Meet Illinois Farmer Cliff Lane

Meet Cliff Lane, an IL Corn board member and third-generation farmer working alongside his dad and brother on about 1,100 acres. Their family farm once had cattle and hogs, but today it’s focused on corn with most of their grain going to local elevators and an ethanol plant, helping fuel the future.

Cliff also works full-time as a regional sales manager for Cornelius Seed. He and his family each bring their own approach to the operation, with most acres managed through no-till and a steady commitment to trying new practices.

Cover crops have been a learning curve. Cliff first tried flying seed on by plane and helicopter but wasn’t satisfied with the results. Now, he has his fertilizer supplier mix seed in with fall applications, and the stand is much stronger. With an early harvest this year, he’s hopeful for even better cover crop growth heading into winter.

For Cliff, farming is about family, adapting, and leaving the land better than he found it.