Recent News
Celebrating Agriculture at the State Fair
Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair is an annual event bringing together the best and brightest in the Illinois farm and food sectors. This year’s celebration took place on August 16, kicking off with breakfast and awards program in the Orr Building on the Springfield fairgrounds. The Agriculture Breakfast celebrates agriculture as Illinois’ #1 industry and recognizes ag professionals...
ISAP Provides Technical Expertise at Soil Health Field Day
In August, ISAP members joined American Farmland Trust and Cargill, Inc. to host a Soil Health Field Day at Illinois Central College (ICC). The day-long event brought together over 75 farmers, retailers, local resource professionals, and conservation experts and featured the importance of soil health to a successful farming operation. A recent blog post by American Farmland Trust highlighted the...
Partner Spotlight: AISWCD
The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) is a grass roots non-profit organization formed in 1948, made up of and serving Illinois’ 97 member Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). Conservation Districts work to protect Illinois’ greatest assets – the rich, fertile soils and water resources of the state through strategic conservation efforts. For several decades, SWCDs...
Partner Spotlight: Illinois Central College
ISAP is excited to feature the Illinois Central College (ICC) as our July Partner Spotlight! ICC is an open enrollment, comprehensive community college located in the Peoria area and serves approximately 7,500 students in 10 counties. ICC is known for its programs in agriculture, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, police and fire science, horticulture, and other high demand occupations. The...
ISAP Partners Offer Cover Crop Incentives
When properly managed, incorporating cover crops into a traditional crop rotation provides several benefits including reduction of nutrient loss, limited soil erosion, and improved water infiltration capability. Advancing the adoption of cover crops has been identified as a key strategy for Illinois agriculture to meet the goals established in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS). Members of the Illinois...
Alphabet Soup Participants Develop Action Plans for Advancing Conservation
During ISAP's first convening of Alphabet Soup in 2022, over 60 conservation professionals, farmers, government agents, researchers, and industry representatives came together to talk about how behavioral science impacts their work in advancing conservation. Using eight cognitive biases that were identified in the Sand County Foundation report, “Making Conservation Conventional,” attendees participated in an interactive, task-oriented workshop which created opportunities...