Recent News
Frey Family Farm Recognized as Conservation Leader in Illinois
The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership was a proud sponsor of the inaugural Illinois Leopold Conservation Award, an award program sponsored by the Sand County Foundation that recognizes and celebrates extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation by agricultural landowners. The prestigious award, given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation and management of natural resources by...
Phosphorus Management Considerations
The Quick and Dirt-y on Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus (DRP) A hot topic in soil health and nutrient loss over the last few years has been Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus (DRP), a form of phosphorus that is dissolved and readily available to plants and algae. DRP differs from the phosphorus loss we usually hear about, which is tied to soil particles,...
Illinois Farmers Get Paid for Citizen Science Cover Crop Research
Cover crops are becoming increasingly popular as a key strategy for improving soil health, water quality, and climate resilience across a wide variety of farming systems. Many cover crop benefits depend on successful cover crop growth, or biomass. However, cover crop biomass can vary widely across farms because plant growth is influenced by multiple factors like climate, soil, and management...
Bring ISAP’s Rainfall Simulator to Your Next Field Day!
Bring ISAP’s Rainfall Simulator to Your Next Field Day! By: Pete Fandel | Professor, Agriculture | Illinois Central College Spring time is here again! The days are growing longer, flowers are beginning to bloom, and planning for summer field days is in full swing. Don’t miss your chance to make a splash at your upcoming event with ISAP’s Rainfall...
The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy – NEW EPISODE
Tune in to Episode 46 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast – “What You Need To Know About Carbon Markets.” The episode explores carbon markets, how to find out information about them, and how to take advantage of these programs on your farm. Jack McCormack, a Randolph County producer who is participating in carbon markets shares his insights. Jean Brokish,...
SMART Wetlands
SMART Wetlands Author: Jean McGuire, Field Outreach Specialist | The Wetlands Inititative What happens when soil, clay, plants, and water are combined using human engineering? Could this combination create smart outcomes for the landscape? Usually, there are concerns when several thousand cubic yards of soil are moved on Illinois croplands. However, in this case, it was done by design to...