Farm

Jamie Kruenegel receives award
Jamie Kruenegel of Vandalia Community High School was recently presented the school's highest agricultural honor, the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, sponsored by Monsanto.
Kruenegel, the daughter of David and Stacy Kruenegel, received the award for excellence in academics, leadership and agricultural work.
Her accomplishments include being the 2009 state runner-up in the GROWMARK essay contest, the 2009/2010 Star Chapter Greenhand, 2012 Star Chapter Agribusiness.

Last week, some much-needed rainfall provided relief from the hot and dry conditions of the previous weeks.
Statewide, precipitation averaged 0.71 inches, still 0.19 inch below the norm, but more than double what the previous three weeks had averaged.
Temperatures also moderated slightly, to 66.3 degrees, 1.4 degrees below average for the week.
Producers were busy side dressing corn and spraying fields now that many have completed planting corn and soybeans.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced last week that it will consider Illinois farmers hauling commodities in most circumstances to be intrastate commerce, effectively resolving the concerns of Illinois farmers.

Last week, weather patterns returned to more normal conditions, and fieldwork resumed at a brisk pace in most parts of Illinois.
Statewide precipitation averaged 0.67 inches, which was 0.34 below average. Temperatures were 62 degrees statewide. The drier conditions led to 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork.
Corn planted reached 95 percent statewide, 30 percent above the five-year average of 65 percent. Corn emerged reached 76 percent, 41 percent above the five-year average.