Farm Progress: History, Informa Ownership, Farm Magazines, Shows and Editors
Profile updated November 2026
Farm Progress is the largest family of farm magazines in the United States, a network that grew out of Prairie Farmer and Wallaces Farmer and now runs state and regional farm brands, national livestock and crop titles, farm shows and broadcast programs. Based in St. Charles, Illinois, it belongs to the British publisher and events company Informa. This profile explains how the company formed, what it owns, and who produces its content.
| Oldest title | Prairie Farmer, first published in Chicago in 1841 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | St. Charles, Illinois |
| Owner | Informa, Markets Division, since November 2016 |
| State and regional brands | 14, from American Agriculturist to Wisconsin Agriculturist |
| National brands | Farm Futures, BEEF, Feedstuffs, National Hog Farmer |
| Flagship event | Farm Progress Show, held since 1953 |
| Official website | Farm Progress brands for marketers |
History of Farm Progress
The company traces its origins to the American Farmer magazine of 1819, but its core is Prairie Farmer, founded in Chicago in 1841. Prairie Farmer's owners bought radio station WLS from Sears in 1928 and in 1953, with WLS, hosted a field day that became the Farm Progress Show. After 1955 they also bought the Iowa paper that became Wallaces Farmer.
American Broadcasting-Paramount Theaters bought the Farm Progress Group in 1959, largely to acquire WLS. Capital Cities, which merged with ABC in 1986, bought the farm magazines of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1991, adding titles such as Nebraska Farmer. Disney acquired Capital Cities/ABC in 1996 and sold Farm Progress Companies to Australia's Rural Press in 1997. Rural Press merged with Fairfax in 2007.
In 2012 Penton Media, a U.S. business-to-business publisher, bought Farm Progress from Fairfax for $79.9 million. At the time the company published more than 20 titles, from Kansas Farmer and The Farmer-Stockman to California Farmer, and ran four farm shows. Informa acquired Penton on November 2, 2016, and folded Farm Progress into its Markets Division.
Farm Progress Today
Farm Progress tells advertisers it reaches more than 2 million agricultural producers. Its current lineup lists 14 state and regional brands: American Agriculturist, Dakota Farmer, Delta Farm Press, Indiana Prairie Farmer, Kansas Farmer, Missouri Ruralist, Nebraska Farmer, Prairie Farmer, Southeast Farm Press, Southwest Farm Press, The Farmer, Wallaces Farmer, Western Farm Press and Wisconsin Agriculturist. Farm Futures is its national crop brand, and BEEF, Feedstuffs and National Hog Farmer are listed as digital-only livestock brands.
The print footprint is shrinking. Ohio Farmer and Michigan Farmer moved online-only in 2020, Farm Futures ended its print edition, and Missouri Ruralist and Wisconsin Agriculturist have announced a shift to digital-only issues in 2027, with Indiana Prairie Farmer also changing. Content increasingly arrives through FarmProgress.com, digital editions, weekday state newsletters and the Farm Progress Daily newsletter.
What Farm Progress Is Publishing Now
Farm shows
The Farm Progress Show alternates between permanent sites near Decatur, Illinois, and Boone, Iowa. The company has also run Husker Harvest Days, the Farm Progress Hay Expo and the New York Farm Show.
Broadcast
Weekday radio and TV programming and custom audio and video, featuring farm broadcasters Max Armstrong, Mike Pearson and meteorologist Greg Soulje.
Special sections
Irrigation Extra runs three times a year across the state and regional publications, alongside crop, livestock, technology and farm business coverage.
Farm Progress Editors and Staff
Farm Progress author pages, company materials and editorial contacts name these people:
- Holly Spangler - Executive Editor, Farm Progress; Editor, Prairie Farmer
- Andy Castillo - Editorial contact, Farm Progress
- Mindy Ward - Editorial contact, Farm Progress
- Max Armstrong - Farm broadcaster
- Mike Pearson - Farm broadcaster
- Greg Soulje - Agricultural meteorologist
Each state brand also has its own local editor, profiled on the individual magazine pages in this directory.
Who Reads Farm Progress
Farm Progress readers are commercial farmers and ranchers, sorted by state and by enterprise so a Nebraska irrigator, an Iowa hog farmer and a California almond grower each see local coverage. USDA's Economic Research Service publishes the farm income and wealth statistics that frame much of the company's farm business reporting.
With brands stretching from the Northeast dairy belt to California orchards, Farm Progress has readers who argue about everything from planting dates to the right brand of pickup. farm.FM settles none of those arguments but adds farm satire, farm humor and ranch humor to the mix, with farm jokes fit for a hot afternoon in the show grounds at Decatur or Boone. Think of it as the entertainment tent next to the field demonstrations.
farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, also runs Tractor Tunes, a country music lineup for farmers. For a sample of the writing, try the archive of one of its staff humorists.
Farm Progress Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Wikipedia: Farm Progress - ownership history and Farm Progress Show background.
- Farms.com: Penton buys Farm Progress for $79.9 million - the 2012 sale and the title list at the time.
- Farm Progress: State and regional brands - the company's current lineup of titles.
- USDA ERS: Farm income and wealth statistics - national and state farm income data.
- USDA NASS: Census of Agriculture - the federal farm census behind state farm coverage.
Farm Progress FAQ
Who owns Farm Progress?
Informa, which acquired Farm Progress when it bought Penton Media in November 2016.
Where is Farm Progress based?
St. Charles, Illinois.
How old is the Farm Progress Show?
It began in 1953 as a field day hosted by Prairie Farmer and WLS radio.
Which magazines does Farm Progress publish?
Fourteen state and regional brands including Prairie Farmer, Wallaces Farmer and the Farm Press titles, plus Farm Futures, BEEF, Feedstuffs and National Hog Farmer.
From a single Chicago farm paper to a network of brands, shows and broadcasts, Farm Progress remains the biggest name in American farm media.