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Fertilizer and Fuel Risks as a Result of the Iran Conflict

  • March 27, 2026
  • Todd Gleason

How is the ongoing conflict in Iran impacting global agriculture? In this farmdoc daily webinar, University of Illinois agricultural economists Nick Paulson and Gary Schnitkey are joined by industry experts to break down the recent spikes in fertilizer and fuel prices.
The panel discusses the immediate effects on the 2026 crop year, the critical differences between this market shock and the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, and what decreased input affordability means for farmer profitability heading into 2027.…

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Mar 27 | Weather Update and Market Review

  • March 27, 2026
  • Todd Gleason

This week was quintessential spring in Illinois. Average temperatures ranged from the mid-40s in northern Illinois to the high 50s in southern Illinois, between 6 and 12 degrees above normal.
by Trent Ford, State Climatologist
ISWS PRI University of Illinois
Some of the more impressive daytime high temperatures this week included 92 degrees in Springfield and 89 in Bloomington-Normal. Springfield’s 90 degree day this week was the earliest in the year since 1907, and only the second time on record where the capital hit 90 in March.…

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Iran, Fertilizer, Diesel Fuel, and a farmdoc Webinar

  • March 21, 2026
  • Todd Gleason

A series of targeted strikes on critical oil and natural gas facilities across the Middle East has ignited fears of a global supply chain crisis, threatening both worldwide energy stability and the spring agricultural planting season.
During the middle of March, Iranian forces launched attacks against a Saudi Arabian oil facility on the Red Sea and oil facilities in the United Arab Emirates. In a separate, direct retaliation for an earlier Israeli raid on the South Pars gas field,…

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Cost-Effective Strategies for Tackling Crop Residue

  • March 16, 2026
  • Todd Gleason

As corn yields continue to climb across the Midwest, farmers are facing a growing operational challenge: managing the massive amounts of crop residue left behind after the combine rolls through.
In a recent webinar hosted by the Illinois Soybean Association, University of Illinois Crop Scientist Connor Sible detailed multi-layered strategies for breaking down crop residue, ensuring that fields are clean, healthy, and ready for spring planting.
Speaking with University of Illinois Extension’s Todd Gleason, Sible emphasized that residue management is a critical issue across all farming systems,…

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Mar 13 | Weather Update and Market Review

  • March 13, 2026
  • Todd Gleason

We had a very warm and active weather week that reminded us that we are in spring. Average temperatures this week ranged from the mid-40s in northern Illinois to the low 60s in southern Illinois, between 8 and 16 degrees above normal. Some of the more impressive daytime high temperatures this week included 86 degrees in Jacksonville, which was the warmest March temperature on record there since 1986. Peoria hit 83 degrees this week, which is the earliest 80 degree high on record there.…

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WEBINAR TUESDAY | Maximize the Value of Your Residue

  • March 9, 2026
  • Todd Gleason


 
 
 
 
Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board
Speakers:
Dr. Connor Sible – Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ava Isaacs – Master’s Student in the Crop Physiology Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Whether you no-till, cover crop, double crop, or simply have higher yields today than a decade ago, you’ve got residue in your field.…

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Mar 06 | Weather Update and Market Review

  • March 6, 2026
  • Todd Gleason

This week marked a quick transition to spring weather, just as the calendar turned over to March. Average temperatures this week ranged from the low 30s in northern Illinois to the high 40s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 6 degrees above average. Many places saw high temperatures reach into the 70s, including highs of 77 in Cahokia Heights and 74 in Springfield. This follows the month of February that was right around 1 degree warmer than normal statewide,…

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Feb 27 | Weather Update and Market Review

  • February 27, 2026
  • Todd Gleason

Temperatures were all over the place this week, as is common for late February. Overall, average temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees warmer than average in northeast Illinois, and within 1 degree of average everywhere else. Some of the more impressive daytime high temperatures this week included 74 in Flora and 72 in Carbondale, while nighttime low temperatures dipped as far as 10 degrees in Galesburg and Quincy. February will likely end 2 to 3 degrees warmer than normal statewide in Illinois,…

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The 2025 growing season in Illinois: good but not great

  • February 24, 2026
  • Giovani Preza Fontes

The 2025 growing season in Illinois delivered another storyline characterized by sharp weather contrasts, average crop condition ratings, some disease pressure in places, and very good — if not record-setting — yields in many, but not all, areas. As we have seen before, crops showed their ability to translate good mid-season conditions to good yields even with very dry late-season conditions.
A tale of two springs
March was 4-5 degrees warmer and 2-3 inches drier than normal statewide,…

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USDA Ag Outlook Forum Acreage Figures

  • February 19, 2026
  • Todd Gleason

USDA this morning released its Agricultural Outlook Forum acreage, yield and production numbers. These are widely anticipated by the trade and will be incorporated into the May WASDE (World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates) for corn and soybeans. The May WASDE includes the first official set of supply and demand tables for the new crop year.
USDA expects a slight decline in total acreage across wheat, corn, and soybean to 224 million (down ~1%). This number assumes a normal level of prevent plant acres and a modest expansion in the Conservation Reserve Program.…

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