Illinois
IDNR upgrading campsite reservation system to better serve the public
By Tribune Staff • Reservations for campsites and shelters at Illinois state parks and historic sites will transition to an updated platform beginning May 1, offering park users a more user-friendly system for making reservations and securing permits. Users will continue to use exploremoreil.com – the customer service platform of the Illinois Department of Natural…
Read MoreU.S. planting intentions: less corn, more soybeans
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek • U.S. farmers intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2026, down 3% from last year, and 84.7 million acres of soybeans, up 4% from last year, according to USDA’s prospective plantings report released March 31. “The survey suggested corn acres would be switching to soybeans in the season…
Read MoreIllinois youth turkey hunters set new harvest record during 2026 season
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois youth turkey hunters set a new record, harvesting a preliminary total of 2,318 birds during the 2025 Illinois youth season. The total surpasses last year’s record of 2,099 birds and marks the third consecutive year of record-setting youth turkey harvest in Illinois. Participation also reached an all-time high this spring. Youth hunters…
Read MoreIllinois land values simmer, for now
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek • The 2026 Land Values and Lease Trends Report saw a shift in narrative from recent years, with 61% of survey respondents expecting a decline in farmland prices this year, signaling a potential plateau in the market. However, the report, conducted annually by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and…
Read MoreIllinois State Police arrest Girard man after child sexual abuse materials investigation
CARLINVILLE – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 Special Agents arrested 48-year-old James Barnard of Girard, IL for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials- Child Under Age 13 (Class X Felony) and Dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (Class X Felony). ISP Special Agents received a tip from the National Center of…
Read More2026 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest for young Illinois residents open until June 12
Top Winners Will Receive $1,000 Bright Start College Savings Scholarships Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is calling on young Illinois photographers to submit their agriculture-related photos for the 2026 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest. Winners in three different age categories will be awarded Bright Start college savings account scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000.…
Read MoreIllinois spring trout season opens April 4
By Tribune Staff SPRINGFIELD – The 2026 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 4 at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. An early opportunity at select trout sites – the spring catch-and-release fishing season – will open Saturday, March 21. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release period, but…
Read MoreIllinois tops record wheat yield in 2025
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek • The statewide average winter wheat yield in Illinois for the 2025 crop was 88 bushels per acre, according to USDA, surpassing the record of 87 bushels set in 2023. “A lot of it boils down to the fact that wheat tends to respond to management very well and it seems…
Read MoreRFA: ethanol industry should be ‘let off the leash’
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek • The ethanol industry wants “let off the leash” to help provide new market opportunities for the renewable fuels and agriculture sectors, said Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO. During his state of the industry report at the National Ethanol Conference (NEC) on Feb. 25 in Orlando, Florida,…
Read MoreIDNR seeking campground hosts for 2026 camping season
By Tribune Staff • The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking campground hosts for the 2026 camping season for state parks, recreation areas and historic sites across Illinois. Campground hosting is a perfect position for anyone who enjoys camping and helping others. Hosts are often the first to greet state park visitors. They…
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