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 Reconciliation Farm Bill: The Top Five Most Problematic Changes to Farm Policy, #5
This series of articles will review the top five most problematic changes in farm policy enacted in the Reconciliation Farm Bill. Were it not for the protective cover of the budget reconciliation process and its fundamental warping of the deliberative process as designed in the Constitution, it is extremely unlikely that these five changes would have become law. The discussion begins with number 5: the increases in premium subsidy for crop insurance.
The Farm Bill in Reconciliation: Loophole as Rosetta Stone; Review and Comment
As of July 4, 2025, budget reconciliation, bearing the title “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is Public Law. Among its many provisions are revisions to the major mandatory programs of the Farm Bill, reauthorizing them through 2031. Rushed through Congress under special budget procedures and a dearth of deliberation, much about this new federal law remains confusing and dismaying. This article reviews an expanded loophole for farm program payment limitations as a potential Rosetta Stone.
Impacts of the Commodity Title Changes Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) for Midwestern Farms in 2025
This farmdoc daily article discusses the changes made to the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) programs in the commodity provisions of the budget reconciliation legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). For the 2025 crop year, the new commodity title provisions are expected to increase payments by significant amounts. Those payments, however, will not be received until October 2026.
Reconciliation Bill Proposals to Add Base Acres
The Reconciliation Bills moving through Congress include proposals that would increase the number of base acres eligible for farm program payments. For farms that planted acreage to eligible crops from…
Trade Conflicts and Long-Term Consequences: Are Soybeans Doomed to Repeat History?
Trade disputes can be short-term disruptions, but history also suggests that even short-term disruptions can have lasting impacts—elevating new competitors and shifting the balance of global agricultural trade. The U.S.–China…
Brazil and China’s Strong Ag Relationship: Opportunity or Overdependence?
Over the past two decades, China has become Brazil’s largest agricultural trading partner. With the latest tariff escalations, Brazil is expected to strengthen its trade ties with China. This deepening relationship raises questions about long-term risks for Brazil having relied heavily on Chinese trade, particularly considering forecasts for slower Chinese economic growth in the coming years. This article examines the role of Chinese demand in driving the expansion of Brazil’s ag sector.
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…
Nonemployer Businesses and the Geography of Self-Employment
Nonemployer businesses serve as an important source of income for many individuals across the country and are essential components of vibrant local entrepreneurial ecosystems. In urban areas, a wide range of market opportunities allows individuals to pursue these businesses as either a primary occupation or a supplemental income stream. In rural regions, nonemployer activity is especially prominent in areas with large retiree populations and natural amenities.
Mastering the Early Years: Lessons on the Cover Crop Learning Curve, Part 3
Stepping back from specific tactics or methods, the big picture serves up reminders about the complexities, risks, and challenges involved with implementing cover crops. Flexibility is critical because no single piece of advice will be the right one for all of the scenarios Mother Nature can bring to a season. Adapting to the weather conditions of the growing season is key to a successful harvest in any agricultural system, and cover cropping systems are no different.
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.