Crop Insurance

Every preelection poll for the U.S. presidential race saw it as a too-close-to-call nail-biter. Not one predicted the sweeping victory posted by former, now President-elect Donald Trump.

ILSoyAdvisor Soy Envoys recapped the top agronomic challenges of 2024 and what potentially lies ahead for 2025 in an Illinois Soybean Association Field Advisor podcast.

Lincoln Land Community College Continuing, Corporate and Professional Education and Todd Steinacher, agronomic coach, will offer a comprehensive Agronomy Journey Conference.

Between harvest and preparing for the state corn-husking competition, From the Fields contributor Clay Geyer has a busy October ahead of him.

Illinois Stewardship Alliance representatives took the oft-used phrase “where the rubber meets the road” literally as they traveled across Illinois to host listening sessions as part of the group’s golden anniversary celebration.

With the farm bill, Next Generation Fuels Act and global trade discussions on the table in Congress, now is the time for farmers to make their voices heard.

To gain a better perspective in the current November and December futures price volatility, a soybean trade specialist noted historic parallels in the past 20 years, buyer opportunities and demand potentials.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from recent tornadoes, high winds and flooding in Illinois.

For the third year in a row, Hoosier farmers broke a record for the number of conservation practices in the state, according to the Conservation Tillage Transect survey.

As soon as the large mahogany door in the congressional building was opened, the farmers were greeted with hellos and handshakes. “Do you want some Indiana popcorn?” the staff in Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Pence’s office proudly asked.

This year, like last year, is a farm bill year — and this year, like last year, probably won’t deliver a farm bill. The reason is the oldest one in Washington, D.C.: politics.

A longstanding complaint here is the utter incomprehensibility of federal milk pricing policy. For years we’ve joked that only four people in the world understand its complexity.

Agricultural producers should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline after planting is complete.

The Illinois General Assembly approved a record $53.1 billion spending plan that included some good and bad news for agriculture-related programs.

We in agriculture have a long tradition of marketing our bounty by more pleasant, if not less-than-truthful, names in hopes that less-informed eaters buy the sizzle rather than the fact.

The Biden administration’s trade agenda — mostly forgotten after three years of COVID, inflation, war in Ukraine, brutality in the Middle East and a cantankerous Congress — recently surfaced and, wow, is it a mess.

When it comes to the 2024 farm bill, we are at one of those critical points, and if we’re going to reach the finish line, it’s time for Congress to pick up the pace.

Budget constraints forced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service to eliminate four crop and livestock reports.

Business and numbers attracted Aaron Johnson to a career in agricultural financing, but the relationship and people aspect of the business became his passion during the past several decades.

The slowest dance on Capitol Hill, the writing of a new farm bill, gained tempo May 1 when both the House and Senate Ag committees released versions of their bills.

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson announced work on the 2024 farm bill, which includes bipartisan policies and several titles affecting farmers.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of what is referred to as the foundation of the modern crop insurance program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging dairy producers to enroll for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage, an important safety net program that helps offset milk and feed price differences.

Three farmers with decades of experience utilizing soil conservation practices on their farms detailed their efforts in a “Toolshed Talk.”

With a September deadline, and a congressional summer vacation on the calendar, the clock is ticking on a new five-year farm bill.

Is there a government conspiracy afoot to deprive farmers of receiving their full benefits from crop insurance? Not at all, according to an economist.

Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2024 crop year have until March 15 to revise elections and sign contracts.

A trio of farmers tackled issues ranging from soil management to grain marketing during a panel discussion at the Illinois Soybean Association’s Soybean Summit.

America’s crop insurers are committed to building on the foundational principles of crop insurance to strengthen the farm safety net and offer more risk management products to more farmers.

As America’s farmers and ranchers continue to face immense climate and weather-related challenges, both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and private-sector crop insurers are committed to strengthening the crop insurance program.

Leadership from the Senate and House agriculture committees delivered a clear message to the Crop Insurance Industry Annual Convention: Crop insurance has bicameral and bipartisan support from the “four corners” of agriculture.

As the deadline to purchase federal crop insurance moves closer, COUNTRY Financial is providing enhanced coverages for Illinois farmers in addition to federal crop insurance.

No one can will the corn or soybean market to jump a dollar, but developing a marketing plan can provide leverage to weather the swings.

While January left the old year behind, it didn’t leave behind any of the baggage 2023 saddled American farmers and ranchers with.

The second annual Illinois Ag Retail Survey is underway to collect data on nutrient management practices.

Since the U.S. Congress extended the 2018 farm bill for 2024, farmers will have the option to enroll their base acres in either the Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs for the upcoming growing season.

With the 2018 farm bill extended until the end of 2024, and the timeline on a new measure uncertain, one factor that will be front and center is the cost of the new legislation.

Federal crop insurance isn’t just a safety net for farmers. It also serves as a backstop for rural communities and rural residents.

He’s now retired from Iowa State University Extension, but the economist from Cyclone Nation donned the orange and blue of the Fighting Illini to talk about the future — and the past — to a group of northern Illinois farmers.

The Cover Crop Premium Discount Program is available for the fourth year in a row, rewarding farmers who plant cover crops by providing a reduced premium on their crop insurance.

Founding father Benjamin Franklin was spot-on almost three centuries ago when he noted — in print, no less — that two unavoidable facts of life were death and taxes.

The new farm bill can got kicked down the road last month with a one-year extension of the 2018 law, but Illinois Corn remains diligent in pushing for new legislation sooner rather than later.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2024 crop year.

The Indiana Corn Growers Association elected Chris Cherry, a farmer from New Palestine, as president of the policy organization for 2024.

It’s been great so far this December to do chores without having to break the ice on the energy-free waterers we use here. Pretty much all fieldwork has been done by now around here.

Illinois Department of Agriculture is implementing its fifth year of the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program. Funding of eligible acreage is on a first come, first served basis. The deadline for applications is Jan. 15.

2023 was a year of wins and continued challenges that will extend into the new year for the corn industry.

A program aimed at plugging the information holes for farmers moving from conventional to organics production continues to grow.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association honored several individuals for their roles in supporting farmers and the industry during the organization’s annual meeting.

For corn growers, rootworms are a problem. But how much of a problem they are — and how often — depends on where you farm.