2024 Cash Rents Hit Some Record High Levels

Illinois farmers are paying record-high cash rents this year, and they aren’t the only ones. USDA’s annual cash rent survey puts Illinois’ average at $269 per acre for non-irrigated cropland. It’s the third consecutive record-breaking year. A

Food Price Index Slightly Lower in August

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization says its Food Price Index stood at 120.7 points in August, down marginally from July. Decreases in the price indexes for sugar, meat, and cereals outweighed increases for those in

Human Bird Flu Case Not Linked to Animal Exposure

Over the weekend, Missouri officials identified a person sick with bird flu despite having no known contact with animals. Farm Policy News from the University of Illinois says this is the first case of the virus this

Growth Energy Seeks Court Rehearing on Refinery Exemption Decisions

WASHINGTON, D.C.—This week, Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, filed two petitions for rehearing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit regarding the Court’s decision – unsealed in August – on small refinery exemptions (SREs) under

31 Groups Ask USTR for Help To Strengthen US Beef Supply Chain

BILLINGS, Mont. – Today, 31 cattle, farm, rural, manufacturing, and consumer groups sent a joint letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai requesting her help to restore mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. The letter precedes

Farm Sector Profits Still Falling, But Not as Fast

The farm sector profits are forecast to fall this year, but the outlook is not as bleak now as it was in February according to the latest data from USDA’s Economic Research Service. Carrie Litkowski is a