Yep, farming is (and has been for decades) a small profit margin business. I lived it. Get bigger or get out of that career. I got out. The real estate taxes the farmland owners pay is enormous.
I certainly know the roads of IL are bad. I lived in Mercer county IL for 62 1/2 years. Left at the end of 2016. My youngest brother works for IDOT, filling holes is only interrupted by plowing snow or mowing roadsides, but they can’t keep up with decay.
The question is: Why are Wisconsin roads superior to Illinois roads. Iowa and Indiana too.