Jim Henry calculates that the payments expected by the end of February are a needed step toward easing financial strain in the farm economy, but will not cover the full extent of row crop losses during this prolonged period of elevated costs, low crop prices and weak margins.

When farmers and ranchers come together, they don’t just talk about challenges — they get to work finding solutions.

Soy foods align closely with the Dietary Guidelines’ emphasis on nutrient-dense, plant-based protein sources. They recognize foods such as tofu and tempeh for their protein content, as well as fermented soy foods like miso, which are valuable for gut health.

Better health begins on your plate — the Dietary Guidelines for Americans offer a flexible, affordable and attainable framework meant to guide better choices, not dictate exact meals or drain a budget.

Many of the changes in the new food guidelines issued recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services were red meat to farmers and ranchers.

Today’s rock-bottom feed prices cancel out payments that would otherwise help us get through the struggles that too-low milk prices bring with them.

President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, allowing schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer students whole milk, 2% milk and flavored and unflavored options.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the Illinois FSA state committee.

Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch broke ground on a new egg processing plant in Kendallville in northeast Indiana.

The standard mileage rate for the business use of a car, truck, van or other vehicle will increase by 2.5 cents in 2026.

Illinois Soybean Association is excited to celebrate outstanding individuals in agriculture through its annual Achievement Awards.

The surprising 1.3 million harvested corn acre jump from the November to the Jan. 12 U.S. Department of Agriculture crop production reports, combined with record quarterly stocks inventories, drew more questions than answers.

The Indiana Soybean Alliance is seeking farmer leaders to join its 24-member board responsible for investing Indiana’s soybean checkoff funds.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins signed a memorandum to establish priorities for this year’s research and development activities funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

U.S. corn exports continued at record pace through the end of 2025, while the future global demand potential for ethanol remains bright.

Rail and waterway transportation systems provide valuable assets for farmers.

Fresh from the farm. American grown. Those words bring to mind quality and value, thanks to the hardworking men and women across this country who are proud to be called farmers.

We hope this new push for healthy red meat will convince more folks to go find out that good food is good medicine.

This year will mark the 10th anniversary of R-CALF USA’s successful legal effort to reform, albeit partially, the government-mandated beef checkoff program.

With lower grain prices, higher interest rates and increased production costs, some farms are facing a challenging financial situation.

The president didn’t return much affection to rural voters in 2025. Farm inputs, health care and food costs continued to rise; yo-yo tariff policies sliced ag exports; and cuts to several federal farm and rural programs clipped rural communities.

Farmers were less optimistic about the ag economy in December, especially when it came to their long-term outlook, according to the latest reading of the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

The current economic environment for farmers is challenging with tighter margins and more volatility.

Per-acre payment specifics for the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program were released on New Year’s Eve.

The outlook for the four pieces of the demand pies that drive corn and soybean prices is anticipated to include some growth and a wild card in 2026.

The Illinois Alternative Protein Innovation Task Force recently released its groundbreaking findings, revealing how the state can bolster its position as a national agricultural and biomanufacturing powerhouse.

One of the most under-reported stories of 2025 — the departure of more than 20,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture employees — finally surfaced just before the quietest, most unwatched news periods of any year, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

From testifying to Congress to working on his fifth-generation farm in southern Illinois, Kenneth Hartman Jr. has dedicated the last three decades to advocating for corn growers.

At the 2025 Indiana Ag Gathering held at the French Lick Springs Resort, the Indiana Farm Bureau delegate body reelected INFB Vice President Kendell Culp of Jasper County.

Mark Gebhards, retired Illinois Farm Bureau executive director of governmental affairs and commodities division and chief strategy officer and adviser to the IFB president, was honored with the IFB 2025 Eagle Award for Excellence.

The Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee elected Garrett Williams of Richland County as its 2026 chair and Michael Bernhard of Kendall-Grundy as vice chair.

Jim Henry diagnoses that a new program touted to give $50 billion in federal funds to rural hospitals won’t necessarily keep the vital medical centers from closing.

Farmers say they are grateful to President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for providing resources that, for many, could make the difference between staying in business to plant another crop, or shuttering a family farm.

Clean water is essential for every farmer and rancher; we depend on it every day. That’s why we’re encouraged to see the new proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers.

Working with a new administration during 2025 has been fast-paced and challenging for those dealing with regulatory and legislative policies.

The long days, unpredictable weather, volatile markets and rising input costs rarely factor into conversations at the grocery store or the checkout line.

The best action we could take in the coming year to better serve all Americans — farmers, ranchers and every food buyer — is to simply stop digging the deepening hole we’re already in.

It’s fair to say that 2025 has been a year of meaningful progress for agriculture, on top of some very big challenges. Farm Bureau helped farmers and ranchers across the country navigate the roller coaster ride.

Farmers were more optimistic about the ag economy in November, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia are suing the Trump administration for what they say is the unlawful withholding of over $2 billion in funding for two electric vehicle charging programs.

Don’t let the prospect of ad hoc government support payments sway crop marketing plans in the current window of opportunities, according to an agricultural economist.

President Donald Trump announced plans to weaken rules for how far automakers’ new vehicles need to travel on a gallon of gasoline, set under former President Joe Biden.

These were the most read stories on the AgriNews website in 2025.

Illinois Farmers Union on Jan. 27 will hold its annual meeting where family farmers and ranchers from across the state will gather for a day of educational programming and policy discussion.

In addition to growing food organically, Marty Travis works with numerous Illinois farmers to provide marketing and distribution services that connect them to numerous buyers.

The marketplace, from the cattle producer all the way to the consumer, is fundamentally broken, and the only time it functions properly is when it is confronted with a significant market shock.

As 2025 draws to a close, Jim Henry looks back on some of the key moments that shaped the year in agriculture.

Biofuels remain a cornerstone of U.S. agriculture, supporting crop prices, rural jobs and energy security.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a proposed rule revising the regulatory definition of “waters of the U.S.” intended to resolve the regulatory uncertainty regarding the scope of federal jurisdiction.

Agriculture’s economic conditions, trade and uncertainty in the ethanol market were among the topics of focus at the Illinois Corn Growers Association annual meeting.