The Gardner Agriculture Policy Program is funded by the Leonard and Lila Gardner/Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies endowment. This generous gift is dedicated to the memory of Len Gardner, a leading voice on agricultural policy for decades. The program will coordinate and prioritize analytical and outreach efforts for farm, conservation and international trade policies, elevating the University of Illinois’ voice in the national debate.
The cover crop project seeks to provide farmers with a practical web-based decision support tool designed to help manage cover crops in their fields. The project makes use of existing research to demonstrate the potential for cover crops, as well as providing useful information for decision making and management of this practice. It will also seek to apply future research on cover crops as results are incorporated into updates and new iterations of the tool. This remains a work in progress with a goal towards adapting with the science.
Latest in Gardner Policy Series
The 45Z Biofuel Tax Credit, Part 4: Inside the Updated USDA Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator
USDA recently released an updated version of its Feedstock Intensity Calculator (FD-CIC) for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit (USDA, FD-CIC v.1.2; User Manual, September 4, 2026). The updated calculator changes the Carbon Intensity (CI) scoring in significant ways. It also includes more information for the user about the scoring process. This article reviews the CI for corn in Illinois counties, with explanations about how the changes in the calculator result in modified scores.
Farmland Prices and Government Programs
Farmland prices in Illinois increased dramatically between 2020 and 2023. Since 2023, farmland prices have remained stable or declined slightly. At the same time, farmer returns have declined dramatically and…
The Reconciliation Farm Bill: Top Five Most Problematic Changes to Farm Policy, #4
The number four spot in the top five most problematic changes to farm policy in the Reconciliation Farm Bill belongs to possibly the most obscure change in the agriculture title. Congress provided an additional subsidy to crop insurance companies to encourage continued sales of policies in high-risk states. This article explains the policy change and offers some perspective.
Brazil Heads for a Record Soybean Harvest as Farm Margins Approach Breakeven
Brazil is heading toward another record soybean harvest in 2025-26, driven by expanded acreage and favorable yields in the country’s main producing regions. However, unlike previous seasons, when record harvests were often associated with strong profitability, this year’s crop is happening in a much more challenging economic environment. Lower soybean prices, elevated production costs, and weaker export premiums have compressed margins for Brazilian farmers – pushing profitability to its lowest level in nearly two decades and close to breakeven.
From Infrastructure Investment to Expanded Market Access: China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Africa and the Implications for U.S. Trade Policy
China’s Belt and Road Initiative has expanded Beijing’s economic presence in Africa through infrastructure and related investments. The US, by contrast, is at an inflection point in its trade policy with Africa. The African Growth and Opportunity Act was reauthorized only through the end of 2026, and the Trump administration has indicated that any successor arrangement would place greater emphasis on expanding market access for U.S. businesses, farmers, and ranchers.
Conservation Policy: The Baseline Shuffle and Tradeoffs in the Bardo
October marks the beginning of the federal fiscal year, which is payment season for farm policy (USDA, October 7, 2026; Farm Policy News, October 19, 2026). Payments are made in…
Rural Broadband Infrastructure and Its Implications for Households and Agriculture
Survey results in this article show that although many rural households now have access to broadband service, the existing infrastructure often falls short of meeting evolving household and business needs. Agriculture has distinct broadband needs that extend beyond residential service requirements, and both must be addressed as rural communities continue to develop. Reliable, high-quality broadband is increasingly important to the competitiveness of production agriculture.
Agricultural Conservation: Is Measurement the Missing Link to Increased Investment and Adoption?
Over the last three decades, there has been substantial change in ag production practices. Currently, information and communication technology-enhanced methods and practices are being developed and tested that have the potential to substantially impact adoption of conservation practices. Could these and their associated advances in measurement foster similar levels of change in the adoption of conservation practices?