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Question of the day

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Illinois

“We are second-to-none when it comes to growing corn and soybeans in Illinois, and many other things,” Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday.

* The Question: What “other things” is Illinois known for growing?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:29 am

Comments

Investigations.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:30 am
Corrupt politics…

Comment by Howell Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:30 am
Dan = Second place again.

Comment by Weltschmerz Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:32 am
Unfunded pension liabilities.

Comment by Stuff happens Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:32 am
Overcrowded prisons

Comment by Keep Calm and Carry On Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:33 am
Corruption, stupidity in state government, high gas prices,high taxes, the list goes on and on.

Comment by Dan Shields, Springfield, IL Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:35 am
Political BS?

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:36 am
debt, pumpkins, prison populations, hogs, retiring representatives, fair food on a stick.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:40 am
Nepotism

Comment by Keep Calm and Carry On Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:40 am
Peaches

Apples

Strawberries

Comment by Deep South Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:41 am
Texans, Iowans, Missourians, Wisconsinites, Hoosiers…

Comment by in absentia Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:41 am
Political BS it is, since we’re actually second to Iowa in both categories Soy Boy mentions.

Comment by A Naughty Moose Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:41 am
dysfunction

Comment by BMAN Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:45 am
* one of the nation’s most regressive state and local tax systems

* the nation’s largest spending disparities between rich and poor school districts

* the nation’s largest racial disparity in who goes to prison for drug possession.

Comment by reformer Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:45 am
A feeling of superiority within the citizens of other states.

Comment by aufjunk Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:46 am
Ishould have added, and bafflement among our own.

Comment by aufjunk Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:47 am
Too easy- self-serving corrupt politicians. Nobody even comes close, not even Louisiana

Comment by Roadiepig Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:51 am
Financial futures products.

Comment by MikeMacD Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:52 am
Mushrooms

Comment by Name Withheld Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:53 am
Pumpkins. We grow more pumpkins, I believe, than any other state.

Comment by hottot Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:54 am
http://www.ispeeved.blogspot.com/

Just saw this today, another vote for corruption.

Comment by Tsavo Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:55 am
Heartaches

Comment by Ucster Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:55 am
Trying to be serious….

1) Crop genetics (see DeKalb Genetics, etc.)
2) Super Computing technology (Thanks to U of I)
3) Graphene technology research (Thanks again to U of I)
4) Nanowire technology advancements (Thanks again to U of I).
5) Metra Rail (Seriously, it’s really pretty impressive for a major metro commuter rail system).

If IL got even halfway smart, we could be doing some amazing things.

Comment by Judgment Day Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:56 am
Horseradish (#1 I believe), winter wheat, grain sorghum, oats, apples, peaches, alfalfa hay, other hay, green beans, lima beans, peas, sweet corn, summer potatoes, and as mentioned earlier, pumpkins.

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:56 am
Frustration.

Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:57 am
Baloney.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 11:59 am
We’re not ‘leaders’ in #6 on my list (Advanced fabrication and tool making), but there’s some seedlings sprouting up out there that are fairly impressive. Not many, but it’s a start - and they are doing some very interesting things.

Comment by Judgment Day Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:00 pm
Unfortunately, the Gov did not even come close to being right. In 2012 Illinois produced less soybeans (in bushels) than Iowa and less corn bushels than Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Pumpkins, yes, horseradish, usually, but we have taken much too much land out of production over the last couple of decades for corn and soybeans.

Comment by McLean Farmboy Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:00 pm
Embarrassing Governors?

Comment by so... Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:01 pm
Hottot is right - we rule the pumpkin crop.

I think Chicago used to be and may still be the number one candy producing city in the world.

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:02 pm
Ghost payrolls, pols hiring relatives to high paying jobs, potholes, jailed Governors and Alderman.Last but no least the CUBS for years between winning a World Series.

Comment by Mokenavince Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:02 pm
Roads.

Comment by In_The_Middle Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:05 pm
Prison Population

Comment by Anon2 Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:07 pm
Political convictions.

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:08 pm
I can’t speak for the whole state, but I’m growing weary.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:09 pm
A bad fiscal reputation. And judging from the increasing negative mentions of Illiinois in the national press, it’s a bumper crop of bad news.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:10 pm
Weed, thanks to the US navy and enterprising people across the state!

Comment by Larry Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:14 pm
cynicism

Comment by Adam Smith Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:25 pm
An interesting thing being done with Illinois soybeans; they’re shipped out to Hawaii, and fed to fish in gigantic, floating cages miles out to sea, downwind of the Big island. The system is pretty impressive… http://techland.time.com/2012/11/01/best-inventions-of-the-year-2012/slide/a-drifting-fish-farm/

Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:27 pm
Despite inequitable and inadequate school funding we grow some great students in Illinois.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZuX_6-vAZE

Comment by nobody Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:27 pm
Backlogs.

Comment by Rusty618 Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:34 pm
dissatisfaction.

but really corn and pigs!

Comment by Anonimo Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 12:53 pm
debt

Comment by Boog Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:03 pm
Public sector crime.

Comment by one of the 35 Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:04 pm
Good presidents and senators and terrible politicians for everything else.

Baseball prospects for trading to other teams.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:05 pm
Good people and bad politicians

Comment by Johnson Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:15 pm
Debt

Unemployment

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:16 pm
Deadbeat Bill Payers/Clout Craftology.

Comment by anonymouse Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:22 pm
new empty prisons

Comment by woodchuck Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:29 pm
Kool aid drinkers who things are not so bad

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:34 pm
Tumors

Comment by Bill Wick Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:34 pm
Hperboles?

Comment by Anon. Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:37 pm
Malfeasance.

Comment by Spiney Norman Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:45 pm
Elected officials with felony convictions.

Comment by Rollo Tomasi Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 1:55 pm
Hot air

Comment by leonard Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:10 pm
Unpaid bills

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:14 pm
PQ explaining his comment later- You know other things. Things that are others, not the same things. If they were the same, we would be Iowa, but they aren’t the same, they are other things which is why we are the great land of Lincoln.

Comment by Abe Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:15 pm
Just to illustrate how things have deteriorated in Illinois - in the late 50s and 60s Illinois was one of the leading asparagus producing states - planting and harvesting about 10,000 to 11,0000 acres annually. Rochelle, IL used to call itself the asparagus capital of the world.

Now hardly any asparagus is grown commercially in Illinois. Most of it is now grown in California, Michigan, New Jersey. I thought you all would want to know that.

Comment by Joe M Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:24 pm
Catsup.

Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:25 pm
Musk melon.

Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:28 pm
Being serious.

I would say Illinois is second to none when it comes to diversity whether it is our diverse economy, our population, or our sports teams.

Comment by A Modest Proposal Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:29 pm
Illinois is the leading producer of pumpkins. Illinois is also a major producer of horseradish, melons, and popcorn. And an increasing number of wine grapes.

Comment by Crafty Girl Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 2:36 pm
Despair.

Comment by Esteban Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:03 pm
when it comes to mascots like Squeezy

Comment by reggaeman Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:10 pm
1. units of government
2. corruption
3. pigs
4. Californians

Comment by been there Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:12 pm
We are second to none in lack of public employee morale as well as the number public employees and retirees in therapy for anxiety and depression. (Detroit takes the city category.)

Comment by Realist Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:16 pm
Apathetic voters.

Comment by Geneseo Gent Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:20 pm
Deficits…

Comment by Siyotanka Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:29 pm
“low-information” voters

Comment by Jeff Trigg Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:34 pm
Egos

Comment by Checkers Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:39 pm
Misery Index

And unrelated:

Cap Fax readership

Comment by Sunshine Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 3:44 pm
After reading all threads above, I’d have to say
“PUNCHLINES” Nobody creates them better than Illinos!

Comment by LisleMike Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 4:00 pm
Joe M — I hope this makes you feel better. Soccerdad’s cousin, born and raised in Illinois, moved to Muskegon MI, where she was honored as Mrs. Asparagus, the Queen of the Asparagus Festival. So we still wield some regional influence, asparagus-wise.

Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 4:14 pm
Pessimism

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 4:26 pm
Why did it take until 3:12 for anyone to come up with governments?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 4:36 pm
Tomatoes, Watermelons, Mushmelons, wheat, etc..

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 4:38 pm
laughing stock

Comment by central illinois Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 4:46 pm
The number of elected officials (which traces directly back to the number of units of government).

An obsession with politics that is so intense that, in Chicago, there is no sexual connotation to the expression “wife-swapping” but, rather, the connotation that two elected officials hire each others wife for phoney baloney jobs (tip ‘o hat to Governor William J. Le Petomane).

Comment by Anyone Remember? Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 4:46 pm
A growing racial disparity in school achievement.

Comment by Ruby Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 5:35 pm
Ethanol and dried distillers grains

Comment by flea Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 6:15 pm
Debt and corruption.

Debt is Illinois number one export!!

Corruption the number one creator of “much needed jobs”

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 6:18 pm
Computing technology is actually a good answer. The prototype e-mail and web browser programs were developed at the University of Illinois, it has been a pioneer in building and deploying very high performance computers, often being at the very forefront of the world in computing capacity, and the computer science department here has produced many of the leading people in the computing industry. We also have at O’Hare an airport that is always the world leader, or very close, in the number of flights. In the US News and World Report rankings, most years our Department of Library and Information Science, which is now mostly about electronic information technology, is ranked number 1 in the nation. Several other departments, most notably engineering, are always in the top 5 in the nation, and some years number 1, so we could make a case that we are number 1 in “growing” engineering talent. Ironically, the state is reducing its support of this enterprise year after year, but it is still good enough to brag about.

Comment by jake Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 6:58 pm
(Ha ha ha)…good querie. I’ll go with “Future Greatness!!!” (TRYing to think positive, of course)…!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 8:17 pm
Marijuana

Comment by 1776 Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 9:16 pm
Asian carp that jump in your boat

Comment by fake county chairman Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 9:59 pm
Enough food to prevent a famine.

Comment by Harry Callahan Wednesday, Aug 28, 13 @ 10:00 pm