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Ron Dykstra knew from a very young age that he wanted to farm.

Agricultural economic activity has been flat to down modestly since early September, with some crop prices remaining unprofitably low.

This fall, many farm leaders are considering how the farm’s financials for 2024 are going to shake out. Many farms across the Midwest are currently experiencing challenges around profit margins.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an additional $250 million in automatic payments for distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Over its 50-year history, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s causes may have shifted, but it has never lost its focus on advocating for local farmers and communities.

The scams against seniors are getting worse, if that’s even possible, and the thieves are becoming sneakier and more creative by the minute. We have to up our game to stay one step ahead of them and not fall victim.

The stories across the Corn Belt’s Federal Reserve Districts mirrored one another in the agriculture sector with concerns over lower commodity prices and favorable crop conditions.

Farmland values for the Seventh Federal Reserve District increased 2% in the second quarter of 2024 from a year earlier, marking the smallest year-over-year gain since the third quarter of 2020.

Agricultural conditions varied in tandem with sporadic droughts across the Federal Reserve districts, but concerns over crop price declines were common in all corners of the Corn Belt.

An educational discussion about farm succession planning will be part of the program during Historic Farm Days.

Gene Schmidt will get to enjoy this year’s Historic Farm Days without having to keep tabs on the books.

Quint Shambaugh, principal of Pinion LLC, discussed the agronomics and economics of tile drainage during a webinar hosted by Halderman Farm Management and Real Estate Services.

Agricultural reports across Federal Reserve Districts in the Corn Belt were mixed, as drought conditions eased in some districts, but farm finances and incomes remained a concern.

Farmland values in the Seventh Federal Reserve District averaged a 4% increase from a year ago, the smallest year-over-year gain in three and a half years.

Business and numbers attracted Aaron Johnson to a career in agricultural financing, but the relationship and people aspect of the business became his passion during the past several decades.

A new group of ag industry leaders is ready to make a difference in their communities after graduating from the AgrIInstitute’s Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program.

Farmland values in the Seventh Federal Reserve District are slowing down from double-digit increases of the last couple years to single-digit annual percentage increases.

Purdue University’s Agricultural Alumni Association presented six agricultural leaders with its Certificate of Distinction at the association’s annual Fish Fry.

On the first business day of the new year, Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek began accepting applications for about $120 million of state-subsidized, low-interest loans to small businesses, farmers and affordable housing developers.

Federal crop insurance isn’t just a safety net for farmers. It also serves as a backstop for rural communities and rural residents.

The 24th annual First State Bank Ag Conference, a special forum for area farmers, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 25 at the Mendota Civic Center.

Tim McConville, president and CEO of First State Bank, is transitioning to president and CEO of Tri-County Financial Group, the holding company of the bank.

Although indicators pointed to a recession in 2023, the U.S. economy has grown during this year.

Agricultural conditions improved or deteriorated slightly since the previous Beige Book report in October, depending on the Federal Reserve district.

As contraction of the U.S. cattle herd continues, farmers nearing retirement age are faced with deciding whether to expand again, invest more into infrastructure and whether someone is in line for succession.

The unknowns facing the agriculture sector are much greater today than in the past few years and possibly decade.

A year-over-year gain of 5% in agricultural land values, the smallest gain in three years, was reported in the third quarter of 2023, according to a survey.

The Federal Reserve left U.S. interest rates unchanged this month, waiting to see if the rapid rate hikes since March 2022 will finally push inflation down to their target of 2%.

An important gauge of inflation was released this week, the Consumer Price Index. It showed August inflation above expectations at 3.7% and a new three-month high.

Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, awarded a total of $212,000 through the Agriculture Education and Classroom Equipment Grant program this year.

I imagine some of you have started harvest by now. Not me, though, but that’s normal. Our double-crop beans are getting really thirsty since we’ve only had a third of an inch of rain in over six weeks.

A shortage of food and energy should be coming sooner than later. I fully expect the final quarter of this year and into late 2025 to be a period marked by rising prices for those two basic markets.

The last weekly column I penned in July stated boldly: “We are entering a new era for food and energy prices that will not be solved until 2025, or later.”

After earning record-high milk prices in 2022, dairy farmers have seen their earnings plummet in recent months, with more operations struggling to stay in business and some closing their doors for good.

Farmland values rose slightly year-over-year and from the first to the second quarter of 2023 in the Seventh Federal Reserve District, according to a survey.

A series of Shop Talks are on the calendar with the goal of setting farm policy priorities. Indiana Corn Growers Association and Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee host the Shop Talks.

Developing a farm succession plan is vital because land is not just ground — it’s the legacy farmers are passing to their children.

More than 90 people attended the annual Ag Policy Summit at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Topics at the event included expanding conservation opportunities and the challenging financial landscape for farmers.

Midwest farmland values continued an upward trend, but slowed in the first quarter, according to a survey in the Seventh Federal Reserve District.

Agricultural conditions were reported to be stable to strong across the Corn Belt, according a survey of Federal Reserve districts.

Even before the latest round of billion-dollar bellyflops, U.S. taxpayers have bailed out banks of all types, sizes and locations for decades. But don’t take my word for it.

Farmland values in the 7th Federal Reserve District increased 12% during 2022, which helped reach a new peak, even though the yearly gain was smaller than that of 2021.

Farmers are starting the year off more optimistic about the ag economy. According to the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, the index was 34% higher than its 2022 low point last June.

After a two-year hiatus, the Mid-West Truck and Trailer Show is back. “We are excited. There are a lot of people in the industry who are just excited about there being an event again,” said Don Schaefer, executive vice president of the Mid-West Truckers Association.

The 23rd annual First State Bank Ag Conference, a special forum for area farmers, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 26 at the Mendota Civic Center.

The U.S. economy still has considerable momentum and is not currently on the verge of recession. However, economists have never been more pessimistic and there are very legitimate reasons for concern.

Heartland Bank and Trust Company has announced Joe Bates as a new commercial loan officer at the 606 S. Main St. branch in Princeton. Bates has more than 38 years of agricultural lending experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Illinois.

Midwest agricultural land values in the 7th Federal Reserve District had a year-over-year average gain of 20% in the third quarter of 2022.

Focusing on customer service means Deb Schultz works with her clients during times that far exceed traditional banker hours. “I’m mobile, I have customers that have never been to the bank in 16 years,” said Schultz, vice president of North Central Bank.

Farmland values jumped 23% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to a year ago, continuing the recent streak of sharp year-over-year gains in the 7th Federal Reserve District.