Recent News
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...
ISAP Expands with Four New Members Committing to Sustainable Agriculture in Illinois
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),...
A “Restorative” ISAP Gathering at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge
Back in June, the quarterly ISAP partner meeting was hosted by The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) at their farmhouse located within TWI’s Sue & Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes in Hennepin, IL. After the business portion of the meeting, members were given the opportunity to see and learn more about the Refuge. TWI acquired this 3,000-acre site...
The Impact of Disease Management and Cover Crops on Corn Yields: Research Highlights from Dr. Alison Robertson
On August 14, ICCON was thrilled to be joined by Dr. Alison Robertson, Professor and Extension Field Crops Pathologist with the Iowa State University. Dr. Robertson was invited to share findings and management recommendations based on her research regarding disease in cover crop systems, primarily cereal rye before corn. Dr. Robertson was inspired by Tom Kaspar's work at USDA-ARS, which...