Farm Focus 2025

Fertilizer is a critical input for crop production, supplying essential nutrients that boost yields and support global food security. In recent years, however, fertilizer markets have experienced significant volatility. From 2020 to 2022, U.S. fertilizer prices more than doubled due to increasing...

Fall is a vital season for managing forage crops in Illinois. The choices producers make now can influence how well their fields endure the winter and how much feed will be available for livestock next year. Proper fall management helps protect soil, improve plant health, and prepare strong stands...

As harvest approaches, many producers across Central Illinois are asking the same question: How’s the crop looking? Estimating corn and soybean yields before the combine rolls is more than just curiosity—it’s a valuable tool for planning, marketing, and managing risk. While yield estimates aren’t...

Whether moving grain to market, delivering fertilizer, or shipping food products nationally and internationally, freight railroads are essential to American agriculture. With tracks spanning coast to coast and everywhere in between, freight railroads are just one part of the complex transportation...

After a wet spring and early summer, corn and soybean fields across central Illinois are entering critical reproductive stages—and so is the risk of crop disease. While the plants may look healthy from the road, conditions are ripe for several fungal and soilborne pathogens to take hold, often...

After a wet spring and early summer, corn and soybean fields across central Illinois are entering critical reproductive stages—and so is the risk of crop disease. While the plants may look healthy from the road, conditions are ripe for several fungal and soilborne pathogens to take hold, often...

Agricultural producers across Central Illinois and the United States face numerous challenges and pressures on their operations. These can include policy changes, volatile market prices, fluctuating input costs, diseases and pests, and many other factors. Of extreme importance to crop producers is...

This post is the second in a two-part blog series on considerations for hay producers as they prepare for the first cutting of the season. While much of Illinois agriculture focuses on row crops such as corn and soybeans, hay producers play a vital role in supporting livestock production throughout...

This time of year is busy for farmers across Illinois, with crop producers fighting against time and weather to get their crops in the ground for a successful growing season. Some farmers are also preparing to start cutting alfalfa and other forages. As Central Illinois producers begin their first...

This post is the second of a two-part series on black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) and its impact on corn producers in Illinois. Part one discussed the biology and lifecycle of black cutworm, identifying the adult moths and larvae, and the common types of plant injury caused by larvae. This post...

Corn is a cornerstone of agriculture in Illinois, playing a vital role in both the state's economy and the livelihoods of its farmers. As planting season begins, it's crucial to be aware of potential threats to corn crops, one of the most significant being the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon...

This blog is the second part of a two-part series analyzing the 2025 Farmland Values Report published by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA). The report highlights the value of farmland sold in 2024, expectations for farmland values in 2025, and factors...

The 2025 Illinois Land Values and Lease Trends report is a must-read for anyone involved in agriculture. This year's report uncovers fascinating shifts in farmland values and lease trends across the state. What factors are driving these changes? How are different regions adapting to new economic...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...