Kaitlyn Copley

Kaitlyn Copley

Trojan Baseball and Softball action

Triopia Trojans

With the typically unpredictable spring weather in Illinois causing cancellations left and right, the Triopia-Meredosia-Virginia varsity ball teams have not been spared, but they did get some action in last week. Both teams traveled to Carrollton last Thursday and lost to the Hawks.  The boys hosted the Athens Warriors on Friday and dropped that one also to fall to 2-6 on the season. The Lady Trojans record sits at 2-3.

Lady Tigers sneak by Cougars

Third baseman Cami Coats makes a play right down the line for the Lady Tigers.

The Beardstown Lady Tigers softball team sandwiched a couple of great games around a real stinker last week, winning one and losing two to fall to 2-6 on the season.  

Beardstown won in exciting fashion at home on Wednesday with a walk off victory in the bottom of the seventh over West Central. They were shut out on Thursday at home by Pleasant Plains then lost a heartbreaker in eight innings on Saturday at Jacksonville.

Tiger Baseball wins twice

Tiger shortstop Colby DeSollar moves into position for a ground ball in home baseball action.

The Beardstown Tiger baseball team won twice last week to even their record at 2-2 for the season. They started the week with an 8-1 road loss at Mendon Unity then won a thriller at home, 7 to 5 in nine innings over Augusta Southeastern, before trouncing South Fulton 16 to zip on the road.

Lady Bluejays flying high

Softball

The PORTA-AC Central softball team continued their impressive play, moving to 8-2 on the season with three wins in four games last week. The Lady Bluejays won a tight one, 4 to 2 on the road at Taylorville last Wednesday. They played host to Rochester, Warrenburg-Latham, and Liberty in the Bluejays Spring Slam at the University of Illinois-Springfield on Saturday. They lost 5-0 to the Rockets but knocked off the Cardinals 8 to 0 and the Eagles 17 to 4.  

Pet of the Week

Midnight

Midnight is a handsome black feline, born in September of 2022. He is very friendly and affectionate. He is a silly boy who loves to lay in the sink and get comfy on a cat tree. This big boy, along with all other animals at Schuyler County Humane Society (SCHS) will be spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before adoption. You can meet Midnight and all pets at Schuyler County Humane Society, 17000 County Farm Road in Rushville. Visitor hours are Tuesdays from 4-7 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon, and Sundays from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. You can also make an appointment by calling (217) 322-2220. Applications are available online at https://schuylerhs.com/adopt/application/

The challenges climate change poses to agriculture

Farm sunset

Climate change poses an array of challenges. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes that the impacts of climate change on various sectors of society are interrelated, a connection that mirrors the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The human health crisis that arose during the pandemic affected all aspects of life, as illnesses limited worker productivity, thus affecting the global supply chain, including the availability of food.

Common sustainable agriculture practices

Planting

The concept of sustainability varies by industry. Within the agricultural industry, sustainability is a multifaceted concept that has become increasingly popular in recent decades.

According to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, sustainable agriculture seeks to increase profitable farm income, promote environmental stewardship, enhance quality of life for farm families and communities, and increase production for human food and fiber needs. In an attempt to reach those goals, farmers who embrace sustainable agriculture may look to various practices.

Mississippi River drought over, but situation still shaky

A container vessel traverses the Mississippi River near New Orleans. Water levels on the Mighty Mississippi recovered in recent weeks, which triggered the removal of draft restrictions. Photo by Daniel Grant

The drought that plagued the Mississippi River basin since 2022 and resulted in ag shipment delays and higher transportation costs is officially over.

“I’m happy to report there are no draft restrictions on the Mississippi River for the third week and we do not have dredges operating for low water,” Brigadier General Kimberly Peeples, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division, said last month. “The Dredges POTTER, HURLEY and JADWIN have completed dredging operations and are on a 72-hour response if needed.”