Even as the grain market rallies and crop revenues are projected to improve, increased production costs — especially higher fuel expenses — continue to keep major row crops below breakeven, reports Jim Henry.

If you really want to rebuild America’s cow herd, go where the cows are and listen to the people who own them.

If rebuilding the U.S. cow herd is a national objective, sustaining the people and businesses that maintain it must be part of that objective.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released updated farm income numbers this week, and the outlook is still bleak, says Jim Henry.

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

Asking for a senior discount is one of the easiest ways to uncover hidden savings.

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.

Long-term profitability will depend less on producing a good crop and more on earning a profitable price for it, predicts Jim Henry.

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

Rural America doesn’t ask for much — just a fair shot and a government that has their back.

Attempts to lower grocery costs should not come at the expense of the ranchers working to strengthen America’s food supply.

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

Farmland values in the Midwest were flat in the second quarter of 2026 compared to a year ago, according to a 7th Federal Reserve District report.

There are times when it seems like agriculture just can’t catch a break. This is one of those times.

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

Together, we can continue breaking down barriers, reducing stigma and ensuring that every farm family knows help is available.

Elevated production costs may be limiting agricultural producers’ willingness or ability to expand, says Jim Henry.

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.

After three months of declines, the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose in July from 113 to 126.

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.

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.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers Program that will provide temporary support for eligible beef processing establishments.

This country was built by ordinary men and women willing to do extraordinary things.

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.

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

Payment rates and the enrollment period for the Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers program have been set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As we gather this Fourth of July, it’s worth remembering and mentioning that the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply in the world happens because farmers and ranchers continue showing up every day despite the challenges.

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.

Corn and soybeans struggled for a week or two after planting during the flash drought, but a few passing showers have sent corn past "knee-high by Fourth of July" by leaps and bounds.

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.

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.

More than 25 speakers and panelists will provide strategies for creating and maintaining a successful forage and livestock operation during the Illinois Forage Institute on June 26 at Spoon River College in Canton.

USDA is forecasting a rise in U.S. consumption of beef, pork and chicken in 2026 — all staples for summertime cookouts, says Jim Henry.

If we want this way of life to be here for the next generation, we must be willing to speak up for it by showing up in conversations where decisions are made and making sure rural voices are heard.

Japanese automaker Nissan said it reduced losses for the fiscal year through March, but remained in the red, battered by U.S. tariffs, inflation and intensifying competition.

Americans paid more for their groceries last month, but high gasoline prices resulting from the Iran war were only one of the reasons why.

Red meat consumption in Argentina — historically one of the world’s biggest consumers of beef — has fallen to its lowest level in two decades amid economic austerity measures imposed by libertarian President Javier Milei.

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

Two weeks after the U.S. House passed its “skinny” farm bill — the law’s usual lard had been cut into last July’s reconciliation bill — applause is still yet to be heard in either Washington, D.C., or rural America.

In response to The Mosaic Company’s plans to scale back domestic production, state and national soybean leaders called on the Trump administration to take action.

Farming is more than a livelihood. It’s a way of life, and sometimes, it’s a heavy load to carry.

Farming is a gamble every year when challenged by the weather and the cost of crop inputs, so there is no thought of gambling the future of the farm away at the casino.

After years of economic pressure, farm families need the stability and certainty that comes with a new, modernized farm bill.

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.

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.