Our Partners

Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), formed in 2004, works at the local and state level to educate farmers, drainage and conservation groups, and local, state, and federal authorities to build an understanding of the latest drainage water management systems.

The American Farmland Trust, formed in 1980, works to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land.

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD), formed in 1948, is a grass roots organization made up of Illinois’s 97-member Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs).

Illinois Central College (ICC) is an open enrollment, comprehensive community college located in the Peoria area. The mission of the agricultural program at ICC is to prepare students for careers in agriculture business, animal production, agronomy, farm services, crop research, precision agriculture and other related areas.

The Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Program, an initiative of the American Society of Agronomy, is designed to establish base standards of knowledge for advisers of crop management and production inputs.

Illinois Corn Growers Association is a state-based organization that represents the interests of corn farmers in Illinois to create a future in which they can operate freely, responsibly, and successfully.

University of Illinois Extension is the flagship outreach effort of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Extension provides practical translations of cutting-edge research to help people, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future.

Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) advocates for the interests of farmers and rural communities across Illinois. IFB influences policy through relationships with key policy stakeholders and offers resources and educational opportunities to their farmer members. Through these collaborations, IFB works to improve the economic well-being of agriculture and enrich the quality of farm family life.

The Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Inc. (ILICA) is a not-for-profit, trade association dedicated to the professional conservation of soil, water, and natural resources – encouraging high standards of workmanship in resource management and land improvement practices through education and demonstration.

Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) funds and facilitates research and education focused on nutrient management in agriculture. NREC engages with farmers to conduct field level trials and educational programs to support nutrient loss efforts and provide best management practice recommendations to ensure nutrient use efficiency, improve soil fertility, and address environmental concerns with regard to fertilizer use.

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is a statewide organization that strives to enable Illinois soybean producers to be the most knowledgeable and profitable soybean producers in the world.

Midwest Dairy works on behalf of approximately 5,200 dairy farmers across the region to build dairy demand by inspiring consumer confidence in dairy products and production practices.

Illinois Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (ILPFQF) is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs. Primarily focused on private lands, ILPFQF works to help producers with management decisions that make sense for conservation and production on their farms.

Precision Conservation Management (PCM) is a farmer-led program developed by the IL Corn Growers Association with more than 30 partners representing all parts of the agricultural supply chain. PCM was created to identify, quantify, and address risks to farmers associated with adopting conservation practices.

The Savanna Institute (SI) is dedicated to advancing agroforestry and perennial agriculture in the Midwest. SI promotes education, outreach, and research to support resilient ecology. Through diverse perspectives and voices, SI envisions and promotes ecologically sound farming practice to improve agricultural resilience and increased biodiversity.

Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) was created for producers by producers, and helps farmers and ranchers adopt, evaluate, and benefit from continuous conservation on their agricultural land. STAR’s vision is to empower farmers and ranchers to choose conservation as the standard on all agricultural lands to ensure a legacy of economic sustainability, clean abundant water, and healthy soils for future generations. 

The Nature Conservancy is a results-based, global conservation organization founded in 1951 that envisions a world where both nature and people thrive. By focusing on a whole systems approach to meet multiple environmental and production outcomes, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois is developing programs to help support farmers in their efforts to adopt sustainable ag practices.

The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) is a non-profit organization that designs, restores, and creates wetlands. TWI innovates, collaborates, and employs sound science to improve water quality, habitat for plants and wildlife, and our climate. Through its Smart Wetland program, TWI works with farmers to implement wetlands designed to reduce nutrient loss from tile-drained cropland.

The Zea Mays Foundation is an extension of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. As a not-for-profit organization, Zea Mays Foundation undertakes activities that develop leaders to foster sustainability through a legacy of education, outreach, exchange, and care.