217 Today: What made 2025 a hard time to be a farmer and what’s ahead for some farmers in the central US

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A man stands in front of a grain bin.
Corn and soybean farmer Craig Myhre hopes for a better price for his crops this year.
  • Photo: Hope Kirwan / Wisconsin Public Radio

Friday, January 9, 2025

Today’s headlines:

  • Cleanup is under way in central Illinois after severe storms.
  • The president of the University of Illinois System is stepping down next year.
  • Illinois Governor JB Pritzker comments on the fatal shooting in Minnesota by ICE agents.
  • A new Illinois law aims to tackle rising utility costs.

In today’s deep dive, some farmers ended 2025 unsure how they’ll pay their bills. We’ll hear from farmers around the central US about what made 2025 such a tough year and what’s ahead.

217 Today is produced by Kimberly Schofield. Reporting today contributed by Reginald Hardwick, Emily Hays, Mawa Iqbal, and Hope Kirwan. 

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Kimberly Schofield

Kimberly Schofield is the host of Morning Edition and covers arts and entertainment for Illinois Newsroom. When she is not covering the arts, she is performing in plays and musicals or running the streets of CU.