The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the estimated acres for corn and soybeans to be planted. The report indicates a substantial reduction in intended soybean plantings for 2025 (at a negative 4%), offset by a significant increase in intended acres to be planted in corn (...
This post is the second of a two-part series on preparations for the upcoming planting season in Central Illinois. With Spring officially underway, it is important for farmers to get their equipment ready to go into the field as soon as conditions are right. Part one of this series focused on...
Improving farm efficiency is vital in today’s farming world. Keeping track of your farm financial records and being able to report the results with ease helps the farmer to improve operational efficiency. Selecting the right software for record keeping is vital.Just like preferences in...
The average age of farmers in Illinois hovers at around sixty years of age. This statistic implies that many current farmers have memories of the 1980s when the world of Midwest farming fell apart: many family farm operations were forced out of business. The 1970s saw a sharp increase in grain...
As Winter gives way to Spring and the temperature rises, one of the most important times in the agricultural industry is on the horizon: planting. Months of preparation and waiting since harvest will finally come to an end as farmers begin to put the next crop in the ground. However, even with a...
Older machine sheds built in the 1970s dot the Illinois farm landscape. Are these old sheds worth keeping and using as rental buildings? The challenge is that many old pole sheds are in bad shape and too small for modern farm equipment. These sheds are expensive to maintain and repair. The owner is...
In August 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new herbicide strategy aimed at better aligning with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This new strategy will alter pesticide labels by adding extra mitigation measures that seek to reduce pesticide exposure to over 900...
There are several pesticide related bills being considered in the Illinois Senate and House currently. We’ve been told that action will need to be taken on many of these in the next couple of weeks if they are to become laws. Some have previous versions that were introduced in past years and will...
This blog post is the second in a two-part series discussing precision agriculture technologies (PATs) and the benefits they offer to farmers who adopt them. Part One discussed the history of PATs and the trends in adoption in the United States. While there are many benefits to farmers and the...
In today's rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, farmers rely on various technologies and tools to improve efficiency on their operations. Since the 1980s, precision agriculture technologies (PATs) have revolutionized how farmers manage their crops and livestock. By leveraging advanced tools...
