Enhancing Farm Efficiency and Sustainability with AI
Presented by N. Dennis Bowman, Extension Specialist in Digital Agriculture, this session will bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI research and practical, on-farm applications.
Participants will learn how AI is currently being used to enhance efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in commercial crop production. The webinar will demystify core concepts like Machine Learning and Large Language Models (LLMs) while showcasing real-world tools such as the CropWizard decision-support system and autonomous "Agbots" used for cover crop planting and weed management. Furthermore, the presenters will share best practices for interacting with AI (prompt engineering), discuss the limitations of current technologies (such as AI "hallucinations"), and provide a glimpse into the future of digital twins and predictive analytics through initiatives like AIFARMS and AIIRA.
Grain Bin Rescue – Cultivating Caution
Grain bin engulfments are swift, silent, and frequently fatal - not just for the victim, but for untrained bystanders who attempt a rescue. This session explains the physics of grain entrapment and why well-intentioned rescue attempts by untrained individuals so often result in double fatalities. Attendees will learn how technical rescue tubes enable safe extraction by stabilizing the grain around a victim, what fire departments need from farmers when they arrive on scene, and how you can prepare your operation in advance to support a technical rescue response.
Practices That Pay: What 11 Years of Data Reveals About Tillage, Nitrogen Management, and Cover Crops
What separates the most profitable corn and soybean fields from the rest? After 11 years of field data from hundreds of thousands of Illinois acres, PCM has some clear answers.
Join Dr. Laura Gentry for a look at what PCM data shows regarding tillage systems, nitrogen management, and cover crop adoption analyzed for both environmental and economic impact. This webinar will cover:
- Which tillage practices are returning the most to operators and landowners
- Where the most profitable fields land on nitrogen rates (and how that compares to what most farmers are applying)
- What cover crop data shows about profitability when incentive payments are factored in
Registration is free. The full findings will be published in PCM's annual Business Case for Conservation report, available in the June issue of Prairie Farmer Magazine or at precisionconservation.org
Sharing the Road – Cultivating Caution
Agricultural equipment and rural roadways are a dangerous combination. This session covers the lighting and Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) sign requirements that Illinois law mandates for farm equipment operated on public roads, how to properly and safely secure the scene of a roadway accident involving farm machinery, and what critical information 911 dispatchers need when a farm vehicle is involved in a crash - including details that can shorten response times and improve outcomes for everyone involved.
Premium Crop Market Opportunities
Producers have faced tight margins since 2023 for commodity corn and soybean production. Alternative markets exist for producers to capture premiums by growing organic, non-gmo, or food grade commodities. Nick Paulson and Gary Schnitkey will be joined by Kelsey Graber from Clarkson Grain Company to discuss premium markets in Illinois, including how farmers can identify opportunities and details that should be considered to determine a fit for their operation.
Structure Fires – Cultivating Caution
Farm structures present unique and often underestimated fire risks — from faulty electrical systems in aging barns to spontaneous combustion in hay and grain storage. This session covers fire prevention strategies for farm buildings and outbuildings, what farmers should and should not do in the critical minutes after a structure fire breaks out, how rural response times affect outcomes, and practical steps you can take right now to help firefighters help you - including maintaining clear access lanes and keeping updated property maps on file with your local fire department.
Management Strategies with Low Returns and High Uncertainty
Following record incomes in 2022, row crop producers continue to be in an extended period of historically low average returns. Global conflicts and shifts in trade policy have led to increased uncertainty resulting in volatile markets for agricultural and energy commodities impacting the prices producers receive for outputs and pay for inputs. This webinar will discuss management strategies that should be considered during periods of low returns and high uncertainty, including some suggestions for resets to the production plans used by farmers.
Farmer Production Decision-Making: Lessons from Precision Conservation Management
What does 10+ years of Illinois field-level data reveal about the decisions that actually improve farm profitability? Join Gary Schnitkey and Laura Gentry of Precision Conservation Management as they share practical takeaways from PCM’s dataset highlighting how tillage, nitrogen management, and cover crops influence farmers' bottom line, not just yield. This session focuses on real-world decision-making farmers can apply as they plan future seasons in a tight margin environment.
Implications of Prospective Plantings and Grain Stocks Data for Corn and Soybean Market Outlook – farmdoc Webinar Series
The March 31st release of Prospective Plantings and Grain Stocks data by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service is typically one of the most consequential data releases for corn and soybean markets. This post-report webinar will examine how the data release changes expected supply and demand conditions going into the 2026 crop season. Implications for old-crop and new-crop corn and soybean marketing decisions will also be discussed.
Fertilizer and Fuel Risks as a Result of the Iran Conflict – farmdoc Webinar Series
Gary Schnitkey and Nick Paulson will host guests to discuss how the ongoing conflict in Iran is disrupting fuel and fertilizer supply chains. Higher prices, increased volatility, and supply limitations will impact decisions and profitability prospects for the 2026 crop.
Finalizing 2026 Crop Insurance Decisions – farmdoc Webinar Series
Join the agricultural economists from the University of Illinois for their comprehensive, year-round webinar programming. Each session is crafted to provide the data and context needed to inform your operation's most critical decisions. Topics rotate seasonally to address current needs in commodity markets, risk management, and agricultural policy. Sign up now to secure your spot for the entire series.
2026 All Day Ag Outlook
Coffee and Beef House Cinnamon Rolls & a Beef House Lunch - Weather Outlook with Eric Snodgrass | Grain Market Fundamentals with Joe Janzen | The South American Competition with Joana Colussi | WILLAg Soybean Panel with Ellen Dearden, Greg Johnson, Chip Nellinger | WILLAg Corn Panel with Curt Kimmel, Matt Bennett, Brian Stark, Mike Zuzolo | Weeds with Aaron Hager | The Value of Farm Land with Bruce Sherrick | Where to Trim Crop Budgets with Nick Paulson | Crop Insurance Decisions with Gary Schnitkey
First Look at 2026 Crop Insurance Decisions – farmdoc Webinar Series
Join the agricultural economists from the University of Illinois for their comprehensive, year-round webinar programming. Each session is crafted to provide the data and context needed to inform your operation's most critical decisions. Topics rotate seasonally to address current needs in commodity markets, risk management, and agricultural policy. Sign up now to secure your spot for the entire series.
Supply Chain Sustainability: The Opportunity for Farmers
Join Precision Conservation Management (PCM) and PepsiCo for a behind-the-scenes conversation about supply chain sustainability goals and what it means for Illinois farmers. We’ll explore how PCM helps farmers leverage field data for profitability, and how PepsiCo is rewarding conservation practices like reduced tillage, cover crops, and nutrient efficiency. Learn how their partnership is designed with farmers in mind, making fair contracts and financial returns a top priority. This is your chance to hear directly from the people shaping supply chain sustainability efforts and learn how you can position your farm for success in the years to come!