Recent News
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...
ISAP Hosts Myth-Busting Risk Management Webinar Series
Throughout the month of June, the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) brought together experts on cover crops, tile drainage, and economics to tackle common myths in conservation cropping systems. The series was well attended with over 120 individual attendees representing 17 states/provinces across North America. Farmers, ag advisers, Extension staff, and non-profit conservation advocates had the opportunity to learn how,...
Ag Professionals Identify Cognitive Biases in Conservation Agriculture
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 to...
Partner Spotlight: Midwest Dairy
June is Dairy Month! What a perfect time to introduce Midwest Dairy as June’s Partner Spotlight. Midwest Dairy is the newest member of the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership and represents over 400 dairy farms across the state of Illinois, 94% of which are family owned and operated. As a new member of ISAP, Midwest Dairy plans to connect Illinois dairy farmers...
Farmers Grow Rye to Advance Regenerative Agriculture and Support Kentucky Bourbon
When people think of Kentucky, many things may come to mind: horse racing and fancy hats, large buckets of fried chicken, or even Kentucky bourbon! Kentucky has a long and rich history of bourbon production, giving the state its claim to fame as the world’s bourbon capital. Bourbon is an agricultural product at its core, relying on high quality...