By DENNIS BOWMAN
It is hard to believe that a year ago at this time corn planting was well underway. Little did we know that the dry and warm spring was going to extend into a very dry and hot summer.
DANVILLE — The Danville Area Community College Ag Club will host its 2013 Ag Day on from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday on campus at 2000 E. Main St.
The event is open to the public and free, except for the price of the luncheon.
A barbecue luncheon will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Mary Miller Gym. Carry-out lunches are not available.
FISHER — They may not live on a farm now, but Brad and Paula Zwilling each grew up on farms and hope one day to own their own small livestock operation.
While they're working to make that happen, they are also passionately promoting agriculture through both their paid and volunteer work.
CHAMPAIGN — A farmer's work is never done, if Jack Murray's schedule is any indication.
Besides farming with his cousin and their sons, he sells seed corn and serves on the board of a grain cooperative and ethanol plant.
Plus, in the past, Murray:
— Helped his daughters set up a catering business.
— Coached baseball and wrestling at Fisher High School.
CHAMPAIGN — All signs are pointing to a better growing season for central Illinois farmers in 2013.
The Climate Prediction Center at the National Weather Service says that Illinois has an increased chance of above-average precipitation for March and for the three-month period through May.
CHAMPAIGN — Nancy Strunk of Champaign remembers purchasing her favorite horse more than 20 years ago.
CHAMPAIGN — Most likely, there will be an increase in the number of acres covered by crop insurance in 2013 after last year's drought emphasized the importance of having such policies.
Farmers and investors with cash in their pockets are still looking to buy as farmland prices continue to soar, but brokers say beware of the bubble.
Area experts say land prices have risen at an unprecedented pace during the past few years, and they expect 2013 to be no different.
One short year ago, we had corn in the ground by today and planters were rolling, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.