Central Illinois Farm Network

Those interested in what’s happening with farmland values and farmland lease trends can now access the 2026 Illinois Farmland Values and Lease Trends Report as a free pdf download at the web site of the sponsor, www.ispfmra.org. This publication is produced annually by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. “This is a great opportunity for those interested to access a review of prices paid for Illinois in 2025 by geographic region and count

By: Kent Casson Who doesn’t love a nice steak? Or perhaps a slice of prime rib? This is widely known as “May Beef Month” which is a great excuse to spread the message of beef across Illinois. The Illinois Beef Association recently provided a news release which made me a little hungry, as they provided various recipe ideas during special events in May involving beef. I must admit a nice juicy burger with tomato and onion freshly off the grill sounds pretty good. May’s most ce

Blaze Fehr poses in front of a Ford TW-30 Friday during Prairie Central FFA Day in Fairbury. A 1981 TW-30 Ford tractor gets a few stares when it is parked at a show or special event. Prairie Central High School student Blaze Fehr, 17, proudly displayed the tractor during Friday’s FFA Day held outside of Dominy Library in Fairbury. “It’s all original,” Fehr explained. “The thing was well taken care of by an old mentor of mine.” The tractor belonged to Pontiac-area farmer Alan

(By: University of Illinois Extension) 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. Sources for this article include: The Land Sales Bulletin, the 2026 Illinois Farmland Values and Lease Trends compiled by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA), and the AgLetter from the Federal Reserve

The House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 Thursday morning morning with a final vote of 224-200. House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement today commending the passage of this critical legislation, also known as the Farm Bill: “Working in Congress on behalf of our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities is an honor — even when the work requires debating the farm bil

By Kent Casson With warmer temperatures and sunshine returning to Central Illinois, large equipment is filling the roadways for another spring planting season. Here is my semi-annual article on staying safe out in farm country for the next couple of months as farmers work to put the 2026 crop in the ground. Farmers should plan their travel on busy roads, avoiding rush hours and the time before daylight and after dark. The proper reflective Slow Moving Vehicle emblem must be u

In Michigan alongside U.S. Representative Tom Barrett, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the availability of over $275 million in grant funding in FY2026 for the specialty crop industry in the United States through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP). Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, USDA is able to provide $175 million per year for SCRI

The American Soybean Association (ASA) is now accepting applications for one Board Director position. ASA Board Directors may serve a maximum of three, three-year terms. The Board Director currently seated is eligible for two additional terms. ASA Director eligibility requirements indicate that candidates: Must be a member of the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG), an affiliate of the American Soybean Association (Visit www.ilsoygrowers.com to join) Must be a producer of soybeans

By Kent Casson As the old saying goes – you have to make hay while the sun shines. That’s what we did the other day as our planting season got off to a rather quick start. Once we got the bean planter set and a few minor adjustments out of the way, we were off and rolling before some rainy weather set in. As of this writing, we have not put corn in the ground yet, but I’m hoping that will change in the coming days as both planters will be going full force. It always feels goo

Nominate an outstanding farmer under the age of 40 for the Illinois Soybean Association’s fifth class of 20 Under 40 Farmers, a program celebrating the young leaders shaping the future of Illinois agriculture. Open to farmers of all commodities and operation sizes, the Illinois 20 Under 40 Awards recognize those who show up early, stay late and still find time to give back to their farms, their communities and the industry. Nominations must be submitted no later than Sunday