Energy

Vegetation management is a vital part of the development plan for solar arrays since shade is the No. 1 enemy for collecting sunlight by the panels.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture held its 2025 Winter Policy Conference. Members adopted 16 policy amendments and 10 action items.

A freeze on federal loans and grants is creating turmoil for some rural U.S. business owners who fear they won’t get reimbursed for new, cleaner irrigation equipment or solar panels they purchased with the promise of a rebate.

The CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, shared expert market and weather analysis.

I love living in a part of the country where we get four seasons every year. However, I would be willing to trade in a few of the colder days of winter for some extra days in spring, the season of new beginnings.

Adding sustainable aviation fuel to the list of products made from corn and soybeans may help increase profits for U.S. farmers.

The ebb and flow of crop prices creates a never-ending challenge for farmers’ financial positions.

The Indiana Corn Growers Association reelected Chris Cherry, a farmer from New Palestine, as president.

In a few weeks, those of us on Social Security will be getting an extra approximately $50 in our monthly benefit.

The Biden administration is awarding nearly $3 billion to boost climate-friendly equipment and infrastructure at ports across the country.

Voters chose to send Donald Trump, who served his first term as U.S. president from 2016 to 2020, back to the White House in the Nov. 5 national election.

Shares of Tesla soared as investors bet that the electric vehicle maker and its CEO Elon Musk will benefit from Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Alternative energy sources such as wind, geothermal, hydro and solar have grown increasingly popular as ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the grid by decentralizing power production.

Over its 50-year history, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s causes may have shifted, but it has never lost its focus on advocating for local farmers and communities.

In an effort to forge relationships and increase export sales of agricultural products, the Illinois Department of Agriculture hosted 31 international buyers from nine countries as part of a four-day tour.

In our increasingly urgent quest to clean up our climate-altering, carbon-fueled culture, biodiesel and renewable diesel have become two new darlings of alternative fuel advocates.

Agrivoltaics works and it is going to keep growing in the United States.

A giant cheese sculpture was unveiled and enjoyed by guests at the Indiana State Fair.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates more than 10 million acres will be converted to solar energy by 2050, and the American Farmland Trust projects over 80% could be sited on agricultural lands.

The Biden administration is awarding nearly $2 billion in grants to carmakers to help restart or expand electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly sites in eight states.

We, the citizenry of these United States of America, are subject to too many regulations at the federal, state and local level.

Through the foresight of farmers campaigning for a sales tax exemption over two decades ago, biodiesel production in Illinois has increased fifteenfold.

Huntington University has received $30,000 in grants from the Duke Energy Foundation since 2021 to enhance their agriculture programs.

Some day, the passenger jets that soar 35,000 feet over Dan McLean’s North Dakota farm could be fueled by corn grown on his land and millions of other acres across the Midwest.

The third round of Fertilizer Production Expansion Program grant recipients, including four in Illinois, was recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Solar and wind farms have become a regular part of the rural landscape and a new report documents the impact the energy sources have on farmland.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized its Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants.

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson announced work on the 2024 farm bill, which includes bipartisan policies and several titles affecting farmers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized new emissions regulations that will apply to cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty vehicles starting with the 2027 model year, but does not eliminate gas vehicles.

The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers annual survey not only digs deep into farmland values across the state, but also expectations and trends.

President Joe Biden’s administration has conditionally agreed to loan more than $2 billion to the company building a controversial lithium mine in Nevada.

To make sure farmers’ voices are heard and their ideas are understood, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan announced the creation of an Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Perennial crops are key tools for regenerative agriculture.

The CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Orlando, shared expert market and weather analysis.

One of the best jobs I ever had was at Scott County Nursing Center when I was a senior at Winchester High School. Through the co-op class, I went to school the first half of the day and worked in the office at the nursing center the second half.

Effective March 1, Co-Alliance Cooperative and Ceres Solutions Cooperative Inc. will merge to form Keystone Cooperative Inc.

A company that started nine years ago with two electricians and since expanded to over 60 employees was promoting its offerings at a Greater Peoria Farm Show booth.

Farmers looking to trim historically high production costs could face more challenges again next season. The price of oil and natural gas is expected to rise into next year compared to current levels.

An initiative focusing on regenerating health and wealth within communities and region has taken the next step in its commitment.

A farm sector income report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this year reported record high farm income in 2022, but there’s more to those numbers beyond the headlines.

An important gauge of inflation was released this week, the Consumer Price Index. It showed August inflation above expectations at 3.7% and a new three-month high.

Indiana Farm Bureau hosted nine policy advisory groups in which farmers worked through county policy suggestions.

Jeff Troike, Ceres Solutions CEO, discussed a variety of topics during a new Field Points podcast.

Rural Illinois stands to benefit from increased funding and changes in the Rural Energy for America Program.

The U.S. economy still has considerable momentum and is not currently on the verge of recession. However, economists have never been more pessimistic and there are very legitimate reasons for concern.

Those 2- to 4-inch weeds that emerge amid young corn plants may appear harmless, but are stealing water, costly nutrients and yields before they are eliminated with a post-emergence herbicide application.

Not everyone in agriculture shares the same definitions of sustainable or regenerative agriculture. But most will agree these efforts include environmental, economic and social practices to ensure we have — and will continue to have — the water, materials and resources needed.

Seven Midwestern states are teaming up to accelerate the development of hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative for automobiles and factories that rely largely on climate-warming fossil fuels, governors said.

It was exactly two years ago this month that I turned wildly bullish the commodity markets, and with the benefit of hindsight, it was a well-timed forecast.

Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey said he is not one to sit idly and just let things happen, which is why he is running to be Illinois’ governor.