Scott Stuntz

In Western Illinois those who need assistance from food banks, will soon be able to get more fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Central Illinois Food bank, based in Springfield, distributes food to pantries across central and western Illinois including in Adams and Schuyler counties.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold meeting across the state to allow the public to help shape new hunting and trapping regulations for this fall.

In the past, the DNR held meetings after new rules were announced to gauge public opinion.

Women and Hispanic farmers who believe that were discriminated against by the USDA have one month left to file a claim with the federal government.

Women and Hispanic farmers who believe they were denied USDA farm service loans have until march 25th to file claims.

A Midwest environmental group says high speed rail would be good for the region  both economically and environmentally.

The USDA says it’s changing  the rules of its aid program commonly known as “food stamps” to help crack down on fraud.

The agency is expanding its legal definition of “trafficking” to crack down on people exchanging food stamp benefits for cash.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has revoked a permit for a proposed coal mine just north of Canton in Fulton County.

The DNR had issued a mining permit for the “North Canton Mine” several years ago but the agency has now decided it did not follow its own guidelines when doing so.

Several lawmakers from agricultural states have introduced a bill that would cap subsidy payments to farmers at 50-thousand dollars.

Genetically modified crops and growth hormones are nothing to be afraid of.  That’s what agricultural writer and radio host Trent Loos believes.

Loos grew up on a farm in Quincy, Illinois and now raises cattle, hogs, horses and goats on his ranch in central Nebraska. He was invited to speak by faculty form Western Illinois University's College of Agriculture.

During last summer’s drought it was difficult for farmers to get accurate data on how dry the soil was. An Iowa State University project that’s been in the works for several years, will change that.

A program across Illinois and Iowa is looking at ways for farmers to help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they produce, and to be compensated for it.

The program explores ways farmers can change the way they apply nitrogen fertilizer to reduce the amount of nitrous oxide gas that is created.