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

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

A look at women whose contributions significantly shaped agriculture — trailblazers at the national, state or local level — is illuminating.

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.

State funding appropriations for Soil and Water Conservation Districts were kept at current levels for the third consecutive year, while legislation to create a sustainable funding source for the agency stalled.

Over the next several weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct the June agricultural survey by contacting over 90,000 producers across the nation to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1.

Continued low prices, government subsidy programs and high input costs will continue to weigh on farmer profitability and their ability to maintain current cash rents. These factors will all be important to consider when 2027 rents are negotiated in the fall of 2026.

The number of acres managed by Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers members increased substantially in 10 years.

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

Despite the fluctuation in available funding, farmers are still encouraged to utilize the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The U.S. Forest Service will abandon its nine regional offices as its parent U.S. Department of Agriculture consolidates out of Washington, D.C.

Stark and Tazewell counties had the state’s top average corn and soybean yields, respectively, in 2025.

Benton and Warren counties were Indiana’s top soybean and corn yield producers, respectively, in 2025.

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

The 7th Federal Reserve District’s “good” farmland values increased 3% year over year, but dipped 1% over the last two quarters on average.

Smart site selection, local engagement and long-term planning can ensure rural America remains both a hub for agricultural production and a partner in responsible technological growth, reports Jim Henry.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will distribute more than $796,000 over the next three years to expand access to fresh, locally grown produce and boost the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry.

Complete certification early to avoid interfering with tile installation.

Farmland sales in Illinois are continuing their recent pattern of being unpredictable. Low farmer profits are the main driver of this volatility, but other factors also weigh on the marketplace.

Preparing for taxes and the transition of farming operations from one generation to the next is important for farm families.

Poverty is deepening and hunger is increasing across Cuba, a country of nearly 10 million people.

As we see more solar fields dotting our rural landscape, it’s understandable to question if this is the best use of our productive Illinois land.

The U.S. House passed a new farm bill after the agriculture industry has operated for the past eight years under the previous legislation that included three extensions.

Rather than treating wetlands as an obstacle, mitigation gives farmers a defined, documented pathway to move forward without jeopardizing their standing with federal farm programs.

In 1920, Daniel Chapman’s great-grandpa Ritchie started farming the land using horses. Since then, each generation of the family has worked to leave a legacy for the next.

Lease agreements shifted toward more traditional crop-share agreements in 2026.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture updated its State Nutrient Reduction Strategy — a statewide strategy designed to improve water quality in Indiana, the Great Lakes and beyond.

Installing drainage tile is a strategic investment that maximizes yield potential and boosts net returns for both farmers and landowners.

Farmland prices are expected to decrease from 1% to 5% this year, according to Illinois professional farm managers.

Like other farmers across the nation, my work is not a job, but a calling.

Brazil’s massive dual-fuel fleet — consisting of vehicles capable of running on any combination of ethanol and gasoline — is unique in its scale.

Land in the Midwest is not just dirt. It’s legacy, livelihood and, increasingly, a line in the sand.

Farmer sentiment about the ag economy improved in March despite rising input cost concerns, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

A “From Field Tile to Tap” tour demonstrated what farmers can do on their farms to protect drinking water sources downstream.

Farmland values remain resilient in spite of a cooling agricultural economy, according to the latest installment of the Maximizing Your Farmland Series presented by Halderman.

Two years after peak highs, the average sales price of top Illinois farmland saw slight year-over-year declines.

For the past decade, farm profits have been highly volatile, making farm business planning difficult.

Whether you farm five acres or 5,000, you’re part of something bigger than your own farm. You’re helping support jobs, strengthen communities and power an economy that reaches every corner of this country.

Installing the necessary drainage tile on your farm often requires a tile main to direct water through an underground drain tile system and then through a neighbor’s property to reach a drainage ditch.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is relaunching the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience, or I-COVER, Program to promote the early establishment of cover crops using new techniques or technology.

Hiring an experienced, reputable farm tile installation contractor is essential to the longevity of the system.

It is important to take time to evaluate field conditions early in the spring, especially the soil moisture status, says Jim Henry.

Spring often just burst onto the southern Illinois farm of my youth. One morning you’d see a green blade of something peeking through the bare ground by the mailbox and by the time you got off the school bus a day later a brave daffodil waved, welcoming you home.

Greg and Janis Thoren are the recipients of the 2026 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award.

The Weitendorf Agricultural Education Center has been a hub of activity for nearly two decades, hosting workshops, seminars, expos, livestock and horticulture judging, countless opportunities for students of all ages and other events.

The 2026 Indiana General Assembly wrapped up its work, which included some wins for agriculture, according to leaders at Indiana Farm Bureau.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association honored a family that has contributed to the long-term success of the industry through leadership and pork promotion at the local and state levels.

Agricultural economic conditions are mostly flat since mid-January across the Corn Belt’s Federal Reserve Districts, according to a survey.

Consolidations from the farm gate through the entire supply chain, combined with inconsistent federal policies, have pushed agriculture toward a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.