Waggoner, IL (WAND) – Many meals start on a farm, but Illinois farmers say making a living is harder than ever.

Fourth-generation farmer and Rep. Wayne Rosenthal has never seen the farm economy this bad.

“It’s really a tough economy right now; it’s a struggle all the way through, you know, so we try to get as many bushels as we can because the price isn’t there to help support you,” Rosenthal said.

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski visited his corn farm to hear their struggles firsthand — and determine the role policy should play.

“What’s critical too is if they have a federal partner in Washington, D.C. that invests in these types of programs,” said Budzinski.

She learned that the financial hurdles start early.

“For young and beginning farmers, what I heard today is that it’s really hard for them to make ends meet and to keep their bottom line afloat.”

One proposed solution — expanding E15 corn-based biofuel, which consumes billions of bushels annually. While backers say it boosts demand, critics fear it will disrupt fuel markets. Growers also rely on crop insurance to survive.

“Our crops are weather-dependent. And there’s a lot of places that had too much water, some that had not enough water,” Rosenthal said.

To protect his fields from unpredictable events, Rosenthal enters his land in several conservation programs.

“With an ever-changing farm economy, this allows them to be flexible, fully utilize the land and also protect the soil,” Budzinski said.