John Sedbrook News Today

The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals heard testimony from several residents who were, in particular, concerned about sequestration setback requirements.

LEXINGTON, Ill. — Researchers are helping Midwest farmers explore what crops they might add to a traditional corn-soybean rotation. Pennycress is being studied for its potential to grow as a

Researchers are helping Midwest farmers explore a crop to add to a traditional corn-soybean rotation.

Scientists are developing nonfood plants to take the place of corn and soybeans as sources for biofuels

A chemical and agricultural behemoth has bought a St. Louis-based startup company that works closely with Illinois State University, where researchers have worked to domesticate the weed pennycress into a cover crop and oil seed plant dubbed CoverCress.

For years, conservationists have promoted cover crops as ways to fix nitrogen in the soil and prevent soil erosion. Farmers haven't been leaping for joy because it costs money and labor to plant and then to scrape the cover crop off the field in time for spring planting. Incentives to plant cover crops through conservation grants barely offset that.

For years, conservationists have promoted cover crops as ways to fix nitrogen in the soil and prevent soil erosion. Farmers haven't been leaping for joy because it costs money and labor to plant and then to scrape the cover crop off the field in time for spring planting. Incentives to plant cover crops through conservation grants barely offset that.

A weed that Central Illinoisans see along roadways, at the edges of fields or at construction sites has been domesticated in Central Illinois into a crop that researchers say has