Small Farms 2014

In 2012, the United States had 2.1 million farms - down 4.3 percent from the previous Census in 2007. In terms of farm size by acres, this continues an overall downward trend in mid-sized farms, while the smallest and largest-size farms held steady. For more information about the Census, including...

2014 Small Farms Winter Webinar Series. Register early. The highly popular small farm winter webinar series will again bring a wide range of speakers and topics on small farm production of fruits, vegetables and livestock. Sign up early and get the dates on your calendar. To...

There was an increase in the value of agricultural products sold in the United States totaling $394.6 billion in 2012, up 33 percent ($97.4 billion) from 2007. The number of farms and land in farms were down slightly, but held steady. Additionally, agriculture is becoming more diverse. For more...

Webinars will be held from 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Thursdays and are free.To register, click https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=8854

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) webinar will be offered during Mondays in April, beginning April 7, through April 28, from 6:00-8:00 pm. The webinar is designed to provide information to growers on how to keep produce safe- from production to the market. The past few years we've all seen and...

The Food and Agricultural Organization has declared that 2014 is the International Year of the Family Farm.  http://www.fao.org/family-farming-2014/en/ "The 2014 International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) aims to raise...

Webinars will be held from 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Thursdays and are free. To register, click https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?Registra

Do you garden, grow, or sell fresh produce? This workshop has benefits for all producers, retailers and wholesalers in supermarkets, Farmers' Markets, or for business owners in service industries. In particular, the GAPs workshop will equip producers with the knowledge to put together a written...

The USDA has announced a new website dedicated to Organic farming.  http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=organic-agriculture.htmlThis is...

Webinars will be held from 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Thursdays and are free. To register, click https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?Registra

Do you garden, grow, or sell fresh produce? This workshop has benefits for all producers, retailers and wholesalers in supermarkets, Farmers' Markets, or for business owners in service industries. In particular, the GAPs workshop will equip producers with the knowledge to put together a written...

Depending on the weather and your crop rotation, cover crops might be an option.  Iowa Learning Farm has a new cover crop calcuator. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/content/...

Webinars will be held from 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Thursdays and are free. To register, click https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?Registra

NEW PUBLICATION: written by Zachary Grant, Manager of the Illinois Sustainable Student Regional Farm and Food Project...

The Illiana Vegetable Growers Symposium January 7 is cancelled due to severe weather conditions. Preregistered participants will be notified by phone and/or email. Cancellation information with be provided to radio station Indiana 105.5 FM, and will be posted at the Purdue Fruit and Vegetable...

Webinars will be held from 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Thursdays and are free. To register, click https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?Registra

Between 2007 and 2012, the amount of land in farms in the United States continued a slow downward trend declining from 922 million acres to 915 million. This is only a decline of less than one percent and is the third smallest decline between censuses since 1950. For more information about the...

USDA released the preliminary 2012 Census of Agriculture results. Key findings include an increase in the value of agricultural products sold in the United States totaling $394.6 billion in 2012, up 33 percent ($97.4 billion) from 2007. The number of farms and land in farms were down slightly, but...