Central Illinois Farm Network

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) released the following statement after voting to reopen the federal government: "Reopening the federal government comes as a relief to the American people, but there’s no question this shutdown inflicted unnecessary pain on farm families, rural communities, and those who depend on critical USDA services. From delayed farm loans to nutrition assistance uncertainty, the full scope of the disruption will take ti

Congressman Eric Sorensen, serving District 17, affirmed his support of Illinois farmers while visiting a farm in central Illinois.    Opey Rowell, a corn and soybean farmer in Manito, Ill., and member of Illinois Soybean Association’s Environmental Policy Task Force, showcased his regenerative agriculture practices to the Congressman on Nov. 10.    On his farm, Rowell grows cover crops, strip-tills and does liquid fertilizer placement, when nutrients are applied directly to

Meet with agriculture specialists from  University of Illinois Extension  and learn about the latest research impacting farms today while attending the  Greater Peoria Farm Show , Dec. 2-4. Show attendees can visit the Illinois Extension booth during show hours on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to discuss questions and find resources on farm leasing, grain marketing, farm estate planning, fertilizer management, fertility program

By Kent Casson This is my kind of article. I’m talking all about food this week – specifically field meals. Have you ever eaten a home-cooked meal in the cab of the tractor or perhaps on the side of the road in the spring or fall? If not, you don’t know what you are missing. Mom always prepared field meals for Dad and Grandpa when I was growing up and we’d always get that same meal at the kitchen table. Some favorites I recall include oven fried chicken with white gravy, meat

Illinois Beef Association staff have long been the premier planners of cattlemen’s meetings across Illinois. This November and December will prove no different.    Illinois Beef Foundation Gala & Fundraiser   Beginning November 21, winter programs are set to kick-off with a celebratory gala and fundraiser to commemorate ten years of the Illinois Beef Foundation. The Illinois Beef Foundation, Inc. purpose is to engage in educational, promotional, and charitable activities dedi

The Field Advisor Forum is an annual winter event funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff program that brings together farmers, Certified Crop Advisers and industry partners for a day of learning and collaboration. The event highlights practical agronomic information, research and tools to help improve on-farm decision-making. CCA credits will be available.   The 2026 Field Advisor Forum will be held on  January 15 at the Atkins Golf Club  at the University of Illinois Urbana

By Kent Casson I’ve been missing in action for the past five weeks. You may have wondered where the articles are or if I even still exist. I was burning the candle at both ends trying to bring in this year’s harvest and what a relief that it is all over for another year. Though there weren’t too many weather breaks, we were fortunate to have a safe and overall successful harvest season with maybe one rain day along the way. Aside from a few small breakdowns, nothing major hap

The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) invites agricultural media and farmer members to mark their calendars for the 2025 ICGA Annual Meeting, to be held Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the AgriCenter in Bloomington, Illinois. The meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. and feature key updates from: • Mark Bunselmeyer, IL Corn Growers Association Vice President • Tim Thompson, IL Corn Marketing Board Chairman • Rodney Weinzierl, Executive Director of IL Corn • Jed Bower, National Corn

Peoples Company, a recognized leader in integrated land management, brokerage, appraisal, and energy solutions with offices across the nation, announced the pending acquisition of Murray Wise Associates, LLC (MWA) from Farmland Partners Inc (NYSE: FPI). The transaction, effective November 15, 2025, includes the engagement of Peoples Company for the ongoing management of select non-core farmland assets.   This acquisition underscores a growing trend in the agricultural sector:

U.S. soy growers are facing multiple headwinds, including uncertainties over trade, high input costs and weather variability. But growers continue to look for new solutions. On Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. central time,  Agri-Pulse  will host a webinar to discuss opportunities for driving more volume and value across food, feed, fuel, industrial, and export markets. Free  registration is available here. “Soybeans have long been associated with animal feed and export markets, but new in