The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one of the largest federal government agencies that employs thousands of employees and oversees countless areas of federal agricultural policy. From crop insurance to commodity support programs, to research at universities, and much more, the...
Spring planting is right around the corner here in central Illinois. As the weather warms up, more producers are beginning to prepare their equipment to get into the field at the right time. While getting the seeds in the ground at the right time is important this time of year, equally important is...
While federal agricultural policy can come in many different forms, the Farm Bill is the arguably the most important. Typically passed and enacted every five years, a Farm Bill sets out the funding for various programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), including...
Agriculture in the United States is constantly changing, and keeping up with those changes is important for anyone involved in the industry. Each year, the USDA’s Economic Research Service (USDA‑ERS) publishes the Farms and Ranches at a Glance report to help show what is happening across U...
In a presentation I gave during the Springfield Agronomy Summit last week, I mentioned that the landscape of trade policy was constantly changing. I discussed, among other things, the tariffs that had been imposed in 2025 and the court challenges to those tariffs. The Supreme Court must have heard...
The farm economy in central Illinois is entering yet another year of financial pressures. Recent projections show that, despite slight increases in market prices, many corn and soybean producers could expect negative returns. Long-term data shows that 2024 was the lowest income year for grain farms...
Among the many topics making headlines in 2025, agricultural trade policy has been one of the most discussed and impactful for agricultural producers in central Illinois and across the United States. At the center of this has been tariffs on imported goods. There have been legal challenges to these...
As harvest concludes across Central Illinois, producers are focusing on storing their grain. For those in our region and throughout the Midwest, where corn and soybeans are the main crops, maintaining the grain's quality during winter is essential for protecting both quality and profitability....
Fertilizer is a critical input for crop production, supplying essential nutrients that boost yields and support global food security. In recent years, however, fertilizer markets have experienced significant volatility. From 2020 to 2022, U.S. fertilizer prices more than doubled due to increasing...
Fall is a vital season for managing forage crops in Illinois. The choices producers make now can influence how well their fields endure the winter and how much feed will be available for livestock next year. Proper fall management helps protect soil, improve plant health, and prepare strong stands...
