Farmers around the country are worried that ICE enforcement may keep employees from showing up and ultimately seeing harvest rot in fields due to resulting understaffing. It could mean even higher prices in the grocery store.
Photo: Mark Stebnicki/PEXELS
An estimated 15,000–20,000 seasonal agricultural workers go to Minnesota during the peak harvesting season, according to the National institutes of Health. Farm operations could suffer because of ICE enforcement efforts.
by Mike Moen Public News Service CHICAGO - With the fall harvest here, farmers who hire immigrant workers might still be worried about ICE enforcement deterring their employees from showing up. A farm law expert in Minnesota said even if the risk is low, the threat of enforcement can have far-reaching implications.
During last winter's federal immigration crackdown, state agriculture officials noted a small amount of anecdotal evidence of enforcement near farms. Minnesota does not have a large number of migrant farmworkers compared to states like California.
Rachel Armstrong, founder and executive director of the nonprofit legal support group Farm Commons, said the fear is enough to prevent vulnerable workers from reporting to their jobs.
"The consequences are enormous, especially for the person who is detained, whether or not they have legal authorization. The consequences are enormous for the farm that loses its labor force. Crops don't wait. Cows don't wait to be milked," Armstrong pointed out.
The Trump administration and some congressional Republicans want to expand a visa program for seasonal agricultural workers to address staffing shortages on farms. But Armstrong, who is a licensed attorney, countered it would open the door to problems like human trafficking and worker exploitation. Her group is educating farms on how to prepare and to ensure at-risk workers know their rights.
Armstrong explained even if a farmer takes the proper steps and builds trust, a migrant worker can sometimes feel exposed if they have to drive 30 miles to their job. They might also worry about being targeted by ICE when out shopping and forgo buying boots and other proper gear. She added collectively, such examples add pressure to a food production system already grappling with other market forces.
"Americans are already experiencing what it means right now to pay more for our food and I'm not sure there's that much willingness to accept even higher prices," Armstrong observed.
Since President Donald Trump's return to office, the White House has sent mixed signals about whether to allow ramped-up immigration enforcement to intersect with agriculture.
A July Investigate Midwest report, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data, identified 453 farming counties nationwide. Last year, 145 of them recorded at least one ICE arrest, the highest number since 2018. The report found total ICE arrests in farming counties increased in 2025.
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At-risk workers should know their rights, ICE enforcement efforts will affect harvest operations, migrant workers worry about ICE, will Americans want to pay more for food, ICE arrest have increase in rural farm communities
Before you take that first bite, the marbling found in your prime rib or T-bone, will give you a good idea of how delicious your meal will be. The marble pattern is the primary source of rich flavor people associated with high-quality beef products.
Sergey Kotenev/Upsplash
by Casey Cartwright Contributing Writer
A premium steak makes an impression before it even reaches the grill. Fine streaks of fat run through the muscle, creating the visual pattern known as marbling. Those delicate flecks do much more than make a steak look appealing. They influence flavor and tenderness and affect how the beef performs over high heat.
Marbling plays a major role in the experience people expect from premium beef, but understanding it takes more than looking for the fattiest steak in the case. The amount and distribution of intramuscular fat both affect the final result. When you know what to look for, you can choose cuts with greater confidence. Continue reading to explore how marbling shapes the quality of premium beef.
What Marbling Means
Marbling refers to small deposits of fat within beef muscle. Unlike the larger strips of exterior fat around a steak, marbling appears within the lean portion. The term comes from the way those pale streaks resemble patterns in marble.
Cattle develop marbling as they grow and receive adequate nutrition. Genetics also influence how readily an animal deposits intramuscular fat, so producers focused on premium beef pay close attention to those traits.
The pattern matters as much as the quantity. Fine, evenly dispersed flecks can influence more of each bite than a few large pockets of fat. That balanced distribution helps explain why experienced buyers look beyond a simple estimate of total fat.
Flavor Starts Inside
Marbling directly contributes to the rich flavor people associate with high-quality beef. As a steak cooks, intramuscular fat melts and releases flavorful compounds throughout the surrounding meat. That process gives well-marbled beef a fuller, more satisfying character.
Lean beef can still taste excellent, especially when producers raise cattle carefully and cooks use the right techniques. However, greater marbling often adds depth that diners notice in premium steaks.
Breed plays an important role here. When producers select cattle for dependable beef traits, they build a stronger foundation for flavor and consistency. That helps explain why 100 percent Black Angus beef makes a difference for buyers who want a premium steak experience centered on recognized beef traits rather than a generic label.
Marbling Supports Juiciness
People often describe a great steak as juicy, and marbling helps create that perception. During cooking, intramuscular fat melts and coats the muscle fibers. Each bite can feel richer and more succulent because the fat adds lubrication as you chew.
Cooking still determines the final result. Excessive heat or a long cooking time can dry out even a well-marbled steak. Marbling gives the cook more room to develop a flavorful crust while preserving a satisfying interior.
Tenderness Gets a Boost
Tenderness depends on several factors, including the muscle the cut comes from and how much connective tissue it contains. Marbling doesn't make every cut a naturally tender steak, but it can improve how tender it feels when eating.
As intramuscular fat softens during cooking, it reduces the dry or firm sensation that can make lean meat feel tougher. The fat also separates muscle fibers in small areas, which can contribute to a softer bite.
Photo: Engin Akyurt/Unsplash
Prime beef has more marbling than lower quality grades of meat. If you prefer bold beef flavor and a rich texture, look for or choose heavily marbled cuts to enhance you dining experience.
Two steaks from the same general cut can deliver different experiences. Stronger, finer marbling may create a richer flavor and softer bite even when the cook prepares both steaks the same way.
Grading Reflects Marbling
The USDA uses marbling as an important factor when assigning quality grades to beef. Graders evaluate marbling in the ribeye area along with the animal's maturity. That evaluation helps determine familiar grades such as Prime and Choice, while Select reflects a leaner quality level.
Prime beef typically has the most abundant marbling among these familiar grades. Choice can also offer excellent marbling, though the amount varies within the grade. Select usually contains less intramuscular fat, resulting in a leaner eating experience.
A grade gives shoppers useful context, but it doesn't tell the whole story about quality. Breed and aging can also influence the final steak, while preparation shapes the eating experience. Smart buyers use grading as one piece of information when choosing a cut.
Different Cuts Show It Differently
Marbling doesn't look identical across the beef. Some cuts naturally carry more intramuscular fat because of their location and muscle function. Ribeye often displays prominent marbling, which contributes to its reputation for richness. Strip steaks can combine noticeable marbling with a firmer texture.
Tenderloin usually has less marbling than ribeye, yet its fine muscle structure gives it exceptional tenderness. That contrast shows that more marbling doesn't automatically make one cut better than another. The best choice depends on the eating experience you want.
If you prefer bold beef flavor and a rich texture, you may favor a heavily marbled ribeye. If you value a softer, more delicate bite, you may prefer filet mignon, even though it has less visible intramuscular fat.
Fine Marbling Has an Advantage
Large fat deposits can attract attention, but fine marbling often creates a more balanced experience. Small flecks spread through the muscle can influence flavor and texture across more of the steak.
Fine distribution also helps the fat render more consistently during cooking. When heat reaches those smaller deposits, they soften throughout the meat instead of leaving isolated fatty sections. That creates a more uniform bite.
When comparing steaks, look at the entire surface rather than one heavily marbled area. Consistency can reveal more about the eating experience.
Cooking Brings Marbling to Life
Marbling reaches its full potential when the cooking method provides enough heat to soften and render the fat. Grilling and cast-iron searing work well for many premium steaks because high temperatures build a flavorful exterior while the interior stays tender.
Manage the heat based on the thickness of the cut. Very thick steaks may benefit from a combination of low and high heat so the center cooks evenly without burning the exterior.
Resting also helps after cooking. Let the steak rest for a few minutes before slicing so the juices settle. Cutting immediately can send flavorful juices across the plate instead of keeping more of them in each serving.
Quality Goes Beyond Visible Fat
Marbling deserves attention, but premium beef depends on a broader set of decisions. Genetics shape the animal's potential, while nutrition supports development. Careful aging can further enhance tenderness and flavor.
Source also deserves attention. Clear breed and quality information gives buyers more insight than vague premium language. Knowing where the beef comes from can support a more informed purchase decision.
That broader perspective prevents marbling from becoming the only quality test. Quality beef combines desirable marbling with careful production and transparent sourcing.
Choose Marbling With Purpose
Marbling shapes the quality of beef and turns a good steak into a memorable one. Intramuscular fat adds richness and supports juiciness, contributing to a tender eating experience. It also gives shoppers a visible clue about how a steak may perform when heat hits the pan or grill.
The right amount depends on your preferences. Some people want the deep richness of a highly marbled ribeye, while others prefer the leaner cut of a strip or tenderloin. Learning to recognize different marbling patterns helps you choose beef that matches the experience you want.
Premium beef rewards close attention. When you look beyond the label and examine marbling alongside breed and source, you gain a clearer picture of quality before you start cooking. That knowledge can make every steak purchase more deliberate and every meal more satisfying.
Casey Cartwright is a passionate copyeditor highly motivated to provide compelling SEO content in the digital marketing space. Her expertise includes a vast range of industries from highly technical, consumer, and lifestyle-based, with an emphasis on attention to detail and readability.
The conference blends scientific updates with real-world solutions for corn and soybean production challenges. Presenters will address nutrient efficiency, seeding strategies, row spacing, and disease prevention.
COVINGTON, INDIANA – With the harvest complete and plans for the next season beginning to take shape, area farmers have a key opportunity to gain a competitive edge at an upcoming one-day crops conference. Set for December 12 at the Beef House's Oak Room, the event promises a packed agenda of practical, research-driven insights designed to improve crop production and profitability.
The conference, coordinated by Tricia Herr, will bring together leading university specialists from Illinois and Indiana to tackle some of the most pressing topics in modern agriculture.
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“This conference brings together some of the most knowledgeable crop specialists in the region,” Herr said. “Our goal is to give farmers practical, research-based information they can take home and apply to their own operations this growing season.”
The morning session will lead off with Giovani Preza Fontes, an Illinois Field Crop Research and Extension Specialist, who will present recent findings on nitrogen and sulfur fertilization. His talk will cover N timing for soybeans and nutrient strategies for conservation systems like strip-till and no-till.
Purdue Extension corn specialist Dan Quinn will follow, sharing agronomic management tips for new short-stature corn hybrids. He will delve into how row spacing, seeding rates, and nitrogen management impact the performance of these compact varieties compared to their full-stature counterparts.
After a break and lunch, the afternoon session will focus on protecting yields. Boris Camiletti, an Illinois Field Crop Pathology and Extension Specialist, will outline strategies for managing established and emerging diseases in corn and soybeans, including the growing threats of tar spot and southern rust.
The conference runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. EST, with registration opening at 9:00 a.m. The $35 registration fee, payable at the door, includes lunch. The event also offers Certified Crop Adviser CEUs and other professional credits.
For farmers looking to ground-truth their plans for the coming year with the latest science, this conference is a prime destination. To reserve a spot, visit go.illinois.edu/BiStateCrops or contact Tricia Herr at 765-364-6363.
TAGS: short-stature corn hybrid management strategies, nitrogen and sulfur fertilization research for Midwest growers, corn and soybean disease prevention best practices, conservation tillage nutrient efficiency insights, Illinois–Indiana bi-state agriculture conference information
SJO FFA members attended the U of I Greenhand Conference, planned online outreach and staffed a booth at the Ogden Harvest Fest before heading to nationals.
by Henry Beeler
for The Sentinel
ST. JOSEPH – October has been a full month for the St. Joseph-Ogden FFA chapter, capped by preparations for one of the organization’s biggest annual events — the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. From Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, members will join thousands of young agricultural leaders from across the country for workshops, networking, and hands-on learning opportunities.
This year’s convention theme centers on leadership, innovation, and positive change — ideals that have shaped the SJO chapter’s own activities throughout the fall. Chapter members have spent much of October working on personal development, community engagement, and ways to improve their group’s presence both locally and online.
The busy month began with a trip to the University of Illinois Greenhand Conference on Oct. 1, where newer members learned more about FFA’s mission, leadership opportunities, and agricultural careers.
A week later, on Oct. 8, the chapter held an all-committee meeting to brainstorm ideas for improving its digital outreach. Members discussed redesigning their online platforms and even considered launching a YouTube channel to share projects and community updates — an idea still under review.
By their Oct. 20 meeting, the discussion shifted toward community impact. Members reflected on how FFA has supported the St. Joseph area through service projects and leadership development.
Just days later, on Oct. 25, the chapter put that spirit of service into action by volunteering at the Ogden Harvest Fest. Members helped run various games and activities for festivalgoers, adding a fun, family-oriented presence to the local celebration.
St. Joseph-Ogden FFA national convention 2025, U of I Greenhand Conference St. Joseph-Ogden students, SJO FFA Ogden Harvest Fest volunteer activities, how to start a high school FFA YouTube channel, St. Joseph-Ogden FFA community outreach and leadership programs
A fly that was once wiped out in the U.S. is back. Screwworm flies return in Mexico and pose a risk to U.S. farms. If untreated, animals die in weeks from flesh-eating maggots.
DiGiFX Media from Pixabay
A USDA study estimated that a screwworm outbreak could cost Texas alone nearly $2 billion each year. The US government plans to fight the pest from the air by dropping billions of flies over Texas and other states where the larvae has been detected. SNS - The hum of the cargo plane’s engines was steady but distant, drowned beneath the weight of anticipation. Dr. Lena Mireles leaned against the cool fuselage, eyes fixed on the pale glow of morning rising over the Gulf of Mexico. Below them, a swath of farmland, scrub brush, and winding rivers awaited the release. Behind her, row after row of aluminum canisters held billions of sterile male flies — tiny, winged soldiers bred in a lab, irradiated, and readied for war against a flesh-eating parasite that once again threatened to crawl northward.
She tapped her tablet, reviewing the flight path as the countdown ticked closer. In just minutes, the belly doors of the aircraft would open, scattering the living payload across the borderlands of southern Texas and northern Mexico. The plan was simple, almost elegant: drown the wild screwworm population in a tide of infertile mates. But Lena knew it wouldn’t feel elegant if they failed. The New World screwworm was already burrowing into livestock flesh in Chiapas and Campeche. If it crossed into U.S. herds, the economic and ecological damage would take decades to undo.
The cabin lights dimmed as the pilot radioed clearance. Lena stepped closer to the viewing port, watching the earth spin slowly beneath them. It was strange, she thought, to fight something so ancient with something so engineered. The flies would be gone in days, their work done in silence. No guns, no poison — only radiation, instinct, and time. Yet the stakes couldn’t be higher. This wasn’t just pest control. This was containment. Survival. A race between biology and biotechnology, she was flying at 12,000 feet over the front line yet again.
This sounds like a scene from a made-for-Netflix science-fiction movie, right? Actually, billions of irradiated male flies will soon rain from airplanes over southern Texas and northern Mexico as the U.S. government accelerates efforts to contain the alarming resurgence of the New World screwworm — a parasitic fly species that threatens livestock, wildlife, and food security across North America. This scenerio might actually happen in the years ahead.
The plan, announced this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), represents the latest escalation in a long-running battle against a pest that was once eradicated from the United States but has now breached containment lines and advanced to within 500 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The U.S. government is preparing to drop billions of flies from airplanes over southern Texas and northern Mexico to stop the screwworm. This flesh-eating fly lays eggs in animals' wounds, and its maggots eat living flesh. If not treated, the infestation can be fatal in just two weeks.
Photo: Babs Müller/Pixabay
The United States plans to drop billions of flies in the southern US to stop the return of flesh-eating screw worm maggots.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is using this strategy to stop the insect from spreading into the United States. The pest was once eliminated from North America, but in recent years, it has returned, moving north through Central America and into Mexico.
The economic and health risks are growing, especially in Texas, where cattle populations are the highest in the country. Officials are increasing efforts to contain the spread before it reaches U.S. herds.
What is the New World Screwworm?
The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a type of fly that attacks warm-blooded animals. Female flies lay eggs in open wounds or body openings. When the eggs hatch, the maggots dig into living tissue. As more larvae grow and feed, the wounds get larger and deeper. Untreated, this infestation can lead to death.
This parasite affects livestock, pets, wildlife, and people. Animals that have given birth, had surgery, or have open wounds are most at risk.
The adult fly is slightly larger than a housefly, with orange eyes, a metallic blue-green body, and three dark stripes on its back. Maggots can often be seen in wounds, and animals may act restless, stop eating, or isolate themselves.
Eradicated before, but now it’s back
The U.S. removed screwworm from the country in 1966 using a process called the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). This method involves releasing large numbers of male flies that have been sterilized using radiation. These sterile males mate with wild females, but no larvae hatch. Over time, this lowers the pest’s population.
SIT worked well for decades. A biological barrier was created in Panama to stop the screwworm from moving north again. But in 2023, that barrier was broken. Since then, screwworm has spread through Central America and into Mexico.
New scientific models show that screwworm is most likely to enter the U.S. through southern Mexico. Areas with warm climates and large livestock populations, such as Texas and Florida, are at the highest risk. The fly can travel up to 12 miles to find a host.
Cold weather limits its survival, but summer weather and the movement of animals or wildlife can carry the pest into new regions, including northern states.
Serious threat to farmers and the economy
Texas has about 12.5 million head of cattle — the largest number in the country. A USDA study estimated that a screwworm outbreak could cost Texas nearly $2 billion each year. This number includes lost livestock, lower meat and dairy production, higher veterinary costs, and labor shortages during an outbreak.
If the pest spreads to other states, the economic damage could rise even more. Past outbreaks, such as the one in 1976, required a large number of workers to manage. Today, there are fewer workers in agriculture, making it harder to handle a crisis.
The screwworm is also a threat to food supply chains and public health. The pest does not only harm farm animals — deer, wild hogs, pets, and even humans are at risk.
What the U.S. is doing now to fight back
To prevent an outbreak, the USDA is building a new sterile fly factory in southern Mexico, expected to open in July 2026. Until then, a fly distribution center in southern Texas will help deliver sterile flies from an existing factory in Panama.
Sterile flies will be dropped from airplanes over high-risk areas in Texas and Mexico. The goal is to stop wild screwworms from reproducing by filling the environment with sterile males. This method is safer for the environment than chemical spraying and only targets screwworms.
At the same time, Texas has begun forming state response teams to monitor and respond to new cases. These efforts are focused on protecting livestock and keeping the pest from crossing into U.S. herds.
Photo: Kylee Alons/Unsplash
Response teams focusing on protecting livestock will monitor herds in Texas, hoping to block the spread of screwworm swarms.
Early signs and what to watch for
Farmers and veterinarians are key to spotting screwworm early. Watching animals closely is the best way to catch an infestation before it spreads.
Common signs include:
Foul-smelling wounds with visible maggots
Animals licking or biting at their wounds
Lesions at dehorning or branding sites
Unusual behavior such as restlessness or not eating
By the third day after infestation, there may already be hundreds or thousands of maggots in a wound. If untreated, the wounds grow deeper and cause major damage.
Government agencies and agricultural groups are sharing guides and training materials with farmers to help identify and report possible cases quickly.
A Race against time
The reappearance of the New World screwworm shows how quickly old threats can return. While the USDA and its partners work to stop the pest, experts warn that control will take time and constant effort. Warmer months increase the risk of spread, and infected animals can quickly spread the larvae across large areas.
While the method of dropping sterile flies is proven and safe, it works slowly. It requires months - sometimes years - of regular releases to lower populations. But doing nothing is not an option. Without action, the pest could take hold again in the U.S., harming animals and causing long-term economic loss.
Stopping the screwworm now may save American farmers and ranchers billions in the future.
Republicans in Congress are jamming through a sweeping bill to fund handouts to the rich - at the cost of jobs, health care, and food in rural America.
Photo: Jakob Owens/Unsplash
byMichael Chameides OtherWords
Right now, Congress is working on a giant, fast-track bill that would make historic cuts to basic needs programs to finance another round of tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations.
As the Communications and Policy Director for the Rural Democracy Initiative, I’ve been hearing from rural leaders across the country about the devastating impacts this bill would have.
The good news is it’s not too late. But there’s little time to spare.
This dangerous, unpopular bill would increase costs for rural working families by thousands of dollars per year, leaving millions hungry and without health care — all to provide tax breaks and handouts to the wealthy and special interests.
Here are just six of the worst provisions.
1. It guts rural healthcare.
The bill would drastically cut Medicaid and impose new barriers to care. It would take healthcare away from 13.8 million Americans and increase the cost for millions more. In some states, 50 percent of rural children get healthcare from Medicaid. Millions more rely on access to clinics and hospitals that would likely close because of these cuts.
The plan includes approximately $290-$319 billion in cuts to SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) even as the cost of groceries continues to escalate. More than 15 percent of families in small towns and rural areas rely on this support to feed their families.
3. It shifts costs to states and local governments.
State and local governments in rural areas depend more on federal funding from programs like SNAP and Medicaid than other states. Slashing federal funding to states would create new burdens for rural states that are already struggling to provide critical public services like health care, transportation, and emergency response services to local communities.
4. It takes away local control.
Landowners have fought to stop the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines by passing bans and moratoria, as well as enacting county setbacks and safety requirements to protect their communities.
But this bill would overrule state and local laws and ordinances, override local voices, and deprive residents of a fair opportunity to evaluate the adverse impacts of pipelines. It also sets up a “pay to play” system under which companies can simply pay for pipeline, mining, and drilling permits — and avoid public comment and legal challenges.
5. It ends clean energy and infrastructure funding.
The bill would phase out existing tax credits for wind, solar, batteries, geothermal, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. It would also take away $262 million in funding for energy efficiency and conservation grants as well as transportation infrastructure.
Ending these tax credits will increase household energy costs, which are already higher in many rural communities. These changes would also reduce new clean energy projects — and jeopardize billions in rural investments in clean energy manufacturing.
6. It gives handouts to agribusiness and mega farms.
Leaders in Congress are using the budget reconciliation process to give big farms a $50 billion windfall. Add the heightened pressures and instability caused by the Trump administration’s erratic trade policy and more family farmers would lose their farms — while Big Ag consolidates more of the market.
In short, this bill would make it harder for rural people to meet their basic needs — all so the wealthy and corporations can avoid paying their fair share of taxes like the rest of us do.
Lawmakers have already heard from the giant corporations who helped write the bill. Now, they need to hear from the rest of us. It’s up to us to alert our communities and tell our lawmakers: Don’t sell rural America out to big corporations and the wealthy.
Michael Chameides is the Communications and Policy Director for the Rural Democracy Initiative. A longer version of this op-ed was originally published by Barn Raiser. This version was distributed for syndication by OtherWords.org.
Amid a competitive pool of applicants statewide, three individuals emerged as the distinguished recipients of $1,500 scholarships.
GALVA - Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to fostering educational pursuits among its members and their families, Illinois LICA proudly announced the recipients of its inaugural scholarship program for 2025. Amid a competitive pool of applicants statewide, the selection committee faced the formidable task of choosing from a multitude of exceptional candidates. After meticulous deliberation, three individuals emerged as the distinguished recipients of $1,500 scholarships.
Paige Kocher of Flat Rock, IL, currently a junior at the University of Evansville pursuing Biology, garnered recognition for her exemplary academic achievements. Paige, daughter of Jeff & Holly Kocher and granddaughter of Norm & Mary Jane Kocher, has consistently earned Dean’s List honors throughout her academic career. Her dedication to the field of medicine and forensic pathology is evidenced by her practical experience as a lab phlebotomist across multiple hospitals and her involvement in local autopsies alongside coroners. Beyond academics, Paige is an active volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, Ark Children’s Crisis Center, Mesker Zoo, and the Arthritis Foundation.
Isabella Bunting, a senior at Dwight Township High School hailing from Emington, IL, embodies a multifaceted approach to leadership and academic excellence. Maintaining a stellar 4.045 GPA, Isabella has excelled in various sports and extracurricular activities, including volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Her leadership roles extend to serving as class President, President of the Dwight FFA Chapter, President of the Tractor Wheels 4-H Club, and Co-President of the Spanish Club. Isabella plans to commence her higher education journey at Joliet Junior College, with aspirations to contribute to the agricultural sector by bridging gaps between producers and consumers.
Briley McDowell, a senior at Hardin County High School from Elizabethtown, IL, distinguished herself with an outstanding academic record. Maintaining an impressive 5.42 GPA while dual-enrolled in high school and college credit courses, Briley’s commitment to excellence extends beyond academics to include active participation in volleyball, basketball, and leadership roles within the FFA. Inspired by her personal journey overcoming a sports injury, Briley plans to pursue Biomedical Sciences at Southern Illinois University and subsequently attend Physician’s Assistant school, focusing on orthopedic medicine.
Illinois LICA expressed profound pride in supporting these exceptional scholars in their educational pursuits. The recipients’ passion and dedication resonate deeply with the association’s core values, promising a bright future of accomplishments and contributions.
Illinois LICA is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to the professional conservation of soil & water resources. For over 65 years, ILICA has been providing contractors construction & conservation education, business & legislative resources, and industry discounts. For more information about Illinois LICA and its commitment to fostering educational excellence, visit www.illica.net.
Researchers say there's no silver bullet for mitigating the effects of heat stress on herds.
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Illinois News Connection
CHICAGO - A new study shows how extreme weather conditions negatively affect production yields on Midwest dairy farms, with a disproportionate impact on smaller farms.
Researchers at the University of Illinois studied milk production records from nine Midwest dairy farmers. Considering both temperature and humidity when measuring extreme heat, they found farms lose about 1% of milk yield annually because of heat stress, while smaller farms lose closer to 2%.
Marin Skidmore, study co-author, said when cows are in extreme heat, it can cause increased restlessness and risk of infection, and decreased appetite, which reduces milk yield and impacts bottom lines.
"To some extent, it's only 1.6%. But if you're really making every dollar from your paycheck count, because you're living in a time with high costs, then 1.6% of your paycheck being gone in a given year is meaningful," she said.
The study predicts extreme heat days to be much more frequent in years to come and milk yield losses to increase about 30% in the next 25 years.
The Midwest tends to have smaller dairy farms compared with other states, with herds ranging from 100 to 200 cows. Researchers say being able to track and compare daily milk yields across a large region with similar climates has never been done before. Skidmore said their findings suggest that larger herds seem to have some level of protection to extreme heat compared with smaller farms, which start to see impacts of heat stress at lower thresholds.
"And this is additionally concerning in the context that we're studying because we've seen a lot of dairy farm exits over the last decade or two, and many of those are small farms," she added.
While researchers say there's no silver bullet for mitigating the effects of heat stress on herds, recommendations include adjusting feeding and calving timing, and using sprinklers and improved ventilation systems.
Skidmore emphasized the need for additional support for small farms since capital costs can be particularly constraining.
"Having the access to enough capital to make these really big investments is difficult, and grants or loans to help small farms adopt some of these management technologies could be one avenue to help small farms cope with heat stress and keep them competitive," she continued.
Skidmore said more research is also needed to explore other options to best manage extreme heat on dairy farms.
When Steve Stierwalt studied agriculture at the University of Illinois in the 1970s, soil health wasn’t commonly taught or discussed. Faculty often told their young farming students to put all their faith in commercial fertilizers.
But over his 40 years as a corn and soybean farmer in Champaign County, Stierwalt said soil erosion, which can cause fertilizer and manure runoff to end up in nearby rivers and streams, has become an increasingly serious problem.
“When we plowed, we plowed pretty much everything,” except for a row near the fence line, Stierwalt said. “The grass near the fence row kept getting taller, it seemed to me. I came to understand that it wasn’t the fence row getting taller, it was the soil in the fields that was getting shorter.”
In the early 2010s, Stierwalt started experimenting with cover crops, which can help hold soil in place and reduce runoff pollution.
“This valuable resource that we take for granted, we were letting it get away,” Stierwalt said. “We have some of the best soil in the world here, and we have to protect it.”
Six years ago, Illinois became the second state in the nation to offer subsidies to farmers for planting cover crops in the fall, an effort to reverse its status as one of the worst states for agriculture runoff. Demand for the Fall Cover for Spring Savings program — which offers a $5 per acre discount on the following year’s crop insurance premiums — has outpaced state funding every year since.
However, despite the program’s popularity and calls from environmentalists and farmers for its funding to increase, Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed a 31% funding cut.
Pritzker, a Democrat, recently proposed an overall $2 billion increase to next year’s state budget. But he also recommended cuts to several programs, including reducing the cover crop insurance credit budget from $960,000 to $660,000.
Pritzker’s office did not respond to a request for comment but the governor referenced program cuts in a recent address.
Photo: Jennifer Bamberg/Investigate Midwest
Kristopher Reynolds, Midwest Director for American Farmland Trust and a fifth generation farmer in Nokomis, is pictured at the Illinois State Capitol on March 12, 2025. He works with farmers and landowners on conservation cropping practices to meet the goals of Illinois’ Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.
“I have made difficult decisions — including to programs I have championed, which is hard for me,” Pritzker said during his State of the State and budget address in February.
Two state lawmakers introduced bills this legislative session to increase the program’s annual funding to $6.1 million. They say it's crucial to support the practice, which will benefit communities in Illinois and beyond.
It's an investment because you know you're doing right by the environment. You know you're doing right by your land, and long term, you're going to build your soil health, and that will impact your bottom line.
Ed Dubrick small pasture poultry farmer Cissna Park Illinois
The bills did not clear a recent committee deadline. However, lawmakers can still negotiate funding for the program as they continue to work to pass a budget by the end of May.
Illinois is one of the leading states for farm fertilizer runoff and one of the top contributors to the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, a barren area of around 4,500 square miles of coastal waters deadly to fish, shrimp and other marine life. It costs the region’s fishing and tourism industry millions annually.
Runoff from Illinois farms has only worsened, according to a 2023 state study. Between 2017 and 2021, average nitrate-nitrogen loads increased by 4.8%, and total phosphorus loads increased by 35%, compared to the 1980-1996 baseline.
Nutrient levels were highest between 2016 and 2020 before declining slightly. The improvement was attributed to regulatory permits on wastewater treatment plants, which also pollute waterways.
However, nitrate levels remain well above the state’s reduction goals.
Less than 6% of Illinois farmland uses cover crops
The soil in Illinois is famously fertile and much of the land is flat. The soil isn’t highly erodible like soil on a slope or a hill might be. But when fields are left bare after harvest, the soil can easily blow away in the wind or wash away in storms, depositing fertilizers and chemicals into waterways.
Cover crops, which include winter wheat, crimson clover, cereal rye, oats or radish, are planted after harvest and before winter. The crops can reduce soil erosion, break up compacted soil, provide a habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife, and prevent latent fertilizer from leaching into rivers and streams.
Since the Fall Cover for Spring Savings program began in 2019, the Illinois Department of Agriculture has received more applications than the program can fund.
This year, the program sold out in two hours.
Under current funding levels, only 200,000 acres are available, which advocates say is too small.
“At the rate conservation is being invested in right now for agriculture, it would take 200 years to hit the goals under the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. And that’s assuming … there would be new adopters,” said Eliot Clay, executive director of the statewide Association of Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) is a statewide, multi-agency effort to reduce the amount of nutrients in Illinois waterways and the Gulf of Mexico. The policy working group’s latest report, produced in 2023, found that to meet just half of its goals of reducing runoff, nearly all of Illinois’ corn and soybean farmers would need to adopt cover crops.
“It doesn’t mean the state won’t meet the goal,” a spokesperson for the NLRS team at University of Illinois Extension said in an emailed statement to Investigate Midwest. “There is quite a bit of variability of riverine nutrient loads at watershed scales for nitrogen and phosphorus.”
However, the spokesperson added that more research, data acquisition, and planning are needed at watershed scales.
Out of the state’s 26.3 million acres of farmland, an estimated 3% to 6% grew cover crops in 2022, according to USDA data.
Kristopher Reynolds, Midwest director for American Farmland Trust and a fifth-generation farmer in Nokomis, said Illinois needs to see cover crop adoption of at least 15% and more state and federal incentives are needed.
The Gulf Hypoxia Task Force, a federally funded program through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has provided additional funding to supplement the cover crop program. However, the Trump administration’s freeze of some federal grants might put those funds at risk.
Earlier this year, the Illinois Department of Agriculture was awarded a $25 million grant from the EPA to support conservation practices for the next three years.
“We don't know the status (of the grant),” said Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, while speaking to the House Appropriations Committee on March 12. “Last that we've heard, things looked good. But that's been a while."
“We've got two and a half months left in this process in Illinois, right?” added Costello, citing the time the state has to finalize its 2026 budget, which begins in July 2025. “Two and a half months plus or minus. So surely we'll have some guidance … we certainly hope so.”
Because of the sheer scale of the agriculture industry, government regulations requiring conservation practices can be difficult to carry out, said Clay, the executive director of the Soil and Water Conservation District.
Farmland covers 75% of the entire state of Illinois, and even if all farmers employed precision sensors to track runoff points, it would cost billions, Clay said.
There would also need to be an army of workers to track and enforce regulations.
However, “industry self-regulating usually doesn't work, and it hasn't worked in ag, because that's basically what they've been doing for the most part,” Clay said. What’s needed, he added, is more public-private partnerships.
Stierwalt, the farmer in Champaign County, helped develop STAR, or Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources, which gives farmers a five-star score based on their conservation practices.
The state adopted the framework in 2023 to support the state's nutrient loss reduction goals.
Stierwalt said the ultimate goal is to get companies to purchase agricultural commodities based on the rating system.
If the public and industries that rely on agricultural goods for ethanol or food products want sustainably raised crops, then the farmers will grow them, he said.
Cover crop barriers include both cost and culture
Cover crops have long-term benefits but can be expensive and require extra work. Crop yields may even decrease during the first few years.
Cover crops cost roughly $35 to $40 an acre, and farmers don’t make a direct profit from it. The crops are planted in the fall and aren’t harvested. Instead, as the plants die and decompose, they provide nutrients back into the soil for the new commodity crop. Some farmers terminate the crops with chemical herbicides.
But the $5 an acre from the Fall Cover for Spring Savings program acts as an incentive for doing the right thing, which will pay off later, said Ed Dubrick, a small pasture poultry farmer in Cissna Park who also farms vegetables with his wife.
“It's an investment because you know you're doing right by the environment,” Dubrick said. “You know you're doing right by your land, and long term, you're going to build your soil health, and that will impact your bottom line.”
There are also cultural barriers to planting cover crops. Row crop farmers often pride themselves on tidy, neat rows, and cover cropping and no-till can leave fields looking messy.
Walter Lynn, a retired certified public accountant and farmer in Springfield, said farmers sometimes only cover crop fields that are out of sight from their neighbors or the road because they’re afraid they’ll be judged.
At a recent soil health conference in Omaha, Lynn said he met a farmer who believes he can’t openly discuss his practices with his equipment dealer, saying, “There's a vulnerability that ag doesn't deal well with.” But at the conference, Lynn said the farmer found a welcoming atmosphere: “It's so good to come to this space at this meeting … I feel like I'm a member of the cover crop witness protection.”
CHAMPAIGN - In January, the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA) elected Jon Seevers as the 43rd President at the association's annual meeting in Champaign. Seevers, following in his father's footsteps decades later, replaces outgoing President Eric Layden of Hoopeston.
Seevers is a second-generation drainage contractor from Argenta and an active ILICA member for 40 years, currently serving on the Executive, Education, Budget, Picnic, Convention, and the Show & Other Income committees. He has or currently chairing or co-chairing the majority of committees he has been a member.
A primary goal of his presidency, Seevers said in a released statement, "is for all of our contractor members to be more profitable and safe by encouraging each of them to utilize the safety trainings and business benefits provided to them as members of Illinois LICA."
Currently residing in Cisco, Seevers has served as a volunteer fireman for 40 years and serves as the department’s president, a founding member of the Piatt County Habitat for Humanity and serves as construction co-chair, Trustee chair for his church and serves on the Administrative Council, and serves on the Board of Directors at Tatman Village.
In addition to volunteering a great deal of time to his community, he also is serical blood donor.
"I’m most proud of donating 178 units of blood, initially giving back the 4 units that I received during surgery to repair a broken femur from a high school play-off football game my senior year," Seevers said.
His family business, Seevers Farm Drainage, Inc. (SFDI), was founded in 1975 by his father, Stan Seevers, who is Life Member of Illinois LICA who also served two terms as Illinois LICA’s President in 1986 and 1998.
Seevers started working for his family’s business at an early age when the drainage pipe of choice was either clay or concrete. He vividly remembers his early years in the business tiling with a used Speicher 600. It was powered by a 147 hp Chevrolet 292 c.i. gas engine with three, 4-speed manual transmissions back-to-back-to-back to allow the traction speed to be slow enough to install 12” tile 6’ deep using targets for grade control.
"I’ve not only seen but have personally experienced some of the greatest advancements within our industry," Seevers says reflecting on his decades of drainage experience. Today, SFDI installs tile with a 450 hp diesel machine capable of installing 30” pipe 8’ deep with GPS grade control.
Chad Wallace sells his product locally to get the best prices. Many farmers in his position are left discouraged by the difficulties they face in going against the industrial ag industry practices.
Concentrated animal feeding operations, also known as CAFO, in Illinois are hurting small farmers and possibly the environment due underregulation by the state.
Photo: Emilian Robert Vicol/Pixabay
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Illinois News Connection
CHICAGO - Illinois is known for having some of the weakest environmental laws for concentrated animal feeding operations, with a lack of oversight and public transparency for the entire process. A coalition of rural landowners is working to change it.
In Illinois, it is estimated there are more than 21,000 concentrated animal feeding operations.
Chad Wallace, director of rural affairs for the Illinois Environmental Council, works with the Illinois Livestock Reform Coalition, which has about 70 members across states. They are trying to come up with legislative solutions for the growing concerns of landowners who have been affected by them.
"The industry is basically embedded," Wallace acknowledged. "It is very hard for folks to go up against something that is so broad and so organized."
Nearly all applications submitted in Illinois over the past decade have been approved. Wallace pointed out several attempts to introduce legislation to increase regulation have failed, with the most recent in 2019 for a proposed moratorium on lagoons being used for holding confinement waste.
More than 90% of animals raised for agriculture in the U.S. come from concentrated animal feeding operations, yet environmental advocates argued the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is unaware of the locations of the majority of operations, making it difficult to regulate them and account for their environmental impact.
Wallace, who grew up in a farming family, raises beef, pork and lamb and has been approached by people wanting to construct operations on his land. He declined but noted it came with a cost.
"One of the struggles is constantly having to build the value of your product due to not being in the industry," Wallace explained.
Wallace sells locally to get the best prices for his products. He added many in his position are left discouraged by the difficulties they face in going against the industrial ag industry. Proponents of concentrated animal feeding operations said they are an economic necessity to keep retail prices of meat, milk and eggs affordable for consumers, and are crucial to the viability of rural communities.
Many states have considered so-called "right to repair" legislation, but only Colorado has passed a law specifically related to farm equipment.
CHICAGO - Some Illinois farmers say a lawsuit against equipment manufacturing titan John Deere is long overdue, and they hope the outcome is not more laws but rather, the right to repair their own equipment.
The Federal Trade Commission and Attorneys General from Illinois and Minnesota have sued Deere for monopoly practices they allege unfairly drive up costs and resolution times for fixing farm equipment.
Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union, said manufacturers use intellectual property as an excuse to not share the details of their equipment technology.
"If folks could imagine being told by the manufacturer of their car, their minivan or their pickup truck that they, number one, cannot repair it on their own -- that they have to take it into the dealer and get the dealer equipment every single time and get those repairs made -- that would be outrageous," Larew contended.
As a company, John Deere said it has taken a number of steps to support customers' ability to maintain their machines and called the lawsuit "baseless."
Many states have considered so-called "right to repair" legislation, but only Colorado has passed a law specifically related to farm equipment. Larew noted manufacturers have long used promises or nonbinding agreements with equipment dealers to maintain their autonomy.
"In those agreements, it actually prevents farmers from fighting for their right to repair, and in exchange for that they promise to do better and to grant some additional access," Larew explained. "But I think as farmers, we see this really as pretty straightforward, common sense, and we need this issue completely resolved."
Larew added it is a bipartisan issue and is hopeful for a resolution, either through legal or legislative channels. President Donald Trump's new appointee for FTC chair, Andrew Ferguson, has said while he is in favor of right to repair legislation, he does not agree with the decision to file a lawsuit.
by Mike Moen
CHAMPAIGN - In January, the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (
