Illinois is home to roughly 76,000 farms spanning 26.7 million acres, the nation's largest soybean producer and second largest corn producer, and an agriculture economy worth more than $51 billion a year. This page walks through the state's farming history and regulatory structure, crop and livestock data, seed/fertilizer/pesticide rules, Illinois FFA and the Farm Bureau, current issues like dicamba litigation and New World Screwworm, the fight over the state's estate tax, and current legislation in Springfield.
Agriculture is one of Illinois' foundational industries, spanning crop production, livestock, agribusiness, and the regulatory and funding systems that support them. Authority over farming is split between federal agencies setting national policy and food safety standards, and state agencies handling intrastate regulation, promotion, and consumer protection.
Illinois agriculture's modern shape traces back nearly two centuries, through a steel-plow breakthrough, a punishing farm crisis, and a series of federal farm bills that rebuilt how the industry is financed and insured.
Agricultural pioneer John Deere invented the steel plow to improve farm productivity. The invention began the modernization of agriculture that continues today; Deere's company, founded in Moline, has grown into one of the largest agricultural manufacturers in the world, generating roughly $60 billion in revenue annually.
Often considered one of the worst economic crises since the Great Depression, the 1980s farm crisis arose from causes including the Nixon soybean embargo and shifting Russian grain transactions amid currency changes, inflation, and other pressures. In 1977, total farm debt surpassed gross farm income, and remained that way through 1985.
Global ag trade saw major reform in the early '90s with the founding of the World Trade Organization and ratification of NAFTA. The Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 shifted payments away from coupling with market prices and production and removed acreage restrictions. The Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 reformed crop insurance and cut farmer costs; the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 supported the use of ag products for biofuels; and the 2012 farm bill introduced two crucial programs, Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage.
Source: John Deere company history; USDA Economic Research Service, farm bill history.
As in most areas of policy, agriculture sits under a split jurisdiction: federal agencies like the USDA, FDA, EPA, and OSHA set national policy, subsidies, food-safety, and environmental/labor standards, while Illinois agencies like the Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Commerce Commission, and the Illinois State Fair handle intrastate regulation, nuisance protection, promotion, and consumer services.
| Category | Federal Authority | State Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce | Regulation of interstate commerce (U.S. Congress) | Intrastate regulation (Illinois Commerce Commission) |
| Policy & Support | National policy & subsidies (USDA and U.S. Congress) | Farm nuisance protection (Illinois Dept. of Agriculture) |
| Standards | Food safety standards (FDA) | State Fair and promotions (Illinois State Fair) |
| Protections | Environmental & labor laws (EPA, U.S. Dept. of Labor, OSHA) | Consumer services (Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation) |
Source: USDA; U.S. EPA; U.S. FDA; Illinois Department of Agriculture; Illinois Commerce Commission.
Source: Illinois State Treasurer's Office; U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture; USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Corn and soybeans anchor Illinois's crop economy, but growing them, and everything applied to them, runs through a layered system of state and federal seed, fertilizer, and pesticide regulation.
Units vary by crop as reported in the source presentation: corn, soybeans, and wheat are measured in bushels; processed pumpkins in tons. Figures shown are % of U.S. production, acres in production (millions), and units harvested (in 100 millions for corn/soybeans/wheat; equivalent scale for pumpkins).
Corn and soybeans together account for roughly 86% of the nearly $20 billion in 2024 Illinois crop revenue shown here, with wheat and all other crops making up the remainder.
Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture, 2024 crop revenue estimates.
Legislation on seed in Illinois is governed by the Illinois Seed Law (505 ILCS 110/) and the Illinois Administrative Code (Title 8, Part 230), which operate alongside federal intellectual property law such as the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA).
Source: Illinois Seed Law (505 ILCS 110/); Illinois Administrative Code, Title 8, Part 230.
Illinois fertilizer regulation is primarily governed by the Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961, which covers registration, safe handling, environmental regulations, and licensing of commercial fertilizers.
Source: Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961.
Source: Illinois Pesticide Act; U.S. EPA; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Roughly a third of Illinois's 71,000 farms raise livestock, ranking the state among the nation's leaders in hog production and supporting a multibillion dollar layer of economic activity beyond the farm gate itself.
Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture; USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture, livestock sales and inventory data.
Livestock is largely regulated by state agencies rather than federal. The regulations fall into four main categories: animal health, management, containment, and backyard livestock.
Source: Illinois Domestic Animal Running at Large Act; Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Illinois FFA and the Illinois Farm Bureau anchor agricultural education and advocacy statewide, even as farmers navigate local food infrastructure gaps, dicamba litigation, an emerging pest threat, and an ongoing fight over the state's estate tax.
The National FFA Organization does not receive government funding and instead relies on donations and sponsorships. Former Illinois State FFA President Thaddeus Bergschneider, of Franklin, IL, served as the 2024–25 National FFA President. The 2026–27 Illinois FFA State Officer team was elected at the state convention held June 9–11.
Source: National FFA Organization; Illinois FFA Association.
Illinois Farm Bureau President: Phillip Nelson, of Seneca. Source: Illinois Farm Bureau.
The Illinois Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) was created to provide more and better markets for small farms and food services. Illinois has the third most farmers markets of any state per year, giving consumers the opportunity to buy meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables directly from producers.
90% of applications came from, or in collaboration with, underserved farmers. In the 2025/26 season, at least 27 farms received RFSI awards totaling over $4.8 million in federal funding.
Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, FY2024 impact data.
Dicamba imitates the plant growth hormone auxin, causing the plant to grow at a rapid rate and die. It's commonly used on weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate (Roundup), such as marestail, pigweed, and waterhemp.
Dicamba is first registered as a selective, systemic herbicide, used to control broadleaf weeds in agricultural and residential settings.
Monsanto releases a dicamba-tolerant crop trait, stating it is effective against most broadleaf weeds, including weeds that are hard to control, though harmful to crops such as soybeans, canola, and cotton, which are also broadleaf plants. The new technology allows development of soybean and other broadleaf crops highly tolerant to treatment with dicamba.
Dicamba is first registered by the EPA for over-the-top uses on dicamba-resistant cotton and soybeans. This was later extended in 2018.
In February 2020, the EPA registered three new dicamba products: Xtendimax, Engenia, and Tavium. These products were more heavily regulated after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit found the EPA had "substantially understated risks that it acknowledged and failed entirely to acknowledge other risks."
In 2024, the U.S. District Court of Arizona vacated the 2020 ruling with an existing stocks order, so there were no legal over-the-top dicamba labels for the 2025 growing season. In early 2026, the EPA reapproved Engenia, Tavium, and Xtendimax (Stryax) through the 2027 growing season. Battles over the legality and application of dicamba remain underway.
Source: U.S. EPA, dicamba registration decisions; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The animal is left with an infected, further-injured wound that can lead to more health problems, notably blindness.
Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), New World Screwworm outbreak data.
An estate tax is levied on someone's assets following their passing, before they're distributed to heirs. Twelve states and Washington, D.C. still impose an estate tax: Illinois, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Maine.
The only state with both an estate tax and an inheritance tax.
Top rate of 16%.
Top rate of 16%; one of two states with a "cliff tax," where estates just over the exemption owe tax on the full value.
Top rate of 20%, the highest among comparison states, and also has a cliff tax.
Top rate of 16%.
| Taxable Estate | Base Taxes Paid | Marginal Rate | Rate Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $4.04M | $0 | 0% | $0 |
| $4.04M – $5.04M | $290,800 | 11.2% | $4.04M |
| $5.04M – $6.04M | $402,800 | 12% | $5.04M |
| $6.04M – $7.04M | $522,800 | 12.8% | $6.04M |
| $7.04M – $8.04M | $650,800 | 13.6% | $7.04M |
| $8.04M – $9.04M | $786,800 | 14.4% | $8.04M |
| $9.04M – $10.04M | $903,800 | 15.2% | $9.04M |
| $10.04M and higher | $1,082,800 | 16% | $10.04M |
Source: Illinois Department of Revenue; Tax Foundation, state estate tax comparisons.
At least 33 agriculture-related bills have been filed in the 104th Illinois General Assembly this session, ranging from deer and wildlife management to farmland conservation fees, farm lending, and repeated attempts to reform Illinois's estate tax for farm families.
Establishes a $275/acre fee on buyers or lessees of agricultural land converted to non-agricultural uses starting January 1, 2027. Collected fees fund soil and water conservation districts and climate-smart agricultural education.
Farm-focused. Raises the effective exemption to $6,000,000 (from $4,000,000) specifically for estates with qualifying farm property, adjusts it annually for inflation, and changes "special use valuation" so farmland is valued without certain federal limitations.
Creates a commission within the Department of Agriculture to study barriers and policies affecting young farmers' (ages 25–40) access to farmland and recommend solutions, meeting quarterly before dissolving December 31, 2031.
Creates grants for food banks to receive donated venison and establishes an optional Hunter Food Bank Stamp to support hunger relief, while expanding and streamlining deer management permitting.
Bills touching agriculture filed this session. Search by bill number or keyword below.
| Bill | What It Does |
|---|---|
| HB2340 | Free Landowner Deer Permits in CWD CountiesAmends the Illinois Wildlife Code to provide free Landowner Deer permits to resident landowners, tenants, and business entities holding at least 20 acres in counties affected by Chronic Wasting Disease. Requires DNR to establish rules and fees for out-of-state landowners meeting the same acreage threshold. |
| HB5309 | Removes Mute Swans from Protected StatusRemoves mute swans from protection under the Illinois Wildlife Code, clarifying they are not considered migratory game birds. |
| SB1517 | Wildlife Code Technical ChangeAmends the Wildlife Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB1518 | Veteran Lifetime Fishing License DiscountReduces the cost of a lifetime fishing license by 50% for Illinois resident veterans with an honorable or general discharge. Veterans must provide proof of service as determined by DNR, which will set verification requirements. |
| SB1544 | Deer Management Must Weigh Economic & Safety ImpactAmends the Wildlife Code. Provides that any deer herd management plan established by DNR, including length of seasons and bag/possession limits, shall take into account economic damage and public safety concerns caused by deer. |
| SB1637 | Protects Open Space Lands Fund from DiversionAmends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys in the Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. |
| SB1689 | Doubles Soil & Water Conservation District GrantsAmends Public Act 103-0589. Increases the FY2025 appropriation to the Department of Agriculture from the Partners for Conservation Fund for grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts from $4,500,000 to $8,500,000. |
| SB2043 | Competency Certificates for Military, Veterans & CCL HoldersAmends the Wildlife Code. Upon request, DNR shall issue a certificate of competency to active-duty military personnel, Illinois resident veterans, and individuals holding a concealed carry permit who provide acceptable verification. |
| SB2160 | Venison Food Bank GrantsCreates grants for food banks to receive donated venison and establishes an optional Hunter Food Bank Stamp to support hunger relief. Expands and streamlines deer management rules, including special harvest periods, permit transfers, and faster permit processing with automatic approval if not acted on within 5 business days. |
| SB2206 | Kankakee & Iroquois Floodwater Mitigation CommissionCreates the Kankakee and Iroquois Counties Floodwater Mitigation Commission to study flooding and drainage issues, review policies in other states, and make recommendations for solutions. |
| SB2311 | Statewide Flood Planning Every Five YearsRequires DNR to create and update a statewide flood plan every five years starting in 2026, along with regional river basin plans and dam maintenance plans, and establishes an advisory committee to guide implementation. |
| SB2372 | Farmland Transition CommissionCreates a Farmland Transition Commission within the Department of Agriculture to study barriers and policies affecting young farmers' (ages 25–40) access to farmland and recommend solutions. Meets quarterly, submits annual reports, dissolves December 31, 2031. |
| SB2387 | Farmland Conversion FeeCreates a Farmland Conversion Fee on agricultural land taken out of production for uses like solar/wind farms, development, or housing, starting in 2026, with fees of $700–$900 per acre and certain exemptions. Directs revenue toward conservation efforts and a metric encouraging conservation practices on state agricultural land. |
| SB2625 | $6.1M for Crop Insurance Rebate InitiativeAppropriates $6,100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for costs associated with the Crop Insurance Rebate Initiative, providing incentives for at least 1,000,000 acres of eligible land. Effective July 1, 2025. |
| SB3017 | One-Vote-Per-Acre Drainage District ElectionsChanges voting rules for drainage district commissioner elections by giving landowners one vote per acre of property they own in the district, with rules for shared ownership and authorization. Adjusts polling hours and clarifies that election judges may rely on voters' ownership representations without verifying property records. |
| SB3019 | Expands Illinois Finance Authority Farm LendingAllows the Illinois Finance Authority to issue larger agricultural loans or bonds if higher limits are authorized by law or regulation, and removes a restriction that previously barred loans for new depreciable farm property to individuals with a net worth over $500,000. |
| SB3226 | Technical Report Deadline ChangeReplaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, requiring a report to be submitted on or before March 1, 2027 (rather than January 1, 2027). Effective immediately. |
| SB4044 | Agricultural Land Conservation ActThe proposed Agricultural Land Conservation Act establishes a $275/acre fee on buyers or lessees of agricultural land converted to non-agricultural uses (e.g., residential or commercial) starting January 1, 2027. Collected fees fund soil and water conservation districts and climate-smart agricultural education. |
| SB4193 | Conservation Easement Tax CreditCreates a tax credit program for farmers who donate conservation easements or portions of qualified real property, allowing credits equal to 50%–100% of the donation's fair market value starting in 2027. Capped at $7.5 million statewide per year, with a $500,000 limit per donation, administered by DNR. |
| SR0124 | Resolution Supporting Illinois FarmersAffirms a commitment to supporting Illinois farmers and promoting a positive perception of their essential work. Encourages public education initiatives, outreach programs, and partnerships with agricultural organizations, and commends farmers for their dedication and role in Illinois's agricultural heritage. |
| SR0593 | Congratulates Leman Farms Inc.Congratulates Leman Farms Inc. on being named the 2026 Family of the Year by the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA), thanking the Leman family and staff for their hard work and dedication to the pork industry. |
| SR0749 | Illinois Bacon Day 2026Declares May 6, 2026, as Illinois Bacon Day in the State of Illinois and invites all Illinoisans to thank a pig farmer by enjoying some delicious slices of bacon. |
| SJR0024 | Illinois Bacon Day 2025Declares May 7, 2025, as Illinois Bacon Day and invites all Illinoisans to thank a pig farmer by enjoying some delicious slices of bacon. |
| SB0710 | Free Deer & Turkey Hunting Permits for LandownersUpdates Illinois wildlife rules to allow landowners to authorize others to remove deer causing property damage under issued permits. Provides free deer and turkey hunting permits to qualifying Illinois landowners and tenants of at least 40 acres, limited to hunting on their own land, with staggered effective dates in 2026 and 2027. |
| HB0054 | Soil Health WeekProvides that the first full week of March each year is designated as Soil Health Week, observed throughout the State to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of soil health to Illinois agriculture and Illinois farmers. |
| HB2339 | County-by-County Deer ManagementSpecifies that DNR shall take deer management actions on a county-by-county basis, rather than on an area-wide basis. |
| SB3490 | Restricts Foreign Ownership of Agricultural LandExpands restrictions on foreign ownership of Illinois land, prohibiting certain foreign-controlled entities from acquiring land, including agricultural land. Violators must divest within two years or face felony penalties and Attorney General legal action, enforced by a newly created Office of Agricultural Intelligence. |
| SB0134 | Portable Spousal Estate Tax ExclusionLets a surviving spouse apply their deceased spouse's unused federal estate tax exclusion to the Illinois exclusion too, mirroring how federal "portability" already works. Applies to deaths on or after 1/1/2026. |
| SB0139 | Ties Estate Exemption to Federal Inflation AdjustmentsReplaces Illinois's flat $4,000,000 exclusion with a floating amount tied to federal Internal Revenue Code Section 2010, meaning it would automatically track federal inflation adjustments (and include the spousal unused exclusion concept from SB0134) going forward. |
| SB1688 | Raises Farm Estate Tax Exemption to $6MFarm-focused. Raises the effective exemption to $6,000,000 (from $4,000,000) specifically for estates with qualifying farm property, adjusts it annually for inflation, and changes how "special use valuation" works so farmland is valued without certain federal limitations, aimed at keeping family farms from being forced to sell land to cover the tax bill. |
| SB1735 | Phases Out Estate Tax by 2031Gradually winds the estate tax down, cutting the amount owed by 20% per year, with no tax at all for deaths/transfers on or after 1/1/2030, and full repeal of the Act effective 1/1/2031. |
| SB1828 | Immediate Repeal of Estate TaxAmends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that no tax shall be imposed under the Act for persons dying on or after the effective date, or for transfers made on or after the effective date. Effective immediately. |
| SB2970 | Raises Farm Estate Tax Exemption to $6M (GST Act)Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act to raise the estate tax exemption for qualified farm property estates to $6,000,000 (from a $4,000,000 exclusion), indexed annually to CPI. Also revises deceased spousal unused exclusion calculations and the "qualified heir" definition for these estates, and provides special use valuation for farm property without certain IRC limitations. Effective January 1, 2027. |
Bill numbers link to each bill's official status page on the Illinois General Assembly website (104th General Assembly).
View the full presentation containing much of the agriculture data and analysis featured throughout this site.