Page 4 2026 Spring Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 2026 It is really hard to believe we are speeding toward spring already. Not that anyone misses the winter months we have endured, but spring just seems to pick everyone up a bit. Of course, those involved in agriculture eagerly await the change of seasons to spring also. Many area cow-calf and sheep operations are heavy in the birthing season, and that really means spring is upon us. Another sign is the gardening season has begun with some of the frost tolerant crops such as lettuce and spinach being seeded. Commercial operations took advantage of favorable, late February weather to put some fertilizer on, apply some anhydrous, and do some light tillage work. Early March brought us some much-needed rain. The extreme drought covering much of Logan County in early March will be hard to negate. Inches of rain are needed to return soil moisture levels to the normal range. The hope is to have some regular rains of moderate amounts. Extreme rain events don’t do much for us, as the runoff is too great. There are many events and circumstances affecting agriculture currently. Some are known, and others are developing. The economic situation has become tighter throughout the year. According to a Central Illinois Crop Budget put together by Gary 2026 Spring Farm Outlook Schnitkey and Nick Paulson at the University of Illinois, soybeans after corn is the only crop showing a profit. That soybean situation looks at 76-bushel soybean yields, a $10.40 price, and a land cost of $327 to show a return of $25 per acre. On corn after soybeans, using a yield of 241, $4.25 for the price, and the same $327 for the land cost, it results in a loss of $55 per acre. If you wish to see more information concerning the budgets, look at www.farmdoc. illinois.edu in the management section. Energy is still a very hot topic in the area. This includes solar and wind power development, an adequate electric grid, and the cost of energy. Many state regulations continue to foster the development of so-called “green energy” sources. Regardless of where you stand on some of the issues related to energy, most would agree the cost of energy has increased. The continued search for the right mixture of electrical supply will be a primary goal for both producers and consumers. Agricultural producers continue to look for ways to diversify their income and maximize the resources at their disposal. There has been a slight increase in production of specialty crops for our area. Some of the more mainstream specialty crops include canning pumpkins, popcorn, seed corn, and seed soybeans. These crops have shown an increase in income for those who are able to get contracts, but they do require some different inputs, management, and possibly obtaining additional equipment. Highly specialized crops are also sought out, but many of them require
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