Recent News

Cover Crop Toolbox: ICCON Features STAR Tool

On January 8, 2025 ICCON was joined by Natalie Kerr, STAR Coordinator for the state of Illinois, to learn about the STAR program and how and why farmers should consider enrolling their fields in the program. Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) was founded in 2017 by Steve Stierwalt and Joe Rothermel – both farmers from Champaign County, advocates for conservation,...

Cover Crop Toolbox: ICCON Features SmartMix Calculator

On December 11, 2024 ICCON welcomed Keith Berns, Co-owner and Sales Marketing Manager of Green Cover Seeds based in Bladen, NE. Keith shared the SmartMix Calculator, a unique and user-friendly tool which helps farmers and farm advisors develop cover crop seed mixes. Keith says the best way to bring additional diversity to a corn/soybean or corn/soybean/wheat rotation is to have...

ICCON Call Features ISAP’s FIND Tool

On November 13, 2024 ICCON welcomed Jean Brokish, Deputy Director of the Midwest Region at American Farmland Trust, to present on the Financial INcentives Database tool – The FIND tool created by the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership. The tool was created to address the complexity of identifying financial incentives available to farmers for implementing a wide range of practices. Many...

Insect Biodiversity: Insights from Christine Elliot on ICCON’s Monthly Webinar

On September 11, 2024, ICCON was joined by Christine Elliot, PhD candidate in the insect ecology laboratory at Purdue University. Christine led the group through a discussion on the importance of insect populations to the agriculture industry focusing on three points – Why should we conserve insect biodiversity in agroecosystems? How to conserve insect biodiversity What insect conservation can look...

GROW Network Discusses Effective Weed Management in new ICCON Summer Series

On July 10, 2024 ICCON was pleased to kick off the 2024 summer series “Weeds & Disease & Pests, Oh My!” by welcoming Emily Unglesby and John Wallace of the Getting Rid of Weeds (GROW) network to share information about what the GROW network is and an overview of the research GROW is conducting regarding the use and management of...

Illinois Cover Crop Legislation: Insights from ICCON’s June Update

On June 12th ICCON was joined by Dylan Cook, Midwest Policy Manager with American Farmland Trust, Dr. Corey Lacey, Environmental Policy Manager with Illinois Soybean Association, and special guest, Dr. Michael Woods, Director of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This trio provided the group with an excellent comprehensive update on various legislative issues and policy items...