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COVID-19 Farmer & Rural Resources: CLICK HERE
For information on the below topics and more, click the box above.
Consumer Resources Health and Safety Local Governance
Environmental Resources Livestock Resources Transportation Resources
Federal Stimulus (CARES Act) Local Foods and Specialty Crops USDA
Farmer Foodbank Survey
Farmers: You are being asked to participate in a voluntary study intended at developing strategies to expand commodity markets available to farmers and increasing the supply of fresh food at food banks. Illinois Farm Bureau is partnering with Feeding Illinois, the IL Specialty Growers Association, and researchers at the Prairie Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to identify surplus produce that can increase markets for growers, as well as provide foodbanks with increased supply to support ending hunger in Illinois and beyond.
The questionnaire should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Livestock, dairy, grain, and specialty farmers are all encouraged to participate, the goal is to have 1,000 farmers complete the survey by March 15th.
Survey link: http://go.illinois.edu/farm2foodbanksurvey
Food Pantries Receive Reeder Pork
Six area food pantries in Warren and Henderson counties received pork donations in late January thanks to Little York farmer Devin Reeder. Devin donated two hogs and worked with Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau® to distribute the frozen meat to Alexis Area Food Bank, Family Outreach Community Center in Stronghurst, Helping Hands of Roseville, the Henderson County Health Dept. Food Pantry, Jamieson Community Center in Monmouth, and the Lomax Food Pantry. Donated cuts included: ham hocks, spare/pork back ribs, butterfly chops, pork fresh ham steaks, cured ham steaks, ground pork, mild sausage, pork steaks, and sliced bacon. W-HFB paid for the processing fees from Woodhull Locker. A big thanks goes out to Devin and his family for their generosity and contribution to local communities. To donate or see how you can be of assistance to the food pantries listed above:
Alexis Area Food Bank: 309-337-5574
Family Outreach Community Center: 309-924-1872
Helping Hands of Roseville: 309-536-0229
Henderson County Health Department Food Pantry: 309-627-2812
Jamieson Community Center: 309-734-4251
Lomax Food Pantry: 217-966-0447
NEW YEAR, STILL FARMING: CATTLE FARMER SHARES 2020 LEARNINGS + WHAT COMES NEXT
By Krystal Jungmann
Now that 2020 is behind us, like many of you, we’re looking forward to a New Year and the opportunities it’ll bring. But we also see the importance of reflecting over the last 12 months. As we talk about what 2020 looked like for us, and where our farm is headed in 2021, let me share a little about our family’s history.
Seven generations ago, my family made the journey from Ireland and settled in Sumner Township in Warren County, about as far west as you can go in Illinois. Since then, all seven generations have raised cattle right here – making it a long-held tradition of providing our families and our communities with nutritious, sustainably grown beef. We also grow...click here to read the full write-up.
Women in Agriculture Conference March 26th Event
Farm women and those involved in the agriculture industry should plan to attend the virtual Women in Agriculture Conference March 26. In its ninth year, the conference will feature keynote speaker Jason Medows, host of the popular Ag State of Mind Podcast. He will present Mental Health: What it is, how it affects us in agriculture and what we can do to improve. Raised on his family’s cow-calf operation outside of Cuba, Missouri, Medows graduated from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2008 with his Doctor in Pharmacy degree. He returned home to work at a local hospital and continue the cow-calf operation he started in college.
The conference will wrap up with Rita Frazer, Illinois Farm Bureau director of Network and Audio Services for the RFD Radio Network, and Adam Nielsen, IFB director of National Legislation and Policy Development. They will discuss how to effectively communicate agriculture’s message with a new administration. There is no cost to attend. To register, contact any sponsoring county Farm Bureau or register online. The conference is sponsored by the Farm Bureau Women in Agriculture Conference Committee and COUNTRY Financial.
Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Application Period Open
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Applications are now available for nurse practitioner scholarships through the Illinois Farm Bureau® Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Program. There will be 15 scholarships, worth $4,000 each, granted this year. The scholarship program, now in its twenty-ninth year, helps encourage and develop the pool of rural health practitioners to help meet primary health care needs in rural Illinois. Students who receive scholarships agree to practice for two years in an approved rural area in Illinois. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be Illinois residents and be a Registered Nurse accepted or enrolled in an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program. Funding is provided by the Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program.
Applications are available at county Farm Bureaus® throughout the state, on the Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program website at RIMSAP.com, or by writing Donna Gallivan, program manager, Illinois Farm Bureau, PO Box 2901, Bloomington, IL 61702-2901. Applications are due May 1. For additional information, contact Donna Gallivan at 309-557-2350, or via email at dgallivan@ilfb.org.
IDOA Pesticide Exam Information
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is offering Illinois Pesticide Certification exams both online and in limited in-person opportunities. The state agency expects to offer 15,000 to 20,000 certification exams during the 2021 certification year through online testing and limited in-person testing for certification licenses.
For training and testing information and to register, click here.
Anhydrous Ammonia Certified Grower Training
Illinois growers and grower farm operators who transport or apply anhydrous ammonia, or otherwise maintain anhydrous ammonia equipment, are now required by state regulation (8 IAC 215) to complete certified grower training. The full text of the current regulations is available at: https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/008/00800215sections.html.
Growers and grower farm operators have until April 1, 2022 to become certified. Their certification will be good for three years from the date they complete the training, after which time they will need to participate in a refresher course. The certified grower training may be delivered through both online and in-person opportunities at no cost to the grower or grower farm operator. The in-person classes have been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, but IFB will be working in the coming weeks and months to make those opportunities available for CFBs.
For Training information & registration, visit: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Plants/Fertilizer/Pages/Anhydrous-Ammonia.aspx.
Certified Livestock Manager Training
The Illinois General Assembly passed the Livestock Management Facilities Act (LMFA) on May 21, 1996. Since that law was enacted, livestock facilities in Illinois that house over 300 animal units (for example, 750 finishing hogs, 214 dairy cows, or 300 beef cattle) are required to have at least one person certified in the environmental protection aspects of manure management.
The certificate, administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, is valid for three years. University of Illinois Extension acts as the subcontractor to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, to provide the CLM training required by the LMFA and to develop resource materials that support the training program.
<300 animal units → no training required but encouraged
≥300 and <1,000 animal units → training required
≥1,000 animal units → training + passing test required
For more information and to register, click here.
Source: https://extension.illinois.edu/lfmm/certified-livestock-manager-training
COUNTRY FARM/CROP WINTER WEBINAR RECORDINGS
COUNTRY and Illinois Farm Bureau staff hosted live webinars throughout January and February to provide farmers across the state information about changes to federal crop insurance and new private products offered by COUNTRY, the #1 crop hail insurer in Illinois. RFD Radio Network® Director Rita Frazer hosted the 90-minute live meetings, covering topics and presentations by a team of experts, including: high-level crop insurance/farm bill changes (Doug Yoder, COUNTRY Financial); legislative updates (Adam Nielsen, Illinois Farm Bureau); and farm legacy planning (Joe Buhrmann, COUNTRY Financial). Recordings can be watched at: COUNTRYFinancial.com/AgWebinars.
Local Young Leaders Participate at State Levels
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Click here to read about Gayle Baker recently being named the new District 8 Representative on the IFB State Young Leader Committee & about Justin Allaman's participation in the Young Leader State (virtual) Discussion Meet.
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Illinois Farm Bureau Livestock Resource: Farm Gate
Illinois’ livestock industry addresses environmental protection through regulatory programs, industry-led educational initiatives, and publicly-funded programmatic approaches. Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) wants to assist farmers with regulatory questions and provide educational opportunities and resources to help meet industry regulations and protect the environment. IFB has implemented an educational program for Illinois livestock farmers at the farm gate level. The program is built for livestock farms of all sizes, with a special focus on small and medium sized operations.
For more information, visit http://ilfb.org/take-actionstar/current-priorities/protecting-our-environment/livestock/farm-gate/.
IFB Provides 21 Nutrient Stewardship Grants for 2021
Twenty-eight county Farm Bureaus will oversee 21 projects funded with $150,000 through Illinois Farm Bureau’s Nutrient Stewardship Grant program.
Funded projects show active collaboration in all categories of the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) - education and outreach, research, implementation and documentation.
Since 2015, the IFB Board of Directors has committed more than $700,000 to the grant program, funding 100 projects in 70 counties. Through the program, IFB takes an active role to support county Farm Bureaus and local partners to develop projects that address farmer needs for research, education and outreach, and implementing best management practices for nutrient loss reduction. To read more about the projects, click here
$10,000 to River Bend Foodbank for Beef and Pork Products
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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.
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Farmers Breakfast
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.
Farm Progress Virtual Experience
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
Nitrogen Strip Trial Virtual Field Day
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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.
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Ag Service Award Presented
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.
Dairy Donation from Area Native
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.
Ag in the Classroom Offers Online Ag Lessons
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.
Rules of the Road & Plat Books Available
Farmers for a Sustainable Future
We represent U.S. farmers and ranchers who are committed to producing the world’s food, feed and fiber supply in a sustainable way. Farmers and ranchers play a leading role in promoting soil health, conserving water, enhancing wildlife, efficiently using nutrients and caring for their animals. For decades they have pushed past the boundaries of innovation by investing in agricultural research and adopting practices with the goals of improving productivity, providing clean and renewable energy, and enhancing sustainability. Learn more about this 21-member coalition by clicking here.
Behavioral & Mental Health Resources
CLICK HERE
Make space for a healthy mind. Have you checked out SilverCloud yet?
Warren-Henderson Takes on the 10 Gallon Milk Challenge
IFB News & Media
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!"
Members, Keep Up with Ag News
FarmWeek:
To receive a daily FarmWeek Now email update, click here
To visit the FarmWeek now website, click here
welcome
The Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau® is a non-profit, membership organization. We one of 96 other Illinois county Farm Bureaus which make up the Illinois Farm Bureau. Each county Farm Bureau® is governed by their own board of directors consisting of farmer members.
Farm Bureau was originally organized to promote the most permanent and profitable system of agriculture possible as well as the education, social and financial welfare of its members. The organization has evolved into assisting farmers with legislative issues, providing leadership opportunities and educational programs, furnishing information on services and products and educating the general public about the agriculture industry.
We are a grassroots organization who takes direction from our members at the local level. The policies of the Illinois Farm Bureau are a result of resolutions submitted from county Farm Bureau®s and adopted by the voting delegation of farmer members at the Illinois Farm Bureau® annual meeting. We have both farmer (voting) members and non-farmer (associate, non-voting members). Anyone 18 years or older can become a member.
“To Promote and Support Agriculture and our Communities"
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news & events
November 24th WRAM Post Election Ag Roundtable
COVID-19 Farmer & Rural Resources
March 15 - W-HFB Board Meeting, 7:00pm
March 17 - Young Leader Meeting, 6:30pm @ W-HFB auditorium
March 26 - Women In Agriculture Virtual On-Demand Event
May 1 - RIMSAP Scholarship Deadline
COVID-19 Farmer & Rural Resources
IDOA Pesticide Testing/Training Information
Certified Livestock Manager Training
Anhydrous Ammonia Certified Training
llinois Farm Bureau in Action News
LINK (Local Information, News and Know-How
office locations:
MAIN OFFICE:
1000 N Main Street in Monmouth
Hours > 8:00am to 4:30pm
Phone: 309-734-9401 | Fax: 309-734-6097
EMAIL US
406 E Main St in Stronghurst.
Hours when staff is present vary.
Phone: 309-924-1151