Conservation practices operate within dynamic biological, operational, and economic systems shaped heavily by weather variability. Previous articles in this series explored how spring planting windows and fieldwork conditions may alter risks associated with timing-sensitive conservation practices such as cover crops. This article extends that discussion by comparing those potential risks with conservation incentive payments.

The Clean Fuel Production Credit, enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act and often referred to simply as “45Z,” remains the subject of much attention. For farmers, interest has centered on the possibility that “low carbon” grain could receive price premiums if biofuel producers begin to place greater value on feedstocks with lower carbon intensity scores. This article begins a discussion of the 45Z tax credit with particular attention to potential impacts for Midwest corn and soybean farmers.

The conflict with Iran has renewed interest in the U.S. fertilizer industry and the impacts on pricing associated with increased consolidation. Domestic fertilizer production is controlled by a relatively small number of manufacturers such that current Department of Justice guidelines would classify the U.S. fertilizer sector as highly concentrated. We examine how consolidation among manufacturers has evolved over the past few decades and discuss its broader implications for U.S. agriculture.

Revisions to 2026 Illinois crop budgets are provided along with updates to return estimates for the 2025 crop year. Return projections for 2026 are higher because of increases in expected…

Sen. Chuck Schumer on Friday introduced legislation aimed at lowering grocery prices by increasing competition in the meatpacking industry, arguing that consolidation among the nation’s largest meat companies has contributed…

A federal court on Monday granted preliminary approval to John Deere’s proposed antitrust settlement with farmers who filed right-to-repair lawsuits, giving producers until September 2026 to file objections. At the…