Water Quality
Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy: What Farmers Need to Know
Following the release of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) 2023 Biennial Report in December, many famers and farm advisors have been left to wonder: What does this mean for my farm? What does this mean for Illinois agriculture? What can I do to help Illinois achieve our goals? One of the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership’s (ISAP) primary efforts is to support Illinois agriculture in achieving the goals of NLRS by equipping farmers and farm advisors with the technical expertise and necessary resources to successfully transition to a profitable conservation cropping system. In this session, ISAP and University of Illinois Extension will provide an overview of the NLRS, highlight findings from the recent report, and share ISAP and Extension resources developed to support farmers in adopting farming practices which reduce nutrient loss while also building soil health.
Watch VideoState Conservation Program Dashboard
The State Conservation Program Dashboard (the “dashboard”) is an interactive database of state-level programs that advance on-farm conservation and expand the implementation of practices that improve soil health. It provides a snapshot of state efforts to help raise awareness about effective approaches, inform state and federal policy action, and encourage more agricultural land conservation.
How to Use the Dashboard
The dashboard includes information about three state approaches – On-Farm Conservation, Technical Assistance Capacity, and Research and Demonstration – that can be accessed using the color-coded buttons.
Each section highlights program mechanics and activities, enabling comparison across states. Individual programs are shown in rows. The tabs along the top of each table describe program features, such as administration, eligibility, inclusion and access, financial assistance, outcomes, and more. Columns within each tab highlight additional program information that can be filtered and sorted. For descriptions of each column heading, refer to the State Conservation Program Dashboard Index.
Finally, clicking on a row in the table generates a secondary table at the bottom of the dashboard that displays more customized details related to that program.
View WebsiteIllinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy & Agricultural Conservation Practices
This 1-pager created by Illinois Extension, gives a brief overview of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (INLRS), highlights nutrient loss in Illinois, impacts of nutrient loss, and conservation practices that can address in-field and edge of field nutrient loss.
Download DocumentsEPA Watershed Academy Learning Modules and Webcasts
EPA’s Watershed Academy holds a variety of learning modules, webcasts, and watershed management resources.
View WebsiteEPA Webcast Archives
Previous webcasts covering topics including: agriculture, climate change, lakes, monitoring and tools, nutrient management, oceans and coastal waters, protection and planning, rivers and streams, water research, and wetlands.
View WebsiteAddressing Nonpoint Source Pollution – Webcast Recording
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution encompasses a wide range of sources and is the prevailing cause of the nation’s water quality problems. The vast extent and continuous nature of NPS pollution is a challenge that requires problems to be addressed through a variety of approaches using multiple funding sources.
You can access EPA’s Watershed Academy webcast to learn more about the national nonpoint source program and the various ways this program helps restore water quality across the United States.
View Website