Crops

Events

Dudley Smith Farm Field Day 2026

June 17, 2026

County

Christian

2026 Ewing Agronomy Field Day

July 23, 2026

County

Franklin

2026 Youth Crop Scouting Competition

August 4, 2026

Blog Posts

Peoria Agronomy Summit brings research-driven insights to Central Illinois farmers

June 16, 2026

The 2026 Peoria Agronomy Summit welcomed more than 50 growers, ag professionals, and land owners to Illinois Central...

Understanding corn yield loss from wet conditions and storm damage

June 12, 2026

Of all the risks that crop producers in central Illinois contend with during the growing season, weather is often the most unpredictable and costly....

A combine harvests corn with blue skies and cumulus clouds in the background.

Illinois Farm Cash Rent Trends in 2026

May 22, 2026

Illinois farmers and landowners have completed their farm lease negotiations for the 2026 production year. Forecasts indicate farmers will endure a...

Aerial shot of 4 farm fields intersecting with trees and greens at the center.

Illinois Farmland Values in 2026: Volatile Signals

May 21, 2026

Farmland Sales in Illinois are continuing their recent pattern of being unpredictable. Low farmer profits are the main driver of this volatility, but...

More Blogs

News Releases

People riding on a seated trailer being pulled around a field day event by a green tractor.

May 15, 2026

ACES Agronomy Days series returns to University of Illinois
With summer just around the corner, Agronomy Days will soon return to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The season-long series teaches Illinois growers the latest...

May 12, 2026

Delve into water quality research at Dudley Smith Farm Field Day
PANA, Ill. — To help area agricultural producers learn about the latest research on water quality, conservation practices, and related topics, the Dudley Smith Initiative is hosting a research plot tour this June with...

A group of people watching an Extension educator demonstrate flying a spray drone near a farm field.

May 11, 2026

Explore key benefits, challenges of using agricultural drones at Illinois Extension field day
URBANA, Ill. — Technology continues to advance and modernize today’s farming practices. Drone use in farming has gained steady traction and interest, particularly in the application of agricultural inputs such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.Attendees can learn more at a field-...

Green leafy stemmed Asian copperleaf plant in a farm field

May 6, 2026

Novel Illinois weed species, Asian copperleaf, identified in northern Illinois
URBANA, Ill. — Corn and soybean farmers should be scouting for a new weed this upcoming growing season. According to University of Illinois crop experts, Asian copperleaf (Acalypha australis) was identified in a field in Stephenson County in...

More News

Videos

Farm Management: Pre-plant Spraying

Before the seed goes in the ground, farmers spray the ground. For this particular filed the farm is using 28% nitrogen and a preplant herbicide. Thanks to technology, the farmer can utilize GPS and other onboard technology to better control the amount of spray being used.