Agriculture

Blog Posts

Farmers talking
Illinois Farm Bureau Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program
The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB)...
Corn plant in dark soil
The down and dirty on soil carbon and carbon markets
Interested in joining a carbon (C) market, but not sure what it will mean for your field? With a large, diverse number of companies attempting to...
Farmers standing in harvested corn field
Sustaining our future: A farm family story spotlight
To celebrate our 50th podcast episode, we get behind-the-scenes information about the creation and...
Field planted to prairie plants in CRP
Inflation Reduction Act: What that means for agricultural conservation
The Bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law in August 2022. Within the IRA, $18 billion...
Harvested corn field with stubble
What you need to know about carbon markets
Did you know that there are other ecosystem markets out there that aren’t carbon markets? With the increasing number of players and frequent changes...
Cover crop growing between corn stalks
What role does soil health have on IPM decisions?
With so many conservation practices focusing on soil health, what impact might those decisions have on your Integrated Pest Management (IPM)...
Profile picture of Kevin Brooks, new Extension farm business management and marketing educator
Kevin Brooks returns to Illinois Extension as farm business management and marketing educator
After an eleven-year hiatus, Kevin Brooks returned to University of Illinois...
Graphic: Talking conservation with farmers over photo of cover crops
Talking conservation with farmers
Welcome to the NEW Nutrient Loss Reduction Blog where we explore different conservation practices and work together with farmers to improve water...

News Releases

combine harvesting soybeans at sunset
2022 corn and soybean yields by Illinois county
USDA has released estimated Corn Yields by county average for 2022.  Stark County led with the highest average yield per acre(ac) at 240.6 bushels (bu) per acre.  Tazewell County came in 9th in the state at 229.9 bushels per acre. Local County Corn Yields: Tazewell...
a young white girl and white boy hold baby chicks in front of a tub holding more chicks
Finding common ground: Extension connects public with agriculture
URBANA, Ill. – Whether large commercial agriculture operations, small farms, or community and backyard gardens, the future of our food supply relies on the use of practices that boost production and capacity. Illinois growers at all levels benefit from effective, efficient, and sustainable...
Third Grade Students in classroom with teacher
Rockford third graders 'Farming in the Class'
ROCKFORD, Ill. – Third graders at Conklin Elementary School in Rockford, Illinois had the opportunity to discover how seasonal fruits and vegetables grow and travel to their classroom. Called Farming in the Class, this is a program that is a collaboration with Annie Hobson, 4-H Youth Metro...
drone in the air
FAA requirements for farmers operating a drone
Disclaimer – The following is meant only for educational purposes and not to be construed as legal advice. Contact your legal advisor and the FAA for more information. Flying a drone can be fun and exciting, however, for safety reasons, many rules need to be followed. The...
landscape
2022 Cash Rents for Illinois Counties
USDA has released estimated Cash Rents per acre (ac) for Illinois counties. The numbers are voluntarily self-reported and not necessarily representative of current cash rent levels. Per the author, these figures are likely low compared to the marketplace. Some counties are not reported due to a...

Staff