National Ag Day is March 24, with the theme, “Together We Grow.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has now sharply lowered its 2025 farm income outlook by $25 billion, reinforcing that this downturn is deeper and more persistent than many anticipated.

Twelve Illinois counties averaged triple-digit wheat yields in 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Ultimately, federal taxpayer-funded payments are not a match for the tough reality of lost demand or damaged markets.

After two decades of steady grain storage capacity growth that matched production increases, on-farm and off-farm expansion has become stagnant.

The “I” states each lost several hundred farms from 2024 to 2025, along with declines in acreage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Land in Farms report.

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

While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made an important investment in strengthening the farm safety net, it did not replace the need for a new, modernized farm bill.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association is working to restore pork options on the menus of Chicago Public Schools.

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.

Farmland values increased 2% in the last quarter of 2025 and were up 6% year-over-year in the 7th Federal Reserve District.

American horticulture operations sold $18.3 billion in floriculture, nursery and specialty crops in 2024, according to the newly released Census of Horticultural Specialties report.

The latest federal farm income forecast reinforces the difficult reality for U.S. agriculture.

March is when most people’s thoughts turn to spring and most farmers start looking forward to another productive year of growing food, feed and fiber.

An acreage swing toward more soybeans and less corn in the upcoming growing season is forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Illinois Soybean Association District 6 Director Rob Shaffer met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins at the Commodity Classic.

One of the things I’ve learned over my years in Farm Bureau is that policy doesn’t move forward on its own. It moves because people show up, build relationships and take the time to share their stories.

When it comes to highly pathogenic avian influenza, biosecurity is the key to mitigating the risk of disease spread.

Corn bred with genes from wild relatives can reshape soil microbial communities and reduce nitrogen loss — with no yield reduction, according to new research from the University of Illinois.

Weed resistance is a problem for many corn and soybean farmers that is likely to continue.

The Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources program is designed to be free, straightforward, voluntary and locally relevant.

One of the few bright spots in the agricultural economy has been beef cattle, as smaller cattle supplies paired with strong consumer demand for beef has driven up prices for both cattle and beef, reports Jim Henry.

House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson must not be a superstitious man. If he were, he would not have introduced the biggest bill of his congressional career, the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” on Friday the 13th.

Growing winter forage can improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, add organic matter, break up compaction and provide livestock feed.

In a key win for U.S. pork producers, President Donald Trump has finalized a beneficial trade agreement with Taiwan, a direct result of the National Pork Producers Council’s long-fought effort to secure greater market access in the Asian nation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed in its supply and demand estimates report that corn demand continues to improve, but supplies remain plentiful.

An atypical note by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on what could have happened if China purchased more soybeans was featured in the supply and demand estimates report.

The deadline for producers to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program is Feb. 26.

More than 4,000 farmer and rancher Farm Bureau members gathered for the 107th American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, held earlier this month in Anaheim, California.

Farmers need stronger market returns, so income comes from selling commodities, not aid — and that means improving the farm safety net through a fully passed farm bill, strengthening trade demand, and addressing rising input costs, says Jim Henry.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $1 billion in Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program support.

If growing corn is a religion among Midwestern farmers, its Vatican is somewhere in central Iowa.

Regenerative agriculture is about mimicking nature’s principles, designs and patterns.

The U.S. cattle and beef industry enters 2026 with strong but volatile market conditions, as historically tight cattle supplies, record-setting beef demand and elevated policy and weather uncertainty continue to support prices, even as markets appear to near cyclical highs.

The Indiana AgrAbility Project, in cooperation with Vincennes University and nonprofit partner Easterseals Crossroads, is sponsoring a full-day assistive technology expo on Feb. 17.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced plans to distribute $3.6 million in fiscal year 2026 at the recent Everything Local Conference.

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.

An Indiana bill aimed at restricting certain food additives in school meals is moving forward, drawing concern from agricultural groups like Farm Bureau which warn that the legislation could create higher costs, regulatory confusion and other problems.

As farmers, we’re proud of the role we play in feeding America. All we ask is that nutrition policy recognizes the full picture — and that lawmakers remember you can’t build a healthy diet without a strong farm economy to support it.

Isn’t it time that consumers be allowed to choose the best beef in the world produced under the best of conditions?

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.

Indiana Farm Bureau Chief Economist Todd Davis analyzed the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report and discussed implications for Hoosier farmers.

A word of caution: Do not get between reality and political forces in Congress when Republicans and Democrats agree to spend more money on farm programs rather than reform the very programs that are failing farmers and rural America.

The amount of corn, soybeans and wheat remaining in bins increased year-over-year in the first quarter of the new marketing year.

A combination of higher beginning stocks and larger than expected production pushed up crop ending stocks in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s balance sheets.

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Department of Agriculture increased corn harvested area by 4.5 million acres since its mid-2025 projection, bolstering production to record levels.

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.

The Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture has launched “Trends in the U.S. Farm Balance Sheet,” an interactive data visualization tool built using farm income and wealth statistics.

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.