Farm

Slightly cooler weather and scattered showers across much of the state made for a favorable growing week, and was a welcomed change from the hot and dry conditions experienced throughout the summer thus far. Statewide, temperatures averaged 72.5 degrees last week, 1.2 degrees below normal.
The northern portion of the state experienced slightly above-normal precipitation; however, statewide precipitation was nearly 0.2 inches below average, ending the week at 0.65 inches.

Website connects farmers to world
Today’s farmers and ranchers are so busy increasing their productivity to meet the needs of a growing world that they don’t have time to sit and visit with their neighbors like they used to. However, there is still great value in building relationships, sharing information and asking for advice.
A new website and mobile application, cropnation, will allow farmers and ranchers to connect with each other, whether they are across the country or across the section.

Producers who have lost livestock due to excessively  hot temperatures may have help available.
Scherrie Giamanco, state executive director of the Illinois Farm Service Agency, this week reminded producers that the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides financial assistance for livestock deaths as a direct result of adverse weather conditions.
"The hot, dry conditions that are widespread across Illinois may be good for the development of crops," Giamanco said. "However, they have proven to be detrimental for livestock producers."

The American Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville held its annual Farm Heritage Days last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In the first photo, Mike Myers of Altamont drives his 1948 International M during a tractor pull on Saturday afternoon. In the second photo is a variety of Allis Chalmers tractors; Allis Chalmers was the featured tractor at this year's event.