Commercial Agriculture Blogs

Farm drain tiles are vitally crucial to the success of Illinois crop production. These underground drainage systems help provide good soil-based crop growing conditions by removing excess water from the soil. A balanced mixture of air, water, and soil is crucial for plant health, as excessive...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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 (...

This is article two from a two-part series.Dust storms have become an increasing concern in Illinois, prompting investigations into their causes and potential solutions. These weather events have resulted in fatalities, including a 2023 traffic accident that took the lives of eight people on a...