Currently, budgets for corn and soybean production by Illinois Farmers is projected to be below breakeven on profitability. University of Illinois Farmdoc budgets can be found here.Federal Crop Insurance can be...
This blog post is the second in a two-part series that analyzes the impact of international trade on agricultural production in the United States and Illinois. Part One introduced the concepts of trade and free trade agreements while also reviewing tariffs and the value international trade adds to...
The Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) is often considered the most damaging pest to U.S. corn. While the adults can cause issues in pollination through clipping silks, the most destructive life stage is the larvae, who live below ground and feed on corn roots. Larval...
Do your pesticide applications fall under the scope of the EPA’s Worker Protection Standard (WPS)? If so, you should take a few minutes to review recent changes to the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements. Let’s start by reviewing what the AEZ is and its purpose. The EPA introduced...
For the United States agriculture industry, trade is vital. The United States is a leading agricultural producer and exporter, with a significant portion of its output aimed at international markets. Trade agreements and other trade policies allow U.S. farmers to reach new markets, enhance...
On January 1, 2025, a new law went into effect that could affect Illinois’ pesticide applicators working in rights-of-way areas. The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has been tasked with writing the rules and has recently created a...
Monarch’s proposed addition to Threatened Species listThis past December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed for the monarch butterfly to be added to the threatened species list, which would place the monarch under the protection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) via...
This post is the second in a two-part series analyzing a United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS) report on the state of farms and ranches across the United States. Part One began by discussing the way farms are classified by the USDA, farm financial performance...
The agricultural landscape in the United States is constantly evolving, and understanding the current state of farm and ranch operations is crucial for stakeholders across the industry. While the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts a complete census of agriculture every five...
This blog post is the second of a two-part series analyzing the history of the Farm Bill and the current proposals of a new Farm Bill in the United States Congress. Part one explored the history of agricultural policy in the United States from the early years of the Nation, through the Great...
