U.S. House leadership omitted a piece of the appropriations package that would permanently allow year-round sale of E15, choosing to create a rural energy council to explore this legislation.

Chinese automakers have been making inroads around the world with growing sales of their high-tech, stylish and affordable electric vehicles.

President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, allowing schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer students whole milk, 2% milk and flavored and unflavored options.

After over 20 years in business, Ropp Jersey Cheese made its final batch of cheese Jan. 26 and will close its retail store Feb. 7.

As farmers, we’re proud of the role we play in feeding America. All we ask is that nutrition policy recognizes the full picture — and that lawmakers remember you can’t build a healthy diet without a strong farm economy to support it.

Isn’t it time that consumers be allowed to choose the best beef in the world produced under the best of conditions?

The deadline for producers to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program is Feb. 26.

The surprising 1.3 million harvested corn acre jump from the November to the Jan. 12 U.S. Department of Agriculture crop production reports, combined with record quarterly stocks inventories, drew more questions than answers.

Indiana Farm Bureau Chief Economist Todd Davis analyzed the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report and discussed implications for Hoosier farmers.

Auction innovations, leadership and operational strategies, state competitions, and fellowship will be featured as the Illinois State Auctioneers Association celebrates its 78th anniversary at the annual convention and trade show.

A word of caution: Do not get between reality and political forces in Congress when Republicans and Democrats agree to spend more money on farm programs rather than reform the very programs that are failing farmers and rural America.

The Bacon Bar and Brunch is the annual legislative breakfast for the Indiana Corn Growers Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee.

The stage is set for tighter and potentially more volatile milk markets ahead, reports Jim Henry.

When farmers and ranchers come together, they don’t just talk about challenges — they get to work finding solutions.

Jim Henry calculates that the payments expected by the end of February are a needed step toward easing financial strain in the farm economy, but will not cover the full extent of row crop losses during this prolonged period of elevated costs, low crop prices and weak margins.

The amount of corn, soybeans and wheat remaining in bins increased year-over-year in the first quarter of the new marketing year.

A combination of higher beginning stocks and larger than expected production pushed up crop ending stocks in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s balance sheets.

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Department of Agriculture increased corn harvested area by 4.5 million acres since its mid-2025 projection, bolstering production to record levels.

Today’s rock-bottom feed prices cancel out payments that would otherwise help us get through the struggles that too-low milk prices bring with them.

The Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture has launched “Trends in the U.S. Farm Balance Sheet,” an interactive data visualization tool built using farm income and wealth statistics.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the Illinois FSA state committee.

More than 200 farmers and agricultural professionals attended this year’s Top Farmer Conference.

In a striking signal that one of America’s oldest and most iconic automakers is recalibrating its future, Ford Authority reports that CEO Jim Farley has openly stated that Ford will not try to make cars for everyone.

A veteran commodities economist called the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop production annual summary one of the most unusual January reports that he’s seen in the decades.

The Indiana Soybean Alliance is seeking farmer leaders to join its 24-member board responsible for investing Indiana’s soybean checkoff funds.

Farmers interested in serving as a director on the United Soybean Board should submit an application to the Indiana Soybean Alliance, the state’s soybean checkoff program, by Feb. 27.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins signed a memorandum to establish priorities for this year’s research and development activities funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

U.S. corn exports continued at record pace through the end of 2025, while the future global demand potential for ethanol remains bright.

Rail and waterway transportation systems provide valuable assets for farmers.

Draining excess water from farm fields in Illinois is vital to food and renewable fuel production. However, the lack of adequate farm drainage is a serious problem.

An investment in farm drainage tile can boost crop yields, reduce financial risk and ultimately increase the long-term profitability of your farm.

We hope this new push for healthy red meat will convince more folks to go find out that good food is good medicine.

This year will mark the 10th anniversary of R-CALF USA’s successful legal effort to reform, albeit partially, the government-mandated beef checkoff program.

With cattle herds at historic lows and input costs high, Jim Henry predicts beef prices will remain elevated for the foreseeable future.

Dairy farmers are invited to the 2026 Indiana Dairy Producers regional meetings this winter.

Dairy calves are an investment in the future of the dairy operation and the treatment they receive early in life impacts their future milk production.

With lower grain prices, higher interest rates and increased production costs, some farms are facing a challenging financial situation.

The president didn’t return much affection to rural voters in 2025. Farm inputs, health care and food costs continued to rise; yo-yo tariff policies sliced ag exports; and cuts to several federal farm and rural programs clipped rural communities.

Meat production was the most commonly reported primary production type across all flock sizes in the National Animal Health Monitoring System Sheep 2024 study.

Farmers were less optimistic about the ag economy in December, especially when it came to their long-term outlook, according to the latest reading of the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

The 2026 Quad Cities Farm Equipment Show will showcase the latest tools and technology in agriculture — everything to help farmers get the job done.

The current economic environment for farmers is challenging with tighter margins and more volatility.

Per-acre payment specifics for the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program were released on New Year’s Eve.

2025 was great for high cattle prices, but the risk and uncertainty of the cattle business is still there and I know many of us remain cautious about what the future holds.

My dry erase board in the office now has 15 projects listed for winter and spring and space for some more as they come up. It is just part of the continuous quest to leave the land and this place better than when my family landed here back in 1951.

The fact that it takes time to build a cow herd is reality and that reality is playing out in the cattle market.

The outlook for the four pieces of the demand pies that drive corn and soybean prices is anticipated to include some growth and a wild card in 2026.

When it comes to soybean demand, meat exports are a big part of the equation.

The Illinois Alternative Protein Innovation Task Force recently released its groundbreaking findings, revealing how the state can bolster its position as a national agricultural and biomanufacturing powerhouse.

From testifying to Congress to working on his fifth-generation farm in southern Illinois, Kenneth Hartman Jr. has dedicated the last three decades to advocating for corn growers.