Central Illinois Farm Network

By Kent Casson Does anyone take a Sunday drive anymore? Growing up, Mom would often take us on a drive around the countryside Sunday afternoons and my grandmother would often ride along. This seems to be a distant memory now but I look back fondly on those times cruising up and down the paved and gravel roads to see some rural scenery. Living in an area with open fields and square miles, it was a treat to cruise by all of the timber land south of Fairbury where the roads were

The Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), in partnership with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), will launch the 2026 Spring Competent Attendant Anhydrous Ammonia Training next week, beginning February 23 in Bloomington. This in-person training is designed for individuals who work with or around anhydrous ammonia and is required for those responsible for its safe handling. Participants who successfully complete the course and pass the exam will receiv

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is opening the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, providing $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. The FBA enrollment period opens Feb. 23 and closes April 17, 2026.   “Improving the farm economy is our top priority at USDA, and we have simp

Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) hosted an Agriculture Awareness Day at the Illinois State Capitol on Feb. 18. Throughout the day, farmers engaged with policymakers on a range of issues including biofuels, estate taxes, crop protection tools and conservation funding.   During the event, farmers had the opportunity to engage with: Director Jerry Costello, Illinois Department of Agriculture; Leader Tony McCombie, Illinois House Republicans; Charlie Meier, Republican Spokesperson,

By: Kent Casson Don’t you just love this time of year? I realize it’s not sunny and 70 all of the time but if you go outside and take a deep breath, you can almost feel spring is just around the corner. As of this writing, our first big winter thaw of 2026 is underway with temperatures expected to reach the 50s and any remaining snow drifts are disintegrating by the minute. Everyone has that extra “spring” in their step. Winds are fairly calm, the sun is shining, robins will

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of the  Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework  (PDF, 11.4 MB). Secretary Rollins was joined by U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, country music artist and songwriter John Rich, Representative James Comer, and several farming families who have been targets of agricultural lawfare. “As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, it is high time to recall a simple but profoun

Every farm has an individual story to tell, and it is up to the generations of farmers living it to tell the tale. In 2026,  University of Illinois Extension  and  Illinois Farm Bureau  are partnering on a series to help farmers and landowners build, sustain, and share their farm’s legacy.  Focus on the Future: Sustaining Farm Legacy  events will feature critical and practical updates for farmers on the current agricultural environment, including succession planning, asset st

Thomas Wargel, AFM, received a special plaque marking him being named to the Membership Hall of Fame of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Presenting the plaque is Elizabeth Strom, AFM, the People’s Company, Champaign, IL, and immediate past president of the organization. Wargel is the principle of Black Prairie Ag Services, based in  Clinton. In making the presentation Strom noted that Wargel is “just one of those guys who is always ther

Illinois soybean farmers are once again the top producers of soybeans in the U.S. In 2025, Illinois farmers harvested more than 639 million bushels of soybeans, securing Illinois the No. 1 slot.   “Despite facing the challenges of low commodity prices, unfavorable weather conditions and trade wars, Illinois’ dedicated farmers continue to produce high-quality soybeans,” said ISA Chairman Bryan Severs. “We are proud to once again be the top soybean-producing state in the U.S.”

After multiple rounds of voting, Buford’s Pub in Sadorus was named Best Pork Tenderloin Sandwich in Illinois with River’s Edge in Dixon earning second place. The Illinois Pork Producers Association hosted the first ever Breaded Pork Tenderloin Draft during October Pork Month – a competition designed to spotlight hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches served at restaurants across the state. Only true, hand-breaded pork tenderloins were the focus of the Tenderloin Draft and no