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
Are US Crop Production Costs High?
A common headline is “High Crop Production Costs.” But, are costs high? To address a “high” question, a benchmark is needed. A common benchmark is history. We therefore examine cost in historical context. Once general US inflation and farmer adjustment strategies of yield growth and crop mix changes are taken into account, cost has changed little over the last 40 years. This finding underscores the importance of inflation and farmer adjustment strategies when considering crop costs.
Additional Thoughts on 2025 Crop Insurance and Farm Program Decisions
The deadline to finalize 2025 crop insurance decisions is now less than a week away (March 17th). The harvest futures contracts for corn (December) and soybeans (November) have moved below…
The Arithmetic of Commodity Title Programs
Increasing per-acre corn payments for commodity title programs will have a much more significant effect on total Federal outlays than other crops because corn has many more base acres. Seed cotton, rice, and peanuts have lower base acres; hence, spending increases tend to have much less impact on total Federal outlays. As a result, seed cotton, rice, and peanuts often have larger per-acre increases in spending than does corn. This process is illustrated with the House Proposal for the Farm Bill.
Potential Federal Policy Responses to Negative Grain Farm Incomes
In 2024, grain farm incomes will be low and, in many cases, negative. In recent weeks, hurricanes Helene and Milton have also caused extensive damage to many farmers caught in their paths. Congress remains in recess through election day, Nov. 5, 2024, but the push for federal relief is growing. Federal policy responses in the lame duck are likely and include: 1) extending the current or passing a new farm bill and 2) passing an ad hoc, supplemental, or emergency disaster assistance package.
Valentine’s Day and the Gains from Agricultural Trade: Cut Flowers in the US
Valentine’s Day is approaching, and floral bouquets are everywhere. However, cut flowers, a symbol of love and romance, are tied up in the ongoing tension in the United States over…
Tariff Threats and US Fertilizer Imports
Tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China have the potential to increase the prices paid by consumers and products for goods, services, and inputs from those major US trading partners. Fertilizers are such an input for US farmers. Price increases would likely be greatest for potassium (K) given the US reliance on imports, in particular imports from Canada. Impacts would likely be smaller for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers.
Trade Policy Shifts and Their Potential Implications for U.S. Agricultural Exports
Protectionist policies are once again threatening to reshape agricultural trade, as the U.S. administration escalated tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EV) in May 2024, echoing the actions of its predecessor.…
State Initiatives to Support Grocery Stores and Address Food Insecurity
Many factors contribute to rural health disparities, but food insecurity exacerbates all these rural health challenges. To address the challenges and impacts on residents with inadequate food access, several states have developed grocery store support programs targeting both urban and rural “food deserts.” This article examines state approaches for supporting smaller, locally owned, and independent grocery stores, particularly in more rural communities.
Recent Population Growth Trends in the North Central United States
Compared to the nation as a whole, the North Central region continues to experience relatively slow growth. Metro areas drive this growth, but it occurs more in suburban and exurban counties rather than the urban core. Various factors, such as housing availability and school quality, explain these patterns. And with changing U.S. politics, immigration limitations could significantly impact urban areas, farming communities, and college towns.
Post-Pandemic Entrepreneurial Growth
The coronavirus pandemic created many economic hardships, but a resurgent interest in entrepreneurship remains a positive that emerged from this period. Nationwide, new business applications grew 11.7% annually between 2019 and 2023, with the fastest growth during the period occurring in two small states — Wyoming and Delaware. Only Mississippi, Louisiana, and Vermont had fewer new business applications in 2023 than they did in 2022.