Amid trade wars and the Coronavirus pandemic, 2020 provided a challenging year for farmers; however, there were some bright spots.

One of those bright spots includes government payments to farmers that surged to record numbers under the Trump administration. According to Rodney Weinzierl, Executive Director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, one prominent bright spot was the United States Canada and Mexico trade deal.

Weinzierl said another stride for farmers in the past year was waterway improvements on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.