Stay up on Ag issues with the Farm Bureau's winter report

The Illinois Farm Bureau's winter edition of its "Partners" magazine recently arrived and it's filled with interesting agriculture related articles. I always enjoy learning about agriculture, and a favorite winter pastime is daydreaming about what next year's garden might look like. 

The publication's winter edition helps me do both. Much of its content is available online, and here are a few of the reports I found particularly engaging:

Celeste Huttes tells us about the Richardson and Helmig farms in her cover story about Illinois Christmas tree farms. The report includes tips on how to care for a fresh tree after its set up in its new home.

Columnist Joanie Stiers details how technology helps farmers collect data involving everything from planting to harvesting. Stiers says many farmers (herself included) spend the winter months analyzing the data to determine how best to use the information next season. 

Farmer Aaron Mitchell explains the steps farmers follow to ensure cows are warm and healthy during harsh midwest winters. Did you know farmers can tailor coats to keep calves warm during winter's coldest weather? 

Insects play an important role in providing protein to animal feed, and soon will also provide jobs for Illinois workers, according to a report from Carisa Ownby. Construction of the world's largest insect protein facility is scheduled to begin soon in Decatur and is expected to create more than 200 jobs. 

Jan Phipps offers advice for selecting and caring for Poinsettias, a favorite plant during the holiday season. 

And winter is a good time to start planning a garden for next spring. Seed catalogs, both print and online versions, are available in January, reports Carisa Ownby, providing veteran gardeners and newbies food for thought on what flowers, fruits and vegetables include in next year's effort. 

If you enjoy learning about agriculture as much as I do, be sure to take a look at the Illinois Farm Bureau's offerings.

--Thanks for reading, and I always welcome your comments and feedback.

A few Bottservations before Christmas

I always enjoy reading the reports and features in the Illinois Farm Partners magazine, and the winter 2018 edition provides a variety of interesting reading. You can find it all here.

Highlights include a report on organic produce, a feature about agriculture art, tips for managing your budget, suggestions for growing houseplants, and (my favorite) several recipes for comfort food with a healthy twist. You can't go wrong with that kind of reading.

Christmas Shopping nearly done

I am ahead of schedule on my Christmas shopping this season, and it
looks as though I will have my list completed by Dec. 19, which is
pretty for good me. I spend most holiday shopping seasons at the stores
right up to Christmas Eve. It’s not laziness or procrastination.
Instead, it is a combination of tradition and hunt for gifts that are
sure to please. Old habits are hard to break, but my shopping
routine has improved in recent years, so I am nearly done with
the process for this holiday.

During my high school and college years, my two younger brothers,
Patrick and Mike, and I would visit Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg as
close to Christmas Day as possible, usually on the afternoon of
Christmas Eve. It was more out of a sense of adventure than necessity.
We typically had our most important gift shopping completed by that
time. Last-minute items for the stockings usually were all that was
needed, and those were easy to find. The late outings to the mall were
more for the fun of watching stressed out shoppers, mostly men,
scramble for gifts.

There was a real sense of desperation, fear and even panic in the air.
It was great fun to watch and sometimes join in.
I'm a little too old for that kind of fun now, and visiting the malls
doesn't appeal to me much anymore. But I do enjoy the memories,
and I am grateful to be nearly done with this holiday's purchases.

A seasonal visit to the flicks

One of our favorite traditions during the holiday season is a visit or two to our local movie theater to watch a new release. We always try to go during the days between Christmas and New Year's Day.

One year, when my daughter was in middle school, she and I managed to see three different movies, mostly matinees. It was a real treat for us both. My daughter is an adult now and spends her free time with friends, so I most often visit the movie house with my wife. We usually have our holiday movie picks made in advance, but this year, we don't have much enthusiasm for what Hollywood is offering. I am sure we'll make a selection and take in at least one screening, but I have a sense we will be settling on something we are not particularly keen to see. I will update you in good time.

-Thank you for reading. Please email questions and comments to kbotterman@gmail.com.