More Agriculture Stories From Illinois Newsroom
Yes, there’s pesticide on your fruits and veggies. Here’s what scientists say you should do
Hundreds of pesticides are legal, but that doesn’t mean that their impacts on health are fully understood. Cleaning produce before eating it reduces your exposure.
Can purple corn replace some synthetic food dyes? Midwest scientists see potential
Shades of red extracted from an ancient corn variety held up to heat and other conditions typical of food processing and storage. Researchers are exploring whether this natural dye alternative could open new markets for Midwest farmers.
Pesticides can drift for miles, injuring plants. That can hurt farmers’ bottom-line
Dicamba, a potent herbicide, can drift miles away from where it’s originally sprayed. There’s little recourse for farmers whose plants are damaged by the pesticide.
Synthetic fabrics kneecapped American cotton. Industry leaders have a plan to revive it
Fewer people are buying cotton thanks to the rise of synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester. Now, the U.S. cotton industry wants to boost demand for American-grown cotton with tax credits and marketing campaigns.
2026 butter cow: ‘Miles of Smiles’ is State Fair’s theme in celebration of Route 66
The Illinois State Fair will run from Aug. 13-23 in Springfield.
Pritzker, Bailey seek to convince farmers at forum they’re the best candidate for agriculture
Illinois farmers heard pitches from incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker and downstate Republican farmer Darren Bailey on Monday as each argued they’re best positioned to address agricultural issues.
As the next generation takes over the family farm, a tough economy brings new challenges
Passing on the family farm to the next generation is typically an involved process, both financially and emotionally. A turbulent agricultural economy the past few years has made that transition even more difficult.
Screwworm restrictions are slowing transports of dogs and cats from crowded shelters
Animal rescue leaders say new rules meant to prevent the spread of the livestock parasite make sense. But they are also costly for overcrowded shelters in Texas, which transfer many pets to other states.
Healthcare costs have more than doubled for many farmers this year, on top of soaring expenses
When Congress allowed Affordable Care Act tax credits to lapse, healthcare premiums spiked for millions of Americans — especially self-employed farmers and ranchers. That added cost is multiplying the stress on their already stretched balance sheets.
How exactly did cyclospora infiltrate our food supply? We still don’t know
Food safety experts say contaminated water in farm fields is a likely culprit. But questions still remain about the current outbreak.
Farmers are struggling to turn a profit. How does it compare to the farm crisis in the ’80s?
Corn and soybean growers have seen several years of low commodity prices and increased costs for supplies like fertilizer and fuel. That has many farmers worried about whether they’ll turn a profit this year and drawn some comparisons to a dark time in American agriculture.
USDA cuts remove local conservation experts from nearly half of Illinois counties
The Trump administration cut 22% of the Natural Resources Conservation Service staff in 2025, impacting nearly half of Illinois counties.
Bayer won its Roundup case. Where does that leave thousands of pending lawsuits?
Attorneys say cases that claim the popular weedkiller causes cancer will have to change course to move forward in court after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the agriculture company last month.
Silos are disappearing from the farm landscape. One woman wants to track them down before they do
For 150 years, silos have been a fixture of the Corn Belt, but efforts to preserve them have been haphazard.
In the fight to save prairies, some Great Plains ranchers embrace a new landscape – with goats
These ranchers tried to protect grassland from trees and shrubs in all the traditional ways. It didn’t work. So they brought in hungry goats that turned woody plants into a cash stream.
Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore grants for underserved farmers
A preliminary court order reinstated federal grants largely helping Black, Indigenous, veteran and immigrant farmers access land, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut earlier this year. Now, organizations are cautiously moving forward with their projects.
A potent weedkiller can drift for miles, killing crops and trees. EPA’s new rules may not stop it
New federal rules for dicamba aim to help cotton and soybean farmers control weeds. But the herbicide, which can kill other crops and trees, remains controversial.
Trump reduced tariffs on farm machinery. But prices could still increase
The Trump administration lowered tariffs on farm equipment last month. But with economic pressures on farmers, equipment dealers and manufacturers, the move may not bring much relief.
After drought and wildfires, wheat farmers in the Great Plains are in for a rough year
Nearly half of the U.S. winter wheat crop is in poor or very poor condition, following a tough growing season. Some farmers are choosing to leave their crop in the field
Trump says the U.S. doesn’t need a trade deal with its neighbors. Farm groups push hard for renewal
An official review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement begins in July. President Trump already has suggested the U.S. would be better off without it.
U of I’s historic round barns set for renovations following $10M alum gift
The historic round barns on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus are being renovated thanks to a $10 million donation from Leah Wightman,
Efforts to get year-round E15 sales could hurt soybean farmers
A bill allowing year-round sales of E15, a fuel blended with up to 15% corn-based ethanol, is being debated in the Senate. While the bill is hailed as a boon for corn growers, there are concerns that it could hurt soybean prices.
The drought is over in Champaign County. Are more likely in the future?
The drought in Champaign County that began last fall finally ended in April.
Yankee Ridge students head to Sola Gratia Farm for the last time this spring – with the program’s future uncertain
This week could be the last Friday on the Farm, because the grants supporting Urbana District 116’s Farm to School program run out at the end of June.
House passage of E15 bill praised in corn states, but its future is uncertain in the Senate
The House passed a bill to allow the year-round sale of E15 – a priority in farm states – following infighting among Republicans.
How one program is working to bring Corn Belt farmers together for conservation agriculture
Corn Belt farmers are in the midst of multiple crises.
It’s a hard time to be a farmer. Many can struggle, but help is available
Farmers have one of the highest suicide rates in the U.S. of any occupation, and in rural communities, suicide rates tend to be higher than in urban areas. Mental health initiatives, like the statewide Farm Family Resource Center, aim to help.
These seed banks preserve crucial corn and soy varieties. A federal plan may put them at risk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing moving the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center and the National Soybean Germplasm Collection from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, where they’ve both been housed for decades.
Farmers look at new ways to cut costs as turning a profit gets harder
The cost of doing business in agriculture was already high before the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which spiked fertilizer and fuel prices.
This program helped underserved farmers access land. Then USDA cut the funding
The program’s goal was to assist historically underserved farmers and ranchers, including Black, Indigenous and immigrant farmers, veterans and people farming for the first time.
Congresswoman Budzinski discusses recent rumors of ICE in C-U and Farm Bill during meeting with local officials, advocates
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski and Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams met with advocates in Champaign on Monday to discuss immigration enforcement concerns. The meeting comes after false rumors spread last week that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were being sent to the area.
Illinois farmers relieved as U.S. House passes Farm Bill, but still concerned about some provisions
The Farm, Food, and National Security Act, includes provisions impacting agriculture, including crop protection tools, livestock policy, and risk management programs.
Have a beef with sky-high meat prices? Some people find buying a whole cow saves a bit of money
Buying beef in bulk from a rancher has become comparatively affordable as retail prices rise.
Animal activists celebrate their first global ‘Sanctuary Day’
The Farm Micro Sanctuary in Indiana is one of more than a dozen farm animal shelters in the Midwest.
Bird populations are shrinking faster in agriculture hotspots— including the Midwest, study finds
New research out of Ohio State University found the rate of bird decline was quicker in areas with more intense agricultural practices.
Trump wants to slash $5 billion from USDA’s budget. That could hurt rural America, critics say
Some close watchers of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s budget aren’t thrilled with the Trump administration’s proposal — but they’re hopeful some of the suggested cuts won’t make it in the final spending plans passed by Congress.
Trump’s foreign farm worker policy criticized by both unions and ‘America First’ groups
Guest farm workers holding H-2A visas are more important than ever for agriculture, especially after President Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Illinois farmers ease critical labor shortages through this agricultural visa program
The H-2A visa has become a lifeline for farmers who can’t find enough domestic workers.
Soon after massive honeybee deaths, Trump moves to close the nation’s premier bee lab
When beekeepers saw widespread honeybee die-offs last year, researchers at the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center stepped in to help. The Trump administration now plans to close the facility.
War with Iran disrupts fertilizer supply for Kansas farmers, right as planting season begins
Gulf states are major fertilizer producers, and the war with Iran has triggered a 25% price hike just as struggling U.S. farmers are planting corn.
‘Cow vision’ goggles let farmers see the world on four hooves – and may improve animal welfare
A Wisconsin university is using augmented reality to show staff from meat processing plants and farmers what it’s like to look through the eyes of livestock.
Gas prices are surging. Farm groups say American ethanol could help ease the pain
Agriculture leaders and producers are urging Congress to allow year-round sales of fuel made with up to 15% ethanol, which they say could boost domestic demand for corn — and offer a cheaper gas option for U.S. drivers this summer.
ADM, American Farmland Trust partnership aims to support struggling farmers in Midwest
A new partnership between Archer-Daniels-Midland and American Farmland Trust aims to build resilience in farmers.
AgTech Week brings pitch competition for startups, discussions on biomanufacturing to Champaign-Urbana
AgTech Week is a celebration of Champaign-Urbana’s ag tech industry.
USDA lost 24,000 workers under Trump, hurting critical resources for farmers
The Trump administration’s federal workforce cuts shrunk U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies that inspect produce, provide conservation resources and collect data on crops and livestock.
As farmers face a changing climate, a USDA program designed to help is at risk
In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture created a network of “climate hubs” to understand how climate change affects agriculture and forestry and help farmers adapt to more extreme and unpredictable weather.
More U.S. farmers would be eligible for federal loans under new bipartisan bill
A bipartisan bill would expand the eligibility requirements for applicants.
A tick bite made this rancher allergic to her own cattle. It’s a worsening issue for farmers
Alpha-gal syndrome, a tickborne allergy to red meat and dairy, has become more common in the last few years.
Cow cuddles and farm-churned ice cream are helping Midwest dairies thrive despite low milk prices
Cow cuddling, ice cream churning and farm tours are among the tactics dairy farmers are employing to compensate for low milk prices.
U.S. farmers are growing less wheat. New varieties could help revive the industry
From the Dakotas to Texas, wheat acres have been on the decline, due to higher temperatures, drought and farmers shifting to more profitable crops.
As 2025 ends, farmers are still reeling from the shake up of markets and federal programs
Farmers across the central U.S. have navigated a myriad of challenges this year, including low crop prices and federal funding cuts.
Hemp farming is booming again. A federal ban on hemp-derived THC products puts the crop in jeopardy
A federal ban on most hemp-derived THC products is expected to go into effect in November. It could eliminate the most profitable market for farmers who grow hemp.
Deportations are set to explode — a huge worry for farmers already facing a labor shortage
With Trump’s immigration crackdown set to expand next year, some farmers fear that workers will be even harder to find, and they want Trump to do something about it.
‘Living’ Christmas trees? Some people are choosing evergreens they can replant after the holidays
Some tree farms in the central U.S. are selling more potted Christmas trees as people seek out an eco-friendly option or look to get more than one use out of their evergreens.
Ag sector alarm bells are going off
There are big warning signs in agriculture right now. And many experts are warning an aid package announced by the Trump administration is not likely to go very far or come soon enough.
New Illinois Farm Bureau president wants to restore communication and credibility for the venerable organization
New Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson said one reason he unseated previous organization head Brian Duncan was a legal dispute with the American Farm Bureau Federation
Illinois Farm Bureau delegates reject president’s bid for 2nd term
At the IFB annual meeting in Chicago, nearly 57% of the delegates chose Philip Nelson from Seneca, a former IFB president and state agriculture director, as the organization’s 17th president.
Cottonseeds are loaded with protein. Could these seeds become a new food source?
Cottonseeds could help reduce hunger and add new revenue for farmers. One researcher has been working for decades to make edible seeds a reality.
Trump administration will send $12 billion in bailout money to farmers hurt by trade war
Most of the package is earmarked for row-crop producers. It aims to help farmers – especially those who grow soybeans – balance out losses from high costs and a trade war with China.
Welcome to Morton, Illinois — the bite-sized town that produces a whole lot of canned pumpkin
The pumpkin pie Americans enjoy each Thanksgiving often comes from pumpkins grown near Morton, Illinois.