BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — A longtime friend of Illinois and Midwest agriculture, Dr. Gary W. Schnitkey, was honored for his contributions to the industry by the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) during their annual winter meetings.

Schnitkey, a University of Illinois Professor in Agricultural and Consumer Economics, was recognized by the ICGA after publishing his 1,000th article on FarmDocdaily.com last fall. FarmDoc is a website created by the U of I in 2011 to share farm financial analysis spreadsheets, crop insurance tools, and evaluation of market advisory services. Illinois Corn lauded Schnitkey for this accomplishment following the corn growers’ annual meeting in Bloomington on November 21, 2023.

“FarmDoc could not have become what it is today without the vision, hard work, and time Dr. Schnitkey has poured into it for over a decade,” said Matt Rush, ICGA president and a farmer from Fairfield. “He deserves recognition and gratitude from farmers across the country for his work helping us make on-farm decisions with more confidence and less risk and also for his expertise in crafting farm policy and crop insurance products that help lessen volatility on Illinois farms.”

During the organization’s Impact Awards banquet, held November 29, the ISA presented their Friend of Illinois Farmers award to Schnitkey for his research informing farmers of the most profitable management practices for soybeans. His work also aims to educate farmers across the state of Illinois on what rotation practices are most suitable for their areas, according to ISA CEO John Lumpe. 

“Dr. Schnitkey analyzes the profitability of major field crops, including soybeans,” Lumpe said. “His research makes a difference to Illinois soybean farmers as it informs and encourages them to make long-term changes to boost both yield and profitability.”

According to a bio supplied by Illinois Corn, Schnitkey has served in an extension education and research role at the University of Illinois since 1998. He is currently the Soybean Industry Chair in Agricultural Strategy within the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. He attended The Ohio State University for his bachelor’s degree, received his master’s and Ph.D from the University of Illinois, and resides in Mahomet with his family.

Schnitkey writes primarily about corn and soybean prices and forecasts, on-farm management decisions including conservation management, input costs, and cash rent, and farm policy decisions that impact Illinois farmers. His writings are a source of current, reliable information for farmers across Illinois and the U.S., covering the most important economic and political issues in agriculture. FarmDoc has also been a critical resource for lawmakers, government agency staff, and the agricultural industry in their roles representing and serving farmers.

“I grew up on a farm and thought I could help farmers look deeper and see how they can better themselves and their farms,” Schnitkey told ISA’s Field & Bean publication. “That, to me, is one of the missions of the university, and I’m in a farm management post.”

Schnitkey said he has seen a lot of changes in agriculture and how data is collected and utilized since he joined Extension in 1988. “Today, if we don’t do analysis, farmers ask for it. That says something,” said Schnitkey.