Recent News
Quantifying Economic and Environmental Benefits of Soil Health – American Farmland Trust
Farmers face increased erratic weather conditions while constantly trying to cut costs and improve profits all while responding to society’s call to reduce unintended water quality and climate issues associated with agriculture. American Farmland Trust found “soil health successful farmers,” and conducted benefit-cost analyses. American Farmland Trust used partial budget analysis to estimate the net economic benefits eight farmers have...
Tillage Benchmarks for Corn in Illinois
A recent University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign report posted to FarmdocDaily highlights the financial benefit of reducing tillage based on data gathered from the 300+ farmers enrolled in Illinois Corn Growers Precision Conservation Management Program. [button text="Read Full Report" link="https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2020/10/tillage-benchmarks-for-corn-in-illinois.html" style="default" size="normal" target="_self" display="inline" icon="no"]
CARBON FARMING IN ILLINOIS
CARBON FARMING IN ILLINOIS In celebration of climate week, ISAP is excited to announce a NEW fact sheet dedicated to carbon farming opportunities! Illinois has over 23 million acres of cropland suitable for adoption of practices capable of increasing soil carbon and storage such as planting cover crops and reducing tillage, presenting an exciting opportunity for Illinois farmers to offer immediate, scalable solutions to climate change. In fact, using estimates...
Three Generations of Women Steward the Land
Cindy and Ann Irhke on the farm near Roberts, IL. The important role women play in conservation and land-use decisions is gaining recognition, and so are the benefits to soil, water, and wildlife. Ann, Cindy, and Sage Ihrke are three generations of women who live and breathe conservation on their family’s farm near Roberts, Il. It started way back in 1970 when George Ihrke, a veterinarian from the south suburbs of Chicago, invested in 320 acres in...
Farmers and Communities Reap the Benefits of Planting Covers
Farmers and Communities Reap the Benefits of Planting Covers Acres planted to cover crops and enrolled in the Department of Agriculture’s “Fall Covers for Spring Savings” Program provided economic benefits to farmers in the form of a five dollar an acre discount on crop insurance premiums. The 50,000 acres enrolled in the program also provided environmental benefits to Illinois communities....
Navigating A Few ISAP Farmer Resources in the Face of COVID-19
Navigating A Few ISAP Farmer Resources in the Face of COVID-19 Many of us are being impacted by the corona-virus pandemic—especially our farmers. ISAP partners are trying to navigate this by providing aid and educational materials to those that are directly impacted in Illinois and beyond. ISAP’s foundation stems from collaboration and positive movements for improving agriculture and water quality...