Field Notes
Shining a Spotlight on How Conservation Practices and Ag Tile Drainage Can Stop Nutrient Loss
Every quarter, a group of conservation professionals from non-profit groups, government agencies, and the tile drainage industry get together to share news and learn from one another. These 2-hour meetings are hosted by the Wetlands Initiative, but they are led by Wes Lehman. Wes is a sales rep and conservation specialist for Springfield Plastics, Inc. Wes started the meetings in...
Insights from ISAP’s Alphabet Soup Training
The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership and Environmental Initiative hosted three half-day workshops in February to help participants “Reach Farmers Faster.” The events were held in Effingham, Bloomington, and DeKalb in early February. This farmer-centered outreach program was developed over two years when Environmental Initiative, Trust in Food (a Farm Journal organization), and the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative joined forces to...
Feather Prairie Farm: Conservation Drainage for Wildlife and Ag Resilience
There is no disputing that the Midwest farm landscape is one of the most productive in the world. This success is due in part to the extensive use of agriculture tile-drainage systems. However, when excess water is drawn from cropland, it often takes with it nutrients and other inputs needed for successful crop growth. That drainage water then pollutes the...
Midwest Cover Crop Council and NRCS Discuss Cover Crop Tools and Considerations
On the Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network's (ICCON) March call, ICCON was joined by Anna Morrow of the Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC) and Brett Roberts, IL State Agronomist with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The pair discussed the collaboration between the MCCC and NRCS and how that work has led to cover crop species and rate recommendations for farmers...