Issue 1 February 2021

Farm Credit Office Access By Appointment or Call Upon Arrival

Access to Farm Credit Illinois offices remains by appointment only through Wednesday, March 31, in conjunction with other COVID-19 mitigations. FCI offices will be staffed from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm weekdays. TO CONDUCT BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS: Schedule an office or on-farm appointment Call the office phone number posted when you arrive for indoor service Use the myFCI secure member portal Place documents in an FCI Drop Box at any office 24/7

Contact Your Regional Office

Attention Youth: Scholarships & Grants Available Apply Online by March 12

Scholarships - Apply Community Improvement Grants - Apply

Weather Outlook Update Cold Snap & Drought Monitoring Winter’s slow start and lack of cold air and snow came to an abrupt halt in the middle of February. An extended Arctic Outbreak will keep temperatures much below average in place through the third week of February for most of North America. Expect four-inch soil temperatures to drop into the single digits while repeated chances of snow spread west to east across Illinois. There are pockets of drought in Illinois stretching from central Illinois through northern Indiana, but the western U.S. has extensive drought anchored over the four-corners states to the Northern Plains. March weather patterns are forecast to be mild and potentially wet in the mid-Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys, which could give Illinois growers an excellent start to the 2021 growing season. But concerns rise over two factors. First, there is a fading La Niña in the Pacific Ocean and sea surface temperatures are cool along the west coast of North America. Cold water in this region is correlated with drier and hotter weather in summer over the Midwest. Second, 60% of the U.S. is in drought. If this drought creeps into the Midwest by June, there is reason to be concerned about an elevated risk of flash drought this summer. Long-term trends suggest the heat and dryness will stay west of Illinois, but we need to monitor this situation closely over the coming months.

Watch the Latest Forecast

Farmer Feedback Needed for Study Industry Groups Seek to Create Foodbank Market for IL Farmers

If you farm in Illinois, please take 8-10 minutes to complete a survey conducted by the University of Illinois, Illinois Farm Bureau, and Feeding Illinois. The study looks to identify infrastructure development and supply capacity needed for food banks to become a wholesale market for farmers. We especially seek information from livestock, dairy, grain, and specialty crop farms from around the state to better address food insecurity.

Take the Survey

Directors Cup Recognizes Beginning Farmers $5,000 Awards Available

The FreshRoots Directors Cup presented by the FCI board celebrates young and beginning farmers committed to continuous learning and intentional living for a brighter future for their farm family business and community. Recipients receive a $5,000 cash award and plaque. Up to six recipients will be selected in 2021.

Apply by April 16

Find Your Crop Insurance Combination Options Customized for Your Farm

Find the appropriate mix of crop insurance products to fit your farm’s risk management plan. Supplemental protection options fill in coverage gaps, reduce risk exposure, and provide greater peace of mind.

Protect Your 2021 Crop

Miss a Virtual Learning Program? Watch the Recordings

All 2021 FCI learning programs were recorded and are available online. Watch past presentations on crop marketing, weather outlook, crop insurance, and estate planning from industry experts.

Catch Up On 2021 Learning Programs

Price Check Land Sales in the Past Five Months

The listing includes results for 74 different farmland auctions reported since the last results were published in August 2020. These public auctions concluded with successful bids and represented 7,224 total acres in 26 different counties selling for a grand total of $55.9 million with an average price of $7,743 per acre. The highest price per acre was $14,950 for Class A land in Champaign County; the lowest price per acre was $2,626 for Class C land in Hamilton County. Both of these sales took place in December 2020.

Recent Auction Prices

Crop Insurance Reminders Contact Your Agent with Questions

FEBRUARY 15 Corn & Soybean Production Report Due for Area Plan Policies – signed and completed production report due to agent MARCH 15 Corn & Soybean Sales Closing – last date to purchase, change, or cancel coverage on spring-planted crops   APRIL 1 OR 5* Corn Initial Plant Date – earliest date a crop may be planted and eligible for a replant payment per MPCI policy provisions   APRIL 15 OR 20* Soybean Initial Plant Date – earliest date a crop may be planted and eligible for a replant payment per MPCI policy provisions   APRIL 29 Corn & Soybean Production Reports Due for Individual Plan Policies – last date to report production for all spring-planted policies   *Contact FCI agent for county-specific dates

Contact Your FCI Crop Insurance Agent

Raffles & Reactions Enter to Win One of 10 Collapsible Shovels - Drawing held March 5

This heavy-duty utility shovel is durable and light – weighing less than 1.5 pounds. It collapses too, making it perfect to store in your vehicle.

Enter to win

Congratulations to the winners of the RTIC rambler following Issue 6 of 2020: Kay Durkee of Macon County Laurel Fuqua of Coles County Keri Healy of Macoupin County David McMahan of Union County Kevin Mickey of Christian County Joe Pinski of Washington County Jerry Schmidt of Logan County Betty Sudkamp of Shelby County Brian VanBlaricum of Richland County Marlin Wilson of Randolph County In Issue 6 of Essentials in 2020, readers were asked what date their harvest ended. Here are the results from 539 total answers.

Ag Economy Barometer Producer Sentiment Drifts Lower to 167

The Ag Economy Barometer measures the health of the U.S. agriculture economy with an index value based on a survey of agricultural producers on economic sentiment. A score of 100 means producer sentiment is unchanged from the six-month baseline research period; a score higher than 100 means sentiment improved from the base period; a score lower than 100 means sentiment declined versus the base period.

Learn More About the Barometer's Latest Reading