Central Illinois Farm Network

As we prepare for the Conservation in Action Tour in Raleigh, N.C., June 3-4, we’re taking a closer look at the conservation agriculture topics shaping the region.   North Carolina’s Coastal Plain, with its heavy seasonal rainfall and frequent flooding, requires careful nutrient management across both cropland and livestock operations.   Lessons learned from the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the Great Lakes, and major Midwest river systems are informing integrated water-quality s

U.S. farmers continue to face market uncertainty and rising input costs which are being worsened by phosphate duties incurred through antidumping and countervailing investigations.  According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, “Antidumping and countervailing duties are intended to offset the value of dumping and/or subsidization, thereby leveling the playing field for domestic industries injured by such unfairly traded imports.” But in a recently published rese

By Kent Casson I just saw the first tractor and disk traveling down the road a half mile away and I’m ready for fieldwork!  Well, kind of. What is it about seeing that first tractor out on a sunny day when a neighboring farmer thinks he must do something too? It’s kind of like when one sees the neighbor planting right across the road in early April and we say to ourselves, “if he’s going, I’m going.” Thanks to reader Safety Joe for providing the inspiration for that quote. Wh

Woodford County is looking for volunteers to help with planting a grouping of 25 oak trees at Parklands Chinquapin Bluffs in Woodford County with the goal of tackling global issues at the local level. Carbon neutrality and nutrient runoff are complex issues facing our environment that can be combatted through planting new trees.    “We need to become ‘carbon neutral’ by producing less CO2 gas and finding new ways to absorb and hold these carbon molecules so they don’t get tra

Upon reading the  Bloomberg  report of a potential investigation into fertilizer prices, ICGA President and Illinois farmer Mark Bunselmeyer released the following statement:   “ICGA is encouraged by the formal process to investigate fertilizer prices and provide eventual input cost relief for Illinois corn farmers. Our association has prioritized bringing competition to the fertilizer marketplace for our members as they are squeezed by high costs of production and low commod

State Rep. Jason Bunting of the 106th district goes down to Springfield as a father, farmer and small business owner. He reminded those attending Monday's Livingston County Farm Bureau Legislative Breakfast of this. Bunting said he is working on farmer safety, stop signs with LEDs and rolling back statewide standards for wind and solar, saying it needs to go back to local control. "This session is a little bit of a weird session," Bunting noted. The House is only scheduled to

By Kent Casson Anything with spring in the title is good this time of year. As our minds our on warmer weather and farming season just around the corner, the Illinois Soybean Association has announced the Springboard Challenge. The 2026 Springboard Challenge Conference is set for March 4-5 at 1108 Trinity Lane in Bloomington. This is the premier event uniting researchers, farmers and industry leaders to spark innovation in scalable products made from soy. Illinois soybean far

Valley® Irrigation, the global leader in advancing agricultural productivity through precision irrigation technologies, today announced the launch of the Valley Small Field Center Pivot, a purpose-built irrigation system designed for smaller and irregularly shaped fields. This addition reinforces Valley’s commitment to delivering high-performance irrigation solutions for every grower, regardless of field size or shape. The Valley Small Field Center Pivot is engineered with th

Prairie Farms Dairy and Hiland Dairy Foods today announced United in Tradition, a limited-time Indy 500® sweepstakes inspired by one of the most iconic celebrations in all of sports. The sweepstakes is part of a larger collaboration between Indianapolis Motor Speedway, American Dairy Association Indiana, and the Prairie Farms Family of Companies.   From February through May 2026, fans can enter a consumer sweepstakes for the chance to win an unforgettable 2027 Indianapolis 50

Across the United States, many small-business owners are approaching retirement without a clear plan for what comes next. Although these entrepreneurs have spent decades building companies that support local jobs and services, many are unaware of succession options beyond transferring the business to their heirs or permanently closing it. The “Rural Business Transitions” webinar series offers practical guidance to keep these businesses running and protect the economic stabili