Central Illinois Farm Network

The Illinois Beef Expo is back in Springfield, February 19-22 on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. With auctions featuring lots from top cattle operations throughout the state, a premiere junior beef show, and a top industry trade show, this is a must-attend for all Illinois beef producers. For beef producers, the three sales offer everything needed to support a growing herd. The tradition of the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale on Thursday, Feb. 19, makes for a must-att

(Image by Vivid Studios) Miss Ford County 2025, Charley Ulrich, will compete in the 2026 Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs State Queen Pageant at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Illinois. The dates for the competition are Thursday, January 15 through Sunday, January 18, 2026. Charley will compete with 74 other County Fair Queens for the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen 2026 title. The contestants will be judged on personal interview, stage presence, beauty of face a

The Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA) warmly invites you to their trade show on January 22 - 23, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel Bloomington, IL—and it's completely free! For over 65 years, the trade show has been a popular component of Illinois LICA’s Annual Convention & Members’ Meeting, which also features a fantastic lineup of educational seminars and entertainment. This year, ILICA is excited to once again open the trade show to the public offering

The Farm Progress Show has been honored as the Trade Show News Network (TSNN) B2B Show of the Year, a prestigious recognition that underscores its transformative role in advancing agriculture. The 2025 Farm Progress Show brought together 161,000 attendees and 548 exhibitors, showcasing new equipment, precision ag technologies and sustainable solutions that are shaping the future of farming. With initiatives like career fairs, mental health resources, Women in the Fiel

The United States and Mexico reached an understanding to meet the current water obligations of American farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to repay the water deficit in Texas as part of the 1944 Water Treaty. This agreement extends to the current cycle and the previous cycle’s water deficit. “President Trump continues to put American farmers first and is finally holding our international partners accountable to their obligations and commitments. Once again, America is being

Join Compeer Financial in March for full-day transition and planning workshops designed to help you take the next step in securing the long-term future of your farm. Those participating will get a full day of expert insights, real-world examples and peer-to-peer conversations. If you need help getting from “we know we should” to “we’re ready to begin,” this is the workshop for you. The workshop will be offered in Minnesota March 3, Wisconsin March 4 and Illinois March 5 at th

By Kent Casson In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I hope everyone takes a moment to slow down and remember Jesus in the reason for the season. It is a time of year when we pause to celebrate the birth of Christ in a manger and hear the words, “peace on Earth and goodwill.” What are your holiday traditions? Our family attends the local Christmas Eve service at church and gathers with relatives later in the evening before returning home and leaving cookies and milk out f

On December 10 th in Bloomington, ISAP hosted the final Soil Health Leadership Program (SHLP) session and proudly celebrated the accomplishments of 19 outstanding individuals—farmers, advisors, and conservation professionals—who completed SHLP. Over the past 18 months, these individuals traveled across Illinois to participate in intensive, hands-on sessions dedicated to advancing their soil health knowledge. ISAP is proud of the 2024-25 SHLP cohort and recognizes each gradua

The Farming for Profit, Not Price Conference is set for Jan. 31-Feb. 2 presented by AgMarket.net in Nashville, TN. This is the premier event for agricultural lenders, producers and commercial grain companies. The conference will be at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel and offers specialized sessions designed to help attendees manage financial stress, improve profitability and execute strategic goals. You can network with industry leaders at the included social hour and meals.

The farm balance sheet gives signals about the farm's financial condition. (Photo by Kevin Brooks) The challenge for farmers, especially younger ones, is striking a balance between financial security and taking calculated risks. Having a strong cash position can lead to more loan opportunities; yet, taking risks to grow the business requires spending cash and taking on debt, according to information released by University of Illinois Extension. However, having cash reserves a