Good news for buyers of food and farmland — more normal rates of inflation are expected to return later this year and into 2024. The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri predicted the economic shift recently in its annual U.S. Baseline Outlook report. The report also looks at crop and livestock prices and production expenses. “What goes up, generally comes back down in the agricultural markets,” said FAPRI Director Pat Westhoff. Read more

In only his second veto, President Joe Biden nixed Congress’ attempt to overturn his administration’s rule defining “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS). “Farmers would be left wondering whether artificially irrigated areas remain excluded or not,” he wrote. However, the rule continues to face legal challenges. Read more

Robert A. Easter, renowned swine nutritionist who ascended the leadership ranks at the University of Illinois to become president of the university, was named Honorary Master Farmer by Prairie Farmer. Only 16 Honorary Master Farmers have ever been named by the magazine. Find out what the recognition means to Easter in this interview with Rita Frazer. LISTEN HERE

With 169 filings, farm bankruptcies in 2022 were the lowest since Chapter 12 became permanent in 2005. This comes just three years after the third-highest number of farm bankruptcy filings – 595 in 2019. This American Farm Bureau Federation Market Intel details the history of Chapter 12 and the latest data, which shows bankruptcy filings were down nearly 39% from 2021.   Read more

Presentations, plot tours and networking opportunities will be part of a Cover Crop Field Day next month at Southern Illinois University’s Belleville Research Center. Check out the speakers, topics and how to register. Read more  

McDonough County may not have a Young Leader program, but that didn’t stop 26-year-old farmer Kody Bowman from getting involved at the state level. “I’ve definitely learned the importance of the Young Leaders, and I have been very actively trying to get a program started in McDonough County since I started on the (state committee),” he told FarmWeek. Learn more about the Young Leader’s efforts and his hopes to carry on his family’s farm.   Read more