blog posts

• IFCA-supported NREC Projects

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  New in 2021-22, the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association supports research on practices listed in the Illinois NLRS at permanent sites in Douglas County and Piatt County. This work is funded by the Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council. IFCA staff helps to manage all practices at these sites, including implementing and managing nutrient applications, crop protection applications, tillage practices and cover crop seeding. Tile monitoring structures are used at both sites, enabling further insight into nitrogen and phosphorus losses from differing agricultural practices researched.

• Illinois Ag Retailer Survey

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  New in 2022, an Illinois Ag Retailer Survey and data collection processes were planned to capture farm management with regards to agricultural practices recommended by the NLRS. This project is spearheaded by Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, with support from many other agricultural organizations. The Illinois Ag Retailer Survey will replace the 4R Metrics Survey. The first data collection period was initiated in spring 2023.

• Edge-of-Field Partnership for Saturated Buffers

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Saturated Buffer Partnership is a five-year collaboration between Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association Inc., Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service. The purpose of this partnership is to support saturated buffer installation, water quality monitoring of the practice, and outreach events. For more information, see www.illica.net/projects or www.ilfb.org/nlrspractices.

• Nitrogen Rate Trials

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Nitrogen Rate Trials program is coordinated and managed by the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association in partnership with University of Illinois and the Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council. Since 2014, ongoing trials have helped to provide nitrogen recommendations through the Maximum Return To Nitrogen Calculator. An expanded partnership with Precision Conservation Management, retailers, and producers throughout Illinois will implement new trial protocols and approaches to integrating weather, soil, and yield data with hopes of improving the MRTN approach to nitrogen management. For more information, see ifca.com/4R/Trials.

• Nutrient Research & Education Council

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  Since 2012, the Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council has been Illinois agriculture’s primary investment into nutrient research. The Council is created by state statute and works closely with a variety of stakeholders across Illinois. It supports the Illinois NLRS through targeted research requests for proposals and investments as well as education and outreach. Focus areas include: applying and understanding the 4Rs, capturing excess nutrients in the field, mitigating loss of nutrients to water supplies, and studying other nutrient management issues. For more information see www.illinoisnrec.org.

• Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program is a cornerstone of Illinois Farm Bureau’s overall NLRS implementation efforts. Since 2015, more than $1 million has been committed to the program. In addition, it has provided other significant resources for county Farm Bureau and farmer member-led nutrient stewardship projects. To date, funds have been awarded to 138 projects across 74 Illinois counties. Projects have often involved a wide array of partners who provide additional expertise to individual projects. For more information, see www.ilfb.org/FieldDays.

• Perennial Bioenergy Crop Diversification Project

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  American Farmland Trust is collaborating with Argonne National Laboratory to broaden crop diversification and farm resiliency efforts in Illinois. This project will explore opportunities to support the Illinois agricultural community through the adoption and utilization of perennial bioenergy crops. These opportunities aim to provide economic and environmental resiliency to farms while reducing nutrient loss. For more information, see farmland.org/illinois-perennial-bioenergy-crop-diversification-project.

• Water Testing Initiative

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  Working to promote awareness and education of the NLRS is key to helping ensure its goals are met. Offering a water testing initiative contest to Future Farmers of America chapters across the state not only helps build overall awareness but also helps the next generation of farmers and industry professionals examine the issues facing Illinois agriculture. This program was previously offered by the Illinois Corner Growers Association as Free Confidential Water Testing Program with Illinois Future Farmers of American and County Farm Bureaus. The program shifted focus toward this educational initiative in partnership with Illinois Soybean Association.

• Des Plaines River Watershed Workgroup

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Des Plaines River Watershed Workgroup is a voluntary, dues-paying organization with a mission to bring together a diverse coalition of stakeholders to improve water quality in the Des Plaines River and its tributaries in a cost-effective manner to meet Illinois EPA requirements. The workgroup conducts water quality and bioassessment monitoring and has partnered and sponsored member efforts within the watershed. The workgroup also contracted with Geosyntec Consultants to complete a Nutrient Assessment Reduction Plan. For more information, see go.illinois.edu/NLRS and drww.org.

• DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup was formed in 2005 in response to concerns about total maximum daily loads, TMDLs, set for the east and west branches of the DuPage River and Salt Creek, located in portions of Cook, DuPage, and Will counties in northeastern Illinois. The workgroup seeks to implement targeted watershed activities that resolve priority waterway problems efficiently and cost-effectively. In 2015 and 2020, a special condition to the workgroup’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit was added that substantially increased financial commitments to restoration efforts focused on improving aquatic life. The condition includes 10 stream restoration projects, two studies, and the development of a Nutrient Implementation Plan. For more information, see drscw.org.

• Fox River Study Group

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  For 20 years, the Fox River Study Group has worked to improve the health of the Fox River for the benefit of the nearly 1 million citizens in the Fox River Valley and the over 300,000 people whose drinking water comes from the river. In 2022, the group updated its 2015 Fox River Implementation Plan and successfully advocated for a relaunch of a multi-dam removal feasibility study. To reduce algae and improve oxygen conditions in the river, the 2022 Fox River Implementation Plan recommends combining further phosphorus reductions from wastewater inputs with dam removals. For more information, see foxriverstudygroup.org.

• Lower Des Plaines Watershed Group

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Lower Des Plaines Watershed Group coordinates a watershed bioassessment program to identify and address priority water quality issues in the Lower Des Plaines River and its 19 tributaries. The workgroup also provides extensive outreach materials for members and the public on issues related to water quality. For more information, see www.LDPWatersheds.org.

• Illinois Department of Transportation Stormwater Programs

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT, maintains a chartered Stormwater Committee composed of members from a variety of backgrounds and agencies to inform and guide policy creation, advise IDOT staff on relevant stormwater issues, and oversee erosion control training for staff and consultants. The committee also coordinates with other stormwater groups and initiates research through the Illinois Center for Transportation to study aspects of the stormwater management program and determine whether improvements can be made to best management practices.

  IDOT continues to research alternatives to erosion control blankets that use plastic mesh, which is known to entangle wildlife and contribute to microplastics in waterways. The literature review is completed, and field trials are planned, with a report expected at the end of 2023. When applicable, IDOT will utilize research and practices generated through other state departments of transportation, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, and the Illinois Urban Manual. IDOT also continues to revise Specifications and Standards based on implementable research or when otherwise warranted.

   For more information, see idot.illinois.gov/transportation-system/transportation-management/planning/other-plans/storm- water-management-plan.html.

• Lawn to Lake Midwest

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  In 2021–22, the Lawn to Lake Midwest Program used insights from the 2019 Lawn Caretaker Survey to develop five outreach tools, distribute 50,000 copies of each across the state, and create a comprehensive website to showcase them. A social media campaign raised awareness of the new resources by generating 85,000 impressions, or views, and driving 10,000 users to the new website. For more information, see LawntoLakeMidwest.org.

• 4R Metrics Survey

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association concluded its 4R Metric Survey – in reference to right source, right rate, right time, and right place nutrient management practices – in the summer of 2022. A questionnaire was sent to agricultural retail members with questions regarding varying nitrogen and phosphorus agricultural practices for fall and spring. Beginning with the fall of 2018 and concluding after the spring of 2022, the survey spanned four growing seasons. 

• Edge-of-Field Partnership for Woodchip Bioreactors

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Edge-of-Field Partnership for Woodchip Bioreactors is a multi-year collaboration between Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association Inc., University of Illinois, and Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service. The goal of this partnership is to install a woodchip bioreactor each year and to support research into the impact of woodchip bioreactors on water quality at each site for the five-year collaboration period, and beyond. In previous years, the partnership has installed woodchip bioreactors in Bureau and Henry counties. 

  In 2021, the partners finalized the installation of the fourth woodchip bioreactor in McDonough County. Due to extended project delays throughout 2021, the partners pushed back their in-person field day to July 2022. In November 2022, the partners installed the fifth woodchip bioreactor in Sangamon County, with plans to host a field day in summer 2023.

  For more information, see www.illica.net/projects or www.ilfb.org/nlrspractices.  

• Mackinaw River Program

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Nature Conservancy, TNC, in Illinois is engaged in working with partners on implementation and long-term water quality monitoring in the Mackinaw River watershed to understand how implementation of conservation practices affects water quality at multiple scales, and to gain insights related to outreach, practice delivery, and partnerships that can inform TNC and partner work on other programs and in priority watersheds. This work includes both critical edge-of-field practices – the design and efficacy of constructed wetlands to treat tile drainage water – and stacked infield and edge-of-field practices and their synergies for water quality. The TNC’s research provides hard data on practice design and efficiency of these farm bill conservation practices that address nutrients in tile drainage water. Key partners for the Mackinaw River watershed project include the McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District, McLean County Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Illinois State University. TNC has ongoing projects at the Franklin Research and Demonstration Farm in Lexington, and the Paired Watershed Study in the headwaters of the Mackinaw River. TNC also has con- ducted/hosted trainings on edge-of-field practices and, in 2021, published a roadmap for increasing the pace and scale of edge-of-field practice adoption and implementation. For more information, see www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/the-mackinaw-river-watershed.