County Farm Bureau leaders meeting as trustees for Illinois Agricultural Association ACTIVATOR® – Illinois Farm Bureau’s political action committee – endorsed the following legislators up for election as Friends of Agriculture based on their voting records and efforts on behalf of agriculture:

• Representative Cheri Bustos (D) of the Illinois 17th Congressional District
• Representative Norine Hammond (R) of the Illinois House 93rd District
• Representative Randy Frese (R) of the Illinois House 94th District
• (Mid-Term) Senator Jil Tracy (R) of the Illinois Senate 47th District

About Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR®:
ACTIVATOR, IFB’s Political Involvement Fund, is a voluntary, non-profit, segregated fund promoting the economic and social well-being of farmers which seeks to help elect pro-farm candidates no matter their party affiliation. ACTIVATOR trustees are local Farm Bureau leaders representing each county in the Illinois General Assembly Legislative District. For more information about Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR’s “Friends of Agriculture” contact Illinois Farm Bureau® at 309-557-2308.

The Quad City Regional Advertising Group partnered with Illinois Farm Bureau in August to donate $10,000 to River Bend Foodbank for beef and pork products. The Quad City Regional Advertising Group consists of Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Mercer, Warren-Henderson, Stark and Knox County Farm Bureaus.  
      According to River Bend Foodbank, the $10,000 donation will purchase approximately 3,000 pounds of ground beef and ground pork, providing 50,000 meals to those in need. Every dollar donated helps provide five meals. River Bend Foodbank supports local food banks within the eight counties in the Quad City Regional Advertising Group. Click here to read more.

 

Food is at the heart of our favorite holiday traditions. And tradition is often handwritten on a stained 3x5 index card tucked safely away in the back of the cupboard protected by Grandma’s sturdy wooden recipe box. We invite you to share your favorite tried-and-true holiday recipes and the stories behind them as we all celebrate being #HomefortheHolidays this season.

Click to submit your favorite holiday recipe here and we'll share it in this album with our followers! https://bit.ly/IFBHomeForTheHolidays
View all recipes by visiting Illinois Farm Bureau's Facebook page and clicking on the Home for the Holidays album. 

National Older Worker Career Center (NOWCC) is seeking a Soil Conservation Technician (age 55+) to join its Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) program in Monmouth, IL. The successful candidate will support the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) field office with the planning, design, and implementation of conservation practices. This is a flexible opportunity, with the ability to work 30-40 hours (4-5 days) per week (Mon-Fri). Veterans and retirees are encouraged to apply.

Click here to view flyer

Click here to learn more:
For questions & further information, contact Monica:
** CONTACT: Monica | Email: mcurtis-heflin@nowcc.org | Phone: 571-512-3095 **

As harvest is upon us, the Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau® reminds motorists and farmers to be mindful when traveling roadways. We wish everyone a safe and successful harvest!

Tips on Passing Farm Machinery:

• Check to be sure that machinery is not turning left. Look for left turn lights or hand signals. If the machinery slows and pulls toward the right side of the road, the operator is likely preparing to make a wide left turn. Likewise, sometimes to make a right turn with wide equipment, the driver must fade to the left.
• Look for roadside obstacles such as mailboxes, bridges, or road signs that may cause the machinery to move to the center of the road. Fading to the left does not mean the farmer wants you to pass on the right.
• Be sure there is adequate distance for you to safely pass, and make sure the road is wide enough for your vehicle and the farm equipment.
• Only pass where it is legal. Do not pass if there is a solid yellow center line. Furthermore, do not pass near an intersection, railroad tracks, tunnels, or bridges. These areas can be particularly dangerous.

To learn more about the heavy and wide machinery you'll see on rural roadways, click here.

The 28th Annual Farmers Breakfast was held on the morning of September 11th at the W-HFB in Monmouth. Overall, 160 breakfast burrito meals were served and the event and speakers were live on WRAM AM 1330.


Click above to listen to the recording of the keynote speaker, Mark Gebhards, Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities for Illinois Farm Bureau.

Many thanks to the sponsors of this breakfast: G&M Distributors, Inc., LMP Insurance Agency, M & E Catering, COUNTRY Financial, Culligan Water, FS, WRAM AM 1330, and W-HFB.

On September 15 - 17, Farm Progress Virtual Experience brought together the best of Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days into one powerhouse virtual experience.

FPVX was proud to offer farmers what they value most about in-person field demonstrations plus a rewind button. These field demonstrations along with many exciting show features are available for registered attendees to view during the event and through Spring 2021.

Show highlights included:

• 400 acres of corn to harvest
• Hay to cut, rake and bale
• Working cattle demonstrations
• Practical education sessions
• Live insights from farmers
• Unique product features from exhibitors

Learn more about the Farm Progress Virtual Experience and access the virtual event here: www.farmprogressshow.com

Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau received an Illinois Farm Bureau Nutrient Stewardship Grant last winter and with it is preforming a Nutrient Stewardship Grant. We hosted a virtual field day that was filmed on Friday, July 17th. A special thanks goes out to our partners and presenters (Illinois Farm Bureau, U of I Extension, U of I College of ACES, West Central FS) for developing and adjusting for this event! For more information on this trial, click here.

Warren-Henderson was one of 8 county farm bureaus to host a field day this summer:

• Warren-Henderson FB on nitrogen strip field trial results
• LaSalle CFB on struvite field application results
• Clinton CFB on nutrient and manure management results
• Shelby CFB on drainage water management results
• St. Clair CFB on FGD gypsum results
• Wayne CFB on the Nutrient Loss Inhibitor Demonstration (NLID) plot results
• Jo Daviess CFB on cover crop results
• McHenry CFB on a woodchip bioreactor

To read more about IFB Nutrient Stewardship Grants and to view the information and videos of each field day event, click here.

The Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau® proudly presented this year’s Ag Service Award to Don McIntyre, retired owner of Monmouth Feed Service.
Born in late January 1940 in rural Little York and one of twelve children, Don’s family moved from rural Monmouth to Roseville in 1948. Don graduated from High School in 1959 and married Janeth Eaton of Berwick in April 1966. Together they have sons Donald C. and James and daughter Amanda. To read more about Don, click here.

Having grown up with livestock (cattle and hogs) outside Little York, transitioning to dairy farming was an easier move for Carrie Pollard than it would be for most people. Carrie, the daughter of Tom and Sue Bertelsen, resides in Rockford, IL with her husband Brent, where they own and operate a 75-cow dairy operation. In addition to dairy, Carrie and Brent also grow cash crops on acres that have been in Brent’s family for multiple generations. The biggest change regarding dairy vs. the livestock she grew up raising? The timing. “I was used to weekend chores, etc., but I’ve found the mornings and timing to be a challenge. I am not a morning person as the Campbell and Leary clan that I grew up showing with will attest to!”

Click here to continue reading about Carrie's donation to her home community.

Illinois Ag in the Classroom is offering online resources and lessons during this COVID-19 time so kids can continue learning from home about agriculture. Every Monday-Friday IAITC will be releasing a short daily video and related activities on a different ag topic. Visit Beyond the Barn Door and Illinois Ag in the Classroom's Facebook page to view these materials and see how you can keep up on a little bit of ag education each day.

The most current version of ‘Motor Vehicle Rules for Illinois Farmers’, a select collection of information on motor vehicle regulations, produced and provided by Illinois Farm Bureau®, are available in Monmouth & Stronghurst offices. Please contact W-HFB if you would like a booklet mailed to you. An online version with detailed breakdowns of the booklet can be seen here. 2018 Warren-Henderson Counties Plat Books are available for purchase at Monmouth and Stronghurst W-HFB locations.

Not all wounds are visible and sometimes calling upon the farming community – friends, neighbors, or clergy can make a difference in managing stressful situations and crises. Below are some outside resources available for those in such a situation. More information can be found under the LINKS tab.

Make space for a healthy mind. Have you checked out SilverCloud yet?

SilverCloud is a free, secure, anonymous and interactive platform to help you manage the feelings and causes of depression, anxiety or stress. Offered by OSF HealthCare and available to the public, SilverCloud is an online resource available on your computer, tablet, or phone designed to provide you with easy access to supportive behavioral therapy programs catered to your personal situation. View the links below to learn more.

• Click here to sign-up for SilverCloud
• View Mental Health Resources
• Read their blog

Stay up-to-date with the markets, weather, and most current ag topics at FarmWeek Now.

Check out Illinois Farm Bureau’s podcasts that give insight on Illinois farm, family, and food related issues! Available at this link include the Partners, RFD Radio, RFD Illinois, and Best of RFD podcasts. Whether you’re interested in the markets and weather, hearing in-depth interviews with top ag decision-makers, listening to a recap of ‘what happened this week in Illinois agriculture’, or learning about some ideas on Illinois places and events to visit, IFB has you covered!"