The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) brings together diverse member organizations who work collaboratively to encourage the adoption of sustainable and profitable production practices that improve soil health and restore local waters.
Bloomington, Ill. –The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) has recently accepted four new member organizations into the Partnership. Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC), Savanna Institute, and Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) are the newest members to join ISAP, whose mission is to create a network to support a systems approach to improve soil health and reduce nutrient loss. These additions expand ISAP’s ability to serve Illinois farmers in meeting the goals established by the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. By working together with these new members, ISAP is positioned to reach broader audiences and cultivate stronger collaboration across the agricultural community.
“We’re thrilled to welcome four new members to ISAP. Their unique perspectives and expertise will only strengthen our efforts to accelerate sustainable agriculture practices,” shared Keegan Kult, ISAP President and executive director of the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition. “We’re excited to engage with the new audiences these partners bring and align on collective nutrient loss reduction efforts.”
About the New Members
Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is an organization that advocates for the interests of farmers and rural communities across Illinois. IFB influences policy through relationships with key policy stakeholders and offers resources and educational opportunities to their farmer members. Through these collaborations, IFB works to improve the economic well-being of agriculture and enrich the quality of farm family life.
Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) funds and facilitates research and education focused on nutrient management in agriculture. NREC engages with farmers to conduct field level trials and educational programs to support nutrient loss efforts and provide best management practice recommendations to ensure nutrient use efficiency, improve soil fertility, and address environmental concerns with regard to fertilizer use.
The Savanna Institute (SI) is an organization dedicated to advancing agroforestry and perennial agriculture in the Midwest. SI promotes education, outreach, and research to support resilient ecology. Through diverse perspectives and voices, SI envisions and promotes ecologically sound farming practice to improve agricultural resilience and increased biodiversity.
Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) was created for producers by producers, and helps farmers and ranchers adopt, evaluate, and benefit from continuous conservation on their agricultural land. STAR’s vision is to empower farmers and ranchers to choose conservation as the standard on all agricultural lands to ensure a legacy of economic sustainability, clean abundant water, and healthy soils for future generations.
ISAP’s newest members are eager and committed to working collaboratively to advance conservation practice adoption. This growth amplifies ISAP’s collective impact but also reinforces our commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture practices in Illinois.
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As a coordinated and consistent group, Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) focuses on messaging, outreach, training and education for farmers and their trusted advisers to bring together and disseminate new information and lessons learned in plain, practical language. Members work collaboratively to amplify the programs of each organization, share resources to gain efficiencies and identify synergies in achieving soil health and nutrient goals. ISAP’s mission is to create a network to support a systems approach on agriculture lands to improve soil health and reduce nutrient loss.
ISAP’s members include:
Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition, American Farmland Trust, Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Illinois Central College, Illinois Certified Crop Advisers, Illinois Corn, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council, Illinois Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Illinois Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy, Precision Conservation Management, Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources, Savanna Institute, The Nature Conservancy, The Wetlands Initiative, The Zea Mays Foundation, and University of Illinois Extension.
