blog posts

• Illinois Farm Bureau NLRS Priority Watershed Work

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  Watershed planning efforts in Illinois EPA priority watersheds continued to be a significant area of focus for Illinois Farm Bureau and County Farm Bureaus across the state. IFB’s work in this area often included providing technical, financial, and outreach support to these efforts. By working closely with CFBs and their local communities, IFB is also able to help ensure farmer and landowner feedback is brought to watershed planning initiatives.

• Illinois Buffer Partnership

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Illinois Buffer Partnership promotes and provides cost-share funding to the voluntary conservation efforts of Illinois farmers and landowners with the goal of improving water, air, and soil quality. Buffer projects help to reduce erosion, sequester carbon, provide wildlife and pollinator habitat, and can also create additional income for landowners. This program is a collaborative partnership of Trees Forever, GROWMARK, state and federal government agencies, Trees Forever members, and participating landowners. For more information, see treesforever.org/illinois_buffer_partnership.

• 5-Year Soil Health Transition

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Illinois Corn Growers Precision Conservation Management team has been working with participating farmers in the 5-Year Soil Health Transition program to complete new enrollments and to prepare current participants for adapting to soil health management systems. Conservation specialists work with each farmer to evaluate the financial and logistical details of implementing new management practices. For more information, see www.precisionconservation.org

• Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Partnership

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership is a non-profit member-based organization working collaboratively to encourage the adoption of sustainable and profitable production practices that improve soil health and restore local waters. By developing comprehensive programming, building a strong network of sustainable agriculture advocates, and sharing relevant research and resources, the partnership is committed to working together to support healthy soil, clean water, and profitable farms in Illinois. The organization invites conservation leaders to share their own conservation story by adding their pin to its new Conservation Story Map at ilsustainableag.org/conservation-story-map.
  
  Updates on previously-reported NLRS programs and projects, such as the Advanced Conservation Drainage Training, Advanced Soil Health Training, and Soil Health and Conservation Drainage Specialist Network (Local Farmer-Led Networks), and Illinois Alphabet Soup Group, can be found at www.ilsustainableag.org.

• ILSoyAdvisor

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  New in this Biennial Report, the ILSoyAdvisor agronomy team and website resources provide expert agronomic and management advice for Illinois soybean production. Funded by the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program, it provides education, outreach, networking, and technical assistance on a variety of practices recommended by the NLRS. For more information, see www.ilsoyadvisor.com.

• 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.

• Precision Conservation Management

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Precision Conservation Management program is an agricultural service program created to assist farmers with identifying the best management practices for their individual farming operations, conservation interests, and business goals. It is jointly managed by the Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Soybean Association. For more information, see www.precisionconservation.org.

• Upper Macoupin Creek Watershed Partnership

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  American Farmland Trust provided leadership for the Upper Macoupin Creek Watershed Partnership, comprised of 15 federal, state, and local government partners, agricultural trade associations, environmental groups, agricultural retailers, and a local university. The goal of the partnership is to increase the use of conservation practices that reduce soil erosion and phosphorus loss in the watershed.

• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Technical Assistance

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Local Technical Assistance Program supports communities in northeastern Illinois and aligns with the region’s current long-range plan — ON TO 2050 — and its principles of regional resilience, inclusive growth, and prioritized investment. Since 2012, the program has assisted communities in developing more than 200 projects with local governments, nonprofits, and intergovernmental organizations to address local issues at the intersection of transportation, land use, and housing, including the natural environment, economic growth, and community development. The program helps communities plan projects that build local capacity, engage marginalized groups, and connect local partners with implementing agencies and capital funding for infrastructure investments, including stormwater management. For more information, see www.cmap.illinois.gov/programs/lta.

• Illinois Groundwork

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  From 2021-23, University of Illinois Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant developed a website, Illinois Groundwork, based on multidisciplinary green infrastructure research and an extension process piloted in the Chicago Calumet region. By improving access to data, research, and other resources, Illinois Groundwork increases the effective use of green infrastructure to address stormwater management challenges. For more information, see IllinoisGroundwork.org.

• National Green Infrastructure Certification Program

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program Training Center is located at Parkland College in Champaign. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ownership transition of the certification program, the center did not hold any trainings in 2021. The center successfully held its first virtual training in spring 2022 and plans to hold two to three trainings annually. Faculty in the center are also involved in the Curriculum Committee to update the program curriculum. For more information, see www.ngicp.org.

• Conservation@Home

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  Developed by The Conservation Foundation, Conservation@Home is an educational program that recognizes and certifies properties that demonstrate environmentally sound landscape practices. Through the Conservation@Home certification program’s guidance and education, residents can shape their private and community landscapes in an environmentally-minded way. Conservation@Home is a northeastern Illinois regional program. A map of participants is available at tcfwatersheds.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/ index.html. In Cook County, this program is a partnership between University of Illinois Extension and The Forest Preserves of Cook County. For more information, see extension.illinois.edu/cook/ConservationHome and theconservationfoundation.org/conservation-home.

• 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.