Resources
Documents & Websites
Soil Health Assessment
This video series produced by University of Illinois Extension demonstrates three creative ways to assess the soil health of your farm.
Watch VideoSARE Interactive Exploration of Soil Health
More and more, producers are understanding that healthy soils are more productive and lead to healthier crops. Dig into this interactive infographic to learn more about sustainable production practices that can help build healthy soil. Explore the on-farm benefits of using cover crops, crop rotation, manure amendments, composting and more on the complex web of life below the surface of the soil.
View WebsiteADMC Saturated Buffer Fact Sheet
This ADMC webpage provides information on saturated buffers including considerations for installation and financial impacts.
View WebsiteSWCS Saturated Buffers
This video, in the SWCS Conservation Media Library, shows how saturated buffers serve as a nutrient removal option for farmers.
Watch VideoIllinois NREC Saturated Buffer Video
Jon Schoonover with Southern Illinois University has designed a unique Saturated Buffer configuration that he has installed and tested in Moultrie County Illinois. The project is funded by NREC in partnership with Illinois Farm Bureau, Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA) and others.
Watch VideoIL Farm Bureau Saturated Buffer Field Day
Illinois Farm Bureau, Southern Illinois University College of Agriculture, Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, and USDA-NRCS partnered together to bring Illinois farmers an educational demonstration of our latest edge of field practice. Together they are striving to protect our natural resources and seeking out new ways to be better stewards of our land.
Watch VideoUniversity of Illinois Saturated Buffer
A grassed buffer between a field and a stream provides important benefits to the environment but underground a tile pipe can send nitrogen straight to the stream. Dr. Laura Christianson of the University of Illinois talks about how we can modify grassed buffers to remove nitrogen from the tile drainage water before sending the water downstream.
Watch VideoTransforming Drainage: Saturated Buffers
The Transforming Drainage project brings together research from experimental saturated buffer sites across the U.S. Midwest to evaluate the full potential of this new and exciting practice, and develop tools and resources that will help farmers, drainage contractors, conservation staff, and others locate, design, and install saturated buffers within tile-drained landscapes.
View WebsiteUniversity of Illinois Extension: “Buffing Up” Water Quality
This saturated buffer fact sheet outlines the benefits of this practice and lists several considerations and requirements of installment.
View WebsiteADMC Controlled Drainage Fact Sheet
This ADMC webpage provides information on controlled drainage, also referred to as drainage water management, including considerations for installation and financial impacts.
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