Farm

New  consumer research by a coalition of farm organizations confirms that Illinois consumers care about who produces their food, but are misinformed about the family farmers who really grow and raise the majority of food produced in Illinois.
Extensive research from April to July showed the Illinois farmer is still held in substantial esteem by the public. But research also showed consumers have reduced trust in modern farming techniques and profound doubts about how their food is produced.    

The 2010 Illinois corn crop is expected to yield 180 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels from last year’s yield and equal to the record yield set in 2004.
Production of corn for grain would be 2.23 billion bushels, up 9 percent from 2009. Favorable conditions led to very early planting dates, followed by generally good growing weather with mostly adequate rainfall, although temperatures were excessive.

Due to the wet weather this spring, farmers enrolled in the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE) are being asked to have their hay crops tested.
"There is a lot of 2010 hay that has suffered quality loss," said Scherrie V. Giamanco, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agnecy executive director.
She said tests must be conducted for each cutting.
FSA requires farmers who are enrolled in the SURE program to maintain written, verifiable evidence indicating both the quality loss and the production quantity loss.

The Fayette County Farm Service Agency will conduct a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup through Aug. 27.
Producers with cropland not currently enrolled in CRP, or producers with CRP contracts expiring on Sept. 30, 2010, may submit offers.
Land must have been planted, or considered planted four out of six crop years from 2002-2007.
CRP contracts may be 10 or 15 years in length. Producers must have owned or operated the land for at least 12 months prior to Aug. 27, 2010. Recorded deeds will be required to prove ownership.