The farm economy has changed significantly in the eight years since the last farm bill was written, reports Jim Henry.

As agriculture faces rising costs, tighter margins and increasing competition from non-farm uses, land-use decisions made today will shape whether the next generation of farmers and ranchers can enter, expand and keep working the land needed to support the U.S. farm economy.

Farmers were optimistic about the agricultural economy in August, according to the latest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer survey.

The cost and commodity price squeeze continues as it nears time to plan for next year’s crop and correlating fertilizer strategy.

Two Indiana staples — corn and racing — are crossing paths in 2027.

Farmers and ranchers who own land will have a stronger balance sheet thanks to increased values, but there are still pros and cons to the cost of farmland going up, says Jim Henry.

Farmer leaders of the Illinois Corn Growers Association recently advocated for their peers on Capitol Hill.

Overall agricultural conditions in the Corn Belt continue to be dampened by lower commodity prices, higher input costs and tighter credit.

Today’s combination of elevated input costs and tighter commodity margins is changing the way farmers think about risk.

Strong trade relationships with Canada and Mexico help strengthen family farms, support rural communities and keep American agriculture competitive around the world.

Illinois Stewardship Alliance presented two awards recognizing outstanding farmer leaders for their contribution to sustainable and local agriculture in Illinois.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s career as a venture capitalist and philanthropist from Chicago seems far-removed from agriculture, yet they parallel one another, according to the two-term governor.

Running on a platform of affordability, safety and education, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey gave his stance on issues during the recent Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy stressed the need for more certainty from Capitol Hill for farmers.

Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois Soybean Growers brought together members of the Mexican Consulate and Illinois General Assembly for a discussion highlighting the value of Illinois soybeans, strong trade relations and the impact Illinois farmers have across the world.

For many of us whose roots run deep on a family farm, land isn’t just an asset. It provides food, supports wildlife, filters water and tells the story of generations who have cared for it.

Tyson Foods announced the closure of three beef processing facilities, including the 3,000-head-per-day slaughtering plant in Joslin in northwestern Illinois.

Farm growth expectations vary among U.S. farms, and those expectations appear to be linked to how producers view their financial position, investment opportunities and the broader outlook for agriculture.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced the award recipients of the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program, distributing nearly $4 million in fiscal year 2026 funding to support the continued expansion of Illinois’ local food system.

The Senate’s version of a new farm bill stalled in the Agriculture Committee, and its members will reconvene next month for another vote on the package.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Soybean Germplasm Collection at the University of Illinois.

Every farm lost takes with it generations of knowledge, community leadership and the heartbeat of local economies.

Additional financial support is critical to offset trade-related losses, rising input costs and the deep financial pressure facing U.S. row crop and specialty crop producers.

Hoosier farmers will be honored at the Indiana State Fair as part of the 2026 Featured Farmers program hosted by the fair and Corteva.

It’s been nearly a decade since Congress last passed a farm bill, making a new one long overdue.

Without federal assistance, the economic situation in rural America will only get worse, warns Jim Henry.

Around 160 people attended the 2026 Livestock Summit in Indianapolis, bringing together leaders and farmers from across the state.

The national debt’s influence reaches into nearly every corner of our economy.

Farmer sentiment dropped again in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index declined from 119 points in May to 113 points in June.

The National Corn Growers Association released a study highlighting the economic contribution of corn farming in the United States.

The economic value of food and agriculture — and the fact that so much of it remains within the United States — is essential not just for food security, but for long‑term economic stability.

The use of AI in agriculture has potential to enhance efficiency through precision agriculture, optimize resource use and improved production.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association and farmer leaders feel overwhelmingly positive after their review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regenerative Feedstock Rule.

At a time when commodity prices remain under pressure and margins are already thin, higher operating expenses will place additional strain on farm viability, reports Jim Henry.

State and local officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of Incobrasa Industries’ new facility that doubles its annual soybean processing capacity.

The latest projections highlight the challenges farmers continue to face as input costs remain elevated with historically low commodity prices.

Families celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with a cookout will find that prices at the grocery store closely reflect inflation increases over the last year, reports Jim Henry.

The history of the United States is written in every row of crops, pasture and dairy barn from sea to sea.

Data centers create both economic opportunities and resource pressures, particularly around land, water and energy.

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin visited Incobrasa Industries to meet with representatives from the Illinois Soybean Association, the company’s leadership and Illinois soybean farmers to discuss the importance of biofuels and issues impacting the industry.

With a mandatory July 1 deadline for the trilateral joint review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement approaching, an economic study detailed the trade pact’s overall impact on U.S. agriculture.

Agricultural conditions were unchanged or declined in most of the Federal Reserve Districts, while cost pressures intensified from fuel and fertilizer spikes.

The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined from 121 in April to 119 in May, driven primarily by worsening views of current conditions on the farm.

State lawmakers approved a $55.9 billion budget that included current-level funding for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden visited Indianapolis to meet with leaders across Indiana’s ag and bioscience community.

The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers’ comprehensive annual farmland values report also includes various tidbits of interest.

An overwhelming majority of America’s farmers who responded to a nationwide survey say they cannot afford to purchase enough fertilizer to get them through the year.

The U.S. House’s passage of legislation allowing nationwide, year-round use of E15 drew mixed reactions from farm and biofuel groups.

Farmers are entering the critical spring planting season under a cloud of uncertainty as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupts global trade, causing fertilizer and diesel costs to spike.

AgriNews is launching a Community Marketing Grant program to help local businesses stretch their advertising dollars during this especially difficult time.