 |
|  |
 |
Director | ||||
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
News and Information:
Program designed to expand the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce and strengthen the state's specialty crop industry The Illinois Department of Agriculture today announced it will receive up to $435,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for programs next year that improve the competitiveness of their industry. STATE COMMODITY BOARD ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED Producers voted July 7 to select members of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board and the Illinois Sheep and Wool Marketing Board. PROPOSALS REQUESTED FOR SPECIALTY CROP PROJECTS--FEDERAL FUNDS DEADLINE IS AUGUST 3, 2009 The Illinois Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Marketing and Promotion is seeking grant proposals for those interested in accessing nearly $435,000 being made available by the USDA to promote the domestic specialty crop industry. In addition to grants to assist in advertising and promotion, the IDOA also will be seeking to distribute "mini-grants" to those interested in streamlining the distribution and handling process. As-well-as advertising-related expenses for entities such as farmers markets are eligible for assistance, as long as program requirements are met. LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE AN ILLINOIS STATE FAIR MEGA PASS FOR DISCOUNTED PRICE The final day the mega pass will be sold for $50 is Saturday, July 11. After that, the price will increase to $60. ILLINOIS HOSTS THE NATIONAL VETERINARY STOCKPILE AND MULTI-STATE PARTNERSHIP FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE LOGISTICS EXERCISE Exercise included State, National and International partners The three day training included a table top exercise that discussed the logistical components of emergency response at all levels in the event of an FMD outbreak. NEW GYPSY MOTH TREATMENTS TO BEGIN IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS New product contains pheromones that disrupt mating The Illinois Department of Agriculture is scheduled to start a new Gypsy Moth treatment program Thursday, June 25, in LaSalle and Ogle counties. MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE JOINT TASK FORCE ON BREEDERS AND PET STORES First Public Meeting to be held Monday, June 22 The Task Force was established by Senate Joint Resolution 56 (SJR 56). The initial meeting will be open to the public. Doors will open at 8:30 am. Submit Comments CANDIDATES FOR THREE ILLINOIS COMMODITY BOARDS ANNOUNCED Elections to be held July 7 Anyone who produces and markets the particular commodity that the boards represent is eligible to vote. Ballots may be cast at county Cooperative Extension Offices during regular operating hours. EMERALD ASH BORER INFESTATION FOUND IN NEW COUNTY DeKalb County now known to harbor the pest The emerald ash borer (EAB) was discovered on a farm south of Illinois Route 64 on First Street in Mayfield Township just between the cities of Sycamore and DeKalb, the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced today. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO OFFER FREE RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR AGRICHEMICAL CONTAINERS Beginning in late July, sites throughout the state will collect the containers and grind them into small plastic chips that will be used to make shipping pallets, fence posts, drainage tubing, plastic lumber and other useful products. CHICAGO STUDENTS PLANT COMMUNITY GARDEN, LEARN ABOUT GLOBAL AGRICULTURE "Plant a Garden, Grow and Opportunity" Raises Urban Awareness about Agriculture The exponential growth of community gardens in this state and nation signal that citizens want to know who is growing their food, where it is being planted and how it is being grown.
2009 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR GRANDSTAND ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP ANNOUNCED Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kelly Clarkson, Heart, Bangles, Montgomery Gentry, and Josh Turner among scheduled performers Every year, we aim to bring the best entertainment possible to Central Illinois, and I believe crowds of all ages will be thrilled with this year's performers. IDOA: PLEASE DON'T DISTURB THE PURPLE TRAPS Box kite-looking devices to aid department's search for the destructive emerald ash borer The Illinois Department of Agriculture is placing purple traps in trees to help detect the emerald ash borer (EAB). IT'S TIME TO PREPARE ENTRIES FOR THE 2009 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR 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. 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. 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 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
|
 |
Agriculture Events
ISF Society Horse Show 1st Session, Aug 11 - 15, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Coliseumc/o Jody VanNattan (217)524-9806 Illinois State Fair, Aug 14 - 23, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Entire Grounds(217)782-6661 ISF Draft Horse Show, Aug 16 - 18, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Coliseumc/o Durinda Kirby (217)782-1524 ISF Society Horse Show 2nd Session, Aug 19 - 22, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Coliseumc/o Jody VanNattan (217)524-9806 ISF Miniature Horse Show, Sun, Aug 23, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Barn 13c/o Durinda Kirby (217)782-1524
If you have an event you would like posted, please email the webmaster for inclusion on this website. |
2009 AGRICHEMICAL CONTAINER RECYCLING SCHEDULE
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCES
2009 COUNTY FAIR SCHEDULE 
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