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Apr 04 2026FINANCE

Farmers tighten belts as tractor prices hit new highs

Farm shows across North America this spring told a clear story: farmers are cutting back on big purchases. With prices for machinery, fuel, and fertilizer climbing higher than ever, most are choosing to keep their old equipment a little longer. A dealer in Saskatchewan explained it simply: "They won

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Apr 02 2026WEATHER

Dry Threat Looms Over Three Oregon Counties

The governor has named a state of emergency for Baker, Deschutes and Umatilla counties because the rain is far below normal. The drought began in late spring and has not eased, with forecasts showing even less rain for the summer. Officials warn that the lack of water will hurt farmers, ranche

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Apr 02 2026EDUCATION

How Illinois communities benefited from local education programs in 2025

In 2025, a community education network in Illinois reached over 25, 000 people across three counties—Grundy, Kankakee, and Will—through hands-on learning. The programs covered gardening, youth leadership, farming advice, and health workshops. Every day, about 70 locals took part in these sessions. N

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Apr 02 2026EDUCATION

New college paths open for Illinois students

Two Illinois schools, Western Illinois University and Black Hawk College, have created a new plan to help students move between schools more easily. The agreement lets students finish their first two years at Black Hawk College and then transfer to Western Illinois University to complete their degre

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Mar 28 2026OPINION

Minnesota Farms: The Backbone of Our Food

The state’s farmers are the unseen heroes that keep our plates full. Minnesota is sixth in overall farm output across the U. S. and leads in more than 20 products, such as sugar beets, turkeys, green peas, hogs, sweet corn, soybeans, sunflower seeds, canola, dry beans and oats. Corn is the fou

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Mar 26 2026EDUCATION

Ridgefield Schools Set New Course While Waiting on Finance Decision

The Ridgefield Board of Education met on March 24 to push forward several policy changes, talk about the upcoming school budget for fiscal year 2027, and look at new curriculum plans. The meeting ended with a mix of unanimous approvals, one split vote on a Title IX rule, and a talk about a fresh U.

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Mar 25 2026ENVIRONMENT

Back‑to‑Basics Farming Wins in Nebraska

Nebraska farmers are turning to simple, low‑cost methods that keep the soil alive and the profits steady. Because feed costs are high, crop prices low, and debt rising, many growers look for ways to cut expenses while staying productive. Cover crops, no‑till practices, and varied crop rotation

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Mar 22 2026ENVIRONMENT

Land changes boost farm health in semi‑dry Turkey

In many dry farming areas, tiny plots of land can make growing crops hard. A new study looked at how joining these small pieces into bigger, regular fields changes the land’s health. The research focused on four villages in Kızıltepe, a part of Mardin Province that lies inside Turkey’s GAP program.

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Mar 19 2026HEALTH

Newborns May Feel the Effects of Pesticides Even Before Conception

Researchers have found that women who live near farms where pesticides are used can give birth to babies with poorer health scores, even if the exposure happened before they become pregnant. The study examined more than 1. 1 million births in Arizona from 2006 to 2020, using the Apgar score—a qui

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Mar 19 2026ENVIRONMENT

Tulip Trouble Turns to New Adventures on a Texas Farm

A well‑known farm in central Texas that used to draw crowds for its tulip picking has faced a big challenge after a mix of dry spells, hot days, heavy rain and strong winds destroyed most of its flower crop. The Robinson family, who run the farm in Temple, Texas, announced on social media that on

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