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

With summer just around the corner, Agronomy Days will soon return to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

A demonstration farm dedicated to farmer-focused research designed to answer real-world questions is into its sophomore year.

Once we got going, spring went really quick. We had a window there from mid-April to the end of April where a lot of guys went and then the last 10 days has just been hammer down and get her done.

An overwhelming majority of America’s farmers who responded to a nationwide survey say they cannot afford to purchase enough fertilizer to get them through the year.

Corn and soybean planting is complete on Wessels’ Family Farm in DeKalb County in northern Illinois, even though planting started a little later than originally planned.

“Shocking” wheat was taken into a different context in the U.S. Department of Agriculture crop production estimates.

U.S. winter wheat production is projected 25% lower than last year, and record low harvested acreage is projected in Indiana.

The initial crop balance sheet forecasts for the 2026-2027 marketing year were unveiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

I’m praying we have everything planted by the end of May, but it sure doesn’t look promising. The cover crops and wheat crop looks fantastic, despite the challenges of the daily freeze and frost watches.

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.

“Giving back to the community” isn’t just a cliché. It’s a lifestyle for folks like Matt Rush and his family.

Tyler Main took a temporary westward detour after graduating from Illinois State University 10 years ago this month.

Farmers are entering the critical spring planting season under a cloud of uncertainty as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupts global trade, causing fertilizer and diesel costs to spike.

We are nearly a month now post-inaugural production sale. All the nervousness and concerns were brushed aside, as the sale in all facets turned out to be a great success.

Southern Illinois planters began rolling in the latter half of March after an extended stretch of warm, dry conditions.

Thirteen Illinois Farm Bureau members and agricultural professionals graduated from the Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow program, an extensive leadership development program designed to help participants develop leadership and advocacy skills.

Today’s higher fuel prices will be the norm regardless when, or even if, a U.S.-Iran ceasefire comes together, say market experts.

There’s heightened concern across the Corn Belt due to the surge in fertilizer and fuel prices, combined with a volatile commodity market.

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

A commodity brokerage firm’s farmer survey indicates a shift toward more soybean acres in 2026.

Wheat, corn and soybean season-average price projects were increased slightly in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s balance sheets.

Despite strong demand pace, an expected increase in corn exports wasn’t reflected in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand estimates report.

Cattle, sheep and goat prices are at record or near record levels and fundamentally should remain that way for some time to come.

U.S. producers intend to plant 3% less corn acres and 4% more soybean acres this spring, according to the prospective planting report March 31.

Charlie Meier is quick to point out that had it not been for his involvement with FFA and 4-H as a youngster, he would not be a state representative.

Precision Conservation Management has been selected as a recipient of funding through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Conservation Partners Program, part of $8.7 million awarded nationwide to support on-the-ground conservation efforts.

You drive past or in the fields and lots where we are calving and there are babies running around, enjoying their surroundings and their new playmates.

Year-over-year corn, soybean and wheat stocks are higher halfway through the marketing year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s prospective planting survey indicated farmers aren’t making as large of a shift toward more soybeans and less corn acres as expected — but with a caveat.

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

Seven Indiana counties had triple-digit winter wheat yield averages in 2025.

Chad Bell is working on a variety of projects during the transition time from winter and getting ready for the spring planting season.

Tennessee farmer Todd Littleton expects to pay $100,000 more for fertilizer this season, a 40% spike from his bill last year thanks to the war in Iran — and he is scrambling to cover that extra cost.

Warm and dry this early is both a bad combination and a bad omen.

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

When we drone seeded clover on the wheat last February it had just a little green, but I was hoping it would soon look better and it does.

Changing feeds in dairy cow transition diets can help reduce costs.

Military action in the Middle East has disrupted critical shipments of fertilizer and oil as farmers head toward planting.

With two potential supply and demand movers slated for the end of the month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s March 10 balance sheets were unchanged as expected.

Other than a nickel increase in the projected average wheat price and tweaks in the global supplies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop balance sheets were mostly unchanged in the March estimates.

Crude oil prices, like it or not, often shape the world’s economies and geo-politics.

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

A little moisture is all it takes to get folks thinking spring has arrived.

I know a lot of people were thinking, and maybe rightfully so, that our region could use moisture. I beg to differ.

Thirteen Illinois Farm Bureau members traveled to Mexico to strengthen agricultural ties and gather insight on trade ahead of the upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Raising livestock is an important way for Chad Bell to diversify his farming operation in western Illinois.

Results of the third annual Illinois Ag Retail Survey found conservation practices are gradually increasing across the Prairie State.

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

Hoosier net farm income is projected to decline sharply in 2026 after rebounding in 2025, according to the latest Indiana Farm Outlook Report from Purdue University and the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center.