Recent News
Illinois Crop Consultant Discusses C:N Ratios of Cover Crops Ahead of Termination
In concluding the Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network's (ICCON) three-part series on soil health testing, David Kleinschmidt, owner of Progressive Agronomy Consulting in Illinois, shared valuable insights into how he uses the Haney Soil Health Test to guide crop nutrition programs for his clients, emphasizing a holistic approach that considers soil as a dynamic system. Working closely with his farmer...
Last Minute Cover Crop Termination Tips
The following article discusses termination timing, assuming termination with herbicides. The information may not relate to termination by other means. Generally, we are considering an overwintering cereal cover crop, such as cereal rye. What do we mean when we discuss “timing” for termination of cover crops? There are a few different considerations. Making the right herbicide applications based on the...
Probing Into Soil Health Tests: Dr. Patrick Freeze Recaps the Haney Soil Health Test
To kick off the first call of ICCON's Probing Into Soil Health Tests: Which Test is Best? series, ICCON hosted Dr. Patrick Freeze from Ward Laboratories, Inc. to delve into the intricacies of the Haney Soil Health Test. While soil health testing is a relatively novel concept for many farmers and agricultural professionals, there's a growing interest in understanding its...
ICCON Discusses NLRS Challenges and Feasibility of Achieving Interim Goals
During the January ICCON call, the network had the pleasure of hosting Adrienne Marino, Water Quality Program Manager at the Nature Conservancy in Illinois. Marino shared a comprehensive overview of the 2023 Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) Biennial Report, shedding light on the state's progress and challenges. The NLRS was initiated in response to the 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action...
Four Decades of No-Till is Paying Off for Vermilion County Farmer Jean Stewart
The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership was a proud sponsor of the 2023 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award, an award program that recognizes and celebrates extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation by agricultural landowners. The profile of 2023 Award Finalist, Jean Stewart, below was originally published by American Farmland Trust and can be viewed on their website. https://youtu.be/EWWAdGGK780?si=GI2ZVKvXqq6mdgtd “A good farmer is a...
ICCON Recaps The 2023 National Cover Crop Survey
On December 13, ICCON welcomed Dr. Rob Meyers, the Director for the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri, for an insightful discussion on the outcomes of the 2023 National Cover Crop Survey. Conducted in March of 2023, the survey provides a comprehensive reflection of cover cropping data from the 2022 agricultural season. The online survey, comprising 110...