Recent News
Central Illinois Farmers Share Cover Crop Termination Techniques
During ICCON’s March cover crop call, the Network hosted a panel of cover crop farmers who shared their strategies for cover crop termination and how covers are used as a management tool for their cash crops. Three Central Illinois farmers – Jim Isermann, Pete Fandel, and Frank Rademacher – gave an overview of their operations, presenting three models for how...
Berseem Clover Provides Cover Benefits and Forage Opportunities
On February 8th, the Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network (ICCON) was joined by Dr. Kim Cassida, Extension Specialist for Forages and Cover Crops for Michigan State University to discuss Berseem clover. This was the final call in ICCON’s winter series focused on New and Emerging Cover Crops. Dr. Cassida shared her knowledge of Berseem clover based on her research trials...
Maximizing Camelina’s Potential as an Overwintering Cover Crop
The Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network (ICCON) continued their four-part winter series exploring new and emerging cover crops in January with a presentation on Camelina. This month, Dr. Joel Gruver, Associate Professor of Soil Science and Sustainable Ag at Western Illinois University, joined ICCON’s monthly cover crop call to share his experience growing Camelina as a cover crop on WIU’s...
Illinois Researchers Develop CoverCress to Meet Sustainable Aviation Fuel Goals
The Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network (ICCON) continued their four-part winter series exploring new and emerging cover crops in December. ICCON was joined by Dr. Win Phippen, Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Western Illinois University (WIU), who gave an overview of how the engineered CoverCress plant can be integrated into a corn – soybean system. In 2019, researchers at...
Balansa Outperforms Other Clovers in Spring Biomass Growth
The Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network (ICCON) kicked off their four-part winter series exploring new and emerging cover crops on November 9th. ICCON was joined by Nathan Johanning, Commercial Agriculture Educator from the University of Illinois Extension, who shared his research on the performance and growth of FIXatioN Balansa. Nathan’s research is showing that Balansa clover is not your typical...
Diverse Crop Rotation Reduces Nitrate Loss Through Tile Drainage on Illinois Farm
During the September call of the Illinois Cover Crop On-farm Network (ICCON), Mr. Lowell Gentry shared his research and insights on the impact of a more diverse crop rotation on tile nitrate levels. Lowell, an agronomist who recently retired from the University of Illinois, has conducted research over the past 30 years investigating nitrogen (N) cycling in agricultural systems. He...