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Saturday, August 6, 2016
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Ag retailers go back to school IVCC’s Field Day helps mark return to ag By Dave Cook dcook@bcrnews.com
OGLESBY — As IVCC celebrates the return of its ag program for students preparing to enter the field, it’s also partnered with the University of Illinois Extension, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (CBMP), the Soil Health Partnership and the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Program to help build the knowledge of current farmers and agronomists. IVCC hosted its first Ag Field Day on
Aug. 2, and the topics focused on cover crop management for ag retailers, the importance of nutrient loss reduction strategies and the impact of soil health on the industry. “We’re trying to bring the idea of best management practices to them, but for them to do them for their own economic reasons, for their own profit. These practices are also good for the environment,” Jim Isermann, field manager for the Soil Health Partnership, said. The day’s program was designed for agronomists and CCAs, and there were approximately 25 people in attendance from throughout the local area. “We’ve had a lot of interest and good questions. Some of the farmers here have
already been experimenting and are looking to build their knowledge base,” Russ Higgins, commercial agriculture educator for the Extension, said. During his presentation, Isermann explained why the program was valuable to local ag retailers and why thorough knowledge of cover crops is necessary. “They (farmers) want to work with an ag retailer who knows what’s going on and has the same concept of farming as they do, and those farmers are growing. I know farmers who are getting farms because of these cover crops, and we’re actually seeing landlords seek out farmers because they’ve got them,” Isermann said.
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A COOL BEGINNING TO THE POW WOW
BCR photo/Dave Cook
Jim Isermann, field manager for the Soil Health Partnership, gives a presentation during the Ag Field Day at IVCC.
Princeton to market Logistics/ Technology parks By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — With hopes to sell property within the city’s Logistics and Technology parks, Princeton City Council entered into another marketing agreement with the real estate agency, Lee & Associates, on Monday, Aug. 1. The council voted 4-1 on the contract, with commissioner Bob Warren casting the lone no vote. During discussion, Warren questioned how much work the agency had done for the city in the past, and whether or not that work had been documented. “I think they’ve done absolutely nothing, in my
opinion,” Warren said. City clerk Pete Nelson highlighted some of the projects Lee & Associates had accomplished for the city, including how it had an agency design lots for the Logistics site. According to the contract, the commission on the sale of improved real estate will be 7 percent of the gross sale price. Commissioner Jerry Neumann asked whether or not the council would have any input on how the property was priced. Mayor Joel Quiram said that was something not stated in the agreement, and the council would need to discuss that point.
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The rolling grocery aisle Mobile food pantry to offer residents a food market in a parking lot By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
Tiskilwa’s Pow Wow Days had a cool beginning Thursday evening with an ice cream eating contest for area youngsters. With “no hands allowed,” the contestants attempted to be the first to finish their ice cream. BCR photo/Joann Bowman Year 170 No. 94 One Section - 20 Pages
© Bureau County Republican
SPRING VALLEY — When people in Bureau County are hungry, but they can’t get to the supply of available food, there is only one thing to do … bring the food to them. On Saturday, Aug. 27, the River Bend Mobile Food Pantry from Davenport, Iowa, will bring a refrigerated semi-trailer full of food to distribute to those who need it most.
The mobile food pantry will be set up at the DePue Lakefront Park shelter on First Street in DePue. The Hall Township Food Pantry Board petitioned and was granted permission to offer to those who need food in the area a one-time mobile food pantry because the generous citizens who run the pantry realize pride and distance serve as barriers for those with empty stomachs.
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