Top 5 ag stories: Interest rates increase; a standout land purchase; and considerations before making a seed purchaseTop 5 ag stories: Interest rates increase; a standout land purchase; and considerations before making a seed purchase

In this week's top five ag stories, we take a look at a land purchase in Illinois that totaled over $55 million. Plus, the Federal Reserve chose to raise interest rates. It wasn't a surprise but it will still have an effect on agricultural lending.

In addition, it's the time of the year when producers look towards 2017 and what seeds they are going to put in the ground. However, a herbicide application could make the decision a little trickier.

Plus, the Midwest cover Crops Council announces a new website.  And remember the pictures of the Northern Lights we featured a couple of months ago? The photographer is back in this round of top five ag stories with some new images.