As harvest season winds down and winter approaches, it’s the perfect time for Illinois farmers to take stock of their business and legal matters. End-of-Year Farm Planning Checklist: Legal Steps Every Illinois Farmer Should Take Before 2026 provides a detailed guide to help you wrap up this year with confidence and start the new one on solid footing. From reviewing …
Running a farm with a business partner can be rewarding, but when differences arise, ending that partnership can quickly become complicated. A farm partnership breakup in Illinois often involves not just financial and legal concerns, but also emotional and family dynamics. In this blog, we share 10 practical ways to navigate a smooth farm partnership breakup so you can protect …
Passing the family farm from one generation to the next has always been a cornerstone of Illinois agriculture. But as land prices surge and operational costs rise, the dream of keeping farms in the family is becoming harder to achieve. The new Farmland Transition Commission, created under Illinois Senate Bill 2372, aims to tackle this growing challenge by studying ways …
For many families in Illinois, the farm is more than just land, it’s a livelihood, a legacy, and a way of life. When financial struggles hit, one of the biggest fears farmers face is losing the family farm to foreclosure. Can the bank really take my family farm? What Illinois farmers need to know is that the answer depends on …
Business Structure Options for Farms in Illinois: LLCs, Partnerships, and CorporationsBusiness Structure Options for Farms in Illinois: LLCs, Partnerships, and CorporationsRunning a successful farm is not only about planting crops and raising livestock, but also about protecting your assets and planning for the future. Business structure options for farms in Illinois: LLCs, partnerships, and corporations to protect farmland and operations …
In today’s farming and agribusiness world, protecting IP: trademark basics for farmers and ag businesses has become more important than ever. Farmers and agricultural businesses are no longer just selling grain or livestock to local markets, they are creating recognizable brands, marketing products across state lines, and building reputations that need legal protection. Whether you are selling farm-branded beef, organic …
The relationship between landowners and tenants is at the heart of many agricultural operations. Illinois farm leases define how farmland is used, who bears the risks, and how profits are shared. Whether you’re a landowner looking to protect your property or a farmer wanting fair terms, understanding farm leases in Illinois is essential. In this blog, we share the most …
Prenuptial agreements aren’t just for celebrities or high-net-worth couples, they are a vital tool for Illinois farm families who want to safeguard their land and livelihood. Divorce can create serious risks for farmers, including the forced sale or division of farmland that has been in a family for generations. That’s why many agricultural families ask: what should a farm prenup …
Divorce is challenging under any circumstances, but when farm property is involved, the legal and financial stakes become even higher. Many farm families in Illinois ask a pressing question: Can my spouse force the sale of our family farm in a divorce? In this blog, we share how Illinois divorce law treats farm assets, what options you may have if …
Running an agribusiness today is both exciting and complex. Whether you’re operating a fertilizer company, an ag-tech startup, a feed mill, or a family-owned food processing plant, growth brings opportunity and legal challenges. Vendor contracts, employee handbooks, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and expansion plans all require legal oversight. But most small and mid-size agribusinesses cannot justify hiring a full-time, in-house …
Running a family farm today involves far more than planting crops and raising livestock. Illinois farmers are expected to manage land, negotiate leases, comply with ever-changing regulations, and make sound business decisions — often while juggling multi-generational family dynamics. When unexpected legal issues arise, many farmers scramble to find help, only to be left with expensive hourly bills or lawyers …
Divorce is never easy, but when farmland, equipment, and agricultural businesses are involved, the process becomes even more complicated. The family farm is not just an asset—it’s a home, a livelihood, and often a legacy passed down through generations. In this article, Dividing the Family Farm in an Illinois Divorce: What Every Farmer Should Know, we share how Illinois courts …