Ag program is holding their Barnyard Zoo Friday, April 8th from 9am to 2pm. The Barnyard Zoo will be held in the parking lot of Morton High School along Jackson Street. Stop by and check out all the animals and tractors and help support the Morton High School FFA and Agriculture Program. There will even be a special visit from Captain Cornelius.

Sack lunches will be available for sale from 11:30 to 1:00 pm. Your choice of Roast Beef Sandwich, chips and a drink for $5.00 and a Hot Dog Lunch for the kids for $3.00.

The Barnyard Zoo is free and open to the public.

Come out to support the Morton High School FFA and Agriculture Programs!!!

Spring Is Officially Here….

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:41:03 +0000

That means… Our AgLand FS Rain Gauge Report has returned and we want your help! Every time it rains… Click HERE and send us your rainfall totals. We’ll your totals (along with our AgLand FS locations totals) on during our ag programming on both 1470 WMBD and Classic Country 1290 WIRL.

Check back to our website and we’ll update the totals after each rainfall!

NASCAR and NCGA Announce Partnership

admin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:40:54 +0000

(NASCAR) – As the 2011 NASCAR season launches with a new, greener fuel, the nation’s corn growers are joining forces with NASCAR to promote the use of corn-based American Ethanol. As an Official Partner of NASCAR, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) will leverage their relationship to authentically spread the message to NASCAR fans around the role American Farmers play in the development of American Ethanol.

In December 2010, NASCAR unveiled its landmark partnership with American Ethanol just weeks after announcing a 2011 switch in its three major national series to Sunoco Green E15, a new 15-percent ethanol blend fuel made with corn grown in the United States. Growth Energy, a leading ethanol advocacy organization, created the American Ethanol partnership to push for broad acceptance of a renewable domestic fuel for all American motorists.

NASCAR used approximately 400,000 gallons of fuel last year across all three series. Based on that number – NASCAR could feasibly use approximately 60,000 gallons of ethanol in their new Sunoco Green E15 Fuel.

NASCAR’s Jim O’Connell sat down with Agri-Business Director Meghan Grebner to discuss the new partnership.

Helping Feed Central Illinois Families

admin — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:32:42 +0000

We’ve teamed up with local county Farm Bureaus and their young leaders to benefit the Midwest Food Bank. Our goal is to help the food insecure 10 bushels of corn and/or soybeans at a time.

Find out more information by visiting: www.harvestfortheholidays.com.

I Love Farmers… They Feed My Soul

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:56:37 +0000

Agri-Business Director Meghan Grebner had a chance to sit down with Scott Vernon, Executive Director for I Love Farmers. Learn about the next generation spreading the message about agriculture…. One temporary tattoo and trucker cap at a time.

Antique Tractor Plowing Bee

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:55:09 +0000

Looking for something for the whole family to do this weekend? Louis Weishaupt is hosting his 8th Annual Antique Tractor Plowing Bee just south of Mackinaw. It’s Sunday, October 31st. Admission is free and there is lunch available for purchase on site! Things kick off at Noon on Sunday and it’s definitely fun for the whole family!

Click on Plow Day 2010 for all the details!

1st Farm Credit Services Harvest Tour

admin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:17:48 +0000

Our stops this week:

Monday, September 20: The Dale Lessen Farm, near Lincoln.

Tuesday, September 21: Taloma Grain

Friday, September 24: Kevin Leesman Farm, near Hartsburg.

Keep checking back for our upcoming stops. If you’d like us to come out to your farm – send Meghan an email: ag@1290wirl.com or ag@1470wmbd.com. You can also call her in the office, 309-395-4732.

We hope you continue with your safe and bountiful harvest.

Click for Christmas SPIRIT

admin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:26:55 +0000

Supporting military troops and their families this Christmas is just a few clicks away. Trees for Troops, a program of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, makes the holidays a little brighter for military personnel and their families by giving them fresh, full-sized Christmas Trees grown by American farm families.

Trees for Troops is competing with charities nationwide through the Pepsi Refresh Project for a $250,000 grant. Pepsi gives out $1.3 million each month to top vote getters, in amounts ranging from $5,000 up to $250,000. Farmers and ranchers can help support both U.S. military families and U.S. agriculture through this worthwhile national cause.

America’s farm and ranch families can help Trees for Troops deliver an additional 5,000 trees to military families by casting a daily vote in the Pepsi Refresh Project. Go to www.refresheverything.com/treesfortroopsthen create an account with your name, email and birthday so you can quickly login each day to vote. And, you can also vote from your mobile phone by texting 102662 to Pepsi (73774). Voting is open the entire month of September.

Many military personnel spend the holidays far from family members – both immediate and their extended families. The gift of a Christmas tree connects military families in spirit, shows that they don’t have to celebrate the holiday season alone, and that America sincerely appreciates their service and sacrifice.

Some Fun Trees for Troops Facts:

Since 2005, the program has delivered more than 66,000 Real Christmas Trees to military families at more than 50 bases across the U.S.
In 2009 alone, Trees for Troops delivered more than 16,500 trees to all branches of the military.