Modern agriculture looks little like the early days of farming. All aspects of farming have been modified by the access farmers now have to technologies to meet the demands of their work and the pressure a growing population places on farmers to produce quality food.
Fall Cover Crop Mixtures
With spring weather pushing growth, our cover crops are also taking off as well. I had some early fall planted spring oats, crimson clover, and rapeseed (25/6/2 lb/A, respectively) in a few areas including some planted after potato harvest last year. The oats winter killed as expected, however, the rapeseed and crimson clover have about 8-10 inches of growth now. This area is rotated with potatoes and cover crops; half the area was just plowed for planting with the cover remaining for the season on the other side. I will probably interseed some other cover crops as this mixture starts to peak for some extended cover over the season.
Tractor accidents, grain entrapment and injuries from ornery livestock are just some of the dangers agricultural workers face every day. In fact, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States.
In 2016, the agricultural industry had a rate of 21.4 deaths per 100,000 workers, and each day agricultural workers experienced 100 non-fatal, lost-work-time injuries.
It did not take long for the Beardstown girls’ soccer team to get to know their new head coach and vice versa as long-time assistant Francisco Hernandez slides into the top spot this year. Hernandez takes over for Adam Hamilton just as he did in the fall for the boys’ program. Hamilton was the head coach from the program’s inception in 2013 and he and Hernandez had slowly built the Tigers into a winner. Beardstown went 11-4-5 last year, their second consecutive winning season after eight straight losing seasons for the fledgling program. The Tigers will have to replace several key contributors from last year but have plenty of talented players ready.
Despite having just thirteen players and one senior Triopia-Meredosia-Virginia Head Softball Coach Ty Gebhardt likes what he has going on with this year’s Lady Trojan squad. Along with Assistant Coaches Kristy Gebhardt, Dean Werries, and Jeff Bennett, he will have to replace some very talented players from last year’s 15-12 team, but he feels as though he has plenty of talent to do so.
Third year Head Softball Coach Kaitlyn Dodson expects the Beardstown Lady Tiger defense to be a strong point of this year’s squad. Coming off a nice 19-12 season last year, following an un-Lady Tiger-like 12-15 season in 2021-2022, Dodson will have to replace several key pieces from last year’s team. She will have an oddly constructed roster at her disposal to do so, as the Tigers are comprised of only juniors and sophomores with no seniors or freshman.
Returning all but three players from last year’s sixteen-win team, this year’s PORTA-AC Central baseball team has high hopes for the season. Head Coach Brett Leischner along with assistants Doug Blakeman, Rick King, Devon Roach, Jared Canterbury, and Dave Leischner are eager to build on a successful 2023 campaign. Coach Leischner knows it won’t be easy but feels the pieces are there to push towards twenty wins, improve on a 4-4, fifth place conference finish and make some hay in the postseason. According to Leischner, “there are high internal expectations this season. The schedule is very competitive, and the Sangamo Conference is one of the best small school conferences in the state. This year could prove to be a great one if we can stay healthy and pull together as a team.”
With their top three hitters and their top pitcher returning from last year’s 16-13 team, the PORTA-AC Central Lady Bluejays are looking to take the next step forward this season. Fourth year Coach Andrew Biermann (39-33 overall record) and asistants Mike Logsdon and Kassidy Johnson are hoping to improve on a 4-4 record and fifth place finish in the Sangamon Conference, push towards the twenty-win mark and make some postseason noise.
A youth movement is at hand for the Beardstown baseball program. The Tigers have to replace seven departed seniors from last year’s somewhat disappointing 12-16 squad in Head Coach Brian Dour’s debut season. Beardstown is not used to having losing seasons in baseball so expect Coach Dour, his staff and the boys to put in the work required to make sure it does not happen again. He will do so with just two seniors at his disposal and a host of sophomores and freshmen expected to play significant roles.
Despite having no seniors, Head Coach Rich Thompson and Assistant Adam Brockhouse led last years Triopia-Meredosia-Virginia baseball team to an 11-15 record. With everyone returning, expectations are much higher this year. Sophomore Grant Fricke did not play like a freshman last year, going 4-3 with a 1.85 ERA on the mound and hitting .398 with 17 RBI and 24 runs scored and will play a major role this year. Sophomore Cooper Parrish returns behind the plate after hitting .328 with 17 RBI, senior Austin Strubbe is back at third base and hit .279 with 22 RBI and 14 runs and Senior Evan Bell can play about