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Oct 11 | Climate Review and Weather Forecast

  • October 11, 2024
  • Todd Gleason

October has taken over where September left off, with warm days and cool nights. Average temperatures over the past week ranged from the high 50s in northern Illinois to the mid-60s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 4 degrees above normal. The dryness of the air has been particularly remarkable, with afternoon relative humidity regularly dipping into the teens and low 20s. While the extremely dry air has been comfortable, it has also added to the lack of precipitation and increased the risk of field fires and blowing dust.…

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Weekly Climate Review and Weather Forecast

  • September 27, 2024
  • Todd Gleason

The heat relented this week, and while temperatures were still above average they were much more pleasant. Average temperatures this week ranged from the mid-60s in northern Illinois to the mid-70s in far southern Illinois, between 2 and 6 degrees above average. September to date temperatures have been right around 1 degree above average for most of the state, but as with most Septembers we have seen quite a bit of variability day to day.
We had a bit of a wetter week across much of the state,…

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Weekly Climate Review & Weather Forecast

  • July 26, 2024
  • Todd Gleason

Thankfully, our weather calmed down this week. Temperatures this week ranged from the high 60s in northern Illinois to the mid-70s in southern Illinois, between 2 and 6 degrees below normal for mid-July. July to date has been 1 to 3 degrees cooler than normal as well. Despite the cooler weather lately, the entire state is still about 50 to 100 growing degree days ahead of average, going back to May 1st.
This week was also quite a bit drier,…

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Flash Droughts and Evapotranspiration

  • June 19, 2024
  • Todd Gleason

The high temperatures across the corn belt, coupled with the lack of rainfall in some of the states east of the Mississippi River has farmers concerned. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford has this explanation of evapotranspiration under high temperature and high humidity conditions.…

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Farmer Age: Not a Problem, But an Opportunity

  • May 22, 2024
  • Todd Gleason

Carl Zulauf, an agricultural economist emeritus from The Ohio State University, recently spoke with Todd Gleason University of Illinois Extension farm broadcaster about the age of U.S. farmers.
Zulauf’s farmdoc Daily article, titled “Age of U.S. Farmers: Not a Problem” challenges the common perception that an aging farmer population signifies trouble for American agriculture.
Dispelling the Myth of a Farmer Aging Crisis
Zulauf acknowledges that farmers are, on average, older than the general population.…

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Crop Insurance Information from the farmdoc Team

  • March 8, 2024
  • Todd Gleason

The following is a series of crop insurance links related to information produced by the University of Illinois agricultural economist since March 1. You may find them useful in making crop insurance decisions. The first is a webinar the team hosted in which Bruce Sherrick and Nick Paulson detail both crop insurance and farm safety net (ARC/PLC) decisions.

The above webinar was aired on Monday of this past week. Tuesday the team posted an article titled “…

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ILLINOIS has it going on at the Farm Progress Show

  • August 28, 2023
  • Todd Gleason

We invite you to visit the University of Illinois tent at the 2023 Farm Progress Show in Decatur. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week Illinois Extension and the College of ACES will be on-site at the nation’s largest outdoor agricultural event. Our tent is located at the corner of 3rd and West or just about two blocks to the right of the Main Gate as you enter the grounds.
This Google Maps link will make it easy for you to find walking directions to the U of I tent from anywhere on the grounds or even to drive to the Farm Progress Show site.…

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University of Illinois Extension Strategic Planning Survey

  • July 28, 2023
  • Todd Gleason

We invite you to engage in our University of Illinois Extension strategic planning process that will continue into the 2024 calendar year. 
As part of our efforts, we have created a survey that focuses on supporting Phases 1 and 2 of the planning process: 1) Assessing Our Current State and Engaging Stakeholders, and 2) Developing Our Vision and Strategic Priorities. We welcome and greatly appreciate your participation in completing the survey.  
All submissions should be submitted via the online survey,…

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An Analysis of the Proposed 4% Farmer-Premium Payment Cap

  • July 7, 2023
  • Todd Gleason


Welcome to 5-Minute Farmdoc, your go-to channel for insightful discussions on various topics related to agriculture. In today’s episode, we delve into the world of crop insurance and explore a recent proposal discussed by our colleagues from North Dakota. They suggest a change to the subsidy mechanism that assists farmers in covering the costs of crop insurance policies. This proposal aims to cap the farmer’s premium costs at 4% of the policy’s liability,…

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Corn Rootworm Bt Resistance Webinar Today at 11am

  • March 30, 2023
  • Todd Gleason

Register for today’s 11am central Webinar
Bt Resistance and Management Recommendations for Illinois
REGISTER NOW
Corn rootworm remains the most economically damaging insect pest of corn in Illinois, though its impact in recent years has primarily been felt in the northern third of the state. The ongoing development of resistance to Bt traits has complicated management decisions for Illinois farmers. Join University of Illinois scientists to discuss the status of rootworm populations and Bt resistance throughout Illinois,…

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