University of Illionis

In response to relatively stronger net farm incomes, U.S. farm sector capital expenditures have increased dramatically in the last three years, according to research by the University of Illinois.  In 2019, farm sector capital expenditures were approximately $30.1 billion...

A new University of Illinois study explores potential policy solutions to reduce nitrogen loss while still protecting farmers’ bottom lines. Federal and state governments have shied away from regulating nitrogen fertilizer use, but voluntary and incentives-based programs have not been particularly successful, according to the researchers. U ...

The war in Ukraine is expected to expand wheat production in Argentina and Brazil, the primary wheat-producing nations in South America. Agriculture and consumer economics experts from the University of Illinois say both nations will likely already increase wheat planting this season, which begins in May ...

Cover crops aren’t just for your fields anymore, they are beneficial to your garden, too. The University of Illinois Extension said using cover crops in the home garden has many benefits, including soil structure, drawing nutrients up from deep in the soil, and increasing soil fertility. Cove ...

A Successful Farming article says there may be trouble ahead for the upcoming Farm Bill in D.C. A former USDA official says the 2023 legislation could be in trouble if the political turbulence surrounding the last two farm bills keeps going into next year ...

Last week, farm experts from across the country told House Ag lawmakers that crop insurance and other farm safety net programs are working, but the pandemic has shown that some fixes are needed. Farmers needed more than crop insurance and for ARC and PLC to survive the pandemic as well as the trade wars, programs like CFAP, WHIP+ and MFP payments were all needed ...

May has come and gone, but that does not mean the issue of mental health is done for another year. The Farming community used last month, National Mental Health Awareness Month, to highlight the growing challenges of mental health struggles in the farming community ...

An estimated one in five American adults struggle with mental health issues. That translates into 500,000 farmers. But many experts fear that figure on the U.S. farm is much higher. "We can memorize all the statistic we want but that doesn't mean necessarily  that we'll know how to help someone when that help is really needed." ...

The number of people in the U.S. who are food insecure will likely skyrocket over the next year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the University of Illinois and Feeding America, soaring unemployment and poverty rates may lead to record numbers of food-insecure households ...

According to the University of Illinois China is looking at purchasing some U.S. farm products by early March.  The gesture would be intended to show the U.S. that it will meet its commitments outlined in the Phase One trade deal.  The Chinese government is in discussions over what commodities it could potentially buy at the end of February or in early March.  The pur...