While everyone seems to be focused on higher crop input costs, the largest group of U.S. farmers wants to know when the Biden administration will work on trade talks. (Successful Farming)

Food prices are estimated to rise 5% in the first half of 2022, according to research firm IRI, though the level of increases will vary by grocers and regions. (Wall Street Journal)

Unless a coal-fired power plant in southwestern Illinois manages to make dramatic reductions in its carbon emissions, it will be forced to close within the next 23 years. (Journal Gazette & Times-Courier)  

Restaurants and hotels saw the largest number of jobs added in December. With a gain of 53,000 in leisure and hospitality, that’s a slightly better gain than the 41,000 jobs added a month before. Food services and drinking places added 42,600 jobs. (Business Insider)

As the voice of farmers representing 6 million members, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall celebrated 2021 victories and called on AFBF members to continue to share their stories on the impact of policy and the importance of agriculture at the 102nd AFBF annual convention January 9, held in Atlanta, Ga. (Feedstuffs

The goal was 1,000 pounds of produce; instead, the first year of Extension’s Partners in Produce project tipped the scales at over 25,000 pounds. With the enthusiastic support of the growers and buyers at the Arthur Produce Auction, University of Illinois Extension has provided more than 116,000 pounds of fresh produce to central Illinois food pantries in three years. (Yahoo News)