Agribusiness

President Trump promised increased tariffs on the campaign trail. As president-elect he's doubled own on the pledge, targeting Canada, Mexico, and once again China. Illinois agriculture organizations still hope he doesn't mean it.

In the early 1800s, supply chains were a lot shorter, but the lack of mechanized transportation sometimes made it tremendously difficult to bring goods to market. Yet, a regional — edging toward national — marketplace did thrive.

Art collectors in central Illinois have a rare opportunity. The agriculture business Growmark is selling off its art collection. Appraisers valued the more than 60 works at more than $90,000.

Agriculture is big business in McLean County. But it wasn't always that way. And those new to the area probably don't know how the county got where it is. As part of our ongoing Welcome Home series, WGLT dives into the history of agriculture in McLean County.

The U.S. Agriculture Department says McLean County farmers harvested nearly 71 million bushels of corn in 2022, the most of any county in the nation.

The money will help more than 60 Illinois farmers and businesses install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

A chemical and agricultural behemoth has bought a St. Louis-based startup company that works closely with Illinois State University, where researchers have worked to domesticate the weed pennycress into a cover crop and oil seed plant dubbed CoverCress.

Bloomington-based Growmark and St. Paul, Minn.-based CHS are investing $50 million to make technological breakthroughs in agriculture.

A new assessment of the state strategy to reduce nutrient runoff shows mixed results. “The trajectory will not meet the goals of the strategy,” said Kris Reynolds with the ag environmental group, American Farmland Trust.

Heartland Community College is moving ahead with a proposal for a $23.4 million agriculture building — the first major item included in the college's new strategic plan.