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Kevin Brooks

Commercial Ag Educator, Farm Business Management and Marketing

Serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell Counties

Keywords

Commercial Agriculture

Agriculture

Marketing

Drainage

Annie's Project

Farm Business Management

Estate Planning

Insurance

Communication

Financial Planning

Corn

Soybeans

Wheat

Cover Crops

Taxes

Drones

kwbrooks@illinois.edu

(309) 543-3308

Farm Coach Blog

Two digit numbers followed by one decimal place and the letter 'k' are displayed in gold oval shapes and layered over a brown farm field grid.

Using Your Farm Drone: Conducting Stand Field Counts

July 31, 2025

Farm Coach

Competition for farmland is fierce. Many other farmers may want to work the same land you do, whether renting or buying. Farming is a highly competitive business. Being efficient in business is essential to successful farm operations. Prioritizing management activities that will increase...

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An adult man wearing work pants, a coat and ball cap - walks through rows of soybeans looking off toward the right at the bright shining sun.

Agronomy Series: Getting ready for an agronomy service call

July 25, 2025

Farm Coach

This article is for educational purposes and not to be considered legal advice.How should a farmer prepare for an agronomy service call when there is a problem with the crop growing in the field? The problem could be a poor stand with low and varied emerged plants. There may be chemical...

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Rectangle-shaped drone photo of farm field shows blurred lines of off white, brown and some smears of medium green.

Using Your Farm Drone: Choosing a drone mapping platform for checking farm fields

July 16, 2025

Farm Coach

Farmers can map farm fields and check crop conditions with a farm drone. Mapping platforms are highly detailed and can record conditions throughout the growing season, which can be very useful in comparing years of growing conditions of the same field. A farmer can choose either a brief or a...

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Three animated poultry figures sit around a table with blank faces and coffee cups in front of them.

Farm Estate Planning Series: Quick Tips

July 10, 2025

Farm Coach

Quick Tips for Farm Estate PlanningStudies have shown that fewer than 20 percent of farm families have an effective estate plan to roadmap what happens to the family farm when dad and mom retire or pass away. Death is inevitable. What is very normal is that families avoid talking about what is...

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A man's hands and foot are visible as he kneels and sifts through soil. Chemical symbols like P-Phosphorus and K-Potassium are layered onto the soil image.

Farmland Owner Series: IRS provisions for excess fertility deductions on purchased farmland and ranchland

July 8, 2025

Farm Coach

-This article is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice.Recent attention has been given to farmland and ranchland buyers using Section 180 of the IRS code to depreciate excess fertility on newly purchased or inherited farms and ranches. This deduction can...

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Rows of healthy corn extend all the way to the horizon with some mature trees visible on the border at the left and right.

An overview of agriculture conditions - May 2025

July 7, 2025

Farm Coach

The Chicago Federal Reserve Bank reported on the current economic conditions and trends in the northern two-thirds of Illinois and Indiana, southern Wisconsin, and all of Iowa and Michigan. This report includes comments on credit conditions, cash rents, and land values.Land ValuesIn the first...

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Aerial view of barely emerged plants in farm field. Several trees and a building sit on a strip of land at the edge.

Using Your Farm Drone: Preparing to field scout with your farm drone

July 3, 2025

Farm Coach

Farm drones can be valuable in helping farmers keep an eye on their crops through the growing season. The farmer can carry out tasks efficiently and effectively with proper preparation. Here are some of the basic checks needed to make to ensure a safe and effective flight.Before Going to...

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Sunshine peeks through large clouds over thick dust, which shrouds a country road running between two farm fields.

Dust Storms in Illinois: Getting dust to settle, stay on Illinois farmland

June 13, 2025

Farm Coach

As another large dust storm impacted Illinois in May, the conversation and questions continue about why and how to get the dust to settle and stay in the field rather than across roadways. Although it is not a new environmental event, the dangers are always present, and questions arise....

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Aerial view of various farm fields with road running diagonally inbetween.

Farmland Owner Series: Farmland Values Showing Mixed Signals

May 23, 2025

Farm Coach

Farmland values began to soften in late 2024. With decreasing farm profits in 2023 and 2024, farmland values held firm until the last quarter of 2024. This was the consensus of professional farm managers at the 2025 Illinois Farmland Values and Lease Trends Conference held in March, which The...

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Beautiful native wildflowers bloom in the foreground, and a family farm with mature trees are visible in the background.

Farmland Owner Series: Understanding Illinois Farmland Property Taxes

May 23, 2025

Farm Coach

Understanding Illinois property tax calculations is complex and confusing. Properties such as personal residences are taxed based on fair market value. The State of Illinois assesses farmland based on the agricultural use value rather than the farm market value. Based on farm income...

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