Recent News
Using Citizen Science to Understand Cover Crop Performance in the Great Lakes Region
On November 9th, 2023, ICCON was joined by Etienne Sutton, a PhD candidate and National Institute of Food and Agriculture fellow from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. Etienne shared her research on cover crop performance in the Great Lakes Region which used citizen science, participation by the public in the scientific process, to gather field data...
ISAP Publishes “Introduction to Soil Health Practices” for Illinois Farmers
Bloomington, Ill. –The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership has published a new resource for Illinois farmers and farm advisors which clearly communicates the role of soil health practices in addressing agronomic challenges and resource concerns. ISAP’s “Introduction to Soil Health Practices” identifies and explains the cause of several conditions that often lead to common resource or agronomic concerns for farmers, including...
Conservation Practices Play an Integral Role on Douglas County Farm
Tony Stierwalt farms about 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans with his dad, Bill, in Pesotum, Illinois using strip-till, no-till, and cover crops in his system. Tony is the fifth generation on both sides of his family to farm. Like many farm kids before him, Tony grew up helping out on the family farm wherever he could and participated in...
Cover Crop Mixes for Wildlife Habitat and Biodiversity
On September 13, 2023, ICCON was joined by Tyson Seirer from STAR Seed, an independent seed supplier based in Osborne, Kansas. Tyson helps growers access the unique seed resources at Star Seed Inc., including custom native grass mixes, CRP, wetlands, and wildlife planting such as pollinator, cover crops, and food plots. He has previous experience with the USFWS, Kansas Dept....
ISAP Seeks Conservation Drainage Project Sites
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) and partners from the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) are proud to announce that they have been selected by the Fishers and Farmers Partnership (FFP) 2023 Aquatic Habitat Program to receive funding to “jumpstart” conservation drainage in Illinois. The groups seek to expand the institutional knowledge to deliver conservation drainage practices among conservation practitioners...
Beneath the Surface: Phosphorus
Expert Opinions on Phosphorus Management Considerations A hot topic in soil health and nutrient loss over the last few years has been Dissolved reactive Phosphorus (DRP). DRP is a form of Phosphorus that is dissolved and readily available to plants and algae. This differs from the phosphorus loss we usually hear about, which is tied to soil particles. We sat...