Farmland Values and Rental Agreements in Illinois for 2027
University of Illinois agricultural economists Dr. Gary Schnitkey and Dr. Nick Paulson invites you to a webinar focused on farmland values and rental agreements for the 2027 crop year. They will present an overview of the current state of Illinois farmland values and rents and discuss the factors which will impact values and rent negotiations for 2027. The webinar will incorporate and rely on data from USDA, IL FBFM, and professional farm managers in Illinois to provide a range of perspectives. This session aims to equip both landowners and farmers with knowledge to navigate rent negotiations.
2026 PCM Webinar Series
Join Precision Conservation Management (PCM) for our webinar series, featuring insights from leading agricultural experts on the topics that matter most to you right now. Building on the success of our 2025 series, PCM continues delivering timely, relevant content that combines data-driven insights with practical farm management strategies.
Throughout the year, our expert presenters - including PCM Director Greg Goodwin, Operations Manager Clay Bess, Dr. Laura Gentry of IL Corn and University of Illinois, and Professor Dr. Gary Schnitkey - will address the most pressing issues facing farmers today. Drawing from PCM's extensive database of real-world farming practices, topics will be selected approximately one month before each session to ensure we're covering what's most valuable and timely for your operation.
Each bi-monthly session offers practical strategies to improve your bottom line while promoting sustainable agriculture. Join us to learn how PCM's data-driven approach can transform your farming operation, combining profitability with conservation while accessing valuable opportunities.
August 4, Tuesday
October 6, Tuesday
December 1, Tuesday
Farmer Mental Health – Cultivating Caution
The pressures of farming - financial stress, weather uncertainty, equipment failures, and the relentless pace of harvest - can push farmers and farm families to their breaking point. This session covers how to recognize the warning signs of extreme stress, anxiety, and mental health crisis in yourself and others, practical de-escalation techniques that family members, neighbors, and coworkers can use, and how law enforcement approaches mental health crisis calls in rural settings. Attendees will also leave with a clear list of local and statewide mental health resources specifically available to farm families in Illinois.
Manure Pit Gases – Cultivating Caution
Each fall, manure pit agitation and pump-outs create one of the deadliest hazards on any livestock operation. This session covers the specific gases - including hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide - produced during agitation and why they are so dangerous even in brief exposures, why strict perimeter security and the removal of all people and animals from the area is non-negotiable during pump-outs, and why fire and rescue departments cannot safely enter a pit environment without Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) gear - and what that means for response capabilities and timelines if something goes wrong.