Smart site selection, local engagement and long-term planning can ensure rural America remains both a hub for agricultural production and a partner in responsible technological growth, reports Jim Henry.

Farmland sales in Illinois are continuing their recent pattern of being unpredictable. Low farmer profits are the main driver of this volatility, but other factors also weigh on the marketplace.

Preparing for taxes and the transition of farming operations from one generation to the next is important for farm families.

Poverty is deepening and hunger is increasing across Cuba, a country of nearly 10 million people.

As we see more solar fields dotting our rural landscape, it’s understandable to question if this is the best use of our productive Illinois land.

The U.S. House passed a new farm bill after the agriculture industry has operated for the past eight years under the previous legislation that included three extensions.

Rather than treating wetlands as an obstacle, mitigation gives farmers a defined, documented pathway to move forward without jeopardizing their standing with federal farm programs.

In 1920, Daniel Chapman’s great-grandpa Ritchie started farming the land using horses. Since then, each generation of the family has worked to leave a legacy for the next.

Lease agreements shifted toward more traditional crop-share agreements in 2026.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture updated its State Nutrient Reduction Strategy — a statewide strategy designed to improve water quality in Indiana, the Great Lakes and beyond.

Installing drainage tile is a strategic investment that maximizes yield potential and boosts net returns for both farmers and landowners.

The U.S. Forest Service will abandon its nine regional offices as its parent U.S. Department of Agriculture consolidates out of Washington, D.C.

Farmland prices are expected to decrease from 1% to 5% this year, according to Illinois professional farm managers.

The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers’ comprehensive annual farmland values report also includes various tidbits of interest.

Like other farmers across the nation, my work is not a job, but a calling.

Brazil’s massive dual-fuel fleet — consisting of vehicles capable of running on any combination of ethanol and gasoline — is unique in its scale.

Land in the Midwest is not just dirt. It’s legacy, livelihood and, increasingly, a line in the sand.

Farmer sentiment about the ag economy improved in March despite rising input cost concerns, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

A “From Field Tile to Tap” tour demonstrated what farmers can do on their farms to protect drinking water sources downstream.

Farmland values remain resilient in spite of a cooling agricultural economy, according to the latest installment of the Maximizing Your Farmland Series presented by Halderman.

Two years after peak highs, the average sales price of top Illinois farmland saw slight year-over-year declines.

For the past decade, farm profits have been highly volatile, making farm business planning difficult.

Whether you farm five acres or 5,000, you’re part of something bigger than your own farm. You’re helping support jobs, strengthen communities and power an economy that reaches every corner of this country.

Installing the necessary drainage tile on your farm often requires a tile main to direct water through an underground drain tile system and then through a neighbor’s property to reach a drainage ditch.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is relaunching the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience, or I-COVER, Program to promote the early establishment of cover crops using new techniques or technology.

Hiring an experienced, reputable farm tile installation contractor is essential to the longevity of the system.

It is important to take time to evaluate field conditions early in the spring, especially the soil moisture status, says Jim Henry.

Spring often just burst onto the southern Illinois farm of my youth. One morning you’d see a green blade of something peeking through the bare ground by the mailbox and by the time you got off the school bus a day later a brave daffodil waved, welcoming you home.

Greg and Janis Thoren are the recipients of the 2026 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award.

The Weitendorf Agricultural Education Center has been a hub of activity for nearly two decades, hosting workshops, seminars, expos, livestock and horticulture judging, countless opportunities for students of all ages and other events.

The 2026 Indiana General Assembly wrapped up its work, which included some wins for agriculture, according to leaders at Indiana Farm Bureau.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association honored a family that has contributed to the long-term success of the industry through leadership and pork promotion at the local and state levels.

Agricultural economic conditions are mostly flat since mid-January across the Corn Belt’s Federal Reserve Districts, according to a survey.

Consolidations from the farm gate through the entire supply chain, combined with inconsistent federal policies, have pushed agriculture toward a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.

We must ensure strong market opportunities here at home to keep family farms in business.

The “I” states each lost several hundred farms from 2024 to 2025, along with declines in acreage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Land in Farms report.

National Ag Day is March 24, with the theme, “Together We Grow.”

Did you know that farmers can donate land, grain or equipment directly to their local community foundation?

Many families are facing the difficult decision to sell land, limit production or close their farm altogether, reports Jim Henry.

Indiana farmers can apply for free soil sampling through a statewide program aimed at improving nutrient management and water quality.

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose three points to 116 in February.

Farmland values increased 2% in the last quarter of 2025 and were up 6% year-over-year in the 7th Federal Reserve District.

Improving farm drainage tiles in Illinois can be very challenging because most farmland is owned by absentee landowners rather than by the farmer.

Results of the third annual Illinois Ag Retail Survey found conservation practices are gradually increasing across the Prairie State.

An acreage swing toward more soybeans and less corn in the upcoming growing season is forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As president of Illinois Farm Bureau, Philip Nelson aims to provide impactful advocacy for farmers in the state.

The Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources program is designed to be free, straightforward, voluntary and locally relevant.

A high-caliber 602±-acre farmland offering with 595.57 FSA cropland acres and a strong Whole Farm Surety WAPI of 172.6 will be sold at public auction on March 31.

Nick Westgerdes, accredited farm manager, licensed real estate broker in Illinois and Wisconsin, and Illinois auctioneer, announced the launch of New Roots Farm Brokerage LLC.

The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers’ new leadership team was seated at its annual meeting.