Scientists and seed companies are working on shrinking corn. The subtle difference in height has led to some big changes in how shorter corn can be planted and managed in the Corn Belt.
The American Heartland has experienced a boom in wineries over the last three decades. But with U.S. wine sales trending down since 2019, some producers are feeling the effects more than others.
The Trump administration is promising billions in a bailout for farmers. This harvest season the trade war with China has added to the farm economy’s woes, as producers deal with lower crop prices and high costs.
The Soybean Innovation Lab is awaiting final approval for a $1.5 million grant from a research foundation. The money will help expand their efforts to combat global food insecurity and poverty by increasing the number of soybean varieties available to 28 African nations.
People working to address hunger say the canceled report is a main resource to understand where and how people are experiencing food insecurity across the country.
Farmers are struggling as China orders soybeans from Brazil and Argentina. They prefer trade over aid, hoping for a deal soon.
China typically buys close to half of the soybeans grown in the U.S. But the ongoing trade war means farmers in the Midwest must consider other options — and none are as profitable.
Rainfall has been below average in recent months, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford.
Popcorn festivals and even “popcorn capitals of the world” dot the middle of the country. Yet this ubiquitous snack is grown on fewer than 1,000 farms in the U.S. today.
The Trump administration is decrying diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The move is hurting communities and undermining its own goals for agriculture.
When agricultural economists look at the Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade – a quarterly report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – they expect two parts: data tables and a written analysis explaining those numbers.
Farm Aid is a traveling benefit concert that has raised more than $80 million nationwide to help struggling family farms across the U.S. The first annual Farm Aid event was held 40 years ago, on Sept. 22, 1985, in what is now Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
A plan to disburse Washington-based USDA jobs to five hubs, including Kansas City and Indianapolis, is making waves across agriculture. Critics say the shakeup could hobble the agency, while proponents it will move staff closer to farmers and save money.
For more than a decade, Cronus Chemicals has sought to create a fertilizer production facility in East Central Illinois. At the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, the governor announced the company is following through with its $2 billion investment.
The interest in local food systems, like farmer’s markets and direct farm-to-consumer sales, is on the rise. But the U.S. is still more reliant on imported foods than ever before.