Blog Archive

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

Farmland Owner Series: Farmland Values Showing Mixed Signals

May 23, 2025

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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Cumulus clouds loom over rows of harvested corn with trees in the background.

Farm Leasing Series: Illinois farm cash rents in 2025

May 8, 2025

Farm Coach

Cash Farm Rents in Illinois held steady to slightly downward in 2025 compared to 2024. At the recent Illinois Land Values Conference, farm managers from across the state released the statistics analyzed by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (...

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Farm Finance: Tips for farm financial record keeping

April 16, 2025

Farm Coach

Keeping good financial records is vital for the farm's long-term success. Farm records can get neglected by most farmers who prefer to be out on the property instead of in the office. The following tips, if implemented, can make the farm operation more efficient and stronger and prepare the farm...

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Rows of green planted crops with trees in the background

A look at USDA Prospective Plantings Report – March 31, 2025

April 3, 2025

Farm Coach

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 (...

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Farm Finance: Choosing your farm financial records software

March 24, 2025

Farm Coach

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...

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A dollar sign symbol on top of a keyboard and stacks of money

Farm Finance: Tips for working with your farm lender

March 21, 2025

Farm Coach

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...

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Pole barn with piece of machinery in front

Farmland Owner Series: Farmland owners – Can I rent out an old pole barn machine shed?

March 18, 2025

Farm Coach

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...

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tractor sprayer spraying a fine mist in the field

Understanding the EPA’s final herbicide strategy: Key components

March 17, 2025

Farm Coach

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...

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Farmers should consider using enhanced crop insurance coverage in 2025 to protect profits

February 21, 2025

Farm Coach

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...

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