Field Notes
Farmers and Ag Professionals Cultivate Conversations on Edge-of-Field Practices
By Katie Holland, Emma Eldridge, Rachel Curry, and Nicole Haverback On June 25th, Illinois farmers, landowners, and agriculture professionals gathered at the Knox County Farm Bureau building in Galesburg for “Cultivating Conversations: How and Why Farmers Implement Edge-of-Field Practices.” The event was co-hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) and Illinois Extension, featuring a presentation from Catherine DeLong of...
PCM Highlights Profitability Over Yield in New Data Publication
ISAP member Precision Conservation Management (PCM) recently published their annual data book The Business Case for Conservation in the June issue of Prairie Farmer Magazine. This report highlights data gleaned from farmers in Illinois regarding the financial, agronomic, and environmental impact of in-field conservation practices. “Profitability trends for tillage, cover crops, and nutrient management can change from year to year, but...
Illinois Cover Crop Legislation: Insights from ICCON’s June Update
On June 12th ICCON was joined by Dylan Cook, Midwest Policy Manager with American Farmland Trust, Dr. Corey Lacey, Environmental Policy Manager with Illinois Soybean Association, and special guest, Dr. Michael Woods, Director of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This trio provided the group with an excellent comprehensive update on various legislative issues and policy items...
Illinois Crop Consultant Discusses C:N Ratios of Cover Crops Ahead of Termination
In concluding the Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network's (ICCON) three-part series on soil health testing, David Kleinschmidt, owner of Progressive Agronomy Consulting in Illinois, shared valuable insights into how he uses the Haney Soil Health Test to guide crop nutrition programs for his clients, emphasizing a holistic approach that considers soil as a dynamic system. Working closely with his farmer...