Market conditions matter, but the policy and economic environment can shape how farmers view what comes next.

Chad Bell is working on the final steps to prepare for harvest as he waits for field conditions to be favorable and his corn to dry to appropriate moisture levels.

While rural voters seem unlikely to support Democrats on a large scale, Trump and the Republican Party could face challenges with them in November.

The Trump administration relied on flawed logic to justify scrapping vehicle emissions standards this year, making errors in how it accounted for fuel savings, the price of technology and mileage, according to a new study by a group of economists.

Hog supplies continue to tighten as farmers resist expansion, but lower futures prices are signaling concerns that pork demand may be weakening faster than supplies are shrinking, reports Jim Henry.

Higher fuel costs are compounding already tight farmer budgets.

While basis has broadly weakened since the start of September, the regional picture tells a more interesting story.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s quarterly stocks reports are known for their surprises — and the Sept. 30 estimates did not disappoint.

Old crop marketing year-end corn stocks are up 35% from a year ago, while soybeans and wheat stored in all positions are lower.

The market fundamentals that raised beef prices have not gone away — tight cattle supplies and strong consumer demand continue to support higher consumer beef prices, says Jim Henry.

Dairy Management Inc. is accepting entries for its 2027 New Product Competition, challenging undergraduate and graduate students across the United States to develop innovative dairy-based products for consumers seeking sustained energy.

There’s a reason the U.S. House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act — and for those of us who live and work in rural America, that reason hits pretty close to home.

Tight margins, rising input costs, shifts in global trading and changing biofuels are all impacting U.S. corn growers.

Soy buyers from several countries took advantage of the opportunity to see soybeans growing on an Illinois farm during a tour of Ryan Frieders’ farm.

Buyers are paying closer attention to productivity, location and long-term return potential when making land purchasing decisions.

Market development and a new farm bill continue to be among the top priorities for the Illinois Soybean Association.

Farmers are feeling better about their financial future, but that optimism has not translated into stronger plans for machinery and building investments.

The farm bill is one of the most significant pieces of legislation affecting food and agriculture.

Years of declining numbers have created a supply challenge that short-term solutions cannot reverse.

The price of diesel is hitting record highs just when many U.S. farmers need it to power combines, tractors and other equipment to harvest two of the nation’s largest commodities, soybeans and corn.

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.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued guidance on Section 45Z of the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit, clarifying the tool and how it supports biofuel production.

Long-awaited actions by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and Department of Energy to clarify the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credits in support of domestic biofuel production were welcomed by commodity groups.

Enrollment in the Precision Conservation Management program continues to grow across four states.

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.

From fighting late-season weeds to unpredictable weather, northern Indiana farmer Clay Geyer has been kept on his toes as he prepares for harvest.

Starting a farm transition or retirement plan early helps protect the land, reduce family conflict and keep the business running smoothly.

Celebrating its 90th year as a family-owned seed company, Beck’s discussed new data-driven management tools and plant research insights during its annual Becknology Days.

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

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

The president’s plan to facilitate record imports of beef will have a significant impact on farmers and ranchers who are rebuilding their herds devastated by drought, reports Jim Henry.

Farmers will have to decide where technology genuinely adds value and where it simply adds another bill.

Corn basis weakened across much of the eastern Corn Belt in August, but soybean basis told a very different story.

Most of the U.S. crop balance sheet estimates were within the range of expectations, but questions remain on global side of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand estimates report.

With lower projected year-end stocks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture bumped up price expectations in its supply and demand estimates report.

Less corn and a few more soybeans were forecast in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop production report.

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

A farmer survey across 25 states projects slightly smaller U.S. corn and soybean crops than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s August estimates.

Nothing sells better than bad news it seems. But consumers still want to buy the beef we have.

My friends in town often ask me what I think of the beef market. They just don’t grasp what it takes to be successful in the cattle industry.

Fall calving is starting to kick into a higher gear. We are at the time where the majority of the herd should starting dropping babies.

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

A Federal Reserve survey found agriculture conditions across the Corn Belt improved slightly, but generally remained strained.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition wrapped up the 2026 Heart of America Grazing Conference by recognizing three Illinois producers with the Master Grazier Award: Rick Adams, Terry Becherer and Perry Hottes.

The general reaction to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s small refinery exemptions was both concern about the number granted, while also endorsing a plan to reallocate renewable fuel volumes.

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

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board elected a new slate of officers who will help lead the organization’s efforts to invest Illinois corn checkoff dollars in programs that grow demand, create new markets and strengthen understanding of Illinois corn farmers and the industry.

Farmland prices have remained “flat to modestly lower” since the first of the year, according to the Mid-Year Snapshot Survey conducted by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

Wind and solar farms, data centers and battery storage sites have been in the headlines, and farm managers were surveyed to find the extent of the growth.