Caring for your farmland investment

Flanagan State Bank - Organic Ag Newsletter

"The ten organic farms that I manage range from 200 acres in size to 1,800 acres in size. The leases are either a 50/50 crop share lease or a custom farm lease. All but one of the 50/50 crop share farms were cash rent lease farms before transitioning to organic production. The four custom-operated farms were custom farmed before they were transitioned to organic production."

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Who Are the Biggest Absentee Landowners in Illinois?

"The prime soils of central Illinois have the highest concentration of absentee landowners as measured by the per-capita number of professional farm managers. Or in other words, there are more professional farm managers in central Illinois than in the rest of the state - and along with them, absentee landowners."

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Illinois soil conservation advocates encourage expansion of incentives for 'cover crops'

"No one needs to sell Rob Woodrow on the value of 'cover crops' in farming. Woodrow, a professional farm manager for landowners in the Springfield area and throughout Illinois, said planting non-cash crops such as rye and clover in the fall after harvest helps soil retain moisture and nutrients, controls weeds and reduces erosion for the next growing season."