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Agriculture

Many Illinois farmers see slow planting progress due to frequent rains, cooler temperatures

By Rhiannon Branch, FarmWeek
Apr 30, 2026 2:58 pm - Despite statewide planting progress being ahead of the average pace, weather and soil conditions kept many tractors on the sidelines in large portions of central and northern Illinois through mid-April.
Already under financial pressure, Midwest soybean farmers are squeezed further by tariffs, Iran war

By ERIC FERKENHOFF/LEE ENTERPRISES and JOSH KELETY/AP
Apr 13, 2026 1:45 pm - Midwest soybean farmers are facing an array of compounding issues. Costs, such as equipment, have crept up over time while soybean prices have stayed low. Tariffs levied by the Trump administration last year and the resulting monthslong trade war with China in 2025 only made things worse, they say. Then the Iran war bottled up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sending fertilizer prices sky high.
Illinois farmers ease critical labor shortages through this agricultural visa program

By GEORGIA EPIPHANIOU
Apr 11, 2026 2:12 pm - A lack of domestic workforce participation in agriculture pushes Illinois farmers to employ foreign workers through the temporary H-2A non-immigrant visa program. Illinois’ employment of farmers through the visa program has grown rapidly, filling 4,488 positions in 2025.
Fertilizer prices jump ahead of planting season, squeezing Illinois farmers

By Bob Okon and Tom C. Doran
Apr 07, 2026 12:34 pm - The war in Iran is raising the price of fertilizer for farmers for the same reason it’s increasing gas prices for everyone. The Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route threatened by the conflict, carries nearly half of the world’s urea exports and about 30% of ammonia, both critical for fertilizer production. The impact on fertilizer prices and supplies has set off alarm bells in the world of agriculture and a new focus in news reporting on the economic impact of the war.
Pritzker calls for year-round E15 gasoline in letter to Congress

By George Alexandrakis
Apr 02, 2026 8:36 pm - Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on Congress to allow the permanent year-round use of E15 gasoline, a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline that is cheaper than regular fuel and increases demand for corn.
Worries about global economic pain deepen as the war in Iran drags on

By PAUL WISEMAN
Mar 30, 2026 1:03 pm - U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran have driven up prices, darkened the outlook for the world economy, sent global stock markets reeling and forced developing countries to ration fuel and subsidize energy costs to protect their poorest.
COD awarded $650k USDA grant to expand urban agriculture training

By Angela Mennecke, COD News Bureau
Mar 17, 2026 12:07 am - College of DuPage received a $650,000 USDA grant to expand sustainable urban farming training through the COD-FORWARD project, offering stackable certificates, hands-on training, and paid internships.
Illinois Stewardship Alliance urges farmers to apply for infrastructure funding

Submitted by Illinois Stewardship Alliance
Mar 12, 2026 10:48 am - Illinois Stewardship Alliance urges farmers and food businesses to apply for the FY2026 Local Food Infrastructure Grant by March 27, which funds cold storage, processing equipment, and distribution systems
How Illinois lawmakers want to protect waterways in wake of federal threat

by Gabriel Castilho
Mar 10, 2026 1:13 pm - As the Trump administration moves to slash federal protections for waterways and wetlands, Illinois Democratic lawmakers and environmental advocates are racing to finally pass a measure that would enact state safeguards.
‘Our Stories’ film preview honors Latino community’s role in McHenry County agriculture

By Linda Balek, The Land Conservancy of McHenry County
Mar 08, 2026 9:18 pm - Raices Latinas is screening a preview of “Nuestras Historias,” a documentary highlighting Latino contributions to McHenry County agriculture, on March 31 at Woodstock Opera House with free admission.

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