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...
One of the most consistently asked questions to University of Illinois Extension offices across the state is, what is the going rate for cash rent for farmland?Cash rent rates are a common yet recurring question that is continuously researched...
The following article is not to be construed as legal advice and is provided for educational purposes only. Information in this article comes in part from the State of Illinois Compiled Statutes (735 ILCS 5/9-206) (from Ch. 110, par. 9-206), which the reader can access online. Other states...
Jean Miles never liked any attention being placed on her, but she deserves some. She quietly retired this past March just as our busy clinic season was winding down. Jean first joined the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) as extra help in 1997...
The Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) at the University of Illinois has recently filled a much needed, vacant position. We are excited to announce that Jonathan Jackson is PSEP’s new program assistant. Jonathan will be responsible for...
When heavy rains result in ponded fields, the cause is poor drainage. Old field tiles in poor condition and/or undersized cannot efficiently remove excess water fast enough. When left unaddressed, the problem will worsen over time, resulting in compacted fields and lower yields. Fixing the...
As the spray season is winding down for many Illinois pesticide applicators, the training and testing season has also slowed way down for the University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The month of September is the perfect time for us in...
The University of Illinois recently hosted the Youth Crop Scouting Competition at the Urbana-Champaign South Farm. Student teams of two to five high-school-aged youth with an adult coach rotated through 10 outdoor...
Farm drain tiles are vitally crucial to the success of Illinois crop production. These underground drainage systems help provide good soil-based crop growing conditions by removing excess water from the soil. A balanced mixture of air, water, and soil is crucial for plant health, as excessive...
