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News and Information:
Premium books that explain the rules and deadlines for thousands of fair contests are now available on the internet Five books have been published, one each for the Livestock and Junior Livestock contests, the Western Horse Show, the Society Horse Show and General fair competitions. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MAKES POSSIBLE SUMMER CONSTRUCTION OF SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES Partners for Conservation Fund Program offers incentive of up to $160 an acre for planting of temporary cover The Illinois Department of Agriculture will offer a summer construction option to encourage landowners to install erosion-reducing conservation practices. INFORMATION ABOUT H1N1 FLU: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), no food safety issues have been identified related to the H1N1 flu virus. ILLINOIS COMMODITY BOARDS TO ELECT NEW MEMBERS Prospective candidates urged to start passing nominating petitions Seats are up for election on three Illinois agricultural commodity boards. Eligible farmers who would like to run for a three-year term on the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the Illinois Soybean Operating Board, or the Illinois Sheep and Wool Marketing Board can pick-up nominating petitions. NEW ANHYDROUS AMMONIA SAFETY VIDEO AVAILABLE Because of the potentially hazardous nature of anhydrous ammonia, the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA) and Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) have produced a 12-minute video outlining the proper safety procedures that famers should take each and every time they handle the product. watch the Video ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ASSISTS FARMERS MARKETS More than $200,000 in federal funds being distributed to promote the availability of Illinois-grown produce These funds will enable farmers markets to spread the word about the availability of locally-grown produce and help fulfill our growing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables. CERTIFIED GROWERS AND HANDLERS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ELIGIBLE FOR COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE The Illinois Department of Agriculture has obtained an additional $45,000 to reimburse growers and handlers of organic agricultural products for the cost of their USDA certification. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO PLANT COMMUNITY GARDEN Garden will be open to the public and located on Illinois State Fairgrounds If you are looking for a spot to try out your green thumb, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has just the place. LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM HAS $30B ECONOMIC STIMULUS POTENTIAL FOR ILLINOIS ECONOMY Report of Statewide Task Force Reveals Economic Potential of local farm, food, and jobs system Legislation filed to advance work to put Illinois-grown food on Illinois tables A statewide task force report delivered today to the Illinois General Assembly presents a local farm-and-food development strategy that experts say could trigger $20 to $30 billion in new economic activity every year, creating thousands of new jobs while revitalizing rural communities. COUNTY ESTIMATES FOR 2008 NOW AVAILABLE The official estimates of acreage, yield and production of corn, soybeans and wheat for counties in Illinois for 2008 have been released by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Illinois Field Office. SUMMER EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS The Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for qualified individuals who are interested in summer employment. Please download a copy of the summer application form. Completed form should be sent to Human Resource Office, IL Dept. of Agriculture, State Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, IL 62794-9281 ILLINOIS SELECTED TO HOST INTERNATIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY TRAINING Exercise will Test Response to Simulated Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak The event, which will be held the week of June 16, 2009, in Wheaton, will include a two-day tabletop exercise that will simulate a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. MYCOTOXIN SURVEY Every year the Illinois Department of Agriculture conducts mycotoxin surveys on corn to make sure it is safe for livestock feed. Department inspectors collect four corn samples per county, where possible, and send them to the Department's chemistry laboratory at the Illinois Department of Agriculture building in Springfield. The samples are analyzed for aflatoxin and fumonisin, two toxins that can be harmful to animals if feed contains high levels of either. Linked are state maps that show the county and levels of aflatoxin and fumonisin found in the corn samples analyzed so far this year. If you live in an area that shows high levels of either toxin and you are a livestock feeder, the Department recommends that the corn used in your feed ration be tested for these toxins. ILLINOIS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRESS REPORT AVAILABLE The "Illinois Conservation Partnership Annual Report - 2007" details the soil and water conservation accomplishments throughout Illinois last year.
NURSERY PROGRAM NOW ON-LINE The nursery program inspection staff of the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Environmental Programs inspects and certifies nearly 1,200 nurseries in Illinois each year.
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STARTS WORK ON ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM First step is to identify every premise that handles livestock and poultry  In an ongoing effort to ensure safety in the food supply, the state Department of Agriculture has begun the difficult, but important task of identifying every farm, feedlot, sales barn and slaughter facility in Illinois that handles food animals. Register On-line
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Agriculture Events
Illinois Products Farmer's Market, Thu, May 14, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Commodity PavilionAdmission: Free 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm c/o Kristi Kenney (217)782-0777 Antique Show, May 15 - 17, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Orr Building DRAFT HORSE PULL, Rodeo, Sat, May 16, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Coliseum Springfield Highland Games & Celtic Festival, Central IL Senior Celebration, Illinois Products Farmer's Market, DUQUOIN MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMOTION, Fri, May 22, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, GRANDSTAND IMDA Springfield TT Motorcycle Races, DUQUOIN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, Sat, May 23, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, GRANDSTAND ILLINOIS CHA / GATEWAY CHA CUTTING HORSE SHOW , May 23 - 24, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, HORSE SHOW ARENA IMDA Springfield Mile Motorcycle Race, Illinois Products Farmer's Market, Illinois Arab, Inc. Arabian Horse Show, May 28 - 31, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Coliseum SPRING HARNESS RACING, ILLINOIS QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION, May 30 - 31, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, HORSE SHOW ARENA
If you have an event you would like posted, please email the webmaster for inclusion on this website. |
APIARY NEWS IN ILLINOIS COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER
HEARTLAND COOKBOOK
HAY AND STRAW DIRECTORY
| Questions or comments. |
State of Illinois Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 19281, State Fairgrounds
Springfield, IL 62794-9281
(217) 782-2172
(217) 524-6858 TTY
The Department of Agriculture is an Equal Opportunity Employer