Field Notes
We are Living in the Future: Reflections on a Changing Climate
One of my favorite artists is John Prine, a notable country-folk musician who was born in Illinois and had an amazing way of writing lyrics that make you think. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the chorus of his song “Living in the Future.” “We are living in the future. I'll tell you how I know. I read it in the...
ISAP Kicks Off Soil Health Leadership Program with First Training Session
On August 20th and 21st, the first session of the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership Soil Health Leadership Program met in Peoria, IL at Illinois Central College. This two-day meeting included classroom instruction on principles of soil health and soil biology, as well as hands-on, in-field demonstrations on the Illinois Central College campus and on a nearby farm managed using regenerative...
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...
Cultivating Connections on Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair
By: Jean McGuire and Rachel Lechuga More than 60 agriculture and conservation professionals, gathered on Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another and leave with new tools to carry out continued work in support of sustainability throughout Illinois agriculture. Sponsored by Midwest Dairy, the event kicked off a furious round of networking...