Trees are an important part of a conservation plan, and, like most farmers, Bruce Carney wants to take good care of the land.

Held up over disagreements over federal food stamps, the first draft of the 2018 farm bill arrived Thursday, bearing 35 changes to that program, including starting a national database of participants.

Farmers depend on productive, sustainable land, clean water and air and healthy animals to make a living. To help create those conditions and protect ecosystems, they get help from conservation programs that make up about 6 percent of the $500 billion federal farm bill.

On the 21st: Illinois' tuition and fees at public colleges are the fifth highest in the nation. How did we get here? Plus, how the once-endangered bobcat is now a part of hunting season. But first, the challenges seniors - especially in rural areas - face with getting the food they need for a healthy lifestyle.

On The 21st: We spoke with writer Garrard Conley about his memoir, 'Boy Erased.' We also spoke about a soil testing startup that aims to fine-tune the way farmers apply fertilizers.