Matters relating to agriculture, including farming and agribusiness.

Read more about the article Controversial trade deal draws heavy lobbying from U.S. agribusinessDarrell Hoemann
A central Illinois farmer harvests his crop shortly before sundown on Sept. 24, 2015. U.S. agricultural exports reached a record level in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Controversial trade deal draws heavy lobbying from U.S. agribusiness

A new trade deal aimed at cutting thousands of taxes and opening markets with 11 Pacific Rim nations has drawn heavy lobbying from some of America’s largest agribusinesses. The deal – known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership – was reached in early October. It is designed to ease the flow of goods between partner nations by lowering restrictive trade policies and regulations.

Continue ReadingControversial trade deal draws heavy lobbying from U.S. agribusiness
Read more about the article Ag Secretary Vilsack announces major USDA biofuel investmentDarrell Hoemann
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, middle, listens to a researchers on Sept. 10, 2015. Vilsack was visiting the Energy Farm just south of Urbana, Ill. From left: German Bollero, head of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's crop science department; Tim Mies, director of the Energy Farm; Robert Hauser, ACES dean; Patrick Brown, assistant professor in plant breeding and genetics

Ag Secretary Vilsack announces major USDA biofuel investment

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced on Thursday that his department will award nearly two dozen states with millions of dollars to build the gas pumps and other infrastructure needed to supply American drivers with more renewable fuel.

Continue ReadingAg Secretary Vilsack announces major USDA biofuel investment
Read more about the article Former U.S. rep recruits farmers for corn lawsuitDarrell Hoemann
Lawyer William Enyart talks with farmers at the Hilton Garden Inn on Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

Former U.S. rep recruits farmers for corn lawsuit

Nearly a year after China re-opened its doors to imported U.S. corn, one former U.S. representative is recruiting Illinois farmers into a mass-action lawsuit as plaintiffs. Thousands of farmers – along with major agribusinesses Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill – are suing the Swiss chemical company Syngenta for selling a genetically modified strain of corn in the United States before its approval by China.

Continue ReadingFormer U.S. rep recruits farmers for corn lawsuit
Read more about the article Agriculture community raises concerns on proposed state budgetDarrell Hoemann
Dr. Joni White with some of her FFA students in the greenhouse at Urbana High School in Urbana, Illinois on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. From left: Noah Dowling, Abram Washington, Austin Carter, Anthony Tuel, Dr. Joni White, Richardo Vargas and Carson Bryant.

Agriculture community raises concerns on proposed state budget

The state budget for agricultural education is once again coming under the scythe. In June 2010, the Illinois State Board of Education adopted a budget that zeroed out the $3 million funding under Gov. Pat Quinn, but by August, Quinn announced he restored it to $1.9 million.

Continue ReadingAgriculture community raises concerns on proposed state budget
Read more about the article Champaign County Farm Bureau aims to educate, advocateDarrell Hoemann
Jacob Meisner, a member of the Illinois Collegiate Farm Bureau, on the dairy farm he works at near his home in Paris, IL on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.

Champaign County Farm Bureau aims to educate, advocate

With less than 2 percent of Champaign’s population involved in production agriculture, the Champaign County Farm Bureau has made it part of its mission to educate the community about the work being done by Champaign’s agriculture industry.

Continue ReadingChampaign County Farm Bureau aims to educate, advocate
Read more about the article Federal money woes bring attention to crop insuranceDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
A flag waves in front of soybean acres on July 3, 2014.

Federal money woes bring attention to crop insurance

The average yearly amount of taxpayer money funding the highly subsidized federal crop insurance program has more than doubled in just over a decade. From 2003 through 2007, the government spent an average of $3.4 billion per year on crop insurance, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Continue ReadingFederal money woes bring attention to crop insurance
Read more about the article With herbicide-resistant crops, farms balance immediate rewards and future risksDarrell Hoemann
Jenny Mennenga with soybean seeds from last year at her family farm near LeRoy on Monday, January 26, 2015.

With herbicide-resistant crops, farms balance immediate rewards and future risks

Jenny Mennenga farms corn and soybean with her husband between Le Roy and Farmer City in central Illinois. This past harvest brought Mennenga’s farm record corn production, though soybean yields were just “fairly average.”

Continue ReadingWith herbicide-resistant crops, farms balance immediate rewards and future risks
Read more about the article Record yields mean lower returns for local farmersDarrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access
Bev Ehler in her equipment shed at her rural Thomasboro, IL fame on Friday, October 17, 2014. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Record yields mean lower returns for local farmers

After making record profits from 2007-2013, farmers in Champaign County who rent their land are likely to lose money on both corn and soybeans in this year and next, said a University of Illinois economist. Across the state, 2014 saw record highs for cash rent. In Champaign County, the average cash renter pays $253 per acre.

Continue ReadingRecord yields mean lower returns for local farmers
Read more about the article Feeding the world proves to be a growing challengeDarrell Hoemann/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Feeding Nine Billion: A Path to Sustainable Agriculture keynote speaker Andrew Revkin, New York Times columnist, Pace Academy: “Peak food?”on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.

Feeding the world proves to be a growing challenge

By Claire Everett/CU-CitizenAccess.org -- More than 300 researchers from around the world gathered at the University of Illinois this week for a major conference…

Continue ReadingFeeding the world proves to be a growing challenge