Central Illinois Farm Network
Teaching people all about the ag industry
Welcome to the CIFN's new initiative on educating the public about agriculture, known as FarmLearn. Keep checking for further updates about ag and what it is all about!
Wheat, which is planted in the fall and grows throughout the winter before turning green again in spring, is harvested in the summer after it forms a "head" and turns a gold color. The grain from wheat is used in a number of products and the stems, referred to as "straw" is used for livestock bedding.
Why is corn stubble still standing in fields in the springtime? The corn was harvested last fall but remains standing the following year so farmers can plant soybeans directly into the field. This practice is known as "no-till" which reduces fuel usage with fewer trips across the field and that is good for the environment. It also preserves the soil as it is not disturbed in the fall since no tillage is involved.
What are those tractors doing? You may have noticed a few farmers out in their fields during a recent dry spell and warmer weather. Many were out there leveling off the soil or filling-in ruts from the previous fall to make for a smooth seed bed to plant into this spring. We have a little while before planters start to put seed in the ground.
You may notice kids with livestock on the farm starting in the spring right on through the summer as they show them at local fairs in the coming months. They care for the animals, do chores every day and practice walking with them as 4-H projects for summertime.
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Contact
Anyone with questions in general about farming or a suggestion on farm topics to cover or questions to answer can e-mail cassonmedia@yahoo.com.