Partners

It’s time to harvest Illinois horseradish, where farmers grow the most in the United States. Farmer Barry McMillin shares why he grow’s it, distributor Dennis Diekemper explains what his company does with it, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale’s Alan Walters, Ph.D., explains why you should consider eating this power-packed, home-grown herb.

Hundreds of accidents take place every year in our state as a result of mishaps between motorists and farm machinery. Illinois farmers Dan Ziller and John Kiefner, both who farm in counties surrounding Chicago, share some of their experiences as they try to transport their farm vehicles, and offer some suggestions on how you and others can help them by sharing the road, especially at this important time of the year.

Come with us into the fields and learn how this year's crops fared as they are being harvested. Join Illinois farmers Joanie Stiers and Dave Kestel as they reflect on how harvest is progressing during a most unusual year.

For farmers that jumped into cannabis production in recent years, it’s that time of year to harvest this year's crop as well. Hear from pioneering Illinois farmer Andy Huston; the director of the alternative crops research program in the School of Agriculture at Western Illinois University, Win Phippen; the new manager of the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Cannabis Division, David Lakeman; and a commercial agriculture educator for University of Illinois Agriculture Extension, Phillip Alberti, on the twists and turns this new industry continues to take in Illinois.

Hear from a farm involved in and the leader behind this statewide effort that promotes fresh, locally-grown food. Leslie Cooperband, who co-manages Prairie Fruits Farms & Creamery, and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton share some of what has resulted, and what might be in store for Cultivating Our Communities.

Most orchards, pumpkin patches and even some haunted corn mazes welcome your fresh-air visits this fall. Hear from Austin Flamm about his family’s fruits and cream store and Partners food author Jodie Shield on how to put fresh Illinois fruits and vegetables to healthier work for you and your family.

Trees, vines, plants, and crops need food too, yet how can farmers maximize organic and inorganic fertilizer use and help ensure it stays in place? Hear from farm family members Mark, Jenny and Caiden Litteken, along with Andrew Margenot, Ph.D., about what they continue to learn about good farm stewardship.

When Brad Riskedal fires up his equipment to harvest crops, Joyce Riskedal fires up her candle-making business that uses some of what their Illinois farm fields grow. Meet this Illinois farm family that has many different business ventures taking place in its fifth generation of existence.

This first-generation, Illinois farm family shares their adventures in apprenticing, enduring trial and error and why they moved into Illinois to do what they love to do. Meet Nathan and Talina Ryder, along with author Celeste Huttes, who covered the story for Partners magazine.

A flurry of fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables now fill farmers markets across Illinois. More and more now stay open all year. Find out what many of the farmers markets and the farmers that sell at them have done to keep the food healthy and your visits safe, with Janie Maxwell, executive director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association.