Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership

In July 2024, David Spengler and Kent Bohnhoff installed an automated water control structure on S&G Farms in Tazewell County with support from the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership, Fishers & Farmers Partnership, and the One Good Idea Grant. Drainage Water Management, or DWM, allows producers to control the water table under their fields by managing the depth at which their #drainage systems release water. The practice offers an agronomic advantage to farmers including a 5 -15% yield increase over conventional drainage, while also reducing the #nitrate loss from the field. “While we can’t control the weather, we can try to control how it impacts the crop and the land,” Kent Bohnhoff notes. In Illinois, about 16 million acres are likely to be tile-drained. A majority of these acres are good candidates for an edge of field practice, including DWM along with saturated buffers, constructed #wetlands, and #bioreactors. Watch the video to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gxzGpDEP

Join the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) and a cadre of experienced drainage engineers and technical service providers for A Practitioner’s Guide to Advancing Conservation Drainage Practices. This half-day training, scheduled for 8:00 AM to Noon on Wednesday, April 2nd, will be held in conjunction with the Conservation Drainage Network’s 2025 Annual Meeting on April 1-3, 2025, at the Illini Hotel in Urbana, IL. Participants will engage in a hands-on, interactive training that will provide relevant information and tools to support their work in advocating for and coordinating increased #conservation drainage practice adoption and implementation. The training will cover several practices, including saturated #buffers, #bioreactors, controlled #drainage, and constructed #wetlands. Use ISAP's registration form to register for the ISAP training only, which includes one day access to the CDN meeting on April 2. If you would like to register for the full, three-day, Conservation Drainage Network meeting, please register on the Eventbrite page instead. Use the promo code ISAP-CDN25 to receive $100 off your full CDN meeting registration. Deadline to register is Wednesday, March 26th!

Farmers - act fast!! IL Corn and Illinois Department of Agriculture received a special allocation of EQIP funding. Farmers must apply with their local NRCS office by FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28th! These funds aim to address the Dust Storms and Nutrient Loss Reduction Efforts. Ranking for these funds will be elevated if your farm is in either the defined Dustr Storm Region or a priority nitrogen or phosphorus watershed. Your local NRCS offices have the specific maps of these areas. Priority practices are #covercrops and no-till/strip-till. Contact your local NRCS office today to ask about Topsoil Conservation and Nutrient Loss Reduction funds! #conservationfunding

Join the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) and a cadre of experienced drainage engineers and technical service providers for A Practitioner’s Guide to Advancing Conservation Drainage Practices. This half-day training on April 2nd will be held in conjunction with the Conservation Drainage Network’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Urbana, IL. Participants will engage in a hands-on, interactive training that will provide relevant information and tools to support their work in advocating for and coordinating increased #conservation drainage practice adoption and implementation. The training will cover several practices, including saturated buffers, bioreactors, controlled drainage, and constructed wetlands. Use ISAP's registration form to register for the ISAP training only, which includes one day access to the CDN meeting on April 2. If you would like to register for the full, three-day, Conservation Drainage Network meeting, please register on the Eventbrite page instead. Use the promo code ISAP-CDN25 to receive $100 off your full CDN meeting registration. Deadline to register is Wednesday, March 26th! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gSy7eNSU

Two weeks ago, the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership welcomed our Reach Farmers Faster workshop team for three events. Traveling across the state from south to north, I saw opportunity in the winter fields, noted cattle out foraging, met really curious conservation professionals, and had a great time learning from those who are "on the ground" listening to farmers about what they need for continued or enhanced success. In this time of frozen soils and federal funds, a list of things that offer warmth. 🌱People are doing good work on and for the land. 🌱Human connection has deep value and meaning in the places where your closest neighbor is not within walking distance. 🌱Producers of food, feed, fiber, and fuel remain the backbone of our lives and show up for us every day. Trust is cultivated over generations and broken in an instant. Let's continue building that trust. Together.

This Wednesday, the Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network (ICCON) will be joined by TJ Kartes of Saddle Butte Ag Inc. TJ will give the group a glimpse of trends they've seen in #covercrop strategies, practices, and successes. Saddle Butte Ag works with plot trials to offer recommendations to their customers. Based on these trials and what they've heard from their customers, TJ will share insights regarding successful cover cropping strategies. Register for the call here: https://lnkd.in/gQ-rsGme

We are hosting three workshops with Trust In Food™ to help you "Reach Farmers Faster." These strategic #communicationstrainings will help you bring your farmer outreach to the next level. You can join us from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. CT in: -Effingham, Feb. 5: -Bloomington, Feb. 6 -DeKalb, Feb. 7 In each interactive session, Environmental Initiative staff will use an Illinois-specific case study to guide you through their five-step process for creating conservation agriculture outreach. Learn how to set strategic goals, gain deeper insights about Illinois corn and soy farmers, develop persuasive messages, design engagement strategies, and evaluate your approach – all through a range of hands-on group activities. Registration cost is $15. Food and drinks will be provided. Register by contacting Rachel Geissinger at [email protected] or visit https://lnkd.in/daBHPWW #agcommunications #conservation

We are hosting three workshops with Trust In Food™ to help you "Reach Farmers Faster." These strategic #communicationstrainings will help you bring your farmer outreach to the next level. You can join us from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. CT in: -Effingham, Feb. 5: -Bloomington, Feb. 6 -DeKalb, Feb. 7 In each interactive session, Environmental Initiative staff will use an Illinois-specific case study to guide you through their five-step process for creating conservation agriculture outreach. Learn how to set strategic goals, gain deeper insights about Illinois corn and soy farmers, develop persuasive messages, design engagement strategies, and evaluate your approach – all through a range of hands-on group activities. Registration cost is $15. Food and drinks will be provided. Register by contacting Rachel Geissinger at [email protected] or visit https://lnkd.in/daBHPWW #agcommunications #conservation

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Forestry Committee and Illinois Extension 4-H have partnered for a fourth year of statewide tree planting to take place in the spring of 2025. This effort utilizes the strengths of the statewide network of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) and the educational and youth development of University of Illinois Extension programs. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the declining oak forest in Illinois and across the Midwest. The initiative also promotes tree planting as an educational program. Those interested in being a site for potential plantings can learn more about the initiative and the application process through the AISWCD website or through their local SWCD. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gVA52fQ2

Next month, Environmental Initiative staff will lead a series of hands-on workshops designed to help participants apply data-driven communication concepts to their own projects and improve the effectiveness of their engagement efforts. The team will provide high-level insights from the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative case study focused on Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. These sessions include downloadable worksheets and robust networking opportunities. Conservation professionals and engagement specialists are encouraged to register. Continuing education certification is available. Sponsored by the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership and in partnership with Trust In Food™. Cost: $15.00. Lunch included. Register: Feb. 5 - Effingham - https://ow.ly/7CeV50UIPfi Feb. 6 - Bloomington - https://ow.ly/ZuAw50UIPfh Feb. 7 - DeKalb - https://ow.ly/Kr3550UIPfg