ADVERSE WEATHER IMPACTS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE ILLINOIS FARMS

DROUGHT, SEVERE STORMS OPEN SOME COUNTIES TO USDA ASSISTANCE

“If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change” is a phrase that has been arguably credited to the legendary Midwestern writer Mark Twain, and it seems highly applicable to the experience many Illinois cattle operations have been through in recent weeks. With much of the state reeling in significant drought throughout late spring and early summer, many producers have found themselves now dealing with torrential downpours, hail damage, and the impact of straight-line winds and possible tornadoes. Meanwhile, others are still coming up short on rain, managing against dry pasture conditions and declining forage supplies.

The most recent weekly report of the U.S. Drought Monitor does depict some relief for Illinois’ beef farms. Many counties have caught some measurable rain, although nearly every corner of the state remains in a significant precipitation deficit. Extreme drought impacts are still felt in parts of western Illinois, in Adams, Hancock, Pike, Calhoun and neighboring counties. Meanwhile only one pocket of Illinois’ farm country appears to be free from drought; a stretch of townships through Macoupin, Montgomery and Christian counties currently shows no drought conditions, according to the weekly Monitor map published by a joint task force of federal weather and climate agencies.

Looking Forward

Illinois State Fair Illinois State Fairgrounds

Springfield, IL

August 10-20, 2023

by Josh St. Peters

Recent government declarations because of the adverse weather impacts may open the door to some federal assistance through USDA. Drought impacts have now been declared in Randolph, Jackson, Monroe, Perry, St. Clair, and Washington counties. This comes following previous drought designations covering Hancock, Adams, Calhoun, and Pike counties due to contiguous counties included in a Missouri disaster designation.

Meanwhile, tornadoes and wind damage have resulted in disaster declarations in 35 counties across Illinois: Bureau, Clark, Crawford, Coles, Henry, Lawrence, Putnam, Stark, Cumberland, Jasper, Lee, Richland, Whiteside, Edgar, LaSalle, Marshall, Fulton, Knox, Mason, Schuyler, Warren, McDonough, Peoria, Tazewell, Mercer, Rock Island, Sangamon, Menard, Cass, Logan, Montgomery, Christian, Macon, Morgan, Henderson, and Macoupin are included as a result of weather events occurring in late March and early April.

A natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency to provide emergency loans to producers recovering from natural disasters. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. Those eligible should contact their local USDA Service Center to ask questions or file a Notice of Loss.

EDGE Conference

University of Illinois

Thursday, July 20, 2023

EDGE is a one-day junior conference open to all Illinois Junior Beef Association members. In 2023, participants will deep dive into all aspects of cattle management. From selecting an animal, managing a herd health plan, full-scale nutrition planning, and cattle marketing tactics. This will be accomplished through instruction from industry-leading professionals and the interactive management of individual animals!

Association News

Illinois State Fair - Ribeye Corral Illinois Beef Association is making a call for volunteers at the Ribeye Corral during the 2023 Illinois State Fair! If you would be interested in volunteering reach out to the IBA office at (217) 787-4280 or email Annie at annie@illinoisbeef.com

Cattlemen Connect Education Series

Join us at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Friday, September 1st to hear from pasture and rangeland specialists and researchers. Session topics will consist of the following: Managing Pastures in Southern Illinois, and Available Resources

Stockpile Grazing Management Systems, 2021 State Check-Off-Funded Research Results register online at https://www.illinoisbeef.com/programsevents/cattlemen-connect-education-series