Blogs

A field with a barn and blue skies in the background.

Land values and cash rents in central Illinois

April 10, 2026

Agriculture is an ever-changing endeavor. Whether it's fluctuating commodity markets, changes in input prices, or uncertainties in government regulation, nothing in agriculture is ever static. This is especially true for land and land values. Land is one of the most important resources for...

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Household hazardous material collection events scheduled for spring 2026

April 7, 2026

Pesticide News

Spring is the perfect time for cleaning your chemical storage area and disposing of any old or unwanted pesticides. To assist with this effort, the Illinois EPA will hold one-day household hazardous waste collections. Their schedule for this spring has been released to the public. Please note, all...

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Grain Facility and Livestock Manuals revised, tests offered online

April 1, 2026

Pesticide News

The Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program Grain Facility (SP39-8) and Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program Livestock (SP39-15) Manuals have been updated for 2026, and are now available on the University of Illinois Extension PubsPlus online store:...

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A tile contractor uses a backhoe loader to aid installation of a large tile main, with dirt road on left and farm field on the right.

Farm Drainage Series Part 5: Challenges Installing Drainage Tile Mains — Railroads, Highways, and Others

March 27, 2026

This article is not to be construed as legal advice. Consult with your legal advisor before entering tile agreements.Installing the necessary drainage tile on your farm often requires a tile main to direct water through an underground drain tile system and then through a neighbor’s...

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A field with cover crops growing in crop stubble.

Evaluating trends in USDA conservation program adoption and effectiveness

March 27, 2026

Farm Focus

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...

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Do you still need training and testing to apply pesticides?

March 25, 2026

Pesticide News

The growing season is upon us finally! With the new green growth will also come pests unfortunately. Do you have what you need to deal with them? Do you still need to obtain your Illinois pesticide applicator or operator license? Only a couple in-person pesticide safety education clinics remain and...

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An excavator clears tree roots in a farm field with large shrub and blue sky in background.

Farm Drainage Series: Part 4 - Negotiating a Mutual Farm Tile Project: A Joint Tile Main Case Study

March 23, 2026

Farm Coach

Note: This article is not to be construed as legal advice. Consult with your legal advisor before entering tile agreements. Improving farm drainage tiles in Illinois can be very challenging because most farmland is owned by absentee landowners rather than by the farmer. Owners...

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A tractor pulling anhydrous tanks across a field.

Tips and resources for safe applications of anhydrous ammonia in central Illinois

March 13, 2026

Farm Focus

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...

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Analyzing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026

March 6, 2026

Farm Focus

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...

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A soybean field with the sun setting in the background.

Insights from the 2025 Farms and Ranches at a Glance report

March 4, 2026

Farm Focus

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...

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