Steve joined the WFMB family in 2002. He started working as a part-time host of the Press box on Wednesday's and Thursdays. Although not from farming family he took over the role of farm broadcaster for the station in 2009.
Steve grew up in west centralIllinoisinMacomb. After graduating from MacombHigh School attendedWestern Illinois University. He began his career in sports, at WIU he was a sports anchor on WWIR-TV and the color commentator for the Leatherneck football. His first paying job was in Quincy at WGME-TV and then in Rockford at WREX-TV. After a few years inRockford as the weekend sports anchor at WREX-TV he moved toSpringfield. Bridge worked at WICS-TV for nearly 5 years, leaving the station as the sports director.
Bridge’s wife Dina also works in radio, the two have a pair of boys and they live near Rochester.
The Annual Illinois Beef Expo is coming in just a few more weeks. It runs from February 23 to the 25 at the LivestockCenter at the Illinois Fairgrounds. The show will have a few new features this year to keep things fresh, Eric Johnson with the Illinois Beef Association says that they are expecting a great time in a few weeks.
The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association are hosting their Annual Meeting this week at the CrownePlaza. The grape and wine industry continues to be a place of growth and expansion in the varied world of Illinois Agriculture. Bradley Beam, the State’s Enologist says the group in town is hearing about many important issues, both from marketing from and a producing front.
The Illinois Pork Expo was this week in Peoria. And a long time attendee is Tracy Lindquist; she has been a farrowing manager at Montgomery County hog facility farrow to finish facility and recently stepped back in to the business after some time off. Lindquist is tireless supporter of animal agriculture and says livestock operations have something to be proud of.
Farm field drainage is almost as old as farming. Through the practice many more acres of farmland have become available in the United States and the world. For years the only focus was on pushing yields higher. That remains the prevailing concern but where that drainage water goes and what it contains is gaining plenty of attention. Conservation practices are becoming more important in drainage projects. Dr. Richard Cook, Associate Professor with University of Illinois in the Agriculture and Biological Engineering Department and Extension Specialist for Drainage says that work is being done right now to address the nutrient runoff from farm fields to reduce nitrate and phosphorus loads to bodies of water. One of those factors is just what the water runs through; Cook says building a ditch stocked with woodchips can work as an excellent bio-filter.
How close are farmers to widespread use of narrow row corn. Jason Webster, Central Illinois Practical Farm Research Director with Becks says he gets that question a lot from farmers. 30 inch rows have become the industry standard, but if corn yields are to be pushed to 300 bushels to the acre will narrow row corn have to be a part of the equation? Webster says for now, the research on puts some of those thoughts on hold.
