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Latest farmdoc Daily Articles

Solvency Series: Healthy Debt-to-Asset Ratios Amid Rising Debt Servicing Costs

Our analysis of the distribution of the debt-to-asset ratios reveals that most grain farms in Illinois have maintained ratios in the strong category (below 30%) over the past two decades. However, the recent sharp rise in interest expense per tillable acre, especially for the 25% of farms with the highest debt servicing costs, signals an increase in financial strain.

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History & Tough Reality: When Payments Do More Harm Than Good, Consider Other Options

Maybe history can provide handrails in turbulent, difficult times. For many farmers, this harvest season threatens such times. Some of the crops being combined in fields lack the market demand expected at planting because the Trump Administration’s tariff policies and trade conflicts have damaged commodity exports. Unfortunately, the only response at the ready in national conversations appears to be the siren’s call for additional payments to farmers.

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Do Changes in Food and Agriculture Policy Align with Changes in Public Priorities?

From the Reconciliation Farm Bill to drastic changes in spending and priorities at USDA in the second Trump Administration, American food and agricultural policy is experiencing an unusual amount of turbulence and upheaval. In this post, we explore changes in public perceptions on USDA spending priorities using results from the Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey (GFAPS) from both May 2022 and August 2025, evaluating how recent policy changes compare to public preferences.

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Margin Coverage Option (MCO) Historical Analysis

The Margin Coverage Option (MCO) is a new area-based crop insurance endorsement. In Illinois, corn and soybeans are eligible for MCO coverage. The sales closing date for MCO coverage for the 2026 crop year is September 30th 2025 and is approaching quickly. This article provides some perspective on MCO by comparing it to the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO).

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U.S. Soybean Harvest Starts with No Sign of Chinese Buying as Brazil Sets Export Record

The U.S. soybean harvest began in September without any orders from the world’s largest buyer: China. American producers are harvesting a crop the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates at…

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Illinois Farm Financial Trends in 2024: Summary and Analysis

The financial results on all Illinois farms show that on average 2024 was a poorer financial year due to lower incomes. Grain farms had their highest income ever in 2021 and 2022, leading to build ups of cash and other assets. However, after two years of low incomes on grain farms, working cash has decreased almost 40% on the average farm to 2020 levels. With projected continued lower incomes for the rest of 2025 and 2026, farmers will need to find ways to reduce costs while making efficient use of assets.

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Latest Farm Policy News Articles

Tariff Revenue to Fund Farmer Bailout, Trump Says

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will use tariff revenue to offer cash bailouts for farmers who are struggling with trade uncertainty and other economic headwinds.

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Soybean Producers Frustrated Over US Support for Argentina

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that the U.S. will offer financial support to Argentina to prop up its ailing economy, prompting frustration from soybean producers, for whom Argentina is…

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USDA Puts Researchers on Leave After Canceling Hunger Report

The team of federal economists and researchers responsible for producing the government survey that measures hunger in America were put on indefinite paid leave Monday from the USDA, according to…

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China’s Soybean Buyers Turn to Argentina, Continue Shunning US

Chinese buyers booked at least 10 cargoes of Argentine soybeans after Buenos Aires on Monday scrapped grain export taxes, three traders said on Tuesday, dealing another setback to U.S. farmers…

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Screwworm Detected 70 Miles from US Southern Border

Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than…

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Bird Flu Persists As Cattle Infected in Nebraska

Nebraska has confirmed its first case of bird flu in a dairy cattle herd as a lingering 18-month outbreak continues to afflict livestock nationwide. Additionally, animal health officials have detected…

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