In early January, Illinois crop budgets were revised for 2024. Farmers are predicted to lose $135 to $160 per acre for corn and $20 to $107 per acre for soybeans. What’s a farmer to do when news is a punch in the gut?

The U.S. beef cowherd is the smallest it's been since 1961, and the all-cattle inventory is the lowest since 1951 — both of which are setting the cattle market up for higher highs, says Oklahoma State's Derrell Peel.

“Whether you need a trust is about dollars, but it’s also about several other factors, including control, asset protection and family relationships,” says Kelly Jackson Hardy, CPA and principal with CLA.

Top Producer Summit kicks off today. Here's a look back at the award winners honored at the 2023 event. The five farm operations are from Mississippi, Virginia, South Dakota, Nebraska and Ohio.