Agriculture

For six generations, the Ropp family has made dairy products in Normal, including two decades producing cheese. The store and farm will close early next month.

Illinois farmers feel the impacts of tariffs, inflation and more competition. The federal government introduced bridge payments, but these payments are not enough to offset the cost of farming.

In 2025, the actions of President Donald Trump’s second term saw significant cuts of various funding sources for McLean County programs. A new community advocacy group wants to document the totality of these cuts in their initiative known as The Documentation Project.

In an unprecedented move, former Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan has declined to resign from his seat as chair of the Country Mutual Insurance board. A legal dispute involving Country's Farm Bureau ties helped lead to Duncan's ouster.

University of Illinois researchers analyzed traces of DNA in rivers and streams to learn how strips of trees near water — called riparian buffers — impact land species.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to send “bridge” payments to farmers who grow soybeans, cotton and other crops before March. Commodity groups and economists say the aid brings relief to farmers and their lenders, but they need long-term solutions.

Farmers across the central U.S. have navigated a myriad of challenges this year, including low crop prices and federal funding cuts.

There are big warning signs in agriculture right now. And many experts are warning an aid package announced by the Trump administration is not likely to go very far or come soon enough

Country Financial is one of Bloomington-Normal's largest and longest operating businesses. What you may not know is Country Financial did not start in Bloomington.

New Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson said one reason he unseated previous organization head Brian Duncan was a legal dispute with the American Farm Bureau Federation.