News about food, farming, business, politics and policy that impacts central Illinois farmers.
G-20 leaders will issue an urgent call this weekend for reform of the World Trade Organization, which has been under increased stress since Donald Trump became president, according to a … Read More
As many as four out of five employees at the Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service could quit instead of relocating to the agency’s new headquarters in Kansas City, according to … Read More
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue acknowledged that American farmers are “casualties” of President Donald Trump’s trade war with China, according to an interview broadcast on Tuesday. Perdue told CNN he did … Read More
Repairs and cleanup following the prolonged flooding along the Mississippi River will cost more than $2 billion, according to early estimates from an advocacy group for river communities. Heavier than … Read More
Good news: Barge traffic is moving again along the Mississippi River. The waterway was shut down on March 15 because of high water and it’s been a long, slow descent … Read More
At least three African nations will need to import more corn this year after extreme weather from cyclones to drought devastated crops, sparking some unusual trade flows. Corn is a … Read More
Corn prices have been on an epic run. Now, soybeans could soon be catching up. USDA will update its plantings estimate Thursday, but analysts and traders are already concerned the … Read More
Chinese Vice Premier Liu He held a phone conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement posted … Read More
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos urged U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to issue a federal disaster declaration for areas of Illinois’ 17th congressional district. “Our region is facing unprecedented weather conditions … Read More
Scores of scientists within the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are continuing to churn out studies that carry warnings about the wide-ranging effects of climate change, but there’s been a dramatic … Read More
