skip to Main Content
EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS:

Dept of ACE     Farm Business Farm Management    EXTENSION     TIAA Center for Farmland Research

Connect on Social Media

Farm Rent Evaluator

Compares the risks and returns of different leases.
View Updated Tool

Quick Cash Flow Projections

Prepares a quarterly cash flow projection and performs sensitivity analysis.
View Updated Tool

corporate sponsor
platinum sponsor
platinum sponsor
platinum sponsor
platinum sponsor
platinum sponsor
platinum sponsor
platinum sponsor

Recent Features

Visit farmdoc Sections

FAST Tools
Go to Section
The latest in the FAST Tools Section
Farm Management Handbook
Go to Section
The latest in the Illinois Farm Management Handbook.
Agricultural Law
Go to Section
The latest on Ag Law..
Agricultural Policy
Go to Section
The latest from the Gardner Agriculture Policy Center.
Crop Central: Field Crop Production
Go to Section
The latest from Crop Central
Crop Insurance
Go to Section
The latest on Crop Insurance.
Management
Go to Section
The latest on Farm Management along with the Farm Management Handbook.
Marketing & Outlook
Go to Section
The latest in the Marketing & Outlook Section

Latest farmdoc Daily Articles

Solvency Series: Per Acre Gross Farm and Management Returns of Illinois Grain Farms by their Debt Burden

We conclude our solvency series by examining how gross farm and management returns have varied by debt burden in recent years, along with their economic costs. In our previous article…

read more

2024 Crop Safety Net Payments: Performance of Contemporary Ad Hoc Assistance

This article compares economic loss with safety net payments for the nine large acreage crops that USDA, ERS reports a cost of production. 2024 crop safety net assistance is estimated to reduce the nine crop’s collective economic loss from 17% to slightly more than 3% of total economic cost. Coverage of individual crop economic loss varies widely, ranging from 180% (payments exceed economic loss by 80 percentage points) to 45% (payments are 55 percentage points less), raising fairness issues.

read more

Apiculture Rainfall Index Insurance: An Insurance Product for Beekeeping Operations of All Sizes

The Apiculture Rainfall Index Insurance program (API) is a crop insurance product underutilized by Illinois beekeepers. According to USDA estimates, fewer than 2% of Illinois colonies were enrolled in API in 2023. Like other Federal crop insurance programs, API is heavily subsidized. Since 2009, API has returned an average of $2.11 in payments for each $1.00 in U.S. beekeeper-paid premium. There is no minimum number of colonies required to buy an API policy.

read more

Large Increase in Machinery Costs Suggests Need to Reconsider Machinery Purchase Decisions

Between 2021 and 2023, prices of new agricultural equipment increased by over 20%, resulting in similar increases in machinery costs on farms. To remain competitive, farmers may wish to reassess machinery management strategies, particularly when older machinery needs to be replaced. Combines typically represent the single largest investment on farms. Harvesting over 3,000 acres per combine will lower costs. The number of tractors, tillage implements, and planters also significantly impact costs.

read more

The Soybean Industry Response to the Renewable Diesel Boom, Part 3: the Value of Soybean Oil in the Soybean Crush

Since 2020, the renewable diesel boom has disrupted longstanding soybean pricing relationships. Soybean oil’s share of crush value jumped from 25-35% to 35-50% and values and crush margins became significantly more volatile. Historical models predicting soybean prices based on oil and meal values have broken down, making price forecasting more difficult.

read more

Solvency Series: Per Acre Economic Costs of Illinois Grain Farms by their Debt Burden

In our previous article (see farmdoc daily, October 1, 2025), we found that most farms maintained healthy solvency ratios, with debt-to-asset levels remaining relatively stable or improving over the past…

read more

Latest Farm Policy News Articles

Trump Says US Has “a Deal” to Lower Beef Prices

President Donald Trump said his administration had struck an agreement to bring down the price of beef for consumers during an event in the Oval Office on Thursday. Trump didn’t…

read more

Immigration Crackdown Hurting Ag, Labor Dept. Concedes

The Trump administration said that its immigration crackdown is hurting farmers and risking higher food prices for Americans by cutting off agriculture’s labor supply. The Labor Department made this case…

read more

Trump Threatens to End Used Cooking Oil Trade with China

US President Donald Trump said he might stop trade in cooking oil with China, injecting fresh tensions into the relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Trump on Tuesday cast…

read more

Gov’t Shutdown Hits Crucial Tools for Farmers, Commodity Traders

The government shutdown is creating financial heartburn for farmers across the country, stalling the delivery of farm loans, the release of critical market reports and the Trump administration’s plans for…

read more

Trump Promises New 100% Tariff on China by November

President Donald Trump on Friday said he will impose a new 100% tariff on imports from China starting Nov. 1 following Beijing’s decision to tighten exports of critical minerals. The…

read more

Farmer Sentiment Holds Steady as Tariff Support Drops

US farmers are concerned about current economic conditions but are optimistic about the long-term outlook of the agricultural economy, according to survey results released on Oct. 7 by Purdue University…

read more

Connect with farmdoc on Social Media

farmdoc daily

Follow these social media channels for updates on farmdoc daily articles, farmdoc events, and ag information from Ryan Hanrahan – the farmdoc social media director. Our YouTube channel includes farmdoc webinars and publication related videos.

Farm Policy News

Follow these social media channels for all the latest ag commentary from Keith Good – the Farm Policy News editor. Also includes general updates on farmdoc publications and events.

Back To Top